Mel Maria Catholic Primary School

Newsletter - Term Three Week Six - 2024

Dear Parents and Staff

“Happy Father’s Day!”

Sunday, 1 September is Father’s Day! Next Friday morning (30 August) we will celebrate the occasion with a special Father’s Day Breakfast. We hope that many of our dads and grandads are able to join us for this celebration.

Father’s Day presents each of us with the opportunity to focus our attention on our dad and make him feel “extra special”.

But what is Father’s Day?

A few thoughts are shared below:

• According to one astute 10-year-old, “It’s a bit like Mothers’ Day, only it doesn’t cost as much!”

• A more advanced concept of Fathers’ Day would be that this special day is an opportunity to celebrate the important role that fathers play in the lives of their children; a role that cannot be played by any other person. The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother. (Author Unknown.)

• Both parents are of vital importance to a young child’s development. In one study, young boys whose fathers engaged in physical, affectionate and stimulating play were found to be more popular as school children. Mothers influenced their sons’ popularity through a different route, by providing verbal stimulation. Even if fathers spend less time with their children than their mothers, fathers can become meaningful and special to their children through play. In fact, when fathers are good at playing with their young children, these children score higher on tests involving thinking and problem-solving skills. (Radin. The Influence of Fathers.)

• Our astute 10-year-old put another question, “Dad, you’re the boss in our family, aren’t you?” A smiling and pleased dad answered, “Well, yes”, only to be told, “That’s because mum put you in charge, right!”

What an insight from a 10-year-old, for the time of the uninvolved father has long gone; it takes a team effort for a couple to cope with the joys and challenges of parenthood.

• Studies have shown that when fathers are affectionate and helpful, their children are more likely to get on well with each other. When children have fathers who are emotionally involved, so that they acknowledge their children’s emotions and help them deal with bad emotions, they tend to have better relationships with children outside of their family and behave less aggressively. (Gottman, Katz & Hooven. How Families Communicate Emotionally.)

• Fathers with a strong commitment to their family provide a model of responsible behaviour for their children. Consequently, their children tend to take more responsibility for their actions and rarely blame others for their mistakes. Fathers also influence their children’s moral development by being good models for their children to admire and desire to resemble. This results in their children developing a strong respect for rules and authority figures. (M.L. Hoffman. The Role of the Father in Moral Internalization.)

Day in and day out, we probably do not appreciate all the little things that our fathers (like our mothers) do for us. Their love, their care and their guidance all go towards making our lives enriched. The thoughtful little deeds, the play times and fun times are all memories we cherish. And it is true on most occasions that whenever we are in trouble or upset, dad always seems to be there to help, guide and support us.

The following poem is dedicated to every man out there who proudly wears the name DAD.

What Makes a Dad?

God took the strength of a mountain,

The majesty of a tree,

The warmth of a summer sun,

The calm of a quiet sea,

The generous soul of nature,

The comforting arm of night,

The wisdom of the ages,

The power of the eagle’s flight,

The joy of a morning in spring,

The faith of a mustard seed,

The patience of eternity,

The depth of a family need,

Then God combined these qualities,

And then there was nothing more to add,

He knew His masterpiece was complete,

And so, He called it—Dad.

Education Assistant Day

Education Assistants play a vital role in fostering a positive learning environment. They provide essential support to teachers, students, and parents, ensuring every student’s educational journey is smooth and successful. Whether it’s helping with classroom management, providing one-on-one assistance to students with special needs, or aiding in administrative tasks. Their contributions are indispensable.

As we express our gratitude for Education Assistants, let’s take a moment to recognise the impact they have on shaping young minds. Their contributions may not always be in the spotlight, but they are the backbone of many successful classrooms.

To our amazing Education Assistants at Mel Maria Catholic Primary School, we extend our heartfelt appreciation for your devotion, patience and kindness.

Building Update

As many parents at the SJP Campus have likely noticed, the new brick paving and artificial turf have been beautifully laid out and are now ready for the students to enjoy. This newly transformed space has quickly become an inviting and serene area where children can relax and unwind throughout the day. Whether it's during recess, lunch, or between classes, students now have a dedicated area to gather, recharge, and socialise in a peaceful environment. We believe this enhancement will greatly contribute to the overall well-being and happiness of our students.

