P&F Updates

“Time fly’s when you’re having fun”.  As we approach mid-way term 3, here is a quick snapshot of what has been happening…

13 August: Trivia night was a success with over 100 people attending the event.  It’s always great to see the SSC community coming together and enjoying a fun night out together.  The competition between the teams was intense, but we all had many laughs along the way.

Congratulations to the Middleton table for taking first prize valued at $500 kindly donated by Massey Park Golf Club. I also want to acknowledge the rest of the kind prize donors; Betty Pardalis, HF Wedding Car Hire, Sweet Sis Delights & The Sunday Baker.

17 August: Discovery Tours were conducted by the College across both campuses for all potential and future families to see Santa Sabina College in action. I would like to thank Kate Davis, Rachael Middleton and Sia Zannon for helping to welcome families and serve morning tea. 

What’s coming up…

  • 31 August:  Fathers Day stall for students from Mary Bailey House to Gioia House.
    A variety of gifts will be available for your child’s selection for fathers and loved ones.  To pre-order gifts please visit the trybooking site https://www.trybooking.com/CBXCJ
  • 1 September: Fathers day mass & breakfast.  What a great way to kick off the day.  It’s great to also celebrate Father’s day with other SSC dads- getting to know and catching up with SSC friends over some breakfast and coffee. If anyone is able to volunteer to support the P&F serving breakfast on this day please Alex Cantali 0414 582 876
  • 9 September: Golf day– You don’t have to be a professional to participate.  It is a great opportunity for dads to connect across the whole College community and grow friendships over a round of golf.  This event is also open to friends of the SSC community.  Limited spots available, so get in quick.  Here is a link to book https://www.trybooking.com/CBLRG
  • 16 September: Prep to Year 4 students Colour fun run. The children are really excited and looking forward to this event as they will be running around while being covered in coloured paint.
  • 28 November: P&F Annual General meeting I look forward to seeing you all at the next Annual General Meeting with elections being held.

Yours in friendship,

Joseph Gittani – SSC P&F President 

Keep up to date

If you haven’t signed up to WhatsApp for your year group and want to please click here to be added. If you are having issues with signing up please reach out to pnfcomms@ssc.nsw.edu.au

Parent Education – Debra Brodowski

Friend or Friendly?  When Kindness is Key

The 2020’s have been characterised so far by uncertainty and ongoing change. For our young people this has had a destabilising effect on wellbeing. Symptoms of anxiety are on the rise. One of the consequences that has been noticed as a result of all these circumstances is the impact that uncertainty, change, wellbeing, and anxiety have had on friendships.

One of the ways that the young mind tries to cope with these circumstances is to gain a feeling of control over their lives. What has this all meant in terms of friends?

  • There has been an increase in “in-group out-group behaviour”. Simply put, this has meant forming strong friendship bonds for those within the “in-group”. As a consequence, this can create a feeling of being left out, “otherness”, and not fitting in for those who are not part of the “in-group” (in other words, the “out-group”).
  • There have been sudden and dramatic shifts in friendships if there is a disagreement. The “friendship fall-out” can leave feelings of grief and loss for the situation and comes with intense feelings for all.
  • There becomes increased friction with the forming of “cliques”; groups of friends that are in conflict with one another.

Having friends is a wonderful part of life. They form bonds of trust, openness, honesty, and vulnerability through shared experiences. It is also not realistic to be friends with everyone. We naturally have common interests with others which forge the bonds of friendship. As such, it is important to have friends, but also be friendly to others.

How can we support our young people in navigating friendships through life? Helping your young person cultivate the following behaviours is important:

  • Be kind. We don’t know what’s happening in the lives of others, being kind to others allows our young people to feel good, whilst also allowing the other party to feel the same.
  • Be friendly. Include others who seem to be lost and alone. Encourage your other friends to do the same. Including others and being friendly does not have a negative impact on your current friendships.
  • Be genuine. Pretending to be kind and friendly is being a “frenemy”. A frenemy is “a person with whom one is friendly despite a fundamental dislike or rivalry”. Helping your child understand that school is about an individual and not a competition with others.
  • Be respectful. Whether it be with friends, or simply being friendly, disagreements are a part of life. Disagreements are able to be worked through without disrespecting the other person or disintegrating the friendship.
  • Be open. An openness to ideas and experiences enriches lives and allows the opportunity to grow and become enriched.

Being friends or being simply just friendly can boost wellbeing, happiness, and helps build wonderful and meaningful memories of school life.