St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Wandal Newsletter

14 October 2020

Casting the Net - Weekly Prayer Reflection

Changing the Hard Things in Life

In the past week, I have heard a number of people tell how their lives have turned around with Covid.  In each case, the situation they found themselves in was not good.  Loss of work, having to move in with people who were difficult, differing ways in which their lives were harshly constricted happened t them…and still is, to some extent.  But these people have made a way through the pain to something good which they wouldn’t have had without Covid.  

This week the Church celebrates the Feast of the Exultation of the Cross.  At its heart, this Feast says that good came come out of bad.  Jesus’ Death was a release of the creative life and love of God made visible in his Resurrection.  It is a sign of hope to us. What seems more helpless than an ignominious death on a cross but Jesus made even that a source of life.

So, what did the people, whose stories I heard in this past week, do.  Firstly, they recognised they had options.  Too often, when we are suffering in a hard place, we think we are helpless. But we are not.  If we start thinking of all the different things we could do, and especially the crazy funny wild things we could do (but which we know we would never do), we give God room to move.  We let our imagination in, and our sense of humour, and we give ourselves permission to change.  As we implement the change that is positive for us, we actually even get space within ourselves to have compassion for the people who may be causing us grief.  Yes, we find ourselves loving people who do unlovable things – without compromising our integrity.  This is the best change we can have in our lives:  learning to let life and love rise in what feels like the dead places in our lives.

Sr Kym Harris osb

From the Principal

In the next month or so, teachers, in conjunction with the Learning Support staff and Leadership team of the school, will commence the complex preparations for class groupings for the 2021 school year. If you feel you have information that teachers may not be already aware of (and which may be useful for this process) please ensure you notify your class teachers at your earliest convenience.


The Teaching staff list is not yet finalised for the 2021 year. This will be published in the newsletter once all contracts and other associated arrangements are completed towards the end of the school year. A gentle reminder that this school does not take requests for particular teachers (they are ALL wonderful).

School Fees

Our Term Four fees have now been distributed via email and are due for full payment by 7 November. EVERY PARENT in this school should have received an invoice by email. If you have not, please notirfy the office staff. If you are unable to meet your payment obligations, then please contact the office to make a time to arrange to discuss this with me. 

Christmas Concert and Year 6 Graduation

Despite some short-lived excitement from staff when we heard about some upcoming easing of restrictions, after receiving advice, the decision has been made to cancel our 2020 Christmas Concert. To hold the event, we would have had to meet an almost insurmountable amount of criteria including, as it would have been held out of school hours, ensuring that everyone, including EVERY CHILD present remained 1.5 m apart at all times. I have spoken to Santa on the phone, and have arranged for him to visit school in the last week in order to give out some treats as he usually does on the night of the concert. The P and F and School Board assisted with making this final decision and as always, I am very grateful for their advice and support. I thank you all for your understanding in what continues to be a challenging year to navigate.

Year 6 graduation arrangements are nearly finalised; we are just awaiting some last minute confirmations that our planned events can proceed. A letter will be forthcoming to our Year 6 families via the School App in the next day couple of days. We thank you for your patience. 

Interschool Gymkhana

This Sunday, 18 October the annual interschool gymkhana will be held at the Alton Downs Pony Club. This competition is for Prep – Year 12 students across a range of events including: 

Prep, Year 1 and 2 – Western Bend, Figure of 8, Clover Leaf, Running T, Mini Time Trial, Barrel, Minti Race and Half Hitch.  

Years 3 to 12 – Western Bend, Scudda Ho, Wagon Wheel, Running T, Time Trial, Barrel, Drum & Peg and Half Hitch.  

Students will be required to supply all of their own equipment and required to wear cream/white jodphurs or jeans and our school PE shirt.  

Miss Hinz has very generously offered to attend this event to cheer on and support the St Joseph’s Wandal; pariticipants: Billie, Ava and Clancie. Good luck girls!  

Nominations are still open, and if you have any questions or require any other information please feel free to contact Miss Hinz here at school.

Reminder Photo Day

School Photo Day is Friday  23 October. Order envelopes were dispersed to students at the end of last term and must be returned on Photo Day.

MSP Photography has implemented new processes for the capturing and production of school photos while the COVID-19 health crisis continues At present, no sibling photos are being taken by MSP. Further, school photos have changed to a composite style. What is a Composite Style? A Composite product is when students are photographed individually, with the group created digitally using a composite template. This eliminates the need for students to be grouped together in close contact with either themselves, or staff.

 

For more information, you may like to visit MSP’s website, which is https://www.msp.com.au/

P and F Annual General Meeting - You are invited!

The Annual General Meeting for the school’s P and F will be held in the Staffroom at 5.15pm on Thursday 19 November. During this meeting, all positions are declared vacant. We would welcome your attendance at this meeting (please do not fear that if you turn up you will be tasked with a ‘job’).

