Dear Parents and Carers

This week I had a very important meeting with some Year 1 students that needed to discuss something 'that wasn't bad' and 'wasn't good' but it was 'important'.  After making an appointment with Mrs Irwin Alex, Ava and Caterina met with me to discuss their ideas for Clean Up Australia Day.  They came with all their information including posters to promote the event.  They spoke very confidently and enthusiastically and all are very excited that as a school we will be participating.  It was wonderful to see they had collaborated and come up with a plan and were confident enough to pitch their ideas.  I am very sure I would not have had the confidence to do this when I was in Year One.  Great work girls and we are looking forward to taking part in a terrific event.

This week I have included an article about overcrowding of our lives and the effect it can have on us all, including our children.  I hope you take time to read through it and reflect on how this may impact you and in turn our children.

Have a great week.

Tim

Our Story St Joseph our Patron Saint St Joseph loved Jesus and was loved by Jesus in return. The scriptures reveal St Joseph was compassionate, caring and courageous.  He was also a man of action. Throughout the Gospel, he faithfully and unquestioningly obeyed the commands of God to unite and protect his family.  To provide for his family, St. Joseph worked as a carpenter. He is the patron saint of Families and Workers.   His Feast Day is the 19 March (during lent) His symbols are :  Lily - virtue, holiness, chastity, innocence, and obedience to God Carpenter’s Square - Work / Trade The Child Jesus - to represent his role as the father of Jesus Turtle Doves - Material poverty

We will be celebrating the feast of St Joseph on the 19th March with Mass at 9am in the Hall.  We invite you all to attend.

Project Compassion Around 2.8 million children in the Philippines do not go to school. We begin Project Compassion learning about the story of Shirley. Shirley was struggling to support her family and keep her children in school. She faced regular discrimination and disadvantage, limiting her family’s access to food, education, employment and healthcare.  With Caritas Australia’s support, Shirley trained to become an indigenous health worker. She has learnt to supplement her income and is able to feed her family. The program has also empowered Shirley to send her children to school.

Sunday’s Gospel

Matthew 5:38–48 - My command to you is: love your enemies, pray for your persecutors.

Family life teaches us many things. It is often at home that we learn practical skills such as cooking, riding a bike, and making repairs. Talk about some of the things that the members of your family have learned to do at home. We also learn about caring at home. Talk about times when you have learned a lesson about sharing, forgiving, or loving through an experience that happened at home.

Talk about how love is the most important thing a family can share with one another. Explain that it is the same in God’s family. Read aloud Sunday’s Gospel, Matthew 5:38–48. Talk about how Jesus tried to teach his disciples how to love others beyond those who are closest to them. Jesus tells them to love even their enemies. As members of God’s family, we are called to do the same thing. Talk about some concrete ways you can “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”

Remind your children that Jesus does not expect us to be perfect. Jesus knows that we are human and will not always do everything correctly. Explain that what Jesus wants us to do is to love others as if they were Jesus himself. If we reach out in love to others, we are doing exactly what Jesus did. That is what perfection looks like.

https://www.loyolapress.com/our-catholic-faith/liturgical-year/sunday-connection

Bishop Tim's Lenten Pastoral Letter

I invite you to read Bishop Tim's LENTEN PASTORAL LETTER which calls on us all to change by looking out for others and not just ourselves and to follow Jesus as he is the way, the truth and the life.

Have a great week.

Take care and God Bless

Amanda

Swimming@Joey's

If anyone is available to help set up at Kokoda Pool 7am tomorrow morning, it would be very much appreciated. Just turn up no need to let anyone know.

Parents may wish to bring a fold up chair to watch the carnival in comfort. Thank You.  

Our annual Joey’s Swimming Carnival (8 – 12 Years), will be held at Kokoda Memorial Pool  (Mundingburra), next Friday 28th February. 

Carnival

Who: Students turning 8 years - 12 years in 2020 (and Year 2’s turning 8 this year are invited and encouraged to attend).

Prep to Year 2’s (not involved in the carnival) will have ‘Wet Day’ activities @ The Water Park. 

When: Friday 28 February (9.30am - 12.30 approx)

Where: Kokoda Memorial  Pool

What: Annual Swimming Carnival (Freestyle & Relay Events - including parent, staff, student relay). Students are able to wear coloured shirts of their houses and are encouraged to wear swimmers underneath their clothing so that they are ready to swim. Thongs and croc style shoes are permitted. Towel, water bottle, sunscreen and food is needed. Students are requested to choose between 25m and 50m events on the day.

Many thanks to the parents who have generously offered their assistance on the day.

The carnival will conclude by approximately 12.30 pm and children may be collected by parents at Kokoda or return by bus to St Joseph's to be supervised until 2.50pm. If your child is leaving with another parent, this needs to be communicated to your child’s teacher.

There is a Kiosk at the pool that sells snack food and coffee! Parents are welcome to patronise. Students however, will not be permitted to purchase items themselves.

All students in Years 4 - 6 are invited to join our School Choir.

Mrs Bennett, Miss Higgins and Miss Donna are excited to start the singing on Tuesday afternoons from 2:50 - 3:30pm in the Music Room. 

Our first session will be a 'Come and Try' singing workshop on Tuesday 10th March. Permission slip is attached in this newsletter or is available from Miss Higgins in 3HF. Hope to see you there!

Central School Dental Clinic is currently treating St Josephs School. If your child/children are in Prep to Year 6 and you would like to access this FREE service could you please phone the clinic on 0436915759 to make an appointment to bring your child in.  If we are unable to come to the phone please leave a message and we will return your call.

This clinic is currently open every Monday and the occasional Friday. 

School Dental Staff