St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Wandal Newsletter

“Just to be is a blessing. Just to live is holy.”

Abraham Joshua Heschel

I had a lovely weekend.  On Saturday, I enjoyed a Mothers Day High Tea and spent last light ‘fire gazing’ with friends: we sat round a fire and talked.  Nothing dramatic, nothing amazing but just being with friends has left a deep contentment. At this time of year, the Sunday Gospels call for us to make our home in God, to ‘remain’ in God’s love and to offer that love to others.  The basis of joy and contentment lies not in doing but in being, namely being in love – giving and receiving to and from others, from and to God. 

While our society puts a great emphasis on doing, we need even more to appreciate how good and holy just being is.  To simply rest and be with God.  ‘Breathing’ itself can be a prayer.  To sit with a loved one, a partner or child and just appreciate the sacredness of the other.  Such moments bring us home to ourselves.

Sometime in the coming week, stop working or running, close the book, put down the phone and let yourself wonder at the mystery of being alive.  Rest in yourself and realise that you are a blessing, living is holy.  Then at some stage, simply be with another.  Listen to their breathing. Rest in their blessedness, know that being together is holy. 

Loving God, you have made me holy, to be a blessing.  Let me take time this week to rest in your love, to rest in the love of others and to know the deep contentment that being in love can bring.  I ask this in Jesus’ name, confident that you will hear me. 

Sr Kym Harris osb

The 2019 Australian federal election will be held on Saturday 18 May 2019 to elect members of the 46th Parliament of Australia. Attached for your convenience and possible interest, is a summary of the Election Party responses to key questions/issues posed to them by the National Catholic Education Commission.  

Further information and direct links can be found here:

https://www.ncec.catholic.edu.au/images/2019_NCEC_Election_Party_Responses.pdf  

https://www.ncec.catholic.edu.au/news-events/2019-federal-election

Our High Tea was held on Saturday and it was a wonderful afternoon. I would like to thank the P and F for their ongoing support of our school and to everyone who contributed in any way, big or small; purchasing multi-draw tickets, donating prizes, attending the event, setting up and packing away, baking delicious goodies, donating to the grazing table or tackling the mountain of washing up Saturday evening. It would be impossible to individually thank all who helped make this event such an enjoyable afternoon, but please know your support is greatly appreciated.

Thank you for supporting our Mothers' Day Stall last Friday. We raised over $1500 to contribute to resourcing our classrooms. Thank you too, to the helpers on the day, we appreciated your efforts. I am sure that all of the mums who received a gift, were delighted with their children’s thoughtful purchases.

Congratulations to all students who competed in last week's District Athletics trials at Emmaus College. We were proud of your impeccable conduct and 'have a go' attitude. A special congratulations to Year 5 student Ahliah Bills who has been invited to compete in the District Track and Field championships to be held at Farnborough State School in early June. Congratulations, and good luck Ahliah! 

Reminder: Season B sport commences for all students in Years 4 – 6 next Friday 24 May.  Students without the correct uniforms and/or equipment will not attend, and instead will remain at school completing class work. Please contact our PE teacher, Mrs Andrea Rutherford should you have any queries. *Students in Years 4-6 will be required to wear their school sports uniforms on Mondays AND Fridays for the duration of the Season B sport season.*

As per the paper notes sent home on Tuesday, we have been invited to play in the NRL Development Cup, which will be held at Rugby Park this Friday, 17 May 2019. I apologise for not being able to give our players, and their families more notice. Permission notes must be returned by tomorrow (Thursday).

Term Two fees have been distributed and are due by 22 May 2019. Outstanding Term One fees are now overdue. Please contact me should you be experiencing any difficulties in meeting your fee commitment.

 Our Prep Parent Information Session has been set for Thursday 25 July at 5.15pm. If you know of any families interested in a place at our school next year, please urge them to complete their enrolment packages as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. The interview process for existing families will commence at the end of this term and we will start contacting existing families (who have completed their paperwork) in the next couple of weeks.

Students who are unwell should not attend school. Please be considerate of all in the school community, especially those who have compromised immunity for one reason or another. It would be appreciated if parents could reinforce good hygiene practices at home, including the importance of washing hands. Children with infectious diseases must be excluded for specified times and parents are asked to inform the school immediately.

Please familiarise yourselves with the following guidelines which have been drawn up by the National Health and Medical Research Council.

https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0022/426820/timeout_poster.pdf

A reminder that on Saturday 11 May a Confirmation workshop will be held from 2.00 pm- 4.00 pm at the Kevin Castles Centre for families to attend in preparation for the Celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation.

Please also add these dates to your diary:

18 May St Joseph's Cathedral 2pm to 3pm Family Practise for Confirmation

19 May St Joseph's Cathedral 9.30am Mass Celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation

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.

NAPLAN is underway for students in years 3 and 5.   Thanks to those parents who have prepared their children by:

• ensuring your child gets adequate sleep
• making sure they have a variety of healthy foods for lunches and snacks;  this may include extra snacks for test days
• encouraging all students to do the best they can on the day
• discussing with your child that it is natural and normal to feel some nerves, but ensuring that the students are not feeling too much pressure

Our scheduled tests finish tomorrow, but some additional catch up tests may take place on Friday, as well as next week.

Factsheet for parents and caregivers.

The Internet Safe Education speakers will visit our school to provide student, staff and parent sessions on Tuesday 21 May. This has been generously funded by our P and F. We are hoping that the parent session (to commence at 5.15pm) will be strongly supported by our school parents.

For further information please visit https://www.internetsafeeducation.com/about/

Congratulations to our Award Winners. Follow this link for details 

Year Three and Four Novelty Choirs

Students in Years Three and Four will be competing in the local eisteddfod in novelty choir sections.  

Year Three will be competing in the P to 3 choir section on 20 May at 1:30 p.m. 

The students will need to wear beach gear (not swimwear) - board shorts, sarongs, snorkels etc.

Year Four will be competing in the 4 to 6 section on 22 May at 10:00 a.m.  The students will need to wear something that gives the impression that they are a musician - something formal as a classical musician, or something punk, or rock inspired.  It is up to (you) and your child.

Students can come to school ready for the performance, and do not need to change upon our return, unless they wish to.  Students will travel to and from the Pilbeam Theatre by bus.

Please follow this link for term dates.

On Tuesday 21st May at 9am-10am, we will be holding a ‘sewing workshop’ in the Year 1 classes. During this time, parents or family members will be working with small groups of Year 1 students to assist them with simple sewing tasks such as threading a needle, hand sewing a simple line of stitching and how to tie off thread when finished. Please RSVP to Mrs Egan or Miss McDonald at your earliest convenience to assist in working out group numbers. 

Macaroni Cheese is our new special and will be available every Friday. Remember, orders are placed online only via Flexischools.  

Due to our two Year 5 netball teams being placed in different divisions this year, we will be holding trials to select our teams.  The trials will be held this Friday (17 May) at 1st lunch.