St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Wandal Newsletter

31 August 2022

Party Skills

Jesus loved parties, banquets, weddings.  His first miracle was at a wedding – making sure there was enough good wine.  He often compared the Kingdom of God to a banquet.  In last Sunday’s Gospel, he offers advice that amounts to ‘party skills’ that we could all live by.

Don’t go to a party and expect to be treated as the most important person there.  We know what those people are like and we don’t want to be near them.  Rather the person who is happy be there, isn’t worried about status, who enters into the flow, enjoying everyone is sure to be the person who is having fun and fun to be with.

Don’t give a party and expect to be paid back because you have invited your type of people. Parties aren’t transactions nor are they networking opportunities.  They are opportunities to enjoy the wonder of our humanity.  If you invite people outside of your usual friends, expect the party to be different.   

A story was told about a woman who, with her fiancé, planned a wedding reception at a swish New York hotel. Then, one week before the wedding, he pulled out of the coming marriage - but she couldn't pull out of the contract with the hotel. Knocked by her rejection, she didn't withdraw into herself. She had paid for a party, then party she would...just not with quite the same guests. She went to the local refuges for the poor and homeless and invited the people there to come party with her and her friends. What a change of venue for them for one night! What a party!

Loving God, let me realise that your Kingdom is one of celebration, enjoying your company and that of the people around me.  Give me the best party skills so that I can really enter into your life and love and share that with my family and friends.  I ask this in Jesus’ name confident that you will hear me.

Sr Kym Harris osb

From the Principal

Congratulations to the Parents and Friends Association for the splendid High Tea held last Saturday at The Gardens. This event truly is a celebration of the beautiful community surrounding St Joseph’s, as there were many current families, past families and even future families and their friends in attendance. These relationships are key to building our school's culture and supporting our children's wellbeing and learning.

I extend my gratitude to all those who donated for the elaborate multi-draw and the families who bought and sold thousands of tickets. Our thanks are extended to the students from TCC who generously offered their afternoon to assist with service and raffle ticket sales.

The H & Co Emporium delighted our guests with a lovely fashion parade throughout the afternoon. Many thanks to Tash and the team for sharing your latest wardrobe. No doubt there will be plenty of ladies dropping by soon to update for spring.

Finally, our amazing P and F committee have done a sterling job in bringing this afternoon together. The lead-in and background work have been going on for months, and their clear direction and passion are evident in the day's success. We are looking forward to planning for a bigger and better event in 2023.

If you want to get involved, please join us at the next P and F meeting on Thursday, 15 September, in the library starting at 5:00 pm. Latecomers are always welcome.

Thanks again for a great afternoon, and have a wonderful week.

Bernadette Brennan

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


                                                                         

 


Prayer Reflection - For Father's Day

For those who are fathers, we ask for wisdom and humility in the face of the task of parenting. Give them the strength to do well by their children and by You. In Your Holy name, O God, we pray. Amen.

Year 1 Assembly

Please join Year 1 Gold as they lead a prayer, Thursday morning at 8.35am for Father’s Day. Fathers’ Day is a special day to remember our fathers, grandfathers, and all those who are like fathers to us.

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 LevelFocusDate
Year 1GFather's Day1 September
Prep WPrayer Reflection9 September
Prep GPrayer Reflection16 September

What has Prep been learning about in Religious Education?

What has Year Two been learning about in Religious Education?

This term in Year Two, we have been learning about the different ways that we can heal our relationships with God and others. We know that Jesus taught about and modelled forgiveness and that the process of forgiveness involves admitting we’re wrong, saying sorry, asking God’s help to change and trying to heal our relationships. Here are some letters that we wrote to Mrs Starr about what we have been learning. 

Pupil Free Day

On Friday we have invited guest speaker Sr Annette Arnold rsj (sister of St Joseph) to lead a contemplative prayer experience for all staff. Sr Annette rsj will facilitate a dialogical approach to unpacking our school Josephite Charism. Throughout the day, staff will have opportunities to practice and refine the pedagogical skills for dialogue in Religious Education. I’ll leave you with a quote from Pope Francis who so powerfully articulates the importance of a dialogical world.

“Approaching, speaking, listening, looking at, coming to know and understand one another, and to find common ground... All these things are summed up in the one word “dialogue”.

If we want to encounter and help one another, we have to dialogue.

Unlike disagreement and conflict, persistent and courageous dialogue does not make headlines, but quietly helps the world to live much better than we imagine."

Pope Francis #198 Fratelli Tutti 2020

From the Assistant Principal Curriculum - APC


    STEM Open Afternoon

    STEM Open Afternoon

    You will have heard the term STEM I am sure.  You may have heard your children talking about STEM lessons this year.  But what exactly is STEM?  It stands for Science, Technologies, Engineering and Mathematics, and it is the stuff that we all use every day.  Have you ever thought of the science that you use in the kitchen?  What about the mathematics of gardening?  How much science and maths do you use in your work?  What about technologies?  What about engineering?  We all use these skills every day.

    What skills or stories could you share with our learners?  Please email me to suggest a time you could spotlight your STEM credentials with our students!

    During parent / teacher conferences I will be holding an open afternoon in the STEM Hub.  Drop in and see some of the interesting things we are doing before or after your appointment.

    Monday 3:30 – 4:30 pm 

    Tuesday 3:30 – 4:30 pm

    Book Week Winners

    Congratulations to our book week competition winners!  Well done to the book cover winners 2022. P-2 winner - Maya Hibbert, 3-4 Mieke Hielscher, 5-6 Declan Gray, and Maisyn Steele, who won the guessing competition.

    5/6 Maths Quiz

    Congratulations to our two maths teams who competed in round two of the quiz yesterday.  We are waiting to hear if we will make it to round 3.

    Well done to Carlos, Kayden, Lilliana, Imogen, Tyla and Elsie.

    SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

    Chamber Concert - Photos

    SPORTS NEWS

    PARENT INFORMATION