Saint Ignatius College Geelong
Canvas – our new learning management system commences.
A new and essential way for parents to be better informed and engaged with your daughter’s/son’s learning progress is now available. Our new learning management system, “Canvas,” provides parents with access to more information about subjects, assessments, teacher feedback and results. Parents will be able to follow their student’s assessment results and teacher feedback online. Therefore, teachers will no longer prepare and distribute interim reports at the end of term one. We will still provide the opportunity for Parent/Student/Teacher conferences to discuss student progress and performance at the end of the term.
Deputy Principal (Teaching and Learning), Mrs Annette Chidzey provides more detail about parent use of Canvas later in this newsletter. I suggest that all parents familiarise themselves with Canvas, in the first instance, by asking your daughter/son to show you how they use our new learning management system on their laptop computer.
Next building program commences
I am delighted to inform you that local building company, Lyons Constructions (LC), will build the new Loyola Administration Centre. LC moved their site sheds on to our grounds last week, and we should see construction activity commence very soon.
This new centre will be another significant feature of our school grounds. It will comprise three levels and house reception, student services (including counselling, sickbay, student leadership, IT help desk), meeting spaces, offices, staff room and ample multi-purpose space. This magnificent new building will be located where the old Year 9 classrooms were and therefore in a central position.
I expect that this significant project will be completed around the middle of next year if all goes to plan.
House Swimming Carnival
Later in this newsletter, Mr Andrew Philp (Sports Coordinator) has advertised, with more details, the Annual House Swimming Carnival to be held on next Thursday (27th February) at Kardinia Pool, Geelong. Parents should have received the usual permission letter with more details about this compulsory College event via ‘Caremonkey.’ All Year 7 – 12 students are required to attend. Can I please reinforce the requirement that all students attend with the intention of participating if they can? Whole school events like this one are important, and as a College, we have the clear expectation that all students take an appropriately full and active part in our co-curricular programs.
Lent
On Wednesday next week, we will commence the Lenten period in the liturgical calendar of the Church year with ‘Ash Wednesday.’ Lent is forty days leading to the high point of the Church’s year, Easter. During Lent, we are encouraged to reflect on our lives in the light of the example of Jesus. How are we travelling with our faith life? How can we improve our spiritual life and our relationship with God? What about our prayer life, worship and praise involvement, level of charity and service to others? We are encouraged to make Lent a particular time to reflect on and redirect our lives where necessary so, we are in better alignment of our ways to the values, actions and truths of the Gospel.
On Ash Wednesday we will conduct our usual liturgy, involving the distribution of ashes. Each student is marked on the forehead with the Sign of the Cross in Ashes as part of this prayerful liturgy as a call to ‘Repent and believe in the Good News.'
Launch of Project Compassion 2020
As has been our practice, with the beginning of Lent next week, we will launch our school-wide Project Compassion appeal in support of Caritas Australia.
Project Compassion is supported by Catholic communities across Australia during Lent to help empower our world’s most vulnerable communities to “grow stronger and share their strengths with their communities to lift themselves out of poverty.
The 2020 Project Compassion theme is “Go Further Together.” “When we Go Further Together in love and compassion, the whole world thrives.
Students across the College will be encouraged to donate ‘loose change’ to the Project Compassion Boxes placed in their Homeroom and around the College. This is one way they can support the call to almsgiving during the Lenten period.
Parent Information Evenings
We have conducted Parent Information Evenings over the last two weeks. I have received very positive feedback from many parents about the evenings, and I thank all parents who were able to attend for their support of our College. We welcome feedback about College events to continually improving what we offer. You can write, ring (Ph. 52511136) or e-mail the college (info@ignatius.vic.edu.au) any constructive comments. Please address the comments to the chief organiser; in the case of the information evenings this would be the relevant Year Level Coordinator (YLC.)
Thank you to the YLCs, Ms Leonie O’Brien (7), Ms Deb Hodge (8), Mr Brendan O’Brien (10), Ms Alex Simpson (11) and Ms Kristin Williamson (12) and their staff teams for providing these evenings.
Beginning of Year Masses
On Tuesday we held a very special Mass, our first Mass as a whole school in the new Multi-purpose Centre. This was a very significant community gathering of students from all year levels together with staff members to thank God, pray for God’s blessing on the new school year and encourage students to respond positively to God’s gifts and the opportunities the school year will bring.
