SOON Volume 6

Seriously Optimistic Online News

It’s proving to be a year of ‘firsts’ for St Luke’s Innovative Resources.

Our first set of round cards, Koala Company, is off the press and wowing people with its vibrant colours, quirky humour, and ability to create powerful conversations about feelings. And speaking of ‘firsts’, these beauties are the best things to come out of a tin since baked beans!

Jelly Bean’s Secret is our first children’s novella and is proving to be a valuable tool for those working in the area of grief and loss, particularly with primary-aged children.

Our first card set to feature paintings by an internationally acclaimed artist is Everyday Goddess. Created from a set of paintings by Katharina Rapp, these cards are particularly suitable for those experiencing challenges such as depression, loneliness and anxiety.

Another exciting first for Innovative Resources is Storm in a Teacup, a poem by Bendigo artist Chris Townsend set to original oil paintings by Chris Sage-Marsh. This synergy of visual art and poetry has produced a stunning hardcover picture book designed to build conversations about change and meaning.

And, of course, there’s SOON – our first attempt at an on-line newsletter. We hope you’re finding it an inspiring read. If so, tell your friends. If not, drop us a line with your suggestions and creative ideas. We’re always open to suggestions.

Until then … welcome to Volume 6.

‘The advantage of a bad memory is that one enjoys several times the same good things for the first time. ’

Friedrich Nietzsche 1844 - 1900

The Bears in Africa…

By Caterina Mezzatesta

After a long standing obsession with Africa, the opportunity finally came to do some volunteer teaching in Arusha, Tanzania at Edmund Rice Sinon Secondary School and the local Primary School & Kindergarten.

I came equipped with all my favourite resources, The Bears, Strength Cards for Kids, Inside Out, Angels with Attitude, Sometimes Magic and The Wrong Stone. I first brought The Bears into the classroom of the Special Form One Program (a single term taught exclusively by volunteers to help students improve their English), asking students to choose the Bear that represents them now and to choose the Bear that represents how they feel about school.

Some interesting responses came back. Lots were tired but happy ‘now’, and some were confused and angry about the bullying they encountered at school. Some were nervous and scared about what lay ahead and others very happy to have made new friends and be part of such a good environment.

Another day, I put them into smaller groups of 4 or 5. Gave them two bears and the following instructions:

• Give your Bears a name

• Describe how they are feeling

• Explain why they are feeling that way

• Create a conversation between the Bears

Interestingly, but hardly surprisingly, most sad or angry Bears were sad or angry because they were either hungry or failed their examinations. Likewise, if a Bear was happy or excited it was because his stomach was full or he passed his national exam.

Here in Tanzania 1,200 students sat the entrance exam to get into Edmund Rice, with only 200 places available. Only 20% of students will attend high school. When the time comes, should they fail the national exam, there is no second chance – no repeating the year. That is the end of their schooling. So it’s no wonder so much anxiety surrounds ‘the exam’.

Only the very dedicated and very lucky will make it all the way through to form six and on to University. I hope these kids with whom I am privileged to work, will see their dreams come true and live their aspirations of being doctors and lawyers, pilots, teachers and much more.

www.edmundrice.habari.co.tz

‘Hope is the thing with feathers

That perches in the soul

And sings the tune

Without the words

And never stops at all.’

Emily Dickinson 1830 – 1886

Together We Can – Adding value to young lives

Greg Walker is the author and illustrator of Together We Can, a children’s picture book designed to build confidence into young lives by using simple, positive comments as encouragement. After more than a decade in education, Greg is an advocate of the Hear N Say approach to learning.

‘I believe words shape our lives,’ Greg says. ‘Words we hear, words we say, shape our lives. I know it is very healthy for children to hear positive comments from their parents and teachers. What we say about ourselves determines who we are , what we can do and ultimately our future.’

Greg has three children under the age of five and says they were undoubtedly the inspiration behind the book. Having previously been a youth pastor, the experience of having a young family has shifted his focus towards developing the strengths and values of children.

‘As teachers, we can tend to be focused on the content and achievements, rather than the child. Many existing curriculums forces us to do this. I believe a valued student with a good self image is more likely to achieve. Our value comes from who we are, not just from what we can do. Schools need positive resources for children.

‘We need to encourage students to explore and discover what their gifts and talents are. Trying and learning new things about ourselves is how we grow. Of course we need the essential core curriculum, but also to be flexible in our approach so we can see the gifts and talents in our students.’

Together We Can is designed to be read aloud by adults and children together. It is most effective as a daily reading routine over 30 days for maximum impact and is ideal as part of a home reading routine or class buddy program.

Together We Can

Author/Illustrator: Greg Walker

Image.web Publishing

Softcover, 32 pages

Cat No. 8218 AU $9.95

View this product online.

‘On a group of theories one can found a school; but on a group of values one can found a culture, a civilization, a new way of living together among men.’

Ignazio Silone – author

Third Eye gives youth a voice … and much more

By Cassie Greenfield

Third Eye is a ground-breaking business giving Bendigo youth a voice like never before.

Third Eye began at St Luke’s, Bendigo, as part of the Chutzpah Factory College of Enterprise and Entrepreneurship. St Luke's made us an offer we couldn’t ignore: to do a 12-week Chutzpah course on initiating and managing our own business. There have been successes already but also a lot of learning and hard work along the way. Building a strong team has involved trust, honesty and compassion.

The aim of Third Eye is to help young people. We provide a consultation service to organisations and businesses that work with young people so they can have a better understanding of youth and are better able to meet their needs. Our service includes training, staff recruitment, service evaluation and peer education (for instance, educating young pregnant women about their options).

