Christian Brothers College Newsletter
Senior Campus 214 Wakefield Street, Adelaide SA 5000 P 08 8400 4200 F 08 8400 4299 Junior Campus 324 Wakefield Street, Adelaide SA 5000 P 08 8400 4222 F 08 8400 4220 CBC Community 178 East Terrace, Children’s Centre Adelaide SA 5000 P 08 8223 5469 F 08 8223 7803
A Birth-12 Catholic College for boys in the Edmund Rice Tradition
Email enquiries@cbc.sa.edu.au Website www.cbc.sa.edu.au
Term 3, Week 10
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Friday 27 September, 2013
Labor Minister, Bill Shorten tours the CBC/SMC Adelaide Electro-Trade Training Centre
From The Principal
Term Arrangements
Senior Campus
Term 3 ends this Friday at 3.30pm and recommences Monday 14 October at 8.30am for all students.
Mr Samuel Barbara who has been replacing Mr Peter Tippins
Year 12 students are reminded of classes being conducted at CBC during the term break. For all Year 11 and 12 students the next two weeks are not holidays but the final opportunity you have to complete all practicals and investigative assignments and complete exam study revision
Ms Katerina Paraskevopoulos who has been replacing Ms Kay Oliphant
Thank you to our staff members who leave us this term:
Mrs Robyn O’Reilly will be taking Long Service Leave for Term 4 and will be replaced by Mrs Brigitte Squire.
Dear Parents, Friends and Caregivers,
Junior Campus
Dear Parents as I write the final newsletter for Term 3 2013 I thank God for the many blessings and gifts of the term.
Mrs Caroline Wilson, Teacher Librarian Junior Campus who is leaving us to take up a new position at Blackfriars Priory School.
EREA School Renewal Assembly
Mrs Margaret Duddy who has been replacing Mrs Sandra Buchanan in 4 White
On Tuesday EREA Executive Director Dr Wayne Tinsey, Director Mr Chris Smith and Regional Coordinator Mr Terry Roberts were guests of honour at a whole school assembly to celebrate the formal acknowledgement of CBC as a Catholic school in the Edmund Rice tradition. During Term 4 I will share some of the commendations and recommendations from this report in editions of the Insight.
Mrs Mary-Anne Yeo who has been replacing Mrs Sue Gray, Junior Campus Receptionist Mrs Marti Madigan who will be on Long Service Leave for the duration of Term 4, and we welcome back Mr Bruce Were to 5 Purple
Gospel Spirituality
We invite all people into the story of Jesus and strive to make his message of compassion, justice and peace a living reality within our community.
Faith Excellence Community Compassion
Mr Oliver Harms who has been replacing Mr Paul Hicks Mr Albert Chieng who has been replacing Ms Wen Ben
Camps and Immersions On Saturday Mr Clarke and I farewelled the staff and student Philippines pilgrims at Adelaide airport. Since this time they have arrived in Manila and have begun their immersion experience and all are happy, healthy and enjoying their experience. On Sunday we also farewelled our 81 Year 6 students who departed for Canberra. There were a few tearyeyed students and more teary-eyed parents at the Junior Campus for the farewell.
Counsellor’s Corner Nurturing and Critical Parenting. We have all grown up with two types of parenting which we made part of ourselves i.e. internalised. We all have within us a critical and a nurturing parent. The critical parent loves us conditionally. When we brought home from school a spelling test in which we got 48 right out of 50, the critical parent told us to look at the two questions we got wrong and not to make the mistakes again. If we were third in a sprint race we were urged to be second or first. The critical parent within us can never be satisfied since we cannot meet all the conditions. The nurturing parent within loves us just as we are - unconditionally. We are urged to do our best and not to stop trying, but to be satisfied with whatever the result is, since we have done our best. If we are selfcritical it probably means we have a highly developed, internalised critical parent. If this is the case now is the time to change to loving myself just as I am. We can delegate the critical parent side to other areas of our life where its attention to detail and high standards will be put to good use, for example in the work place, in the garden, with school work, in balancing the family budget or in skill-based hobbies. Reflect on the ways the critical and nurturing parent within us influences our thinking and acting. Br Michael Flaherty Counsellor
Student News
Conclusion
Congratulations to Ben Rosiak (3 White), who will be competing at the Australian National Equestrian Vaulting Championships in Sydney from 23 September.
Finally I wish you and your families every blessing for a safe and restful holiday.
Congratulations to our students performing in the SA Catholic Schools Music Festival at the Festival Theatre this week.
Term 3 Achievements I congratulate staff, students and community members for the many successes of Term 3 which included: • • • • • • • • • • • •
• • • • • • •
Summer Uniforms for new Students All new students to the school are required to make an appointment with the Uniform Shop to purchase their Summer uniforms for Term 4.
