Dear Parents, Caregivers and Friends
Welcome back to a new term.
The staff are excited about the new learning this term and the children have settled well.
In the holidays I read this thought-provoking story:
Two stonecutters … are asked what they are doing. One responds: ‘I am cutting this stone in a perfectly square shape.’ The other responds: ‘I am building a cathedral.’ Both answers are correct and meaningful, but they reflect different relations to the world. The difference between these answers does not imply that one is a better stonecutter than the other, as far as holding the chisel is concerned. At the level of engagement, they may well be doing exactly the same thing. But it does suggest that their experiences of what they are doing and their sense of self in doing it are rather different. This difference is a function of imagination.” (Communities of Practice: Learning, Meaning, and Identity, p. 176)
As parents and as teachers, the way we think about ourselves, our purpose and our children significantly affects our enjoyment and the impact on our children.
If we think of parenting or teaching as 'something to get through or survive' or 'something that will happen well without us being intentional', our families/children's learning will often disappoint us. Like the first stonecutter, who was just cutting a square block, our vision is limited and our capacity for joy and love diminished.
However, if, like the second stonecutter, we have a vision for what we want to see after ten years or twenty years, the kind of child/family/learner could be radically different.
If we see our families and our school as a 'cathedral' - a place and community in which God's Spirit resides and which can be a blessing to the wider community - we can consider our perspectives, actions, habits or traditions, responses etc to help create something beautiful and powerful in the longer term. We can plan more intentionally.
As an example I will share just some of the thoughts from our own family. I don't offer all these as rules or even recommendations, but rather as examples of how thinking about the 'big picture' makes a difference to the small decisions of every day life.
We wanted
-children who were solid in themselves.
And so we
-consciously encouraged as many positive character qualities and strengths as we could and tried hard to acknowledge any effort for growth.
We wanted
-children who learnt to care for each other and to get on well.
And so we
-didn't allow fighting but mentored skills for handling disagreements.
-didn't allow the children their own rooms until they had learned to share and appreciate each other in shared rooms.
-on birthdays and other times, went around the table asking each child to say the things they appreciated about their sibling.
We wanted
-children who understood and cared for a wide range of people.
And so we
-encouraged the children from the drug-smoking neighbouring family who were familiar with the police to come and play at our place often (they ended up joining in with our family bible times and became part of our extended family) and valuing the relationships and the discussions that resulted; attending the drunken party at our other neighbours.
-visiting the Otara markets and driving in South Auckland so we knew how differently people live in our own city.
-inviting people from different cultures/countries to dinner to and play and expecting our children to each ask them at least one question about their life or culture or memories of childhood etc
-talking about how 'our job is to make the world a better place' and encouraging them to think about how they might do this at school/with their friends/with those who don't have friends and praying with them to this end.
Sometimes being a parent is exasperating and overwhelming. If we just think we are shaping a square stone and the stone does not want to be shaped at the moment, it is hard work.
But, when last week we had our inaugural 'flatmates meeting' (of our family who are now all teenagers and in their 20s and come and go like flatmates) and they shared honestly with the family about their own struggles, prayed for and encouraged each other and planned the next Pearson Kids holiday together, and when I heard their heart for others in their worlds, I was humbled by the cathedral I was a part of.
The foundation has been laid and that cathedral is way bigger than me and Dean. God is at work in our family and through our family and, through our imperfections and struggles, we support each other as equal parts of that cathedral.
The foundation has been laid and that cathedral is way bigger than me and Dean. God is at work in our family and through our family and, through our imperfections and struggles, we support each other as equal parts of that cathedral.
Be encouraged. When my kids were at your kids' stage, Dean and I had a vision, but the drudgery and dust of chiseling the stones sometimes choked us and discouraged us, and it was hard to imagine that our 'pipe dream' could become a reality.
So, this week, have a think and pray about what you would like in your family in ten years' time, and consider the little things that could build towards it.
Building a cathedral with you,
Helen
School News
Thank You
A huge thank you to all those people who stayed for our working bee on the last day of Term 2.
Thank you to Moana, Elizabeth and Siu for a couple of years of serving us by cleaning the school. May you enjoy the next phase without this task.
Assembly
This Friday Rooms 3 and 4 will be taking assembly from 9.10am – 10.30am. Parents, caregivers and friends are all welcome to attend.
Parent Teacher Interviews
Parent Teacher Interviews are on this Wednesday 22nd July from 1.30 – 6.00pm. Time slots have been sent home with your children last time if you had requested a meeting.
School closes at 1.30pm on Wednesday, and there will be no school bus.
Teacher only day
Our teacher only day has had to be changed to suit our visiting tutors. It is now on Monday 10th August.
Hockey
The hockey draw this week is:
MCS Rockets vs Leigh – 8.30am, Field 2
SB Snapdragons vs KF Sticks – 11.00am Field 3 /4
SB Strikers vs KF Black Sticks – 10.10am Field 1 /2
Parent Group
MINUTE TO WIN IT
Saturday 8 August - 6.45pm
Tickets are available for purchase from the school office
$15 for a team (3-5 peeps)
Mystery Balloons to purchase
Heaps of family fun
Must be registered before the night!!
Saturday 8 August - 6.45pm
Tickets are available for purchase from the school office
$15 for a team (3-5 peeps)
Mystery Balloons to purchase
Heaps of family fun
Must be registered before the night!!
The Parent Group is still wanting to collect the following items:
· 1.5 litre soft drink bottles
· Can with the tabs still attached
· Breakfast cereal boxes
Wanted
We are in need of some older people or mums to listen to children reading on a rostered basis. Can you, or someone you know help once or twice a week for 30 minutes to half an hour? Please contact Helen.
If you have any spare lanyards you at home (e.g. from conference name tags), please can you give them to Vanessa or Mary for classroom use
Lynn Williams Parent Group
The next meeting on Wednesday 29th July has been cancelled. Lynn will be in touch with a new time.
Community Notices
Fun Sticks
Learn to play Hockey the fun way for Years 0 – 2.
Every Saturday from the 25th July to the 29th September from 8.30am – 9.15am at the new Warkworth Hockey Turf.
Special joining fee of $20 for term 3. For further information place contact Lisa Birrell (ljbirrell1@gmail.com) (09) 425 9719 or 021 425 099.
Middle Years Toolbox Parenting Group
A toolbox parenting group will be run at Mahurangi Vineyard Church – 21 Hamatana Road, Snells Beach. The course starts on Monday 10th August at 10am and runs for 6 weeks. Please contact Diane McKinstry for further details on 021 292 4105 or aucklandnorth@theparentingplace.com
Coaching Children for Life - An authoritative parenting course for children of all ages
(Formerly ‘Parents that Rock’) - Brian Shires
Dates: Tuesday 28th July 6 weeks
Time: 9.30am – 12pm.
Venue: Homebuilders 5 Hexham St Warkworth
Does parenting sometimes seem like unnecessary hard work, are you searching for answers on how to change behaviour, or do you just want to ensure you are on the right track?
Topics include: Building a relationships that encourages compliance, rule setting, temperament types, parenting styles, ages and stages, communication, basics of behaviour and safe effective discipline techniques.
Regardless if you are just entering parenting or are well into it, this course offers something for everyone.
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