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Dear Parents
How delightful it was to have everyone back again last Friday. Seeing the smiles on faces as children came through the gates was a source of joy and excitement. Let’s hope it won’t be long before we can have parents on site again.
While First Borns Rule the Roost
Have you ever wondered why is it that children can share the same gene pool, experience similar parenting yet be so different? Birth order is a vital factor in determining our personality and the life we lead. It is perhaps the most emphatic, yet least understood factor. When you look at your children (and others) through the lens of birth order you can gain a real understanding of the difference between people. Michael Grose the author of Why first borns rule the world and later borns wan to change it gives some insight in to that.
Birth order is a powerful influence on personality, because a family is the first group that a child belongs to. Finding their place is the key to gaining limited parental attention and resources. Like a constellation of stars that form their own patterns, children also form distinctive relationships within families, making it difficult to understand a child without knowing the whole family dynamic.
Families aren’t level playing fields. If you’re born first you received undivided parental attention, emotional and physical resources. Early in life, first-borns spend more of their time around adults than subsequent children. They’re more likely to be influenced by their parents than children born in any other position. They are born first and those children who follow had better stick to their playbook for the sake of family harmony.
Only children, who are now large enough in number to enter birth order mainstream are first-borns who have never experienced dethronement. They remain the sole focus of parent attention and resources.
The flip side of being first
The flip side for first-borns is that they can pay a high price for their position of privilege. They are frequently more intense, more anxiety-prone and more inflexible than any other birth order position. They are also ground breakers, introducing parents to every stage of development from infancy to adolescence. First-borns live with a pressure that is unfamiliar to later-borns, so they frequently take fewer risks as learners to avoid the shame of making mistakes and disappointing their parents.
Seconds on the back foot
If you’re born second you’re instantly on the back foot. You probably get a left-over name and you have parents who share their time, energy and resources with another child. You also have to contend with an eldest sibling intent on keeping you in your place.
Second-borns don’t experience the same degree of pressure as their eldest sibling and can easily slip under the radar of high parental expectation. Avoiding some of the pitfalls of perfectionism and anxiety that frequently afflict first-borns is a blessing for these free-spirited, flexible, justice-seekers. Though they may perceive themselves as victims of poor timing, second-borns enjoy greater levels of resilience and wider friendships circles than their eldest siblings.
Remember the youngest
As for a third and most likely youngest child, there’s a good chance that most parents struggle recalling the finer details of their birth. They are in the fortunate position of having a sibling break their parents in for them and don’t experience nearly as much pressure as their eldest siblings. Youngest children soon learn that it’s hard to impress their parents, as they don’t become overawed with potty training, a toddler’s work of art or the transition from primary to secondary school. Their parents have seen it all before. Youngest children also receive less discipline and more freedom than their siblings, which probably explains why many youngest children believe that rules are for others, not them.
The Prince Harry effect
As families continue to shrink in size the nature of birth order is also changing. As well as the traditional first/only, second and youngest children there is a new birth order position – the second child who is also the youngest. While a second-born will never be referred to as the baby of the family like a third-born, they share many youngest children traits and tendencies such as extraversion, charm and risk-taking. Second child and youngest child traits are a potent mix for any agent of change, which is something Prince Harry is using to full effect.
In closing
Birth order knowledge provides parents with a rich vein of information about children. Now that families are shrinking and positions are being polarised, this window into kids motivations and personalities is easier than ever to assess and understand.
This is an edited extract from the book Why first borns rule the world and later borns want to change it by Michael Grose
Updates
For the remainder of the Term all Single Subjects will return to normal timetable. Thank you for your understanding as changes were necessary durng this term.
Year Level Massess that were unable to occur this term will be reschuled once restrictions allow these to occur and dates can be coordinated with the Parish.
Senior Sport for Year 5 and 6 will run this Friday 18 June afternoon at 2.15pm and on Friday 25 June at 12.30pm. The adjustment of time on 25 June is to enable our senior students to attend assembly.
Staff are currently working on the end of semester reports. This year they wili be avaiable to parents through the PAM portal. Once completed we will advise you when and how you can access them.
Last day of Term 2 is Friday 25 June. Students will be dismissed at normal time - 3.10pm.
School returns for Term 3 on Monday 12 July.
Monday 14 June |
NO SCHOOL - Queen's Birthday Public Holiday |
Friday 18 June |
Senior Sport for Year 5 and 6 |
Tuesday 22 June |
Parents and Friends AGM |
Friday 25 June |
Senior Sport for Year 5 and 6 Last Day of Term 2 |
Monday 12 July |
First Day of Term 3 |
PAM - Parent Access Module
Thank you to the majority of parents who have set up and accessed their PAM account. All parents MUST have access to PAM. This is the portal that we will be using for all communications between school and home.
Semester 1 reports will be shared with parents atthe end of this term via PAM, therefore it is VITAL that all parents activate their account if you have not already done so.
If you are having any issues please email admin@stclaresofficer.catholic.edu.au
Here is the link for the St Clare's Parent Access Portal (PAM)
You username is the email address that you have registered with the school. The first time you log in we ask that you use the forgotten password feature to set your own password.
ALL parents must access PAM to receive up to date information and grant necessary permissions. Students will miss out on events if permission is not granted.
MEDICAL INFORMATION - When you update your child's medical information in PAM - PLEASE ensure this is accurate. The school must have current up to date asthma, allergy, anaphylaxis or medical plans for those students identified with these conditions and any other medical conditions such as diabetes or epilepsy. This is to ensure we have relevant information to assist your child with the management of these medical conditions.
SKOOLBAG is no longer being used. To report student absence please use PAM, email absent@stclaresofficer.catholic.edu.au or call 5940 6777
Please ensure the school has your current contact details - this includes address, email, work numbers etc. To update details please email admin@stclaresofficer.catholic.edu.au or call 5940 6777. Through PAM parents are also able to update your child's medical details.
SCHOOL FEES
School fee statements have been emailed to families. Please note that term 2 fees are now due and payable. If you have a direct debit there is no need to do anything.
If you situation has changed and you now have a Pension or Health Care Card please contact the office as we can assist you with your fees.
Likewise if you are having difficulties with fees please contact finance@stclaresofficer.catholic.edu.au to arrange a time for a confidential discussion.