Uniform Shop Holiday Trading hours The Uniform Shop will be close on Friday 27 September and re-open on the second week of the holidays. Trading Hours Monday 7 October - Closed - Public Holiday Wednesday 9 October - 8.30am - 5.00pm Friday 11 October - 8.30am - 5.00pm Normal trading hours resume: Monday 14 October 2
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Benjamin Rosiak
• • • • • • • •
Year 6 retreats SAPOL presentations to students Right Relationships student seminars CBC 135th Birthday Mass and celebrations Official blessing of the College Trade Training Centre with St Mary’s College 2013 Book week celebrations Parent teacher interviews Celebration of the sacraments at the Cathedral CBC and SAC combined staff retreat with Fr Richard Leonard SJ Year 12 Trial Exams Catholic Schools Music Festival Junior Campus Fathers, Grandparents and Significant Person evening (attended by over 200 people) Maths comedy performance Departure of the Philippines pilgrims Australian Maths Competition Years 8 Walk-a-Mile fundraiser EREA School Renewal 3-day visit of CBC and celebration assembly Visit by Non-Government Schools Advisory Committee CBC staff and community members Advisory Groups formed in Spirituality, Literacy, Numeracy, Inclusive and Indigenous education and Asian Literacy. Intercol with CBC victorious for 2013 Sports Day at Santos Stadium Senior Campus Winter Music Concert Red Cross Big Bake event OzAsia Festival celebrations Catholic Schools Music Festival 2014 Student Leadership Nominations EREA meeting of Boards
I leave you with a hauntingly beautiful reflection on love this week as my final prayer for the term. My inspiration for this reflection was brought about by thinking about how blessed we are to have the support of parents and grandparents, priests and religious, teachers and community members who educate, inspire and -- most importantly of all – love our boys through the gift and power of education. I Am Love Some say I can fly on the wind, yet I haven’t any wings. Some have found me floating on the open sea, yet I cannot swim. Some have felt my warmth on cold nights, yet I have no flame. And though you cannot see me, I lay between two lovers at the hearth of fireplaces. I am the twinkle in your child’s eyes. I am hidden in the lines of your mother’s face. I am your father’s shield as he guards your home. And yet… Some say I am stronger than steel, yet I am as fragile as a tear. Some have never searched for me, yet I am around them always. Some say I die with loss, yet I am endless. And though you cannot hear me, I dance on the laughter of children. I am woven into the whispers of passion. I am in the blessings of Grandmothers. I embrace the cries of newborn babies. And yet… Some say I am a flower, yet I am also the seed. Some have little faith in me, yet I will always believe in them. Some say I cannot cure the ill, yet I nourish the soul. And though you cannot touch me, I am the gentle hand of the kind. I am the fingertips that caress your cheek at night. I am the hug of a child. I am love.
With blessings
Mr Noel Mifsud Principal
Save the date! Parents & Friends
Movie Under the Stars Saturday 2 November, 7pm CBC Sportsfield Further details contact Sue Marzinotto on 0408 816 087
From The Deputy Principal Pope Francis: The Pope for a Changing World Being a pope in the 21st Century provides more demands than ever before. A pope is expected to be the CEO of a global religious organisation, a political heavyweight, an intellectual giant, and a media rock star, not to mention a living saint. Any one of those things is a life’s work; rolled together, they’re a prescription for perpetual frustration. When he stepped onto the balcony some six months ago overlooking St Peter’s Square, this was immediately a pope of firsts: the first pontiff from the developing world, the first from Latin America, the first non-European in almost 1300 years, the first Jesuit and, of course, the first to take the name Francis. He has shown himself to be a pope of the people. He has no hesitation walking into crowds, to the delight of the masses and the horror of his security team. He speaks his mind with sometimes startling frankness, he makes phone calls to people out of the blue, including ordinary folks who’ve written him to share some personal struggle, and involves himself daringly in the issues of the day, such as his recent full-court press against military strikes in Syria. He also recently proposed that unused convents and monasteries could be converted into housing for immigrants and refugees. Pope Francis has shown himself to be as popular with the media as Pope John Paul II and open to challenge some sets of beliefs. We have ventured six months into the Francis era; he continues the complex task of being a pope in the twenty first century under the five fronts mentioned above.
Pope as CEO Francis was elected on a reform mandate. He has established new councils to oversee the running of the Vatican. In addition, he has created two commissions to the council of cardinals to ponder reform: one to study the Institute for the Works of Religion, the so-called “Vatican bank,” and another for the broader economic and administrative structures of the Vatican. In terms of style, Francis is decidedly hands-on. He works the phone by himself, collecting input from various quarters, and takes action personally rather than delegating it to aides. Recently, he responded to a letter written by a woman in Argentina who was struggling in her faith and he personally phoned her.
Pope as politician So far, Francis hasn’t really broken new ground in terms of the substance of the church’s social and political concerns, but he has demonstrated a flair for dramatic gestures to put those concerns front and centre. Three issues in particular have been paramount over these first six months: immigration, poverty and war. He has launched a strong appeal against the “globalisation of indifference” for immigrants, visiting the southern Mediterranean island of Lampedusa, a major point of arrival for impoverished migrants, mostly from Africa and the Middle East, who are seeking to reach Europe. In July during his trip to Brazil, Francis visited a notorious favela of Rio de Janeiro called Varginha, a stop added to the schedule at his specific request. He held
up the poorest of the poor like a mirror to the global conscience, insisting that “the measure of the greatness of a society is found in the way it treats those most in need, those who have nothing apart from their poverty.” He has also been outspoken against the idea of Western military strikes in Syria and sent a sharply worded letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of the G-20 summit, asserting that a military solution would be “futile”. Francis has pressed the campaign against the use of force in multiple ways, even using his Twitter account to send out anti-war messages.
