Confident kids are competent kids. Past experience has taught them that they can be successful. The easiest (and most neglected way) to help develop competency is to give kids opportunities to help out at home. Don’t overburden them with jobs. Sensibly allocate chores according to their age, interests and study requirements.

However many parents tell me that they can’t get their kids to help unless they pay them. Those parents have made a rod for their own backs. It’s time for a change of tune. Don’t wait until they are old enough to help. Start now, regardless of age. Toddlers and teens and all ages in between should be expected to chip in and help.

Here are eight ideas to help you get your kids to help out at home without being paid:

• Keep jobs real
  Kids can sense it when parents give them jobs to keep them busy. Make sure the jobs you apportion make a real contribution to their own family’s well-being.

• Balance the personal chores with family jobs
  Chores are generally divided into two areas. Jobs such as keeping a bedroom tidy benefits a child and jobs such as setting the table benefit the family. By doing this kids learn to contribute positively to family-life.

• Place more difficult tasks on a roster
  The children can refer to it when needed, which takes the load off you and removes the need to remind them. Rotate the unpleasant tasks frequently. And here’s the key to making rosters work – place yourself on the roster too! Kids are generally more willing to help when you as a parent are involved.

• Use Grandma’s principle to make sure jobs are done
  Grandma’s principle means you do the less pleasant tasks first. That is, make sure jobs are finished before mealtimes or before starting pleasant activities such as watching television.

• Avoid doing jobs for children
  When children get the message that no one will do their jobs for them they will be more likely to help out.

• Show your appreciation for their help
  Make a fuss when they help so they know that their contribution to the family is valued. If you do it often enough they may even show their appreciation for all you do for them!

• Keep your standards high
  Don’t accept half-hearted efforts or half-completed jobs. If you think your child is capable of putting the cat food back in the fridge and placing the spoon in the dishwasher then insist that he or she does just that, rather than leaving the cat food on the sink. A job properly done is valued in the world of work, which they will eventually enter.

• Rebrand the term ‘chore’ as ‘help’
  The term ‘chore’ definitely has an image problem. Use the term ‘help’ as it is easier on the ear and really does indicate what you want from your kids.

A written explanation is required to be sent to the Office if your child is Absent for any reason. This is a legal requirement.

Each day the Class Teacher marks a Class Roll.  This is a legal document that records the official attendance of all students in his / her class.  Partial absences are also recorded in the roll.  A written explanation for absence must be sent to the office within 7 days of the absence.

If parents want to take their child out of school for extended leave, a note to the principal is required requesting the leave.  Confirmation of approval by the Principal will be sent to parents.

SUPERVISION BEFORE SCHOOL - It is important that parents realise that there is NO supervision of students in the playground before 8.00am.  Teachers are rostered to supervise the playground after 8.00am each day.

SUPERVISION AFTER SCHOOL - Students are supervised going on buses and crossing Aquamarine & Emerald Drives. Supervision after school finishes at 3.00pm.

HOME ARRANGEMENTS - Teachers are to be informed of going home arrangements of the children.  If these arrangements change please inform the School.  If there is an emergency and these arrangements need to be altered, parents are to ring the Office to inform the School.   The School will then ring back to confirm these arrangements with you and then it will be conveyed to students.

STUDENTS LEAVING SCHOOL GROUNDS - If students have urgent appointments with the dentist or doctor, etc., during school hours, a written note from the parents must be sent to school with the child on the morning of the appointment.  Please make every effort to make these appointments after school and during the holidays.  These too, are recorded on the class roll.

HOLIDAYS - It is expected that Family Holidays will coincide with School Holidays.  Parents are asked to think seriously about the consequences of taking a child out of school during the year.  If parents decide to remove their child from school, parents must expect the possibility that some learning difficulties might arise.  It is not feasible for individual programs to be prepared and corrected for every student who is removed from school.  As part of the implementation of the National Standards, holidays taken by students outside of school vacation periods will now be included as absences.  A Certificate of Exemption can no longer be granted for this purpose.  Families are encouraged to holiday or travel during school vacation.  Leave of 10 or more days will require a letter from the parent along with an itinerary or copies of flight tickets and the Principal will provide an approval letter for the child.

Children are more successful in school when parents take an active interest in their homework – it shows kids that what they do is important.

• Make sure your child has a quiet, well-lit place to do homework - Avoid having your child do homework with the television on or in places with other distractions, such as people coming and going.
• Set up a homework-friendly area - Make sure the materials your child needs, such as paper, pencils and a dictionary, are available.

• Help your child with time management - Establish a set time each day for doing homework. Don't let your child leave homework until just before bedtime. Think about using a weekend morning or afternoon for working on big projects.
• Be positive about homework - Tell your child how important school is. The attitude you express about homework will be the attitude your child acquires.
• When your child does homework, you do homework - Show your child that the skills they are learning are related to things you do as an adult. If your child is reading, you read too.
• When your child asks for help, provide guidance, not answers - Too much help teaches your child that when the going gets rough, someone will do the work for him or her.
• Stay informed - Talk with your child's teacher. Make sure you know the purpose of homework and what your child's class rules are.
• Help your child figure out what is hard homework and what is easy homework - Have your child do the hard work first. This will mean they will be most alert when facing the biggest challenges.
• Watch your child for signs of failure and frustration - Let your child take a short break if they are having trouble keeping their mind on an assignment.
• Reward progress in homework - If your child has been successful in homework completion and is working hard, celebrate that success with a special event (eg.,a walk, a trip to the park) to reinforce the positive effort.

MRS LILLIAN DEL GIUDICE

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL

Congratulations to the winners of Morning Tea with the Principal for last week and this week:

Nate G K Blue, Jaime S 1 Gold, Kara 1 Gold,  Jon M 2 Green, Matilda R 3 Blue, Angelina 5 Gold 

Happy Birthday to the following children who will be celebrating a birthday this week:

Emma G, Alex F, Liam P, Mia W, Mia H, Chloe B and Harper V

Mary Immaculate Parish invites you to an evening get-together entitled “Our Many Marriages’

Byron and Francine Pirola will present ideas on –how to stay in love your whole life long.

 Date: Friday 5 April

Time: 7.30pm

Venue: Parish Hall

Cost: $10 per couple (light supper and drinks provided)

Free Child-minding

RSVP: Friday 29 March 2019

           Cindy Oliver 0417 490 638

During Lent, our school is raising money for Caritas Australia. So far, we have raised over $80 in our Project Compassion Boxes on our Class Prayer Spaces.  We are raising this money for Caritas so that they can help people living in villages overseas who do not have access to many basic life needs such as; clean water, education and health care.

We would like to help these Communities as much as we can. Therefore, the Mini Vinnies Team is organising a Pyjama Day to be held on Friday 5 April.

On Friday 5 April you can wear your pyjamas to school and bring a donation for Caritas Australia. The Pyjama Day rules are:

1. You must wear enclosed shoes
2. No see through clothing or offensive slogans
3. No singlet tops (shoe string straps for girls)

 We are trying to give 100% this Lent! It will be a fun day at school.

By: Madison, Ellie and Sarah Mini Vinnies and RE Team

Tear Off...............................................................................................................

(Please return to School Office)

Please complete the following slip to register interest in your child/children attending the ANZAC Day march on Thursday 25 April.

My child / children ………………………………………….………………

Class/es …………………………………….…. will be attending the ANZAC Day March to be held at Queen Street Campbelltown on 25th April 2019.

Signed …………………………………………………….. (Parent/Guardian)