The number of Covid cases in Sydney today were disappointing, concerning,

dangerous or catastrophic depending on where you are, where your family are and your particular situation. 

At school we teach our older children about modality in writing and speaking. High modality words are used to persuade and possibly agitate. Low modality words are used to calm and purvey a neutral stance.  Using modality shows students that words can have different meanings and effects according to how we write about the same situation. A situation can be on a continuum from disappointing to catastrophic depending on its effect on us personally when considering our perspective and our personal circumstances. Now is a time that we can teach children the power of logical refuting (a  process where we might think logically through an argument.) This technique is especially helpful in supporting anxious adults and children. 

As parents it's good to measure the modality of our own and our children’s words when describing situations at home, work or in our community.  The words fury, outrage, crisis, desperate, devastation can apply to some current events at the moment. You would have seen the writing “We’re all in the same boat.” Everyone’s situation is completely different and children need help in describing their situation and being able to place it on a continuum of concern. While we are ”disappointed and worried” about our current lockdown situation in Mosman it is not yet at the same level of  “concern and caution” as in some Sydney communities and not yet at the point of “devastation and crisis” as in Afghanistan today. Of course this does not take into account each family’s own situation. Please take some time out of your day this week to pray for all people affected by situations in our/their world that are beyond their control.  It’s a good time too to keep an eye on children’s language (high or low modality) as it may give you a guide as to how they are thinking and feeling at the moment.

Father’s Day is not that far away especially when some of our gift shopping will have to be online. Please see the Cana virtual gift stall to help the children support Cana and show their appreciation of the men in their lives.

We are able to have some construction go ahead safely at school over the next few weeks. Refurbishment of our front steps will begin from next Monday. This will bring our front entrance up to scratch from a Work Health and Safety aspect. The front entrance will be out of action for about two weeks. Entrance to the school will be from the small gate opposite the Bus stop in Cardinal Street. If you need to drop or pick up anything from the school office, please telephone the office. 

Enjoy your week

Regards

Julie Caldwell