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Term 4 Week 2 Newsletter

From the Principal

Dear Parents/Caregivers

It has been a lovely start to Term 4, with students settling back into the routines of school quickly. It soon feels like you have never been away once holidays end and the new school term begins. Yesterday I sat down with Mrs Plant as we planned for the events of Term 4. It looks set to be a busy term, busier even than Term 3 and with less time available to us. Next week, Week 3, we have our Mission Day Stalls, followed in Week 4 by Grandparents Day, the Interschool Robotics Gala Day, Prep Orientation Day, School Disco, Day for Daniel and World Teachers Day. Please keep an eye out for communication related to these events in the coming week.

Grandparents Day celebrates the contributions grandparents make to support families, shape futures and strengthen communities. It is a day to connect with older loved ones and celebrate what they mean to you. In Queensland, Grandparents Day is celebrated every year on the last Sunday in October. In 2021 it will be Sunday 31 October, the last day of Seniors Month.

The importance of grandparents, or those who fill the role of a grandparent, in a child’s life is undeniable. A healthy connection between a grandchild and his or her grandparent is beneficial to both sides of the relationship, and here’s a few reasons why (Wilmington Parent):

Grandparents truly impact their grandchildren’s lives - Studies show that as many as 9 out of 10 adult grandchildren feel that their grandparents influenced their beliefs and values. Through regular contact, a sense of emotional intimacy, and unwavering support, children can experience wonderfully positive relationships.

Grandparents have a great amount of experience - Grandparents are a valuable resource because they have so many stories and experiences from their own lives to share. They also offer a link to a child’s cultural heritage and family history. Children understand more of who they are and where they come from through their connection with their grandparents.

Grandparents provide a sense of security - Especially during tough times, having an extra layer of support can make a big difference in a child’s life. Studies have shown that close grandparent - grandchild relationships during the teenage years are associated with less behavioral and emotional problems and fewer social difficulties with peers.

Grandparents offer an affordable childcare option - With both parents in many families working outside of the home, it is oftentimes the grandparents that play a vital role in child care. If they are willing and able, having a grandparent act as either an occasional babysitter or a paid childcare provider gives many parents a great sense of comfort knowing that they are leaving their children in capable and caring hands.

Our ‘Grandparent Day’ event is taking place on Monday 25th October, commencing with a special Grandparents Liturgy during our Assembly at 8:40 am. More information will be sent out soon, however please let grandparents, or those who fill the role of a grandparent, know about this important school event.

Have a wonderful week.

God Bless

Tracy

Parents and carers are reminded that morning supervision starts at 8am. There are no staff members to supervise students before this time. Students should not be on the school grounds prior to this time for their own personal safety.

Teachers are on duty at the end of the school day until 3.15pm. After this time, any students still waiting for collection are taken to the office and parents are called. Please remember that our office closes at 3.30pm. If you are running a little late, please give the Office a call so that we are aware and to reassure the children someone is on their way.

Daniel Morcombe

APRE News

Welcome to Week 2.

The liturgy for this week's assembly was on St. Francis of Assisi. Thank you to the group of Yr 5 students who led our prayer. We were reminded of the importance of St. Francis in our lives. St. Francis was born in Assisi, Italy in 1182 and died October 1226. He is the patron saint of animals, the environment and Italy. He is the namesake of Pope Francis and holds a special place in the Pope’s heart.

“I believe that Saint Francis is the example par excellence of care for the vulnerable and of an integral ecology lived out joyfully and authentically”. PF

The children handed out to all the classes a special prayer to St. Francis.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.

Let us remember St. Francis in our daily lives and try to spare a few moments to pray this beautiful prayer.

Socktober-Mission Month

October marks World Mission Month, a celebration of the global work of the Church and the dedication of missionaries;

Our school will participate in activities to raise awareness and funds for Catholic Missions. Soccer balls are being made and children are preparing for Shoot Outs. These will commence during the Mission Day Stalls on Friday 22nd October.

SOCKTOBER - Socktober is the major fundraising event for Catholic Missions and this is where the money goes that we raise during our Mission Day stalls. But what is Catholic Mission?

Catholic Mission - Catholic Mission is the official mission aid agency of the Catholic Church providing practical, spiritual and emotional support to communities in 160 developing countries, encouraging all people to be active participants in partnership with the church world-wide. In 2004, Catholic Mission internationally contributed more than $US140 million to:

Health, hygiene and nutrition programs
Education, literacy and self-development programs for adults and children
Providing agricultural resources and equipment
Building schools, orphanages, health clinics, churches, presbyteries, convents and accommodation for lay leaders
Education and training of priests, religious men and women, and lay catechists who care for children and their local communities
Supporting local church communities in remote areas of Australia and their work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
Educating Australians about mission and justice.

Catholic Mission has operated in Australia for 80 years and was founded over 175 years ago in Lyon, France. In other countries, Catholic Mission is known as the Pontifical Mission Societies.

Our Vision ... Life for All

"I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (Jn 10:10b)

Our vision is of a world in which all people, free from any discrimination and all barriers to life, can reach full happiness, allowing them to live their lives in full dignity, as the Creator God intends.

