Principal's Report

Using our Talents

Which type of person are you, a risk-taker or a security-seeker? Some people really love taking risks, as is instanced in the emergence of extreme sports; these participants love the rush of adrenaline and the feeling of escaping the ordinary. However, most of us are not risk-takers, but security-seekers committed to a lifestyle of playing it safe. Playing life too cautiously could have us fall into the following description:

 

“There was a very cautious man who never laughed or played; he never risked, he never tried, he never sang or prayed. And when he, one day, passed away his insurance was denied; For since he never really lived, They claimed he never died.” Author unknown.

 

Strange as it may seem, Jesus told a story that seemed to encourage risk-taking. The Parable of the Talents tells the story of a wealthy man who was about to go on a long trip. He called his servants and according to their ability, gave one 5000 gold coins, another 2000 gold coins and the other 1000 gold coins. He told each to take care of what had been given to them.

 

The first two servants invested the money and made an equal amount, but the third servant buried his money and made nothing. When the wealthy man returned, he applauded the enterprise of the two servants who had made the successful investments and promoted them to positions of greater responsibility. The third servant he deemed to be useless and threw him out of the household. Paraphrased from Matthew 25: 14 – 30.

 

Risk-taking is actually part of everyday life and is taken for granted in matters from food consumption to travelling by car. The great motivational speaker and author, Zig Ziglar, put it neatly when he said, “It’s risky when a plane leaves the runway, but that’s what planes are for. It’s riskier for the plane to sit there and accumulate rust.” There are shades of the Parable of the Talents in that statement.

The Season of Lent is upon us again and it is a time for us to focus intentionally on what helps or hinders our commitment to Christ. It may be better not to give up something, but to take on something, to build up our spiritual muscles. How about this for taking on something:

 

“There was a woman in Swaziland, Orma Mavimbela, who had a well-paid job in the civil service. She felt called to do something for the AIDS orphans whom she saw daily around her. So, she gave up her job and paid for three feeding centres where children could get a meal, receive some loving care and play games. Pretty risky; what happens when her money runs out?” 

 

Of course, few of us are in a position to do as Orma did, but what can each of us do? We are all made in the image of God, but we may not be so Christ-like in our behaviour. Maybe this Lent we could take part in some minor risk-taking. One more quote from Zig Ziglar:

 

“You will get all you want in life, if you help enough people to get what they need.”

 

“Father in heaven,

May Your love be the foundation and motivating force for my life. Help me to step out of my sheltered life and take Your love to other people in a way that is personal to me. 

Amen.”

Bullying. No Way!

 

Friday, 17 March, marks the 2017 National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence. This annual day gives school a platform to say "Bullying. No Way!" and to reinforce the message that bullying and violence at school are not okay at school, at any time.

 

Parenting educator, Michael Grose, describes bullying as “an insidious behaviour that transgresses children’s natural right to feel safe and secure.” He explains that it can adversely affect children’s learning, emotional well-being, future relationships and self-esteem.

 

It is important to remember that bullying is not to be confused with random acts of violence, conflict, teasing or conflict. According to New South Wales Education and Communities, bullying is defined as repeated verbal, physical, social or psychological behaviour that is harmful and involves the misuse of power by an individual or group towards one or more persons. The key word here is repeated. Children often tease or fight and this should not be confused with bullying.

Listed below are a few tips offered by Michael Grose  on what to do if you suspect your child is being bullied:

 

1. Listen to their story

Children who are bullied need someone to believe their story.  Take them seriously and avoid dismissing complaints as tell-tale. Use common sense to differentiate between bullying and more random, non-selective antisocial acts.  Kids can be nasty to each other, yet this doesn’t constitute bullying.

2.    Deal with their feelings

A child who is bullied probably feels scared, angry and sad.  Boys are more likely to display anger and girls claim they feel sad.  The degree of emotional intensity is an indicator of the amount of bullying. Recognise and validate their emotions.  Let them talk about how they think (remember boys respond better to ‘think’ language) and how it’s normal to feel sad, scared or just plain confused.

 

3.    Get the facts

Get a clear picture of what happens, including who is involved, the frequency and what happens prior to any bullying. Get your child to be as specific as possible by asking good questions. An accurate picture will help you determine your next course of action.

 

4.     Give them coping skills

With a clear picture you can start giving your child some help about how he or she may deal with bullying including using avoidance strategies, being more assertive and changing poor body language.

 

5.      Get the school involved

Bullying is best handled when parents and teachers are involved.  Approach your school through the appropriate channels, make yourself aware of your schools’ anti-bullying procedures and programs.

