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- Message from the Principal
- Catholic Identity and Mission in Our School
- Learning & Teaching in Our School
- COMPASS- School Communication Platform APP
- Learning Support in our School
- Student Awards
- SJ News
- The Yarning Circle
- School Canteen - Order your Child's Lunch via COMPASS APP
- iHUB News
- ANZAC DAY 2022
- Write4Fun Writing Competition
- Sporting News
- Enrol Now for the Kindergarten Class of 2023
- The Wellbeing Team
- It's Show Time
- St Joseph's OOSH & Vacation Care
- School Terms & Pupil Free Days for 2022
- How to Purchase your child's School Uniform
- Applying for a Bus Pass
- BILLBOARD
- Newsletter Sponsors
Again, I would like to thank you all for the patience and understanding that you gave the School, during the recent floods. I am conscious of the impact these rain events are having on our local community, and hope you all got through the week safely, asking you to please let us know if we can support your children in any way as a result of these events.
This term, our focus on ensuring excellent instruction, every day, in every class, for every student, has been lived. We have continued to build the knowledge and understanding of our Catholic faith traditions across our school community, and maintain our pledge to work towards improving student outcomes for all students.
Throughout the Term we have participated in many curricular and non-curricular events. In March a group of our Year 6 students experienced Incitare, a faith retreat, where all students had a great time. With everything beginning to open back up, our students have experienced several representative sporting opportunities including, Netball, Rugby League, and some winter sports trials, and it is great to see these events back on the Calendar.
In March the School attended its first Whole School Mass in two years. This Mass celebrated St Joseph’s Day, as well as seeing our 2022 School Captains commissioned. Congratulations go to Zali Kirkman Dates, Ruby McLeod, Dylan Micallef and Taj Webber. It was great to see the School back in Church again after such a long break.
To celebrate Harmony Day on the 21st March, our fantastic Canteen Ladies opened up the menu to include foods of the World. Options such as curry, spring rolls, pizza, pies, nachos, and fried rice were on offer. This was a great celebration by the whole school and the kids had a great time. As we move towards Easter, the School will celebrate with an Easter prayer followed by an Easter Egg draw on Friday.
Next term, we welcome Ms Allison Gwilliam to our school community. Ms Gwilliam will be replacing Mr Clay in 5H who will be taking parental leave.
As we conclude this term and head into the Easter break, I realise how quickly the Term has gone. As I reflect over the last ten weeks, I am so thankful for the relationships made, and for the happy, smiling children I see at the gate, both in the mornings and afternoons. We are truly a team which I am grateful for each and every day.
As always, I thank you for your support in regards to your child’s ongoing learning and growth. Have a happy, safe and Holy Easter.
Guy Campbell
Driving Excellence
GOSPEL REFLECTION - HUMILITY
“Let what was seen in Christ Jesus be seen in you.”
Jesus empties himself of all claims to divine glory and honour to become a human being — not a human of high status and honour, but a lowly slave serving other human beings. He humbles himself even to the point of dying a slave’s death, for the shameful and tortuous form of execution by crucifixion was reserved for slaves and rebels against Roman rule.
Jesus is not a passive victim rather he enters fully and willingly into his mission. On this Sunday marking Jesus’ passion, we might ask ourselves does our life together reflect “the same mind that was in Christ Jesus”? Are we looking to the interests of others rather than our own interests? Jesus emptied himself and took on a human; incarnate, he was not just wearing a human mask but entering into our humanity in all its fullness and sometimes bitterness. Fr Ronald Rolheiser puts it beautifully; “To “self-empty” in the way Jesus is described as doing means being present without demanding that your presence be recognised and its importance acknowledged; it means giving without demanding that your generosity be reciprocated; it means being invitational rather than threatening, healthily solicitous rather than nagging or coercive; it means being vulnerable and helpless, unable to protect yourself against the pain of being taken for granted or rejected; it means living in a great patience that doesn’t demand intervention, divine or human, when things don’t unfold according to your will; it means letting God be God and others be themselves without either having to submit to your wishes or your timetable….that’s the invitation”. (Reflection adapted from Joy Bowen)
“We must make the choices that enable us to fulfill the deepest capacities of our real selves”. Thomas Merton
Prayer
Lord Jesus, help us: to be present without demanding our presence be recognised; to give without demanding; to be invitational rather than threatening, to be vulnerable; living in a great patience that doesn’t demand intervention, divine or human, when things don’t unfold according to my will.
Amen.
