Principal’s Report – Issue 34

Dear Parents

This week, I would like to make mention of two groups of people who rarely get the accolades and thanks for the contributions they make to the effective running of this school. Their jobs are vital and greatly assist the students and teachers within the community. The first group is the Teacher Assistants.

Education Assistants
The Teacher Assistants’ role within a school is to support the classroom teacher and the students. They perform this duty in many ways from taking small group work, to making teaching aids, to cleaning up after the children, to caring for the individual needs of our students and carrying out school duties. Our Education Assistants possess many qualities and attributes, which include patience, versatility, flexibility, initiative and industriousness. These are only but a few of their skills for diverse roles in which they perform each and every day at Infant Jesus School. Through the involvement of our Teacher Assistants the children within our school benefit tremendously.

Administration Staff
As the first-point-of-contact, the office staff provide the interface between the school and the public. To keep a school, such as ours, running smoothly, much time and effort is required. The ‘Office Staff’ willingly give of themselves each day to ensure the day-to-day operations of the school are carried out. On many occasions the ladies in the office go beyond their normal duties to assist many different groups within the school and parish community.

Among some of the numerous duties they perform, they are the ‘face of the school’ and the first point of call for all families, especially new families and parents. They are also the ‘emergency centre’ when a child injures themselves in the playground. The office staff are imperative in ensuring communication between home and school is maintained.

We are fortunate to have both these groups of people working at Infant Jesus School and certainly value their efforts and appreciate the difference they make to the lives of others and the functioning of the school.

Infant Jesus School P&F Association
The Parents’ and Friends’ Association is an integral part of the Catholic School structure and is a valuable instrument in the Church’s ministry of education. This year we have once again been fortunate to have a very dedicated and collaborative P&F Association. We especially thank the Executive Committee of:

Mrs Marisa Gullini (President)
Mrs Kristy Di Nella (Vice President)
Mrs Jenny Allpike (Treasurer)
Mrs Filippa Ciano (Secretary)
Mrs Nicole Mammone (Board Representative)

Marisa and her team have done an outstanding job in implementing a few new ideas and generating the IJ Spirit here at our school. All their undertakings this year have been most successful, and the meetings led by the Marisa and her team have been purposeful and productive. The Parent Class Representatives have been most supportive of the P&F Executive and have assisted in the distribution of information as well as trying to generate a little bit of interaction between the parents of the cohort. The Mother and Daughter Camp and the Father and Son Camp were hugely successful and continue to grow from strength to strength.

In 2018, the P&F Association supported the School Board with the funds to install the Interactive Whiteboards and resources for our children’s classrooms. The P&F Association have given $25,000 to the school to go towards these resources. To all involved with the P&F Association this year – THANK YOU!

We congratulate the executive committee for their efforts throughout the year. Their enthusiasm and commitment has been exceptional and I sincerely thank them all for their support this year. We also thank all the various members of the different sub-committees for their assistance and all those who regularly attend the meetings to lend a hand.

As parents are aware, the P&F Association will hold their Annual General Meeting in conjunction with the School Board on Tuesday, 27 November. The Parents’ and Friends’ Association is an integral part of the Catholic School structure and is a valuable instrument in the Church’s ministry of education. To ensure its effectiveness, the Association should:

Strive to develop at the school a ‘real’ community of parents, teachers and students, which reflects a truly Christian ethos.
Work closely with the School Principal and staff as much as possible and ask for guidance as to their funding priorities and to achieve common goals.
Endeavour to have all parents enjoy the exciting experience of their children’s formal school years by active participation and personal involvement in the school programs.
In particular, concern itself with further education for the parents of the school in their faith development and ensure that a clear understanding of the school’s religious education program exists.
Assist in planning and organising functions associated with the social, sporting, cultural and educational life of the school community.
Work to provide additional resources, which are considered necessary for the children or to assist the teachers in their professional work.

Parents are encouraged to nominate for a position on the P&F Committee for 2019 and assist with the valuable contribution the P&F Association make to Infant Jesus School community. Nomination forms for positions on the Infant Jesus School P&F Association will be distributed to the community next week.

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.

This year marks the Centenary of the Armistice – 100 years since the end of World War 1. This Sunday 11 November is a significant day and many ceremonies will be held around Australia to commemorate Remembrance Day.

On Remembrance Day we think about the soldiers, service men and women who died or were wounded not just in World War I and II but in other battles since. With so much loss of life, war makes people very sad.

Tomorrow we will gather as a school community in the Piazza for a Remembrance Day Reflection. This Reflection will be led by the Year Six students and will include

a Gospel Reading and prayers
laying of wreaths
the Ode of Remembrance
the Last Post
a minute of silence
Reveille
raising the flag
the Australian National Anthem

The Ode of Remembrance is the fourth verse of Laurence Binyon’s Poem For the Fallen and its recital has become a traditional part of remembrance services in Australia, New Zealand, Britain, Canada and the US.

