2024 Term 3 Week 4

Dear Parents & Caregivers,

I do hope that you are all travelling well and finding simple ways to enjoy life and make the world a better place.

I am quite excited about tonight’s Confirmation celebration for our Year 6 students.  What I love about this Sacrament is that it involves our young people reflecting on their personal faith journey and making their own commitment to our faith.  Through this, they receive the spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit that empowers and encourages them to make an impact on the world through their connections with others.

Therefore, Confirmation is all about a personal journey, becoming who you are meant to be.  I mean, God created you to be you.  If you stop and think about that, whatever it may be or however it may be, there is a purpose for being you.  God pretty much wants us to be our true self.  There might be times in life where we are faced with challenges that make us step outside our comfort zone or the norm of who we are, but that is part of the plan that God has for us.  He gets it more than we do.

It might just be me, but I am feeling like I am getting a little wiser as the years pass by.  I am sure if you ask some people who know me well, they will say that is debatable, but as a Principal I get to experience so many different things each and every day.  This is something I am so grateful for in my life.  I get to learn so much about the human side of life and the ones that teach me the most are the people most important to me; your kids, my own kids, my wife, my parents, our staff, my family and my mates.  And then you learn about life through everyday encounters, like the guy who served me at the petrol station the other day asking how I was, or the lady at my local café giving me a freshly baked Biscoff muffin when I picked up my coffee.  I mean how am I meant to say no to that!

When I first had the opportunity to talk to our staff I mentioned Māori saying that I absolutely love which I have included for you.  A mentor of mine gave it to me as I started my Principalship at Santa Clara.  Once you read it, you have no other choice but to commit to it.

One the mantras I try and live by is one that I share regularly from Mary MacKillop, “Never see a need without doing something about it.”  I believe this says it all, about how we all can make our world a better place. When I first started teaching, I discovered Mary MacKillop and I believe she has changed me for the better.  Her life story made me realise that I should stop thinking about the impact things have on me and instead, work towards the greater good for the people, the impact I have on others.  I am far from perfect at doing this consistently, but that is what Mary MacKillop was about.  She was an absolute rebel which is what makes her a great saint.

Mary embraced who she was and she lived that way.  I guess this is what is exciting me about our Confirmation tonight for our Year 6s, being who God calls us to be and learning who that is through our good and tough times.  He has a plan for us, we just have to trust Him.

And speaking of becoming who we are meant to be, I wish to acknowledge your kids.  They get it.  I am so blown away by their confidence and them wanting to make the world that little bit better each day.  Just stop and look at things like the Milo Mornings, Pyjama Day, all signs of the joy and goodness at our school.  They have all played a massive part in making the world a better place through the funds they have raised for those in need.  Events like those are fun, but there is also a serious side of our calling to look out for those in need.  I thank you all for your donations through fundraisers like this.  This is why I feel truly blessed as Principal, I am surrounded constantly by quality people.

CEWA Child Safe Framework

Have you heard of the CEWA Child Safe Framework?

The Framework is based upon the following key concepts:

Extended guardianship: When our leaders, staff and wider school community share a collective responsibility to actively support an environment that is engaging, supportive and safe. At a basic level this involves talking about behaviours that don’t contribute to engaging supportive and safe environments.

Situational prevention: Evaluating various elements within our schools – including physical and online environments, staffing, governance, behaviours and culture with an aim to eliminate or mitigate situations that present risk for children and young people.

We will need to be informed about risks to students as well as ways to promote healthy behaviour.

Healthy and respectful relationships: Pope Francis says in AMORIS LÆTITIA, as an essential requirement of love, “every human being is bound to live agreeably with those around him”. Modelling healthy and respectful relationships creates an engaging, safe and supportive environment. It also equips children and young people with the understanding of how they should be treated.

2025 Intentions

If your child is moving to a new school at the end of the year, I ask that you put this in writing for our records and pass it on to Mrs West in our Office.  We require a minimum of a Term’s notice to assist us in our planning.  Thank you for your assistance.

Year 2 Choral Speech

This week we received an email from the Catholic Arts Office congratulating our Year 2 students on receiving an Award of Excellence in the Choral Speech: Junior Primary Year 1-3 category.  At the end of this year’s festival, our Year 2 students will be presented with award.  We are all so proud of the kids and the staff that assisted in preparing them.

International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples

The International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is observed on 9 August each year to raise awareness and protect the rights of the world’s indigenous population. This event also recognises the achievements and contributions that indigenous people make to improve world issues such as environmental protection.  Today at our whole school prayer service, the students recognised the importance of this day by honouring the culture and traditions of all indigenous people and our calling to play our part in the journey of justice and reconciliation.

Pupil Free Day – Monday 19 August

Enjoy the weekend.  Nothing but goodness your way.

Clint

UR Strong

Our MGCPS Focus: Resilience

“Resilience” is when we want kids to recognise the life lessons in tough situations and have the ability to ‘get back up on the horse’ and try again.

