School Newsletter

CONGRATULATIONS!

Cross Country

Due to the soggy state of the grounds and the wet weather, we have postponed the St Joseph's Cross Country to Tuesday 30th March 2021 (Week 10). The children will be required to wear their sports uniform on Tuesday 30th March. They are permitted to change into their colour house shirt when they get to school and change back into their correct sport uniform once the cross country races are completed. 

We will inspect the school ground on Monday 29th March to see if the grounds are safe for the cross country.

The backup date for cross country is 20th April ( Term 2 Week 1 Tuesday)

Diocesan Winter Sports 

Winter Sports Trials in Grafton today have been POSTPONED. All grounds in Grafton are closed (grass fields).

Rugby Union is now postponed until Term 2 (due to the fact that the Polding Trials are towards the end of that Term). A new date to be advised. The venue will remain Grafton. 

TUESDAY 30TH MARCH:  

Netball 

Hockey 

Rugby League Opens & under 11's. 

WEDNESDAY 31st MARCH  

Football (soccer): CHANGE OF VENUE: Football (soccer) will be held at the hockey fields, Fisher Park, Oliver Street, Grafton. Time: 9am - 2pm Bring personal football (soccer) gear (e.g. safety gear and a ball). Goalkeepers please bring your gear. COMPULSORY - shin pads PLEASE NOTE: All students who are attending the football trials MUST WEAR JOGGERS ONLY not soccer boots on the synthetic hockey fields. 

Diocesan Swimming

Well done to Jackson Grissell and Finlay Stevenson who swam at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre, last Monday.

Finlay placed 7th out of 17th swimmers with a time of 44.07sec and Jackson placed 3rd with a time of 39.47 sec. What a fabulous achievement!

Important Dates

Lismore Diocesan Winter Sports Trials (Year 5 & 6) –

Tuesday, 30th March and Wednesday, 31st March

St Joseph’s Woodburn Cross Country  - 30th March 2021

Richmond Zone Cross Country –  Friday 30th April 

Lismore Diocesan Cross Country – Wednesday 26th May

PALM SUNDAY - GOSPEL REFLECTION

Gospel at the Procession with Palms
Mark 11:1-10 

Jesus enters Jerusalem as the crowds shout, “Hosanna!”

A Reflection for Today:

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! 

Hosanna! We will open our hearts to his faithfulness.

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! 

Hosanna! We will stand beside those who are crucified today. 

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! 

Hosanna! We will work with those who bear his name. 

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! 

Hosanna! We will thank God for our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

A time for healing and forgiveness ...

This Tuesday the following students and their families will celebrate First Reconciliation. Please pray for our students and their families that this special occasion will be a time of grace and many blessings.

Zoey Campbell, Sasha Franks,

Madison Kirk, Ruby O'Neill,

Charlotte Robinson, Seleste Walsh

CARITAS AUSTRALIA - PROJECT COMPASSION THANK YOU As we enter Holy Week, we continue to reflect on the lives of people vulnerable to extreme poverty and injustice and how we can respond through supporting Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion appeal.  Let us take time to remember the life and teachings of Saint Oscar Romero. His many lessons include: live a simple life, commit to bringing peace to the world, speak the truth and of course aspire not to have more, but to be more. Some words from what has become known as the Oscar Romero prayer; “We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that. This enables us to do something, and to do it very well. It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way, an opportunity for the Lord’s grace to enter and do the rest.” Thank you for supporting Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion Campaign. Your generosity will work for the freedom of those living in poverty, challenge unjust structures, and empower people to work for a sustainable way of life. Please return all Project Compassion boxes to the school office or donate online via the Caritas website at lent.caritas.org.au

MAKING JESUS REAL - (MJR)

 At St Joseph’s Woodburn we encourage our students to “Make Jesus Real’” by the way they act in our school community and while at home and out in the community

MJR at St Joseph’s Woodburn encourages our students to be WEST people - that is WELCOMING, ENCOURAGING, SAY SORRY when needed and be THANKFUL.

IMPORTANT DATES:

The celebration of the Sacrament of Penance will be on Tuesday 30th March at 6 pm.      All Welcome!

The Sacrament of Eucharist - Celebrating First Holy Communion will be celebrated in June at a Parish Mass on Saturday 12th June at 5:30 pm. Please keep our students and their families in your prayers.

SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION ( Year 3 and other students ) - All Saints Church Woodburn Friday 22nd October 2021

Parents wanting their children to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation are asked to contact Megan Boyd or the school office. Children will need to have received the Sacrament of Baptism prior to the Confirmation date.

CANTEEN ROSTER

If anybody is able to help out in Canteen in Term 1 Could you please call Gayl on 66822468.

THANK YOU LADIES!

Dear Families

As we move through Holy Week next week and Easter, as a school and community we come together to remember the events and again take part in the
power of the story of brokenness and Resurrection. 

As a Catholic community, we focus on God's love for us and the powerful message of sacrifice and love shown to us in Our Lord's Passion and Death.
We too are reborn with Christ on Easter morning and take a renewed spirit forward with us each day.

I hope families have time to take part in the Easter ceremonies in their local area and enjoy some restful time together sharing joyful family moments over the Easter break.

As mentioned via Compass/email earlier this week the decision was sadly made to postpone the Community Fair and Fireworks due to the state of our school grounds following all the rain. The new date for the Fair will be advertised as soon as the rides and food trucks are available to be booked.  Thank you for your understanding and continued support. 

ANZAC Day (25th April) this year falls on the Sunday of the first week back at school in Term 2.  St Joseph's has always been extremely well represented and I hope
that will be the case again this year. 

I ask that you give careful consideration to your child's participation in this very special celebration and I urge as many students as possible to represent St Joseph's
in these community events. The RSL Club has asked that we lead the National
Anthem at both of these services. Our School Leaders have been asked to speak at both services.

Details are outlined below.
Dawn Service: Line up at 5.15am outside the library at Evans Head. The march begins at approximately 5.20am. Full school uniform (minus hat) to be worn.

Woodburn March: Please meet our school group at 9.50 am at the Post Office. The march begins at 10am. Full school uniform and hat please. (This ceremony is
run by Woodburn Chamber of Commerce this year)

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 9 HIGHLIGHTS THAT WE ARE TRULY GRATEFUL FOR

• Our friends and classmates, our parent community and our teachers
• ES1 and Stage 1 for their terrific assembly
• Our students who will make the Sacrament of Penance next Tuesday. 
• Our SRC students for organising our SRC fundraiser day next Tuesday around different ways to 'be more' 
• The Parent Forum for their continued efforts, time and hard to bring us the St Joseph's Community Fair and Fireworks. 
• Our school- we love St Joseph's 
• Our new student in Kinder, welcome Olivia!

PUPIL FREE DAY REMINDER

Just a reminder that next Thursday, April 1 is a pupil free day. Our staff will have a staff development day on spirituality, the learning collaborative and the cultural discernment tool.  Wednesday 31 March is the last day of school for Term 1 for the students. 

AND SO TERM 1 SLOWLY COMES TO AN END....

It has been an unusual ending to our term. We continue to think of and pray for all those families over NSW affected by the floods. We pray that the rebuilding of their homes, businesses and lives occurs with help, love, assistance and continued support. It's wonderful in this time of crises that so many people are involved in helping in a myriad of ways including cleaning, donations, cooking and just being there for friends.

Despite all of the weather events of this last week. I have taken the time to reflect on our beautiful school and all that we have. I am truly amazed when I see how far our Kindergarten children have come in such a short time and how
they are now so very much a part of our school family.

As we come to the end of the first term we can look back on all the positive things that we have achieved as a school community. Together we have grown in our learning, culture, sporting skills and spirituality. We continue to encourage a climate where each person is respected and valued for the contribution that they make, no matter how small or how large! It has been a wonderful experience to witness and be a part of.

I am grateful to and thank all members of our school community for the contribution that each of you has made regardless of the restrictions to ensure our school continues to be a place of quality learning in a safe and happy environment. We look forward to our holidays as an opportunity to rest, relax and recharge in preparation for the coming term and we ask that God stays close to each and every one of us as we enjoy this family time together.

The staff and I wish you all a very happy and holy Easter and a safe and enjoyable holiday and we look forward to a very productive and positive Term 2 (beginning Monday 19 April ). 

Have a wonderful weekend!  

Regards

CONGRATULATIONS!

