Dear families,
We had a great start to the term last week, with many smiles as the children reconnected with friends and staff after the break. For some of our students, it was a little challenging readjusting to school life, particularly with the change to daylight saving time. However, by the middle of the week, we had once again settled into the familiar rhythm of life at school.
Our students love the opportunity to step away from school and enjoy a break, yet they also look forward to returning to the familiar routines of school life, along with its consistent expectations. It got me thinking about the routines we establish in our own homes. What routines have you established as a family?
Perhaps you gather around the table for a shared meal each day, taking time to listen to one another, recall the day’s events and work through any little issues together. Perhaps your children have set times for heading to bed. Research tells us that 10–12 hours of sleep remains an important goal for children in the primary years.
Other simple routines, such as placing devices on the kitchen bench before bedtime or having a dedicated reading time each day, can help create a sense of order while also developing positive lifelong habits. As a parent myself, I found that having a regular time for homework, followed by some time outdoors, helped establish a routine that my children were able to build upon in their secondary years.
Helpful routines can take time to establish, particularly when family life is busy, but we know that consistency and structure can pay dividends in the longer term, helping children to feel more settled, secure and ready to learn.
Term Four is always our busiest time of the school year, and these eleven weeks will pass very quickly. As I look at the calendar, I am reminded that while there is still much learning to be done, there are also many wonderful celebrations and opportunities for us to come together along the way.
Let’s enjoy this final term together as we learn, celebrate and continue to grow as a community at St Francis Xavier School.
God bless,
Mark