Thank you to Frs James Puppady, Michael Ryan SJ, Darien Stickland and Hang So for celebrating the Mass for us. Unfortunately, a great supporter of our College, Fr Gerry Healy SJ was unwell and could not be present. I know he was very disappointed and I ask you to please pray for a speedy recovery for him.
Thank you to Mr Paul Lewis, Mr Brendan Nicholls and our new Youth Ministry Facilitator, Mr Jarryd Atkinson for their work to organise these Masses.
Thank you also to Ms Marina Brown, Mr Francesco Melli and our choir students and some musicians who led the singing and music for us.
Parents and Friends' Association (PFA)
The PFA is a very positive and vital support for our community. They held their first meeting of the year on Tuesday 11th February. There was a very good turn up of parents which augurs well for the PFA’s year ahead.
I want to recognise the generous and valuable contribution parents can and do make to our school community through membership of this group. Thank you to all members of this group and in particular the outgoing office bearers: Ms Rebecca Hay (President) and Ms Cathy Dykes (Secretary.)
I express my gratitude to Ms Sandi Clark (President) and Mr Peter McInerney (Treasurer) for taking on these important roles. The PFA still needs a secretary, and I look forward to a parent taking on this valuable service; please consider helping out. You can contact our College Development Manager, Mrs Claire Hewitt (Ph: 03 5251 1136 or E: hewittc@ignatius.vic.edu.au) to put your name forward or make an enquiry about this position.
Please consider coming along to the next PFA meeting on Tuesday 10th March, at 7:30 pm in the Food Studies Centre.
Many of the members of this group have given generous service to the school community for many years, and it is vital that we have new parents join this group each year to replace those who finish up. So I encourage all parents to please consider joining this group – a strong PFA will strengthen our school community and improve outcomes for all students!
There are a variety of ways parents can help out. The College canteen helpers are vital to helping us provide a canteen service to our students. Many parents and friends of the College have put their name down to assist in the canteen, and I encourage you to consider contacting our Canteen Manager, Mrs Sandra Woodall, to offer your services.
Some of the ways the PFA supports our school community include: running fundraisers and social events, helping out at school functions, organising working bees, encouraging and supporting a sustainable school environment, running a second-hand uniform shop and a second-hand book sale. I ask all parents to please support the PFA where you can; this group’s work benefits all students.
Road Safety
All drivers travelling to and from our College are reminded of the need to adhere to traffic sign requirements at all times.
To promote safety, I remind our community that the speed limit is 40 km/h at all times on Peninsula Drive.
When attending after-hours events at the College, please do not park in the St Thomas Primary School or Potato Shed carparks.
Thank you for your support in prioritising the road safety of all those in and around the College.
Best wishes,
Michael Exton Principal
On Tuesday we as a College celebrated our inaugural beginning of the year mass together as a whole school community. This was a significant occasion for the College and was enabled by the completion of our multipurpose centre. In the past our beginning of year masses were celebrated individually due to the growth of the school population as we had ‘outgrown’ St Thomas’ church!
The mass we shared was an exceptional celebration of our faith community. We were blessed to have a number of key individuals who ensured that the mass was planned and executed with collaboration and precision. Thanks is given to the diligence and support of Mr Paul Lewis, Mr Jarryd Atkinson and the priests who concelebrate the Eucharist for us (Fr James Puppady PP Drysdale, Fr Sang Ho PP Belmont, Fr Darien Sticklen PP Ocean Grove/Queenscliff, Fr Michael Ryan SJ).
The importance of the Eucharist in our community is founded on the belief the Eucharist being the “source and summit of Christian life”. In being able to celebrate and receive the Eucharist together we are joined through Jesus himself and become what we as a community claim to be. This understanding further supports the significance of the opportunity for the whole school to come together in prayer and in receiving Communion.
The readings of the mass and the homily offered both taught and guided those present to a vision of a community and a year of hope. In presenting a mass to our youth the music offered in support is vitally important for engagement of the students. Great credit must be given to Ms Marina Brown, Arts Captain Noah Gullan who selected and presented a number of ‘new’ contemporary songs that both developed the mass and grabbed the attention of the students.