The Last Post is a lone bugle call synonymous with war and is one of a number of bugle calls in military tradition. While Reveille signals the start of the soldier’s day, the Last Post proclaims its end. The Lost Post is sounded at funeral and memorial services as a final farewell and symbolises that the duty of the dead is over and they can rest in peace. All flags are lowered to half-mast during the Last Post. After a minute’s silence flags are raised to the masthead as the Rouse is played.

Red artificial poppies are often worn as a mark of respect on Remembrance Day and Anzac Day. The Flanders poppy was among the first plants to spring up from the devastated WWI battlefields of northern France and Belgium at the end of WWI. The displays of poppies in these battlefields fields was amazing and had never been seen before.

You may also notice that many people wear fresh rosemary sprigs on their hat and clothes on Remembrance Day and Anzac Day. This aromatic herb is believed to have properties to improve memory, which is why it became a symbol of remembrance in literature and folklore. Rosemary can also be found growing wild on the Gallipoli peninsula.

Parents and community members are most welcome to join us for the Remembrance Day Reflection tomorrow at 11.00am in the Piazza.

Remembrance Day Prayer
Heavenly Father,
We remember with gratitude those who went to war.
We remember with sadness how they suffered.
We remember with sorrow how their lives changed forever.
We pray now for the future.
We pray that all members of the Australian community learn to walk forward together.
We pray that we will all stand up and be counted and be always ready with a helping hand for those in need.
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord who shows us the ways of peace.
Amen.

Annual Community Meeting
As parents are aware, our Annual Community Meeting will take place on Tuesday 27 November at 7.00pm. Contained within the next few newsletters we will share some further information about the ACM, as well as details about the election process for positions on either the School Board or the P&F Association Executive and Committee. We encourage parents to consider assisting the school community by serving on one of these committees.

Kindergarten Information Night

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.

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 using the following link by 20 November, 2018.
Click on this link

Infant Jesus Family
Congratulations to Asha Beaton (3W) and her family on the arrival of their baby boy Jack.

From My Readings This Week…

Teach Boys the Process of Independence

If you want your kids to become independent, first you need to teach them the necessary skills. Being able to dress themselves, make a snack, look up a bus timetable and make a CV are examples of self-sufficiency skills that are important at different stages of their lives.

But they won’t just learn these on their own. Awareness, teaching and opportunity are the main requirements that motivate kids to develop their skills. First, they need to be aware that there is a task that needs to be completed. Then they need to actually acquire the skills needed for that task – some will take more teaching than others. Finally, they need the opportunity to complete the task by putting those skills into practice.

There is however, a deeper level you can go to help them grow more independent. You can help your kids develop critical thinking processes that actually create independence. If they don’t have these, they will always be relying on others regardless of their own ability and skills. The three key processes of independence are:

Planning Ahead
The ability to think ahead and plan in advance is essential for true independence. What are the three things you need to get ready for school? What do you need to do to complete your homework in time for the weekend? Help kids get into the habit of thinking ahead by helping them visualise scenarios in their heads and predict various outcomes, so they can become more proactive and accountable. Otherwise kids will just rely on others to tell them what to do and when.

Procedural Thinking
The trouble with everything being instantly available and ready-made is that kids don’t see the steps and procedures required to make, bake or do anything. It also means kids don’t develop procedural self-talk (‘that comes first, when I’ve done that now I need to do this’) because they’ve never needed to develop abilities like sorting, sequencing and planning that are required to complete complex tasks.

Self-organisation
The ability to get yourself organised is paramount to real independence from others. Forgetful kids usually don’t have a process for remembering important details. My adult son came to stay recently and placed his car keys in the refrigerator on top of his six pack of beer that he wanted to take with him. His method may have been unorthodox, but he has a working system for remembering where his keys are!

If you want your kids to become truly independent, you have to think in terms of processes as well as skills. Kids learn by example, so they will most likely pick up a great deal of good organisational processes just by watching you. But you may also need to do some direct teaching, particularly with boys who by nature tend to be a little organisationally-challenged!

Prayer for the Week
Last week we celebrated the Feast of All Saints. 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 by others in some way. Such divine power may have been experienced through miracles, inspirational example or some extraordinary work. The following reflection helps us to remember and celebrate these holy men and women and their faith. We are also reminded of how we need to be in our lives.

Most loving God
We thank you for the example of the Saints
who in their
living of the Gospel were a witness
to the human dignity of each person.
They always faced
life’s challenges
with faith and courage
May we follow
their example and
give of ourselves
to those in need.
Stay with us and encourage us
to be witnesses to your
on-going presence in the world by the way we live.
Amen

Did you Know?

Strawberries have more Vitamin C than oranges
If you keep a goldfish in the dark, it will eventually turn white
Most of the world’s people must walk at least three hours to fetch water.

Thought for the Week
There are three important qualities of a good family.
These are love, cooperation, and positive expectations.
So it should be in a good school.
William Cooper Smith

Have a Great Week