Veritas Week 2, Term 1

From the Principal

Lord Jesus, I ask for Your help as I begin this new school year.

Allow me to experience Your presence in the many blessings You put before me.

Open my eyes to the new challenges and exci@ng opportuni@es that this new school year brings. Open my heart and mind to new friends and new teachers.

Amen

Dear Parents,

Welcome back to what I am sure will be an exciKng 2023! I am looking forward to geZng to know our fantasKc community and working with you to ensure that everyone at Infant Jesus School conKnues to flourish.

It was wonderful to see our students se\ling back into school a]er the holidays and welcoming our new staff and students to our community with enthusiasm and joy. They have embraced the rouKnes in their classrooms as they get to know their new teacher and their class group of friends. Our teachers have also made a great start to the year, and I have enjoyed walking though the classrooms and observing the interesKng and engaging learning experiences that have ensured that everyone has se\led in so beauKfully.

Volunteer Workshop

Back

We have already had a busy start to the year with a great turn out to our Parent InformaKon Night and our whole school Mass last week. Please take the Kme to read the class informaKon from the teachers and strengthen contact with the class teacher if any further informaKon is needed. We value the already strong partnership between home and school and look forward to conKnuing to work together to a\ain our aspiraKon of A LEADing Learning School.

Back to School Picnic

I am looking forward to meeKng more of our community at our Back to School Picnic tomorrow on the school oval. A]er the last few years of not being able to have our school picnic, we are excited to be able to celebrate together and welcome everyone back for the year. Thank you to our P&F execuKve who have been very busy over the last few weeks planning the picnic. They have organised some free kids acKviKes, food vans and will be selling so] drinks, juice boxes, lolly bags, chocolates, glow sKcks and bubble wands at the P&F stall. We look forward to seeing everyone there. It is advisable to bring cash as some of the vendors do not have card faciliKes.

Volunteers Workshop

Our volunteer workshop will be once again offered on Wednesday 15 February at 5pm, for parents who wish to volunteer in the classroom, school events or excursions. If you have already been a volunteer at school and have a\ended the workshop in the past, you do not need to a\end again. This workshop is open to all parents and guardians from Pre Kindy to Year 6. Please register your a\endance via the following linkh\ps://forms.office.com/r/kgTMKaNQ1y

Parent Handbook

Our Parent Handbook has been updated and contains valuable informaKon about our school procedures and expectaKons. We encourage all families to have a look through the digital version of our handbook which can be found here: h\p:// www.infantjesus.wa.edu.au/pdf/ parenKnformaKon_handbook.pdf

Welcome to our New Staff

A very warm welcome to our new Staff who have joined us in 2023. We welcome to our teaching team Deana Staltari (Year 2 White), Anita Lombardi

(Year 3 Blue), Sarah Kelly (Year 6 Blue) and Chelsea Meborn-Hubbard (Year 6 White). Our new EducaKon Assistants are Mikayla Fusha (Kindergarten Blue) and Francesca Avila (Kindergarten White & Pre-Kindy). A warm welcome also to Jennifer Le Coultre (Library). Finally, a big welcome to Lina Jeon who is joining our school as our new Finance Officer on Monday.

Code of Conduct

A reminder that every member of the Infant Jesus School community must behave in the manner described in our Code of Conduct.

Our Code is like the 40km/h speed limit outside our school in the mornings and a]ernoons. It defines behaviours that keep our students safe: at school, and elsewhere. Children and young people surrounded by adult and peer behaviours described in the Code are more likely to recognise and choose healthy relaKonships for themselves. We each keep our students safe by following our Code of Conduct, and encouraging and reminding each other to do so.

For Staff, our Code of Conduct is a lawful direcKon and forms part of the employment agreement.For parents, compliance is a condiKon of your entry to school premises.

A copy of the Infant Jesus School Code of Conduct is found here; h\ps://www.infantjesus.wa.edu.au/ pdf/2022%20Code%20of%20Conduct.pdf

Student Code of Conduct

Included in the Safe School Framework secKon of each Newsle\er is informaKon regarding the CEWA Child Safe Framework and the Code of Conduct. There are twelve Conduct Statements with examples for Staff, Parents, Students, Volunteers and Visitors. The purpose of the Code of Conduct is to describe the minimum standards of conduct in all behaviour and decision making to ensure the safety and well-being of students.

In following the CEWA Child Safe Framework recommendaKon and guidelines to support the safety and well-being of all students Infant Jesus School has also developed the Infant Jesus School Student Code of Conduct. All students are familiar with the aspects of the Student Code of Conduct

which focuses on Support, Safety, Respect, Inclusion and Confidence. Students, at their developmental level, are able to recognise how they are responsible for their acKons and words and how they can also support their peers to further enhance their well-being and awareness of safety in our school environment.