Cross Country

Due to the soggy state of the grounds and the wet weather, we have postponed St Joseph's Cross Country to Monday 29th March 2021 (Week 10). The children will be required to wear their sports uniform on Monday 29th March. They are permitted to change into their colour house shirt when they get to school and change back into their correct sports uniform once the cross country races are completed.

Diocesan Winter Sports 

Winter Sports Trials in Grafton today have been POSTPONED. All grounds in Grafton are closed (grass fields).

Rugby Union is now postponed until Term 2 (due to the fact that the Polding Trials are towards the end of that Term). A new date to be advised. The venue will remain Grafton. 

Due to ground closures, both Football (Soccer) and Rugby League (Opens/Under11's), have been postponed until Friday 26 March. Please note that Under 11's Rugby League will be transferred to Rushforth Park where the soccer will also be held.

Netball and Hockey have also been postponed due to the fact that there is a good amount of rain (possibly storms) forecast. 

Diocesan Swimming

Good luck to Jackson Grissell and Finlay Stevenson who will represent the Lismore Diocesan team at the Polding Swimming Championships on Monday 22nd March at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre. 

Important Dates

Lismore Diocesan Winter Sports Trials (Year 5 & 6) – Friday 26th March

St Joseph’s Woodburn Cross Country  -29th March 2021

Richmond Zone Cross Country –  Friday 30th April 

Lismore Diocesan Cross Country – Wednesday 26th May 

5th SUNDAY OF LENT - GOSPEL REFLECTION

In this week's Gospel Jesus teaches his disciples about the way in which he will be glorified by God, and a voice from heaven is heard to affirm this teaching.

Jesus has a clear message for his disciples and us today:  it is that those who want to follow him must serve others and think about others’ needs before their own.

Pope Francis proclaims "The Year of St Joseph"

Pope Francis has declared that this year is to be acknowledged as the Year of St Joseph.

A few years ago while visiting the Philippines, Pope Francis spoke about his love for St Joseph into a Homily about prayer and family.

He spoke about a statue he has on his desk of the sleeping St. Joseph. From the Gospels, we know that St Joseph listened to God in his dreams and then rose to act on God’s will. Pope Francis shared with his audience that he asks St Joseph to pray for his intentions by writing them down and slipping the prayer under the statue of St Joseph

Pope Francis said, "I have a great love of St Joseph because he is a man of silence and strength. On my table, I have an image of St Joseph sleeping. Even when he is asleep, he is taking care of the Church” 

In recognition of the year of St Joseph, our students and teachers received a St Joseph lapel pin during the St Joseph Liturgy on his feast day on the 19th March.

ASPIRE NOT TO HAVE MORE BUT BE MORE 

The Caritas Australia and Project Compassion parish and school resources this year were inspired by the words of Oscar Romero  "Aspire Not To Have More BUT BE MORE" Stage Two created posters to remind us all what that can look like. The list was extensive with examples being: Be More Forgiving, Be More Supportive, Be More Inclusive, Be More Kind, Be More Caring, Be More Courageous, Be More Grateful. Be More Polite, Be More thankful, Be More Loving, Be More Passionate, Be More Charitable, Be More Considerate, Be More Aware, Be More Encouraging, Be More Thoughtful, Be More Friendly, and Be More Joyful.

Stage 2 teachers were very proud of all students who thoughtfully designed and created their informative posters. They were shared at our school assembly last week.

Below: Sasha Franks, Lilyjoy Walkington and Charlotte Robinson's posters

Project Compassion Week 5

Halima is raising her two children in a refugee camp in Bangladesh while caring for her mother who has a disability. Widowed at 21, Halima fled violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, arriving at the camp with nothing.

Caritas Australia, through Caritas Bangladesh, helped Halima with shelter, cooking equipment, hygiene and sanitation training. She took on the role of community trainer herself, organising the cleaning of washrooms, wells and toilets. 

Halima aspired to “Be More” and is proud that she is able to earn a small income while maintaining the health of her family and the cleanliness of the camp community.

• In the Cox’s Bazar district, women and children make up 78% of the total refugee population where 52% of children are aged 0-17. (UNHCR)

MAKING JESUS REAL - (MJR)

 At St Joseph’s Woodburn we encourage our students to “Make Jesus Real’” by the way they act in our school community and while at home and out in the community

MJR at St Joseph’s Woodburn encourages our students to be WEST people - that is WELCOMING, ENCOURAGING, SAY SORRY when needed and be THANKFUL.

