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Principals Message

Dear Families,

This weekend we come together to celebrate the second Sunday of Advent.

Hope is like a candle, shining like a light in a dark place.

Jesus you are light in the world.

Jesus you light the way.

Peace … Joy … Love …

Over a hundred people, from the ages of two to eighty years old, were asked the question, “What are you afraid of?” From the voices of different generations, hear their answers:

Teenager	Adult	child	Older adult
Not being enough	That my child has to learn safety skills at school	Falling down	That we will forget we belong to one other
Climate change	Ending up alone	Spiders	Not having someone to take care of me, someone who knows my stories
My mental health slipping	The hope that my child will grow up to be kind and caring	The dark	Where I will spend my final days
Being loved and accepted	Making ends meet	Nightmares	My loss of independence
Injustices in the world		The sound of barking dogs
Getting a job or being accepted into a university

This week we light the candle of peace because we so desperately need God’s peace in the midst of all we fear.

May this light be a reminder that Christ is coming. God was with generations before, God is with us today, and God will be with us tomorrow. Even now, God is on the way. Amen.

STUDENT MATH ASSESSMENT INTERVIEWS

2023

Our school continues to be an EMU (Extended Mathematical Understanding) school and as part of that initiative, our teachers will again do Maths Assessment Interviews with each student individually for Years 1-6 over the first
two days of the 2023 school year.

The students in Years 1-6 will be required to attend the school for a Maths Assessment Interview on one of the first two days of school: Monday 30 January, and/or Tuesday 31 January 2023.

Each student assessment takes approximately 30 minutes. The Best Start Testing for 2023 Kindergarten students will occur during the same time- the MAI is included in that testing.

All students in Year 1-Year 6 will commence normal classes on Wednesday 1 February 2023. Kindergarten will commence their first day of 'Big School' on Friday 3 February.

Interview times will be available for you to book online on Compass in January- the date is to be confirmed due to the rollover. A Compass notification to remind you of the MAI"s and the need to book will be sent in January.

Once students are mapped on the Mathematical Assessment Interview, the staff
will have a better understanding of their ability, their individual needs and how to
make changes through the Intervention Process. This is a Diocesan initiative, in
which we are extremely grateful to be involved. Thank you for your cooperation and support of your child's Mathematical understanding and progress.

CHRISTMAS GET TOGETHER

12 December 2022

This year we will come together for our Christmas celebration on Monday 12 December 2022 (Week 10). It will be adapted to fit in with our current site and held outdoors (weather permitting). We will commence with a Sausage Sizzle at 6 pm followed by the children's presentation at 6.30 pm. We look forward to seeing you there.

YEAR 5 LEADERSHIP SPEECHES

As Year 6 2022 get ready to enjoy and celebrate their last couple of weeks at Primary School, we begin to look to the Year 5 students and their potential for leadership for 2023.

Next Monday following our Advent Liturgy, the Year 5 students will present their leadership speeches to the whole school. Students in Years 2-5 will then
participate in voting for their 2023 School Captains and Vice Captains. The announcement of the Students chosen for those positions will take place in Week 10.

We wish all of the Year 5 students the best of luck with their speeches next Monday. It takes a lot of courage to present to the whole school but it is a great beginning step-up to their roles for next year. We are very proud of their efforts.

WOODBURN CHRISTMAS CAROLS

We have been invited to sing at the Woodburn Christmas Carols this year on Saturday 17 December 2022. I am aware that we finish school on Friday 16 December, however, I feel it is more important than ever that we support our Woodburn community. I am asking that we have as many students as possible attend and represent St Joseph's at this community event.

I have spoken to the students in relation to the numbers possibly attending and had a positive response. The children see the importance and want to be involved. We will be singing songs from the Christmas Concert. The students are to wear their school uniform with Christmas hats or decorations. Thank you for your support of this event.