Compass No 433 - September 2016

Blessed is the one who reads.   Revelation 1:3

Libraries. I love the smell of them. The feel of books. The quite hush of people within them. Even the Librarian who has to tell people to be quiet. The range of books all ordered on shelves ready to discover in dewy decimal. The quiet nooks and crannies you can find to lose yourself in a good read. The spaces and technologies you can use to research and wade through reams of information. All these experiences, the smells, the feel of book covers and the library experiences are etched into my memory. The library of my secondary school where I would have to climb the stairs at the corner of the quadrangle to enter. The huge university library and then seminary library which had a cool 1970s designed mezzanine floor. The public library where I taught conversational English to recently arrived migrants. The times when I have been to different public libraries for story time with my kids or heard guest speakers or attended book launches. And the twin cities I lived in which had two exceptional public libraries. One with an art gallery physically connected to it and the other which housed the local museum.   

Libraries, books and reading have all been central to the Christian tradition. The Old Testament people were known as ‘People of the Book’. Their book the Torah, the book of the law, also had the prophets and the writings included. The New Testament Church kept books of their faith, the letters of Paul and gospels of Jesus which they ultimately bound together with the Old Testament into the book known to us at the Bible. Christian tradition has always highlighted the importance of books for learning and life, and great libraries became a key feature of Christian countries.

Books are important because they have a way of changing us. From visits to the school or public library when we were a child, to the picture and story books our parents or teachers read to us, their words and wisdom can still be locked in our minds today. When we read there is no doubt that we grow and learn. As people of the Book, as a school of the Book, how is God’s Word being read amongst us? God tells us that by reading and learning from His Book, the Bible, He will give us His Holy Spirit and increase our faith. What a promise worth pursuing, a Book worth reading?

Pastor Tim Jarick, College Pastor

In her book on Building Emotional Intelligence, Linda Lantieri discusses John Gottman’s research that encourages parents to become an emotional coach for their children. This means that parents use opportunities presented by difficult or hurtful emotions, such as when a child has had an argument or experiences disappointment, to explore the true nature of those feelings. Parents can encourage children to use feeling words to express their emotions, such as “I feel sad” or “that made me angry”. Children need ample opportunity to explore their emotional landscape with the caring adults in their life. The research also encourages parents to give children a regular time to be in stillness. This can help children to slow down and also gives them the opportunity to explore their feelings and grow emotionally. According to Lantieri, parents can help strengthen their children’s core by encouraging them to honour silence, self-reflection and going within. This can then become a life time habit for the child.

Another practical way that parents can help their children is to encourage them to use their time better and to help them become a more organised student. This term, student across the Middle College have had a number of assignments due. Those students who used a planner or calendar were able to keep track of due dates. When discussing home study and assignments with your child, it helps to encourage them to prioritise and identify:

• What needs to be done now;
• What needs to be done soon; and
• What can be left until later.

If parents encourage children to approach assignments in an organised way they will have a better chance of finishing the assignment in a detailed way and on time.

Mr Brendan Delaney, Director of Students

Following Father’s Day celebrations last weekend and with the holidays just around the corner, it is an ideal time to focus on how dads can help develop their children’s literacy.

Dads play a critical role in their children's literacy development — by modelling reading, sharing stories, exploring the world together and engaging in meaningful conversations that build critical thinking skills. Boys in particular respond to positive modelling by older males. Following are a few tips to encourage dads to read to their children.

What should I read?

Children will respond to your enthusiasm. You can select nonfiction (books about famous people, places, or how things work) or fiction. The important part is that you are enthusiastic about the book. Stop by the children’s room at your local library for more ideas.

What if I’m not with my child every day?

If you don’t see your child each day, try arranging a regular time to read books over the phone, or create your own podcast! Your child will look forward to this individual time with you and you will also be modelling behaviour that will keep your child on a path toward learning.

What if I don’t like reading?

Even if you’re not a reader yourself, your participation in literacy activities at home can have a profound impact on your child’s academic achievement. You just have to send the message that reading is important! Here are some other simple ways to incorporate literacy into your everyday routine with your child.

• Tell stories about when you were young.
• Recite nursery rhymes or jingles.
• Read environmental print (such as road signs or brand names on food containers).
• Ask your child about their day. Conversation with adults helps children learn new words and practice creating a narrative – both linked to better reading skills.
• Check out books of photography or art and talk about the pictures.
• When you are doing household projects, describe what you are doing to your child.
• Involve your child in everyday writing tasks like shopping lists or paying bills.
• Create games that use letters, words, or problem solving.

