Principal’s Post –23 March 2018

Dear Parents and members of our school community,

This Sunday is Palm Sunday and so begins Holy Week. If you’re embarrassed to admit that you have been thinking of Holy Week as leading to the Easter break, then you’re probably not alone as families create their own special brand of busyness. But perhaps this isn’t a bad way to enter Holy Week – tired and unprepared, hungry for a new beginning, eager for the light to shine in the darkness. Even if you feel you have not quite taken on the spirit of the penitential season of Lent, it’s not too late to begin walking toward the glorious promise of resurrection morning. We hope that many families join us at the Stations of the Cross on Thursday commencing at 9am.

Dear Lord, I ask in prayer today for courage and strength to face some big challenges before me. I admit I am anxious, and even afraid, but I know in my heart you will never give me anything I cannot handle and that you will be by my side the whole way. Instill in me a strong heart and spirit as I deal with my problems and keep my mind centered and focused on the solutions you set before me. I ask nothing more than your presence alongside me as I overcome these obstacles and learn the lessons each one has for my life. I thank you, Lord, for always being there for me in my times of need and struggle. Amen

Dear Parents, Next week is Holy Week, the most important week in the Church’s calendar. The week begins with Palm Sunday and follows the story of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, his death on the cross on Good Friday and his resurrection on Easter Sunday. Next Thursday morning, Holy Thursday, our Year 6 Red class will re-enact the Stations of the Cross for each year level on the oval. This will be followed up by a liturgy in the Church at 2:15m. Parents and families are warmly invited to join their child’s class for the Stations and again join us in the afternoon for the liturgy. Class times for the Stations of the Cross 9.00am – Year 5 classes 9:10am –Year 4 Classes 9:20am – Year 3 classes 9:30am – Year 4 classes 9.40am – Year 6 and Year 1 classes together. Parents are asked to wait quietly at the back of the canteen for their child’s year level to come to the oval where they are welcome to join the children as they follow the story from station to station. Carol Hoare Assistant Principal RE

***** CONVERSATIONS NURTURE YOUNG CHILDREN’S LANGUAGE A study was recently done on “conversational turns” between parents and children. These are an adult utterance, followed by a child utterance (or vice versa), with no more than a five-second gap between them. The more of these reciprocal interactions children had (the researchers studied average 4-6-year-olds), the more brain activity they had in Broca’s area (the part of the brain that handles language production and processing), and the better the children did on standardised tests of vocabulary, grammar and verbal reasoning. This was true regardless of socioeconomic status, parents’ educational attainment or the number of words to which they were exposed at home.

Conversational turns were almost magical in their power to build children’s language ability.

In simple language, this means get the children off those electronic devices and enjoy happy, simple conversations with them. Doing things they enjoy such as making castles in the sand pit, drawing pictures, playing Lego, riding their bike etc will encourage these positive parent and child conversations.

“Conversation and Language Development” by Jeff Murray in The Education Gadfly, February 28, 2018

*****

Parent Teacher Interviews this term will take place over seven days during weeks 9 and 10 of term one, commencing Monday of Week 9 (26 March) to the Friday of Week 10 (6 April). The interviews will be held outside of class hours, so there will be no early close.

One late evening will be offered which is the Tuesday of Week 9 (27 March). Supervision will be offered in the library from 3pm to 4pm on Tuesday 27 March.

Parents will be able to book through our on-line booking system from Monday 19th March at 12pm. Interview days are as follows:

WEEK 9 Monday 26 March Tuesday 27 March – Late evening until 6pm Wednesday 28 March Thursday 29 March

WEEK 10 Wednesday 4 April Thursday 5 April Friday 6 April

Parent/Teacher Interviews Term 1, 2018

Please do not park in the two clearly marked disabled

parking bays in the parish carpark.

These bays are reserved for people with an ACROD

parking sticker. On the spot fines of $300 will be imposed

by the City of Cockburn rangers.

UNIFORM REMINDER (Winter Uniform Terms 2 & 3)

Winter really isn’t that far away - have your children tried on their winter uniform? We have seeing many children who have done a lot of growing over summer. There’s plenty of winter stock available in the Uniform Shop and if you’re able to get in now, you’ll beat the rush!

________________________ Helen O’Toole Principal

Book Club – Issue 2

Book club orders must be finalised online by Monday 26th March 2018

Please use LOOP on scholastic website. www.scholastic.com.au/LOOP

No cash payments or paper orders taken