St Joseph's Catholic School The Strand eNewsletter

Sunday 11th Nov 1.45pm - 3.45pm	End of Year Instrumental Concent in Putney Hall
Monday 19th Nov - Friday 30th Nov	Joey's Got Talent
Tuesday 27th Nov	Year 6 Rite of Passage
Thursday 29th Nov	Christmas Concert
Wednesday 5th Dec	End of Year Mass

Dear Parents and Carers

What a great week it has been as we welcomed our 2019 Prep families to the school for their orientation days. There were lots of very happy little faces enjoying all that Prep had to offer on Thursday morning. In 2019, to cater for an extraordinary demand for Prep places at our school, St. Joseph’s has been able to add a third full Prep class. This cohort will remain three classes as they progress through the year levels. We are fortunate to have the facilities to cater for this one year of exceptional growth. The teachers are looking forward to a busy but exciting year ahead.

You may have realized that the roadworks that were due to be completed on Wednesday are still underway. Included in the newsletter this week is the latest advice from the council. This will be forwarded to all families via email as well. I am very grateful for your patience over the last 5 weeks and for your commitment to the safety of our students and families during peak traffic periods.

Staffing arrangements for 2019 are almost complete and once this has been finalized, our staffing list will be forwarded to families. I understand that there is always conjecture about what is going to happen in the coming year. I have spoken to the School Board and the P&F about the importance of having staffing finalized before releasing the information. There are no secrets to staffing a school and my preference over many years as a principal is for open communication. The importance of waiting to announce a finalized staff is to ensure that a single clear picture is presented to the school community. There are times when the unexpected takes place and changes are beyond our control, however where possible the plans that are announced are the ones we adhere to for the next year. As soon as all the pieces have fallen into place, the school community will be informed.

As the end of the year approaches and families make plans for the coming year, I would ask that if you are not returning to the school in 2019 that you contact the office to let us know. This will allow the school to plan classes for the coming year and fill any vacancies we may have in classes.

With only 4 weeks remaining and still so much happening in our school, the time is sure to fly past.

Have a great week

Tim

Sunday’s Gospel

Mark 12:28b-34 - Jesus is questioned by a scribe about the greatest commandment.

In the Gospel, Jesus reminds us ‘You must love your neighbour as yourself.’ There’s an implicit idea here that is vital. Before you can love your neighbour, you must first love yourself. What this means is a genuine love of self – an acceptance; a respect; a true valuing of self. Only then can we know how to treat others. When think how we would want to be treated it directs us to how we should treat others. Let us send a heartfelt blessing to those we meet today that they will know their true selves and love that person. http://bcewaystopray.weebly.com/week-36-4---10-nov-yr-b.html

Remembrance Day

Yesterday 5MC led us in our Prayer Celebration for Remembrance Day. Remembrance Day is especially significant this year, as we mark the centenary of the Armistice which ended the First World War. On 11 November 1918, German leaders signed an Armistice, and the guns of the Western Front fell silent. For the four years of the war, from 1914 to 1918, more than 330,000 Australians had served overseas. More than 60,000 Australians had died while in this service. In 1918 alone, there were 48,000 casualties, which included 12,000 dead.

Each year at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month, we observe a minute of silence. Remembrance Day is a day of commemoration. We not only remember the dead and those who served. We celebrate life, the gift of life, and the important work towards reconciliation of nations, unity, and peace and justice. We remember not only Australians, but ALL who were involved in this particular armed conflict.

In early 19th Century literature, poppies symbolised sleep or a state of oblivion. In the battlefields of northern France and Belgium, red poppies were among the first plants to arise from the ground. On Remembrance Day, the red Flanders poppy symbolises the sacrifice of blood shed.

Lest we forget

SVDP Christmas Appeal Launch

On Wednesday Lara, Boedy, Declan, Lucia, Samantha and Max attended the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal Launch at Holy Spirit School. At the launch Bishop Tim spoke about looking after those who are less fortunate this Christmas and how lucky we are not to want for anything. Bishop Tim also spoke about how we are called to serve others this Christmas. Over the next three weeks classes will be collecting donations of festive food items to help brighten Christmas for those in our community who are experiencing hardhsips. These food donations will be used as part of our Giving Mass at the end of the year. If you would like to purchase additional gifts (toys, gift vouchers etc) there will be a separate hamper in the Office for these. We appreciate your support and generosity.

Mindful Listening

Why not start the week with some mindful listening? Read about Dadirri here. Focus on something specific, such as a bird, a blade of grass, a clump of soil, cracked earth, a flower, bush or leaf, a cloud in the sky, whatever you can see. Or just let something find you be it a leaf, the sound of a bird, the feel of the breeze, the light on a tree trunk. No need to try. Just wait a while and let something find you, let it spend time with you. Just relax and be there, enjoying the time. Simply be aware of your focus, allowing yourself to be still and silent…, to listen… http://bcewaystopray.weebly.com/week-36-4---10-nov-yr-b.html

Last week the Year 3 classes went to the Strand to engage in our Meditation and Poetry morning. Inspired by the tranquil setting, we participated in contemplative prayer through experiencing Christian Meditation, followed by another type of meditation inspired by the Aboriginal practice of Dadirri (da-did-ee). Miss Annette shared with us Dr Miriam Rose Ungunmerr’s understandings of Dadirri. Dr Miriam Rose is from the Daly River region of the Northern Territory and she explains Dadirri as a form of Aboriginal meditation which means deep listening and silent awareness. It is about connecting to nature and to each other and living in the moment. The students responded beautifully to both forms of prayer. Being so calm, the students were inspired to write exciting adjectives, similes and metaphors about the Strand using their five senses

2019 Sacramental Program Dates

Have a wonderful week.

God Bless

Amanda

Read Less

Awards will be presented at Assembly on Wednesday 14th November at 2pm

Class in the Spotlight is 3J

Prep C	Sienna Kudla	Aubree Schmucker
Prep B	Cooper Cathcart	Samaya Moncrieff	Thomas Myles
Prep M	Sam Parsons	Meah Ronke
1R	Liam Connell	Willow Humphries	Edward DeLacy
1CJ	Aaron Njau	Mckenzie Henderson	William Travers	Luca Sieben
2R	Tenille Round	Kate Child	Sophia Boyle	Ruby Meares
2C	Zoe Simmonds	Lucas Parry
3J	Zachary Lorimer	Dylan Hibble	Caitlyn Wiltshire
3M	Violet Seri	Atticus Rahmel
4M	Quinn Pascoe	Thomas Holden
4L	Emilio Santolaya	Lindsay Thorley
5H	Tom Geeves	Rosa Nzeakor
5MC	Finn Pacey	Grace Tipping
6G	Declan Muldoon	Jade Smith
6B	Jacob Carroll	Samantha Campbell	Claire Fanning

It has been a busy term for sport@Joey's. Last week, our Rookies Basketball clinics began. Townsville Basketball representatives conduct the after school program, led by Peter Crawford. Our students have thoroughly enjoyed the sessions so far and look resplendent with their new Rookies shirts and basketballs. We look forward to the remaining sessions in our hall.

Our school swimming program (P-3's) continues this term. Our students have enjoyed the lessons and being able to cool off each Friday at Tobruk Pool. Our Year 4-6's are also enjoying Friday coaching clinics in various sports. We have had Basketball and look forward to T20 Blast Cricket and Golf over the next 3 weeks.

The Uniform shop will be open each Wednesday until the last week of School and then will sadly be closing it's doors. There is limited stock available for your 2019 purchases.

Uniforms are also available at the School locker.