St. Kilian's Mindful Moment - T2W4

T2W4 - Listening

Active listening means giving a speaker your full attention and trying to understand the complete message. It's more than simply hearing the words that are being spoken - it involves attempting to understand the intent behind them.

This week, you might like to invite students to create or say their own Acknowledgement of Country.

Using the sentence starters below, students can reflect on what they are thankful for, the promise they wish to make, and what they value about Dja Dja Wurrung Country. This helps make the Acknowledgement personal, respectful, and meaningful.

Acknowledgment of Country

We would like to acknowledge the Jaara people, the traditional custodians of the land on which we are meeting today, we acknowledge ancestors and elders past, present and emerging and commit ourselves to work actively for reconciliation and justice.

Choose your own...

We would like to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land we are on today, the Dja Dja Wurrung people.

We pay our respects to their Elders past, present, and future.

We thank them for ______________________________________.

Today, we promise to ____________________________________.

We are grateful to walk, learn, and play on this ______________________ land.

Here are some examples you might use:

Thanking them for: sharing their knowledge, caring for Country, welcoming us

Promise to: care for the land, learn about culture, treat nature with respect, invite all with open arms, help others who come to this country/land

Describe the land as: special, sacred, strong, beautiful, ancient, peaceful, friendly, open

Junior Acknowledgement of Country

Here is the Land, here is the Sky, here are my friends, and here am I.

We play today on traditional Land, Our First Nation people, we walk hand in hand.

We’d like to say thank you for letting us share the Land that you love. We promise to take care.

Prayer

Centering

A quiet moment to pause, breathe, and bring our hearts and minds into God’s presence, preparing ourselves to pray with focus, gratitude, and openness.

Let us take a moment to pause… Sit comfortably, breathe deeply.

Inhale… Exhale…

In the stillness, let us become aware of the many voices that fill our lives—

The noise of the world, the chatter of our thoughts, the busyness of our hearts.

Today, we are invited to listen—not just with our ears,

but with our whole selves.

To listen with patience. To listen with compassion. To listen without needing to respond.

Listening is an act of love.

It is the way we show others that they matter.

It is how we make space for truth, for understanding, and for connection.

Let us carry this spirit of deep, attentive listening into the space we share today.

Reflection

A quiet moment to pause, listen, and open our hearts to God, allowing His presence to guide our thoughts, deepen our faith, and inspire us to live with love and kindness.

God encourages us to listen—not just with our ears, but with our whole heart.
In scripture, in silence, and in the voices of those around us, God invites us to be present, attentive, and open.
True listening is more than hearing words; it’s about making space—for understanding, for connection, and for love.

In a world full of noise, distractions, and quick responses, God gently reminds us that listening is sacred.
It is a way of loving. It is a way of following Christ.
And sometimes, the voice of God is found not in the loud or dramatic—but in the stillness, the whisper, the gentle stream.

As we enter into this time of prayer and reflection, we ask God to help us become better listeners—
listeners to His voice, to one another, and to the quiet truth within ourselves.

1 Kings 19:11–13 – God speaks in the silence

“Then a great and powerful wind tore through the mountains… but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind, there was an earthquake… but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire… but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper… When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.”

Reflection:
Elijah expected to hear God in loud, dramatic ways—but God spoke in the whisper.
How often do we expect clear answers, obvious signs, loud voices…
and miss the gentle whisper of truth?

To listen well, we must quiet the noise around us.
But more than that, we must ask God to quiet the noise within us—
our impatience, our need to respond, our distractions, our assumptions.

What do you think a whisper sounds like?
Why do you think God chose to speak in a whisper and not a loud noise?
When are some times you need to be really quiet to hear something important?
How can we practise being still and quiet to hear God or others?
Can you think of a time when you heard something that made you feel calm or safe?

In The Listening Walk, a young girl goes on a walk with her father and her dog. But this is no ordinary walk—it’s a listening walk. She stays very quiet so she can hear all the sounds around her: sneakers on the footpath, birds chirping, a sprinkler clicking, a jackhammer pounding, and even her dog’s toenails tapping the pavement.

