Principal’s Report – 2019 Issue 02

Dear Parents

Community

This year we have continued to ensure that partnerships with all in the community have been established to strengthen the links between school and home. The Parent Information Nights during the first week, and the Whole School Mass and Welcome Back Family Picnic last week are just a few examples to demonstrate this involvement. We have also noticed parents already helping out in classrooms around the school. Research shows that participation, assistance and the support of parents greatly enhances outcomes for students of all ages. Next week there will be another opportunity to be involved at a different level with the first meeting of the P&F Association on Tuesday night.

Back to School Picnic

Last Friday was a fantastic gathering of our community at the ‘Back to School Picnic’. It was great way to begin our school year and celebrate our community spirit and catch up with families and friends as we begin the exciting work of 2019.

Many thanks to Marisa Gulluni (P&F President) and her team for co-ordinating this wonderful night which included organising food vans and providing activities and treats for the children.

P&F Meeting

The P&F meetings provide a wonderful opportunity for parents to be informed (further) about what is happening in the school and also assist the P&F Executive in their endeavours this year. The Infant Jesus School P&F has always been a strength, with outstanding commitment to the goals and aspirations of the school. They work effectively and collaboratively with the School Board to achieve these objectives each year.

In today’s schooling there is an acknowledged relationship between the child, the school and home life. Where a harmonious relationship/partnership exists many benefits for a child’s development can occur. With this in mind, we have set up a Class Representative Network.

The idea of a ‘Class Parent Representative’ is to strengthen ties between home life and school. At Infant Jesus School we hope this will provide the best possible opportunities for our children and that it will strengthen our home – school relationship.

The main role of the Class Parent Representative is to:

Welcome new families to the school, introduce them to existing parents and to ensure they feel included in school life. Often it takes time for new families to feel this inclusion as too often they feel isolated when joining a school community.
Organise small, social, year level get-togethers with the other year representative (e.g. coffee mornings/evenings, dinners etc.).
Attend P&F Meetings (where possible) to stay informed and share relevant information within your year level.

Through the Class Parent Representative, we hope the BENEFITS will be:

To provide a point of contact for new families in the school.
To allow parents to mix socially so that new and established families develop positive relationships with each other.

At this point in time we are looking for Class Parent Representatives for the following Year levels:

Pre-Primary (Both classes)
Year 1 (Both classes)
Year 3W
Year 4 (both classes)
Year 5B

If you are able to assist by being a Class Parent Representative, please contact your child’s class teacher, or myself directly.

Ash Wednesday

On Wednesday, 6 March, the Church Calendar will change to the season of Lent. The first day to signify this change begins with Ash Wednesday.

As a community, we will be marking the occasion of Ash Wednesday by attending Mass which will commence at 9.00am at the Infant Jesus Church. All parents are most welcome to attend. During this Mass, ashes will be placed on our foreheads made with the sign of the cross as a symbol of our Christianity. Ashes are referred to often as a gesture of penance and mourning. These ashes come from the palms used during last year’s Palm Sunday celebrations.

Ash Wednesday is unique in that it is the one time when we as Christians have a visible mark of identity placed on our skin which we wear during the day. There is a similarity between Baptism and Ash Wednesday in that the ashes are placed on our foreheads in the sign of a cross during Ash Wednesday while in Baptism oil was placed on our foreheads with the sign of the cross.

Ash Wednesday is a time for us to stop and repent. The words used as the ashes are placed on the forehead “Repent and believe in the Gospel” encourage us to reflect upon our sinfulness and call for us to turn back to God during the season of Lent.

Kindergarten 2020 – Applications are Now Due

Enrolments are now being taken for siblings and new students wishing to commence Kindergarten at Infant Jesus School in 2020. Families with children eligible for Kindergarten in 2020 are required to fill out a Kindergarten Enrolment Application Form.

Infant Jesus School will continue to operate two concurrent Kindergarten groups next year with the days of attendance being Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Kindergarten places are limited, so it is important that parents within the Infant Jesus School community submit their applications as soon as possible. Forms can be obtained from the office.

