Principal's Report
Celebrate Community
Dear Parents,
Over the past few weeks, I have had many opportunities to reflect on the many aspects of life here at Infant Jesus School…..so many wonderful things transpire and encompass the many facets of our school community.
We have committed staff who continue to provide the highest quality education, with our students making great progress. I am fortunate to share in these achievements on a daily basis when I drop into the classrooms, or when students come to the office to share their successes. I am also very grateful for the many, many hours that our teachers put into preparing and delivering these quality experiences for our students.
We also have students who love coming to school and are involved in so many activities, which not only enhance their learning, but contribute to the development of them as a ‘whole’ person.
Finally, we have parents who freely volunteer their time in so many ways in assisting with various tasks in and out of the classroom.
It is the combination of these three aspects of our school community, who by working collaboratively and positively gives us the confidence and assists us in delivering a quality education to our students.
As a community we come together next Friday 25 August, to celebrate Infant Jesus Day. It is a day that we recognise, honour and acknowledge our heritage and the traditions of our school. It is a special time to appreciate our past and all the people who in different ways have contributed to the vibrant community that we have today. This year we have as our theme “#ExpectGreatThings”. As parents, students and staff are all aware, this has been our driver and motivator for 2017.
Our theme calls us to be the best people we can be. It challenges us to be better tomorrow than we were today. Schools are communities where staff, parents and students come together for the common good, which encompasses the welfare of all and the educational progress of each individual student. As a school, we try and support parents in the education of their children. As parents, we are role models not only to our children, but others associated with this school.
For our school community to offer an environment of harmony, goodwill, opportunity for individual development and the exercise of Christian virtues, it is important that we constantly remind ourselves to think about what we are saying and how we go about saying it, particularly in the presence of children. We look forward to our celebration next week with much pride, but also a sense of gratitude for all the people that have worked so hard to make Infant Jesus School what it is today.
Parents, grandparents, extended family and friends are invited to attend our celebration of Infant Jesus Day on Friday 25 August. Some special guests including Fr Greg (who is replacing Fr Sunny as the Parish Priest), the Dominican sisters and members of the Infant Jesus Parish may join us or the Mass and the Morning Tea. They may also visit classes and stay for the afternoon activities. Please make them feel welcome and have a chat to them when you see them.
On Friday 25 August, all children are required to wear their Winter Uniform (not Sports Uniform) to school.
A reminder to all parents of the safety of the children throughout the day. During the Classroom Open Sessions after recess children are only permitted to visit other classes with their parents who will take responsibility for the time that the children are not in their class. Children will not be permitted to ‘go with a friend.’ Teachers will record the names of children as they return to the class.
Schedule for Infant Jesus Day
9:00 – 10:00am Mass – School Hall
10:00 – 10:30am Morning tea for parents and special guests in the Hall
Recess for children on the Basketball Court
(weather permitting)
11:00am Band and Choir Performance for parents and
special guests in the Hall
Displays in the Hall
Classroom Open Sessions
Parents need to take responsibility for the time that the children are not in their class. Teachers will record the names of children as they return to class. Children are not permitted to ‘go with a friend.’
12:00noon All children return to class.
12:00noon – 12.30pm Lunches (sausage sizzle) distributed to
children in the class.
Parents and guest collect lunch (sausage
sizzle) from the canteen.
Parents may join children who are eating lunch on the school oval (weather permitting)
12:40-1:45pm Mini Fair (All proceeds donated to the Parish)
2:00pm Infant Jesus Day concludes
Normal Classes to resume
Contingency In Case Of Rain
If it does rain on Friday 25 August we will try and remain with the same schedule with the following adjustments:
- Parents may join children who are eating lunch in their classrooms (this is to facilitate children/staff setting up stalls in the under covered areas and the hall).
- Mini Fair - venue for all activities – Hall and Under-covered Areas
- Normal classes will resume at 2.00pm
If your family would like a sausage sizzle please fill out the Form in the link below: http://bit.ly/2vlBrmA
International Visitors
Last Friday, a group of 23 exemplary educators from Xiacheng District Education Bureau of Hangzhou (China). These educators were visiting our school as they were very interested in the work our teachers and students were doing in the use of technology and how teachers are using technology to enhance student learning and student outcomes.
The feedback from our international visiting teachers was extremely positive and they learnt a great deal from their observations and interactions with the students and discussions they had with the staff. They also enjoyed a couple of the workshops that we ran, the tour of the school (facilities) and opportunity to explore the iLab. The students were also very motivated to showcase some of their learning and interact with teachers from another country.
We look forward to continuing to build our relationship with teachers, educators and students from around the globe as we are constantly striving to get the best out of ourselves as teachers and provide greater opportunities for our students.
Performing Arts Festival
Our talented musicians have been practicing hard for the 2017 Catholic Performing Arts Festival with many students already performing in solo or group ensembles.
Next Tuesday, 22 August, the Infant Jesus School Choir and the Year Four Choir will perform in the choral section of the festival. Later that evening the Infant Jesus School Band will take to the stage to perform three items in the concert band section of the festival.
All of our wonderful performers deserve a huge congratulation for their achievements and bravery in showcasing their gifts and talents with the community.
The Infant Jesus School Choir & The Year Four Choir
Tuesday 22 August (2.45pm-4.00pm)
Vasto Club, Balcatta
Infant Jesus Concert Band
Tuesday 22 August (7.00pm-9.30pm)
Marist Auditorium
Newman College
Family Mass
A focus for 2017 for Infant Jesus School is to strengthen the links between the Parish and the School. This Saturday, 19 August at 6.30pm we will hold our second Family Mass for the year. Parents and students have volunteered their services to play an active part in the Mass which is tremendous. Thank you!
