SCHOOL NEWS
Learning
YEAR FOUR NEWS
In Year Four children are preparing to receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist. The Religious Education program guides the children to discover more about themselves and their personal relationship with God.
During English, children will further develop their Reading, Writing and Word Study skills. The text types we will be focusing on are Narratives and Persuasive texts. In order to consolidate what is being taught during Reading time in class, the children have been given a grid of 20 reading challenges. The children must complete one activity per week about their reading book as part of their homework.
In Mathematics, consolidation of Times Tables is ongoing. Our focus this term is Place Value; how to read and interpret numbers to the tens of thousands and the properties of odd and even numbers. Another area of focus is chance and probability and how to read and interpret graduated scales on a range of measuring instruments.
The Humanities and Social Sciences program (History, Geography and Civics and Citizenship) this term covers Aboriginal connection to place and country prior to colonisation. Miss Phoebe will help us with our Humanities program as she teaches us technologies and how best to present the information we have gathered. In Science, the children will develop an understanding of life cycles and will have a go at growing beans. Mrs Jenkins has so far been helping the children understand the purpose of exercise and diet and how this can help us live long, healthy lives.
Every week the children participate in a sport session as part of the Physical Education Program and they have shown much enthusiasm and excitement! Each week the children try a new activity, which promotes fitness and fundamental movement skills. On Fridays, the children have a sport session with their class teachers and will also participate in morning fitness on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
The children have again taken very quickly to the use of one-to-one iPads in the classroom. They have also been very responsible when using the iPads and are aware of the iPad expectations that are in place at the school. We congratulate the children on their application to learning with the technology devices. Please ensure that your child’s iPad is up to date with the apps required. The app list can be found on the school website under the heading ‘Curriculum’.
YEAR FOUR EXCURSION
On Monday 27 February, the Year Four children went to Fremantle on an excursion to learn about the culture of Indigenous Australia. We had great fun learning about the tools that were used, listening to stories from our tour guide Greg and getting to see inside the Round House! The children will put this information to good use this term in the documentaries they are creating on Indigenous Australia. We even got to sneak a peek at some sculptures which were on display around Bathers Beach! Thank you to our wonderful parent volunteers who joined us and were very helpful in ensuring the children’s’ safety.
PRE PRIMARY PMP
Perceptual-Motor Program: Pre-Primary
This term our Pre-Primary children will be commencing a Perceptual Motor Program (PMP) two mornings a week. Perceptual deals with obtaining information and motor refers to the outcome of movement. Thus, perceptual-motor activities require children to use their brain and body together to accomplish tasks—for example, walking on a balance beam while reciting the alphabet.
Participation in perceptual-motor activities enables children to develop greater levels of body control and encourages greater effort in all areas of the school curriculum. Research has shown young children who possess adequate perceptual-motor skills enjoy better coordination, greater body awareness, stronger intellectual skills, and a more positive self-image.
The key areas of development through PMP are:
Gross motor skills: The acquisition of large scale movements e.g. walking, running, jumping, skipping, climbing and moving in and out of positions.
Fine motor skills: The acquisition of small scale movements e.g. performing building tasks and isolating various fingers.
Crossing the midline of the body (laterality): Children who fail to develop this skill are at risk of changing hands at the midline when performing tasks involving movement on a horizontal place. Eyes must also learn to track across the body midline to avoid potential difficulties with reading.
Balance: Closely associated with the development of gross motor skills.
Body and space awareness: Spatial concepts such as behind, between, backwards, forwards and up/down.
Visual and spatial skills: Students are helped to track objects in all directions, match shapes and copy patterns.
Rhythm sequence, memory and listening: Activities such as clapping to rhythms, fast vs slow movements, counting claps, steps and jumps.
The program will be running on a Tuesday and Wednesday morning for a half hour session
(8:45am-9:15am). To run this important program, we need the assistance of 10 parents each morning. We are hoping to start Week 6 so we ask that if you are available to help on any morning to speak to the Pre-Primary staff or Mrs Jenkins.
Thank you
Mrs Jenkins
Sport Specialist (Pre-Primary and Year 1)
SWIMMING LESSONS Yrs 4, 5, 6
Over the last two weeks our Year 4, 5 and 6 children have been attending Bayswater Waves for Swimming Lessons. These lessons have been a huge success with the children improving their swimming skills as well as having a lot of fun. The instructors have been wonderful and I would like to thank Bayswater Waves for accommodating us. One instructor came up to me at the end of a lesson and said the Infant Jesus children are her favourite to teach. This shows that our children are living out our school values and I thank them for that.