Pope as intellectual
2013 School calendar Term 4, Week 1 Mon 14 Oct
Term 4 commences CBCOC Meeting
Tues 15 Oct
Student Leadership Retreat O’Brien House Mass
Wed 16 Oct
Student Leadership Retreat WSA Meeting
Thurs 17 Oct
Francis in his short term in papacy is reflecting on many of the documents in the church. He is strong in Catholic social teaching, and open to liberation theology which has caused tension in the Vatican. Gustavo Gutierrez, the Peruvian theologian considered the father of the movement, recently co-authored a book with the Vatican’s doctrinal prefect, German Archbishop Gerhard Müller, who’s an old friend, and Pope Francis recently met him for lunch. He takes a more informal and somewhat “low church” approach, a trait that’s already having an impact in Rome where we see a more communal dimension.
Fri 18 Oct
CBCOC Dinner – Public School Club (7.00pm) JC Assembly
Mon 21 Oct
PATM Testing Week Board Meeting
Tues 22 Oct
House based farewells to the Year 12s
Wed 23 Oct
Year 11 Outdoor Education Camp
Pope as media figure
Fri 25 Oct
Pope Francis has proven himself to be one of the most popular popes since John Paul II and was recently declared by Vanity Fair as its “Man of the Year,” including snippets of praise from unlikely quarters such as Elton John, who termed the pontiff “a miracle of humility in the era of vanity.” Two points about the “Man of the Year” designation are especially striking: First, he’d only been pope for about two and a half months; and second, the year wasn’t even half over. Apparently Vanity Fair’s calculation was that no one in the rest of calendar 2013 could top Francis’ debut. Polling shows strong approval ratings. A recent survey in Italy showed Francis’ popularity at 85 percent, with spillover effects for the church: The percentage of Italians saying they trust the church was up to 63 percent from 46 percent in January during the twilight of Benedict’s papacy. Pope Francis’ personable manner and his commitment to the poor seem to touch the heart of the people.
Pope as inspirer-in-chief Though popes wear many hats, from a spiritual point of view, their most important responsibility is to promote lives of holiness. Pope Francis’ signature touch so far has been a strong accent on mercy, expressed in a repeated emphasis on God’s endless capacity to forgive. As an Edmund Rice School in the Catholic tradition our commitment as a school is to the mission of the church. Pope Francis calls us as Christians to reach out to the poor, not just through charity but action where we invite the poor to the table. It was scripture that inspired Blessed Edmund to support the poor in Waterford. He knew education was the catalyst for change to move the children out of the poverty cycle. Pope Francis in his first six months has challenged us as Christians to rethink how to challenge the injustices in our world and live the Gospel values. (Adapted from National Catholic Reporter)
Mr Shaun Clarke Deputy Principal
Week 2
Thurs 24 Oct Year 12 Mass Schoolies – Encounter Youth Year 11 Outdoor Education Camp Years 8-10 Social 7.30pm Year 12 BBQ Breakfast Interhouse Competition Heats Marks House – Bandana Day Smith House Mass Senior Vocal Ensemble performance Glenelg Pier Hotel JC Assembly Year 11 Outdoor Education Camp
Full Term Planner is available at www.cbc.sa.edu.au
CBC WaterSports Auxiliary Quiz Night Saturday 23 November CBC Gymnasium 6.30pm for 7.00pm start BYO Supper For further details, please contact Mirella Kakogianis on 0438 815 061
Term 3 Fee Reminder CBC has a policy of forwarding family accounts to Mercantile Credit Management (our debt collectors) when school fees are in arrears and/or a mutually acceptable payment arrangement is not in place with the College. You are always welcome to discuss your financial situation with the Business Manager Mr Frank Scali. If you have any queries please contact The Finance Office on 8400 4207. INSIGHT
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Week 1 – 30th September – 4th October
Head of Bourke House
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
IPP 9am-4pm, Library Miss Helps
Physics 9am-3pm, Physics Lecture Mr Crisanti
Design & Tech 9am-3pm, Tech Centre Mr Gaitaneris
Religion Studies 9am-3pm, Chemistry Room Mr Clarke
Physical Education 9am-12pm, PE Theory Mr Curnow
Visual Arts 9am-4pm, Art Centre Mr Lopresto
One of the core values of the school is the pursuit of Excellence. To assist in this, the accompanying holiday revision seminars have been organised by subject teachers. In addition to this, it is a clear expectation of the College that Year 12 students should be using some (not all) holiday time to consolidate their Stage 2 Studies. This could include:
Business & Ent 1pm-4pm, R106 Mr Absolon Italian 1pm-3pm, Library Miss Riccio
• Completion of subject course work and assignments
Week 2 – 8th October – 11th October
• Summarising and organisation of notes Students do not have to wear school uniform although they must sign in/out at the Front Office before and after the sessions for OH&W reasons. Thank you for your support and commitment to your son’s learning at Christian Brothers College. Have a safe term break. Miss Krystle Helps Head of Bourke House On behalf of Heads of House
Legal Studies 9:30am-12pm, H102 Mrs Zwolski
Maths Applications 9am-12pm R106 Mr Absolon
Dear Students/Parents,
• Practice past exam papers
Physical Education Design & Tech 9am-12pm, PE Theory 9am-3pm, Tech Centre Mr Curnow Mr Gaitaneris
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Labour Day Holiday
