ONECHILD ONEHOUR ONECHURCH ONESCHOOL

Thursday morning is “bin day” in our neighbourhood, and last week many thoughts crossed my mind as I heard the familiar rumble and clatter of the garbage truck trundling up our street to take away our rubbish and recyclables.

As I watched the truck squeal to a stop in front of my house, and as the two mechanical arms reached out to tip in all that we as a family have discarded, I thought how much we own; how much we throw away; and how fortunate I am to live in a country where I don’t have to live on a rubbish dump to survive.

I also became aware of how “freeing” it felt to see some of the accumulated “clutter” from the last 14 years we’ve lived in this house being taken away. As we prepare to sell our property and make a new beginning in another town, we’ve been slowly assessing our possessions to decide whether they have a place in our future. (It’s funny how many of us decide to do this when we move house!)

Although de-cluttering can be exhausting, there is also nothing quite so cathartic and energising as you sort through the precious memories of the past and clear a space for the future.

As Adrian Body once said, “Sometimes you have to let things go so there’s room for better things to come into your life.”

Part of new beginnings is almost always about saying “goodbyes” too, and those goodbyes need to be done well.

There is much to celebrate in the past; there is much to be honoured; much to express gratitude for; much to hold treasured in your heart, for life is cumulative and nothing is wasted. Our past is full of people, experiences and lessons which have shaped us into who we are today, and which also help to equip us to stand prepared, on the brink of new beginnings. Beginnings can bring much excitement and feelings of anticipation as we launch into new ventures and adventures. It is as though the future stretches out before us like the pages of a new journal, and we get to “make a mark” and write a new chapter in our personal and shared story. But feelings of trepidation, doubt and fear can also be our companions on the path of new beginnings. Sometimes we ask ourselves if we have done the right thing, and sometimes self-doubt and fear seem to paralyse our steps. It is then that we need to refresh our vision; “keep the end in mind” and keep moving forward.

So here we stand, each one of us, at the beginning of 2014. Our future is stretching before us, full of mystery and hope. May the God of all hope fill you with joy as you “begin again” with your KIDS HOPE child this year!

– Wendy Jarrott-Smith

Beginnings

Issue 1 • 2014

“Today I close the door to the past, open the door to the future, take a deep breath, step on through and start a new chapter in my life.” – Author unknown

Being confident of this, He who began a good work in you will carry it on to

completion until the day of Christ.” – Philippians 1:6

“A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” – Lao-Tzu, Tao Te Ching

“The beginning is the most important part of the work.” – Plato, The Republic

Just begin!

The end is just a new beginning.

“The first step to getting somewhere is to decide you’re not going to stay where you are.” – J.P. Morgan

“If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.” – Milton Berle

“Don’t worry that the beginning is small ... just start!” – Wendy Jarrott-Smith

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To contact the KIDS HOPE AUS. National Office, please phone 03 9287 2606.

To speak to the World Vision Church Relationship Manager in your state, please phone:

VIC/TAS 03 9287 2477

NSW/ACT 02 9806 6300

QLD 07 3387 2700

SA/NT 08 8238 4600

WA 08 6454 7800Email: auso.kids.hope@worldvision.com.au

“Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone

can start from now and make a brand new ending.”

– Carl Bard

“Sometimes you have to let things go so there’s room for better

things to come into your life.” – Adrian Body

Photo: Ilana Rose/World Vision

Beginnings activities for mentors• Play games with clues which require you to start with “the beginning clue”.

• Begin to draw a scene, and continue without lifting your pencil.

• Take photographs of the beginning of the day for the week between your mentoring sessions (sunrise).

• Begin the year with a set of new pencils or pens.

• Begin working on a project.

• Begin working on a crossword.

• Begin reading a new book together.

• Begin learning words from another language.

• When you first meet your child, make a “Fortune Teller” paper folding game so that you can learn about each other. There are instructions on the internet.

