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The 26 of July commemorates the feasts of St Anne and St Joachim. Historically little is known about these saints, except that they were the parents of Mary.
Although we might wonder what can be learned from people, we know nothing about. We should focus on why they are honoured by the church. Whatever their names or the facts of their lives, the truth is that it was the parents of Mary who nurtured and taught her. It was her parents who brought her up to be worthy and accepting of great responsibility. It was their teaching that led her to respond to God’s request with faith. It was their example of parenting that Mary must have followed as she brought up her own son, Jesus. It was their faith that laid the foundation of courage and strength that she displayed throughout the trials of her life.
Although they are traditionally seen as the patron saints of grandparents Anne and Joachim are beautiful models for all parents and caregivers today. They provide us with real life people who dealt with all the unknowns life had to offer and who faced these uncertainties with trust, faith, confidence, hope, and surrender. Like Anne and Joachim our lives, in some way, can be an inheritance to our children to enrich them and to provide them with firm foundations and confidence in their abilities and beliefs.
Anne and Joachim Anne whether these are their real names or not represent that entire quiet series of generations who faithfully perform their duties, practice their faith and establish an atmosphere for the coming of Jesus.
This 'feast of grandparents' reminds all grandparents of their responsibility to continue a legacy for the generations to come. Grandparents help family traditions to live on by passing them on to the growing next generation.
On a personal note, it seems that it was only a few years ago that I became a mum and I remember a friend saying to me during my very busy days as a parent of preschoolers that “The days crawl by but the years fly by”. This is so very true! As someone who has made the transition from once having grandparents to now being a grandparent, the realisation of continuing our family story and maintaining the legacy handed down by past generations is now very real. Becoming a grandparent has taught me that the heart has a great capacity to grow exponentially. All in all, I just want to be present for my grandchildren. I want to help them develop memories that will make a lasting impact in their lives. Maybe even see me as the type of grandparent they would like to be some day.
We keep all the grandparents and grandparent figures in our community in our prayers those close to us, those who are far away and those who look down on us from heaven.
We are grateful for the many blessings made possible by the rich tapestry created by the many generations of family members who have gone before us. Please take a few minutes to reflect on the beautiful messages from Pope Francis’s message for Grandparents' Day 2022 and in the lyrics of the song Part of Me by Drew Lane.
These really say it all!
Tina Murray
Principal
TERM 3 P & F General Meeting RSVP / Agenda Items
https://forms.gle/LLGAQN9scXSQFwqT6
The meeting will be held via Zoom to support parent attendance. Zoom meeting links and documents will be emailed to all registered attendees on Wednesday 10 August.
Catholic School Parents Australia (CSPA) has launched its Children’s Well Being and Learning Survey, which was developed in partnership with the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth. The purpose of this survey is to gather the opinions of parents / carers on issues of concern relating to their children’s health, well being and learning, and assist CSPA in reporting to the Federal Government and Catholic Education.
Have your say on what matters regarding the well being and learning of your child.
For example, has COVID or your partnership with the school affected your child’s well being and learning?
If you are a parent or carer with a child in a Catholic school, CSPA would love to hear from you.
Click on the survey link and share your feedback to assist CSPA in reporting to the Federal Government and Catholic education.
Your feedback will remain anonymous.
PARLIAMENT AND CIVICS EDUCATION REBATE (PACER)
Year 6 students will set off for an educational tour of Canberra, our national capital next week. Students will be given the opportunity to participate in a variety of educational programs with a focus on Australia’s history, culture, heritage, and democracy.
For many years the Australian Government has recognised the importance of all young Australians being able to visit the national capital as a part of their Civics and Citizenship education and has contributed towards costs through the Parliament and Civics Education Rebate (PACER) program. We are extremely grateful for this support and look forward to sharing student reflections in the weeks ahead.
STAFF SPIRITUALITY DAY
SAVE THE DATE: 9 SEPTEMBER 2022
Next week the Life Education Van will be visiting our school. Life Education has been visiting schools since 1979 and offers a unique, curriculum-based program empowering children to make safer and healthier choices through education.
