Welcome back to Semester 2!

I hope the holidays were a wonderful opportunity for rest and to recharge, in preparation to begin a new semester of learning at Mary Immaculate.

On behalf of the staff, I offer my thanks to all parents who were able to attend the Parent / Teacher Conferences at the end of Term 2. These meetings were an important opportunity to set learning goals for the second semester of the year. Goals are a wonderful means of focusing effort and improving motivation.

Despite our current situation it is important that we try hard to normalise life for our students and maintain our focus on learning growth.

Several studies have shown improved academic performance when parents are part of this goal setting process with their children. These goals don’t need to be competitive, like being the best at something, or topping the class in a subject. Nor do they need to all be directly related to academic goals. More personal learning goals can be just as relevant. Educational goals should be achievable, but they should also be aspirational. For instance, parents could ask their children what they’d like to do differently this semester compared to the first part of the year. Parents may need to ask their children some leading questions and explain that goals at school don’t need to be world changing. They could be as simple as improving handwriting, listening more closely in class, aiming to get their home learning done before dinner, getting organized in the morning more quickly, or even getting to school before the first bell each day. It always helps to write goals down so they can be referred back to in the weeks ahead. Just setting goals is not sufficient, a strategy or plan on how to go about trying to achieve them is also required. This may require adjustments to be made by the child, but also by members of the family.

 

What is really important is that children are empowered with the support of parents to come up with their own goals. Children will be more motivated to achieve their goals if they’ve set them themselves because these goals will be important to them. An important part of this whole goal-setting exercise is celebrating your child’s success whenever a goal is attained. Parents generally know what best motivates each of their own children and often rewards or enticements are not as effective in helping children achieve goals as personal attention and words of affirmation from their parents.

It’s always fascinating to read and ponder the parables of Jesus because there always seems to be something new to learn. That’s how I felt during the holidays when one of my favourite parables, the parable of the sower was read as the gospel (Matthew 13:1-23) and unpacked during the homily. The parable is simple: the sower (Christ) scatters seed generously and it ends up on four different types of terrain. Some of the seeds land on the side of the road, some on rocks, others among thorns and some in good soil. The first three groups of seed die but the seed planted in the good soil flourishes. Jesus shares that the sower scattered seed (the Word of God) on all types of ground. It didn’t say that he was meticulously planting the seeds in designated ‘good soil’ areas – it says he was scattering the seed everywhere.

The parables like the other stories describing the life of Jesus are designed to help us to glimpse into and unlock the mysteries of the Kingdom of God.

The Kingdom of God is not a geographical location, but rather, an inner condition and disposition of the mind, heart and will. The meaning of the parable of the sower is twofold: to show that Christ came to share the Word of God with everyone and to show us how the different soils in our own life can either help our faith to either take hold and grow or to keep us from sharing God’s truth with others. They also teach us what we must do when the words of the Kingdom have been sown into our lives.

The seed that falls on good soil, is properly fertilised and balanced with the right amount of nutrients, can germinate, put down deep roots and produce optimum fruit.

Right now, as we begin this new semester together, each of us is holding our own  'bag of seed' in our hands. Our challenge in the weeks ahead is to consider how the word of the Kingdom of God is being sown in our lives.  What is the quality of the 'soil' is our lives? Is it full of stones? Has it been packed down hard by the journey of life? Are the thorns of worry and distraction choking us from producing and reaping the harvest of the fruits of the spirit ~ love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control ~ in our lives?

As we commence a new term of learning I pray that we can personally and communally tend the garden of our hearts, by pulling out the weeds of bad habits, by tending, tilling and fertilising the soil by contemplating with a greater awareness how the presence of God is active through the events and people in our lives. Wishing you a week filled with opportunities to make Christ your way and life.

 

Tina Murray

Principal

 

Congratulations to Mr and Mrs Karkour who welcomed a beautiful baby girl named Alana to their family during the holiday break. We wish them all and every blessing. 

 

As we commence Term 3, we are very pleased to share the following staff changes.

We welcome Miss Emily Spiljar as she commences in the role of Year 3 Gold Classroom Teacher.

We welcome Mrs Jaimie Mammone back to Mary Immaculate after a period of parental leave.  Jaimie will be providing additional support in Kindergarten each Thursday.  We welcome Mr Ric Simons as he commences in the role of PE Teacher.

 

STAFF DEVELOPMENT DAY - PUPIL FREE DAY TERM 3

WEEK 8 – MONDAY 7 SEPTEMBER, 2020

Students are not required to attend school on this day.

We are very grateful to these students for their effort and hard work during the first semester of learning in 2020.

Sophia G 3 Green, Piper H 3 Green, Olivia C 3 Green, Akansha 3 Green, Jailen V 3 Green, Antonia V 3 Green, Piper R 3 Green, Annabelle B 2 Gold, Hannah G 3 Green, Indianna C 4 Green, Olga M 4 Green, Charlee P 4 Green, Siupeli A 4 Green, Angelina B 6 Gold, Leon V 6 Gold, Isabelle V 6 Gold, Jasmine S 4 Green, Denzel T 3 Blue, Ananya S 3 Blue, Nyadeng D 2 Gold, Patience S 2 Gold, Ryan S 2 Gold, Samuel B 2 Gold, Lyla G 3 Blue, Mia B 5 Gold, Elijah K 3 Blue, Sophia T 3 Blue, Felicity R 4 Green, Ana D 4 Green, Samuel D 4 Green, Mason J 4 Green, Lincoln T 4 Green, Koby P 3 Gold, Nicola W 3 Green, Jamie B 3 Green, Nicolas O 2 Gold, Madison T 2 Green, Kara V 2 Green, Ysabella 4 Blue.

LIBRARY BORROWING RECOMMENCES THIS TERM.

Please ensure students have a Library bag and have returned previously borrowed books so they can access the wonderful resources available in our School Library.