Physics 9am-3pm, Physics Lecture Mr Crisanti
Chemistry 9am-3pm, Chemistry Mr Lucas
Psychology B 9am-12pm, R101 Ms Hernandez
Italian 9am-12pm, Library Miss Riccio
Psychology A 1pm-4pm, R101 Ms Hernandez Economics 10am-1pm, R101 Mr Ward Religion (Integrated Studies) 1pm-4pm, B102 Br Donaghue
On Friday 20 September, History classes from Year 8 and Year 11 watched a Medieval demonstration by the ‘Ironclad Academy of the Sword’ on the CBC Main Oval. The demonstration showed students the kind of clothing, weapons and armour that people used to use during the Middle Ages. The exact replicas of equipment and clothing gave students a chance to visualise what they had been studying in class, thus enhancing their learning. The Ironclad Academy even gave some students a chance to handle the equipment, giving them a better understanding of what life was like some 700 years ago. Thanks to the Academy for coming to CBC and giving us this special demonstration and well done to the students for behaving well and engaging in this extended learning opportunity. Mr George Bryant Senior Humanities Teacher
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Friday
Discover Your Local Library! During the holidays if you are looking for something to do it is a great opportunity to visit your local public library. With over 140 public libraries in South Australia there is bound to be one near you! Most public libraries run holiday programs and offer a range of fun activities such as invited performers, graphic novel workshops, Chinese mask painting, storytelling & badge making, and introduction to chess classes, just to name a few.
magazines, as well as photocopying and printing services, and community information. So I would strongly encourage all members of our College community to locate your local library, become a member make use of the resources you can access for free. Happy holidays and happy reading! Ms Sandra Mason Head Librarian
Public libraries offer much more than print resources with free Internet access, online resources and library materials in over 20 community languages. Of course you will also find resources to borrow such as books, newspapers, DVDs and
Paul McGuire Library Canteen Volunteers Needed The Junior Canteen is open daily from Tuesday through to Friday and Lisa would love some help! If you are able to assist in the Canteen, please contact Lisa on 8400 4222, ext 118.
Friday 25 October 7.30 - 10.30pm CBC Gymnasium 214 Wakefield St, Adelaide $10 Entry
The Senior Canteen is open Monday to Friday and would also appreciate some help. If you are able to assist, please contact Penny direct on 8400 4240. We greatly appreciate any time you have to spare.
Canteen Notice
SUPPORTING THE SPIRIT OF OUR BROTHERS PILGRIMAGE Spir
Faith Excellence Community Compassion
it Brothers of our
May we please ask that staples, sticky tape, envelopes and snap lock bags are not used for orders in the Junior Campus. The staples in particular pose a health hazard. All orders are to be written out on lunch bags which are available in the classroom lunch box or the canteen. Plain brown paper bags can also be used and can be purchased for a small price at your local supermarket.
INSIGHT
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Finally we thank and farewell a number of staff at the end of this week.
Assistant Principal - Junior Campus Dear Parents/Caregivers and Friends We have come to the end of another busy term. What a term it has been. Last week, as a school, we celebrated the ‘Chinese MidAutumn Festival’, with Jie Zhu conducting a Chinese assembly. It was a wonderful celebration of our Chinese cultural infusion. This year our Year 5 students in Ms Cronin’s class made links with Year 5 students of Rostrevor College. Last term Rostrevor hosted, while last Friday our sister school students enjoyed CBC’s hospitality. The boys were in awe of our facilities, especially our roof-top playing fields on both campuses and attended the Chinese assembly where Mr Mifsud, our College principal, gave them a warm welcome. Thank you to Sue Marzinotto, from the P&F, for cooking up a storm for the Rostrevor boys. On Friday our Year 6 students and staff will return from their Canberra tour, no doubt exhausted but bursting with excitement about their trip away.
Mrs Margaret Duddy – we thank you as you are always there to help out at CBC. Thank you for stepping in for Mrs Buchanan who is recovering well from recent surgery. Mrs Mary-Anne Yeo – a very big thank you for filling in so wonderfully for Mrs Gray in Reception. Mrs Caroline Wilson moves on to Blackfriars Priory School. Remember us fondly as we will remember you.
From the Counselling Team
Mrs Marti Madigan will be going on Long Service Leave for Term 4. We hope you have a restful break with your beautiful grandchildren.
10 step plan to get teens to do chores on time everytime
Finally, Mr Bruce Were will return to take on Mrs Madigan’s boys in Term 4. Welcome back Mr Were.
For many of the parents of teens I work with, one of the main sources of irritation about their teen is chores. Parents say to me: “they don’t lift a finger” or “I have to nag them constantly” or “it’s just easier to do it myself” or “I ask them a thousand times and then they do it half-heartedly”.
Thank you to the many helpers who assist in making our lives a little easier. We are truly indebted to you all. Have a wonderful break with your cherubs – no doubt you will be itching for Term 4 to commence to give them back to us. Wishing you God’s blessings for the week ahead.