At Pater Noster, the Innovation and Inquiry Space has been completed with the students enjoying the opportunity to test their skills in a variety of ways, whether that be the physical fitness, construction or using the Lego wall. They are truly very lucky to have such a wonderful space to play and learn in.

Twilight Tour

On Thursday 5 September from 5.00pm – 6.30pm we will be holding a Twilight Tour at the SJP (Year Three – Year Six Campus in 2025). This will give parents (and students) the opportunity to come and have a look at the facilities and meet some of the staff on this campus. Come and join us for a free sausage sizzle! Please follow the link to secure your spot - https://melmaria.wa.edu.au/contact/book-a-tour/

From My Readings . . .

Father to Father: 7 tips for Fathering Success

By Michael Grose

Fatherhood is life-changing. It’s a very personal journey that a man experiences when he takes on the responsibility of parenting his kids. It’s also a vital role, and it’s all too easy to neglect the positive impact a father can have on his children’s lives.

Every father’s parenting journey will be different, and there is no one-size-fits-all answer to its challenges. But Father’s Day is just around the corner, so this is a great time for some tried and trusted parenting tips to help you be the best dad you can be.

1. Play to your strengths

Fathers often parent in a more active or action-oriented way than mums, so games, play time and physical activity become important parts of a man’s parenting repertoire. Your partner may not always appreciate your more active approach, particularly if you play with kids just before bedtime and then leave it to her to calm them down.

How to make it happen: Be yourself but be smart about it!

2. Lighten up – don’t take yourself too seriously

It’s easy to get caught up in your own importance, taking yourself and your work too seriously. For many men a bad day at work translates into poor or, at best, distracted experiences when they’re with their families. Consider putting a strategy in place, such as exercise, to help you leave work, and the bad moods it may engender, behind.

How to make it happen: Be present in mind as well as in body when you’re with your kids.

3. Find something in common with your child

It would be wonderful to say that you can always connect with your kids, but family life is never that straightforward. There’ll always be a child who we struggle to connect with, or a developmental stage during which the child feels alien to you. In these times it helps if you share a common interest (such as a love of sport or music) with them, so that you always have something that will bring you together, even though you may not always see eye to eye.

How to make it happen: Take an active interest in what interests your child.

4. Go easy on your son sometimes

Many dads are tough on their boys and have expectations that go way beyond their son’s interest and abilities. Remember, it takes boys a little longer to mature. Resist the temptation to turn every game and every father-son activity into a lesson and avoid giving advice when your all your son wants is to be understood.

How to make it happen: See the boy as he is now, not the man you want him to grow up to be.

5. Enjoy the outdoors with your daughter

The biological nature of fatherhood causes most men to be very protective of their daughters. But that doesn’t mean you should put your daughter on a pedestal and treat her like a little princess. Expect a lot from her. Play with her and get her outdoors as it will do wonders for her confidence and independence.

How to make it happen: Enjoy spending time outside with your daughters on a regular basis.

6. Be ready for kids to knock you off your pedestal

Most children in the preschool and middle-to-late-primary school years look up to their dads. “My dad is bigger and better than your dad!” is a type of mantra that’s familiar to many men. Make the most of this admiration as the Superman Syndrome won’t last. Young children soon turn into adolescents, who generally go to great lengths to prove that you’re just Clarke Kent after all. Expect them to stop laughing at your jokes, roll their eyes at your well-intentioned advice and even give you the cold shoulder in public. Ouch! It can be hurtful to a man who just wants to be the best dad he can be.

How to make it happen: Don’t take yourself too seriously and give them room to be grumpy sometimes.

7. Give your kids a compass and a map

One day your children will become truly independent individuals. Don’t worry! You won’t be irrelevant; you’ll just be taking the backseat in a more practical and managerial sense. There are two things you can do to help your kids safely navigate the world when you’re not around. First, help them develop a set of positive values including integrity, honesty and respect that will act as their moral compass when they have difficult decisions to make. Second, reveal your personal story over time, as this narrative will become ingrained like personal map that will guide them when life gets tough. It’s good to know that they won’t be in uncharted territory when they finally strike out on their own.