The central theme of the mass was based around the 2020 College motto: ‘Ignite your light’ and the reading of Jesus and the Samaritan woman (John 4:1-15, 19-26) from John’s gospel. These readings were supported further by the homily which illustrated the importance of community and the need for a communal and individual relationship with Jesus. The recessional hymn for the mass was a song called ‘Set a Fire’ the lyrics below were both a fitting sending out and conclusion to the theme of our inaugural whole school mass and the goal we as a community strive for.
So set a fire down in my soul
That I can't contain and I can't control
I want more of You, God
I want more of You, God
No place I would rather be
Than here in Your Love!
Here in Your Love!
I want more, I want more
I want more, I want more
I want more, I want more
I want more, won't You pour it out?
So set a fire down in my soul
That I can't contain and I can't control
I want more of You, God
I want more of You, God
(Will Reagan 2010 ©)
I hope that this reflection of our shared encounter inspires you and that you may in-turn reflect your personal relationship with Jesus. This radiance will bring light and joy to the people you meet each day and will personify St Ignatius’ teaching of ‘God in All Things’.
Yours in Christ,
Brendan Nicholls Religious Education and Liturgy Coordinator
There is currently great excitement around the College as the Annual House Swimming Carnival draws closer. This is the first of three whole school sporting events this year. These events provide students with an opportunity to compete against their peers and they assist coaching staff to identify potential members for different sporting teams.
Venue: Kardinia Aquatic Centre, 25 Park Crescent South Geelong, Vic., 3220
Attendance: There is an expectation that all students will attend the Swimming Carnival. There are many events that cater for all levels of swimmers and if you are not able to get into the pool you will be expected to cheer on your housemates. If students do not attend they are requested to produce a note via their student planner by Friday 28th February.
Parental/Guardian Permission: Please approve the parent/guardian consent form via your Caremonkey account when it comes available in emails.
Parental/Guardian Attendance: Parents/Guardians and other family members are invited to attend the Carnival. A section of the pool area will be reserved for non-students.
Student Travel Arrangements: After the morning Homeroom period, students will board buses to take them to Kardinia Park Pool.
All students will return to school by bus in time for the afternoon Homeroom period before being dismissed from school.
Variations to Student Travel Arrangements: It is expected that all students will travel to and from school as normal on the day of the Carnival.
Attire: We ask that students enter into the spirit of the day and dress-up in the colour of their House, to add to the atmosphere. However, students are reminded they are expected to be suitably dressed. No bikinis or low cut board shorts are permitted. Streamers, dyes, body painting, zinc and balloons will not be permitted within the facility.
Students are to arrive to school in their PE uniform. Students who wish to get changed into their ‘dress up’ outfit are to do so at school. Students may wish to have their swimming outfit underneath their PE uniform or get changed for swimming events at the Kardinia Pool on arrival.
Please ensure your daughter/son attends in a “Sunsmart” way – sport uniform with hat and sunscreen applied.
Photography: As part of the terms and conditions associated with the College hiring the Kardinia Aquatic Centre, we remind both students and parents that any form of “Photography, Video or DVD recording” within the centre is prohibited. Mr David Alexander and Mrs Claire Hewitt will be taking official photos on behalf of the College during the Carnival.
Canteen: The canteen will be accessible for students this year at certain times throughout the day. No glass can be brought into the Centre. No food is to be ordered / delivered from ‘outside’ eg pizzas, fish and chips.
We trust that all students will have an enjoyable day and make the most of the activities offered. You will find the Event Program attached to this note so that parent/guardians may be able to know when to attend to see particular students in action.
Regards
Mr Andrew Philp Sports Coordinator
Join us as part of our International Women’s Day Celebrations Tuesday March 10th Saint Ignatius College 27 Peninsula Drive, Drysdale
Canapés and refreshments served from 5.30pm for a 6.30pm start.
Bianca Chatfield was one of the youngest players ever to have debuted for the Australian Diamonds at the age of only 18.
Bianca made a name for herself on court as one of the toughest defenders in the country and was soon recognised as one of the most respected leaders in women’s sport. Bianca, a five time premiership player, world championship gold medalist, Commonwealth Games silver and gold medalist, Melbourne Vixens Captain, and author of ‘Every Girl Needs a Plan,’ splits her time advocating for women in sport, and fulfilling her many media commitments.
A celebrated athlete, and an excellent and engaging communicator, ensuring a meaningful and memorable evening for those in attendance.