Beginnings: Some wise words

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search-institute.org

As KIDS HOPE AUS. makes this exciting transition, we hope we can

change even more children’s lives. Photo: Ilana Rose/World Vision

Rev Tim Costello to continue as KIDS HOPE AUS. AmbassadorWe are thrilled to announce that Rev Tim Costello, World Vision Australia Chief Executive, is continuing in his role as ambassador for KIDS HOPE AUS. as he has for the past decade. “I am thrilled to be an ambassador for KIDS HOPE AUS. !” says Tim. “This ministry has such a powerful impact on the lives of children across Australia and the church/school partnerships established through KIDS HOPE bring strength to local communities.”

Beginning a new era for KIDS HOPE AUS.

Date claimerThe KIDS HOPE AUS. company will be officially launched at a special 10 year celebration and Thanksgiving Service to be held in Melbourne on Wednesday 20 August. More details will follow, but please mark the date in your diaries now as we would love to celebrate with as many of our KIDS HOPE AUS. community (churches and schools) as possible.

As we contemplate “beginnings” we want to celebrate the beginning of a new era for KIDS HOPE AUS., whilst honouring our history from inception in 2004 to the present.

As a program of World Vision Australia for 10 years, KIDS HOPE AUS. has impacted over 400 churches and schools and more than 4,000 children. Whilst we are extremely grateful for World Vision’s support in seeding and developing the program, the time has come to launch KIDS HOPE AUS. as its own entity – a separate not-for-profit company.

We believe this transition will allow KIDS HOPE AUS. to grow and develop to its full potential, reaching more churches and changing more children’s lives.

The synergy between World Vision and KIDS HOPE AUS. will continue and we will be establishing a framework that enables KIDS HOPE and World Vision to partner and draw on our respective strengths to continue and build on the KIDS HOPE AUS. program.

We are pleased to announce that the new company – KIDS HOPE AUS. – has now been established and you can look forward to positive changes that will impact churches, coordinators and mentors.

New website The brand new, user friendly KIDS HOPE AUS. website is planned to “go live” at the end of April – kidshopeaus.org.au. Among its features:

• coordinators and mentors will have easy access to resources and the ability to register online for training or events; and

• churches will be able to complete their annual renewal forms and pay annual fees online.

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KIDS HOPE AUS. COORDINATOR 2014 TRAINING TIMETABLE

Sydney 6 – 7 May August - TBC 6 – 7 November

Brisbane 22 – 23 July 19 – 20 November

Melbourne 4 – 5 August 29 – 30 October

Adelaide 2 – 3 June

Perth 5 – 6 June

Beginning a new era for KIDS HOPE AUS.

More additions to our team

Lindy Steel has joined the KIDS HOPE AUS. team in the area of Program Support. Lindy will assist programs with resources, stories of the week and other inquiries.

Lindy brings office management skills and a strong ability to plan, manage and deliver. She has experience in areas including early childhood, schools and community services within state and non-government agencies.

Lindy holds an Advanced Diploma in Community Services Management and has pursued both volunteer work and employment in avenues that improve childhood development and quality outcomes for children.

She has spent six years with the Department of Education and Childhood Development, working in the area of quality assessment and regulation, developing and implementing systems to improve processes and reduce workload.

Both Lindy and her husband Steve coordinated the youth ministry team at Mooroolbark Christian Fellowship during which time they were also KIDS HOPE AUS. mentors, with Lindy later becoming a coordinator. They live in Wonga Park and have two children, Joel and Brianna.

Lindy is thrilled to be working directly with the KIDS HOPE AUS. team in a capacity where she can contribute her skills and knowledge and provide support.

Introducing the KIDS HOPE AUS. BoardWe welcome our new Board members:

Susan Bazzana Sue has worked at World Vision since 2007 in marketing and communications, as Head of Church Partnerships and currently as Donor Relations Manager – Church Segment. Sue is also a KIDS HOPE mentor.

Glenn Scott Glenn is the Managing Director of Scott Group. Glenn’s expertise includes strategic planning, fundraising and financial management.

Marylin Leermakers Marylin is the founder of KIDS HOPE AUS. and has managed the program since its inception in 2004.

Dr Stephen Larmar Dr Steve Larmar, Senior Lecturer in the School of Humanities at Griffith University, has been consultant Child Psychologist to the KIDS HOPE AUS. program since 2011.