How to make it happen: Take the time to tell kids your story and own it – don’t make them guess it or learn it from someone else.

Father’s Day is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on how men shape the lives of their children. It’s a very personal reflection as each man’s experience of fatherhood is as unique as the children they are raising. Take the time to reflect on your own fathering style as well as the contribution that a father (either your own dad or else’s dad) has made to your own life.

Kind regards

Paul Hille

Principal

#MakingADifferenceEveryday

Father's Day - Prayer of Remembering

We thank God for dads,

For their loving,

For their gentleness,

For the way they unwrap the world as a gift to their children,

For their understanding

Of jokes and laughter and quarrels and tears,

For their example and for the times they also need to be mums.

We thank God for dads,

Who can be as young as their little ones,

Who can listen,

Who can ask questions,

Who can talk about feelings,

Who can claim failure, as well as success on the path of celebration,

Who can show their children how to find the goodness of God in themselves and others.

We thank God for dads

Whose sons grow up knowing that being a father is one

of the best two things God invented.

Amen

Thought for the Week

‘Safe, for a child, is his father’s hand, holding him tight.’

Performing Arts School Choir

We would like to extend our congratulations to our School Choir for their beautiful performances at the Performing Arts Festival last Tuesday and yesterday. The students from Years 4-6 showcased excellent talents and dedication, thanks to their teacher Mrs Sumich and accompanist Mrs Trish Spencer. The choir's performances were truly outstanding, with a beautiful and warm sound that captivated the audience. Thank you to all involved for their hard work and commitment.

Confirmation at Pater Noster

We want to extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the students at Pater Noster who have recently received the Sacrament of Confirmation. This momentous step in their faith journey signifies a personal commitment and a strengthening of their faith, enabling them to actively engage in the life of the Church. Through their dedication and commitment, they have embraced the gifts of the Holy Spirit and boldly proclaimed their faith to the world. We are incredibly proud of their spiritual growth and continue to wish them abundant blessings in their everyday lives.

A special thank you goes to Mrs Ann Chew, the Parish Coordinator, the Catechist teachers, and our Year Six teachers, Miss Naomi Smyth and Mr Owen Connelly, for their reverent preparation of our students.

Speak Up Awards

Every year, students from Years Five and Six eagerly participate in the "Speak Up Competition," organised by the Freemasons Society of Western Australia. This competition provides a platform for students to exhibit their eloquence and confidence by showcasing their effective communication skills.

During the recent metropolitan heats held last Wednesday, three of our exceptional students confidently delivered their speeches in front of an audience comprising students from various schools and a panel of discerning judges.

We extend our warmest congratulations to Saidhbh Conneely (Year 5), Mille Beaver (Year 6), and Georgia Mathews (Year 6) for their outstanding performances. A special mention goes to Mille and Georgia for securing a spot in the Preliminary Finals of the competition. We commend the hard work and dedication exhibited by these talented individuals and wish them the best of luck in the upcoming rounds.

Camp Australia Pater Noster Campus

Camp Australia is now offering a First Day Free at our Out of School Hours Care (OSHC) programs! This is a fantastic opportunity for families to experience the benefits of our program without any cost for their first session.

Robocup

This week has been super exciting building up to our students competing at the Robocup competition this weekend Saturday and Sunday at the new venue Newman College.

We have four teams competing two in the onstage dance and two in line rescue.

We are super proud of the children and the passion and energy they have given to Robocup. We are also grateful to our team captain Declan Goh who is their mentor whilst in the pits during the competition. Mel Maria has a continued level of commitment to this competition.

Mel Maria YEAR FIVE MINI VINNIES are running our Winter Appeal

The St Vincent de Paul Society, well-known as Vinnies, is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to assisting those affected by poverty and inequality throughout the world.

In striving to achieve our purpose, we employ the ambitions and actions of our founder, Frederic Ozanam. Frederic was a 20-year-old university student who, with no firsthand experience of poverty himself, felt the desire to alleviate the suffering around him in war-torn France in 1833.

Responding to the great poverty in the Paris of his day, he and a group of friends began visiting the homes of those in need, bringing practical assistance of food and firewood, as well as something less tangible - empathy and love. Frederic and his friends began meeting regularly and formed the first conference. They decided to adopt the name of the St Vincent de Paul Society after the patron saint of charities.