Tickets for the evening: $15 per person
Bookings: www.trybooking.com/BIFDI
For all enquiries contact Elana Cole colee@ignatius.vic.edu.au
On 6th February, our newest community members and their families were invited to our Welcome Mass and Meet the Teacher Night.
It was wonderful to watch the students leading their parents into our Multipurpose Centre to celebrate mass together. Our choir performed beautifully in a personal and meaningful service.
Following the mass, the students guided their families into the Xavier Centre to meet their homeroom teachers and complete their formal transition into secondary school.
Many thanks to the families that attended, Father James Pappady for celebrating the mass and the myriad of staff and students who made this such a successful evening.
Ms Leonie O’Brien Year 7 Coordinator
On Thursday 13th of February the Year 12 VCAL students went on an excursion to visit a variety of businesses around the Bellarine Peninsula.
Our first destination was Daniel’s Donuts in Portarlington where we had a presentation on the background of the business and other information including operational structures, marketing and their production process including the 40 different flavours of donuts.
In Queenscliff we were fortunate enough to visit the Shellfish Hatchery, watching a video on how mussels and oysters are produced. The presenter, Kim then went into further detail giving us their daily routines in what needs to be done in order for this business to continue to be successful. After this intriguing talk with Kim we then took the bus and had lunch in Queenscliff.
Shortly after we had lunch we proceeded to Drysdale Cheese Farm and met Corinne and Peter who introduced us to their farm. They proceeded to explain how they milk and feed the goats, providing us with an opportunity to give lucerne branches for the goats to feed on. After the wonderful time we had spent at the farm we decided it was time to visit our last destination, Little Wings Bakery.
The bakery is a small two year old family run business that makes artisan bread, but has other plans to grow in the near future hoping to open up more shops. Shae, the daughter of the parent’s business, showed us around their store, and how they operate day to day.
Overall we obtained a lot of knowledge and the trip was a great experience on giving us an insight on what it is like to run a business and work within a variety of different industries.
John Clatworthy
The Saint Ignatius College Open Day 2020 will be held on Sunday March 22nd.
The College is open from 11.00am to 2.00pm with Information Sessions in the Multi-Purpose Centre at 11.00am and 12.15pm.
There will be tours of the College's facilities, course information, presentations and exhibitions provided by staff and students and our Open Day is a great opportunity for prospective students and families to experience what the College has to offer.
Please Note: Year 7 2021 applications for enrolment close on Friday May 8th 2020.
This new platform was fully introduced across all levels of the College from the commencement of the school year on January 31st. As a management tool, it has many exciting learning and teaching opportunities for us to draw upon as we become increasingly familiar with all its distinctive features.
One key strength is that it enables students to receive specific feedback provided to target improved outcomes. The advantage of this feedback is that it can be more personalised, timely and relevant to the learning needs of each child. Parents and guardians will be able to view this feedback and the associated results their daughter or son receives as it is made available to the student, thereby providing the chance to be directly engaged in conversations about how each child is performing as well as discussing what suggestions and strategies have been offered to help him or her progress from that point.
By early next week, the primary family contact will receive an individual email that includes a unique Canvas logon as well as a link to a brief video introducing them to some preliminary features of Canvas prepared by Mr. Roddy Nash, our E-Learning Coordinator.
Please note that this Canvas logon is a different logon to the Xuno Student Management System logon and only one logon contact can be issued per family.
Given this more interactive level of engagement, the school will not prepare or distribute interim reports later this term as it is our expectation that parents and guardians will be following their daughter or son’s progress via Canvas.
However, we will be providing parents and guardians with important opportunities to discuss student performance and progress with teachers during parent/student/teacher conferences to be held on March 26th and 27th.
These conferences will be vital opportunities for all students and parents or guardians to be able to discuss their progress prior to the commencement of Term 2.
It is our desire as a school to develop students with high expectations and empower them with the skills to know how to monitor their progress and be able to know what to do next in terms of taking their learning to the next level.
Canvas provides us with an interactive tool where we can build on prior learning to instil challenge and build confidence in our students to know how they learn. It is our goal to ensure our classrooms are inviting places where all students want to come and learn and we believe Canvas is one key tool that will help to foster the exploration of ideas and as yet untapped curiosity.
