LIVE SO THAT WHEN YOUR CHILDREN THINK OF FAIRNESS, CARING AND INTEGRITY, THEY THINK OF YOU. H. Jackson Brown, Jr. A NEW YUMMY RECIPIE THAT YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN CAN ENJOY! WHAT AGE SHOULD CHILDREN START PRIMARY EDUCATION More information on the final page Saint Joseph s After School and Vacation Care Sea Week ---------------------------------3-11 th Father s Day -----------------------------4 th Child Protection Week ----------------4-10 th International Literacy Day -----------8 th Sustainable House Day ---------------11 th Talk like a Pirate Day ----------------- 19 th World Maritime Day ------------------22 nd World Rivers Day ----------------------25 th Holidays September/ October Vacation Care nearly here! We have organized many fun activities for the next holidays Many favourites are included: cooking, art and craft, movies and rock climbing. We organized an age appropriate Rock climbing excursion with over nines attending on Monday 26 th September and under nines attending on Wednesday 28 th September. There are limited spaces as we have organized a small bus for this excursion so please book early so as not to be disappointed. A fun Olympics will see children competing in many different events but the emphasis will be on having fun not winning: children could come last and win the gold medal, or they may get the gold medal for having the most amount of fun. Our holiday program is attached.
SEA WEEK 3 RD - 11 TH Between 1988 and 2014 Sea Week was the Marine Education Society of Australasia's (MESA) major national public awareness campaign. It was conducted annually (usually in March) to focus on community awareness, provide information and encourage an appreciation of the sea. CHILD PROTECTION WEEK 4 TH - 10 TH This year NAPCAN encourages you to build on Protecting Children is Everyone s Business: Play Your Part by focusing on the theme Stronger Communities, Safer Children. This theme emphasises the importance and value of connected communities in keeping children and young people safe and well. Communities in which children are seen and heard, where their participation is valued and where their families can get the support they need are stronger communities, which contribute to keeping children safe and well. Find out more here: http://napcan.org.au/ncpw/ Book Reviews Dads feature in some wonderful illustrated children s books and seeing it is father s day on the 4 th of September we thought we would review a few of the best. My Dad Thinks He's Funny Katrina Germein Pumpkin and Chocolate Brownie PREP 10min COOK 20-25min SERVE 12-15 Ingredients 115g dark chocolate, chopped 1/3 cup ground hazelnuts 8 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil 1/3 cup quinoa flour 3/4 cup pumpkin puree 1 cup unrefined raw sugar 1 tsp. ground cinnamon 1 tsp. ground nutmeg 2/3 cup fine brown rice flour 1/3 cup hazelnuts, chopped 1 tsp. gluten-free baking powder 1/4 tsp. fine sea salt 3 large free-range eggs, lightly whisked 1 tsp. vanilla extract Method 1. Preheat oven to 180ºC. Grease a 28 x 18cm slice tin and line with baking paper, extending up and over the sides by 2cm. 2. Place chocolate in a heatproof bowl along with 5 tsp. of the olive oil, and set over a saucepan of boiling water, making sure the water doesn t touch the base of the bowl. 3. Stir until chocolate has melted, then remove from heat and set aside to cool slightly. In another bowl combine pumpkin purée, remaining olive oil, cinnamon and nutmeg. 4. Sift flours, ground hazelnuts, baking powder and salt into a bowl, tipping any hazelnut meal that won t go through your sieve back into the bowl. 5. Add sugar, eggs and vanilla and whisk to form a smooth batter. Evenly divide batter between the chocolate and pumpkin bowls and mix each bowl to combine. 6. Dollop big spoonful s of each batter randomly into the prepared tin then use a knife to swirl them together. Scatter over chopped hazelnuts and bake for 20 25 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean. 6. Remove from oven and set aside to cool in tin. This brownie will store, airtight, for 3 4 days, or longer in the fridge. childmagsblog.com/2016/06/29/pumpkin-chocolate-brownie/ My dad doesn t like babysitting. He says no one should sit on babies. My dad doesn t eat seafood. He says there s something fishy about it. My dad doesn t lie in bed. He says you should always tell the truth. My dad thinks he s funny My dad says, 'I've told you fifty million times, don t exaggerate.' Dad is back by popular demand with more hilarious material. And yes, My dad STILL thinks he s funny. Tyrannosaurus Dad Liz Rosenberg Tobias's father is a lot like other fathers he likes corny jokes, and doing magic tricks, and works really hard at the office. But there the resemblance ends. He has teeth as sharp as steak knives, is forty feet high, and weighs as much as a locomotive. He is, in fact, a tyrannosaurus. Daddy's Cheeky Monkey Andrew Daddo Someone's pretending to be asleep, but Daddy's cheeky monkey is awake - and soon the whole house will be a zoo! From the team who brought you Goodnight, Me comes a gorgeous board book about the cheeky names daddies give to their little ones