Conference is a French word meaning “coming together”. A Conference is a group of people who get together on a regular basis to meet and discuss ways to address particular needs in their community.

Our Year Five students will be coordinating our 'Winter Appeal' over the coming weeks.

They will be visiting classrooms to inform our younger students about how we can assist those in our community who are in need of assistance by bringing in food items.

The Vinnies Winter appeal has been running in our parishes over the past weeks.

Food donated to Mel Maria will be distributed to local Conferences, who will deliver food to those in need of our assistance.

Thank you for your continued generosity in supporting our students as they learn to participate in service -learning projects that help them to look for practical ways to

#MakeADifferenceEveryDay at Mel Maria.

Vinnies in Western Australia

In addition to our Vinnies Shops, which are often seen as the ‘front door’ to our organisation, Vinnies provides a number of community support programs across Western Australia.

At the very core of Vinnies is our Emergency Assistance and Support Program, in which conference members provide support to people experiencing hardships through assistance with food, clothing, furniture and more.

In this work, our members also maintain community pantries which can be supported by local schools through non-perishable food drives and donations.

The Pre-Kindy students have been extremely busy this term. Firstly, they have been learning a lot about Noah’s Ark and all the animals that went into the Ark. They learnt about rainbows and made a beautiful big rainbow together. We also learnt that God made a rainbow to tell Noah that he was never going to flood the world ever again.

Secondly, they got to go on a rain walk that was lots of fun. They collected some of God’s treasures and played in muddy puddles and long swishy grass.

Last week, they had the Pre-Kindy Transition Day. It was a fabulous day and the rain held off for their play. They had a beautiful, shared morning tea and played in the fabulous new playground. They meet new Pre-Kindy friends and their teachers. It was very exciting and fun!

We have had a wonderful term filled with exciting and enriching experiences. Our exploration of the Olympics has been both educational and engaging, and we’ve enjoyed participating in a variety of fun activities related to the games.

Additionally, we had the pleasure of meeting our SJP Pre-Kindy friends. Their visit to PN was a highlight, as we shared a delightful morning tea and spent the day playing and getting to know each other. It was a fantastic opportunity to build new friendships and bond with our future classmates.

Book Week was another memorable event. We had a blast dressing up in our favourite costumes and proudly showcased them at the whole school assembly. It was wonderful to see everyone’s creativity and enthusiasm as we celebrated our love for reading.

Overall, this term has been filled with learning, fun, and new experiences. We look forward to more exciting activities and continued growth in the coming weeks.

Mel Maria children and staff celebrated a magical Book Week enjoying all things books.

The children were amazing in contributing to the dress up assemblies using their imaginations to create their book characters in a variety of ways.

It was wonderful to see the huge effort parents, children and staff put into finding their favourite author, choosing a book and character, and creating their costumes.

The Kindy students had a very special celebration with a visit from 'Arabella the Fairy' who told stories and sang songs.

A special thank you to the Year Six teachers, Naomi Smyth, Jane Sparrow and Owen Connelly and the Year Six students for their sensational running of the assemblies on both campuses.

A wonderful time had by all.

During Japanese lessons this week, all students participated in an Origami Incursion with presenter, Sanny Ang. Sanny is a story teller and origami master who works patiently with our students to create a variety of origami models. This incursion was a great way to bring alive the Japanese culture in a meaningful way for our students and positively enhanced our Japanese language program.

During the July holidays, Kyden Robertson, a Year 6 student from Pater Noster, attended the Australian and New Zealand Power of Speech in Canberra at Parliament House. He was chosen by TSH and represented WA. This event is held to showcase public speaking abilities for Deaf/Hard of Hearing students from all states and territories including New Zealand.

The theme this year was, ‘My hearing support team’ and Kyden did Mel Maria Catholic Primary School and WA proud by presenting a strong, powerful and resonating speech to dignitaries and ministers such as MP for Health, Mark Butler. Kyden hopes that ministers will hear and respond to his speech by making changes to further support agencies and networks in assisting children with a hearing loss.

