Principal's Report

Dear Parents

ANNUAL COMMUNITY MEETING

There was man, a parent, who was walking past a construction area. There were several workers engaged in various activities, and the man asked three of them the same question,

“What are you doing?”

The first worker replied flippantly, I’m hauling bricks from one place to another trying not to think about it!”

The second said, “I’m earning a living the best way I can.”

And the third answered, “I’m building a great school – a place that will make tomorrow better!”

As a primary school principal, I can really empathise with the last worker’s appraisal, because I realise only too well that here, in this school, we are not just moving children around from one grade to another, we are building for their future and building for our future, as well. Here, we are aiming at nurturing the people who will make tomorrow better, and I am extremely proud to be part of that.

As a school, and in particular, a Catholic primary school, we have been given, as parents and educators, one of the greatest honours and responsibilities that are bestowed on an individual. We have been entrusted with the privilege to help nurture, educate and form the lives of young people in a way that is in accordance with Gospel Values. If we were to really look seriously at this task, it may be considered far too overwhelming to even contemplate.

I am not sure of the origins of the following extract entitled “The Challenge of a Dream”, nonetheless, I feel it reflects what we should be striving to achieve as a school community, particularly as we look to the future and the commencement of the new year.

“Dreams come and go in our lives. Far more die than come to reality. What is it, in us, that allows us to let go of our visions, that could create new and wonderful worlds. Why do we easily give into barriers? Why do we let ourselves conform and be satisfied with what is?

Reaching out to dream is risky. It can involve hardship that our imaginations never knew. Our comfortableness can so easily be disturbed. But, what beauty, as we accept the challenge of a dream! What a precious feeling to be supported, to have others say you can do it, we can do it together. Nothing is beyond our reach, if we reach out together, if we reach out with all the confidence we have, if we are willing to persevere even in difficult times and if we rejoice with every small step forward, if we dream beautiful dreams that will transform our lives, our world.

Nothing is impossible if we put aside our careful ways, if we build our dreams with faith – faith in ourselves, faith in our students, faith in our staff members, faith in our school families, faith in our parishioners and community members and above all, faith in the Lord God in whom all things are possible.”

I wonder if we gave ourselves a moment to step back and reflect – how would the year 2017 meet up to our expectations?

On Tuesday night parents who attended the Annual Community Meeting heard about how the school had performed over the course of the year. I am pleased to say that much of what we set out to achieve at the commencement of this year has come to reality and we can be all be extremely grateful. It has been an exceptionally busy, productive and rewarding year, with numerous developments taking place within the grounds of this school. There have been many successes over the year, as well as growth in the community. It has been tremendous to watch the growth in the children and see the support of parents through their involvement in their child’s education.

Many thanks to the parents and all the staff who attended the ACM on Tuesday evening. I believe the reports given and the information presented was most informative and gave some insight to what has taken place at our school over the year as well as future directions. Thank you to the members of the School Board and P&F who presented the various reports on the night. The full ACM report will be uploaded onto the school website in the coming week.

Board Members for 2018:

Fr Greg Parish Priest

Mr Ric Olivieri Board Chair

M Sam Modica Treasurer

Mrs Jessica Musca Secretary

Mrs Nevellene Linquist Parish Representative

Mrs Nicola Cecchele Board Member

Mrs Hien Trang Board Member

Mr Paul Hille School Principal

Ms Clare Moffat (Observer)

Mr Frank Colangelo (Observer)

ADVENT

Last Sunday, the Church celebrated the final feast in this liturgical year The Feast of Christ the King. Over the past 365 days we have lived the entire liturgical year and celebrated Jesus Christ's life, death, resurrection, and ascension into glory. This Sunday, we are preparing to begin anew with the First Sunday of Advent.

The word Advent means "coming" or "arrival." The focus of the entire season is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ in his First Advent and the anticipation of the return of Christ the King in his Second Advent. Our prayers at this time remind us that Advent is a season of waiting. Advent is marked by a spirit of expectation, of anticipation, of preparation and of longing.

One of the best known of all Advent symbols is the Advent wreath. It consists four candles (three purple and one pink) in a circle with one (white) candle in the centre. The candles in the circle represent the four weeks of Advent.

