Principal's Report

Easter Joy

Welcome back everyone as we commence Term Two. I hope you all had a wonderful Easter with your family and friends. I trust that your holiday break was very restful and that you are now ready for a busy term ahead.

We can now rejoice in the glory of Jesus and the joy he has given us in his resurrection. Easter is not just one day. It is the whole season of 50 days, which will last until Pentecost. Easter time is about new life. We rejoice in the new life of Jesus.

The season of Easter is a very special time in our church year. The Resurrection of Jesus provides us with a great symbol of hope. Jesus has triumphed over death and has returned to us to be a guide to the reality of His Father’s Kingdom of Heaven. His message of ‘love for God and each other’ is very simple but one that many of us fail to be able to completely realize.

Easter, is a reminder that from death (failure) comes the possibility of new life (hope). I hope that you had the chance to celebrate the Hope of the Resurrection with your family over the break and that your time with your children was rewarding as they are living examples of the hope and freshness of New Life.

Expect Great Things

Our theme and motivator for the next few years is Expect Great Things. We want to embed this thinking into all associated with Infant Jesus School, but most importantly our students.

We want to #ExpectGreatThings :

Of ourselves and each other
In the work that we produce and the effort that we apply
In the people that we are striving to become
In the way we treat other people and the conversations that we have
Of our School

Yesterday, we presented every student and staff member in the school with a wrist band which stated:

Infant Jesus School

Expect Great Things

We want all students, staff and parents to be constantly aware of their many gifts and talents and that all of us are capable of Great Things! Students are encourage to wear these wrist bands as part of their school uniform to school each day. Hopefully, when the students are asked about their wrist bands they will be able to speak with great enthusiasm and pride about their school and all that they are doing.

Parents also are encouraged to share the good news about Infant Jesus School and embrace the Expect Great Things philosophy.

Apple Distinguished School

Infant Jesus School is pleased to announce that it has been recognized as an Apple Distinguished School for 2017–2018. This prestigious award is granted to the school for its innovation and technology program and school’s one-to-one iPad program. This program supports the innovative use of technology, where staff and students have opportunities to enrich their learning and teaching experiences in ways that would not otherwise be possible.

Infant Jesus School has a strong and clearly articulated vision that has been implemented by an innovative and forward thinking Leadership Team. The staff at Infant Jesus School, supported by the School Board, have conscientiously planned for the future, building a culture of continuous growth and excellence.

Infant Jesus School has been supportive of emerging leaders by inspiring staff to think differently and re-imagine learning. Staff are encouraged to use contemporary technologies extending beyond the four walls of the classroom. Exemplary and Key Teachers are encouraged to mentor and coach other staff within the school, as well as the West Australian Education System.

Opportunities for school based and personalised professional development to achieve new competencies are supported and celebrated. Our aspiration challenges us as a school to empower leaders, teachers and staff members to rise to the challenges of the 21st Century whilst creating the very best educational environment for their students.

The Leadership Team, with the support of the staff, developed a school improvement plan which detailed professional development for staff in both innovative pedagogy and technological skills. The school saw the benefit of all staff utilising an iPad and a MacBook. which have enabled teachers to create their own content, access online resources and share their journey with others. Aligning with the school’s technology vision, the plan allowed for continuous professional development for staff and students.

Living, Leading and Learning in a 21st Century school places technology at the forefront. At Infant Jesus School, we have a fundamental belief in the value of innovation and technology and the positive impact it has on student learning. We believe that technology is used as a tool to enhance learning and the use of Apple Technology assists in this process.

The selection of Infant Jesus School as an Apple Distinguished School highlights our success as an innovative and compelling learning environment that engages students and provides tangible evidence of academic accomplishment. Our acceptance into the Apple Distinguished School Program exemplifies aspiration as we strive to become A Leading Learning School where all people are called to #ExpectGreatThings.

Welcome

We welcome to the Infant Jesus School Community:

Mrs Jessica Lucas who will be working in Year 1Blue from the beginning of Term 2
Mrs Mary Tampalini who will be replacing Mrs Jenkins in Maths support
Mrs Claire Grabski who is returning from leave
Mrs Claire Dada who will be teaching Physical Education and Health in the lower grades for the remainder of the year

Prayer

Father,

at the start of the new term

we remember the love of our families

and the companionship and support

of colleagues.

We rejoice that you have entrusted us

with the education and care

of young people,

and have called us to help others to grow

in your image and likeness.

Empower us to bring out the best in others

and express appreciation

to all who encourage us

and bring us new life.

Inspire us to be positive in attitude,

encouraging in words,

and loving in actions.