Across this term and indeed the year, we will continue to provide information about Canvas and how it can complement student learning but for now I invite you to logon and view the introductory video prepared by Mr. Nash as we set out on the Canvas journey together.
Mrs Annette Chidzey Deputy Principal [Learning & Teaching]
Welcome back!
This year we welcome Tenille Thomson back to our wellbeing team after taking 12 months of parental leave.
The Saint Ignatius Wellbeing Team now consist of four staff being Tenille Thomson, Sally Barnard, Sarah Somerset and Olivia Whitehead. We would like to welcome all students back for a new school year.
Please feel free to contact our wellbeing staff for any concerns or assistance at: wellbeing@ignatius.vic.edu.au
All of the best for the year ahead!
Supporting your Year 12 student
Year 12 is a really busy year for our students. Our wellbeing team would therefore like to share a Parent Tip Sheet about how to help your child overcome challenges, thrive, and grow during the important year ahead.
See attached ’Surviving Year 12 Parent Tip Sheet'
Free Parenting Forum
If you are interested in learning more about 'strength based parenting' please check out this free forum being held at the Leopold Community Hub on the 27th February.
Registration details are in the attached flyer below.
Professor Lea Waters will discuss ways to lower anxiety and depression, assist your child with friendships issues and build on life satisfaction.
‘On Demand’ Testing is to be undertaken by Years 7 - 9 students in Mathematics and Reading.
The dates are as follows:
Year 7 and 8
Reading: Tuesday 18th February and Mathematics: Tuesday 3rd March
Year 9
Reading: Friday 21st February and Mathematics: Friday 28th February
‘On Demand’ is an online resource developed by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA). The pool of questions reflects the Victorian Curriculum and the data, along with teacher judgements assists in forward planning of teaching programs.
Ms Karen Perkins Learning Enhancement Coordinator
The annual school photos have been taken and are ready to order.
Arthur Reed Photos uses an online ordering system where you can view your photos prior to ordering.
On photo day all students received a flyer which includes a code unique to them.
You will require this 2020 code to register online and view your photos.
If you have already registered, you will receive an email or SMS from Arthur Reed Photos with a link to view your photos.
If you have not yet registered, please go to order.arphotos.com.au and enter your code to complete your order.
If you have misplaced your registration code, please contact the Arthur Reed Photos customer service team directly on 5243 4390
Please note that you will need to register online with your 2020 photo code to gain access to this year’s images.
There is a 10 day ordering period if you wish to receive free delivery back to the school. This ordering window closes on 23rd February 2020.
After this time, there will be a $9.95 postage and handling fee on all orders, as they will be sent directly to your nominated address.
If you require any assistance ordering your photos, please contact Arthur Reed Photos directly on 5243 4390 or email customerservice@arphotos.com.au
Saint Ignatius College will be hosting a group of Indonesian students from Tuesday March 17th to Sunday March 22nd and are looking for host families.
This a great experience for the whole family and Indonesian language is not necessary as the students can speak english.
For further information please call: Jan on 0400 364 148 or email: jbrentnall3226@gmail.com
The attached PDF has more information
Please click here for the latest edition of Catholic Education Today https://www.cem.edu.au/News-Events/Catholic-Education-Today.aspx
This issue features a reflection on the Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF) held in Perth at the end of last year, as well as articles on the significance of Lent, new governance arrangements and how Catholics from across the nation have come together to assist communities affected by the devastating bushfires.
The centre pages comprise a handy calendar of events and key dates, with the regular sections highlighting ‘Educators in Profile’ and ‘Around the Archdiocese’ also included.
A PDF of our Canteen Price List can be downloaded here
Starting February 24th
Monday 24th
A. Schneider, J. Gray, Needed
Tuesday 25th
N. Robinson, C. Duncan, G. Sablatncy, J. Johnson
Wednesday 26th
K. Every, A Richardson, L. Vella, R. Wilkin
Thursday 27th
M. White, E. Carpenter
Friday 28th
E. Stokie, J. Rogers, C. Folvig
Starting March 2nd
Monday 2nd
B. Brinfield, C. Oddo, R. Milburn, E. Musella
Tuesday 3rd
L. Tigani, L. Vella, Needed
Wednesday 4th
L. Strachan, N. Gillinzoni, S. Mson, B. Harvey, D. Worrell
Thursday 5th
M. White, Needed, Needed
Friday 6th
L. Hart, L. Work, Needed
If unable to attend, please make sure you get a replacement.