Focus Article: R U OK Day The second Thursday of September is RUOK? Day. It can be a really tricky question to ask, but it's an important conversation to have and shouldn t be limited to one day a year. Got a niggling feeling that someone you know or care about it isn t behaving as they normally would? Perhaps they seem out of sorts? Or they re just not themselves. Trust that gut instinct and act on it. By starting a conversation and commenting on the changes you ve noticed, you could help that family member, friend or workmate open up. And if all is well, that person will know you re someone who cares enough to ask. Before you can look out for others, you need to look out for yourself. And that s ok. To help you decide whether you re ready to start a meaningful conversation, ask yourself: Am I ready? Am I in a good headspace? Am I willing to genuinely listen? Can I give as much time as needed? Am I prepared? Do I understand that if I ask how someone s going, the answer could be: No, I m not? Do I understand that you can t fix someone s problems? Do I accept that they might not be ready to talk? Or they might not want to talk to me? Picked my moment? Have I chosen somewhere relatively private and comfy? Have I figured out a time that will be good for them to chat? Have I made sure I have enough time to chat properly? Ask R U OK? Be relaxed, friendly and concerned in your approach. Help them open up by asking questions like "How are you going?" or "What s been happening?" Mention specific things that have made you concerned for them, like "You seem less chatty than usual. How are you going?" Push back If they don t want to talk, don t criticise them. Tell them you re still concerned about changes in their behaviour and you care about them. Avoid a confrontation. You could say: Please call me if you ever want to chat or Is there someone else you d rather talk to? Listen without judgment Take what they say seriously and don't interrupt or rush the conversation. Don t judge their experiences or reactions but acknowledge that things seem tough for them. If they need time to think, sit patiently with the silence. Encourage them to explain: "How are you feeling about that?" or "How long have you felt that way?" Show that you've listened by repeating back what you ve heard (in your own words) and ask if you have understood them properly. Encourage action Ask: What have you done in the past to manage similar situations? Ask: How would you like me to support you?" Ask: What s something you can do for yourself right now? Something that s enjoyable or relaxing? You could say: "When I was going through a difficult time, I tried this... You might find it useful too." If they've been feeling really down for more than 2 weeks, encourage them to see a health professional. You could say, "It might be useful to link in with someone who can support you. I'm happy to assist you to find the right person to talk to. Be positive about the role of professionals in getting through tough times. Check in Pop a reminder in your diary to call them in a couple of weeks. If they're really struggling, follow up with them sooner. You could say: "I've been thinking of you and wanted to know how you've been going since we last chatted." Ask if they've found a better way to manage the situation. If they haven't done anything, don't judge them. They might just need someone to listen to them for the moment. Stay in touch and be there for them. Genuine care and concern can make a real difference. Source: https://www.ruok.org.au/ask-a-mate
Health and Safety: The positive effects of laughing and smiling The ability to laugh and smile is an innate human experience. Many children start to play with their smiles within their first six weeks of life sometimes all day long, but especially when they're well fed, happy and encouraged by those around them. Smiling is a child's first language that evolves into laughter between four and 10 weeks of age. Children laugh instinctively to indulge in fun and play, and to radiate and receive love. German psychologist and pioneer of humour therapy Dr. Michael Titze points out that studies have found that children can laugh up to 300-400 times a day, but by the time they're adults it reduces to less than 15 times a day, if at all. Laughter is a powerful tool to accentuate positivity, create happiness and infuse optimism to bring about hope and propensity for life and living. Encouraging your child to enjoy the gift of laughter is fun; parents need to laugh themselves and establish a connection between body and mind. When a child grows up with happiness, cheerfulness and lots of laughter, that child is happy. Their smiles and laughter, once established, stay with them throughout adolescence, adulthood and old age. Indian physician and founder of the Laughter Yoga Clubs movement Dr. Madan Kataria says, "Laughter influences more than just our mental framework; it has positive physical benefits as well". The Benefits Of Laughter Laughter strengthens the immune system. Psychoneuroimmunologists