St Patrick’s Make Jesus Day (MJR) sessions - Marty Ogle

I recently had the great pleasure to take sessions with the Year 6’s & Year 5’s looking at ‘Hints for High School’ & ‘Leadership’. The year 5’s discovered that the Make Jesus Real (MJR) workbook has a huge number of great sayings that will help them when they are looking to lead in Year 6 next year plus we made a ‘Leadership Acrostic’ to focus on when they return in 2024. We spoke at length about the importance of ‘Active Listening’ and they decided that many of them need to concentrate on the following:

1. A) Eye contact
2. B) No Fidgeting
3. C) Choose carefully who they sit next to
4. D) Ask questions to clarify
5. E) Don’t interrupt
6. F) Be open/don’t judge

The Year 6’s focussed on a number of hints that may help them in their transition from primary to secondary school.

1. Attitude is everything
2. Everything is so large – more friends available
3. Creating routines,- especially with lockers & timetables
4. Chance to make new friends who have the same interests as you
5. Don’t hang with turkeys – hang out with eagles who want you to fly
6. Set targets and standards
7. First day impressions are important
8. This is just another step in your educational journey questions
9. There are high school misconceptions plus don’t get caught up with procrastinations.

They also selected ONE major MJR saying or topic to help them in High School.

One of the questions I asked the classes was ‘Who back chats or talks back at home?’ Sadly, a large number of students put up their hands – some even thought it was funny which I quickly assured them that it definitely wasn’t funny and that it can easily become a hard habit to break. One student asked me what they can do to break this habit. Here are a few steps that families might undertake if this is a problem at home.

1. I firstly stated that being a parent is difficult and children need to recognise this and appreciate that they can help alleviate the stresses at home.
2. I said to the children a) ‘Who loves their parents?’ b) ‘Who wants to make them happy?’ 100% of the students answered YES to these questions.
3. If they really want to break the habit, I advised the students to go home and ask the adults at their home ‘Can you please help me to stop talking back?’
4. By recognising that they are doing this, they are half way to solving the habit. So parents/carers please sit with your children and work out a plan to stop this habit.
5. Then reward them when they try and stop – work out a reward between you when you sit to discuss trying to break the habit.

I must say that all the classes listened so attentively and I pray that hopefully, what we spoke about will make them better members of a family, of a class and of society.

You should be proud of them and especially their amazing teachers.

All the Best

Marty Ogle