Book Week - Dress up Day

There is only one week left until Book Character Dress up day  (Wednesday Week 3). Please see Miss McLennan's section of the newsletter for further details. Please do not go to any expense for this day, the most creative costumes are often the ones the children make themselves!

Here are some photos of past staff efforts during Book Week....     

Important Dates Term 4

2

16/10

Prayer Assembly 5

3

 

21/10

Book Week

Dress up as your favourite Book Character Day and Parade- Wednesday

3

23/10

MSP School Photo Day

4

29/10

Year 3 (2021) instrument testing

4

29/10-30/10

Year 6 ‘Camp Days’

4

30/10

Prayer Assembly Year 4E

5

6/11*

Prayer Assembly Year 4C

5

5/11

Last lessons for strings students

Instrumental Music Performance on assembly

6

10/11

Year 6 half day visit to TCC

Prep 2021 Orientation Sessions

6

11/11

Remembrance Day

6

13/11

Prayer Assembly Year 3R

7

20/11

Prayer Assembly Year 3H

8

25/11

Year 6 graduation Mass at St Joseph’s Cathedral 5:00pm

8

27/11

Christmas Concert – cancelled

9

30/11

2021 School Captain Speeches

9

1/12

2021 House Captain Speeches

Wandal’s Got Talent (upper school)

9

2/12

Wandal’s Got Talent (lower school)

9

3/12

Whole School Spelling Bee Final

Report Cards distributed via Parent Lounge

9

4/12

Year 6 Liturgy and presentation of Graduation Certificates

Last Day of Term 4!

 

 

 

Have a great week,

Kellie Jenkinson

From the Assistant to the Principal: Religious Education (APRE)

Prayer Reflection - The Parable of the Wedding Banquet

This gospel parable reflects the inclusive way in which Jesus lived his life. In many ways, Jesus was a scandal in his society because he didn’t obey the social boundaries. He was very clear of being inclusive and attentive to those who were normally shunned. Today, those boundaries are just as clear and easily identified but the methods of excluding people have perhaps become a bit more subtle. Who are the ‘shunned’ and ‘left out’ in our society today? Where do the boundaries lie? Who would Jesus be reaching out to and seeking to include in today’s society?

Catholic Mission Month

This year, students across Australia are encouraged to not only learn about Cambodia and the work of the Church there, but to do something extraordinary for Mission through fundraising, advocacy and prayers. As part of Catholic Mission Month, each week students will learn about and pray for those at the Arrupe Centre in Cambodia, which provides vital care for those who would otherwise have limited opportunities or support to lead a fulfilling life.  To assist Catholic Mission with vital fundraising for this project, students are able to wear crazy socks (with their normal full school uniform) on Friday 6 November for a gold coin donation.  Ice blocks will be sold on this day too for 50c, with all proceeds going to Catholic Mission.  

Prayer Assembly - Year 5 J

Upcoming Workshops for the Celebration of Confirmation and Eucharist

A reminder to the families who have opted to complete the preparation workshops for the Celebration of Confirmation and Eucharist in 2021.  The workshops will be held at Kevin Castles Centre and are scheduled on the following dates:

·      October 19 Sacrament of Penance at 6pm at the Cathedral.

·      October 27 and 28 October Eucharist Workshop #1

·      November 17 and 18 Eucharist Workshop #2  

Have a great week,

Rheanna Starr

Curriculum Update

Virtual Art Gallery

Check out our virtual art gallery!  We are always looking for ways to share our wonderful work with you and here is a way to share some of our art from 2020.  Keep checking back as new work will be continually added.

Book Week 2020

This year, the CBCA Book Week 2020 will be held during the week of October 17-23 2020.  Teachers are currently preparing various awesome activities to help celebrate this important week.  The theme for this week is 'Curious creatures, wild minds'.

2020's Book Week is looking a little different, but it is certainly looking to be fabulous!  There are so many interesting (and some a little bit gross) things planned to help celebrate our theme.

Our fabulous book character parade will take place on Wednesday, 21 October at 8:40 a.m.

We would remind parents and caregivers that there is no expectation for expensive costumes to be bought, but rather love to see the creative and interesting ideas that can be created with very little expense.  We do encourage everyone to dress up on the day.  Students with elaborate and difficult to move in costumes may wish to get changed throughout the day.  When creating a costume, students and parents are reminded that it is a way of celebrating book week, and so we love to see book characters (and not movie characters) represented.  We also love to see those students who bring along their book - and enjoy sharing excerpts in class.

Have a great week,

Janette McLennan

Touch Football - Under 6 Stingers and Under 8 Vipers

The weekly draw can be found at https://rockhamptontouch.com/juniors/junior-draw/.  

8:00 am Field 1    (6 years)  (B)  SJW Stingers  v  St Peters Stars

8:40 am Field 1    (8 years)  (A)  RGS Cowboys  v  SJW Vipers