IMPORTANT DATES:

Year 4 students and their parents preparing for the Celebration of the Sacrament of Penance  The final session is this Saturday 20th March at 4:15 pm.

The celebration of the Sacrament of Penance will be on Tuesday 30th March at 6 pm.      All Welcome!

The Sacrament of Eucharist - Celebrating First Holy Communion will be celebrated in June at a Parish Mass on Saturday 12th June at 5:30 pm. 

SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION ( Year 3 and other students ) - All Saints Church Woodburn Friday 22nd October 2021

Parents wanting their children to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation are asked to contact Megan Boyd or the school office. Children will need to have received the Sacrament of Baptism prior to the Confirmation date.

CANTEEN ROSTER

If anybody is able to help out in Canteen in Term 1 Could you please call Gayl on 66822468.

THANK YOU LADIES!

Dear Families

Today we celebrated the Feast Day of our Patron Saint - St Joseph. This year, unfortunately, we weren't able to share the day with St Joseph's Coraki due to the current COVID restrictions about schools mixing together but celebrate we did!

We started the morning with a beautiful liturgy and the children then had the opportunity to rotate through varied activities of  RE dance, Drama- mindfulness, Surprise, Lego, games and poster making in their BFF groups until about 1 pm. The last couple of hours the children have returned to their classrooms to participate in art activities.  A wonderful day of doing things together to use all the combined skills, gifts and values of St Joseph. Our thanks go to Mrs Boyd for organising the liturgy and running of the day and to the teachers for the great activities offered.

ST JOSEPH'S COMMUNITY FAIR: Friday 26 March 2021

Not many sleeps now before our amazing Community Fair, AND AMAZING IT WILL BE!  We have different rides for all to enjoy INCLUDING 

Dodgems cars, Giant slide, Teacups, Rock wall, Wild West Castle

food trucks galore, our very own scrumptious dessert bar,  face-painting, the  raffles, our strongly contested class art auctions and the culminating breath-taking fireworks.

I thought it might help to provide a to-do list to remind each of us, of the importance and necessity for our involvement to make this a truly successful COMMUNITY function.

Each of us is asked to help in the following ways :

• To pre-purchase ride passes - $30 before the Fair (unlimited rides).
• To start working out what delicious dessert we will be bringing for the dessert bar (Ingredients need to be listed)
• To donate an hour of help on the day to share the load (PLEASE LET THE OFFICE KNOW)

We are grateful for all that the Parent Forum is doing to organise the night. We are thankful for all that you are doing to help make it work.

COME ON ST JOSEPH'S LET'S GET INVOLVED

Thank you to those parents who have completed the google form and offered to help on the night.  The areas that we still need  volunteer help on the night include: 

PLEASE COMPLETE THE GOOGLE FORM ON COMPASS OR CONTACT THE SCHOOL OFFICE IF YOU ARE ABLE TO SUPPORT OUR ST JOSEPH'S FAIR

ANZAC Day (25th April) this year falls on the Sunday of the first week back at school in Term 2.  St Joseph's has always been extremely well represented and I hope
that will be the case again this year. 

I ask that you give careful consideration to your child's participation in this very special celebration and I urge as many students as possible to represent St Joseph's
in these community events. The RSL Club has asked that we lead the National
Anthem at both of these services. Our School Leaders have been asked to speak at both services.

Details are outlined below.
Dawn Service: Line up at 5.15am outside the library at Evans Head. The march begins at approximately 5.20am. Full school uniform (minus hat) to be worn.

Woodburn March: Please meet our school group at 9.50 am at the Post Office. The march begins at 10am. Full school uniform and hat please. (This ceremony is
run by Woodburn Chamber of Commerce this year)

NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION AGAINST BULLYING AND VIOLENCE

• St Joseph
• Parents who were able to attend the Parent-Teacher Interviews
• Our students who are continuing the preparation for the Sacrament of Penance. 
• Our Mini Vini Reps for encouraging us to 'be more' every day.
• The Parent Forum for their efforts, time and hard to bring us the St Joseph's Community Fair and Fireworks. 
• Our parent community for getting involved, volunteering to help and supporting the St Joseph's Community Fair. 

Have a wonderful weekend!  

Regards