Weekly Newsletter Friday, 28 August 2015 THOUGHTS FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Learning Life. Together.
I have the simple assumption that everyone is gifted in multiple ways. For me, it is a foundational belief. It’s foundation stone is the knowledge that God purposes all people and gifts them according to His purposes. This belief is amplified by my experiences of working with children and adults over more than 30 years. Nothing is more inspiring that seeing a person flow in their gifts. Nothing is more tragic that seeing a person who doesn’t recognise or is disconnected from their gifts. You see them everywhere. Life may have assaulted them, stained their soul and left its grubby fingerprints on their sense of identity. Some others who I have known have never had the encouragement required to nurture the gift. My heart breaks most for people who have an unconscious competence about their talent and actually belittle its significance. They might have said to me, “Oh, its just what I do!” “There’s nothing special about that, its easy!” They mistakenly assume that ease identifies something as NOT a gift. Ease of movement and effectiveness are often the very indicators of the presence of a gift. It may be for some that barriers and problems are moved with ease, that what was incomprehensible to most was easy to identify and describe. The stock-broker who can see the market turning when others cannot. The footballer who not only sees options that others do not, but in the melee and throng of the game operates with all the time in the world to execute their moves. The policeman who can see a fight brewing when no one else can. The person who can see the complex and explain it simply.
Tragically, some people have the belief that they are only gifted at one thing. Ask children about their areas of talent and strength and they will often give you an external activity, and usually only one. ‘I am good at soccer.” “I’m ok at Netball.” Children need to know that they are gifted. There are three things that schools and parents need to emphasise to foster gifts within people. Firstly, we must have the orientation that gifts are there. It is all about how we choose to see people. These gifts may just be buried under life’s rubble. They may be hidden behind defensive walls of pain and anger. We must have the perspective that there is virtue within all people and persevere to discover it. Secondly, we have to assist the child identify and encourage. As teachers and parents we have the maturity and the life experience to interpret a child’s behaviour to themselves. We have that responsibility to identify the special talents, name them to the child, and encourage them to appreciate them and develop them. Thirdly, we have to have high expectations. I was at a course for Principals last week and the question was posed, “Where does having high expectation come in the sequence of effective schools?” Much debate ensued over quality of teachers, resourcing, the presence of culture, etc. High expectations is a precondition for success. You don’t succeed without it. It can come from an external source if you don’t believe it your self, or you can carry it internally even if no-one else believes you. But it must be present.
THOUGHTS FROM THE PRINCIPAL CONTINUED A new teacher in the ghetto in Detroit produced outstanding learning with a group of underprivileged youths because she mistakenly believed that a list of their locker numbers was a list of their IQ. Based on this she refused to accept their poor performance. Her loving redirection eventually had them believing too.
Learning Life. Together.
We must believe that our children have greatness inside them. We must give them the language to see that and the encouragement to grow them. Most importantly, we have to have high expectations. We have to believe that they can do more than they are doing right now. This is so vital, because if you are not communicating high expectations, you are communicating low expectations. We don’t ever communicate neutral expectations. We never do that. We are always communicating to someone our opinion of whether “You can” or “You can’t.” God’s word tells me that everyone has great things inside them. I believe that. And as a community I think it is our role to find them, describe them, foster them, and then champion them.
Calvin’s Student Theatre Company &
Year 9 Drama Class
Present
An Evening of Entertainment Friday 28th August at 7 pm in the P.A.C.
Primary School News PRAYER ON MONDAY AFTERNOONS This time of shared prayer for the Primary School is at 2:30 to 3:00pm each Monday afternoon in my office. Any parents, staff are welcome to come and pray together for our school. WOOLWORTHS EARN AND LEARN Once again Calvin Primary School is participating in the Woolworths Earn and Learn Program. You can start collecting stickers NOW. Place them on a sticker card (available from Woolworths). Once your sticker card is full, please place it in the Calvin collection box at Woolworths or at the School office. Alternatively you can place the stickers in the box without a card. This has been a fantastic fundraiser in the past and we look forward to the valuable resources we will gain once again from this fundraiser. END OF SEASON SOCCER BBQ AND PRESENTATION On Saturday 5th September, we are having the annual End of Season Soccer BBQ and Presentation of Medallions. Please keep this day free. It is also the last scheduled roster game and a programme with times will be forwarded next week. The School Council will be organising the event around the games that are being played. Traditionally we have had the BBQ from around 11:00am with the presentations between 12:30 & 1:00. This will be dependent on when and where the rostered games are played. There will be a range Parents v Student Friendly matches played throughout the day, so parents come prepared to take on your kids in a “friendly” game of soccer. All soccer players and their coaches will receive food and drink vouchers. Sausages and drinks will be for sale throughout the event. Please join in celebrating and thanking God at the end of another successful Soccer season. PRIMARY SCHOOL CALENDAR FOR TERM 3 & 4 I have listed