Amen

Infant Jesus Family

Our thoughts and prayers are with Fran Ienco, a member of staff, in the sad loss of her beloved Grandmother recently. May she rest in peace with God.

We also send our thoughts and prayers to the Tollis family (Sophia 1B) as they mourn the loss of their beloved Grandmother. May she rest in the peace of Christ forever.

Parish Fun Run

Thank you to all the people who have returned their Fun Run money and forms back to the school.

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

This year our school has committed to supporting the Infant Jesus Parish to purchase and upgrade the 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.”

Mother's Day

On Tuesday, 9 May we will be taking time, as a school, to celebrate some very special women in our lives, our mothers. A whole school Mass will be celebrated in the School Hall commencing at 9:00am, followed by a morning tea.

Mums, please put this date in your calendar.

Interschool Swimming Team

We wish all the students who will be representing the school in the Interschool Swimming Championships next Thursday at Challenge Stadium. Mr Sheridan has coordinated with each of the students the events they will be competing in. If there are any concerns or questions regarding the carnival, please contact Mr Sheridan directly.

School Uniform

All students are required to be in Winter Uniform this Term. To assist parents and students in this transition, a two-week change over period will be permitted. However, all students are required to be in full winter uniform by the commencement of Week 3.

Parents are reminded that a copy of the uniform requirements is available on the school website. Uniforms can be purchased at Lowes. The school uniform also includes items such as the hairstyles we wear and the jewellery worn at school. Included below are the expectations for these. Most importantly we need to continue to wear our school uniform with pride.

Hairstyles

Hairstyles for both boys and girls should reflect acceptable standards. Shoulder length hair or longer is to be tied up or secured with a clip to ensure hair is neat and tidy. Parents are requested to refrain from allowing children to dye or streak their hair during school terms. Headbands, scrunchies or ribbons need to be in school colours (Blue and White).

Jewellery

A watch, necklace with a Christian symbol and a signet ring may be worn. No nail polish, tattoos or makeup may be worn during school hours. Girls and boys may wear one stud or sleeper (plain - eg gold or silver) in each ear lobe.

Make up

Children should not wear make-up, nail polish, shellac, or acrylic nails with the school uniform.

From My Readings

With school routines being re-established at the beginning of a new term, now could be the time to introduce some new practices that could help build independence in your children.

Parenting expert Michael Grose is an advocate of using simple household chores like emptying the dishwasher to build independence skills. He asserts that the choice of who empties the dishwasher in your family tells a great deal about your parenting philosophy. When I told my son this he was VERY unimpressed as it is his job to ‘stack’ the dishwasher every evening and it is the source of many a ‘challenging’ conversation, but my husband and I have persevered as we see the benefits, even though our son does not! Michael Grose suggests that . . .

If you or your husband usually does the dishwasher then I humbly suggest that you may be working too hard. You’re letting your kids off the hook. On the other hand, if one or all of your kids (over the age of three) have this job then congratulations. You’re travelling down the road toward redundancy, and your children are heading toward independence.

Many parents would love their kids to do this task but pragmatism (“It’s easier to do it myself”), lack of faith (“They’re sure to break something!”) and unwillingness to let go (“It’s my job after all”) get in the way.

Why the dishwasher?

Good question. Here are seven good reasons:

These days almost every house has one and it’s a job that just has to be done!
It’s fiddly and tedious and it needs to be done right, which is a great lesson for kids to learn.
Kids learn that everything has a place in the kitchen, which is a great lesson for those who are organizationally challenged. Knowing their way around the kitchen is also an important first step toward children making their own snacks and preparing meals - a worthy aim!
It’s emptied every morning/day, second morning/day so kids learn about routine.
As it needs to be emptied whether they feel like it or not, kids learn about grit (the ability to stick at a task even if it is boring) and self-control (through delaying gratification) - two important character strengths that contribute to kids’ success.
If they don’t do it then who will? It teaches kids that others rely on them, as well as the other way around. Believe me, I see many young people who’ve never learned this lesson at home!
Kids are hard-wired to help but they need the opportunity to do their bit at home. The dishwasher is the perfect opportunity that never goes away!

There are plenty of other reasons for putting the dishwasher on the kids’ chores list, but that should be enough to get you thinking.

If getting kids to help is an uphill battle then I suggest you don’t let up. Keep expecting them to help. Keep working on a chores roster and keep at your kids to do the right thing. One day it will all click and helping out will become habitual, hardwired into their brains so that helping out becomes neurological as well as psychological.

Thought for the Week

A man never stands as tall as when he kneels to help a child

Anonymous

Have a Great week!

Paul Hille

Principal