Our School Choir who have been working so hard of late and have been extremely busy, will lead the singing!
This is a great occasion for our community to come together as we commence the celebrations for the beginning of the Silver Jubilee of Infant Jesus Church. The Mass is also one of the Commitment Masses for the children who are commencing their preparation to receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist.
I look forward to seeing each and everyone at our Family Mass this Saturday evening.
Silver Jubilee ~ Infant Jesus Church
This year marks the 25th Anniversary of the new Infant Jesus Church. Fr Sunny and the assistant priests, along with the Parish Council and the various active committees within the church are planning for a big celebration to recognise the occasion. Three bishops, including Archbishop Costelloe will be attending the Masses over the weekend of 26 & 27 August. Students from both the School Band and School Choir will be performing directly after the Mass.
We strongly encourage all families to come along for this celebration as it is also Fr Sunny’s last official Mass within the parish of Infant Jesus Morley.
Attached is the Parish Jubilee Week Program.
Prayer for the Week
In Holy Communion, Jesus comes to each one of us. Sharing this mystery together makes us one with each other and one with Jesus. We are joined in a special way with Jesus and the family of God. In the next few weeks our Year Four students will receive this special Sacrament for the very first time. We keep these children and their families in our thoughts as we share the following prayer.
Dear Jesus,
We believe that you rose from the dead
We believe that you are present in the people around us –
our family, our friends and everyone at school.
We believe that we meet you in the Good News in the Bible.
We believe that you are present in the bread of the Eucharist.
We believe that you are truly alive and present in our world.
We believe that you are our God and our friend, that you love us and want to help us in our journey through life.
We ask you to increase our faith and to open our eyes so that we may recognize you in the
Eucharist and in the people, we meet.
Amen.
Year Four Eucharist
The Year Four children are busy preparing to receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist with commitment masses taking place this weekend. On Monday, 21 August, the parish is holding a parent information night for parents of all First Communicants. This evening will enable parents to reflect upon the significance of this sacrament.
On Thursday, 23 August, the Year Four students will travel to the Schoenstatt Shrine to participate in a retreat as part of their preparations for receiving the sacrament. All parents of children in Year Four are welcome to join the children on this excursion.
From my Readings
Do you think that you are a model for your children, as to the type of person they will grow to be? It would seem that even if we don’t see ourselves that way, there is no escape for us: “It’s not only children who grow. Parents do, too. As much as we wish to see what our children do with their lives, they are watching to see what we do with ours.” Joyce Maynard.
Human beings learn primarily through modelling; in fact, we can’t avoid being an example to our children, whether good or bad. So, being a good example is indeed important to our children.
Through parent modelling, children gain information that helps them to identify themselves. A boy is able to see that he has certain things in common with his dad and a girl with her mother. Somewhat subconsciously, they learn that there are two different sexes in life with differing strengths and abilities. Importantly, in adolescence this learning focuses more on behaviour, what is acceptable and responsible and what is not. Parents have a lot of influence in helping their children to become responsible people not only within their family but in society; through their influence on their children, parents do have an influence on society.
Children cannot develop a moral compass unless the people closest to them use the clear, unambiguous language of right and wrong. We should help our children to develop their moral compass by promoting moral activities through our self discipline, our good work habits, our kind and considerate behaviour to others, our community involvement. As parents, we want our children to be responsible for their own character development; our responsibility is to provide the physical and moral environment.
If we pay careful attention to guiding our children’s attitudes by teaching them to have a healthy regard for themselves, then, our children will grow up to be confident, capable and independent individuals. All things considered, “The most important thing that we can teach our children is how to get along without us.” Frank Clark.
Children like parents to provide order in their lives and family meals can be a comforting, regular ritual for all family members, even the family dog. Family meal times should have a calm congenial atmosphere with no arguing or lecturing; they can be a great time for parents to introduce new foods to their children and to act as role models for healthy eating; how important that is for long term health.
By some quirk of language evolution, the word “listen” has the same letters as the word “silent”. If we are to teach our children to be good listeners, which will be of great advantage to their education, we might find this piece of information to be to our advantage.
Did You Know
- The nail of our middle finger grows the fastest and the nail of our thumb grows slowest.
- Antarctica is the only land on our planet that is not owned by any country.
- On average, when asked for a colour, 3 out of 5 people will say red.
Infant Jesus Family
Our prayers and thoughts are with the Petrolo Family (Marcus 5B) and the Pelle Family (Lucas 6W) in the sad loss of their beloved Grandfather who passed away last week. May he rest in peace.
Father's Day Breakfast
Sunday September 3, is Father’s Day – A very significant day as we all know!!!! To recognise the occasion, we would like to hold a ‘Sausage Sizzle Breakfast’ for all of our dads in the school. This will commence at 7.30am on Thursday 31 August.
Following the breakfast there will be a Father's Day Mass in the Infant Jesus Church commencing at 9.00am, that all fathers and grandfathers are welcome to attend.
We encourage all dads to join us on this morning for a bite to eat and a cuppa before heading to work.
Those wishing to attend are asked to fill out the Form in the link below: http://bit.ly/2uFf4Gy
Best Wishes
We take this opportunity to wish Ms Clare Moffat all the very best as she embarks well-deserved Long Service Leave for the remainder of this term.
Have a great time and we look forward to seeing you at the start of Term 4!
Thought for the Week
Do what you can with the means at your disposal and leave the rest calmly to God.
God Bless,
Paul Hille
Principal
#ExpectGreatThings