Congratulations to Kyden on advocating a better understanding about hearing loss for all children.

Pre-Kindergarten 2025 – Applications are Now Due

Enrolments are now being taken for siblings and new students wishing to commence Pre-Kindergarten at Mel Maria Catholic Primary School in 2025. Families with children eligible for Kindergarten in 2025 are required to fill out a Pre-Kindergarten Enrolment Application Form. To enrol in Pre-Kindergarten a child must be three years of age before the 30 June 2025.

Mel Maria Catholic School Primary School will continue to operate full day Pre-Kindergarten groups next year with the days of attendance being Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Classes are filling up fast, with limited positions now available, so it is important that parents submit their applications as soon as possible. Application forms can be obtained from the office or please follow the link provided. https://melmaria.wa.edu.au/assets/Uploads/General/Application-for-Enrolment-Form.pdf.

Kindergarten 2025 – Applications are Now Due

In 2025, we will have a whole new Early Childhood space for students from Pre-Kindergarten to Year Two. This is going to be very exciting for the students, teachers and parents.

Enrolments are now being taken for siblings and new students wishing to commence Kindergarten at Mel Maria Catholic Primary School in 2025. Families with children eligible for Kindergarten in 2025 are required to fill out a Kindergarten Enrolment Application Form. These can be collected from the office or please follow the link provided. https://melmaria.wa.edu.au/assets/Uploads/General/Application-for-Enrolment-Form.pdf.

Kindergarten places are limited so it is important that parents within the Mel Maria Catholic Primary School community submit their applications as soon as possible.

The five steps of emotion coaching

Emotions…we all have them. Everything we do and everything we learn is shaped in some way by the way we feel. Feelings are a natural part of who we are. But how do children learn about emotions? How do they learn to understand their sadness or joy? What is appropriate behaviour when these feelings are strong? What can a parent do when a child explodes in anger or hides in fear? Parents spend lots of time teaching children important things such as reading or tying shoes. Taking time to help children learn to understand their feelings is important too.

Research shows that children who understand their feelings and learn about their emotions have these advantages:

They form stronger friendships with other children.
They calm themselves down more quickly when they get upset.
They do better in school.
They handle their moods better and have fewer negative emotions.
They get sick less often.

Becoming an Emotion Coach
Emotion Coaching is a parenting technique that helps children understand their feelings. When parents use Emotion Coaching, their children learn how emotions work and how to react to feelings in healthy ways.

Emotion Coaching starts by recognizing your child’s feelings. Many parents can see the positive emotions a child expresses, but drawing close to a child who is angry or sad can take some practice. While it takes effort to teach your child about feelings and appropriate behaviours, it is time well spent. Your relationship with your child will be stronger, and your child will be more prepared for the challenges life can bring.

Here are the five steps of emotion coaching:

STEP 1 – Be aware of emotions
Tune in to your child’s feelings and your own.

Pay attention to your own emotions, from happiness to sadness to anger.
Understand that emotions are a natural and valuable part of life.
Observe, listen, and learn how your child expresses different emotions.
Watch for changes in facial expressions, body language, posture, and tone of voice.

STEP 2 – Connect with your child
Use emotional moments as opportunities to connect.

Pay close attention to a child’s emotions.
Try not to dismiss or avoid them.
See emotional moments as opportunities for teaching.
Recognize feelings and encourage your child to talk about his or her emotions.
Provide guidance before emotions escalate into misbehaviour.

STEP 3 – Listen to your child
Respect your child’s feelings by taking time to listen carefully.

Take your child’s emotions seriously.
Show your child that you understand what he or she is feeling.
Avoid judging or criticizing your child’s emotions.

STEP 4 – Name emotions
Help your child identify and name emotions.

Identify the emotions your child is experiencing instead of telling your child how he or she should feel.
Naming emotions helps soothe a child.
Set a good example by naming your own emotions and talking about them.
Help your child build a vocabulary for different feelings.

STEP 5 – Find good solutions
Explore solutions to problems together.

Redirect misbehaving children for what they do, not what they feel.
When children misbehave, help them identify their feelings and explain why their behaviour was inappropriate.
Encourage emotional expression, but set clear limits on behaviour.
Help children think through possible solutions.