Chaplain Heather welcomes you

Lunch-time Chaplaincy Groups 2011

OMSAI Rhythm

DJEMBE Drumming

Express Yourself Art Group

Mrs Buckle and Mrs Krumm - Volunteered their time
and talent to our Art Groups this year.

The BOAB Tree of Hope Project

Special Award Winners of our Art Group Self Portrait Exhibition

AUSLAN Signing Group

Students from K-Year 6 practising for Carols Evening Performance - I Can Sing A Rainbow

Ex3

This newly introduced program focuses on our unique personalities. Week 1 was fun as we completed a Personality Questionnaire during our Explore session. Week 2, we focussed on the 2^nd of our E- sessions Experiment. And during week 3 together, we brought it all together for our final E-session on Exercise !!

Sibongile Day & Night Care Centre/School

South Africa comes to our school

During week 10 of term 3, we welcomed my dear friend Nomasango to our school.
Nomasango is the founder and Director of the Sibongile Day & Night Care Centre in Khayletisha, which cares for 31 children with cerebral palsy.

In 2005, at only 15 years of age, Nomasango's daughter passed away. Her legacy is the Sibongile Centre and now newly opened community School.

The Sibongile Centre began with only a bucket full of courage, heart full of love and a Shipping Container.

Now, 11 years on..... http://www.sibongile.org/

OMSAI Rhythm

What do you think is possible when you bring a group of young boys together, give them an african DJEMBE or a bongo, a little instruction and heaps of encouragement.....

I am blown away each week as I see, and hear, the progress and potential of the group led by a gifted artist who shares heaps of enthusiam and energy with the boys.

Drumming is a spectacular way to manage emotions and spend emotional energy in a positive way. Rhythm drumming can help with challenges we face such as self-confidence, managing our frustrations and anger, or chanelling our worry & anxiety.

Special thanks to Drummer and Group Mentor, Rory Bratby.

"Drumming makes me feel GREAT" Jam Master Finn
"Drumming makes me feel EXCITED" Jam Master Lachlan
"Drumming makes me feel COOL" Jam Master Ethan
"Drumming makes me feel REALLY HAPPY" Jam Master Jack
"Drumming makes me feel AWESOME" Jam Master Callum
"Drumming makes me feel REFRESHED" Jam Master Thomas
"Drumming makes me feel GREAT" Jam Master Jeremy
"Drumming makes me feel HAPPY & CREATIVE" Jam Master Montoyah
"Drumming makes me feel HAPPY" Jam Master Jake

The Amazement Excursion 2011

"I always look forward to this day of the year as 15 students from K-Year 6, 2 generous parents and one supportive staff member of school accompany me on an adventure to wander and explore mazes, cuddle baby bunnies, tackle adventure trails, pet and feed farm animals.....

It is amazing to see sad, tough and scared little hearts melt as a newborn baby bunny squirms in their hands, or a pony patiently stands and lets their mane be combed, a lamb fed, a baby goat cuddled etc..... The sense of achievement as a ropes course or maze is conquered....

Amazement is a day where kids come as they and leave have experienced something that they may never have before both outside and in.

Our Amazement day is about moments that become life-long and treasured memories. To see a child who rarely smiles, beam. To see the most timid of child try something new as they are encouraged along step by step...

And every year is that little bit unique.

A special thankyou to Lynne and Raewyn for supporting this excursion from the office.

Thankyou to Mrs Dixon Ross, Mrs May, Mr Parker and especially our host, the gorgeous and very talented story-teller, Gennie, whose hospitality is generous and warmth oozes out of her. "

The Amazement experience intends to help build:

Trust Self-Confidence
Interacting with others
Self Esteem

The Amazement experience intends to help us practice:
Being Kind
Being Respectful
Sharing
Learning from mistakes
Looking after others

The Amazement experience can help us find our:
Curiosity and Sense of Fun

Click here to experience Amazement

Click here to ask a question about the Amazement Excursion

OMSAI - Take II

Worries, Stress, Anxiety

WORRY- Source: Wonderful-Ways-to-Help-Kids-Who-Worry

Adults and kids alike have episodes of anxiety. We worry about the people we love, about our safety and about our future. Sometimes in an effort to push back our own nervousness on these points, we dismiss our children's worries with blanket statements like "Don't worry about that" or
"It will be fine." If this answer doesn't work for you personally when you are worried, chances are it's not working for your kids either. Have the courage to take your kids seriously and to teach them the skills they need to address worry productively their whole lives through. Here are six activities that have helped my kids (and me!) deal with worry:

Make a Worry Box
Make a Worry List
Make a Worry Ritual
Make a Change
Make Time
Make Friends with a Worry Specialist

Click here to read more on each of the above helpful idea's...
http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/2029/6-Wonderful-Ways-to-Help-Kids-Who-Worry/

STRESS

Stress can affect anyone who feels overwhelmed — even kids. In preschoolers, separation from parents can cause anxiety. As kids get older, academic and social pressures (especially the quest to fit in) create stress.

Many kids are too busy to have time to play creatively or relax after school. Kids who complain about the number of activities they're involved in or refuse to go to them may be signaling that they're overscheduled....

For more about Childhood Stress, read on here....

http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/feelings/kids_stress.html

WORRY

If you have a child who struggles with anxiety, it is very important that they are helped to control their feelings.

Book Review: When My Worries Get Too Big (Available at Amazon.com)
For more information, you might like to visit www.asperger.net

Writes the author:
When My Worries Get Too Big! is based on cognitive behavioural management, which is an approach to behaviour management that focuses on teaching children to recognise their own feels of anxiety and then teaches strategies to help them control those feelings.

