SCHOOL NEWS
Learning
Year Four News
The Year Four children have settled back into routine and are excited for the upcoming term and all of the events that have been planned.
In Religious Education the children have continued to prepare to receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist by further developing their knowledge and understandings.
During our Literacy dedicated time, children develop their Reading, Writing and Word Study skills. The text types the Year Four children will be looking closely at this term are; Information Reports, Historical Narratives and Recounts. During writing, the children will use their knowledge of the First Fleet and the content learnt in History and Geography to create these text types.
This term in Mathematics, the children will develop their Place Value skills by exploring fractions and decimals. This is something that can easily be discussed at home when sharing or preparing food, as it helps children to relate their learning to real life situations. The children will also study; time, angles, graphing and will continue to develop Times Tables skills.
The Year Four History Program will focus on the First Fleet, including reasons for the journey, who travelled to Australia and their experiences following arrival. The children will develop their historical skills by posing questions and identifying different information sources. They will use knowledge to create multiple choice games, this task will see them use their coding skills.
The children will also be developing their ability to code and use robotics with Miss Phoebe.
In Science this term, the children will be looking at Earth and Space Sciences. This involves investigation of erosion, weathering, rock formations and soils. Once again, they will develop their investigation and observation skills through experiments.
Mathematics
It is important that everybody learn to do some calculations mentally when paper and pencil or a calculator is not handy. Over the next few weeks we will be look at the development of beginning mental math strategies that a parent might help a child learn at home.
Mental math should not be confused with the memorisation of basic mathematics facts — such as knowing the times-tables by heart. While memorising basic facts makes mental math easier, doing mathematics mentally requires both memorised facts and the manipulation (strategies) of numbers and operations in order to solve problems that are much more complex than the simple number facts we can easily memorise.
The following mental math strategies are arranged in general order from the easiest strategies children can learn to perform in their head to more difficult and challenging mental math gymnastics.
STRATEGIES FOR ADDITION
Doing addition problems in your head is probably the best way to start doing mental math. Even young children — 5, 6, and 7 year- olds— can do the easiest strategies below. While the first few may seem trivial to adults, they are a good way for children to begin learning to do mental math.
When the words “hearing” and “saying” are used in these strategies, they mean “hearing in your head” and “saying in your head.”
COUNTING-ON
Counting-on is one of the simple but powerful mental math strategies children can learn and is the easiest for most students—many children figure out this strategy naturally. Counting-on means a child mentally says the biggest number to add, and then counts-up the second number, one (or two) at a time. For example, in the equation 5 + 3, you start with the 5 in your head, and then count up: . . . 6, 7, 8. You might suggest to your children that if they want to add 2 + 6 in their head, they should start with the bigger number, in this case 6, and count up (. . . 7, 8) since, with addition, you can add numbers in any order and get the same answer—order does not matter. This is called the commutative property of addition.
When mentally counting-on, children and adults often resort to using their fingers to count up (or down), simultaneously counting on their fingers while they count in their heads. If your children use this handy device, let them. It is not harmful if it helps to make counting-on a useful mental math strategy.
Performing Arts - Opening Mass
Last Friday Alex Bao and Cronin Mulvey from our Year Six Leadership Group attended the Opening Mass for the Performing Arts Festival. The Liturgy was a true celebration of the Arts including great choral singing, liturgical dance and drama to make the message of the sharing the Good News . Auxiliary Archbishop Don Sproxton, who concelebrated the Mass with priests from the parish and of the archdiocese, spoke about the importance of the celebration and the coming together of many people worshipping, singing and dancing about the message of Jesus Christ.
The Performing Arts Festival is a month long festival of days and nights of showcasing talent in the area of dance, drama, music and performance. Our school choir, Year 4 choir, band and individual instrumental performances will participate in this prestigious event.
