St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Wandal Newsletter

12 August 2020

Casting the Net - Weekly Prayer Reflection

Glorious Bodies

Sometimes people say to me, ‘Oh, I am not religious, but I am a spiritual person.’ I think they think they are making a good impression. Sorry, it grates. I feel like saying, ‘What have you got against the body.’ Because if there is one thing, Christianity takes seriously, it is the body. In Jesus, God took on our flesh. In that body, he revealed God’s love. When Jesus says we will be judged, it will not be on spiritual thoughts or feelings of calm but on very practical things done in the body: feeding the hungry, visiting people (think ringing the aunt who is lonely in time of Covid), welcoming the stranger (think refugees). Practical, embodied love.

This week the Church celebrates a celebration of the body: The Feast of the Assumption. We believe that Mary, Jesus’ mother is in heaven, body and soul. How this is so, we have no idea but we affirm that she who bore Jesus physically, cared for him with all the myriad needs a child has been united with him in a glorious body.

And in this she is a sign of our future. We may be separated from our decaying bodies at death but we will be reunited with them when they are transformed. Our bodies are precious, not because they look good or conform to some fashionable norm but because they have been created by God, and in them we can show love and, especially God’s love - as Mary did when she was alive on this earth: practical, down to earth love, shown firstly to her family and then to the early Church.

Loving God, I thank you for the wonder of my being. May I always appreciate it. May I be like Mary in showing practical down-to-earth love to my family, friends and community and may we all be united one day in glory in heaven. I ask this in Jesus’ name, confident that you will hear me.

Sr Kym Harris osb

From the Principal

Bike Riding Safety

It has been wonderful to see so many of our students riding to school lately, so much so, that we have had to purchase additional bike racks!

As always, we want our children to get to and from school safely. On Monday morning, I had a report of three of our students involved in a near miss, whilst riding to school. I have reminded all students, during assembly, about the importance of remaining vigilant whilst bike-riding, and I encourage all parents to have this conversation as well. If you are looking for some resources, including useful video clips, the RACQ website might be of use:

https://www.racq.com.au/cars-and-driving/safety-on-the-road/educational-programs/primary-school-program

Communication

Methods of Communication – Communication between the home and school (and vice versa) is of paramount importance in the education of our children. We, as a school, endeavour to provide clear and timely communication in a wide variety of forms. These include, but are not exclusive to:

The school app (preferred method of communication – you won’t miss an ounce of communication from the school this way), school website, school Facebook page, Information Stations around the school, weekly newsletters, emails, phone calls, face to face communication, parent teacher interviews, parent information sessions and evenings, term newsletters from classes and even our in-office TV and street-side LED Screen! Some classes also utilise class google pages and apps such as Seesaw to provide real-time updates of student work samples and achievements. We spend a lot of time preparing and distributing communication from our teachers and staff in as many formats as we can – and ask that the parent body takes the time to access this information. It is unfortunate when parents are unaware of events or notices because they have not accessed school communication.

Occasionally, the school app has ‘glitches’ and this can prove frustrating, I know. This sometimes occurs when there has been an update to the app by the company. The solution usually is to delete and reinstall the app if it is not working. If this doesn’t solve the problem, please feel free to give the school office a call and we can call the company directly.

Some teachers email parents directly and are happy to provide their email contacts in return. Emails should be for ‘little issues’ for example, a lost piece of clothing, sickness alert and the like. Bigger, more sensitive or urgent issues are best dealt with face to face or via the phone. If a teacher spent 15 minutes per week, emailing parents of children in their class, this could equate to 7.5 hours per week. I am sure you would agree that this is not sustainable. Personally, I would rather my children’s teachers spending their non-teaching time preparing engaging and relevant learning opportunities rather than emailing back and forth. Teachers too, are deserving of their home time. 

Homework Club

Homework Club operates every Tuesday afternoon in the Be-Hive (3.20-4.20pm.) Homework Club is available for children in Years 3-6 and is supervised by senior students from The Cathedral College. Parents (and students) who wish to take advantage of this service will need to book in by contacting the school office by 10am each Tuesday. Students are welcome to bring a small snack and will need to be collected from the Be-Hive promptly at 4.20 pm.

Feedback from P and F

It was wonderful to meet with our P and F (in person and via Zoom), in the staffroom last week. We discussed a range of topics, including the ongoing restrictions relating to COVID-19, in the school setting.