Sandra Woodall Tel: 0417 050 258
Join Saver Plus and we'll match your savings, dollar for dollar, up to $500 for school costs.
To join Saver Plus, you must be at least 18 years or over, have a child at school or attend vocational education yourself, have regular income from paid employment (you or your partner), have a current Health Care or Pensioner Concession Card and be in receipt of an eligible Commonwealth social security benefit, allowance or payment.
Contact: Your local Saver Plus Coordinator
Phone: 03 5278 8122 Email: GeelongSP@bethany.org.au Web: www.saverplus.org.au
See PDF flyer for details:
College Fees Raffle 2019
Thank you to everyone who purchased a ticket in last years’ Raffle – winners were:
1st: T Muir - College Fees
2nd: R Milburn - $200 Campion voucher
3rd C Maxfield - $100 Noone voucher
4th L Strachan - $100 Noone voucher
5th M Merrigan – Oxford Dictionary
6th L Kelly – $25 P&F Second Hand Uniform Shop voucher
7th M Chichester – $25 P&F Second Hand Uniform Shop voucher
8th H Cutajar – $25 P&F Second Hand Uniform Shop voucher
9th A Lawson – $25 P&F Second Hand Uniform Shop voucher
10th – 18th - $5 school canteen vouchers
D Stolk, B Brown, A Grimaud, S Clark, N Mitchell, J Closter, C Rawson, A Lace and G Verlin
Become part of the Parents and Friends’ Association
Next meeting will be held on Tuesday March 10th at 7.30pm in the Food Tech Room ( please note later time due to the International Women’s Day event)
We look forward to seeing you there.
Even if you can’t make it to the monthly meetings, but think you might be able to be on call to help at the different things we are involved in, please get in touch with us by emailing sicgpandf@ignatius.vic.edu.au
Working Bee - Sunday March 15th 8.30am - 12.30pm
In order to ensure the school is ready for Open Day, the PFA will be arranging a working bee on Sunday 15th March from 8.30am to 12.30 pm. If you could spare a few hours, or even just one hour, come along. Good opportunity to bring the kids too! Please email us on sicgpandf@ignatius.vic.edu.au if you would like to register your interest in helping!
Open Day - March 22nd
As always, the PFA will be holding a BBQ – all proceeds from the BBQ will go towards Timor Leste.
We welcome anyone who can assist on the day to email sicgpandf@ignatius.vic.edu.au
The Uniform Shop
Uniform Shop Opening Days and Times are as follows:
Wednesday 19th February 2-4pm
Wednesday 4th March 2-4pm
Thursday 26th March 4-8pm
Items to be sold can be dropped off on any of the above days or anytime at the front office. We are always seeking Volunteers to help in the uniform shop. If you are available and have time to help out contact Sandi Clark by emailing sicgpandf@ignatius.vic.edu.au
Training is provided.
Instilling confidence takes more than heaping praise on kids. Here are 10 practical confidence-building strategies for parents and teachers of children and young people.
Children with healthy self-esteem and self-confidence learn more, achieve more and are generally happier than those with low confidence levels. Building children’s and young people’s confidence is complex.
It’s more than being a praise robot and heaping positive comments on a child at the first sign of them doing something well. Confidence building requires a number of approaches that impact on how they think, how they feel and what they can do.
Here are ten practical strategies that you can use to build real selfconfidence in kids of all ages:
1 Model confident thinking
Kids soak up the language, thinking and behaviour of those closest to them in their environment. Parents and teachers play a part in modelling confident thinking and behaviour particularly when it comes to tackling new activities. In particular, let kids hear positive self-talk when you tackle something new. They should hear something like, “I’ll have a go at this. If I don’t do so well then I can try again tomorrow.” This is far more effective than “I’m no good at this. I’ll probably stuff it up.”
2 Focus on effort and improvement
Current thinking shows that people who believe that they can increase their intelligence through effort and challenge actually get smarter and do better in
school, work, and life over time. One way to develop a growth mindset is to focus your language on effort and improvement rather than on the results of what they do. By linking success with effort you are teaching them success comes from something other than purely their ability, talents or smarts.