For more information about the festival visit: http://www.catholicarts.wa.edu.au/performing-arts-festival/
Pastoral Care Ministry News
The Pastoral Care Ministry has spoken to each year level informing them about the St. Vincent De Paul Winter Appeal. The Winter Appeal is an appeal for items that will keep the homeless warm this winter. We are collecting items that are in good condition and that will keep people warm. These items may include, blankets, jumpers, coats, beanies or sleeping bags. Please place your donations in the boxes that are in your class’ wet area by Friday the 4 July.
We are also continuing to collect ring pulls for Brother Ollie’s Wheelchairs. These ring pulls are donated to Brother Ollie who turns them into wheelchairs for the less fortunate. Any aluminium ring pull can be placed in the green container located near the iLab.
Thank you.
Sport - Cross Country
This week our Interschool Cross Country Squad travelled to compete against 15 other schools in our region. Each child represented the school with pride and they should all be commended for their efforts. It was a great overall effort and I have placed our results below. A special thank you must go to Mrs Marion who volunteered her time to be the starter for the whole day. Well done to all of the runners and our attention now turns to our Faction Athletics Carnival in Week 10. insert article here for Cross Country.
Results
Girls Aggregate 293 points (8th / 16)
Boys Aggregate 209 points (13th / 16)
Overall Aggregate 502 points (9th / 16)
Most Improved 5th / 16
Woolworths Earn and Learn
This year we will be participating in the Woolworths Earn & Learn program. Through this program we will be able to get new educational resources for our school – and all we need you to do is shop for your groceries at Woolworths.
From Wednesday 26th July to Tuesday 19th September we are collecting Woolworths Earn & Learn Stickers. You will get one Woolworths Earn & Learn Sticker for every $10 spent (excluding liquor, tobacco and gift cards). Place the Woolworths Earn & Learn Sticker onto a Woolworths Earn & Learn Sticker Sheet and when it’s complete, the Sticker Sheet can be dropped into the Collection Box here at the school or at your local Woolworths.
At the end of the promotion, we’ll be able to get some great new equipment. The range is extensive and offers lots of items ideal for our students – including resources for Maths, English, Science and some fantastic fun supplies for Arts & Craft and Sport. If you’d like to know more visit woolworths.com.au/earnandlearn.
A box has been placed in the office for you to put your completed sticker sheets. If you have any questions about this promotion then please come and see me.
Mr Sheridan
Pre-Primary, Year One and Two Author Incursion
On Tuesday morning the Pre Primary, Year One and Year Two children were visited by Miss Rebecca, an author who has written and published two books in the "Where Oh Where is Monty Bear?" series. We helped Miss Rebecca read the book and enjoyed meeting Monty Bear. We then packed Monty Bear's suitcase for his trip to Singapore. Miss Rebecca then read her latest book about Monty Bear's adventures in Singapore. We learnt that Monty Bear will soon be travelling to Australia and Bali. - Year Two Students
Seasons for Growth 2017
A program to help children adjust and learn ways of coping with loss and grief or other significant changes in their lives. Further information and participation consent form is attached.
Penny Storey - Social Worker
Tuning into Kids - Parent Program
Infant Jesus School will be offering the Tuning in to Kids parent program over six weeks, commencing in Term 3, Week 3. Further information and registration form is attached.
Canteen Roster
TERM 3
Friday 28 July
Marisa Gulluni, Rosanna Franceschino
Monday 31 July
Patricia Rivera, Louise Staltari, Wanita Gentile
Wednesday 2 August
Louise Murace, Emily Dayan
The attached Winter Menu continues for Term 3.
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.
Discipleship
Parish News
SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM - SACRAMENT OF FIRST EUCHARIST
Many thanks to all the families who attended the enrolment Masses last weekend.
Please remember to submit your completed forms and attachments no later than Thursday, 27 July from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm.