A copy of the Infant Jesus School Student Code of Conduct can be found here…

h\ps://www.infantjesus.wa.edu.au/pdf/

Student%20Code%20of%20Conduct%20PDF.pdf

Social Media & Parents of Infant Jesus School

In signing the Enrolment ApplicaKon for Infant Jesus School all parents/guardians have agreed to abide by the procedures and direcKons of the school and the Catholic EducaKon Commission of Western Australia. This includes living out the Catholic Ethos of the school and supporKng a Christ-centred approach to all we do within our Infant Jesus School community.

Within this signed agreement, Infant Jesus School expects parents/guardians to make responsible choices when using InformaKon and CommunicaKon Technologies at school. The guidelines outlined for Staff and Students equally apply to parents/guardians and the extended community. Parents need to be aware that using emails to communicate with staff will not receive an instant reply. In fact, response Kmes may vary. Urgent ma\ers must be directed by phone to the school office.

As parents we need to:

• Understand that correspondence during school Kme can only occur through the school office. Parents may not email children directly during school hours.

• Understand privacy laws pertaining to photography. At school or a school funcKon parents may take photographs of their children, but they may not take photographs of other children without the permission of the children’s parents. This permission needs to be in wriKng and presented to the school prior to the specific funcKon in quesKon.

• Understand that privacy laws do not allow parents to comment on, or post photos of people/ children of Infant Jesus School.

• Understand that privacy laws restrict parents in their reference to Infant Jesus School. All reference needs to uphold the Catholic Ethos of the School.

• Understand that any reference pertaining to Infant Jesus School may not be made on social network sites, email or other technology unless it is approved by the School and upholds the Ethos of the School and CEWA Inc.

• Understand that the digital footprint that is established the minute a person begins posKng items, messages or photographs on social network sites will be there forever.

• Understand that the use of ‘Class Facebook Pages’ are only to be used to share informaKon pertaining to the class and not used as a vehicle to discuss individual concerns or general conversaKon. It is important that as parents we look at sharing the ‘Good News’ about our school.

Have a lovely week,

Mel Allen Principal

Assistant Principal’s Corner

Parent Volunteer Workshop

At Infant Jesus School we recognise parents as the first educator in their child’s life. Studies have shown the impact parents who are involved in their child’s school life have on their studies.

A Volunteer Workshop will be held on Wednesday 15 February at 5:00pm in the school library for parents wishing to help in the classroom, a\end excursions with classes, or assist with school events

All parents who have not a\ended previously, need to a\end the volunteer workshop if they wish to support classrooms with special acKviKes.

Please RSVP via the following link: h\ps://forms.office.com/r/kgTMKaNQ1y

School Times

The school Kmes for 2023 are as follows:

8.30am Classes open (Pre-Primary to Year 6 children need to be at school)

8.40am School day begins

10.30am – 10.50am Recess

12.30pm – 1.10pm Lunch

3.00pm End of school day (Pre-Primary to Year 6)

It is important that parents are aware of the starKng Kme of 8.40am. Children are expected to be at school by this Kme ready for the day to commence. All lessons will commence at 8:40am. Classrooms will open at 8.30am each morning.

In the a]ernoon, teachers will supervise the departure of students at the school carpark unKl 3.20pm. Any child remaining at school a]er this Kme will be required to report to the school office and stay there unKl they are collected. Please note that the office closes at 4.00pm. Thank you for your co-operaKon in this ma\er.

Staff are unavailable for meeKngs on Tuesday a]ernoons due to a whole school Staff MeeKng and Wednesday morning as they a\end morning prayer.

Update Contact Details

Please ensure that family details are up to date. At Kmes, office staff need to contact parents or carers urgently; however, they are unable to as phone numbers listed have changed.

A`endance

Staying away from school is only acceptable for legiKmate illness and extreme family circumstances. As a school we are legally responsible to report via an electronic program, all absence, every day, including conKnual lateness to school. Please make sure you are compliant with this legislaKon and assist by contacKng the school by 9.00am on the day of absence. Please also send a note upon return even if you have contacted by phone from the school. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Visitor Sign In

Schools have a ‘duty of care’ to students, staff, parents and visitors on site. To fulfil our ‘duty of care’ to everyone on the school site, all visitors to the school are required to sign in at the front office. This includes parent helpers.

This procedure ensures that the school can account for all individuals in the event of an emergency and it assists us to increase our ability to protect any student, staff or parent on site. The iPad is situated in the front office.

