SCHOOL NEWS
Learning
Kindy News
The children have settled well into the routines and have begun to make lots of new friends.
This term we will focus on developing oral language skills and confidently share experiences, feelings and ideas with teachers and peers. The children are encouraged to recognise and attempt to write their names. They will be learning about letter sounds and concepts of print. During shared reading we will be emphasise the title, author and illustrator of the story and discuss where the starting point is when reading.
During the term we will explore mathematical concepts including patterns, counting using 1:1 correspondence and number recognition. We will introduce different forms of measurement by measuring the height and weight of the children using standard and non-standard units ( e.g. using blocks or string to measure their height).
This term, we will be focusing on the concept of 'I am Special'. We will be exploring who we are, what we like, our special gifts and why God has made us all unique. The children have started to hand in their 'I am Special' posters.
As the term progresses, we will also be exploring 'Growing and Changing' and 'New Life'. We will be comparing ourselves to when we were a baby and looking at all the things we can do now that we couldn’t do as a baby.
We will also be exploring the different emotions we have and how we can show these emotions in appropriate ways. For example, if we are happy we can smile. We will then identify how we can care for ourselves so we are healthy and feel good. Eating the right food, getting enough sleep, keeping ourselves clean and having regular exercise will help us feel happy and energised.
Later in the term as part of our 'Growing and Changing' topic, we will be involved in the chicken hatching program, where the children will be observing chickens hatching and developing at Kindy. We will be developing the children’s curiosity, wonder and focus on new beginnings and new life. This will lead us to learn about Jesus and his ‘New Life’ at Easter.
Engagement
Lego Mania!
If any families have unused Lego blocks/pieces at home the school would love to take them off your hands. Please drop any Lego donations to the box in the Library.
Drone Needed:
The school requires a drone to film above the school and to travel around our grounds for one of the videos planned to highlight our vibrant community, in future publications. and showcased on our school website.
If you have a drone that is able to do this - with the attachments required - please contact Paul Hille at the school.
Music News
Congratulations to the Choir on their first performance at the Commissioning Mass held last Thursday. The students strove for excellence, performing with vibrance and demonstrating great potential as leaders of the Arts Programme. It is wonderful to see such unbridled enthusiasm for the Choir at Infant Jesus School. It shows how our Music Programme is moving from strength to strength each year.
It is a big commitment to be part of the Choir and once chosen to commit it is imperative to remain a member for the duration of the year. A letter shall be sent home shortly for students to sign to confirm their commitment. The Choir is only open to children from Years 4-6. However, from those enthusiasts, singing lessons are being offered this term Wednesday afternoon 3.10-3.50pm in the Hall. These lessons are available for all year levels, there are limited spaces available so please contact me if you are interested.
Nicole Boddy
boddy.nicole@cathednet.wa.edu.au
School Banking
School Banking will be held on Tuesday mornings between 8.00am and 8.20am in the old Uniform Shop room. Great new rewards are out this year!
We are looking for volunteers! If you are able to help out on a few mornings or have any queries regarding the school banking please contact Maria Bellesini on 0410 151 110 or mariabellesini@bigpond.com
Thank you to the volunteers that have put their hand up to help again this year – Belinda Poat, Natasha D’Souza, Nicole Oakley, Billie Dewitt and Natasha Radice.
P & F News
Our first P&F meeting for 2017 will be held on Tuesday 21 February at 7pm in the school office. We would love to see as many parents there as possible. The main agenda items for the meeting will be the Welcome Back Picnic and proposed fundraising for 2017.
P&F SUB COMMITTEES
As you will remember the P&F now has four sub-committees which parents are welcome to join at any time. These are :
• Social Committee
• Fundraising Committee
• IJ Care
• Parent Education
If you wish to assist on any of the above committees please email Nicola Cecchele at president.pafc@gmail.com. Information in relation to proposed meetings will be published in the Veritas, so please keep an eye out for meeting dates.
PARENT CLASS REPRESENTATIVES
We hope you were able to listen to the presentations about this role at this week’s Parent Information Night. If you are interested in being a Parent Representative this year, please get your nomination forms in to the school office by Tuesday 14 February 2017. Nomination forms are also available from the school office.
WELCOME BACK PICNIC
The traditional Infant Jesus School Family Picnic will be held on Friday the 24 February, 5:30pm - 7:30pm on the school oval. We have several food trucks joining us - thanks to Hey Pesto, Vinces Pizza and Mr Whippy for coming along!
There will also be a bouncy castle, obstacle course and face painting to entertain the kids. Children are welcome to use the play equipment at parents’ discretion and with parent supervision. We look forward to seeing you all there!
FAMILY CAMP
Family Camp 2017 is looking to get organised a little earlier this year, with the first meeting to be held Monday 20 February at 32 Browning Street, Yokine at 7.30pm.
We would love to see anyone who is interested in joining the committee or even just helping out with input and ideas to attend. Please SMS Linda on 0433 925 857 if you are able to attend, or would like to pass on a message.