Mrs Frances Zubreckyj Assistant Principal - Junior Campus
Farewell! As you know I will be leaving CBC at the end of this term to take up a position at Blackfriars. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for including me in the Christian Brothers College community. I have loved working at the College and leave with fond memories and some wonderful friendships. While reflecting on my time at the College with Noel, Frances and other staff members, I have felt proud of my contributions. The other strong theme that emerged in all of these discussions was just how precious your sons are, and I feel truly blessed to have made some small contribution to their education. Each and every one of them is amazing and I thank you for allowing me the opportunity to get to know them. I will certainly miss them all. To the extremely dedicated teaching staff, I thank you for your support and friendship. I would also like to express my sincere thanks to Trudie Jackson and Katie Gallagher. Both of these ladies have provided me with ongoing support in the library. Without them I would not have been able to achieve all that I have. I thank them for their generosity of spirit and for their genuine friendship. I wish you and your families all the best for the future, Mrs Caroline Wilson Teacher Librarian Junior Campus
If this sounds like you, take heart in the fact you are not alone. However, the truth is: all teens should be contributing to housework. It is vital that teens be cleaning up after themselves, preparing meals for the household, cleaning up after meals, cleaning household areas, looking after cars or gardens, doing some washing (their own or the households), or vacuuming, dusting and so on. Why is this so important? First, once they have been trained to do these things, it makes for less stressed and angry parents – which in turn is beneficial for the teenager. Second, doing chores teaches teens’ responsibility, housework skills and the ability to manage time, boredom and gives them a sense of accomplishment. There has been some long range research showing that children who have been trained and expected to help with household chores in their younger years have a higher self-esteem and sense of responsibility when they are adults. That’s the good news. Now the bad news: training teens to do chores is a parents’ job. And it requires commitment, a lot of patience and iron will dedication. It is not going to save you time initially – it is going to TAKE time AWAY from you. But it can be done. I have seen many families work on this and come back after a few weeks with the issue resolved – and surprisingly, both parent AND teen are happier.
The “How” of training teens doing chores Before you start: this program of training teens works well if you have a generally positive relationships with your teen: in other words, you frequently praise and thank the teen about things not related to chores, you regularly (every few days at least) have short, positive conversations with your teen (eg TV, friends, sport etc), at least once per fortnight you have some time one on one together (eg driving them to sport etc), you would laugh at something together at least once a week, you apologise to your teen when you are irritable and they apologise to you, you and your teen argue but rarely swear at/call each other names and your teen will tell you things about their day/week at least occasionally. If your relationship has deteriorated so that these things are not true for you, this training program will have little effect and should not be used. There are significantly more important areas of your relationship to work on and you need to do these first. 1. Set up a time to have an initial conversation with the teenager about the chores that need to be done: “Jo, we need to sit down some time and have a chat about the housework and how that is happening around here, it will probably take about 20 minutes, when would it work for you?” Don’t expect they will want to have this conversation, they probably won’t, and some of them will hate it. Be sympathetic about this, (“I know, talking about this stuff is boring and painful, I wish we didn’t
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have to do it too”). Give them choice about when the conversation happens, where it happens but insist that it happens. 2. In this conversation, bring pen and paper or have laptop at the ready and formalise an agreement in writing. Tell the teen that as a family, you need to sort out who does what to keep things working in the house and that you want to try to sort out a trial system. This system will only be in operation for a short number of weeks initially (I suggest 2-4 weeks). Write out all the jobs that have to happen morning, night and weekends to keep household running. Ask them which ones they would be able to contribute to – either daily tasks, weekly or monthly. Start small. If they haven’t been doing anything at all, then one small job each week is enough to start with. Otherwise, a couple of jobs is appropriate. Once decided, write out a task list of who does what, when and how. Now here is the first crucial point: This task list must be extremely specific. In other words each task has a) an exact time by which the job has been completed, and b) dot points about what it means to complete the job. For example, it does not say, “Kate will clean the bathroom”. It says, “Kate mops bathroom floor, cleans toilet with brusth, puts away everything on benchtops and then wipes then down so no toothpaste showing. Completed by 11.15 Saturdays”. Here’s the really important part about having this conversation: be determined to be pleasant, fair, respectful, cheerful, calm and kind. Don’t yell, don’t get angry, don’t look stressed and irritable, and don’t play the guilt card. Don’t tell them you ”just can’t cope any more” or how unfair it has been that you do everything. Don’t focus on what HAS happened in the past, but what will happen now. Here’s another extremely important point – do not be condescending or patronising – a rule of thumb is to talk to your teen as though they are 5 years older than they really are – almost as though you are talking to a work colleague, not a child. But even so - you must come out of this conversation with specific tasks in writing. Give the teen a copy, or post it somewhere visible. 