Dear Parents and Carers,

On Tuesday evening we celebrated the end of the Year 6’s journey here at St Joseph’s with their Rite of Passage.  It was a beautiful celebration that highlighted their journey throughout their primary school years. Although we had to place a restriction on numbers attending, I am sure all those who were there enjoyed a memorable evening.  A special thanks to all of our staff and special guests who attended the celebration and to Mrs Oram, Mr Bennett, Mr Meekin, Ms K and Mrs Bennet for their efforts in making the night such a success.  

Yesterday I had the privilege of listening to our Year 5 Leadership Speeches for 2021.  All I can say is what an exceptional bunch of students we have to lead the school in the coming year.  I was incredibly impressed with their speeches, their passion for our school and their ideas around what it means to be a leader.  It was wonderful to hear our upcoming leaders talk about our Joey’s 5Rs as well as our Mercy Values. During the speeches, one student spoke about the importance of community and what the Joey’s school community means to them.  We also heard how excellence is about giving the best of ourselves and having a go with everything that we do. It was heartwarming to hear that students are taking on board our Mercy Values and are striving to live them out each and every day.  Joey’s is going to be in great hands with these impressive students leading the way in 2021.  

Today I had the pleasure of announcing our student leaders for 2021.  Congratulations to Eden Carfoot, Greta Ramsay, Joseph Smith and Zach Lorimer for being named School Captains.  Our House Captains are Harper Ryan and Thomas Griffiths (Ryan), Madison Schell and Patrick Fanning (Benjamin) and Lynette Njau and Will Finucane (Faulkner).  

We have a large amount of lost property sitting outside the Office.  Could I please encourage you to have a look through it to see if anything belongs to your child/ren before next Thursday.  

I am looking forward to a great final week.  Our transition day is on Monday which will be a wonderful way to kick off the last week.  We have our Giving Mass on Wednesday and Thursday we invite students to wear sun-safe Christmas clothes to celebrate the end of the year.  Students need to wear closed in shoes.  Just a reminder that school finishes at 12pm next Friday.

Have a wonderful week

Take care

Amanda

Christmas Appeal 

As the school year draws to a close, we are all starting to think of Christmas.  Sadly, for some, it is not the joyful celebration that we have come to know.  This year, we are once again inviting our school community to help us live our faith in action as we support the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal by donating goods to those who may otherwise go without and help us give the best present ever to those in need.  We will be presenting our hampers to SVDP at our Christmas/Giving Mass on Wednesday 2nd December.

When donating please consider "what would my family want on Christmas?" 

Sacramental Program

Our parish has advertised the dates for the Sacramental Program for 2021. Students from Year 3 ( 8 years) and above are invited to participate. Year 3 and 4 families have been emailed an invitation and as the program for 2021 begins early, it would be appreciated if you could email the parish office for an enrolment form before the end of the year.

Rite of Passage

On Tuesday evening it was lovely to gather with families and staff at  St Joseph’s Church to celebrate Rite of Passage for our Year 6 students. It was an opportunity to give thanks to our wonderful group of leaders and  to reflect on all the gifts they have  given and been given throughout their years  at St Joseph’s. A special thank you to Fr. Siby who led our liturgy. We would also like to thank our parents- Adam Reguson and Cindy Guliotti who shared beautiful reflections on their time at St Joseph’s. We were also grateful for the presence of  Sr Kerry Gordon, Mr. Phillip Morton, Mrs. Joyce Pankhurst, Mr. Wilf Karnoll and  Miss Diane Valese who presented  our St Joseph’s Awards and to our School Captain , who spoke beautifully on behalf of their classmates. As usual,  the support of all the St Joseph’s staff who assisted with  and attended the evening is most appreciated. 

Prep Nativity

This morning our whole school and Prep parents were treated to a Nativity performance by our amazing Prep students. They told the story of Jesus’ birth so beautifully and we were all so impressed by their talent! Thank you to our Prep teachers and school officers who made it all possible and to all the wonderful support people at St Joseph’s who stepped into the many jobs that needed to be done.

Preppies - you were fantastic and how lucky are our Year 1 teachers in 2021 that you are coming their way!

Christmas/Giving Mass

Next  Wednesday 2nd December at 9am, we will celebrate the end of the school year with our Giving and Christmas Mass.  This Mass will be held in the Hall at 9am. This year, due to Covid space restrictions, only the parents of Year 6 students and 2021 School Captain parents are invited to attend. We look forward to the return to normal conditions when all our families can join us.  Our Mass will be live streamed for those unable to attend. 

Reports 

Semester 2 Reports will be available on the Compass Portal on Friday, December 4th at 12pm. Here is the information on accessing the reports. 

This weekend marks the start of  the season of Advent. 

Advent Prayer

In this Advent of expectation

draw us together in unity,

that our praise and worship

might echo in these walls

and also through our lives.

In this Advent of expectation

draw us together in mission,

that the hope within

might be the song we sing,

and the melody of our lives.

In this Advent of expectation

draw us together in service,

that the path we follow

might lead us from a stable

to a glimpse of eternity.

Grace and blessings for the week ahead,

Jan

Last Wednesday the Year One’s had a visit from the Army. There were many interesting questions asked and our students  were shown the different items that are taken to the bush in soldiers’s backpacks. This included their food, medical packs, hoochi, radios and headphones.

Year 1’s were also lucky enough to sit in and look through some army vehicles and have their face painted with camouflage paint.

A big thank you to all of the army personnel who made this morning such a valuable learning experience for our classes. 

Hello Parents and Caregivers