2024 Week 5 Term 3

Dear Parents

Welcome to our mid Term Newsletter. As always we have much happening at St Joseph's School as we lead up to our Father's Day stall, breakfast and Liturgy. Our senior students head off to their camps, early September.  All children are practising hard for the Creative Arts Dance Production, Confirmation with our Bishop is just a few weeks away, Pre-Lit commences with our Kindergarten 2025 children, Whole School Rewards Day Colour Run and all the learning activities throughout each class and Stage. We look forward to seeing you at school for these wonderful celebrations.

Bain Park Concern

We have noticed that many students from St Joseph's Primary School, Wauchope, have been enjoying Bain Park in the mornings and afternoons. Whilst it is great to see them staying active and socialising, we are increasingly concerned about reports of unsupervised play on the way to school and some instances of anti-social behaviour toward other park users.

We strongly encourage families to supervise their children at Bain Park to not only ensure their safety but promote positive behaviour for the benefit of all. Even if you allow your child to play at Bain Park before or after school without supervision, please remember that the school still holds a duty of care for your child once off school grounds. I remind everyone, that wearing our school uniform in the community and representing St Joseph'sSchool is a privilege. Please talk to your children regarding the importance of maintaining high standards, safe behaviour, and respect for all.

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

On Thursday 15 August 2024, we celebrated the Assumption of Mary. The day marked our belief that when Mary died both her body and soul were taken to Heaven.  

As a young woman, Mary made decisions to honour God by participating with God and doing her part in demonstrating love, the goodness of humanity and the importance humanity plays in God’s mission. In her humanity, Mary led others to recognise God’s holiness and she shows us that our humanity is sacramental. 

Perhaps Mary was taken body and soul, as Jesus was, to again remind us that being human is very good, so good that God chose humanity for God’s self to visibly enter our world. During the month of August we remind ourselves of the holiness of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

School Review

Last week our school participated in our 3 yearly School Review.  The ACER SIT Review is a formal process which appraises schools on the 9 Domains of the Australian Council for Educational Research as outlined in their School Improvement Tool.  On the conclusion of the three-day review, our staff members were presented with draft feedback which indicated great results across the board, as well as  recommendations to improve further. 

Many of the areas which require some refinements are practices that are well under way, but evidently not yet fully embedded.  Once we receive the formal review report we will be able to share specific elements of the report with our school community.

Thank you to all parents, staff, students and community members who were involved in the SIT Review process for the school. 

Sick Children

On occasion, children become unwell at school and need to go home to rest or receive medical attention. Sending a child home is also part of our safety plan to ensure that the spread of illness and contagious diseases is mitigated. It is important that parents have a network when this occurs. If the child's parent is unable to pick him or her up due to work commitments, another adult must be arranged to collect the child and care for them until the parents arrive home.

Upon enrolment, parents were asked to nominate two emergency contacts. Please ensure the contacts you have nominated are able to be contacted in the event of an emergency. Any updates to the contact names provided must be communicated to the school Office personnel, 6585 1745.

National Child Protection Week

Week 7 is National Child Protection Week, and the theme is “Every Conversation Matters”.  One of the most important ways we can keep our children safe, is by opening up conversation with them on being safe.  Encourage your child to “tune into” their worries such as:

• Listen to our bodies – if we feel unsafe with certain situations or people, we may get butterflies in our bellies, sweaty palms etc, so go to a trusted adult for help
• Listen to their worries, and give them a voice in their decision-making
• Speak up if you see a situation that is unsafe

Health & Wellbeing - Mindfulness

The following presentation from The Resilience Project is all about Mindfulness.
Mindfulness is our ability to be present at any given moment. We practice this by using intentional awareness and concentrating on what you are doing when you are doing it.

Thousands of studies into Mindfulness indicate that with regular practice, Mindfulness can lead to benefits such as; reduced stress, reduced rumination, increased memory, increased cognitive function and physical health benefits through improved immunity.

View Part 4 of the series here:

Part 4 - Mindfulness: https://theresilienceproject.com.au/2023-parent-carer-hub-inspire-hugh/
Mindfulness can be practised through meditation, yoga, flow-states and daily activities such as cooking.
Source: UC Berkeley, Greater Good Science, American Psychological Association
For mental health resources and support information, visit The Resilience Project’s Support Page.

Have a lovely weekend ahead.

Peace be with you

Brendan Kiely

Heavenly Father,

We thank You for the gift of our fathers and for the many ways they reflect Your love, care, and strength. We ask You to bless all fathers with wisdom, patience, and compassion, that they may be true examples of Your love in their families.

Grant them the grace to lead their children with kindness and understanding, and to always provide guidance rooted in faith. May they find joy in their role as fathers, and may they feel Your presence in every challenge they face.

Bless those fathers who have gone before us and now rest in Your eternal peace. Comfort families who may be grieving the loss of a father, and bring them the solace of Your love.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Confirmation Inscription Mass

We are excited the Inscription Mass for our Confirmation candidates will take place tomorrow evening, Saturday 24 August 2024 at 6.00 pm in Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Church. This special Mass marks an important step in the faith journey of our young people as they prepare to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. During the Mass, the candidates will be formally presented to the parish community and also receive a blessing as they continue their preparation to be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit. We invite all families and parishioners to join us in supporting and praying for our candidates as they embrace this significant moment in their spiritual lives.

Sacrament of Confirmation with Bishop Greg

We are delighted to be hosting the Sacrament of Confirmation on Friday 20 September 2024. The Most Reverend Bishop Greg will preside over the ceremony, where our Confirmation candidates will receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit and be fully initiated into the Catholic Church. This is a significant and sacred milestone in the faith journey of our young people.  We invite all parishioners, families, and friends to join us in prayer and celebration on this special day. Let us come together as a community to support our candidates as they take this important step in their spiritual lives.

Professional Learning for Religious Education Success

On Tuesday our dedicated teaching staff actively engaged in professional learning to enhance our students' success in Religious Education. Aligned with our School Improvement Goal, we are focusing on implementing evidence-based pedagogical strategies that will deepen students' understanding and engagement with their faith. By equipping our teachers with the latest research and best practices, we are committed to fostering an enriching learning environment where every student can thrive in their Religious Education journey. This ongoing professional development ensures that our approach is both effective and inspiring, supporting our mission to nurture faith-filled, informed, and compassionate individuals.

Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Kindergarten Mathematics Mazes

Father Felix visits Stage 1

Diocesan Athletics Carnival - 20 August

Polding Rugby 7's trials - Sydney - 14 August

100 Days of Kindergarten - 5 August 

ICAS Assessments - Started 8 August