 

6.      Help build your child’s support networks

Kids need a group of friends to support them when they experience bullying so  look for practical ways to broaden friendship groups.

 

7. Build their self-confidence

Provide children with systematic encouragement.  Let them know through your word

 

Attached below is the School Pastoral Care Policy on Bullying

Digital Transformation LEAD Educator Day

On Tuesday, three Infant Jesus Staff members were invited to present at the Digital Transformation LEAD Educator Day at the Catholic Education Office.  Mitzi Phoebe, Melissa Myles and Renee Allegretto went along to share their knowledge about various digital technologies, including multi touch iBooks, using green screens in the classroom, flexible learning spaces and digital citizenship.  The day was attended by over a 100 teachers and other delegates from Catholic Schools in Western Australia.

Infant Jesus Family

Our congratulations and prayers are with the Kolarikal Family (Joseph 4W, Tessa 1B) on the arrival of a little baby girl Elizia to their family. Blessings on you all.

Family Mass

Many thanks to all the families and staff members that came along to our first Family Mass last weekend at Infant Jesus Parish Church. I know Fr Sunny was very pleased and impressed with the efforts of so many families from the school. We hope to continue to develop these Family Masses over the next few years so that they become an integral part of the Infant Jesus culture.

 

A huge Thank You to Mrs Nicole Boddy for organising and conducting the school choir on the evening. This year the members of the School Choir have made a commitment to attend these school celebrations. I sincerely thank these students and their parents for honouring this commitment.

 

Our next Family Mass is on Saturday 12 August.

Prayer For Lent

Teach us, dear Lord, to number our days

That we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

Oh, satisfy us early with Your mercy

That we may rejoice and be glad all of our days.

And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us.

And establish the work of our hands.

Amen

Parent Teacher Meetings

During Week 8 of this term, parents will have the opportunity to meet with their child/ren’s teachers to discuss their progress so far this year. Parents are encouraged to play an active role in the education of their children and these interviews are an ideal forum in which to help enrich the learning opportunities for students and to build partnerships between home and school.

 

There are many ways parents can find out about their children’s progress at school and some of these include:

  • Formal and informal interviews
  • Reports on student performance (in Term 2 and Term 4)
  • Letters & E-diary
  • SeeSaw portfolio
  • Parent information evenings

 

Parents and the broader community play a vital role in supporting successful learning outcomes for our children. Research tells us that the most meaningful partnerships are those where schools, parents, students and the community work together to focus on student learning. Parent and community engagement that is effectively focused on student learning can deliver powerful outcomes.

Parish Fun Run

The Infant Jesus School Fun Run has become an annual event supporting people in need. The Fun run has typically been an event focussing on global events of natural disaster.

 

This year our school has committed to supporting the Infant Jesus Parish to purchase and upgrading of a new sound system. The close partnership between the parish and the school is highlighted by the words of Pope Francis. Pope Francis explains that the relationship between the family and the Church is so important. He said that the connection between the two is natural, because the Church is a "spiritual family” and the family is a small church. He added that "families and parishes are the two places where we encounter, in every age, that communion of love which has its ultimate source in God.”

 

The ‘Parish Fun Run,’ will be held on Friday 7 April (rescheduled from Friday 24 April) at various times throughout the day. The children in Years 1-3 will run the event during their normal daily fitness times and Years 4-6 will run the event during the normal sport sessions on Friday afternoon. Pre-Primary children will run the event at a time convenient to them.   Three-Year-Old Kindy and Kindy children will have a collection box for donations in their classroom. Children can run, jog, walk, skip etc around the track. Each child will receive a card to record the number of ‘laps’. 

 

In preparation for this event, each student will receive a sponsor sheet that will be sent home this week. Please collect as many sponsors and/or donations as possible. Children can be sponsored per lap – or for a general donation. We hope that you are passionate and continue to support this worthy event.  You can start collecting today!!! 

 

We ask that parents be aware of who and where their children are going to collect sponsors and donations. Relatives and friends are the safest people to ask.

Kindergarten 2018

We are currently accepting Kindergarten enrolment applications for the 2018 school year. Interviews will take place in Term 2.  If you have a child ready to start Kindergarten in 2018 and wish to enrol him/her at Infant Jesus School, please make sure you complete an application form. 

 

It is important to note prospective enrolments that have a brother or a sister already enrolled at Infant Jesus School still need to complete an application form and come in for an interview.

 

Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do… but how much love we put in that action.

 

Mother Teresa 

 

 

Have a great week

 

 

Paul Hille 

Principal