Principal’s Report – Issue 33

Dear Parents

Sacrament of Reconciliation

Next week, the students in Year Three will receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time. The students, their families and their teachers have been preparing for many weeks for this significant celebration in their faith journey.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available to all baptised Catholics in Catholic Churches around the world. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is normally available each weekend at times prescribed by the parish. In the Catholic Church today, the Sacrament of Reconciliation is celebrated through one of three ‘rites’. The First Rite involves only the priest and the penitent – the person confessing his/her sins.  The penitent confesses his/her sins and receives forgiveness. This is the way the Year Three children have been preparing for and will receive, the Sacrament for the first time.  

The Second Rite is a communal celebration that includes all the elements of the First Rite of Reconciliation.  Normally students participate in this celebration with their classes. It involves listening and sharing the Gospel, an individual reconciliation and a thanksgiving response at the conclusion of the celebration.

The Third Rite is a communal celebration that does not include an individual reconciliation. This form of Reconciliation can only be celebrated with the permission of the Bishop of the Diocese.

We especially thank Fr Greg, the Sacramental Team, led by Mrs Faith Rico and the Year Three Teachers, Miss Melissa Myles and Miss Yen Wong for their efforts this year.

Today is All Saints Day!
As Catholics, we begin November by remembering those who have died. We call the first two days of November All Saints Day and All Souls Day. Today is a great day in the Church year because it is ‘All Saints Day’. Today, we remember all of those saints now in Heaven, both known and unknown, and reflect on their lives. Saints are great role models. Saints hold a special position within the life of the Church. In Christian belief, a saint is someone who has a deep commitment to Christ and the power of God has been experienced through the saint by others in some way. Such divine power may have been experienced through miracles, an inspirational example or some extraordinary work. Getting into Heaven isn’t easy. But, in the end, it certainly is worth all the effort in the world!

Feast of All Souls
Friday is All Souls Day. This feast, dating back to the 11th Century, is a time to remember all of the faithfully departed and pray that they are now in the grace of God. God certainly is Love and He is mercy. The only thing we can do is trust in Him and pray for our loved ones. Throughout this month we have the opportunity for us all to pray for those who have passed away.

Interschool Athletics Carnival
Congratulations to all the students who participated in the Interschool Athletics Carnival last week. Our school received second place overall. What a fantastic achievement, with the girls winning their section of the Interschool competition and the boys coming fourth. We have received many positive comments about the sportsmanship, teamwork and fantastic behaviour of all the Interschool competitors.

Preparation for such an event involves much time, effort and enthusiasm. We especially thank Mrs Kate Witkowski who organised and co-ordinated the training sessions that took place in the mornings before school this term. We also thank the many teachers who assisted with the Athletics programme in some way over the past two terms.

Kindergarten Information Evening
There will be a Kindergarten Information Night on Tuesday 20 November in the School Hall commencing at 6.00pm for all parents of children attending Kindergarten in 2019.  The Kindergarten Information Night will provide parents with the opportunity to find out more about the school and the Kindergarten program in 2019.

China Day
As parents are aware, tomorrow we celebrate China Day. All our classes have planned activities and learning experiences around some form of cultural experience based on China. We have been keeping in regular contact with Our Sister School friends in China at the Sports Park Campus of Hangzhou Chang Jiang Experimental Primary School. This week we received a number of letters from the students from some of the students at our sister school, introduced themselves to our Year Three students, in letters that were written in both English and Chinese! I also received the letter below from Principal Gan. It is really positive learning experience for our children at Infant Jesus School to establish these ‘international’ relationships. The children are enjoying sharing their knowledge about Australia and what we are doing here at Infant Jesus School.

Our celebration tomorrow aims to further develop and recognise our close links with our near neighbours and to celebrate our partnership with Sports Park Campus of Hangzhou Chang Jiang Experimental Primary School in China.

The day will commence in classrooms with children exploring similarities and differences between our culture and the Chinese culture. This includes links to the HASS outcomes in the curriculum for all year levels.

The learning aims to develop students’ knowledge and understanding of the people and cultures of the Asia region. As connected learners children recognise the diversity within and between the countries in this area of the world. The learning enriches their lives and equips them with the skills to engage effectively with peoples of the Asia region.

After recess classes from Pre-Primary to Year Six will rotate and visit various rooms to participate in activities that have originated in China as well as celebrating many aspects of the Chinese culture.

Our canteen will be serving food with a Chinese ‘flavour’ including spring rolls and fried rice. Please be aware that the usual canteen menu will not be available tomorrow, Friday 2 November.

After the China Day tomorrow, we should have a lot of information to share with our Sister School.