Before or During Reading

What do you think we might hear if we go on a walk and stay really quiet?
Why do you think listening carefully might be important?

After Reading

What are some of the sounds the girl heard on her walk?
What sound do you think you would like to hear on a listening walk?
Have you ever gone for a walk and noticed something just by listening?
Why is it sometimes hard to listen carefully?
Who is someone you could try to listen to better today? How could you show them you’re really listening?

A Young Monk and the Elder

A young monk once asked his elder,
"How can I hear the voice of God?"

The elder replied,
"Go and sit beside the stream. Sit in silence and listen for its song."

The young monk sat beside the stream.
At first, he heard nothing but thoughts in his head.
Then the breeze. The birds. His own breath.
And finally, he heard it—
The stream’s song, gentle, patient, always flowing.

He returned to the elder, amazed.

The elder said:
"Now you know: God speaks like the stream—
You must be still enough to hear."

What do you think the stream sounded like when the monk was finally quiet?
Why is it important to really listen to people, not just hear their words?
Who is someone you know that listens really well? What do they do that helps you feel heard?
When is it hard for you to listen? What can help you do better?
How do you think listening helps us be better friends or classmates?

Offering

A moment to open our hearts to God, whether in asking for guidance, strength, and help or in giving thanks for His blessings, love, and presence in our lives.

Thanksgiving prompts

Thank You, God, for giving me…
Thank You, God, for helping me…
Thank You, God, for the people who…
Thank You, God, for the beauty of…
Thank You, God, for the lessons I learn when…
Thank You, God, for always…
Thank You, God, for the moments when…
Thank You, God, for the strength to…
Thank You, God, for Your love that…
Thank You, God, for the joy of…

Asking prompts

Please, God, help me to…
Please, God, give me the courage to…
Please, God, guide me when…
Please, God, help me to be more…
Please, God, show me how to…
Please, God, help me to forgive…
Please, God, remind me to…
Please, God, be with me when…
Please, God, give me the wisdom to…
Please, God, teach me to…

Regular prayers

God, please watch over and heal those who are sick, especially…
I am thankful for the love and support of my family and friends, especially…
Lord, help those who are feeling lonely or sad to know they are loved, including…
God, please give strength and courage to people who are facing difficult times, such as…
Thank you for the beauty of creation and the many blessings in my life, like…

Prayer

Hail Mary

Hail Mary,

Full of Grace,

The Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou among women,

and blessed is the fruit

of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary,

Mother of God,

pray for us sinners now,

and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

Our Father

Our Father, Who art in heaven,

Hallowed be Thy Name.

Thy Kingdom come.

Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

A Prayer for Listening

Dear God,

Help me to listen with my ears,

but also with my heart.

When someone is speaking,

help me to stop, be still, and care.

When I am unsure,

help me to listen for Your quiet voice.

Teach me to be patient,

kind, and open.

Help me to listen like Jesus did—

with love.

Amen.

St. Kilian's School Prayer

Father,

We believe that St Kilian’s School is a great place to learn and have fun.

We trust our school community will continue to welcome new members and will always help

and care for each other.

We thank you for the love and respect of our families, teachers and friends.

With Jesus as our model, may we grow to be the best people we can.

Amen.

PBIS

St. Kilian's Routines

SKPS Ready in Five.docx

Ready in Five

‘Ready in Five’ is a consistent teacher prompt used to gain students' full attention before giving instructions or starting a lesson.

The teacher stands in a central position, counts down from five while scanning the room, and waits for 100% of students to respond and make eye contact. It teaches students to stop, look, and listen, creating a calm and focused transition into learning.

SKPS Classroom Entry.docx

Classroom Entry

The Classroom Entry Routine sets clear expectations for how students enter the room after breaks or transitions.

Students line up in pairs, enter quietly, stand or sit in their spot, and wait with eyes on the teacher before being greeted and seated. It promotes calm, safe, and respectful beginnings to lessons, helping students settle quickly for learning.

SKPS Clasroom Exit.docx

Classroom Exit

The Classroom Exit Routine guides students in leaving the room calmly and respectfully at the end of a lesson or day.