number of key events in the life of the school that could be added to your caledars Tuesday 1st September Huon & Channel Volleyball Round Robin Tuesday 1st September Basketball Finals Saturday 5th September End of Season Soccer BBQ and Presentation Wednesday 9th September Year 4M Assembly Saturday 12th September Oliebollen Festival Tuesday 15th September Year 6 Play – Day Performance Wednesday 16th September Year 1 Excursion Marine Discovery Centre Wednesday 16th September Year 6 Play – Evening Performance Saturday 19th September Garden Tour Wednesday 23rd September Year 3 Assembly Friday 25th September AFL Grand Final Breakfast & Footy Colours Day Friday 25th September Last Day of Term 3 Monday 12th October First Day of Term 4 Tuesday 13th October Calvin Athletics @ Domain Thursday 22nd October Hobart Show Day Friday 23rd October Hobart Show Holiday Thursday 5th November Book Fair begins Monday 9th November Book Fair ends Monday 9th November Swimming Program begins P-6 Wednesday 11th November Huon & Channel Athletics Wednesday 18th November Swimming Program concludes P-6 Friday 20th November Primary Schools Triathlon Monday 7th December Orientation Day for Prep – Year 7 Friday 11th December Year 6 Activity Day Monday 14th December Year 6 Leavers Dinner Tuesday 15th December Graduation Assembly / Reports sent home Wednesday 16th December Picnic Day / Term 4 concludes
Primary School News BOOK WEEK 2015 On Thursday we celebrated Book Week with the biannual Book Week Parade. All the staff participated as well in some awesome, creative costumes from their favourite book, TV series or movie. Thanks to our judges who had the unenviable task of choosing the winners of each section. Ultimately it was fabulous to see so many students (and parents and grandparents) putting so much effort into their costumes. We even had a small drama presentation of David and Goliath on the catwalk. They say that a picture tells a thousand words. We are sure that is the case with these shots from the day. A special thanks to Mrs Dixon (aka Cruella de Vil) who was an awesome MC for the parade, displaying her unbelievable talent and knowledge of so many of the characters. These are the type of events that build a wonderful bank of memories for students, teachers and parents. Thanks to the many parents who came along to support the school in this event.
Secondary School News LEGACY The Legacy Badge week is coming up and we are looking for 12 students on 3 September to sell badges at Channel Court and at Kingston Town. Please see Mrs Bester if you are interested. CONGRATULATIONS FINLAY COOPER Finlay Cooper has been selected for the Under 16’s State Rugby Union Team for 2015 and represented Tasmania last weekend in Hobart as a second rower. The Tasmanian team will play two games in Victoria in mid October. Finlay has been dedicated to training (or watching while he was injured) 3 times a week and playing a club game for the Taroona Penguins on a Saturday. He has worked hard to fit schoolwork in around rugby, eating and sleeping! Well done, Finlay! YEAR 9 SCIENCE EXCURSION This week Mr Riley’s Year 9 Science class started the field component of their Ecosystems unit. Our first excursion was down to Blackmans Bay Beach to survey intertidal populations, species diversity and habitat cover. Two courageous students, Rachel Davey and Jason Ellard, braved the cold winter waters to extend our intertidal survey to an underwater survey. Well done guys, great dedication to furthering the Science! We collected a wealth of data to investigate in class and a fantastic time was had by all. Well done, Year 9!
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Whole School News
The Autism ADHD Mix A presentation for parents and educators to find out how new understandings of brain neurobiology and Executive Functions change the approach to treatment and management of children with Autism and ADHD.
Presenters: Charl Fourie—Clinical Psychologist, Windsor Psychology Dr Ingrid Els—Paediatrician, Launceston General Hospital Saturday 12 September 9.00 – 12.00 pm Meeting Room 7 Launceston Conference Centre Door Of Hope 50 Glen Dhu St Cost: $10 online
or
$15 on the day
Register online @ www.door-of-hope.org /upcoming events
This presentation will help teachers and parents to better understand what executive functions (EF) are and how EF deficits are related to the neurobiology of the brain of children diagnosed with Autism and ADHD. Furthermore teachers and parents will learn how our new understanding of these disorders can guide management and intervention. The use of medication to treat Autism and ADHD will also be discussed.
Oliebollen News TOMBOLA STALL The Tombola Stall needs lots more goodies to go into jars. Please help by bringing in items to the school office for this very popular children’s stall. Ideas include: Stickers, Swap cards, rubber finger puppets, hair ties, hair clips, whistles, lollies, erasers, candy, stampers, mini pencils, pencils, mini toys, match box cars, balloons, lip gloss, bracelets, ribbons, mini note pads, beads etc. Anything kids enjoy!! Thank you for your support! FAIRY FLOSS - HELP REQUIRED Fairy Floss Stall Manager - Steve Lichtendonk is looking for that “special someone “ to get involved in fairy flossing. He will be providing a training opportunity on Friday 11 September after school. If you think this might be your thing and your way to help the school at Oliebollen please speak to Fiona in the school office. Thanks. ROSTERS Thank you very much to all those people who responded to the email asking for help at the Oliebollen Festival. To all those who have not put their name down can I please encourage you to do so. It would be wonderful to get the roster filled early and not at the last minute. We would love to see parents, students, staff and grandparents involved. Thank you very much.
12 September Live Music Showbags & Displays Stalls & Activities BBQ Dutch treats
Satays & Croquettes Rides Gourmet Icecreams Oliebollen and much more
Oliebollen Don’t forget to bring in your white elephant goods, pre-loved clothing, sweets, cakes, biscuits and tombola to be sold on the day. Every little bit helps!!!
Festival 2015 Maranoa Road Kingston www.calvin.tas.edu.au 6229 4829
