Well, we have almost made it through another year of your children receiving a years’ worth of growth from a year’s learning, and how fast has this year gone!

I have to thank everyone, students, staff and families who have supported the School throughout the Year. While this has not been the smoothest of years, like last year, I suggest we take as many positives from it as possible.

Our students had a great and focussed year of learning, and while they did miss some face-to-face learning time, I feel that overall, with the highly professional blended learning packages that our staff ensured were interactive and engaging, along with the support that you gave at home, for most students, very minimal learning time was lost.

Moreover, while it is no secret that our children missed opportunities that they would have normally experienced, I believe that they have done a great job of showing their resilience, as they too, understand that everybody in the World has been affected by the COVID pandemic, not just them. And, the few losses we have experienced at St Joseph’s, have been minimal when compared to the losses that some people have experienced, and are still experiencing.

Around the Grounds

The Lower Primary Toilet block demolition is now complete and internal fitting is occurring, and while this project has been hindered by COVID lockdowns, we will see its completion and opening at the beginning of the 2022 school year. The Hall has had more external cladding replaced and painted, and has had its roof power washed in readiness for the final areas of cladding to be fixed. This week, the new maintenance shed and driveway area has had the driveway to the road concreted.

With the removal of a playground tree due to floodwater root rot, we have ordered more shade sails to be installed to fill in areas of sun that have raised a concern in regards to sun safety in both the Lower Primary sandpit area, and the Primary softplay, play area.

As always, I thank you for your support in regards to your child’s ongoing learning.

Guy Campbell
Principal

‘Driving Education in the Macleay’

GOSPEL REFLECTION

THE FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

The word Advent is from the Latin word adventus translated simply as “coming”. It is the Season that prepares us liturgically for the coming of the joy of Christmas. However, the reading of this week’s Gospel from Luke paints a fairly grim picture of the future time. Christmas joy is certainly not found in people “dying of fear as they await what menaces the world”.

The narrative in Luke this week is about being awake and watchful too. It like Jesus giving his disciples “the heads up” on the future. However, when destruction arrives, the followers of the Son of Man can stand erect with heads held high as their liberation is at hand. This news would have been comforting for the Disciples who still yearned for the foretold Messiah to raise up the chosen ones.

This reading calls us today into a time of advent, a time of the coming and to be watchful. Advent too is the promise of abundance. And that is what we prepare for over this season – a God so abundant that God takes on the fullness of our humanity. That fullness of being human is to know how to read signs of God’s action as we have seen over our last years and yet be perplexed and to live with fear. To see healing in treatments and yet sickness that shakes our world and finally to now know that God is amongst us brimming with love for all of our human experience – its fear and hope, its despair and joy; its loss and salvation.

(Reflection from Jack de Groot)

 THIS WEEK…

O come, O Wisdom from on high

Who orders all things mightily

To us the path of knowledge show

And teach us in her ways to go.

PRAYER

O come, O come Emmanuel

Amen

Sourced from; https://www.vinnies.org.au/icms_docs/327245_Spiritual_Reflection_Guide_September_2021.pdf

WITH MR WILL POLLOCK

What a busy last few weeks we are going to have at St Josephs! On Wednesday evening we celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation with our Year 3 children (as well as some older children). Due to the current Covid-19 situation, Bishop Greg was unable to attend, so Fr James ably stepped in to lead the children in receiving the Sacrament. It was wonderful to see so many families in the Church. A special thank you to all the St Joseph’s staff who helped on the night, too!

Our Year 5 students had a successful Reflection Day last Thursday. The theme of the day was ‘Exuro’, and it was a wonderful opportunity for the students to learn more about discipleship and leadership. The day included small workshops and some fun games, and concluded with a beautiful prayer service. Thanks to Mr May and Mrs Walters for their support on the day. Following from the Retreat Day the Year 5 children began the process to elect School Captains for 2022.

We now lead into our Giving Mass next week, which unfortunately will take on a different look to normal. Our Year 5 students will present the wonderful donations made by the St Joseph’s community to the Parish, who will then see these donations distributed to Vinnies, who will see they are distributed to the needy in our community this Christmas. At our Giving Mass we will also see the handover of school leadership, with our departing School Captains ‘passing the torch’ to our incoming Captains for 2022.

