Holidays are almost upon us! I do hope you and your family enjoy a break from the usual school routine and are able to make the most of this glorious autumn weather! May it be a restful and relaxing break for you.
Although holidays can mean a slower pace, morning sleep ins and lazing around, it can also be a time when kids are saying they are bored and the days drag. Tempers can flare and family can get on each other’s nerves. It is always good to still have a bit of a routine happening for some kids over the holidays. This could mean a morning activity combined with a quiet afternoon. Or a whole day outing one day and a slower home day the next. It can mean some time on screen, and then having a break from screen by going to a local playground or spending time outside in the garden with the dog or on the trampoline or baking something with a parent or carer. It is also OK to let our kids say they are bored, suggest some home activities they can do, and then give them the opportunity to solve their own boredom.
Here are a couple of my go-to websites when it comes to doing wondering what activities I can do with my kids over the holidays.
https://www.mammaknowseast.com.au/
https://www.visitmelbourne.com/regions/melbourne/see-and-do
https://whatson.melbourne.vic.gov.au/
https://www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/Community/Family/School-holiday-activities
https://www.knox.vic.gov.au/whats-happening/news/school-holiday-activities-young-people-0
There are always things that we can do with our kids that are free or low cost. When things are tight, think on having a movie afternoon at home, with popcorn and cupcakes that you’ve baked together. Or a lunch picnic with BBQ sausages at a local park. Or a bushwalk in the Dandenongs. Or visiting Knox libraries and joining in with their holiday activities https://www.knox.vic.gov.au/search?keywords=school+holidays Spend the afternoon putting a tent up and then letting the kids star gaze and sleep in it overnight.
Need some more inspiration? Check out Maggie Dent’s videos on holidays https://www.maggiedent.com/?s=holidays
Have a fabulous break and I look forward ot hearing about what you got up to!
Sarah McIntosh
Student Welfare
The Importance of Respect
At our school, we believe that respect is one of the most important values children can learn. Respect means showing kindness, consideration, and care in our words and actions. We teach students that respect can be shown in three main ways: respect for ourselves, respect for others, and respect for the environment. By understanding and practicing these three areas of respect, children can build positive relationships, make good choices, and help create a safe and happy school community.
Respecting yourself means taking care of your body, mind, and feelings. This includes making healthy choices, believing in yourself, and doing your best in school and at home. We encourage children to show self-respect by speaking kindly to themselves, setting goals, and making choices that help them grow. Respecting others means treating people with kindness, listening to them, and considering their feelings. This can look like using polite words, sharing, taking turns, and being a good friend. Even small actions, like smiling at someone or saying “thank you,” show respect and help build a strong, caring community.
Respecting the environment means taking care of the world around us and understanding that different places have different behaviour expectations. At school, this means keeping classrooms tidy, looking after school supplies, and making sure shared spaces are clean and welcoming. Outdoors, it means treating nature gently, putting rubbish in the bin, and using play areas safely. It also includes understanding that different places—such as libraries, places of worship, or nature reserves—have different expectations for how we should behave. By teaching children to respect themselves, others, and the world around them, we are helping them grow into responsible, kind, and thoughtful individuals. We encourage families to talk about respect at home and celebrate the ways children demonstrate it every day!
Sarah Weichert
sarah.weichert@education.vic.gov.au