Sunday’s Gospel

Mark 12:38-44 - Jesus notices a poor widow’s offering and commended her great sacrifice.

In Sunday's Gospel Jesus praised a poor widow for being generous and he indicated how the poor teach the rich about what really matters in life.  The poor widow made the smallest of contributions - two coins of little value. Jesus upheld the poor widow’s offering for his disciples’ consideration, commending her because her small offering was an act of profound generosity, giving from her livelihood rather than her surplus. To give from our livelihood is not only an act of generosity, it is also an act of trust in God. We can only give from what we need if we trust that God will provide for us. Jesus himself demonstrated the ultimate act of generosity and trust in God as he gave his life for us on the cross.  https://www.loyolapress.com/our-catholic-faith/liturgical-year/sunday-connection

SVDP Christmas Appeal In the lead up to Christmas we are called to live like the widow and make an offering of profound generosity.  We will be supporting the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal and 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 hardship.  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.

Lord Jesus, may our hearts be filled with  compassion and love as we reach out to others in need. In your name we pray.  Amen.

Giving Mass

On Wednesday 5th December we will celebrate the end of the year with our Giving Mass.  This Mass will be held in the Hall at 9am. We hope you can join us for this special occasion.  

2019 Sacramental Program Dates

Have a wonderful week.

God Bless

Amanda

Curriculum Newsletters

Assessing and Reporting

Our students are presently  involved in many opportunities to display their learning for the semester. Teachers use a wide range of assessments to inform their decisions on children’s progress. Sometimes this will be formal tests or assignments or an oral presentation or a teacher checklist. Our students have also been involved in standardised tests in literacy and numeracy to allow us to differentiate teaching and target the strengths and weaknesses of each of our students.

Report Cards for Semester 2 will be available on the Compass Portal at the end of Week 9. Further information regarding this process will be forwarded to all parents in the coming weeks. If you would like further information regarding reporting or assessment procedures, an information session for parents will be held on Tuesday, 27^th November at 2.30pm and Wednesday 28^th November at 8.20 am in our school library.

Transition Day

As we move rapidly towards the end of another school year, you may hear your child reporting that they are ‘Year X in training!’. Many of our staff talk to their students about transitioning to the next year level and the exciting new skills and knowledge they will build. To assist with this move to 2019, our classes at St Joseph’s will spend the morning on Monday December 3^rd with their new year level.  

Around our Classrooms

It is always great to move around the classrooms and have teachers share excellent work completed by their students. It was a pleasure this week to read the first of the poems that our Year 4’s are completing as part of their English assessment. In this INTERNATIONAL YEAR of The REEF, Year 4’s have focused on sustainability concepts in HASS and Religion andScience. They have studied the pastoral letter written by the Catholic Bishops of Queensland  Let The Many  Coastlines Be Glad! which focuses on our responsibilities towards our environment, particularly the Great Barrier Reef. They have explored turtle lifecycles and challenges in Science. Mr Meekin and Ms Lalor have been most impressed with the students’ work. Here are a couple of wonderful poems written by Aria Bennett (4L) and Quinn Pascoe (4M)  that raise awareness of the plight of our marine turtles.

Boating Bash                                                                   by Quinn Pascoe ( 4M) As the tiger sharks circle, I see a large green turtle Frantically maneuvering its way  through the Reef Dashing, ducking and diving with much relief. Exhausted and elated, he surfaces for air Bang!  a boater has hit him without a care Heaving a track on his shell He’s aware that he is mortally unwell.  Furiously, flopping, he struggles to swim With numerous sharks again circling him Desperately wanting  love and to be fed He knows his life is hanging by a thread.

A Life Worth Saving                                         by Aria Bennett (4L) A harmless child finishes a large chocolate bar She throws the blue wrapper out of her car With a gust of wind, it goes down the drain Not knowing her actions would give a turtle pain.  Meanwhile in the deep blue sea A turtle living happily But that turtle had but one wish To have a dish of jellyfish.  But something clear, the turtle saw Some plastic on the salty sea floor But then that bright blue plastic peel Was mistaken for the turtle’s meal.  I’d tell you the rest of the story But that’d be a little bit gory So I’ll tell you that in no time That turtle got better, that turtle was fine.  Some people raced him to safety with speed They couldn’t ignore a turtle in need He got much better, recovered and then Splash!..went into the ocean again! They did the kindest thing to do They saved a life, and so can you!

Library Matters

http://readiscover1.blogspot.com.au/

 Borrowing:  As it nears to the end of term children will only be allowed to borrow 1 book.  All books must be back to the library by the end of November.

If students wish to borrow over the holidays they can pick up a permission form from the library.

Year 1 Library Awards: Students are being rewarded for regular borrowing with a lucky dip when they reach 50 books for the year. Congratulations to those students who have received a certificate and prize so far.

Book Club: All orders have been delivered.  It was a huge order so we have benefitted with 20% of proceeds worth of free books for the library.

Drawing Competition: The Junior Librarians will be running this competition.  The Theme is ‘Spring in Summer.’  What do you like doing at this time of the year as we lead into our much awaited summer break?  A template is available at the library and there are some book prizes to be won. This is due this Friday.

Before school Friday Morning:  Please pop in at 8 am on Friday mornings.  It is a great time to read with your children.  Of course it is also a longer time for children to play a board game too.                                                   

 Junior librarian thank you:  Junior librarians will have a Mad Hatter’s tea party Nov 28^th.  They are all so bringing a small plate of goodies to thank the parent volunteers.

Year 6 Students: A great book has been published as a guide to starting high school with a smile.  It is called finding your path: A guide to starting high school with a smile.  Check it out https://goo.gl/KAyYpT

 Happy Reading

Belinda Walker

(Teacher Librarian)

Anthony Meekin

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.