Next week a note will be coming home regarding our Swimming Carnival. If you, along with your child, could please choose the events they would like to compete in that would be great. Please consider their ability in the water and if you have any questions then please do not hesitate to ask.
Faction Swimming Carnival
Friday 31 March 2017
Bayswater Waves (Outdoor Pool)
Mr Sheridan
Engagement
P & F News
PARENT REPRESENTATIVES
A very big thank you to all the parents who nominated themselves for Class Parent Representative. We are excited to have such a motivated and energetic group of parents committed to this vital role. Your 2017 Parent Representatives are :
PRE KINDY
Justyna Dimasi
KINDY
Sagay Hessing (KW)
Olivia Ikosipentarhos (KB)
PRE PRIMARY
Belinda Zirino (W)
Gabriella Erceg (B)
YEAR 1
Nicole Mammone (W)
Kristie Di Nella (B)
YEAR 2
Nicole Mesiti (W)
Maree Previti (B)
YEAR 3
Justine Radicic (W)
Sherrie Giglia (B)
YEAR 4
Simone McGuire / Natasha D'Souza (W)
Joanna Brisbane / Simone Sieczka (B)
YEAR 5
Lisa McCarthy (W)
Maria Bellesini / Rochelle Contrusceri (B)
YEAR 6
Ida Romeo (W)
Connie Scuillo / Liselle Morgan (B)
FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE
Thank you to the parents who have volunteered on the fundraising committee, we love your energy and ideas!
The committee met last month to discuss the year ahead and the goals we wish to achieve. We decided to set a fundraising goal of $10,000 for this year, which will be donated to the school for the new Innovations and Technology Centre.
The parent community has been asking for a quiz night and we've heard you! The P&F quiz night will be held on Friday the 15th September so please put the date in your calendars. We will advise on further details in the near future.
We are looking forward to the year ahead and achieving our goal with support of the entire parent body. We can expect great things when we work together!
P&F DONATION
The P&F were pleased to donate $25,000 to the school which will assist in funding the new Innovations and Technology Centre. The P&F are looking forward to supporting the school board and staff in their vision for this new lab and we're excited at the opportunities it will create for our children.
FREE DRESS DAY!
Get ready, Free Dress is coming on Friday 17th March! Children are encouraged to come to school in appropriate clothing of their choice for a gold coin donation. Please send your child in closed shoes. The P&F will be handing out free ice creams to the kids, so this is a day they will not want to miss!
WELCOME BACK PICNIC
What a beautiful summer night we had last Friday for the family picnic! It was fantastic to see all your friendly faces having such a wonderful time.
Thank you to the Social Committee and parents who volunteered their time working through the afternoon and evening; Sarah Ruggiero, Jenny Allpike, Marisa Gulluni, Ida Romeo, Maria Bellesini, Maree Previti, Irene Gianatti and Liselle Morgan.
Nicola Cecchele - P&F President
MORNING TEA AFTER THE YEAR TWO ASSEMBLY
YEAR 3 MUMS COFFEE CATCHUP ☕️
Thursday 16 March at The Coffee Club, Morley Galleria from 8:45am. All welcome, see you there!
MAD Camp
It’s that time of year again, MAD Camp. Let’s get physical and have fun with our friends while meeting new ones. This year promises to be full of fun with lots of laughs. The camp will be held on 26-28 May 2017 at Point Walter Reserve. Please fill in your Registration Form, pay the deposit via EFT and pass your form into the office for collection. The deposit needs to be paid by Friday 31st March 2017 and the form handed into the office. Any queries please contact one of us on the form.
Accountability
VOLUNTEER WORKSHOP AND CODE OF CONDUCT
To assist with school based events, please ensure that both of these have been completed.
1. Complete the Volunteer Workshop
2. Read and Sign the Code of Conduct which is new in 2017.
It is a requirement that not only the Parent Volunteer Workshop has been completed, but the school based Code of Conduct has been signed and returned to the office.
Copies of the Code of Conduct are available from the front office or online.
Merit Certificates
At Infant Jesus School we are proud to celebrate the achievements of our children and all their hard work. Congratulations to the following students who will receive an Honour Certificate at our assembly next Thursday morning.
