20 October 2015

Newsletter Articles

A Word from the Executive Director

The school year is fast coming to an end and with this comes the busy time of many activities at local schools. Year 12 students are looking to their last days and ensuring they have completed their QTAC forms, looking for apprenticeships or traineeships or seeking employment and ensuring they have chosen the best opportunities for their future. Year six students are excited about finishing primary school and moving to the new world of secondary and our little Preppies are excited about year one. How can we help and support our children through these exciting experiences and at the same time realising the trepidation about these big changes for them? The best we, as parents, can do, is to talk to our young people about their hopes and aspirations and their fears and how we can support them through their thoughts and feelings. Great communication between you and your child and their school is a great way to support them to their own success. This does not mean that you clear every path for them but lead them to be able to make appropriate decisions and have the confidence to ask questions about the things they are not sure about.

Research of more than 40 years says that the influence and interest you have in your child’s learning is the biggest single influence on their success. So remember to do these four basic things

1. Have high expectations for your children – let them know what is important and believe in their potential
2. Talk about school – What’s happening, what are they learning, who are their friends
3. Help your children develop a positive attitude toward learning and good work habits – greatest influence on their attitudes, sense of personal competence and work habits including persistence, seeking help and planning
4. Read together – they are never too old to share a book with.

We are also moving in to the time when many schools hold their Annual General Meetings. It is easy to be carried away with filling roles but please remember that every parent has a right to nominate for a role on the P & F Executive and proper processes should be followed to gather these nominations and also ensure appropriate election processes. Don’t forget to have an audit done of your finances.

If you have any questions about processes or need any advice please call us – we are ready, willing and able to assist you. Also follow your constitution – that is a great guide to what to do.

Carmel Nash
Executive Director

Michelle Mitchell Big Hit in Toowoomba

Teenage expert, Michelle Mitchell delighted her Toowoomba audience with her knowledge and practical advice about bringing up teenagers at an information evening hosted by the Diocesan P&F Council on 14 October. The very successful evening, held at Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School, attracted over 65 parents, teachers and education staff from Toowoomba and surrounding areas.

The attendees were treated to two very informative and enjoyable presentations focussing on healthy friendships and managing disrespect in the home.

Kelly Leach, a member of both the Diocesan Council and State Council said that the evening was “Excellent. Really Practical. Really relevant.” Kelly also said it was a great networking opportunity where P&F members from different school communities could meet and share ideas.

Congratulations to the Toowoomba Diocesan P&F Council for hosting such a successful event.

Michelle will be speaking at St Joseph’s Tobruk Memorial School, Beenleigh on 22 October 2015 as an initiative of the Federation and hosted by the Brisbane Diocesan P & F Council. Her topics will be Managing Disrespect in the Home and Conquering Social Media.

The P&F Federation is also arranging for Michelle to visit Rockhampton, Townsville and Cairns Dioceses in early 2016. These will be widely advertised when we have more details.

For more information about Michelle Mitchell visit her website at

Fete Forum

Over 70 people attended an information packed forum about fetes held on 8 October 2015 in the Francis Rush Centre next to the Cathedral in Brisbane. The aim of the forum was to generate a network of people interested in new ideas and sharing ideas for fetes and to develop ways to continue this conversation.

The forum was conceived and conducted by the Federation of Parents and Friends and was sponsored by Sirromet wines. To ignite the conversation we had input from Hugh Easton and Kaylene Cooper from Catholic Church Insurances about risks and insurance cover, Mark Bennett from the Archdiocese Resource Development Office who spoke about fundraising strategy and Mandy Weidmann from the Fundraising Directory who discussed innovative and different ideas for organising fetes and raising funds.

Following this input Carmel Nash, our Executive Director, facilitated a discussion to share ideas and to develop next steps. These are the outcomes of that discussion:

1. The group members expressed an interest in sharing ideas.
2. The group members were enthusiastic about the possibility of sharing equipment across schools (We will seek advice about a draft agreement for equipment use). This will require a central list of equipment that schools own that they are happy for other schools to borrow.
3. The group members were interested in a list of trusted suppliers and if we could leverage some pricing arrangements for Catholic Schools which may provide a discount.
4. List of companies/business that provide marquees.

The Federation is following up these outcomes and is also generating a shared resource based on answers to the two questions below:

Q1: What type of suppliers would you be interested in the Federation seeking for an agreed Catholic School Rate? Eg rides, coffee vans, food etc.
Q2: What is your most innovative fete idea?

Thank you to Sirromet Wines, the presenters and to all the attendees.

If you wish to be part of the ongoing conversation about fetes email Bernadette Kreutzer (bernk@pandf.org.au) and she will add you to the email conversation

World Teachers’ Day – 30 October 2015

World Teachers’ Day is being celebrated on 30 October. It is a day on which students, parents and community members can demonstrate their appreciation for the contributions that teachers make to our children and to society.

World Teachers’ Day was started by the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in 1994 to acknowledge the efforts of teachers and to reinforce their important status in our communities.

Parents can show their appreciation by making time to express your thanks, in person, to your child’s teacher.

State Education Week 2015

State Education Week (SEW) is being held from Sunday 25 October until Saturday 31 October.

The annual week-long celebration is an opportunity to recognise the talent and achievements of students and teachers in state schools, and showcase their wonderful work to the wider community.

On behalf of the parents of children in Catholic schools the Federation extends our very best wishes to our friends and colleagues in State schools as they celebrate State Education Week.

Changes to Provisions for Vaccinations

Due to the introduction of Year 7 into secondary school this year, in 2016 Queensland will transition the School Immunisation Program from Year 8 to Year 7.

In 2016 all Year 7 and Year 8 students will be offered vaccinations as recommended on the National Immunisation program. From 2017, only Year 7 students would be offered vaccination under the program. This transition will align the Queensland program with other Australian jurisdictions adolescent programs which are delivered in the first year of secondary school.