3 Praise strategy
While effort is key for achievement, it’s not the only thing. Kids need to try new strategies and seek input from others when they’re stuck. They need this
repertoire of approaches – not just sheer effort – to learn and improve. It helps too to focus language on better and smarter ways on improving. Comments such as “That was a smart idea to tackle the hardest task while you were fresh!”(strategy) and “You recognised the first few steps were the most important but then after that you were right” are descriptive statements that have significant instructional value for kids.
4 Develop self-help skills from an early age
A child’s self-esteem comes as a result of his or her successes and accomplishments. The most important competencies to build confidence are basic self-help skills. These form the building blocks upon which other competencies such as organisational skills and many social skills are formed.
5 Give them real responsibility
From a young age start giving children responsibility for some aspects of their lives. By giving kids responsibility we are sending a powerful message that we think they are capable. Also they are learning the skills necessary to care for themselves.
6 Practise unconditional acceptance
Your ability to accept children and young people’s best efforts in any area of endeavour, irrespective of the results, will go a long way toward determining their self-esteem and confidence. If a child makes their bed to the very best of their ability, resist fi xing it, even though it may fall short of your adult standards. Instead remind them next time of how to do it well.
7 Expand their horizons
Some kids are confident and capable at home but are fearful and nervous when it comes to new social situations and unfamiliar environments. Children today have less opportunity than those in the past to negotiate and explore unpredictable situations. Wherever possible look for opportunities to expand children’s horizons to include unfamiliar places and unfamiliar locations including catching public transport and walking to friends’ places unattended when capable.
8 Recognise improvement
Focus your comments on children’s effort and improvement rather than on winning the game or getting top marks. Help kids set realistic goals in line with their capabilities and interests. Learning five new spelling words a week maybe more realistic than 20 words that school may require.
9 Put the training wheels on to support learning
Putting training wheels on a bike is a great way to teach a young child to ride. They keep them upright and mobile while they are getting the knack of balancing. We can use the same principle to support kids learning while they develop independence in many areas of life. For instance, we can accompany anxious kids to birthday parties and stay for a short time so they become comfortable before leaving.
10 Build teaching and training into your day
Teaching and training needs to be part of the every day repertoire of a parent. This means we need to add a little extra time living, whether it is a young child learning to do up his or her shoelaces or a teenager learning how to fill out his or her tax form for a part-time job. When adults are busy it is often easier to do things ourselves.
Ask children for help
Doing things together is a great way to build competency and build the confidence that mastery brings. A simple way to initiate joint activity is to ask your child or young person to give you a hand with something. Better still, get them to teach you or show you how to do something you are unfamiliar with. Being a teacher rather than the learner is a great confidence-builder particularly for those kids who struggle with activities that others find easy.
Most importantly, great parents and teachers have a knack of communicating confidence in kids. They find ways to let kids know that they believe in them – that they know their kids will perform and succeed, that they have faith that they can deal with life’s challenges and know that they can become more independent.
Michael Grose
Michael Grose, founder of Parenting Ideas, is one of Australia’s leading parenting educators. He’s the author of 10 books for parents including Thriving! and the bestselling Why First Borns Rule the World and Last Borns Want to Change It, and his latest release Spoonfed Generation: How to raise independent children.
Local Community and Sporting groups you may be interested in.
Leopold Football Club 'Come & Try Night' Youth Girls Session
Join us for a fun-filled girls session, free BBQ, games and prizes at the Leopold FNC Main Oval. March 2nd from 5.45pm to 6.45pm.
Free for all! All Welcome.
Free Parenting Forum: 'The Teen Brain'
The City of Greater Geelong in conjunction with Regional Parenting Service and the Victorian State Government are running a free parenting forum: 'The Teen Brain' with David Gillespie.
David will discuss 'why screens are making your teenagers depressed, anxious and prone to lifelong addictive illnesses - and how to stop it now'.
The forum will be held on Wednesday March 18th from 7.00pm to 9.00pm including a light supper from 6.15pm.
Venue: OneHope Centre, 4 - 32 Province Boulevard, Highton
Bookings: tinyurl.com/DavidGillespieGeelong
This is a free event but bookings are essential. See the attached PDF for more details.
Group Parent Education Events: Barwon South Western Region Term 1 2020
To attaend a regional Parenting Service program please register your expression of interest online: www.geelongaustralia.com.au/parenting or contact Regional Parenting Service on 5272 4741.