3. Once you have established what the teenager is going to do and when, then talk about how these chores can be 1) remembered and not forgotten about, and 2) as pleasant and as easy to do as possible. To discuss this, ask teens: is there anything I can do to help you remember to do this? Ask whether a phone reminder, visual reminder, some kind of system might help? Ask teens how the job might be easier for them to do: Ask whether they need the vacuum to be stored somewhere else? Do they need washing baskets in their room? Do they have all the things they need to do it? Also ask teens whether they have any ideas how to make the job less unpleasant. Suggest that music might make it more fun? Can they do it while you are doing your job and talk with you at the same time? 4. Before you finish, mention the good things that will happen if everyone completes their tasks on time. Include things like, “less arguing”, “calmer parents” and possibly even some natural rewards such as “more time on Sunday night to have take away and watch a family movie” if that would fit with your family routines. Some families use pocket money as rewards for chores. If you do this, keep in mind two potential dangers: first, using money can undermine the message that chores are part of household expectations anyway. The second danger is that the teenager might decide they would rather skip the chore and not get the money, which leaves parents without many options. Usually I would try to keep money out of it – but some families seem to manage it okay. Some families have set chores that are done regardless and extra chores for money. Now your work begins. Now that you have had this conversation and set up your systems, you have done about 20% of the training
involved in getting your teens to do chores. The rest of the training begins now. Here’s how you start: 5. Don’t “nag” the teen before the job deadline. If you think they might have forgotten, some simple and cheerful (not stressed or irritable) reminders are fine, but don’t repeatedly talk about it. 6. When you set a job for your teen to do, you need to know whether the teen has actually completed the job. This means you need to put aside time to check each job, right after the agreed upon completion time. Don’t just “hope” they are doing it. The teen knowing you are checking the whether the job is important, but don’t make a big deal of telling them you are going to check – this feels condescending and overbearing. When (yes..when not if) they forget, not bother or are too busy. Your teen may well get their tasks done without nagging during the first week (the value of novelty!), or maybe the second. But at some point, they will forget, not bother or get too busy. Expect this to happen. Here’s what you do next: 7. Very soon after the job time completion (ie within approx 24 hours), tell them that you need to have a brief followup conversation with them about what went wrong. Once again, the teen will not want to have this follow up conversation (they will be annoyed, disinterested, angry) but don’t take that personally. But gently and kindly insist that you talk about it: this conversation is an essential part of the process. Here’s how to do it: Make the assumption that there were some valid, difficult barriers they had difficulty overcoming in order to BE ABLE to do this job. These barriers include lack of time, difficulty remembering, trouble coping with boredom, not seeing the reason for doing things, it being tough physically and so on. The purpose of the follow up conversation is to try understand the barriers, and to help coach the teen to overcome these barriers next time. Don’t act mad, yell or criticise. Gently and kindly ask some questions: what made it hard? Did they forget? What other things were they doing? Is there anything else you or others could have done to help them remember? Is there a system that could help them remember to do it? Analyse this yourself – what do you think made them forget/fail to do this? Once you have figured out what went wrong, you might need to make some adjustments to the system if appropriate (it was too busy Saturday morning, change to Sunday – or the teen forgot, they need a phone reminder – or they didn’t do the bathroom mirror, we need to add that to the list). Once you have done this, invite the teenager to have another attempt at getting the job done. Tell them (and remind yourself) that you are 100% committed to making sure they get into the habit of doing this. But that you are going to do it nicely. 8. When it doesn’t happen for the second time: have another conversation about why. They will detest this conversation even more than the last one. But be firm AND compassionate (“I know it sucks to talk about this. But we have to figure out how you can remember to do the bathroom, it needs to happen, and I want to help you be able to do it.”) Give them choice about when the conversation happens (“Okay, I’m happy to not talk about it right now. We can talk about it after tea if you like, or tomorrow morning – what suits you best?”). When you talk about it – do not lecture, tell them how annoyed you are, why it has to happen or tell them why they are irresponsible. Start with asking more questions (“why do you think you forgot? What was the worst thing about doing it? Does it not seem important? Did you struggle to find time to do it? Did you think you could do it later? Why else was it hard to do it? Etc). Also ask them if you can help them make sure they remember, find time for it and prioritise it. You may need to look at their time management
generally to make sure they are not overloaded and have space for this. You may need to look at their own systems so that they have regular times allocated for chores, so it doesn’t get crammed in and forgotten by the end of the week. Your teen needs your help with this. You will need to keep having these conversations with teens – time after time. Remember, your child didn’t learn to read after one or two lessons, and this is just as hard. These conversations are PART of the process, it is not an indication that things have failed. 