Life Education is a 60 - 90 minute interactive lesson delivered by specialist educators. The lessons cover a range of topics across the three core areas of physical health, safety and social and emotional well being. The modules will cover topics such as:
- How nutrition and physical activity contribute to a healthy lifestyle.
- Online safety education including strategies for recognising, reacting and reporting predatory or unsafe situations.
- Strategies to deal with bullying and cyberbullying.
- Resilience, self-awareness, self-management, and social awareness.
- Respectful relationships.
- Decisions, peer pressure, responsibility, and consequences.
- Alcohol and other drug education (in age-appropriate contexts).
- Ways to keep safe at home, school and in the community.
The modules the students are completing this year are –
- Kindergarten – Harold’s Friend Ship which explores how to build friendships and care for others, feelings and emotions, safe and unsafe situations and early warning signs, safe places and people to turn to for help.
- Year 1 – Ready, Steady, Go which explores body workings, safe use and storage of medicines, peer pressure and coping strategies, safety and decision making.
- Year 2 – Safety Rules which explores problem solving, personal safety, seeking help, how to care for others and behaviours that maintain friendships.
- Year 3 – bCyberwise which explores cyber safety through animation, vox pops of children, relevant scenarios, discussion and problem solving.
- Year 4 – Mind Your Medicine which explores safe and unsafe situations, medicines and consequences of misuse, peer influence and friendship and positive communication.
- Year 5 – Relate Respect Connect which teaches the knowledge, skills and attitudes that children need to develop and maintain safe and respectful relationships both on and offline. This includes effective communication skills, development of empathy and conflict resolution skills.
- Year 6 – Decisions which explores the decision making process and skills by looking at choices, consequences, responsibility, facts and influences.
Mrs Lillian Del Giudice
Assistant Principal
Congratulations again to the students who have returned overdue books – we are slowly getting there, a great start to the term, well done! However we still need quite a few students to check for books at home please, and remember to bring in their Library Bags on the following days next week:
Monday – Year 4
Tuesday – Year 6
Wednesday – Year 1
Thursday – Kindergarten
We need to make sure we have our Library bags to be able to borrow.
Premiers' Reading Challenge
Counting down - only just over FOUR (4) weeks left now to complete the challenge, so it is important to ensure that any books read are registered. Go to:
https://products.schools.nsw.edu.au/prc/logon.html
If they have only a few books to go, the students can come to the Library at Lunch 2 on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, we have a selection of books ready at each level to help them finish the required number. Remember that any student who is having trouble registering the books is urged to come to the Library so we can help them register those last few titles!
Scholastic Book Club
Brochures went home last week for the current issue of Book Club. Many thanks to those families who are supporting this program through your online purchases. Just a reminder that for Issue 5 Scholastic is giving way FREE books to help celebrate and spread the love of reading. You can get up to 3 free books:
- Receive 1 free book when you spend over $30
- Receive 2 free books when you spend over $50
- Receive 3 free books when you spend over $70
Orders for Issue 5 will close next Tuesday 2 August. Thank you
Children’s Book Week
Book Week is Week 6, 22 - 26 August. Each year since 1945 the Children’s Book Council of Australia has brought children and books together across Australia through CBCA Book Week. During this time schools and public libraries spend one glorious week celebrating books and Australian children's Authors and Illustrators. This year’s theme: is ‘Dreaming with eyes open...’ At Mary Immaculate School, we will be celebrating Book Week with a number of activities, including a Book Character Parade and a visit from an Author, Sue Whiting. To find out more about Sue and her books go to:
To find out more about Book Week and the books we are celebrating visit:
https://www.cbca.org.au/cbca-book-week
More details about the day and time for the Book Character Parade will be given soon, but in the meantime students can begin to think about a favourite book and book character which helps them to dream with their eyes open!
“The importance of reading to children can’t be disputed. By utilising literacy resources for children, incorporating books as part of your child’s everyday routine, and looking for creative ways to promote reading, you’ll be giving your youngster a head start toward academic success and a rich, vivid imagination."
https://www.earlymoments.com/Promoting-Literacy-and-a-Love-of-Reading/
Happy reading!
Mrs Sue Bryant
Teacher-Librarian