Parking and Drive Through Areas

Parking, especially at the beginning of the year, is very much at premium. Please be paKent with the parking situaKon. It will ease as the term progresses and more parents use the drive through to pick up and drop off children. We also ask parents to be considerate of others to ensure that traffic flows smoothly. We need to be courteous to our neighbours and follow the No Standing street signs at all Kmes to avoid being issued with fines.

Drive Through

This is for parents who wish to drop off or pick up their child/ren without parking. Students will be supervised by a staff member to ensure they are collected safely by the child’s parents, or someone who has parental permission, at the end of the school day. Parents are reminded to be extra vigilant in their cars at this Kme as children depart the school grounds.

Drop Off and Pick Up

Parents are reminded of the Drop Off and Pick Up procedures for the school day. Following these procedures greatly assist with the safely of all the children.

• Parents may drive from Peter’s Place into the school ‘drive through’ and drop children off by the entrance to the Hall

• Parents then need to drive out into Smith Street

• Please note this is ‘One Way’ only. This is also ‘Staff Parking Only’ to ensure that there are no moving vehicles during drop off and pick up

• At the school ‘drive through’ there is NO pedestrian traffic

Parking

• Church Carpark – this is the general carpark for our parents

• The Parent Carpark is designated as the parking zone for Three Year Old Kindy, Kindergarten and Pre-Primary parents. The Parent Carpark is a ‘One Way’ area – parents drive in from Russell Street and out into Lovegrove Way. Permit passes have been given to these parents as they need to park their car to drop off and pick up their children from the classroom.

As this area only accommodates less than 40 parking spaces, Pre-Kindy, Kindergarten and PrePrimary parents should sdll park at the Church Carpark or at Peter’s Place.

Administradon Carpark

This Car Park cannot be used to drop children off in the morning or pick them up during the a]ernoon as it is very dangerous with cars pulling in and out at all Kmes. Parents may use this Car Park only for office business during the day between 9.30am and 2.00pm.

Supervision

It is very important that parents ensure that their children arrive at school no later than 8.30am so that they can unpack and get organised in order to start school promptly at 8.40am. morning supervision is from 8.00am and children are not encouraged to arrive at school before this Kme. Class teachers (except Kindergarten) will have their classes open for the children from 8.30am.

End of the School Day

It is very important that parents ensure that their children arrive at school no later than 8.30am so that they can unpack and get organised in order to start school promptly at 8.40am. morning supervision is from 8.00am and children are not encouraged to arrive at school before this Kme. Class teachers (except Kindergarten) will have their classes open for the children from 8.30am.

Medical Condidons

If your child has a medical condiKon, e.g. anaphylaxis or asthma, the required paperwork should have been completed and given to the School Office. Students in Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten and Pre-Primary will have medicaKons stored in the classroom; however, the School Office will sKll need to be noKfied of your child’s medical condiKon.

Soundwaves Spelling Program

This year we will be working in partnership to assist children in learning phonics/sounds during 2023.

Week 3

The sound ‘b’ is most frequently represented by the grapheme /b/ (e.g ball, table, web)

The grapheme /bb/ is seen in the middle of words, a]er short vowel sounds (e.g. rabbit, cabbage)

The grapheme /pb/ is an unusual way to represent (e.g. cupboard, raspberry)

Week 4

The sound ‘a’ is used at the start and in the middle of words, but never at the end of words (e.g. apple, black)

When the le\er ‘a’ is before the sound m, n or ng it sounds slightly different than when it is before other consonant phonemes. You can say pan and pat to hear the difference.

The sound ‘a’ is almost always represented by the grapheme ‘a’ with very few excepKons (e.g. salmon, plait, meringue)

A reminder – all students from Year 1 to Year 6 are able to log into Sound Waves with their class code. Class codes are available from classroom teachers.

Lunar New Year

On Monday lanterns were hung in the Piazza to recognise Lantern Day and the end of the Chinese New Year celebraKons that concluded on Sunday 5 February.

We are Called

St Thomas

Infant Jesus School was established by the Dominican Sisters in 1954.

St Thomas was born in a mountainside castle in southern Italy, not far from the great BenedicKne Abbey of Monte Cassino. His father was the count of Aquino and his mother, a noblewoman from France.

When he was five years old, Thomas was sent to Monte Cassino to study to become a monk. Thomas conKnued his studies in the university of Naples. While he was there, he started a\ending the Dominican church. The Dominicans sent Thomas to study in the best schools in France and Germany.

