St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Wandal Newsletter

9 November 2022

Ritual and Remembrance

Last week, we celebrated the Melbourne Cup.  This week we have Remembrance Day.  On both these days we have rituals that help us enter into the meaning of these events.  Having lived in Melbourne for 18 years I can say that the Melbourne Cup is more than a horse race.  It is one of the times that the serious city of Melbourne breaks out into exhilarating frivolity.  Later this week we will honour our war dead by the solemn ritual of a minute’s silence.  Only silence can hold together honour for the dead and the conviction that we must work for peace in their name.

 

Rituals are very important in helping us express and understand the movements of our heart.  Our heads want stimulation but our hearts grow deeper through repetition.  Routine signs of love can actually deepen our relationships if we do them attentively. As something is done over and over, the memory adds layer upon layer of significance. Our children delight in family rituals as they tell them who they are as a family.  Many of your children will now be looking towards the things “we” do at Christmas.

 

For Catholics, ritual prayer is very important. God is so great and mysterious that we can only go deeper into our hearts little by little. Regular prayer helps us in our relationship with God. Ritual prayers, like night prayer, with your children are a wonderful way for you to help them grow in God’s love.  Ritual prayer in our schools is central to our Catholic identity. But the greatest ritual of all is the Eucharist – the outstanding prayer where Jesus is present in our midst.

 

Loving Father, our hearts are so mysterious because they are made in your image.  Send us your Spirit to appreciate the place of routine in our relationship with you and with each other. May Jesus, our brother, lead us into the ways of love. We ask this confident that you will hear us.  

Sr Kym Harris osb

 

From the Principal

Next week is the Swimming Carnival. This is a fun, friendly event to allow the children to showcase their skills while competing and earning house points. The carnival commences at 5:00 pm and should finish around 7:30 pm. Families are responsible for supervising children during the carnival. This is not a drop-off and pick-up later event. The P and F are cooking a Sausage Sizzle for dinner.

 

The Christmas Concert practice is underway across the year levels. The Concert is on Friday, 25 November in the undercover area. Each year level performs a Christmas item on the night. The class items are the first event of the evening and commence at 6:00 pm promptly. If your child is going to be absent, please inform the teachers to allow for appropriate planning of performances.

This year, Fun Time Amusements is the host for the rides and activities. The Parents and Friends Association has generously decided to cover the cost of these for all families.

The P and F have also organised several food vans as well as running the BBQ and bar. The food vans include Pizzas, Donuts, Icecream, Sno Cones and Fairy Floss. Pre-ordering and payment for the BBQ is to be done through Flexischools, and the cut-off date needs to be observed as no extras can be accommodated.

 

Last week a letter was distributed to all the Year Five families about student leadership at St Joseph’s Wandal. The correspondence was to inform families that after collaboration with the Year Five and Six students there will not be Captains for the school or houses in 2023. This decision has been made in consultation with the School Board, Parents and Friends Executive, staff and students.

 

Alternatively, across the school year, all Year Six students will be divided into four Student Council groups to serve as the student council for one term. Each council will have up to five students representing each of the three houses; MacKillop, Penola and Tenison. The student council will be the leaders who are most involved in the decision-making and helping of the community for the events that arise in the term.

 

The new process allows for equitable leadership opportunities, considers how we support students to participate and voice their ideas and how we can be accountable for feedback for their ideas. All students have the right to participate in decisions that affect their lives. Subsidiarity requires us to make decisions with the people that are closest and most affected by the experience.

 

The leadership team and staff are excited to work with the students to construct a student leadership approach that strives to serve the vision of St Joseph’s and creates opportunities for all Year Six students to participate in a community that serves God, seeks justice, accepts responsibility and strives for excellence.

 

Have a great week

Bernadette Brennan

Swimming Carnival Information

The nominations for the school swimming carnival are now closed. No late nominations will be accepted. 

Students who have nominated for events have been tested during PE swimming lessons to confirm whether they are capable of competing in these nominated events. Therefore, a small number of students’ nominations have been amended to align with their ability shown in these lessons. 

Thank you 

Mr Tapscott


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


                                                                         

 


Gospel Reflection

This scripture from the Gospel of Luke invites us to reflect on and to question where the presence of God is, in our own lives. Are we open to the idea that our knowledge and experience of God can grow and change? It is not God that grows and changes. Are we aware of the mystery and grace – God's gift to us in our everyday consciousness? How do you receive God into your heart and life?

Remembrance Day prayer Assembly at 10.40am

Friday is Remembrance Day. On the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month every year, a minute’s silence is observed and dedicated to those soldiers who died fighting to protect the nation. We also pause to remember all of the men and women of the Australian Defence Force who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Please join us at 10.40am in the Hall as Year 3 White lead prayer to commemorate Remembrance Day. 

Have you donated to the St Vincent De Paul Christmas Appeal?

Prayer Assembly and Roster

Each week as a community of believers we celebrate through prayer and ritual what it means to be a Catholic. Prayers and rituals will be led by a whole class year level and the purpose is not to perform but to foster the development of our student's spiritual and faith journey. This may mean that not every child will speak or take an active part in leading the prayer assembly. The scripture reference from Matthew highlights and reminds us of the importance and purpose of our school Prayer Assemblies. Jesus said “Where two or three gather in my name, I am there with them” Matthew 18:20.

Year LevelFocus
Date
Year 3 WhiteRemembrance Day
Friday 11 November
Year 3 GoldPrayer Reflection
Friday 18 November
Year 2 Prayer Reflection
Friday 25 November
Year 6Graduation Prayer Reflection
Friday 2 December

From the Assistant Principal Curriculum - APC

    Poetry in Year Four

     Year Four have enjoyed listening to our guest authors Ms Rea, Miss Hayes and Miss McLennan who have generously shared their poetry with us. Students have loved being exposed to their wonderful poems and particularly liked seeing teachers getting to share their work.

    Thank you!Got it, thanks!Perfect!Are the suggestions above helpful?

    SPORTS NEWS

    Touch Draw

    https://rockhamptontouch.com/juniors/junior-draw-season-2-2022/

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    PARENT INFORMATION