The way you measure a society’s soul is by the way that it treats its children.
Nelson Mandela
Issue No. 101 – 3rd March 2011
Welcome to Kidz Newz especially to all new subscribers. Kidz Newz is a regular newsletter with information and teaching tips for anyone involved with young children. You are receiving this because you have attended one of my workshops, purchased a book, or you have requested to be on the mailing list. Thank you. Please forward this to anyone you feel it may be of interest to. Feedback is welcome.
Competition – We Have a Winner!!
The winner of the recent questionnaire on media preferences is Kim Richmond. This book, Kidz-Fiz-Biz Multicultural valued at $95.00, will be finding its way over there very shortly. Congratulations Kim! Thank you to everyone who entered. Your input is greatly appreciated.
Mary Mountstephen PD
Mary is looking for a school to host her visit to Perth and Sydney. This in one PD you will not want to miss. Mary is a well-published author and teacher and is a specialist in motor development in children. I still don’t have dates as yet but it will be around Easter, which is not far away actually. Please get in touch with me if you can help at info@kidzfizbiz.com.
Employment Opportunity
Looking for a part-time teaching opportunity? Love working with children? Love teaching music and movement? I am looking for people to train to run Kidz-Fiz-Biz classes. I have had 25 years in this industry (23 specifically with children) and want to start up more classes again due to ongoing demand. Good income and lots of fun. If this is something of interest to you now or in the future, please contact me at info@kidzfizbiz.com or phone 0410 642 781.
The Whale
‘If you read a recent from page story of the San Francisco Chronicle, you would have read about a female humpback whale who had become entangled in a spider web of crab traps and lines. She was weighted down by hundreds of pounds of traps that caused her to struggle to stay afloat. She also had hundreds of yards of line rope wrapped around her body, her tail, her torso, a line tugging in her mouth. A fisherman spotted her just east of the Farallon Islands (outside the Golden Gate) and radioed an environmental group for help. Within a few hours, the rescue team arrived and determined that she was so badly off, the only way to save her was to dive in and untangle her. They worked for hours with curved knives and eventually freed her. When she was free, the divers say she swam in what seemed like joyous circles. She then came back to each and every diver, one at a time, and nudged them, pushed them gently around as she was thanking them. Some said it was the most incredibly beautiful experience of their lives. The guy who cut the rope out of her mouth said her eyes were following him the whole time, and he will never be the same.
May you, and all those you love, be so blessed and fortunate to be surrounded by people who will help you get untangled from the things that are binding you. And, may you always know the joy of giving and receiving gratitude.’
The above was emailed to me and I apologise for not having the source details. Not only a great story in itself, but a great metaphor for all of us because we don’t have to get too far into the year before we find ourselves getting entangled in the ‘stuff’ we have to do. We then lose perspective and find ourselves unable to untangle ourselves. This is when we realise we actually can’t do it all on our own. May you all have caring friends, family and colleagues willing to lend a helping hand.
Quotes of the Week
“Mistakes once learned are no longer mistakes.” ~ Shelley Taylor-Smith
“Self-acceptance comes from meeting life’s challenges vigorously. Don’t numb yourself to your trials and difficulties, nor build mental walls to exclude pain from your life. You will find peace not by trying to escape your problems, but by confronting them courageously. You will find peace not in denial, but in victory.” ~ J. Donald Walters – Author, Lecturer and Playwright
Entertainment
Enjoy this short video of someone who appeared ‘stuck’ but look at what he can do! I bet he had a few helpers along the way. A wonderful inspirational story, which only takes a few minutes and is well worth the time. Enjoy!
Watch here
Feedback
“Hi Marlene,
Read your article with interest. Now I think you should find something about play so we have a debate happening here. I firmly believe that play based learning in Early Childhood develops Social, Emotional and Problem Solving skills, the stuff of good leaders. That creative space grows wonderful brain cells. Cooperative play enhances collective learning.
You grow old when you stop playing and you stop playing when you grow old …. so play on!!
All an interesting debate.
Keep the music going. It’s wonderful.” ~ Jude Tupman, Geraldton, Western Australia
Perhaps you would like to comment on something you read in the newsletter as Jude has done? Maybe start a debate as she suggests.
About The Author
Marlene Rattigan B.A., Dip. Ed. (ECS), CELTA
Marlene Rattigan is an Early Childhood teacher, a teacher of English as a Second Language, and from 1987-2000 was a nationally accredited fitness leader. Her background is in music education. A keen interest in motor development in children led to the creation of Kidz-Fiz-Biz which she taught successfully for 13 years. Marlene also conducts workshops for children, teachers and parents at schools, in the community and at festivals. She has produced teaching manuals complete with audio CDs which are an extension of her ‘Kidz-Fiz-Biz’ program.
Kidz-Fiz-Biz
PO Box 6894, East Perth WA 6892, Australia
T: +61 8 9325 1204 M: +61 (0) 410 64 2781 E: info@kidzfizbiz.com
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Until next time … continue being a legend in your classroom.
Marlene Rattigan, Editor
Kidz Newz
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