The attached PDF details all upcoming programs and loactions.
What's On in March 2020 at the Potato Shed!
The Potato Shed have a variety of performances to suit people of all ages. Please find attached the What’s On poster for events coming up in March 2020. You are advised to book early as many events sell out.
Ordinary Mass Times for Churches in the Geelong Deanery
St Thomas, Peninsular Drive, Drysdale:
Sunday: 9.00am; Thursday 10.00am; Saturday 10.00am; Youth Mass 4th Sunday of the month 5.30pm
Lumen Christi, Kensington Rd, Leopold:
Sunday: 10.30aam; Wednesday, 10.00am
St Patrick, Harding St Portarlington:
Sunday: 9.00am; Friday 10.00am
Sts Philip & James, Murradoc Rd, St Leonards
Sat Vigil: 6.00pm; Tuesday 10.00am Reconciliation: 9.30am prior to all 10.00am Masses
Holy Trinity, Stevens St, Queenscliff
Sunday: 11.00am; Wednesday 9.15am; Friday 9.15am
Star of the Sea, John Dory Dr, Ocean Grove
Sunday: 9.00am; Reconciliation 20 mins prior; Tuesday 9.15am; Thursday 9.15am
Holy Family, Hitchcock St, Barwon Heads
Saturday: Vigil Mass 6.00pm Reconciliation 20 mins prior
Nazareth Church, Griffith St, Grovedale
Sunday: 10.30am; Thursday 9.30am
St Therese, Surf Coast Highway, Torquay
Sunday: 8.45am; Wednesday 9.30am; Reconciliation Wed 10.00am
St Christopher's, Bingley Pde, Anglesea
Saturday: 6.00pm VigiL
St Bernard's, Fryers Rd., Belmont
Saturday: 6.00pm; Sunday 9.00am; 10.30am; Wednesday 12.00pm; Friday 12.00pm
St Joseph's, Lawler St., Meredith
Alternate Sundays 11.00am; Wednesday 11.00am,; Friday 11.00am except for every second Friday at
Sacred Heart, Hamilton Hgh, Inverleigh
Sunday 9.00 except for last Sunday in month when it will be at Bannockburn Gymnasium
St Brigid's, 2439 Ballan Rd., Anakie
Alternate Sundays 11.00am
St John the Baptist, Harding St., Winchelsea
Saturday Vigil 6.00pm
St John the Evangelist, High St Bannockburn
Last Sunday of the month at 9.00am in the stadium
St Francis Xavier Church, Corio
Saturday 7.00pm; Sunday 10.30am; Tuesday 9.00am; Thursday 9.00am; Reconciliation 1st Saturday of the month
Reconcilliation: First Saturday of each month at 10.00am and 6.15pm
St Anthony of Padua, Lara
Sunday 9.00am; Wednesday 9.00am; 2nd Friday of the month; 4th Friday of the month 10.30am and Seniors Lunch;
Reconciliation: First Sunday of each month 8.15am
Sts Peter & Paul's, Ashby
Saturday 5.00pm
Holy Family, Separation St Bell Park
Sunday: 8.00am; 9.30am; 11.00am Croatian Mass; 12.15pm Second Sunday of the month Slovenian Mass
Tuesday 9.15am; Thursday 9.15am
Holy Spirit, Bostock Ave, Manifold Heights
Sunday: 11.00am; Wednesday 9.00am; Friday 11.00am; First Saturday of the Month 9.00am
St Mary's Basilica, Yarra St, Geelong
Sunday: 7.30am; 9.30am; 11.00am; 12.15pm Polish; 5.30pm
Monday 10.00am afterwards Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help; Tuesday 7.00am; 10.00am afterwards
Novena to St Anthony; Wednesday 7.00am;10.00am; Thursday 7.00am; 10.00am Friday 7.00am; 10.00am; Saturday 9.00am; Reconciliation 9.30; Vigil Mass 6.00pm
St Thomas Aquinas, Plume St., North Geelong
Sunday; 10.00am; Friday 5.30pm; Saturday 6.00pm Vigil Mass; Reconciliation 5.30pm
St John the Evangelist, David St. Rippleside
Sunday 8.30am; 11.am Latin Mass; Wednesday 10.00am; Friday 10.00am