Accountability
VOLUNTEERS WORSHOP
A Volunteer Workshop will be held on Thursday 16 February at 9.00am in the School Hall for parents wishing to help in the classroom or attend excursions with classes.
All parents who have not attended previously, need to attend the volunteer workshop if they wish to support classrooms with special activities. Please notify the office if you wish to attend this workshop.
Protective Behaviour Workshop
As mentioned at the Parent Night, our Protective Behaviours Program of work will commence in Term Two. We have arranged a Parent Night for all parents to explore the program and what Protective Behaviours means for your children.
Venue :
Carmelite Gathering Place (The School Hall)
Date & Time: February 23 - 6:30pm-8:30pm
Cost: Free
If you are attending this parent night please fill in your details on the following form so that we can cater for numbers.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LXW8YGB
My eDiary - Year 3-6
The MyEDiary App brings the power of push notifications to your school’s eDiary. The My eDiary has been introduced to all students in Year 3-6. On Monday afternoon the parent component of the diary will be pushed to all parents in Year 3-6.
A parent afternoon will be held on Wednesday 15 February from 3:30- 4:30pm to assist in information regarding the new school digital diary.
For parents not able to attend this meeting please view Links to Parent Information Slide.
How to view homework - http://help.myediary.com.au/article/54-how-can-i-view-my-childs-homework-in-the-ediary
How to send messages to teachers - http://help.myediary.com.au/article/75-how-can-i-send-a-message-to-my-childs-teacher
How to use the app - http://help.myediary.com.au/article/144-myediary-mobile-view-parents
Discipleship
FEAST DAY OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES 11 FEBRUARY
Each year over 2 million people make their way through the mountainous country of southeastern France to Lourdes. They come seeking cures, hoping to find answers, believing, and praying. At Lourdes, people recall the Lady dressed in white, with a blue sash, yellow roses at her feet, and a Rosary on her arm—the Blessed Virgin Mary.
On February 11, 1858, Mary appeared to 14-year-old Bernadette Soubirous. This was the first of 18 visits, many of them with 20,000 people present. When Bernadette asked the Lady’s identity, she replied, “I am the Immaculate Conception.” Just four years earlier, the pope had proclaimed it a dogma that Mary was conceived immaculate without original sin. The Blessed Virgin, through Bernadette, had come to call sinners to a change of heart. Her message was a request for prayer and penance. She also instructed Bernadette to tell the priests that a chapel was to be built on the site and processions held.
On February 25, 1858, the Lady told Bernadette to dig in the dirt and drink of the stream. Bernadette began to dig, and after several attempts she was able to find the water to drink. The water continued to flow from where she had dug with her hands until it was producing over 32,000 gallons of water a day—as it still does. There have been over 5,000 cures recorded but less than 100 of them have been declared miraculous by the Church. Most of these have taken place during the blessing with the Blessed Sacrament.
Today we celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. We may never travel to Lourdes and join in the processions, but we can know always that we have a Mother to help us and lead us to her Son, Jesus. And so we pray to her:
Grant us, O merciful God, protection in
our weakness,
that we, who keep the Memorial of the
Immaculate Mother of God,
may, with the help of her intercession,
rise up from our iniquities.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity
of the Holy Spirit,
One God, for ever and ever.
(Collect Prayer from the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes)
Parish News
UP FROM THE WATER
6 Week programme for Lent - especially for Infant Jesus School parents – with Billie.
This year, spend some time with other younger parents and with the words of Jesus by joining me on Tuesday mornings once a week from 28 February until 4 April. This programme is a beautiful reflective time which will give you a much needed opportunity to step out of your busy life and reflect on the things which really matter to you. The reflection will last about 1 hour and then I invite you to join me for a delicious morning tea, if you have time. The cost of the 6 weeks is only $7.00.
I would love you to come! Please call me to let me know or to answer any questions. 0458 388505.
WELCOME BACK TO CHILDREN’S LITURGY
Children’s liturgy is for all small people between the ages of 3 years and 8 years. At the beginning of Mass, the children will gather at the sanctuary, then proceed to the parish centre for their own age-appropriate Liturgy of the Word. They will rejoin the congregation at the Offertory procession. Please encourage your young ones to join in.
MORLEY YOUTH GROUP
Infant Jesus Parish 24:7 Morley Youth Group
All youth in Years 6-12 are invited join us this Friday night, 6-8pm in the Parish Hall! For more info call Roger 0434 988 711 or Elizabeth 0410 554 393
Good God....It's Morning!
No! Good Morning God!
All depends on prayer. Begin with it and end with it.
Mary MacKillop 1980
Today God has been so good to me
Mary MacKillop 1874
Gratitude is the memory of the heart
Mary MacKillop 1907
Our good God sees the heart
Mary MacKillop 1871
Lord, teach us to pray! (Luke 11:1)
(from Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart Newsletter - Mary MacKillop Page)