SJW *Special Student-Written Edition* Newsletter

4 November 2020

Weekly Prayer Reflection

God our Creator, we pray for the holy men and women who have gone before us. We are thankful for the saints who are the champions of our faith. 

Help us to walk in the footsteps of the many saints’ and follow their examples of dedication, love and service.

May we be every inspired by the generosity and courage of Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop.  

Please help us to devote ourselves to a lifetime of love and service.

We ask this in your name,

Amen

Written by Kitty and Bella - Year 6

From the Principal's Desk - Written by Year 4

Wellbeing Week - by Tyler G, Year 4

You might notice that your children are not having to do any homework this week. This is because we have declared this week as Wellbeing Week. Wellbeing Week gives everyone a break from doing stressful stuff of an afternoon. We will also have some extra activities like dancing and yoga in the hall with Mrs Starr and some treats for the staff members for Wellbeing Week. We hope that everyone enjoys a break over this week. Your wellbeing is about your mental, physical and emotional health. 

By Tyler

Melbourne Cup - by James D, Year 4

The 3nd of November is a special day. Can you guess why?  It’s the Melbourne Cup. Yesterday in the classes teachers and students watched  the Melbourne Cup horse race. Most of the teachers wore a fascinator for the great event. This tradition of dressing up for a race day started in England.  

By James

Melbourne Cup Fun

Our New Yarning Circle -by Declan G, Year 4

Thank you to Mrs Starr, Miss Cas and Mrs Priestley for designing our new Yarning Circle with some help from local elders. The Yarning Circle was built using a government grant through the Local Schools Hub. We are very grateful for this peaceful space. Yesterday,  the Hon. Michelle Landry MP visited the Yarning Circle and today Miss Cas spoke on assembly about the significance of our Yarning Circle.

By Declan

School Fees - by Carlos, Year 4

All school fees are due on the 9th November. Parents are responsible for paying their child's school fees. 

By Carlos

Instrumental Music Concert - by Elsie T, Year 4

This week on Thursday, the Grade 4 students will be performing under the shed. The Grade 4s were given an instrument and have been learning it all year. There will be four songs performed altogether. The band will be conducted  by Ms Luck, and they’ll be performing Jingle Bells and Power Rock. The strings group will be conducted by Dr Hall, and they’ll be performing Jingle Bells and Merrily We Roll Along. Any parents who wants to come will have to sign in and out. I would also like to say a big thank you to the music teachers for being so wonderful and for teaching the Grade 4 students. Thanks to Ms Luck the brass and woodwind teacher, Dr Hall the strings teacher and Mr Robinson, the percussion teacher. 

By Elsie

Prep Orientation and TCC Orientation - by Sofia B, year 4

Next Tuesday, the 2021 Preppies will attend their Orientation Day here at school. This will be a chance for them to see what it is like at St Joseph’s Wandal. Year Six students who will be attending TCC in 2021 will be going to TCC for the day. Their experience at TCC will hopefully help them understand their way around the school and know what to expect. 

By Sofia

Important Dates Term 4

Week

DateDetails

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)

An All Saints Day Prayer written by Year 2

 

Dear God, 

 Thank you for all saints who show us the way and help us through difficult times.

 St. Joseph, guide our school and greater community.

 St. Mary of the Cross MacKillop, help all Australians to follow in your footsteps. 

 Amen

 Written by Kate, Sam, Indie and Maddy

Crazy socks - This Friday everyone is invited to wear crazy socks. You will need to bring a gold coin to donate to Catholic Mission. We can’t wait!

Ice blocks - It is going to be extra hot on Friday with our crazy socks on, so bring along 50c to buy a Zooper Dooper ice block. All of the money raised will be going to Catholic Mission.

Yarning Circle

We have a new area to visit up near the top oval. It is called the Yarning Circle. The Yarning Circle can be used for story telling and will encourage us to learn more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Culture. In this space we take turns talking and we listen carefully to our friends. The Yarning Circle is a place that we show respect to everyone. 

Written by Year 2

Reconciliation Action Plan Launch (RAP)

Today Miss Cas came to our school and taught us another way to say and do an Acknowledgment of Country.  Miss Cas showed us how we could add the words "To Love is to Serve" at the end of the Acknowledgement.  

We are looking forward to Miss Cass coming to our classrooms to talk about the RAP and to teach us how to use the Yarning Circle.

Making Jesus Real Club

This Friday for the Preps, 1s and 2s we will have a MJR club. It will be run by Miss Murphy and a little group of year four girls. It will happen in Miss Murphy classroom in Prep when it is the little kids'(Prep's, 1’s and 2’s) playtime. Together we will be making some arts and crafts about people we are thankful for or grateful for. The arts and crafts we will make will be some drawings, cards, origami and letters. This program might continue if there are enough people that come this week. We encourage that parents tell their kids about this program and see if they want to come this Friday 6th November. We hope to see you there!

Written by a small group of Year 4 students.

St Vincent de Paul Christmas Hamper Appeal

Please bring in some groceries for the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Hamper Appeal. This will help people less fortunate have a wonderful Christmas. The baskets will be kept in the hall. 

Written by Year 2

Have a great week,

Rheanna Starr

Curriculum Update

Book Swap Thanks - From Year Two

Thank you to the teachers for organising the book swap and thank you to all the families who brought in books and money donations. We nearly raised $100 for Catholic Mission.  

Around the Classsrooms - by Jack S, Olivia G, Hannah A and Henry V

What was the best thing that happened this week?

Learning in Hass - Harper in Year Four

What is your favourite thing to play at school?

I like to play in the sunken court - Emmi in Year Two

What have you enjoyed learning about this week?

We like listening to the Zaccheus' story, learning about materials in Science and learning to spell new words. - Ella and Oliver in Prep

What has your class been learning this week?

We have been practising multiplication and division, writing acrostic poems and finding out about celebrations around the world. - Laura and Will in Year Three

What have you enjoyed learning about this week?

I really liked learning coding skills and music. - Luke in Year Three

What's happening with spelling in Year Two?

2020 Spelling Bee

The 2020 Spelling Bee is nearly here.  The finals will take place on 3 December at 12 noon.  Our Spelling Bee is a fun way for our students to focus on spelling and word work.  The aim is to encourage all students to seek personal bests and improve their spelling and English skills.  The competition will have three divisions – Early for Preps to Year 2, Junior for Years 3&4 and Senior for Years 5&6. 

The lists can be found here

Photo by mera nazaria on Unsplash

Have a great week,

“Creativity is as important as literacy.” - Sir Ken Robinson

Have an amazing week of learning,

Janette McLennan

Awards

Congratulations to our award winners. For more information please click here.

Touch Football - Under 6 Stingers and Under 8 Vipers

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


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