St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Wandal Newsletter

26 October 2022

Our Friends, the Saints

Friendship is one of the deepest joys we can know.  The love and support of friends enhances our joy and pleasure in good times and helps us face pain and sorrow that could cripple us.  Our experience of friendship is not confined to those here with us on earth.  Those who have died continue to love us still.  I experienced this somewhat dramatically a few years ago.  Without realising it, I had developed a serious heart condition.  The local medicos were wonderful…but nothing was showing up on tests.  I felt worse and worse till I prayed to Sr Joan, who had died a year earlier.  We had lived together for 12 years and developed a deep friendship.  From the bottom of my heart, I asked, ‘O Joan, please sort this out.’ Within 24 hours I was in Brisbane, a few hours later having an angiogram.  During this, I felt I was dying but I was calm:  Joan was with me, more real than if she had been sitting there.  I lived.  The relief of the stent was that dramatic but more dramatic was the loving presence that had been with me.  Thank you, Joan.

Sr Joan is one of my personal saints.  You have yours.  They are the people who have known and loved you over the years – your grandparents and friends, work colleagues and, perhaps especially a child who has died.  They watch over us, caring and loving us.  They are with us and we need to take the time to sit and bask in their love.  Next week, the Church celebrates the Feast of All Saints.  This is our time to delight in our friends, our saints.

Loving God, I thank you for the people who have loved me through my life.  Let me appreciate how much care my departed loved ones have for me and let me delight in speaking to them of our love and of my need. I ask this in Jesus’ name, confident that you will hear me.

Sr Kym Harris osb

 

From the Principal

The Parents and Friends Association gathered last week for the Annual General Meeting followed by a general meeting. I am sincerely thankful for the work of the P and F and their commitment to the community and all the students.

 

Congratulations to the 2023 P and F Executive Committee members:

President: Bev Van Nunen

Vice President: Ryan Scott

Treasurer: Michael Harding

Secretary: Tanya Johnson

Cluster Representative: Nicole Murray

 

The committee are working on the Christmas Concert at the moment and will be calling for volunteers to support the event shortly.

 

During 2022, the Parents and Friends supported the school through the purchase of high jump mats and equipment, a donation towards library shelving, subsidising swimming lessons and the purchase of the upcoming waste management system. The P and F also hosted the very successful High Tea and Mother’s and Father’s Day stalls. If you have suggestions for 2023, please contact the P and F at  SJWL_PandFPresident@rok.catholic.edu.au

 

World Teachers Day is this Friday. Our teachers have shown great resilience during challenging times, all so they can give our students the best future possible. 

Hats off to teachers this World Teachers’ Day! Year 5 is leading a World Teachers Day prayer assembly that everyone is welcome to attend.

 

Have a great week and thank a teacher.

Bernadette Brennan

 

 

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


                                                                         

 


Prayer Reflection - Living the Gospel

 

For the Pharisee, his prayer is a competition. He prays aloud so that others can hear him and be impressed. Perhaps he thinks that God is as impressed as those who look up to him? His prayer is also an opportunity to make himself look good at the expense of another. Certainly, prayer is a time to celebrate with God our triumphs and successes, but above all it is an opportunity to be truly honest with God and with ourselves. The prayer of the tax collector is the most honest of prayers. This honesty is what is impressive; not the competitive showing off.

© Liturgy Help

St Vincent de Paul Society

We are collecting donations of non-perishable items some of which include tinned vegetables, cereals, long life milk, soft drinks, juice, and snacks such as chips, nuts, biscuits and lollies. Christmas themed items for donation may include pudding, fruit cake, mince pies, bon bons and long-life custard. The hampers will be kept in the hall. Thank you in advance for your generosity to this worthy cause.

Justice in Action

The Preps are selling cards that they have made to raise money for Catholic Mission to support families in Ethiopia who are living below the poverty line. All cards are for sale for a cash donation. For sale on Thursday, Friday and Monday while stock lasts.

Year 2 have designed posters to explain why we have ’Crazy Sock and Free Dress Day’

Prayer Assembly - World Teacher Day

Please join both Year 5 Classes in the Hall as they lead a prayer reflection to celebrate World Teachers Day

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 5 World Teacher's Day
Friday 28 October
Year 4Solemnity of All Saints
Tuesday 1 November
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

    PAT Assessments (Progressive Achievement)

    Currently all students at St Joseph’s Wandal in years one to six are undertaking PAT assessments in Reading and Mathematics.  PAT assessments are a way for us to identify cohort strengths and challenges, as well as individual student progress over time.  We also use the data we gather to develop priorities and challenges for 2023.

    OLA (Oral Language Assessments)

    Students in Prep to year two are also finalising these assessments.  OLAs support teachers as they assess and monitor the development of students’ oral language skills. The format of the OLA is often referred to as a sentence repetition task (SRT) and provides a diagnostic measure when assessing a student's receptive language. Sentence repetition tasks can provide information around language development of students.  The sentence patterns included in the assessment are important to identify if learners are understanding classroom instructions and discussions and stories that are being read to and by them, and if they are constructing meaningful texts.

    SPORTS NEWS

    PARENT INFORMATION

    Instrumental Music 2023

    If you wish to learn a musical instrument next year please click the following link