Here are a few strategies to help children strengthen their resilience:

1. Use Friendship Fires® as a teachable moment. Friendships mean the world to kids, but as Friendship Fact #1 states: No Friendship or Relationship is perfect. Use the lens of friendship to teach skills to build resilience.
2. Use child-friendly language. Words like “resiliency” and “anxiety” are adult words that sound really scary to children. Replace the word “anxiety” with butterflies, which we find extremely effective in our Friendology curriculum. Butterflies are not to be feared and can be set free.
3. If you want a child to be resilient, articulate the behaviours you would like to see. For example, if you have a child who gives up easily you could say, “I notice you’re having a hard time and seem to be getting frustrated. Why don’t you try tackling the easiest task first?” Give them specific suggestions for ways to persevere.
4. Avoid saying to a child, “Be resilient!” This statement is in the same family as, “Suck it up,” “Be a man,” “Just ignore it,” and “Grow up!” It offers no practical strategies for children and, as mentioned above, most kids do not even know what it means. Articulate what specifically a child could do that would ultimately demonstrate resilience.
5. Help children put their struggles in perspective. Sometimes children make mountains out of molehills. While adults have life experience and a greater understanding of The Grand Scheme of Things, children are not quite there yet. Talk to them about what is important and help them understand where this particular struggle is on the hierarchy of ‘what matters most.’ (Keep in mind, however, that their broken iPad might be at the top of the list and it may take some convincing to help them understand it is NOT the end of the world!)
6. Be honest with children. Sometimes kids’ greatest stressors come from the unknown. Fill in the blanks for them and, if necessary, come up with a plan together. If they are worried about trying something, get them to put a name to their butterflies and come up with a strategy to tame the ones they can control. Help them release the ones they can’t control because it’s wasted energy.
7. Have a plan. Give children all sorts of tips and strategies for calming themselves down in emotionally-charged situations. Go for a walk, drink water, put your hands in your pockets, doodle, chew gum, listen to music, journal, talk to a friend. Sit down with them and make a Calm Down Kit together. Resilience is about feeling in control. When we have a plan, even when we are in the dumps, we are more likely to rise above it.
8. Empathise. Sometimes a child just needs some extra support and that frown can come in the form of words of empathy. While you should definitely cheer them on, remind them that they can do it. Be their #1 fan!

We have been learning about different textures in Kindy; what things are smooth, rough, bumpy, soft and hard.

Well done Kindy, you have done such a fantastic job!

Term Three P&F Bunnings Sausage Sizzle

Please keep in mind that the P&F Bunnings Sausage Sizzle is on Saturday 7^th September.  This is an important fundraiser date in our school calendar.

Prayer for World Indigenous Peoples Day

Creator God,
We look at your world and praise you for the diversity all around us.
Thank you for the gift of relationships; our connection with people, animals and the land.
Help us, Lord, to see differences and diversity as strengths.
Help us to listen and understand; to meet one another with wonder and anticipation.
Help us to love as you love, without expectation.
Reveal to us your way of reconciliation and guide us into right relationships with all living things.

Lead us to understand how Indigenous peoples have been and continue to be profoundly harmed by colonistion and institutions.

Lead us to repent when colonisers deny Indigenous peoples respect, dignity and fullness of life.

Help us to listen compassionately, to speak humbly and to act justly.
Help us to seek the peace, justice and reconciliation you desire among all your children.
Thank you for your mercy and grace.
Amen.

Prayer by Dianne Climenhage,

MJR Week 4

Over the past fortnight, we have been thinking about resilience – keeping going even when we encounter difficulties. It’s not an easy thing to do, but it makes a huge difference. It’s also something we can learn to get better at! We can develop resilience in our hearts and minds through practice, a bit like we develop muscles in our body when we exercise.

As we know with exercise, we can find it easier to exercise with someone else alongside you.

That’s why prayer with God is so important.  God walks with us everyday, can help us to build our capacity to deal with the ups and downs of life. By asking God for strength, patience and understanding, we can build our resilience.  However, we must never forget that God sends us others to help us through the difficult times.  Through prayer, we can ask for help and assistance to give us strength to keep going.

Now taking enrolments at La Salle College

La Salle College is now taking enrolments for students starting Year 7 in 2026 and 2027.

We believe that education extends beyond the classroom, encouraging our students to live out their
faith and values in the service of others, whilst making a positive impact on the world in which they
live. Through our teaching and learning, we aim to transform tomorrow’s hearts, minds and lives in
all that we do.

At La Salle College we offer a wide range of learning programs and academic pathways, as well as
opportunities in a multitude of areas such as skill-based and work-based learning, music, arts, sport
and extracurricular activities and clubs. Our wonderful facilities and generous outdoor spaces, which
includes Science Labs, Aquatic Centre with a 10-lane swimming pool, Performing Arts Centre with
orchestra pit, Chapel, Trade and Skills Centre and a double court Sports Centre, provide an
innovative and modern learning environment that inspires our students to be the best they can be.

With limited places available for Year 7 2026 and 2027, we encourage you to make an enquiry today or join us on a student led tour of the College

Term 3 Tour Dates:
• Tuesday 27 August at 4:30pm

Bookings can be made via the La Salle College website www.lasalle.wa.edu.au/book-a-tour/

If you would like to know more about our enrolments process please visit our website www.lasalle.wa.edu.au/enrolment or contact our College Enrolments team:
• Email lasalle@lasalle.wa.edu.au
• Phone 9449 0601