Students pack up quietly, stand behind their desks, respond to the teacher's farewell, and are dismissed row by row. It ensures a smooth and safe transition, reinforcing gratitude, order, and readiness for what comes next.

Active Listening

What is listening?

Active listening means giving full attention to the speaker and trying to understand the complete message being sent. Active listeners show verbal and nonverbal signs of listening. Positive reinforcement, remembering, and questioning are all verbal signs of active listening. Non verbal signs include smiling, head nods, posture, and avoiding all distractions.

Questions to consider...

Why is it important to listen?
What does listening look like?
Who has to listen?
Who asks us to listen?
Why do I need to listen?
What happens if I don't listen?
What happens if our class doesn't listen?

Active Listening

In this video, you’ll learn strategies for active listening during a conversation with another person.

After watching this video you might practice Active Listening using a strategy from the video.

The Importance of Listening

Sometimes, children try to tell us why their upset but we are so busy guessing we forget to listen.

What is something you learned about listening from the video?
Why is it important to listen when someone is talking to you?
What can happen if we don’t listen carefully?
Can you think of a time when you were a good listener? How did it help?
Can you think of a time when someone really listened to you? How did it make you feel?

Sesame Street: Furry Potter and The Goblet of Cookies (Harry Potter Parody)

To get to the Goblet of Cookies, Furry Potter must listen carefully to directions. It will take more than a simple Wingardium Leviosa to reach the Goblet. Watch Professor Crumblemore teach Furry Potter the wizardly ways of following instructions in Furry Potter's quest for the Goblet of Cookies!

What was Furry Potter trying to do in the video?
Why did he keep missing out on the cookies at the start?
What did Furry Potter learn about listening and following instructions?
How did listening carefully help him in the end?
Can you think of a time when you didn’t listen and things didn’t go as planned?
Why is it sometimes hard to be patient or wait before doing something?
What can you do to be a better listener, just like Furry Potter?

Special Events

National Simultaneous Story Time

National Simultaneous Storytime is a fun and meaningful annual event in Australia where children all over the country read the same picture book at the same time. It’s held every year in May, usually during Library and Information Week, and is organised by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA).

It’s all about celebrating the joy of reading, promoting literacy, and encouraging kids to engage with books in a shared, community-focused way.

The Truck Cat by Deborah Frenkel

Illustrated by Danny Snell
Published for National Simultaneous Storytime 2025

“The Truck Cat” is a heartwarming story about a cat named Frankie who lives life on the road with her best friend—a truck driver named Bill. They travel the country together, exploring towns, open roads, and everything in between. But when their journey is suddenly interrupted, Frankie finds herself alone… and must find a way back to Bill.

It’s a story about friendship, adventure, change, and resilience, with beautiful illustrations that capture the vastness of Australia and the warmth of unlikely companionship. It touches on trust, belonging, and what it means to find your way home—both literally and emotionally.

You can use the questions below to explore the importance of reading, how it makes us feel, and the role it plays in helping us grow.

Personal Connection to Reading

What do you like most about reading?

How do stories make you feel?

What is your favourite place to read and why?

Thinking About the Power of Stories

Why do you think books are important?

What can you learn about people, places, or feelings through stories?

How can reading help you be a better friend?

Reading Habits and Growth

What kind of books do you enjoy most? Why?

What do you find tricky when you’re reading? What helps you?

What’s something you’ve learned from a book that you still remember?

Gaga Pit

Gaga Ball is kind of like dodgeball, but you hit the ball with your hands instead of throwing it, and the goal is to hit other players below the knees. Everyone starts inside the pit, and when the ball is served, the fun begins!

How to Play:

All players stand inside the Gaga Pit.
Someone drops the ball and shouts “Ga-ga-ball!” as it bounces three times.
Players hit the ball with an open hand (no throwing or kicking).
If the ball hits you below the knees, you’re out!
The last player left in the pit wins!

Reflection Questions:

Why do we need rules in Gaga Ball?
What can we do if two players don’t agree on who got out?
How can we help new players learn the game?
What do we need to check before we start playing in the Gaga Pit?
What does being a fair and kind player look like in this game?

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