Sourced from: https://www.vinnies.org.au/icms_docs/329242_Spiritual_Reflection_Guide_Jan-April_2022.pdf
Read LessCatholic Identity and Mission in Our School
WITH MRS ERIN MCGOVERN
Thank You- Money Raised for Flood Appeal
A very big thankyou to all our families and members of the St Joseph school community for their very generous donations towards the Lismore Flood Appeal. Together as a community we were able to raise over $700 and it was wonderful to see the generosity and compassion that was shown, especially when we also encountered our own local flood situations.
Holy Week
This week our students, during their Religion lessons, have been learning about the events of Holy Week that commence this Sunday with Palm Sunday and then continue on next week with Holy Thursday and Good Friday in the lead up to Easter Sunday when Jesus resurrected from the dead.
Today we held a Holy Week Prayer Liturgy to signify and mark the importance of this special time in our Churches calendar. As part of the Liturgy Fr James reenacted the ‘Washing of the Feet’ with some members of our school community.
On Holy Thursday, Jesus held the Last Supper for the disciples and washed their feet. This day is significant because it was the first known version of ‘Mass’, when Jesus shared the Eucharist with His Disciples, the origins of an integral part of our Catholic Faith tradition. The Washing of the Disciples' feet is also significant because it was a demonstration of Jesus' message to serve others, one of the founding pillars of our Catholic identity and faith. As Christians we are asked to serve others through kindness, compassion and acts of charity and love for all.
Thank you again to our wonderful school community who generously donated $108.80 towards our Caritas Lenten Project Compassion Appeal. We know this will go towards improving the lives of those less fortunate in impoverished and disadvantaged countries.
First Reconciliation
This week some of our students made their Sacrament of First Reconciliation. It was wonderful to see our students engage in this Sacrament so beautifully. We thank the Year 4 teachers for preparing the Students in the lead up, Fr James for his friendly and calm manner, and you, our wonderful families, for supporting your children during this important part of their faith journey.
Congratulations to William Clarke, Noah Coade, Addison Connors, Caleb Fairhall, Hunter Glass, Noah Davies, Molly Grace, Chayse Jones, Zak Kane, Jason Micallef, Peyton-Maree Moor, Bella Morrison, Finley O'Donnell, Amy Read, Ethan Shore, Anabel Smee, Idabelle Tamblyn & Chelsea Workman.
What a wonderful term of learning, growing and achieving we have had for all our students. Thanks to our wonderful teachers who go above and beyond to create great learning experiences for our students, and support every child to be the best they can be. We wish all our students and families a wonderful Easter and end of term break, and we look forward to seeing all our students return safe, well and rested for another fantastic term.
Easter Prayer for Families
Lord, as we gather together as family and friends; we invite you once again into our lives. May the hope of your resurrection color our days. May the promise of your spirit working in us light up our lives. May the love you revealed to us shape our giving. We ask this through Christ our Lord, Amen.
Learning & Teaching in Our School
WITH MRS KRYSTAL BRADY
COMPASS- School Communication Platform APP
As part of a restructure across the Diocese of Lismore, St Joseph’s Primary
School will be moving to a new communication & school management platform called - COMPASS School Manager. The entire Compass platform will become our school community application from the beginning of Term Two this year. Please note that the Compass Platform will replace our current SZapp from the beginning of Term 2.
To learn more about the COMPASS Platform please click here.
About the Compass Platform
The Compass platform is a web-based system that is accessible on any modern web browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome & Safari) or by using the Compass School Manager iOS or Android App. Every parent receives a separate login to Compass which we will provide to you tonight after 5pm.
At the start of term 2, you have the ability to;
- Receive notifications about school events, news and information
- Enter an explanation for absences
- Communicate with your child’s teachers,
- Update your family contact details (mobile phone & email)
- View your child’s timetable and the school calendar
- Download and view your child’s academic reports
- Book parent-teacher conferences (parent/teacher interviews)
- Pay and provide digital consent for events (No more permission slips)
- Order lunches from the Canteen
- Pay school fees
We are asking that all families become connected to Compass as soon as possible. Support will be offered for those parents who require help. You will need to ensure a high level of security around your Compass app, as you would your personal banking apps.
For any assistance email the school at kmpp@lism.catholic.edu.au.