have proved negative emotions weaken the immune system, while positive emotions make it stronger. According to Dr. Lee Berk from Loma Linda University in California, laughter helps to increase the count of natural-killer cells and raises the antibody levels in the body. Bouts of laughter reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol and trigger the flow of endorphins from the brain, which relaxes the whole body and increases a sense of wellbeing. Laughter is an antidote to anxiety, anger, irritation and depression, and induces good sleep. A good belly laugh or internal jogging boosts vital organs by enriching the circulatory system with oxygen, helping filter the lymphatic system and strengthen the muscles and organs of the respiratory system. Laughter is an effective form of aerobic exercise. Dr William Fry of Stanford University in California claims laughter is a whole-body experience; one minute of laughter is equal to 10 minutes on a rowing machine. Life is full of surprises and parenting can be challenging. Laughter is a free, therapeutic tool that can help you create a happy and positive family environment. Source: www.childmags.com.au, writes Mahes Karuppiah-Quillen. 5 steps to a more sustainable home Forget spring-cleaning, this season, do some sustainable cleaning. A few minor projects can make your home more sustainable and save you a lot of money in the long run. 1. Lighting accounts for 12% of your energy bill. Swap your light bulbs to energy efficient bulbs and greatly reduce that bill. 2. Plant a garden of any size and kind to reduce your homes carbon footprint. 3. Take shorter showers and save money and water. Ideal shower length is 5 minutes. 4. Use non-toxic cleaners and protect our water supply. Non-toxic cleaners are available readily in supermarkets or make your own. 5. Make wise consumer choices, e.g. reusable batteries, purchase products containing recycled materials, install energy saving appliances. Hide and go seek? - Materials: Marker, paper or card. Activity: Write your child s name, sight words they are learning, this weeks focus letter, your family name (it can be anything relevant to your child) on separate pieces of paper or card (the inside of a cereal box works perfectly). Hide these cards around your backyard. Now it is time to go seek. There are a couple of ways you can vary this part of the activity. Say the word, name or letter one at a time that your child must find or Send your child to find hidden cards, stating what is written on them when they are found.
WHAT AGE SHOULD CHILDREN START PRIMARY EDUCATION? When is my child ready for school? This question is asked universally and there is no definitive answer. There is much debate about when the transition between play-based pre-school and the start of formal schooling should begin. Most countries provide an age range in which children can start and must start formal education. In 2013 a long-running debate on this question was reignited calling for an extension of informal, play-based preschool provision and for the start of formal schooling in England to be delayed until the age of 7, from the current effective start at age 4. This would bring it in line with the overwhelming evidence showing that starting school later is best, and the practice in many countries, such as Sweden and Finland. These countries have better academic achievement and child wellbeing, despite children not starting school until age 7. Official entrance age to primary education (years) Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics REMEMBER: Opening hours: 3.10pm till 5.45pm After School 8am- 5.45pm - Vacation Care If you are going to be late please call or you may be charged a late fee. Absences: You will be charged for all absences unless you have given us 24hours notice this includes after school and vacation care. Care Deposit: A one off $50 care deposit for each child is required before care commences. This will be refunded or taken off fees owing when you do not require further care. Attendance: Please book your children in early for care as we have child: educator ratios which must be adhered to. You may be disappointed if we don t have the required amount of educators. Mosquito Repellent: We have made our own repellent if you or your child would like to use it. It has lemon, citronella and eucalyptus oils in water. Please feel free to use it if you would like. In Australia children can be enrolled in primary school as young as 4 and must begin by the age of 6. How does Australia compare to the rest of the world? The diagram above shows the average entrance age of children in each country with the mean being 6. Many Australian schools offer early transition programs in which children are given the opportunity to familiarize themselves with primary School life. These programs can help you and expert teachers determine the readiness of your child. How can we make our newsletter even better? What information would you like us to include? Saint Joseph s After School and Vacation Care Email: kmpp-ooshvc@lism.catholic.edu.au Phone number: 0407 406 433