John Altmann John is a lawyer, Anglican minister and social entrepreneur, providing legal services for setting up charitable organisations and for individuals planning for generosity. He also works voluntarily for a Christian charitable foundation he set up to make social impact investments.

Training Team expands Helen Gribi from the KIDS HOPE AUS. National Office has joined Kirra Lewis to make up the KIDS HOPE AUS. National Training Team. We have also been blessed with three regional trainers to assist in the delivery of KIDS HOPE AUS. Coordinator training. They are:

• Luke Meyer from Heart City Church in Perth, WA • Jan Drury from Elanora Uniting Church, QLD • Wendy Wallace from C3 Church in Kingscliff, NSW

All have a wealth of experience as coordinators and leaders and we appreciate their support.

“The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again,

less sure about everything. It freed me to enter one of the most creative periods of my life.”

– Steve Jobs

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KIDS HOPE AUS. and KIDS MATTER have signed a collaboration agreement after discussing our shared objectives of promoting wellbeing and mental health in primary school children.

We recommend the KIDS MATTER website to all our mentors as there is a wealth of information and activities to help build resilience, and social and emotional development in children. Here is one example and links to some of the activities and materials available.

Every face has a place ...

This activity can be used with junior primary school children to help them understand that everyone has a place in the community. A template with nine oval shapes representing faces can be provided for the child to draw the faces of people connected to them.

Children can draw:

• different faces of children in their class

• faces of people in their school (eg, the receptionist, the groundsman)

• faces of people in their family or community

http://www.kidsmatter.edu.au/sites/default/files/public/KMP_20120525-EveryFaceHasAPlace-activity-sheet.pdf

More resources and fact sheets can be found at:

http://www.kidsmatter.edu.au/primary/resources-your-journey/mental-health-information

KIDS HOPE AUS. will seek further partnerships with organisations that share our passion to make a difference in the lives of children.

KIDS MATTER is a valuable resource for

mentors like Ruth. Photo: Ilana Rose/

World Vision

A new partnership

KIDS HOPE AUS. COORDINATOR 2014 TRAINING TIMETABLE

Sydney 6 – 7 May August - TBC 6 – 7 November

Brisbane 22 – 23 July 19 – 20 November

Melbourne 4 – 5 August 29 – 30 October

Adelaide 2 – 3 June

Perth 5 – 6 June

“Let’s start at the very beginning ... a very good place to start.” – Do Re Mi from The Sound of Music

www.kidsmatter.edu.au

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The 7 Habits of Happy Kids – Sean CoveyInspired by his father’s work, Sean Covey wrote books to teach teenagers and then younger children the very same habits. Many schools are introducing The 7 Habits of Happy Kids to their children through “The Leader in Me” program.

At the KIDS HOPE AUS. “Growing Stronger” conference last year, Parktone Primary School principal, George Danson, described the revolutionary change in his school culture after introducing the “7 Habits” culture to staff and children. In the next few editions of Voices of Hope, we would like to introduce the habits along with some activities and language to help mentors share these principles with their mentored children.

Habit 1: Be Proactive – You’re in ChargeToo often children (and adults too!) blame other people or circumstances for things that they can actually do something about

themselves. For example, how many times do we hear children complain, “I’m bored” and look at parents expectantly as if it is the parent’s responsibility to make sure the child is never bored? How many times do parents respond with a list of things the child could do – as if it is their responsibility to entertain their children at all times?

Habit 1 teaches children that they have the power to make choices and find solutions themselves. It teaches them to take charge and stop being a victim.

Habit 1 also teaches children that they are in charge of the way they respond to others and that they can put a “space” between stimulus and response. Instead of immediately reacting when someone does something they do not like, they can be proactive – and put a space in place. A space allows them to think before they act and to make a choice about how they will respond.

A child who develops Habit 1 will be able to say, “I am a responsible person. I take initiative, choose my actions, attitudes and moods. I do not blame others for my wrong actions. I do the right thing without being asked, even when no-one is looking.”

7 Habits of Happy Kids

Classroom Posters

A Third Grade Bookworm Freebie www.thirdgradebookworm.blogspot.com

Over his lifetime, Stephen R. Covey inspired millions with the power of universal principles. He believed that for true success and meaning in life, we must be principle-centred in all areas of life. A teacher at heart, he often taught: “There are three constants in life: change, choice and principles.”