9. As well as having these coaching and kind conversations, allow the natural consequences of the uncompleted job to occur wherever possible. In other words, something unpleasant should happen if the chore doesn’t happen. If there is absolutely no natural consequence of the job not being done, other than the parent getting stressed and irritable, then in some situations it can be okay for the parent to impose another consequence – such as restricting computer use. Here are some important points about using consequences: First, when you impose these consequences be calm and sympathetic rather than angry and punishing. Don’t yell, take it personally or tell your teenager they are lazy, thoughtless and selfish. If you do that, they will go into “defend and attack” mode and their brain will be so emotionally fired up they will be less able to learn and think. Don’t give a five minute ramble about why you wouldn’t have had to do it if they hadn’t been so irresponsible. Use less words. The lesson is in the experience, not in the accompanying lecture. Second, make consequences short term and small rather than long term and major. Use the consequence of “taking phone/computer away” with great caution. This is a very painful experience for teens (Imagine you being forbidden to see your partner, or for your own phone to be removed. It hurts a lot) and should only be used when you have really tried everything else. Third, never use consequences in isolation. Consequences are less important than the coaching conversations described above. Contrary to what many parents think, we as humans do not learn most from punishment. We learn most from someone coaching us through and helping us to do something. You will be able to see this in your own life – think about a skill you were struggling with – how did you learn it? Often it is through someone helping you, rather than getting punished for not being able to do it. 10. When the teen does do their chore: make sure you thank them. Tell them you appreciate it. Tell them why it means a lot to you. Don’t go overboard, but make sure you make a point of mentioning it. Some parents say, “why should I thank them – they don’t thank ME for the things I do for them? And besides, they are just doing what they SHOULD be doing anyway?” I understand this feeling. But thanking teens for doing chores is helpful for three reasons, a) it models and shows them how you would like them to thank you, b) it increases the positive relationship between parents and teens, and c) it makes teens feel like doing it again. Finally, keep using the steps above, and don’t give up early. Remember you are training your teenager and any break from this training (I can’t be bothered following up on them not vacuuming this week because I’m too tired) means they will go backwards. This is not going to happen overnight, and you will have to revisit chores constantly through adolescence. But the effort will be worth it – for both you and them. Reprinted with permission: Kirrilie Smout. Ms Jane Gaynor From the Counselling Team
INSIGHT
7
Alternative University Pathways
Careers Coordinator / Counsellor
1. SAIBT (South Australian Institute of Business & Technology) provides a successful pathway into a Bachelor degree at UniSA through offering a one-year Diploma leading into one of the following areas:
University Applications University applications through SATAC need to be finalised by Friday to avoid paying a late fee. Once the $25 has been paid, the application is ‘live”. Students can still make additions to preferences up until 2 December to ensure equal consideration for most courses, or until 6 January to change preferences. So far 62 of our Year 12 students have applied, with 22 of them still to pay their fee. All have been reminded but it would assist if you could also remind them! Payment is by credit card online or at the SATAC office, in Frome Street, or in cash at your nearest Post Office.
Scholarships Each university offers scholarships based on merit or equity for a range of courses. Make sure you check their websites to avoid missing out!
TAFE Applications and Skills for All Funding Students completing SACE this year will no longer be eligible for funding under Skills for All for Certificate 1 or 2 courses, but will be eligible for funding in courses at Certificate 3 level and above. Students who have completed a VET Certificate 1 or 2 will not be adversely affected by this decision.
Arts: leading into Teaching, Psychology, Journalism, Web Development and more Business: leading into Commerce, Management, Marketing Information Technology: leading into Computing, Software Engineering Engineering and Environment: leading into all Engineering degrees Health Sciences: leading into all Health Science related degrees At the completion of the year, students will exit with a Diploma and guaranteed entry into their university pathway. Entry is a minimum ATAR of 40. (UniSA Bonus Points do apply)
2. UniSA College:
Students can apply through SATAC for a 2-year Diploma in Arts, Science & Technology, Allied Health or Foundation Studies.
Successful completion of the diploma enables entry into the 2nd year of a degree at UniSA.
3. UniSA Associate Degrees:
UniSA also offers 2-year Associate degrees in Information Technology, Engineering or Built Environments. Students then enter the related degree at 2nd year.
Ms Liz Tidemann Counselling/Careers
TAFE applications opened on Monday 23 September with the closing date being Friday 15 November (Week 5 Term 4). An Information session was held for those interested to explain the process.
To celebrate School Banking at CBC we are running a colouring competition. The competition starts Monday 26th August and finishes Friday 18th October. Entry forms are available from your class teacher or from the front office.
There are 4 prizes to be won!!! R - 2 x1, Years 3 - 5 x1 and Years 6 - 7 x1 Plus 1 x Overall winner. Each prize pack contains lots of cool exclusive Dollarmite gear. The overall winner will also receive some great Dollarmite gear PLUS 2 adult and 2 Children’s Cinema tickets to Hoyts Cinemas. All you have to do is to colour your sheet and submit it to the front office by end of school Friday 18th October. AND make 1 deposit into your School Banking Account. Winners will be notified and presented with their prize at our school assembly. Remember you have got to be in it to win it!
ABC Psychology simple steps, great strides
BULLY PROOFING KIDS AND YOUTH Would your child like to avoid being bullied? Improve friendships? Have a better time at school? If your answer is yes to any of these, this event could be for you!
These experiential workshops are based on current research and practice and will teach parents and primary or secondary students effective ways to respond to bullying. You will learn the pitfalls to avoid and why common approaches may not work.
Presented by Robyn Blake‐Mortimer, Clinical Psychologist, Teacher and School Counsellor.Introducing Michelle Sexton, Psychologist.
Venue: Fullarton Park Centre 411 Fullarton Road Fullarton 5063 Date:October 16th and 23rd, 2013 Time: 6.30‐9.30pm Cost: $200 includes both workshops. Fee is per family (children are welcome) Course notes and tea/coffee provided Workshop 1:Understanding the Bullying Game Workshop 2: Strategies to stop feeling like a victim.
