24 November 2015

Newsletter Articles

A Word from the Executive Officer

Welcome to our last newsletter for 2015. Carmel is away in Rome for the World Congress - Educating Today and Tomorrow: A renewing passion which runs from 18 to 21 November. The Congress sessions will feature personal insights and experiences from practitioners and will focus on the challenges of Catholic education today and in the future. Following the Congress Carmel has a series of meetings planned with our counterparts in Italy and England.

The Congress is also being attended by most of the Diocesan Directors from Queensland as well as the Executive Directors from the Queensland Catholic Education Commission and the National Catholic Education Commission. The address from Pope Francis during the closing session on Saturday promises to be a highlight.

All our best wishes go to all the year 12 students who are beginning the exciting transition to the next stage of their lives. Great personal opportunities await all of our graduating students and we can be confident they will also be positive contributors to society.

Finally a big thank you to all parents in our wonderful Catholic schools for the excellent work you do as volunteers and for the positive part you play in the education of your children. Your impact is almost certainly greater than you think.

On behalf of Carmel, Bernadette and Jane and also Karl and the State Council I wish everyone a very happy, holy and peaceful Christmas.

John Beaton
Executive Officer

State Council Meeting 14 November

The P&F State Council held its last meeting for 2015 in Brisbane on Saturday 14 November. The Council members discussed a range of current state and federal educational issues, they agreed on the Federation budget for 2016 and continued planning for the Biennial General Meeting and conference to be held in Rockhampton from 30 April to 2 May 2016 (see date claimer below).

The State Council is the Governing Body of the P&F Federation and is made up of two delegates from each of the five Queensland Dioceses plus a Chairperson, a nominee of the Bishops and Carmel, the Executive Director. All the delegates are members of their school P&F just like most of you reading this. In addition they are members of their Diocesan Council and the State Council so they all put in a great deal of time and effort on behalf of all parents in Catholic schools.

Meeting with Tim Mander

(L-R Carmel Nash, Dr Lee-Anne Perry, Tim Mander)

On 5 November 2015 Carmel Nash, P&F Federation Executive Director, and Dr Lee-Anne Perry, QCEC Executive Director met Tim Mander, the Opposition Shadow Minister for Education. This was the first of regular quarterly meetings with Mr Mander. These meetings are valuable opportunities to discuss policy ideas and initiatives to advance teaching and learning in Queensland Catholic schools and we thank the Shadow Minister for his willingness to engage with us.

Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy

Dec 8th 2015 to Nov 20 2016

The Holy Year of Mercy begins December 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, with the opening of the Holy Door of St Peter’s.

We invite you to learn more and engage with this year announced by Pope Francis on Divine Mercy Sunday earlier in the year.

FOR YOUR P&F

Tips for your P&F for 2016

Be even more Welcoming

• Welcome all new people and all the regulars to the P&F meetings like they were arriving at your house for dinner. Be cheerful.
• Find ways to meet and welcome as many new families to the school as you can. One of the most important and positive things that a P&F can do is to help all families feel included and welcomed to the school community.

Planning (at the first meeting in 2016)

• Talk about what results you want to achieve in 2016 – then work out what activities will best achieve those results.
• The P&F objectives are in your P&F CONSTITUTION.
• See how the P&F can support the school’s plan for educating your children (this is really why we are all here)

Find your Constitution

• You MUST operate in accord with your constitution.
• Do you have a copy? If not contact us at the Federation.

Build strong relationships

• Between P&F and Principal; between parents and parents; between parents and staff
• This is critical and central to the P&F role in the school community

Meeting procedure

• Have good agenda and minutes, manage the discussions, don’t go too long
• Give everyone a say
• Have a bit of fun

2016 Date Claimers

Friday 18 March 2016

2016 National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence

To register online and download the full suite of promotional materials visit the Bullying No Way! website.

Sat 30 April – Mon 2 May 2016

Bi-ennial Catholic School Parents Conference

The theme for 2016 is Engaged Communities for the Future

More details coming soon

PARENTING

Elements of a Confident Kid… Coping Skills

Our reaction to a child’s emotions is critical in helping them understand what they are feeling and how they can cope. Here are some specific ways you can help yourself become a facilitator of these essential skills.

Do You Wish Your Kids Got Along Better?

Michelle Mitchell. Teenage Expert - Author - Speaker

I get asked questions about sibling rivalry almost every time I speak. I’m not going to tell you this is easy to fix. It’s not. I’m also not going to give a 5 step answer, because every situation is different. What I prefer to do is outline some strategies you can choose from. Some will relate to your unique situation more than others.

Kidsmatter Newsletter

The Kidsmatter newsletter explores social and emotional learning , friendship skills, angry feelings and mindfulness for families.

Starting Blocks

Starting Blocks is the Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority’s (ACECQA) family focused website, provides families with resources early childhood development.

GRANTS

Volunteer Grants

The Australian Government is inviting organisations to apply for Volunteer Grants of up to $5,000. Funding is expected to be offered to around 5,700 organisations.

These Grants will enable community organisations to purchase small equipment items to assist their volunteers, assist with the reimbursement of fuel costs incurred by volunteers (and transport costs for volunteers with disability who are unable to drive), and contribute towards the cost of training courses and background screening checks for volunteers.

Applications Close 9 December 2016

The Hope Prize

The Brotherhood of St Laurence has launched The Hope Prize a new national short story competition. Entries must convey the experience of people facing hardship in their lives.

Entries close 31 January 2016.

Aspiring Teacher Grants

The Aspiring Teacher Grants aim to promote teaching as a career path for high achieving secondary students.

The grants provide a one off cash incentive to high-achieving Year 12 school leavers who are starting their teaching career and undertaking an initial teacher education program at a Queensland higher education institution (HEI).

Applications close COB Friday 11 December 2015

FUNDRAISING

Themed Gift Hampers as Auction/ Raffle Prizes

Here are ideas for Christmas-themed hampers.

• Christmas Table
• Christmas Tree
• Christmas Wrapping
• Christmas Charity Hamper (where both the proceeds and the hamper are donated to a charity)

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.