Thomas excelled in his studies and wrote many books. His last and greatest book was the Summa Theologica. In it Thomas tried to answer the quesKon, “What is God?” Thomas believed in sharing his knowledge. He once

said, “CommunicaKng one’s thoughts to others is greater than merely thinking.”

At Infant Jesus School we try to follow the example of St Thomas Aquinas in being faithful and using the gi]s that God has given us to learn, to always be hopeful and to share God’s wisdom and love.

God of Faith

We pray that we can be like St Tomas Aquinas. Grant us a mind to know you, a heart to seek you, Wisdom to find you, And hope of finally embracing you.

Amen.

We celebrated the Feast Day of St Thomas Aquinas with a facKon photo last week.

Lent

Lent commences on Ash Wednesday. On this day and for the season of Lent the colour purple is o]en used in banners and displays and there are less flowers in the Church. Ash Wednesday is unique in that it is the one Kme when we as ChrisKans have a visible mark of idenKty placed on our skin which we wear during the day. The ashes come from the palm branches used at last years’ Palm Sunday celebraKon. There is a similarity between BapKsm and Ash Wednesday in that the ashes are placed on our foreheads in the sign of a cross on Ash Wednesday while in BapKsm oil was placed on our foreheads with the sign of the cross.

On Wednesday 22 February parents are invited to join us to reflect on Ash Wednesday at a Whole School Mass in the School Hall commencing at 9.00am.

Lent is also a Kme when we have a special focus on those in need. As a school community we will support those in need through our prayers and also through pracKcal iniKaKves and Project Compassion. It highlights our local community in Australia and also some countries around the world including Nepal, Vietnam and Zimbabwe. Projects in these countries focus on how grateful we are and how our contribuKons can make a significant impact on their live and their communiKes.

The theme of Project Compassion 2023 is ‘For All Future GeneraKons’ and reminds us that the good we do today extends to impact the lives of generaKons to come. It invites us to make the world a be\er place by working together now and finding long-term soluKons to global issues. Families are encouraged to put your compassion into acKon this Lent through prayer, fasKng and almsgiving in support of Project Compassion. At the commencement of Lent each family will receive a Project Compassion box to keep at home for donaKons during Lent.

Pre-Primary

School is So Much Fun

The Pre-Primary children have had an amazing start to the school year. They are familiarising themselves with new rouKnes and expectaKons.

Over the next couple of weeks, the children will be exposed to new learning experiences such as Science, Health, Music, Technology, Chinese and Sport with specialist teachers. They will conKnue to build strong relaKonships with their peers and teachers.

We look forward to seeing the children develop in their new Pre-Primary environment.

Year Five

It’s a Hot Start in Year Five!

To start 2023 in HASS, the Year Fives have been invesKgaKng the causes of a Bushfire and the three elements of a fire triangle. Students creaKvely and demonstrated their learning through the use of the apps: Keynote and Sketches.

But wait that’s not all!

For Religious EducaKon, the clever students of Year Five have started their Church unit. They researched and discovered why every community needs a leader. Students were asked to choose a leader, describe their role and list their responsibiliKes and qualiKes.

Class News

Sport

FACTION SWIMMING TRIALS

In preparaKon for the 2023 FacKon Swimming Carnival, the students in Year 4-6 will be parKcipaKng in a ‘Swimming Trials Day’. These Kmes will be used to place children into their respecKve decisions.

Details of the trials are:

Venue: Bayswater Waves

Date: Monday, 20 February 2023

Time: Year 4- 9:00am-11:00am

Year 5- 11:00am-1:00pm

Year 6- 1:00pm-2:30pm

Bring: Students may bring a seperate bag with their towel, goggles and thongs.

The children will be travelling to and from Bayswater Waves by bus. All children are required to wear their full facKon sports uniform with their bather’s underneath. Children are permi\ed to wear thongs to and from the pool; however, will need their school sport shoes for the remainder of the day at school. Year 4 & 5 students will be able to get changed back at school (they may remain in their sports uniform). Year 6 students may go home in their bathers, but will require their sports shoes.

Swimming Ability Form

In order to allocate students to events, it is extremely important that you complete the Swimming Ability Form via the link. All forms must be in by Friday, 10 February. Please note you child will choose to swim EITHER novelty, 25m or 50m (if there is one stroke your child is stronger in please email me).

https://forms.office.com/r/fkwjMmE1bD

Mrs Lauren Jenkins Physical EducaKon Teacher

Child Safe School Framework

As a Catholic school within the Catholic EducaKon System of Western Australia we are commi\ed to be a child safe organisaKon. We believe our children and young people have the right to be safe, feel safe and to be able to flourish in their learning and development.