'When My Worries Get Too Big' is written by Kari Dunn Buron.
This beautifully colourful and creative workbook is one that I look forward to using here in the school. If you would like to have a look at this resource, please let me know.

Ladies - Coffee Catch-up at Felix, Wyoming

If you often or sometimes wish you had somewhere to go or someone to chat too, then perhaps consider this:

Every Tuesday at 11.30am, a group of people meet for a cuppa and a chat at the Felix Cafe in the Wyoming Shopping Centre. The group is relaxed and fluid, welcoming people when they can come and remembering them with good vibes and wishes if they can't.

If you would like to consider this, why not go along and see what you think. If you need a lift or someone to accompany you, please let me know.

This group is in the care of Mrs Norah Marland, a gentle and caring lady, who is also one of our regional SRE (Scripture) Coordinator's.

A favorite thought...

The most beautiful things in the world are not seen nor touched. They are felt with the heart.

-- Helen Keller

Homework Club is back... Tuesday lunch-times in the Library for Stage 2 & 3 students

1. What is Homework Club?

A supervised space for students to attend to their home-work in a quiet, supportive and helpful setting with other students.

2. Who is Homework Club for?

Students from Stage 2 and 3 who are struggling with space, time, incentive and the like to do their home-work ‘at home’.

3. How are students selected?

Teachers are asked to refer relevant students to the program.

4. When is Homework Club run?

Stage 2 students - Tuesday : First half lunch in the Library and Stage 3 students - Thursday - First & second half lunch in 5/6A's classroom

5. Where is Homework Club run?

In the library

6. Who facilitates/supervises Homework Club?

Chaplain Heather
I am pleased to welcome parent, Kylie Armour to our Stage 2 Homework Club

T O P S

What is T.O.P.S
For half a lunch-time each week, a selected group of our younger boys and myself get together for some facilitated fun. We each wear a hat. Some weeks we have played skittles, another week bowling in the hall, and many other games and activities. We have watched and tried to master juggling sticks. And we have planted and nurtured a vegie garden.

And all the while, what we are doing is learning how to:

Positively and pleasantly interact with others
Find our courage
Build Friendships

The goals of the T O P S program include:

Being Assertive not Aggressive
Finding our Personal Space
Respecting the Personal Space of others
Making Friends and Keeping Playmates
Understanding and practicing limits
Co-operating with others

It is hoped that with a new volunteer parent/grandparent facilitator, T O P S will be back in Term 2. Watch this space.

Family BBQ & Bushdance Fundraiser

Thankyou to everyone who supported this community event and contributed to the chaplaincy program in our school.

Special Thanks

To Ross and all the staff of LPS
Parents who helped out with BBQ
Rossini's Italian Restaurant - Lisarow Plaza
Alan's Meats - Lisarow Plaza
The Erina Surf Shop - Lisarow Plaza
The Florist Shop - Ourimbah
Sign-a-Rama
The Lantana Bros Bushband
Gareth & Nix
The Hardy Family for the gas heaters
The Corkill Family for the gas
Nicole for the chiminea
My hubby Craig for all his support and hands on work
Craig Pinel & Jon Gould for PA

Family Hardship

Part of the reality of life is hardship. That is not a negative statement. It is simply a statement of fact. Every day brings new challenges. Living with the expectation that life will be difficult makes hard times easier to deal with. When a family encounters hard times they will need to join together and face the challenge as a team. They will need to be sensitive to the needs of individual family members each of whom will face unique difficulties. Life is not easy, but having a support system makes life that much easier.

If you and your family need assistance and support, please be reassured that you can contact me (in confidence) for referral to local organisations, who can provide food, support and finance (without strings attached).

Despite, how it might feel, please let me reassure you that when you ask for help you are taking a road less travelled and one to be proud of as you put real needs of those you love before anything else.

And, as always, I am available if a conversation is of benefit to you.

About Chaplain Heather

My husband Craig and I have lived happily on the Central Coast for more than a dozen years. We have one beautiful daughter, Talisa.

My foundational community principles come from growing up with a large family in rural NSW.

My approach to most things seeks to strengthen and build into the lives of people around me. Those that know me value my discretion and insightfulness. A core value of mine is communication.

"I believe in the stories of people, particularly children."

To the school community, I bring training and experience in school, hospital and community chaplaincy, pastoral care, clinical counselling, workplace training, events management, community projects, short-term mission experience overseas, camps for children, young adults and families, catering and a love for good food and company. I am connected to a variety of networks, have a reputation for being able to introduce a wide range of resources to a situation and creatively bring about something from nothing.

I believe that sincerity is sustenance; a warm hug for the soul.

Chaplain's Activities

Your School Chaplain is funded by the National Chaplaincy Program.

The role of the chaplain is to champion individual and community well being by:

1. fostering stronger relationships between the school and local community

2. Providing an increased variety and accessibility of welfare support for students, staff and parents

3. Encouraging and assisting students to engage with other organisations and support systems where relevant

4. Investing in individual and community well-being through social skills and student welfare development programs

Questions about Chaplains and Chaplaincy

If you have any questions about the role of the chaplain in schools, the chaplaincy program, Special Religious Education (Scripture) or the like, please don't hesitate to contact me either by logging blog post, sending an email Question/Comment direct to my email or contacting me at the school for a time to chat.

Phone: 43 621048 (during school terms)

Email: heather.pinel1@det.nsw.edu.au

Office: Bailey Cottage, Lisarow Public School (Wednesday & Thursday). Please check in with reception first.

Blog Archive