Use the language you are most comfortable speaking! Reading skills transfer between languages and you will be better at playing with words and language in your native tongue.

Walk the walk

Your child learns from what you do. Make sure the messages you are sending about reading reinforce that knowledge and literacy are valuable, achievable and powerful.

For more information on reading with your child, visit: www.ReadingRockets.org/article/c442/.

Mrs Sue Zweck, Head of Teaching and Learning K-5 and Mr David Druery, Head of Staff and Students P-5

Children are not born simply good or bad. They need adults who will help them become caring, respectful and responsible for their communities at every stage of their childhood. Learning to be caring is like learning to play a sport or an instrument. Daily repetition, whether it is helping a friend with homework, pitching in around the house, or having a classroom job, makes caring second nature and develop and hone youth’s caregiving capacities. Learning gratitude similarly involves regularly practicing it. To find out more, visit: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/parenting/wp/2014/07/18/are-you-raising-nice-kids-a-harvard-psychologist-gives-5-ways-to-raise-them-to-be-kind/.

Ms Annie Williams, College Counsellor

FILMfest 2016

BRIEF:  Entrants were asked to create a short film or ad that can be uploaded to YouTube highlighting our Carnivale, the Olympics or solar energy.

RESULT:  It was clear that students had a lot of fun making their video clips.  They were fun to watch with a good mix of ideas.

We presented the awards at both the Junior College and Middle/Senior College assemblies this week.

Winner Junior College Ad Section

• Kirrily Petfield - Celebrating OceanFest - https://youtu.be/u4-7dVStaYM

Junior Finalists

• Alice Hindmarsh and Kelsey Punter
• Ainslie Colton and Evy Gover
• Alex Lee and Lachie Currey
• Jayden Fioraso

Winner Senior Short Film Section

• Harrison Whitelaw, Nicholas Pollack and Allegra Pollack with their film entitled:  
  A New Olympic Sport - https://youtu.be/B2RJ4ef8b-M

Senior Finalists

• Kelsey Bradford
• Haley Meekan and Stella Teys

A big thank you to Mrs Janine Stone for judging.

Thank you to our Sponsors: Yogurtland Kawana, Fowler Lawyers, The Big Boing Trampoline Park, Caloundra Big Screen Cinemas and Aussieworld.

COLOURfest 2016

Our recent COLOURfest was a huge success with almost 100 colourful entries from Kindy to Year 3.

Congratulations to the following winners and particpants who received their prizes at Junior Assembly this week.

Winners

Kindy:  Gemma and Jenna

Prep:  Matthew, Amelia, Hannah and Paris

Year 1:  Alex and Noella

Year 2:  Mena, Holly and Isabella

Year 3:  Alexandra, Angus, Riley and Bella

Thank you to Mrs Sue Zweck for judging. Thank you to our main sponsor Yougurtland Kawana.

A huge thank you also to our other sponsors:  Newwave Orthodontics, Nefertiti Pearce - McGrath Real Estate, Uni-Industries, Amazen Caloundra, Maleny Dairies and The Mosaic Studio Caloundra.

Mrs Tracey Hindmarsh, FoP Chairperson

This week, parents should receive an email about their child’s overdue books. Books that are overdue by more than a month and that aren’t returned by the end of term will be charged to your account.

Once students have returned their overdue items they may borrow up to 10 books for the holidays.

Ms Nell Keen, Teacher Librarian

To support students academically, the College will continue Mathematics tutorials for students in Years 7-12 who would like extra assistance or clarification of concepts. These tutorials are held on Monday afternoons in rooms L13/L14 from 3.20pm to 4.20pm. Students are welcome to come along for a quiet place to complete Maths class work, homework or ask for assistance. The expectation is that students remain within the room until 4.20pm, unless picked up earlier by a parent.

Mr Adam Doyle, Head of Mathematics

The Uniform Shop is open from 8.00am to 9.30am every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Orders can be placed online via www.flexischools.com.au and will be delivered to your child the following day.

Mrs Peta King, Uniform Shop Convenor

 

Pastor Ray Morris, St Mark’s Lutheran Church Caloundra