At Infant Jesus School, the safety and well-being of our students is a highest priority and is of utmost importance. We are commi\ed to child safety and ensuring that we have a child safe culture at our school. To do this, we apply the iniKaKve of the Catholic EducaKon Western Australia (CEWA) Child Safe Framework which comprises of nine elements that together help our students and children to be and feel safe. These elements are based on the latest research and recognised best pracKces. The nine elements combine to support a child safe culture founded on healthy and respec{ul relaKonships.

At Infant Jesus School, we are using the nine elements of the Framework to idenKfy what we believe ‘best pracKce’ is and will conKnue to look like at our school. Our aim is to ensure that we have and conKnue to develop posiKve relaKonships and a child safe environment in our school. The explicit development of this at our school was idenKfied in the school’s annual improvement plan.

The Child Safe Framework applies to all Catholic Schools and care centres in Western Australia, and also to the staff, parents, volunteers and school communiKes. The Framework sets out best pracKce to develop the knowledge, mindsets, and behaviours that enable and sustain a child safe culture and wellbeing for all students in Catholic EducaKon WA.

The nine elements of the Child Safe Framework are:

• Support and Healing

• The Voice of the Child

• Culture

• Governance and Leadership

• Policies and Procedures

• Human Resource PracKces

• InvesKgaKng and ReporKng

• Risk Management

• Quality Assurance

All staff at Infant Jesus School have been trained in Mandatory ReporKng and have Police Clearances and Working with Children accreditaKon. Mandatory ReporKng training is updated on a biennial cycle, and Working With Children clearance needs to be updated every three years.

InformaKon Technology

Safer Internet Day

This week, Safer Internet Day was held on Tuesday the 7th of February 2023. It is a global event that brings together communiKes, families, schools and organisaKons from more than 200 countries to help create safer online spaces. This worldwide iniKaKve is celebraKng 20 years in 2023, making it a great Kme to reflect as well as look forward. Technology has evolved dramaKcally in the past two decades and the benefits have been huge. These developments have also exposed us to many risks with real-world impacts, making online safety awareness even more important.

This year, the Safer Internet Day reminded everyone to Connect. Reflect. Protect.

Connect safely and with purpose – by keeping apps and devices secure and using social media in posiKve ways.

Reflect before we act – by taking a moment to consider how what we do and say online may affect others. Protect ourselves and others by taking acKon – by telling family, friends or colleagues about eSafety and how we can help.

By doing these simple things, we all can work towards making every day a Safer Internet Day.

In Technologies, the students have been learning about our school’s ICT ExpectaKons. We have also been learning about how to stay safe in the Online World. The children have parKcipated in various acKviKes to support learning about cyber safety and what to do in a variety of scenarios. We also learnt an eSa]ey Rapcheck it out! h\ps://youtu.be/tChsnPlO1XA

P&F and Community News

P&F News

The P&F would like to welcome all our families back to school for the start of another busy and exciKng year ahead. We especially welcome all our new families with children beginning their schooling journey in PK and Kindy this year.

We hope to host many exciKng and fun events throughout the year, so keep reading your Veritas each fortnight to stay up to date. Parents are always welcome to a\end our P&F meeKngs held during the school terms. Keep an eye out for meeKng dates soon to be updated in the school calendar. Feedback and new ideas are always welcomed via email at president.pafc@gmail.com

Thank You to the parent class reps who have already nominated themselves to their class teacher. We look forward to working with you this year, and will be in touch soon

Thank you to those parents and families who supported our Wise Wine fundraising campaign during term 4 last year. From your orders, Wise Wines have donated over $550 to our P&F.

Thank you to those parents and families who purchased raffle <ckets at our IJ Christmas Concert in December last year. We hope the lucky winners have enjoyed their prizes over the Christmas break. Over $450 was raised on the night from your Ccket sales! "

Infant Jesus Netball Club Winter Compeddon

It’s nearly Kme to enroll for the Infant Jesus Netball Club Winter CompeKKon!

Please email - infantjesusnetball@gmail.com for more informaKon if your child is interested in playing netball. We are also needing coaching volunteers.

Thank you Infant Jesus Netball Club. 0404 108 015

Keyed Up Music

Keyed Up Music will be teaching guitar, keyboard, violin, woodwind, voice, and drum lessons in Term 3 during and a]er school. Lessons start from $19.80 for a small group or from $24.75 for individual. If you are interested in your son / daughter learning and of these instruments or to sing, please call Savanna on 0479 171 424 or enrol at www.keyedupmusic.com.au/enrolmentform