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:
· Commitment Masses- Saturday, 19 August at 6:30pm, or Sunday, 20 August at 9.30am or at 6.00pm
· Parents Information Night- Monday, 21 August, 7:00pm at the Parish Centre
· Parents and Child Workshop- Monday, 28 August, 7:00pm at the Parish Centre
· Retreat at Schoenstatt Shrine (for Infant Jesus School children only) - Wednesday, 23 August
· First Eucharist Retreat and Practice- Friday, 8 September, 9:00am at the Parish Centre
· First Eucharist Masses- Saturday, 9 September at 6.30pm, OR Sunday, 10 September at 9.30am OR at 11.30am
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
Feastday of St Martha 29 July
One of the most precious things in life is to have a home where you can go at any time and find people who accept, love, and understand you. Jesus found such a home in Bethany, at the house of a woman named Martha. She welcomed him and served him, and they developed a special bond of friendship.
Martha lived with her sister Mary. Like many other pairs of sisters, these two women were different in personality. Martha was energetic and outspoken, while Mary was quiet and reflective. Jesus loved both of them and appreciated the gifts that each one had.
The Gospel of Luke records that once, when Jesus was visiting, Martha prepared the meal while Mary sat talking to their visitor. Martha complained that Jesus should tell Mary to help her. Jesus said that because Martha was worrying so much about the work, she did not have time to enjoy being with him and listening to his words.
Another time recorded in John’s Gospel, the sisters sent a message to Jesus that their brother, Lazarus, was ill. They knew Jesus would come and cure him; they trusted in his loving care for them. When Jesus finally came, Lazarus had already been dead for four days. As soon as she heard that Jesus was nearby, Martha, a woman of action, went out to meet him, while Mary stayed in the house. In her grief, Martha told Jesus honestly what she had expected from him. Jesus asked her to believe that he was the resurrection and that he had power to give eternal life to all who believe in him. Without really understanding this mystery, Martha trusted Jesus totally and said, “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who was to come into this world” (John 11:27). That day Jesus raised her brother Lazarus from the dead, showing that he has power over life and death and power to give eternal life.
The home Jesus found in Bethany was not only in the house but in the faithful heart of a woman named Martha.
POPE FRANCIS SPEAKS
"Here and now, especially where we are a "little flock" (Luke 12:32), the Lord's disciples are called to live as a community which is the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Mat 5:13-16). We are called to bear witness to a constantly new way of living together in fidelity to the Gospel. Let us not allow ourselves to be robbed of community!
(From The Joy of the Gospel (Evangelii Gaudium) by Pope Francis #92)
WHY IT IS GOOD TO READ THE GOOD BOOK
Professor John Bergsma, Professor of Theology at the Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio, is visiting Sydney and Perth this week. Professor Bergsma served as a Calvinist pastor for four years before his conversion to Catholicism in 2001. He is passionate about encouraging Catholics to read the Bible, as he told The Catholic Weekly's Natasha Marsh.
Why do you think Catholics do not read their Bibles?
There’s a cultural attitude among many Catholic communities that going to Mass is enough. It’s so sad, because many attend Mass without understanding what’s going on, and as a result they don’t benefit as much spiritually. Sometimes they don’t benefit at all. For God’s grace or power at Mass, and in the other Sacraments, to really make a difference in your life, there has to be faith and understanding. The understanding comes from reading God’s Word. Many of us as Catholics have attitudes and lifestyles that don’t agree at all with God’s Word. Because of that, our lives are not blessed, and we seem just as unhappy and dissatisfied with the world as everyone else around us. The answer is to reshape our thinking by reading and memorising God’s Word.
How can Catholics be encouraged to read the Bible?
Honey catches more flies than vinegar. I don’t think "guilting" people into reading the Bible is the way to go. But if we can catch the vision for the joy and peace it can bring into our lives, we will want to read Scripture. My whole approach is to keep the study of the Bible light-hearted and enjoyable. My attitude is that Scripture is a kind of holy playground that God has given his children to explore. It is delightful, inspiring, and sheds light on how we should live in this world.
(news@cathnews.com)
Father and Son Camp
Please see attached information regarding this year's Father and Son Camp.