To register contact: ABC Psychology www.abcpsychology.com.au Phone: 8377 7700
Unlimited personal fitness coaching for only $1 per day! Why wouldn't you? call now on 0424 825 378 or email us at wakefieldst@efm.net.au
Term 4, 2013 Planner WEEK
MONDAY 7 October
15 October
16 October
17 October
Student Leadership Retreat O’Brien House Mass
Student Leadership Retreat WSA Meeting
21 October
22 October
23 October
24 October
PATM Testing Week Board Meeting
House based farewells to the Year 12s
Year 11 Outdoor Education Camp
Year 12 Mass Schoolies – Encounter Youth Year 11 Outdoor Education Camp
Years 8-10 Social 7.30pm Year 12 BBQ Breakfast Interhouse Competition Heats Marks House – Bandana Day Smith House Mass Senior Vocal Ensemble performance Glenelg Pier Hotel JC Assembly Year 11 Outdoor Education Camp
28 October
29 October
30 October
31 October
1 November
Year 9 DOE Camp - Group A Vietnam Pilgrims Retreat Day (CBC & SMC) R – Year 4 Sports Day (9.30 – 1.00pm)
Year 9 DOE Camp - Group A Bourke House Mass Blood Donation
Year 12 Solo Performance Year 9 DOE Camp - Group A Blood Donation
Year 9 DOE Camp - Group A Blood Donation
China Bridge Visit Interhouse Competition Heats Hurley House Mass JC Assembly – Chinese Visit 2 November - P&F Movie Under the Stars
4 November
5 November
6 November
7 November
8 November
English Studies – 9:00 am China Bridge Visit Year 9 DOE Camp - Group B Course Counselling (Year 11) Pre-School teacher visits
Italian Continuers – 9:00 am Assembly – Chinese Visit (SC) Year 9 DOE Camp - Group B Pre-School teacher visits
Physical Education – 9:00 am ESL Studies – 1:30 pm Year 9 DOE Camp - Group B Course Counselling (Year 11) China Bridge Visit Pre-School teacher visits WSA Meeting
Maths Apps – 9:00 am Maths Studies – 1:30 pm Vietnam Pilgrims Leave China Bridge Visit Course Counselling (Year 11) Year 9 DOE Camp - Group B O’Brien – Middle School McHappy Day
Psychology – 9:00 am Interhouse Dodgeball Competition Final Volunteer thank you morning tea 11.00am O’Brien – Senior School McHappy Day JC Sports Assembly (R – 6) Middle School Music Concert – (6.30 – 8.00pm)
11 November
12 November Principal’s Tours (JC)
13 November
14 November
15 November
Information Evening – Reception Parents Chemistry – 9:00 am Year 10/11 Drama – Snow White and the Seven Dorks 6.00pm
Mathematical Methods 9:00 am Specialist Maths – 9:00 am Spirit of our Brothers pilgrimage leaves SC Sports Assembly (Year 7 – 11) Smith House Day JC Assembly
19 November
20 November
21 November
22 November
Musicianship 1.30pm Stage 1 Exams
Stage 1 Exams
Thanksgiving Mass – CBC Gymnasium 9.30am Stage 1 Exams Vietnam Pilgrims Return JC Assembly 23 November - WSA Quiz Night – Gym
27 November
28 November
29 November
Term 4 commences CBCOC Meeting
Philippines Pilgrims Return
2
3
4
5
Remembrance Day PATR Testing Week Biology – 9:00 am Course Counselling (Year 11) Evening with the Elite – Year 7
18 November
6 7 8 9 HOLIDAYS
HOLIDAYS
FRIDAY
THURSDAY 10 October
14 October
8 October
WEDNESDAY 9 October
HOLIDAYS Rowing Camp - Murray Bridge (4 October – 7 October)
1
TUESDAY
Dates for Students & parents
Pre-School teacher visits Evening with the Elite – Year 7 Physics – 1:30 pm
Principal’s Tours (SC) Evening with the Elite – Year 7
11 October
12 October Water Sports Opening Season BBQ – 5.30pm (West Lakes)
18 October CBCOC Dinner – Public School Club (7.00pm) JC Assembly
Economics – 1:30 pm Stage 1 Exams JC/ MC Community Board Meeting
Speech Night New Reception Transition (am) Legal Studies – 1:30 pm Stage 1 Exams
25 November
26 November
Studio Ensemble – Leigh Creek
New Reception Transition (am) Transition Day – R – Year 9 and New Students to School Studio Ensemble – Leigh Creek
Year 6 Graduation 6pm Year 10 Exams Studio Ensemble – Leigh Creek
2 December
3 December
4 December
Year 1-12 Parent Transition Information Evening 6.00 – 7.00 pm (JC) 7.10 – 8.30pm (SC)
P&F Dinner House Excursion Day
WSA Meeting
Year 12 Graduation – Convention Centre Community of our Brothers pilgrimage return Big Day Out (R-6) – 9.30 - 1.30pm JC Picnic Day
9 December
10 December
11 December
12 December
17 December
18 December
19 December
25 October
Year 10 Exams Year 10 Finish Year 12 2014 Transition Studio Ensemble – Leigh Creek
JC Christmas Concert in the Park 7pm Year 12 2014 Transition Day BBQ Tea at 5.30pm JC Assembly
5 December
6 December P&F BBQ Breakfast Reports sent home Term 4 Concludes 12:30 pm
13 December
CBCOC Meeting Board Dinner
16 December
20 December Office Closes
23 December
24 December – Christmas Eve
25 December – Christmas Day
26 December – Boxing Day
27 December