From My Readings This Week…

Confident kids are competent kids. Past experience has taught them that they can be successful. The easiest (and most neglected way) to help develop competency is to give kids opportunities to help out at home. Don’t overburden them with jobs. Sensibly allocate chores according to their age, interests and study requirements.

Expect children and young people to help without being paid.

Provide pocket money, but avoid linking it to chores. Helping in exchange for money develops in children a notion of ‘What’s in it for me?’, which is a self-centred view of life.

However, many parents tell me that they can’t get their kids to help unless they pay them. Those parents have made a rod for their own backs. It’s time for a change of tune. Don’t wait until they are old enough to help. Start now, regardless of age. Toddlers and teens and all ages in between should be expected to chip in and help.

Here are eight ideas to help you get your kids to help out at home without being paid:

Keep jobs real

Kids can sense it when parents give them jobs to keep them busy. Make sure the jobs you apportion make a real contribution to their own family’s well-being.

Balance the personal chores with family jobs

Chores are generally divided into two areas. Jobs such as keeping a bedroom tidy benefits a child and jobs such as setting the table to benefit the family. By doing this kids learn to contribute positively to family-life.

Place more difficult tasks on a roster

The children can refer to it when needed, which takes the load off you and removes the need to remind them. Rotate the unpleasant tasks frequently. And here’s the key to making rosters work – Place yourself on the roster too! Kids are generally more willing to help when you as a parent are involved.

Use Grandma’s principle to make sure jobs are done

Grandma’s principle means you do less pleasant tasks first. That is, make sure jobs are finished before mealtimes or before starting pleasant activities such as watching television.

Avoid doing jobs for children

When children get the message that no one will do their jobs for them they will be more likely to help out.

Show your appreciation for their help

Make a fuss when they help so they know that their contribution to the family is valued. If you do it often enough they may even show their appreciation for all you do for them!

Keep your standards high

Don’t accept half-hearted efforts or half-completed jobs. If you think your child is capable of putting the cat food back in the fridge and placing the spoon in the dishwasher then insist that he or she does just that, rather than leaving the cat food on the sink. A job properly done is valued in the world of work, which they will eventually enter.

Rebrand the term ‘chore’ as ‘help’

The term ‘chore’ definitely has an image problem. Use the term ‘help’ as it is easier on the ear and really does indicate what you want from your kids

by Michael Grose https://www.parentingideas.com.au/

Congratulations

Congratulations to Madeline (6B) and Eva (3B) and Mr & Mrs Autunno on the safe arrival of their baby brother, Oliver Jude.

Public Holiday

A reminder that Monday 4 March is a Public Holiday for Labour Day weekend. Labour Day is an annual public holiday that celebrates the eight-hour working day, a victory for workers in the mid-late 19th century. The argument for the eight-hour day was based on the need for each person to have eight hours labour, eight hours recreation and eight hours rest.

Prayer for the Week

A Parent’s Prayer

Loving God,
You are the giver of all we possess, the source of all of our blessings. We thank and praise you.
Thank you for the gift of our children.
Help us to set boundaries for them, and yet encourage them to explore.
Give us the strength and courage to treat each day as a fresh start.
May our children come to know you, the one true God,
and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
May your Holy Spirit help them to grow in faith, hope, and love,
so they may know peace, truth, and goodness.
May their ears hear your voice.
May their eyes see your presence in all things.
May their lips proclaim your word.
May their hearts be your dwelling place.
May their hands do works of charity.
May their feet walk in the way of Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord.
Amen.

Did you Know?

A lobsters blood is colourless, but when exposed to oxygen it turns blue.
The longest recorded flight of a chicken was 13 seconds.
The most commonly used letter in the alphabet is E.
The three most common languages in the world are Mandarin Chinese, Spanish and English.

Thought for the Week

“Creativity is especially expressed in the ability to make connections, to make associations, to turn things around and express them in a new way.” –Tim Hansen