The group, after discussion and deliberation, have decided to cancel the following events and activities for this year:

·         Fathers’ Day Stall – cancelled (teachers will ensure children are preparing something special in their classrooms, for their dads)

·         Swimming in Term 4 (Years 1-3) – cancelled

The P and F have started brainstorming some community events and activities that could be held in lieu of our usual events. Due to the economical impacts of COVID-19 on our school families this year, the focus will be on community engagement, rather than fundraising. I thank the P and F for their ongoing support and advice.

 

House Day - the next one is coming up!

Our next House Day will be Friday, 21 August and this time the day will be organised by Tenison's House Captains, Matthew and Kitty. Children will sit in mixed age, house groupings for their lunchtimes. There will be a ‘special’ lunchtime activity for the students to participate in, chosen by the House Captains, which is still 'under negotiation.'

 Students have the opportunity to order a special Red Rooster lunch on this day, and this is ordered via Flexischools. Please note that this will be the only option available for first break on this day, but tuckshop can be ordered, as normal, for 2nd break. Tuckshop orders for this day will close on Wednesday 19 August at 3.30pm. All students, no matter what house they belong to, will be able participate in the fun and have the option to order the ‘special’ lunch.


 

School Fees - Term Three

Term Three School Fees are due 18th August 2020.

Please do not hesitate to give me a call, or make an appointment to see me, if you are unable to meet your payment commitment.

National Science Week - Family Challenge

Important Dates

14 August     Show Holiday

21 August      House Day - Tenison (Red Rooster Meal Day)


                               

Have a great week,

Kellie Jenkinson

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

Prayer Reflection - Assumption of Mary

If a child hurts themselves, they run crying to their Mother. Often all it takes is a quick kiss better from Mum and all is well again. 

Children know that their mothers love them and later, when they are older often realise the number of sacrifices their mothers have made for them.

In the same way we can look to Mary as our heavenly Mother. She watches over and protects us. She is the mother to whom we can tell every joy and every  sorrow.

Mary’s greatness lies in the fact that she was humble before God and that she surrendered herself to God. Because of this, God filled her with, His presence. Mary’s sinlessness and being ‘full of grace’ led naturally to her assumption, body and soul, into heaven at the end of her life.

 “My Soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior because He has looked upon His lowly handmaid,” (Luke 1:46-48)

Friday Prayer Assembly led by Year 4

Year 4 would like to invite all families and friends to join us in sharing the messages of the Parable of The Mustard Seed, next Friday the 21st August 2020.

Working with Dads – webinar series 2020

 A webinar series for professionals working with dads and families. Join the webinar series and gain knowledge, practical advice and strategies to engage dads and families in positive and effective ways. Over three sessions, you’ll learn in depth about our fatherhood resources and professionals’ toolkit. Each session includes interactive elements, group discussion and Q&A. Running throughout August and October 2020.

 Further details and booking information here.

 DadStuff – monthly webinars for dads

 Join one of the FREE webinars and get options for being a dad, the relationship with your partner and connecting with your kids.

Sharing resources developed for dads on:

  • 7 types of dad
  • Healthy family relationships
  • Bonding with your kids
  • Connecting with other dads
  • Dads at work
  • Plus we’ll talk about what else is going on for dads in Australia

 

Sessions:

  • Wednesday 19 August 2020
  • Friday 18 September 2020
  • Wednesday 21 October 2020
  • Friday 20 November 2020
  • Wednesday 16 December 2020

 

All sessions run from 2pm-3pm via Zoom. A link will be sent shortly before the sessions commences. Further information and bookings here.

Have a great week,

Rheanna Starr

Curriculum Update

In the classrooms

Year Five were very lucky to experience cotton harvesting, ginning and spinning up close. We will next try to grow some cotton of our own.  Thanks to Mrs Hutchinson's family who provided the resources. 

Have a great week,

Janette McLennan

Lunch Clubs for Term 3

Awards

Congratulations to our award weekly award winners.  Click on the  link for further details

Touch Football - Under 6 Stingers and Under 8 Vipers

Training for this week will be Thursday 13 August at 3:10pm - 4:00pm (due to Public Holiday) and following weeks will be Friday commencing 21 August 3:10pm - 4:00pm.  The weekly draw may be found at https://rockhamptontouch.com/juniors/junior-draw/.  

8:00 am Field 2    (6 years)  (B)  SJW Stingers  v  St Paul’s Monkeys

8:40 am Field 1    (8 years)  (A)  St Pauls Panthers  v  SJW Vipers

Please ensure your registration of $70.00 is paid to Rockhampton Touch and $5.00 P & F Touch Shirt Levy is paid to your coach.

Thank you to Robert Lovegrove and Ashley Price who will be coaching and running our teams on each week.


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