Year 6 were treated to a performance about the life of Catherine McAuley, the foundress of the Sisters of Mercy, of whom St Joseph’s has rich links to. The performance was enjoyed by the children, who learnt more about the rich history of the role of Catholic organisations like the Mercy Sisters in promoting education and dignity among the poor and marginalised in our society.

We are also in the process of planning the Farewell Mass for our Year 6 students. This will be held on Monday 13^th December at 5.30pm at the All Saints Catholic Church. Year 6 families will receive correspondence about this with more details in the coming days.

As Catholics, we celebrate the season of Advent. It is the period of preparation extending over the four Sundays before Christmas.  The candles on the Advent wreath symbolise hope, love, joy and peace. The candles are lit in that order,

Donatons of gifts and food items towards our Christmas Hamper Appeal are greatly appreciated.

WITH MRS KRYSTAL BRADY

KINDERGARTEN 2022 ORIENTATION

Today was our Kindergarten Orientation! It was so exciting to have our 2022 Kindergarten classes at school getting to know their teachers. Students enjoyed story time, making taco dragons and playing with their new friends. We are looking forward to seeing them for their first day of school on Tuesday, 8th February, 2022.   

Thank you to Mrs Nicole Edwards for coordinating our Transition Program for 2021.Please continue to contact Mrs Edwards through Class Dojo for any further information.

Prior to the first day of Kindergarten, you will need to book your child's Best Start interview.  These interviews are a relaxed opportunity to develop a relationship with your child and to identify their current literacy and numeracy skills.   Appointments will be available from Tuesday 1st February to Monday 7th February.  These interviews will be held at school for one hour and drop off and pick up will be at the hall gate. 

To book your child's Best Start Interview go to www.schoolinterviews.com.au and use event code r4jev

2021 PREMIER'S READING CHALLENGE

The Challenge aims to encourage a love of reading for leisure and pleasure in students, and to enable them to experience quality literature. It is not a competition but a challenge to each student to read, to read more and to read more widely. Congratulations to Amailia Brandt in Year One for successfully completing the Premier's Reading Challenge this year. 

LEARNING IN YEAR 4

Year 4 students have been looking at local industries and what they produce. Students chose an industry and researched the production process of a product. They then used their newly acquired digital coding knowledge to record the steps of production and create an interactive poster using the Makey Makeys.

SEMESTER TWO REPORTING

Reports for Semester Two learning will be distributed on Friday, 10th December (Kinder to Year 5).  Students have been working hard towards their learning goals this semester. Due to COVID-19 interruptions, the report will look different (similar to Semester One, 2020). A detailed comment will be provided for both English and Mathematics which describes your child’s progress in these specific Key Learning Areas. A General Comment and Engagement in Learning indicators are also included in the report. Please contact your class teacher if you have any questions about your child’s report.  

STUDENT AWARDS FOR WEEKS 7 & 8, TERM 4

Building Resilience in Children

Resilience … it’s a familiar word, isn’t it? But what does it really mean?

Click here for more information and resources.

YEAR 2 INTENSIVE SWIMMING

Congratulations to all Year 2 on completing their Swimsafe Program after a lenghty delay.  All made progress over the two weeks and are on their way to being strong swimmers.

RIDE & SCOOT DAYS

Thank you to all parents and children for making Ride and Scoot days possible by delivering bikes and scooters to school and picking up again.  It was great to see almost 100% participation.

JUMP ROPE FOR HEART

The final count for Jump Rope for Heart was $1,691.57.

Thank you the children for great participation on the day, Year 6 students for helping and all the fantastic fundraising and amazing skipping.

Order your child's lunch the fun and easy way!

Go to www.flexischools.com.au and click Register Now!  Or alternatively, download the new Flexischools App for IOS at https://apps.apple.com/au/app/flexischools/id1420774608 or for Android https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.flexischools

Need to order your child's school uniform for 2022.   Below are opening times.

Click here to access the Team Spirit Website.  

ROAD SAFETY - HELMETS

Follow the links below to learn more....

https://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/stayingsafe/bicycle-riders/helmets-gear.html

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6mBF_P7Om0

Click here to view the NSW Child Safety Handbook.