During Advent, one candle is lit every week.

• The purple candles are for the sorrow we feel for not loving Jesus enough.

• The rose candle is for the joy surrounding the impending birth of Jesus.

• The evergreen symbolizes God is with us always and will never change.

• The circle symbolizes that God is eternal, with no beginning and no end.

We can make our classrooms and our homes look and feel like Advent. Even though our shopping malls are decorated for Christmas, and Christmas carols are being played and sung, we can try to make Advent a time of simple living, remembering the first coming of Jesus, and reflecting on how Jesus continues to come to us in our everyday lives.

YEAR SIX GRADUATION

Tomorrow evening our Year 6 students will celebrate their completion of primary school with a very special Dinner Dance to be hosted at the school by the staff and parents. Parents are invited to join the children at 8.30pm and share with their child the traditional parent/child dance. Please keep in mind the children want this special time from 6.30pm-8.30pm together, to enjoy each others company for one of the last times at Infant Jesus School.

On Friday, 9 December the Year 6 students will celebrate the end of their primary school education with a Graduation Mass and an Assembly. The Assembly will commence at 9.00am and all students from Year 1 to Year 6 will be attending. The Graduation & Thanksgiving Mass will commence at 11.00am in the Infant Jesus Parish Church. This is a very significant occasion for the Year 6 students and we invite everyone in the school community to keep our Year 6 students in their prayers.

Christmas Concert

The 2017 Christmas Concert

is on

TUESDAY 5 DECEMBER

This is a whole school event and all students from Pre-Primary to Year Six are expected to attend. We certainly encourage and welcome all family members - grandparents, aunts, uncles etc. to join us for this special occasion.

This year the format will be different to previous years. Instead of the ‘Christmas Story’ being re-enacted by the Year 5 Classes, (with the remainder of the school standing on the grass area singing the various songs for the play) this year all year levels will perform two items. Classes will be performing on the stage, where hopefully parents will get a better view and see their child.

The theme for this year’s Christmas Concert is “Australian Christmas”

Please read the information below as it outlines to parents what is required for the evening.

Other Information:

• All children will need to be at school and in their classrooms by 6.00pm. The children will be seated as a year level during the concert.

• All children in Years 1 – 6 need to wear jeans and a red, white or green shirt. The white shirt can be the Infant Jesus School sports shirt

• Hair spray cannot be used for this special occasion

• The School Band will begin playing from 6pm.

• Parents will need to bring their own rug or chairs.

• Please note that we will have a lawn area for rugs. All chairs will need to be behind this area.

• Playground equipment on the oval will be out of bounds

• We remind you that all young children need to be seated with parents during the concert.

Parking for the Christmas Concert

A reminder that parking is available in the designated areas around the school as well as in the Church car park. Please respect the property of our school neighbours and do not park on resident's front lawns or block driveways. This is most important! We need to respect and look after our neighbours!

At the conclusion of the gathering, the children will go back to their classrooms.

Parents will need to collect the children from each room.

We look forward to the Christmas Concert and sharing the end of year celebration together.

Prayer for the Week

This Advent we once again prepare for Christmas. While we look forward to remembering and celebrating the birth of Jesus, we also take this time to prepare our hearts and minds as we wait for the coming of the Christ Child. Just as we all look forward to the end of the school year; we also look towards Christ’s coming with excitement and with joy.

Heavenly Father,

We remember Joseph and Mary as they awaited the birth of their child and prepared for the journey to Bethlehem. May we learn to trust in God like Mary and Joseph.

We recognise that people of different nations, cultures and religious traditions will come together to search out new ways of living in peace built on justice.

We ask for your guidance as we learn to wait and listen for the good news of the birth of our Saviour this Advent.

We offer this prayer through Jesus Christ your Son and by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Did You Know?

Switzerland eats the most chocolate equating to 10 kilos per person per year
cats spend 66% of their life asleep
the smallest bones in the human body are found in your ear

Thought for the Week

“Remember, there are no mistakes, only lessons. Love yourself, trust your choices, and everything is possible.” – Cherie-Carter Scotts

#ExpectGreatThings