Pastoral and Wellbeing in Gioia House

Service Learning – Outreach

Last term, the students were actively involved in raising money for Caritas – Project Compassion. The leaders organised a variety of fundraising events to raise money for people and communities in need. Thank you to all the students and staff who generously donated Easter eggs, easter craft kits, bought raffle tickets, participated in the colouring in competition or egg guessing jar competition and provided treats for the bake sale. 

Congratulations to the Gioia House students who raised just over $3,100 to Caritas - Project Compassion. What an amazing effort from all the students!

This term as part of our Gioia House Service Learning Initiative we will be asking students and families to generously donate snacks and warm accessories for the St Vincent De Paul Night Patrol.

Throughout the term we are asking families to donate from the following items for students to create ‘snack packs’ for the Night Patrol van, which feeds and looks after many homeless people each week.

Please generously donate some of the following items:

  • Juice poppers
  • Le Snak/Cheese Dippits
  • Canned tuna                            
  • Packet of chips
  • Cuppa soup/sachet soup         
  • Packet of sultanas
  • Noodle cups                             
  • Packet of biscuits (e.g. single serve Tiny Teddies)
  • Fruit cup                                   
  • Muesli bar (nut-free) Please note: muesli bars must be chewy e.g. Uncle Toby’s Choc Chip Bars.
With the colder weather setting in, donations of new accessories – scarves, beanies, socks, gloves and blankets would also be greatly appreciated.

E-Safety Webinar

The e-safety commissioner provides useful information and free webinars for parents to access key information and strategies to support young people and their use of technology.

A 30-minute webinar titled ‘Getting started with social media: Tik Tok, YouTube, Instagram’ will include practical tech tips, conversation starters and digital parenting advice.  

The eSafety webinar will cover:

  • creating a positive digital identity
  • privacy and sharing online
  • managing what you see online
  • good practices in group chats
  • help-seeking.

Register for the free eSafety webinar on one of the following dates:

22 May 12:30 pm to 1:00 pm (Australian Eastern Standard Time)
8 June 12:30 pm to 1:00 pm (Australian Eastern Standard Time)

Action Girl Rock and Water Pastoral Program

The Year 5 and Year 6 students have continued to develop their understanding of different ways we can work towards resolving conflict. We practised taking on a ‘Rock attitude’, when our muscles are strained and our breathing is lowered and our feet are firmly grounded. We then compared this to the ‘Water attitude’ where our muscles are relaxed, we focus on our calm breathing, our knees are slightly bent and we feel greater flexibility’. Students were asked to do the Rock and Water ‘respect’ salute and take on the Rock and the Water attitudes with a partner. Students discussed different scenarios where we should choose a Rock attitude and other times when we should take on a Water attitude, discussing making the right choice when in groups, sticking with what we know is right and sometimes having more of a fluid approach and letting things go. The students were able to demonstrate standing strong with their Rock attitude and posture as well as their Water and fluid response. After each Rock and Water session, the students are provided with the opportunity to reflect on the session and how they can apply these strategies as part of their everyday interactions and situations. We have been impressed with the reflective responses the students are sharing and their ability to identify personal situations where they have used these approaches in a positive way.

We are looking forward to another exciting term of learning, growth, compassion and new opportunities.

Marisa Maks
Assistant Head of Gioia House