Principals Message
Dear Families
And so begins the Season of Lent
Next week we begin the Church Season of LENT. At the beginning of Lent (Ash Wednesday— we Catholics receive a cross of ashes on our foreheads. The cross of ashes tells friends and neighbours that we know we are not perfect. We sometimes turn away from God. We hurt other people. We act selfishly. During Lent, we tell God and each other that we are sorry, and with the help of Jesus, we will try during Lent to become better people.
Today we know Lent as a season of conversion: we acknowledge the ways we have turned away from God in our lives and we focus on turning our hearts and minds back toward God.
Hence the three pillars of Lent are prayer, fasting and almsgiving. These observances help us turn away from whatever has distracted or derailed us and to turn back to God. Giving up something for Lent is ultimately a form of fasting. We can deprive ourselves of some small pleasure or indulgence and offer that sacrifice up to God. Or we might “give up” a bad habit as a way of positively turning our life back towards what God wants for us.
At school, the children are encouraged to make a commitment during Lent. The commitment could be anything from a promise to help mum every day during Lent, to a promise of a kind act each day, to one of their siblings or a classmate. You could encourage your children to do this by asking questions and complimenting them when they make a special effort.
We also have Project Compassion Boxes in the classroom where the children and staff are encouraged to give to those who are struggling in Australia and the world.
Parent Information Night
This year we will have our Parent Information night, next Monday 15 February 2021 (Week 4). These meetings give parents the opportunity to hear about what the children will be learning throughout the year and the expectations around behaviour, attitude, goal setting, etc in each classroom. The meetings will be
followed in a few weeks with individual parent/teacher interviews where together goals can be set for the 2021 school year.
I encourage you to come along to these meetings as they give our parents the opportunity to meet with teachers and to establish a partnership to ensure that students, parents and teachers are all on the same page in regard to each student's educational journey.
In keeping with the current COVID restrictions, our Parent Information night will look slightly different. All parents will need to sanitise on entry to the evening and sign in, with name and contact details. Normal social distancing guidelines are required
A free barbeque- sausage sandwich will start at 5.30 pm.
6 pm- 6.35 pm - Information session held in K- 6 classrooms.
6.45pm - 7.20pm- Information sessions will be repeated K-6 classrooms.
PARENT FORUM 2021
Thank you to those parents who were able to attend the Parent Forum meeting held last Monday night.
The Parent Forum plays an integral part in the life of our school- through the financial fundraising to support our students learning and their input in relation to changes and or discussions about the day to day running of our school.
Congratulations to our: 2021 Parent Forum Executive:
President: Tracey Bodley
Vice President: Jessie Flanagan
Secretary: Gillian O'Neill
Treasurer: Melissa Handford.
We look forward to working together this year!
ST JOSEPH'S COMMUNITY FAIR.................... IT'S ON!
SAVE THE DATE!.......26 MARCH 2021
Our amazing fair with rides, Dodgem cars, entertainment, markets, food trucks, and culminating in a fireworks display promises to be one of our best!
We have a small dedicated group of people from the Parent Forum who are working to ensure the best possible fair. Now your assistance is needed. Please see the attached flyer listing the ways for you to be an important part of this community event.
The Fair will adhere to strict COVID guidelines with a COVID Safety Plan in place.
Congratulations to our School Leaders for 2021
| Presidents | Sarah Jamroz, Lucas Hayden and Aiden Doran |
| Year 5 | Lorena Swanson and Clancy Newman |
| Year 4 | Maddison Kirk and Brett Kelly |
| Year 3 | Isabella Wagner and Cooper Bailey |
| Year 2 | Lotte Duignan and Tom Walsh |
CURRENT COVID GUIDELINES
- Students and staff with even mild symptoms of COVID 19 are not to attend school. Parents of symptomatic children should provide evidence of a negative result prior to returning to school. In circumstances where children have other medical reasons for recurrent symptoms, a letter fro the GP is sufficient to negate the requirement for a negative test.
- We will continue our regular COVID safe practices of student hand sanitising on entry to the school, after mealtimes and during the day.
Week 3 Highlights that we are truly grateful for:
- The commissioning of our Year 6 Leaders
- Our new Student Representative Council Members
- Our Parent Forum for working to bring us the St Joseph's Community Fair.
- Our swimmers who will be representing St Joseph's at Zone Level next Monday
Have a wonderful weekend!
Regards