Read LessLearning Support in our School
WITH MRS TRACEY DUNCAN
STUDENT AWARDS FOR WEEKS 9 & 10, TERM 1
CLASS |
MARY MACKILLOP AWARD Recognises Catholic attitude, behaviours & helping those in need |
ST JOSEPH Recognises positive actions witnessed within our school community |
CATHERINE McAULEY Recognises a growth mindset & effort in learning |
KTruth |
Scarlett Drew | Zavier Batterson | Alaynah Moor |
KHonour |
Colby Duff | Fletcher Smith | Ivy Fraser |
1Truth |
Isaac Fairhall | Kiera Goodman | Francesca Tamblyn |
1Honour |
Hugh Atkinson | Eden Passmore | Eve Hegerty |
2Truth |
Gregory Horgan | Liam Fulford | Amali Webber |
3Truth |
Evie Brady | Claire Meehan | Vincent Thurlow |
3Honour |
Amber Drew | Maddison Russell | Ella Frewen |
4Truth |
Heshma Lingamneni | Hunter McIver | Ari Abigall |
4Honour |
Gus Pearson | Lleyton Kemp | Addison Connors |
5Truth |
Temperance Kuhn | Kye Males | Thomas Prior |
5Honour |
Hamish Osborne | Brea Wade | Bonnie Frewen |
6Truth |
Nell Westerman | Chelsea Workman | Marcos Scott |
6Honour |
Seffano Vinas | Grace Westerman | Jordan Connors |
School Canteen - Order your Child's Lunch via COMPASS APP
As of Term 2 how families order their chidren's lunches will change. No longer will the Flexischools App be available. Lunch orders will now be placed under the COMPASS CANTEEN. For instructions on how to use this new system please click here.
If you currently have money on your Flexischools Wallet and do not have a child at St Paul's College you will need to arrange a refund. Click here for instructions.
Please note, on Page 7 it covers how to add funds to the parent & student wallets - it should be made very clear that parents should ONLY add funds to their own wallets, as students do not have the ability to do their own orders through Compass.
If by accident parents add the funds to the student wallet, a request to Compass to transfer the funds back would have to be made. It is preferred that parents not use wallet funds for Canteen wherever possible, and just pay using your attached credit card at check out.
Also, all refunds/cancellations are refunded back to the parent wallet, NOT to their credit card. It is in the Compass terms of service that this is the process, so it should be made clear as a reminder for the parents.
Don't forget to order online via the COMPASS APP prior to 8.45am.
Welcome to iHUB News.
Have a little spare time? We need your help to cover our new library books and home readers. Contact us on 65 62 5501 if you can help.
Do you have any overdue Library books at home? We are in the process of carrying out a stocktake in the Library, so if you have any unreturned books at home please send them into school next term. Thank you.
Joey's Makerspace is looking for donations of items such as: tissue boxes, paper towel tubes, old CD's, any cardboard, string, paper cups etc.
Any donations can be brought to the School Office. Thank you.
Read LessWITH MR MICHAEL WATTS
CROSS COUNTRY
Well done to all Stage 2 & 3 students on participating in the Cross Country during their sport sessions this week. Children had limited preparation due to rain and wet fields but still impressed with their effort. Those who came in the first 6 positions are eligible for the Zone Cross Country to be held on Wednesday 4th May. Details to come in Term 2. Keep Training!
Note: Kinder, Year 1 and Year 2 runs will be held during Term 2 at a date to be decided.
NETBALL CLINICS
We finally finished Netball Clinics after a stop start term with COVID and rain!
For those who want to continue their Netball experience there will be a Holiday Clinic for 8-10 year olds on Wednesday 20th April at Kempsey Netball Courts. Cost $25. Details below.
St Joseph's OOSH & Vacation Care
WE ARE HIRING AT JOEY’S OUT OF SCHOOL HOURS CARE
Do you love working with primary school-aged children? Joey’s Out of School Hours Care is seeking Casual Team Members for Before and After School Care and Vacation Care. We have two dedicated classrooms at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Kempsey and great outdoor facilities. No formal qualifications are required, just passion and dedication. Rostered hours are varied across the week, either before school, after school and/or vacation care. We aim to fit into your schedule. To find out more call Linda Lewthwaite on 0407 406 433 or email linda.lewthwaite@lism.catholic.edu.au
Joey’s welcomes students from Kindergarten to Year 6 from all schools in the Macleay Valley and surrounding areas. We provide high quality Before School, After School and Vacation Programs.
Joey’s is located in two dedicated classrooms on our St Joseph’s Catholic Primary Campus. The Program is headed by a qualified teacher and is supported by dedicated and experienced staff who plan and manage programs that offer both fun and educational activities.
The Before and After School Care may cost as little as $3 per day after the child care subsidy and Vacation programs as little as $8 per day. You can make both casual and permanent bookings.
To find out more and to explore the enrolment process visit our website at https://www.kmpplism.catholic.edu.au/out-of-school-hours-care