We congratulate the following students:
1B Zac Mesiti, Sabrina Pillera
1W Felicia Mungar, Vu Nguyen
2B Mevin Thomas, Natalia Del Riccio, Gabriel Richardson
2W Allegra Scriva, Riley Krans, Asha Beaton
3B Preston Ginger, Campbell Tonkin, Sang Truong
3W Jai Ridolfo, Anthony Buonocore, Kai Blanchard
4B Zac Jacobsen, Mack Williams, Emma McDonnell
4W Marcus Pereira, Angelique Clayton, Maya McGuire
5B Alana D'Alessandro, Jennifer Le, Michael Fosberry
5W Noah Martinovich, Krystelle Marion, Annabelle Di Ciano
6B Sasha Haigney, Leah Rossi
6W Bayleigh Tonkin, Jed Williams, Xavier Teo
Discipleship
Family Mass
A focus for 2017 for Infant Jesus School is to strengthen the links between the Parish and the School. As a school community we have been invited to organise and lead parts of the Mass at Infant Jesus Church at 6.30pm on Saturday 11 March. This is also one of the Enrolment Masses in preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation.
The School Choir will be leading the singing for this celebration. If you, and your family, would like to help in any way please contact Ms Clare Moffat or Mr Frank Colangelo
We are looking forward to seeing all families at this special occasion.
Parish News
Bishop Gregory Homeming OCD was ordained the sixth Bishop of Lismore at St Carthage's Cathedral in Lismore on Wednesday 22 February.
Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP was the principal ordaining bishop while the co-consecrators were Bishop Peter Ingham of Wollongong and Bishop Emeritus Geoffrey Jarret of Lismore. Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Adolfo Tito Yllana read the Papal Bull in Latin followed by a translation in English.
On the steps of the cathedral, Jill Rokovada extended a Welcome to Country to Bishop-elect Homeming and the assembled archbishops and bishops on behalf of the Bunjalung people. A smoking ceremony also took place.
Bishop Homeming was born in Sydney on 30 May 1958 to an Australian-Chinese family. He joined the Discalced Carmelite Order in 1985. The new bishop adopted as his motto, "God Alone Suffices" from St Teresa of Avila, the founder of his Order.
In his opening words, Archbishop Fisher acknowledged "the nuns of the Goonellabah Carmel who for the past fifty years have made the charism of the Carmelite family present in this diocese". He welcomed visiting clergy and religious, representatives of the other churches, members of the Chinese-Australian community, and other distinguished guests. He also paid tribute to Bishop Geoffrey Jarrett for his service as the fifth Bishop of Lismore from 2001 till now.
"As our first Chinese-Australian prelate, Bishop Homeming is a sign of the changing face of the Church in Australia," Archbishop Fisher said in his homily.
"Some might think this is no time for making new bishops; I sympathise with their disenchantment. But there is a providence in God calling a man like Greg, with his legal background, critical intelligence, spiritual wisdom, pastoral sensitivity, and gentle soul to help lead us forward at this time. Bishop Greg must be a wise leader, a glad shepherd and, finally, an authentic witness to Christ," Archbishop Fisher said.
SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION ENROLMENT MASSES
All families who wish to enrol their child for the Sacrament of Confirmation at Infant Jesus Church this year are required to attend ONE of the following enrolment Masses:
· Saturday 11 March at 6.30pm OR
· Sunday 12 March at 9.30am OR
· Sunday 12 March at 6.00pm.
Please remember to register your child's name and your contact details at the church foyer before or after the Mass.
Canteen Roster
Friday 3 March Student Free Day
Monday 6 March Student Free Day
Wednesday 8 March
Louise Murace, Emily Dayan, Tracy Caputo
Project Compassion
Dinia's story - the Philippines
Love Your Neighbour
With the help of a program supported by Caritas Australia, Dinia gained the skills to earn a better income for her children and help neighbours in her vulnerable community.
As much as possible I will try to help [my neighbours] so that we are on the same level."
Dinia. Dinia’s story is a story of healing, through her own skill and perseverance, and through support from a Caritas-Australia funded program. Living in the Philippines, she struggled daily with poverty in a country with many vulnerable communities.
People living in rural and coastal areas have very little access to basic services. They face extreme weather events, environmental degradation and the effects of internal conflict and have little hope of a sustainable income. For Dinia, the untimely death of her husband meant an end to his small income and a greater struggle to feed and educate her children.
She struggled alone, facing a future without hope, until her community encouraged her to participate in the Socio Pastoral Action Center Foundation Inc. (SPACFI) program supported by Caritas Australia.
Dinia from the Philippines
SPACFI’s Integrated Community Development Program helped her develop diverse ways to gain a sustainable livelihood, continue to send her children to school and contribute to her community. The program foregrounds the need to work together for the common good, awakening Dinia’s innate generosity and leadership qualities. She was able to learn about organic farming, managing livestock, and starting a small business.
Now she has an integral role in her community, a sustainable livelihood, and a brighter future for her children. “My life is much better now. It is much easier,” she says.
I have a feeling of contentment, being able to help others." - Dinia