Parent Volunteers Mass & Morning Tea
On Thursday 22 November, a Volunteers’ Mass followed by a morning tea will be held in the school hall to say ‘Thank You’ to all the parents who have assisted with school activities throughout year.

We recognise that parents are a very important link between home and school and we greatly value and appreciate the support they have provided the staff and students of Infant Jesus School. It is tremendous to have this level of interest displayed in the development of both the children and the school as a whole. Many activities could not be planned without their involvement and generous commitment of time and energy. To all our parent helpers – THANK YOU.

Attached is an invitation to everyone who has volunteered at Infant Jesus School during 2018. To assist with catering please RSVP to the school office by 20 November, 2018.  https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=Iy-FxTM2KU-zhlHaU-NeI2_eQieF-KhGs26VsZBufqFUMklUMlYwS01QTkpWVEhRNFNWR1czUkRDTC4u

Staffing
We would like to announce that Mrs Penny Storey has announced her retirement after 18 years of service.

Penny has been a part of the Infant Jesus School community for a number of years. She is a very friendly and warm person by nature, who always strives to establish a supportive rapport with all the children and families she has worked with. Penny’s service and role in the school and the community, cannot be praised highly enough. She has been critical to helping many families at Infant Jesus School over many years. We wish Penny and her family all the very best for the future as she embarks on this next phase of her life.

Remembrance Day
On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918 an armistice was signed that stopped the fighting in World War I. Since then, and after World War II, this day of remembrance became known as ‘Remembrance Day’ so we can remember the people who have died in all wars.
On Friday 9 November at 11.00am, the school community will participate in a Remembrance Day prayer service which will be held in the Piazza. Parents and community members are most welcome to attend.

From My Readings This Week…

Make your Compliments Count
Michael Grose

Here’s a story about how a few well-chosen words had a huge impact on a child, with an explanation of how you can do the same.

I overheard a friend tell her eight-year old daughter last week: “You did such a good job helping your brother yesterday. You are such lovely big sister!” My friend’s face was lit up with a big warm smile. At the same time, she gently put her hand on her daughter’s shoulder as she spoke. The little girl beamed, and then happily went off to play. It was a simple parenting moment among many that my friend would have initiated that day. I couldn’t help thinking that it doesn’t take much to nurture a child’s self-esteem and create good feelings at home. Compliments, when given sincerely, have an enormous impact on those who receive them. We all grow a little taller, at least inside, when we receive them. We also feel closer to the person giving them.

Compliments satisfy the deep craving we all have to be appreciated. They are easy to give, but they are also easy not to give.

We forget.

We underestimate their impact. We haven’t developed the habit of giving compliments.

There were two things my friend did that amplified the impact of the compliment. Firstly, she smiled as she gave it. Secondly, she touched her daughter as well. Touch will always amplify a compliment. It makes it personal.

Her mother’s smile showed her daughter how her mum really felt. In fact, the touch and smile said it all. The words justified the smile and touch. The compliment was given and received through three senses – visually, kinaesthetically and auditory.

That’s how kids will process all your messages – they see, they feel, they hear. We often focus on the words and forget the visual and kinaesthetic.

Next time, your child does something worthwhile take the time to give a sincere compliment. Smile and add a little touch to really let them know how you feel. Watch your child’s reaction.

I promise it will have a significant impact. It doesn’t take much to touch their little hearts.

Prayer for the Week
Dear God,
Open my eyes so I may see
and feel your presence close to me.
Give me strength for my stumbling feet
as I battle the crowd on life’s busy street,
and widen the visions of my unseeing eyes
so in passing faces I’ll recognise
not a stranger, unloved and unknown,
but a friend with a heart that is much like my own.
Give me perception to make me aware
that scattered profusely on life’s thoroughfare
are the best gifts of God that we daily pass by
as we look at the world with an unseeing eye.
Amen

Did you Know?

  • The silk that is produced by spiders is stronger than steel.
  • The chances of an exact duplication of fingerprints are about 64 billion to 1.
  • Most of the world’s people must walk at least three hours to fetch water.

Thought for the Week
A word of encouragement during a failure is worth
more than an hour of praise after success

As we work towards the end of the 2018 school year, let us all keep reminding ourselves that our children are learning through inquiry, targeted and explicit teaching as well as through hands-on, problem-solving and play experiences. Each child, teacher and staff member has grown throughout the year and we are thankful for what we are and have achieved.

Have a Great Week

 

Paul Hille
Principal

#ExpectGreatThings

© Infant Jesus School 2017
17 Smith St, Morley WA 6062
Tel: (08) 9276 1769 | Fax: (08) 9276 2998

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