St James Learning and Teaching 

Library

What an amazing year it has been in the library! 

Thank you to each and every one of you who contributed and joined us in the library this year. As always the gracious donations from our school community have significantly expanded our library collection. 

Returning Books

As we are in Week 6, it is time for us to start collecting all outstanding books. As of this week, all classes have finished borrowing. When your child comes home this week they will have their last borrowed book, please enjoy the rich text and ensure your child returns it in their next library lesson. 

Thank you 

Mandi and Ange in the Library

Sport

Hello Everyone,

The Swimming Program is fast approaching please ensure you have respond to each of the Operoos sent as well as completed the survey sent via Operoo in the permission email and also as a reminder. The link can also found below. 

St James Swimming Program:

The St James Swimming Program for Prep-Year 5 will be held from Monday 18th November to Wednesday 27th November except for the planning day which is Friday 22nd November. The Year 6 Program will be held from Monday 25th November until Wednesday 27th November. Year 6 will also participate in a surf lifesaving program on Thursday 21st November. Information in regards to this will be sent separately.

It is expected that all children participate in the Swimming Program, as it is recognised as an important part of their personal development and their attainment of life skills.  If a child has to miss an individual session, an email will be required stating the reason for their absence.  If a child cannot participate in the program at all, it will be necessary to provide information to classroom teachers and myself as to why this might be the case.

Teachers at the swimming school will try to ensure that the level of the program will suit the child's individual needs.  In order to support students being placed in the correct groups please complete the following google form by the end of Term as soon as possible.

Bluefit Swimming Program Survey

The program will be held at Sandringham Leisure Centre - 150 Tulip Street Cheltenham - Phone: (03) 9584 3777, where the St James Swimming Carnival will also be held on Thursday 28th November. 

Further information in regards to the Swimming Carnival will be sent separately. 

Bus schedule and lesson timetable is as follows:  

During the swimming program, appetites usually increase and the younger children often get very tired, as there is a great deal of energy expended. Particularly at this time, it is very important that all children get to bed early. House coloured caps are compulsory for the actual swimming carnival and are available for purchase from the office @ $8:00 each. They are not required for the lead up swimming program, but it is recommended that students wear a swimming cap at all times when in the pool. Swimming goggles are also a necessity for swimming lessons. Over the two week program, all students wear their Sports Uniform for ease of changing. Please ensure your child wears their bathers under their sports uniform, as this ensures a fast start to our lessons. Whilst children must wear runners to school, they also need to bring thongs or slides to change into before they depart on the bus. All clothing & possessions are to be clearly labelled i.e., towels, bathers, sports uniforms, underwear and thongs. Please ensure that all swimming belongings are in a bag other than the school bag and that this bag has your child's name clearly visible.

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to discuss with your class teacher.

The St James Swimming Carnival will be held on Thursday 28th November.  An Operoo has been sent with all details. A further Operoo has been sent to all parents of students in Year 2-6 in regards to swimming in 50m events. If you would like further information in regards to this please do not hesitate to contact me. 

Mrs Georgia McNamara

Deputy Principal - Sport Co-Ordinator/ Senior Physical Education Teacher

WELLBEING

Embracing Mistakes: A Guide for Parents

Dear Parents,

Making mistakes is a natural part of growing up, and it’s an important lesson for our children. The book Failing Forward by John C. Maxwell emphasises that mistakes can lead to growth and success. We often put a lot of emphasis on success but we fail to note that most people don’t succeed because they are too afraid of failure. If your child adopts a fear of failure, then their life is less likely to be successful. Here are some key takeaways to help our kids learn to embrace their mistakes:

1. Redefine Mistakes

Help children understand that mistakes are not failures; they are opportunities to learn. Cathy Freeman, the Olympic champion, faced setbacks in her career but used them as stepping stones. After her initial disappointment in the 1996 Olympics, she came back stronger, teaching us the importance of learning from every experience.

2. Model Resilience

Show your child how you handle your own mistakes. Steve Waugh, the former Australian cricket captain, faced numerous challenges throughout his career. He openly discusses how he learned from failures and setbacks, sharing stories that demonstrate resilience and determination.

3. Encourage a Growth Mindset

Teach children to have a growth mindset, believing they can improve with effort and practice. Adam Goodes, an AFL legend, faced criticism and challenges throughout his career but continued to work hard and improve. His story highlights the importance of persistence and believing in oneself.

4. Create a Safe Space

Make sure your home is a safe environment where children feel comfortable expressing their feelings about mistakes. Jessica Watson, the young sailor who circumnavigated the globe solo, encountered many challenges along the way. She openly discusses her fears and mistakes, demonstrating that it's okay to talk about struggles.

5. Set Goals Together

Help your child set realistic goals that include room for mistakes. Margaret Court, one of the greatest tennis players in history, set ambitious goals throughout her career. She faced defeats but always set new targets, showing that setting goals is a crucial part of growth.

6. Celebrate Small Wins

Acknowledge and celebrate the small victories along the way, even if they come after mistakes. Dame Edna Everage, played by Barry Humphries, teaches us to find humour and joy in the little things, reminding us to celebrate progress in all forms, even after setbacks.

7. Teach Problem-Solving Skills

When your child makes a mistake, guide them through the process of figuring out what to do next. Dr. Fiona Wood, a renowned plastic surgeon and burns specialist, faced many obstacles in her career. She used her challenges to innovate and solve complex problems, teaching us the importance of critical thinking and adaptability.

Conclusion:

By helping our children embrace mistakes, we prepare them for a future where they can tackle challenges with confidence. Let’s work together to foster resilience and a love for learning!

We need our children to fail forward as John Maxwell says. Not to just give up after failure. It is natural to fear failure, especially in Australian culture and tall poppy syndrome is prevalent. Many of the people I mentioned above as examples, were often rejected by Australian society, we are all tempted to reject people or even ourselves who in our eyes are failures. But as Jesus teaches in the Gospel, burying your talent in the sand will not serve you, nor will it serve others or the greater good. In fact he goes on to say that the master calls those who do nothing as “wicked and lazy”. He calls them wicked because they secretly believed that the master would die on his perilous journey, as many did in those days, and then they could keep the money for themselves. So they are actually just self serving and lazy. The message encourages us to take risks and engage with the world, contributing to the greater good instead of being passive. Rather we can make a mistake but keep moving forward, not stationary nor moving backwards.

So we need to encourage our children to love their mistakes, they are simply red flags that indicate something is missing here and needs addressing. Running from mistakes, attacking others, attacking self, lying, withdrawing do not serve us or others or the greater good. We do not reject anyone after they fail, even ourselves, we get up and keep failing forward.

Kind Regards

Corey Payton

School Chaplain