Stephen Covey’s book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, has been a top-seller for the simple reason that it ignores trends and pop psychology for proven principles of fairness, integrity, honesty and human dignity.

I have a “Can Do” attitude. I choose my actions, attitudes

and moods. I don’t blame others. I do the right thing

without being asked, even when nobody is looking.

Habit 1 Be Proactive

7 Habits of Happy Kids

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7 Habits of Happy Kids

Habit 1 aligns with the following developmental assets:

Social competency

Empowerment Positive values

Positive identity

Language for Habit 1Who is in charge?How can you make that happen?What do you think you could do about that?What will happen if you react without thinking?How will you choose to act?Can you put a “space in place” so that you can choose what to do?What things could you do to help?Can you help even if no-one is looking?

Additional resourcesMore activities – games and colouring-in sheets are available on this website. http://www.seancovey.com/kids.html

The 7 Habits of Happy Kids introduces young readers to the “7 Habits” through a cast of characters and entertaining stories. From being proactive all the way to sharpening your saw, this kid-friendly book has a fully illustrated story to introduce each of the habits. Complete with a tip to parents from Sean Covey himself, as well as discussion points and next steps at the end of each story, readers will follow the same adorable group of characters who live in 7 Oaks throughout all seven stories. http://www.seancovey.com/books_7kids.html

continued from previous page

Being proactive is a healthy habit that mentored children can carry with them through adulthood. Photo: Ilana Rose/World Vision

Activities for Habit 1Scenarios based on the child’s age level.

Prepare children to work through their feelings in a safe way with “what if ?” scenarios. Tell children a story about a little boy who works very hard on a block tower, only to have it knocked down by a friend. Ask children what they would do in this situation and what they think they are supposed to do. Repeat this exercise with more hypothetical situations. After each one, listen to children’s responses and suggest what they could do, such as talking to an adult.

Example:“What would you do if someone snatched your basketball at recess?” “What would happen?”“What other things could you choose to do?”“What would be the best thing to do?”

Use the faces chart to create stories.Ask the child to choose a face from the faces chart. Ask what the emotion is and together think of some things that might have happened to make the person feel that way. Ask what the person might do about it? What would happen? What might they do if they react too quickly without thinking? What might be a better way to act?

Making puppetsMaking puppets enables children to show others how they are feeling. Give children paper lunch bags along with art materials such as markers, glue and buttons. Ask children to make one puppet for each emotion they feel regularly. Provide examples such as angry, hurt and excited. Children should decorate their puppets to look like themselves whenever they’re feeling a certain way.

Use the puppets in role plays or scenarios as described above.

The following story comes from Jan Drury, KIDS HOPE AUS. Regional Trainer from Elanora Uniting Church on the Gold Coast. Jan was recently recognised as Gold Coast Volunteer Coordinator of the Year 2013 for her contribution and service to the local community.

“It is interesting how we come to “own” our school and when something is on, we want to know about it.

Recently a family lost everything in a house fire. It was a rental property, but all their possessions were lost. Two of the five children are in high school; two at “our” school, Elanora Primary; the last child is just four. So you can imagine the devastation. Not only that, dad, Peter, is a groundsman at the primary school, so we already know him.

I got involved at the start through my connection with the Local Chaplaincy Committee which is focused on the Elanora High School. Amazing the power of emails. I also emailed that committee and the Kids Hope people and that weekend we had an appeal at our church.

We’ve raised quite a lot of money – immediately handed over. And I’ve been given so much in goods for the family.

The family is just so grateful and tomorrow, mum, Carolyn is coming to church to personally thank us all !

The local community and both schools have also been very supportive, so they will recover.”

© 2014 World Vision Australia. World Vision Australia ABN 28 004 778 081 is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organisation dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. Ref # 7349

Elanora Uniting Church pulls together for a family in need

Book promoA Day’s Work by Eve Bunting

“Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop.”

– Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

“Do not wait until the conditions are perfect to begin.

Beginning makes the conditions perfect.” – Alan Cohen