Here are just some of Third Eye’s achievements in its first six weeks:

• Meeting with businesses to talk and offer our ideas

• Writing business proposals and seeking sponsorship

• Developing our name and identity

• Designing our business logo and promotional materials

• Personal and business SWOTs (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats)

• Learning how to approach people in business

• Planning a workshop for youth services in Bendigo

If you’d like to contact Third Eye to find out more about our business we’d love to here from you. You can leave messages for Cassie, Brad, Luke and Nathan at St Luke's on (03) 5440-1100 or email them at thirdeyeconsultants@hotmail.com

Editor’s note: We have recently had the pleasure of working with the team at Third Eye and found them to be an energetic, articulate and professional group of young people. We wish them every success!

Picture: The Third Eye team celebrate with St Luke’s staff

’Today the world changes so quickly that in growing up we take leave not just of youth but of the world we were young in.’

Peter Medawar 1915 – 1987

(Nobel Prize for Medicine 1960)

Correspondence

Recently I discovered that the Stones … have feelings too! cards are an excellent resource in supervision with staff.

They were really useful in helping a worker to articulate how she was feeling about her planning, goal setting and current work with a family. She then selected the stones she wanted to relate to and the feelings associated with these cards.

This opened up a new conversation about the worker's current strengths and ways that she can use them to enable a shift towards the 'preferred stones'. This flowed on to what the worker decided she could do to enable this to occur and new plans for the family intervention and her overall practice.

It was a real 'ping' moment!

Thanks for this excellent resource. I know that in supervision I will be attempting to integrate the tools more regularly.

Denis Byrne, Children & Family Services

St Luke's Anglicare

‘The most important things are the hardest things to say. They are the things you get ashamed of because words diminish your feelings - words shrink things that seem timeless when they are in your head to no more than living size when they are brought out.’

Stephen King

SOON Book Bargains

Readers of SOON can now take advantage of big discounts on selected items from Our Shelf List. In each edition of SOON you’ll find a selection of titles reduced by a whopping 25%. Stocks are limited, so be quick to make the most of these great book bargains.

Altered Books, Collaborative Journals, and Other Adventures in Bookmaking View online.

By Holly Harrison

Rockport Publishers, Softcover, 128 pages

Cat No. 8307 was $44.95 now $33.70

We were all told not to colour in our books when we were kids, right? Well here’s an art form that not only allows it, but encourages it. Multi media art for everyone.

The Personal is the Professional – Therapists reflect on their families, lives and work View online.

Collected by Cheryl White & Jane Hales

Dulwich Centre, Softcover, 186 pages

Cat No. 8255 was $38.50 now $28.85

This book is a celebration of relationships and stories. Therapists share the personal stories that inform their work and encourage us to think about what it is in our own lives that leads to creativity in therapy.

Kid-wrangling – The real guide to caring for babies, toddlers and preschoolers View online.

By Kaz Cooke

Penguin, Softcover, 770 pages

Cat No. 9124 was $43.95 now $32.95

Now you have a baby, what on earth are you going to do with it? In her sequel to Up The Duff, Kaz Cooke delivers all the up-to-date, reliable info, with advice from the experts, including real mums and dads. Practical, riotous fun!

365 Dalai Lama –Daily advice from the heart View online.

By His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Element, Hardcover, 372 pages

Cat No. 8178 was $21.95 now $16.45

Short and inspiring words offering us enlightening advice for everyday living.

By Candlelight – Rites for celebration, Blessing & Prayer View online.

Author: Janina Renee

Llewellyn, Softcover, 290 pages

Cat No. 8452 was $32.95 now $24.70

The simple act of bringing light to darkness is a moving and meaningful way to create sacred space, celebrate joyous occasions, and find solace in times of loss.

Tyler’s Wishes View online.

Author: Helen Kahn Illustrator: Sarah Rawlings

BAAF, 32-page Softcover book … and box of goodies!

Cat No. CB9245 was $43.90 now $32.90

Tyler’s wishes is intended to help children (particularly boys who are waiting to be placed for adoption) to understand and cope with their mixed feelings of uncertainty, apprehension and hope. Box includes a magic wand, a ‘sacred bear’, stickers and glitter.

‘All generalizations are dangerous, even this one.’

Alexandre Dumas – French novelist 1802 -1870

Micro-story of the month

One of our favourite quotes here at Innovative Resources is by the American poet and activist, Muriel Rukeyser. She states: The world is made up of stories, not of atoms. This month’s micro-story takes the notion a step further. If the world is made of stories, perhaps metaphor is the glue that holds it all together?

Common Sense

Hope was looking for a man who'd make her feel like a song being sung. Hope's girlfriends understood. Holly dated a mechanic who made her feel like a car being driven. Nancy married a chef who made her feel like a pot being stirred. Julie said she'd never met a man who made her feel like a song being sung, but she'd dated plenty of men who made her feel like a joke being told.

Hope's mother refused to listen. ‘I want you to meet someone,’ she said.

’Oh, mother,’ said Hope. But she went for coffee with Nicholas.

’What do you do?’ Hope asked.

’I'm a painter,’ said Nicholas.

Hope explained what she was looking for.

’Maybe I could make you feel like a picture being painted,’ said Nicholas.

’You could try,’ said Hope, who was already beginning to feel that way, just a little.

Late breaking news …

RENEW

A week of inspirational, strengths-based workshops for everyday heroes and other serious optimists.

Bendigo, Victoria

17 – 21 October 2005

Teachers, counsellors, supervisors, managers, social workers, psychologists, family workers – in fact, anyone who works with people or just loves being creative – is invited to take one or more of these workshops in this five day festival of creativity and collaborative learning.

For details of the workshops and presenters click here: www.innovativeresources.org/renew