Week 8 Term 4 - 2022

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:

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

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. 

A busy last two weeks of school!

Upcoming Events

December

Monday 5 Year 5 Leadership Speeches  Tuesday 6 Intensive Swimming Evans Head Aquatic Pool  School Leaders Thank you Afternoon Tea at 2 pm Wednesday 7  Wildfire- Lismore Diocesan Worship Band workshop with the students. Afternoon liturgy.  Thursday 8 Swimming Carnival Evans Head Aquatic Pool Friday 9  Reports are published on Compass Monday 12  2023  School Captains and Vice Captains announced Christmas Celebration 6 pm  Thursday 15 Graduation Dinner Friday 16 Graduation Mass Last Day of School for 2023 for all students Saturday 17 Woodburn Carols by candlelight 6 pm

Have a wonderful weekend!

Principal 

SUNDAY GOSPEL REFLECTION: 

Gospel Reading: Second Sunday of ADVENT Year A
Matthew 3: 1-12 

John the Baptist appears in Judea preaching a message of repentance.

John's preaching of the coming of the Lord is a key theme of the Advent season. As John's message prepared the way for Jesus in the first century, we, too, are called to prepare ourselves for Jesus' coming. We respond to John's message by making changes to our lives ensuring we respond with love and forgiveness.

As we prepare for the Christmas season and the celebration of Jesus' birth may we all be generous in our giving and thoughtfulness towards others.

St Vincent de Paul Christmas Hampers

Each Monday we will celebrate an Advent Liturgy to reflect on the significance of Advent as a time of preparation for Christmas. During these liturgies, the children will be reminded of the importance of being generous and giving to the poor and needy in our community. This year you may like to donate items to place in the school Christmas hamper that will be given to our local St Vincent de Paul Society. Donations of non-perishable food such as pasta, rice, popcorn, canned food, and Christmas treats such as Christmas cake and puddings may be left with Mrs Feros at the school Office.

School Leadership Thank You Afternoon -Tuesday 6th December 2:15 pm

On Tuesday afternoon the School Leaders - that is the School Captains, Vice Captains, Events Management Team, Sports Captains, Mini Vinnies Leaders, and all of the Student Representative Council will participate in a retreat experience to celebrate and reflect upon their roles as student leaders of our school community. Jesus taught us that it is always important to be thankful and we are very appreciative of the efforts of our student leaders this year.

Diocesan WILDFIRE MISSION TEAM VISIT

We look forward to the Diocesan Wildfire Mission Team's visit on Wednesday 7th December. They will spend time with each class faith-sharing with music, dance, prayer, and fun activities. A whole school Liturgy and prayer celebration at 2:15 pm will conclude the day. Parents are Welcome.

St Joseph's Woodburn - SPIRIT OF JESUS AWARD

Peter Mitchell who wrote the"Making Jesus Real" books spoke to our students about the Spirit of Jesus and how we can be living disciples of Jesus. He explained that "spirit" can sometimes be a difficult word to understand but the spirit of Jesus is something that we can feel in our hearts and see through other people.

If we have the spirit of Jesus in our hearts, then we are kind, compassionate, welcoming, cheerful, friendly, encouraging, giving, forgiving thankful, and respectful

Our SPIRIT OF JESUS award recipients this week are Amahli Harford and Brooke Cameron.

Stage 3 shared their Term 4 learning at the Friday assembly. Students took part in the $20 boss day. $20 Boss is a funded program by Young Change Agents that supports young people to create a product or service using $20. The $20 Boss program has positively influenced thousands of young people and has equipped them with the skills, tools, and mindset necessary to succeed in a rapidly changing world. Ben and Johanna shared their team's winning $20 boss idea.

Students shared their Canberra journey with the school community, they created the following short video to share their time spent in Canberra.

 Water Awareness Program.

 Our last Water Awareness will occur on Tuesday 6th December 2022. This program develops the children's water awareness strategies which are aligned with the PDHPE syllabus. Parent helpers are more than welcome to assist, please contact the office to leave your name and the classroom teacher will be in contact. Unfortunately, younger siblings will not be able to attend if you are helping a group.

St Joseph’s Swimming Carnival 2022

Our annual swimming carnival will be held at the Evans Head Aquatic Centre on Thursday 8th November.  Students are to wear their sports uniform and swimmers to school. Students may wear their colour house shirt on the day. Please bring clothes to change into at the completion of the carnival. Students will need water and a small snack for the pool. Students are permitted to bring money to purchase snacks from the canteen at the completion of the carnival. No hot food can be purchased (only snacks). Non-competitive students in Kindergarten and Year 1 will leave later in the day to attend the carnival.

Lunch will be provided for all students. It will be a beef patty on bread. If your children don't eat patties, please pack lunch for them.

Parent Assistance at the Swimming Carnival.

Your help is needed to make our carnival a success. We need volunteers to help with timekeeping. If you can spare a couple of hours, it would be greatly appreciated. Can you please contact Melissa Barnes at melissa.barnes@lism.catholic.edu.au

Parents, we need you!

Our annual parent/ teacher race against the students needs you. If you can swim on the day ( it is only 25m), can you please let Melissa know at melissa.barnes@lism.catholic.edu.au

We are fortunate at St Joseph's to have Wendy Jansen working with our school community to support families to access services.