The Department of Health has advised that further queries regarding the delivery of the program to Year 7 and Year 8 students in 2016, should be directed to their local Queensland Health school immunisation program coordinator.

Non State Schools Transport Assistance Scheme

Semester Two 2015 online applications for the Non State Schools Transport Assistance Scheme are now open. Schools are encouraged to remind parents to apply for assistance at SchoolTransport.com.au.

The Bus Fare Assistance rebate assists those families whose children catch public transport to attend a non state school outside the Brisbane City Council boundary, within Queensland.

The Students with Disabilities rebate assists those families whose child/children are driven or catch public transport to attend a non state school within Queensland.

Applications close on Saturday 31 October 2015.

To check eligibility or to apply go the

Day for Daniel

Friday 30 October is the 11th annual Day for Daniel. An initiative of the Daniel Morcombe Foundation, the Day for Daniel is a National Day of Action to raise awareness of child safety, protection and harm prevention.

It is about educating children and adults about keeping kids safe through child safety and protection initiatives.

The Day for Daniel website has a wide range of educational and event resources for schools to access.

PARENTING

The Gifts of Dyslexia: Talents Among Dyslexics and Their Families

TG WEST Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, USA

To date most dyslexia research has been oriented toward pathology – investigating what is wrong, developing means of remediation and following patterns of difficulty within families. However, some researchers have observed that many dyslexics have high visual-spatial and other talents that are enormously important for various occupations – that these areas of talent are often passed down through families – and that family members may have special roles in developing these talents. Some argue that the most successful dyslexics are often able to make their major contributions mainly because they were able to focus on their areas of strength early – with major support from family members and others.

Researchers note that when one seeks the most proficient, original and creative in certain occupational groups – whether in medicine, architecture, art, design, entrepreneurial business, engineering, mathematics or science – one finds that dyslexics seem to be well represented. Recent thinking among researchers suggests that a more balanced understanding of the talents and difficulties experienced by dyslexics is needed for the benefit of individuals and the larger society – as well as to take advantage of a distinctive window into the inner workings of the brain. Explicit recognition of the nature and range of distinctive talents among successful dyslexics could substantially affect the early identification and proper education of dyslexic children.

It is apparent that this cannot be done by comparing these children to conventional, non-dyslexic, academically successful adults. Rather, this should be done by comparing these children to highly successful and unconventional dyslexic adults.

My Son’s Anger Frightens Me

I am frightened by my son’s temper. He flies off the handle, swearing, punching things. He can erupt over the smallest things. I don’t know why he is so angry. He’s not a child anymore and it does frighten me when he’s out of control. He is much bigger than I am and he’s getting so strong.”

To learn why and how to handle this follow Michelle’s blog Parts 1 and 2 here

Confident Parents Confident Kids

A blog for parents actively supporting kids' social and emotional development

1. Are your mornings ever stressful or chaotic?

How do you avoid nagging or yelling and get out of the house on time? I am excited to share my first video short on my new YouTube channel about creating “A Smooth Morning Routine.” I hope you’ll watch, enjoy and gain some simple strategies you can use right away to help family members work cooperatively and start the day on a positive note.

2. Reading Together: A Portal to Social and Emotional Discoveries (with Book Recommendations)

3. “There are many little ways to enlarge your child’s world. Love of books is the best of all.”
- Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

4. “One more chapter!” my son pleads at bedtime and more often than not, I have obliged. It’s a true joy to dive into an adventure together and have the chance to discuss subjects that might not otherwise arise. It may not surprise parents to know that children derive their love of reading from their family’s lifestyle, beliefs and practices with reading. If you read for pleasure, your children will likely read for pleasure. And we know that their literacy development is critical to academic achievement and success now and later in life. And though the stage between kindergarten and third grade is indeed a critical time to develop fundamental reading skills, literacy development continues throughout childhood and adolescence.

GRANTS

QAST Travel Grants Program 2015

Travel Grants are now available to support state and non-state school tuckshop convenors, or other personnel responsible for the management of the tuckshop, from across Queensland to attend the QAST Gala Dinner & Tuckshop Convention which is being held in Brisbane over the 6th and 7th November 2015. The grants are available to both members and non-members of the Association.

The aim of the program is to provide assistance to those school tuckshops that would benefit from the skills and knowledge available at the convention, but would generally not be able to have a participant attend due to the burden of considerable travel expenses.

Applications close 30th October 2015

FUNDRAISING

Fundraising Directory – Fundrasing tips

Mandy Weidman – The Fundraising Whisperer

We are pleased to present our 'Great Ideas' video series, which tells you in only one minute all the key information you need about a fundraising supplier. Our first features Make Cents Fundraising, who offer fundraising with quality cards, wrap and gift bags. Once you take the next 60 seconds to watch the clip, I'm sure you'll be wanting to request an info pack and free cards to be sent to you.

HatHero

The HatHERO™ clip was an idea created by two frustrated parents, tired of school hats returning damaged by either being squashed into school bags or trampled upon at school or simply not returning home at all!

A fabulous, innovative idea that simply clips school hat to bag, with your choice of interchangeable HatHERO™ character.

Schoolzine

Schoolzine is proud to be a digital partner and supporter of Parents and Friends Federation.

Schoolzine has been an industry leader in digital school communications for 14 years. They are dedicated to customer service, product development and understanding the school landscape that keeps them at the top of the industry. Schoolzine’s Parent Engagement Platform consists of 3 packages, an eNewsletter, Mobile App and Website offering. Purchased separately or together, they guarantee each package will make engaging with parents easy and even enjoyable for a school of any size. Schoolzine addresses the need for media-rich, interactive content that engages parents.