St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Wandal Newsletter

In Praise of Boredom.

My sister recently posted the following meme: ‘I love it when the kids tell me they are bored.  As though the lady in front of the sink full of dirty dishes is where you go to find out about how to have a good time.’  As I chuckled, I also realized how true it was.  The lady doing the washing up does indeed know a thing or two about ‘good times’.

As I child, I learnt to play the piano.  I don’t remember it as a happy experience and I was allowed (finally) to drop it at the age of 13.  Now 51 years later, I have taken up playing again and have been surprised at the delight it is giving me.  The big difference is not age but the wisdom I have gained in knowing that the boredom is part of the process of learning:  practice isn’t fun but it is necessary.

So many of the good things in our lives entail large chunks of boredom.  Washing the dishes is probably one of the least of them.  Yet we do those boring things for love.  Indeed, the boring things can show what is most precious to us and make us capable of loving even more. It can carve our spaces in our hearts that we didn’t know were there. Then in the big open spaces of boredom, we may be surprised by the delight of love.

Loving God, let me recognise and appreciate the boring things of my life. Let me give myself lovingly in those time and find beneath the boredom just how much I love my family, myself and you.  I ask this in Jesus’ name confident that you will hear me.

Sr Kym Harris osb

Whilst our students enjoyed an extra-long weekend, our staff gathered for a day of professional learning on Monday. We welcomed Father Noel Milner who spoke to us about St Paul and the early church. We also researched and discussed evidence-based approaches to successful teaching and learning expriences.

Staffing for 2020 is not yet finalised and teachers will not be appointed to classes until the very end of term (at the earliest). In 2020, we will be a fully two-stream school, having approximately doubled in enrolment numbers from 2014! We will offer two classes of each grade from Prep – Year 6.

In the next month or so, teachers, in conjunction with the Learning Support staff and Leadership team of the school, will commence preparations for class groupings for the 2020 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. A kind reminder that this school does not accept preferences for teachers or support staff.

Remember, every minute of the school day counts and we appreciate our teaching and learning remaining uninterrupted.

Last week we had:

 24 Late Student Arrivals

 27 Early Student Departures

 55 Whole Day Student Absences

Our P and F will meet tomorrow at 5pm in the staffroom. All are welcome to this meeting – we love seeing new faces! The school board will meet immediately afterwards at 6pm.

Our P and F plan and organise fundraisers and events as well as determine how funds raised are spent in the school. When we have a substantial group, the workload is greatly reduced and the creative ideas are enhanced!  The reality of these meetings is that it usually only a very small group of 5 or 6 people who turn up. Please do not think that you will be given a ‘job’ if you come along. It is a great opportunity to hear plans for the school and the new year, offer suggestions to make our school even better or to just sit and listen. Please consider giving one hour of your time, once a month to pop along to your P and F meeting.

One of the great things about our school is our community. It’s lovely to see parents chatting and mingling with each other before and after school. I do need to ask though, that if you are staying for a little while after the bell, that your children are with you, under your direct supervision. Due to the Outside School Hours Care Service moving to the Performing Arts Room, this area, including the Undercover Area, are designated OSHC areas. Due to legislative requirements, only people ‘signed in’ at OSHC are permitted in this area between the hours of 3.00pm-6.00pm and you will be asked to move. Thank you for your understanding in this matter.

Any students arriving early (before 8.15am) are expected to be enrolled and signed in by parents/caregivers at Before School Care where formal supervision is provided. Our OSHC coordinator, Hailey Svensen, can answer any questions you may have, as well as provide you with enrolment paperwork.  Hailey can be reached on 0429316543.

If you have volunteered in any capacity at our school throughout the 2019 school year, please join us for a Morning Tea on Friday 15 November. This is our way of saying ‘thank you.’ Our Year 5 class will be coordinating this event and more details will be shared over the coming weeks.

Year 6 Families…some reminders!

 You will receive your invitation to the Year Six Rite of Passage Celebration today. Please check your child’s school bag. RSVP’s are ESSENTIAL and payment is to be made via Flexischools.

 Have you indicated (via the e-form) whether you are returning or keeping (after paying payout cost) your child’s allocated Chromebook at the end of the year?

 Have you noted that on the last day of term, Friday 6th December, your children will receive their Year Six ‘graduation’ certificates at our end of year liturgy?

"Pray that God may direct and that St Joseph's humble spirit may guide."

Mary MacKillop (1898)

Please remember to bring registration forms with you, because towards the end of the Ritual of Remembering Baptism, Father will invite all participants to place their registration papers in a basket for collection.  Participants may choose to celebrate their Ritual of Remembering Baptism at Church on Saturday 26 October at the 6pm Mass or Sunday 27 October at 9.30am Mass. 

Please join us on Tuesday 5 November at 9am for Mass in the Hall followed by Morning Tea.  Year 5 will assist with parts of the Mass.

A reminder that Children’s Liturgy is held most Sundays at St Joseph’s Cathedral at 9.30am during the school term.   Please click on the link to access Mass times.

Students have been completing (Years 1 to 6) Progressive Achievement Tests in Reading and Mathematics.  These tests are an excellent way to gather norm-referenced, objective data that supports the other assessment data gathered by teachers through classroom practice.  These assessments are a requirement from the Diocesan Catholic Education Office, who are supporting the school to administer these tests. 

The information gathered over time will be of great benefit, allowing us to track strengths and trends across specific key areas.

PAT Reading examines reading comprehension, vocabulary and spelling.  PAT Mathematics looks at skills and understandings in number, algebra, geometry, measurement, statistics and probability.

If you require further information, please contact me through the office.

Year Four parents are asked to complete the e-form (via the skoolbag app) about Flipgrid.  Flipgrid is a great platform that allows students to make video recordings.  It is a fabulous tool for sharing ideas and insights with others.  Flipgrid is a secure platform and the only other people who can see these videos are the other students in the class and the class teachers.

As you will have read in your class newsletters, the Life Education Van is coming to St Joseph's Wandal.  This will take place in Week Five of this term.  The students do seem to enjoy a visit from Harold (the Life Education Van mascot - a giraffe puppet) and learn important health and safety messages.

A parents' session is free for all interested parents on Monday 4 November   at 8:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.

Congratulations to our award winners.  Please click on link.