Our Mission ... to achieve Life for All in the work of global mission

Like Jesus, our Mission is to bring good news to the poor, proclaim release to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, let the oppressed go free, and proclaim the year of the Lord's favour (Cf.Lk 4:18)

Our Work ...

Educating about mission and justice ... creating awareness and providing educational resources throughout Australia.
Educating Australians in global mission ... offering opportunities to participate in this work of mission and justice through prayer, action, giving and cross-cultural immersion.
Fostering local church leadership by assisting the training of local priests, religious, catechists and lay leaders overseas.
Encouraging children and adults to care for children through education, healthcare, shelter and personal development programs worldwide.

DONATE TO SOCKTOBER

Please remember October is the month of The Month of the Rosary.

Have a peaceful and restful week.

God bless

Clare

Save The Date

Information for Families

Please advise the office if your children are not returning to St Joseph's in 2022

Prep Orientation Day for 2022 Students

Our orientation day for Prep Students is on Tuesday 26th October from 9am to 10.15am.

Please RSVP to the office by Friday 15 October

Mission Day Stalls

Our Mission Day Stalls to raise funds for Catholic Mission are being held on Friday 22nd October. We would be grateful for any donations families can provide, with each year level being allocated items to bring in and the whole school asked to contribute any books, DVD's and toys no longer required. These items can be brought in to classes at any time, with Bake Stall items to be brought in on the day (more information to come with regards to Bake Stall items). Thanks for your generosity with our annual Mission Day Stall, organised and run by our Year 6 classes.

Do you have a lock for your bike?

Students who ride to school are required to bring a lock each day to secure their bike.

Thank you for your assistance in this matter

Library News

Star Students

Congratulations to this week's Star Students

Prep A Star Student is Evelyn for always being a very well mannered, enthusiastic and attentive learner in Prep. Special Mention to all Prep A for returning to school happily and working hard all week.

Prep B Star Students are Kyran and Levine. Kyran receives his award for working hard to complete tasks independently and being motivated to have-a-go without waiting for an adult to assist. Levine receives his award for being a good friend to others and trying hard to make good choices both in and out of the classroom. Special Mention to Noah, Allira, Evelyn M. and Thomas for helping their friends when they are unsure of what to do next in an activity.

1A Star Student is Rafael for his beautiful manners and kindness. He demonstrates the Joey’s Way in every aspect of his day. Special Mention to 1A for settling back into the routine of school after the holidays, showing focus and commitment to their learning.

1B Star Student is Jacob for trying hard with his sounds and Tricky Words. Last week Jacob did a great job telling the time to o’clock. Special Mention to Amani, Finn and Harper for helping out in the classroom and finishing their work quickly. Well done!

2A Special Mention to all of 2A for a wonderful start to term. Thank you for your enthusiastic return to school!

2B Star Students are Liana for always being organised and ready to learn and for being a kind and caring classmate and Maxwell for great work with maths activities and thinking strategies! Special Mention to all of 2B for their enthusiastic start to term 4 and our theme: ‘Getting Tangled in Fairy Tales!’

3A Star Students this week are Lyla and Zac for a wonderful start to Term 4. Lyla participated well in whole class discussions and showed good listening skills. Zac worked well in all learning areas and showed great enthusiasm in maths while learning grid referencing. Congratulations Lyla and Zac! Special Mentions to all of 3A for a great start to Term 4 and showing a renewed level of aturity and commitment to learning. Well done 3A.

3B’s Star Student this week is Lachlan for his beautiful manners and kindness as he demonstrates the Joey’s Way. Special Mention to Kobi for showing a positive attitude towards his work right at the beginning of a new term.

4A Star Student is Campbell for a fantastic start to Term 4. Campbell has approached all learning tasks with a positive attitude and frequently contributed to class discussions sharing well-thought responses. Special Mention to all of 4A for a wonderful start to Term 4, you have done a great job settling back into the routines of school.

4B Star Student is Bianca for a great start to Term 4. Bianca has shown great listening and participation in all areas - which is what she does every week! Special Mention to all of 4B for carrying on the good habits of lining up sensibly after breaks and starting the day calmly - a fantastic start to Term 4!

5A Star Student is Ella, for doing a great job of joining in class discussions and keenly sharing her experiences and insights. Special Mention to Emma and Jove for being focused on their school work last week.

5B has two Star Students. Well done to both Anika and Ben. Both these students have been trying their best with their work and will take on any help from staff. They also will offer to help and take care of any classroom jobs that need to be done. Keep up the good work Anika and Ben.

6A Star Students are Kionha and Will H. Kionha is getting her star student award for the positive energy she brings with her to all situations at school. She is a hard working student and a dedicated school leader. Will H has started term 4 with a good work ethic and a fresh attitude to his work. Special Mention to Mahli, Nate, Will H, Lola and Zak for their work in Mathematics groups. They used their time wisely, gave everything a go and were very focused last term.

6B Star Student is Mia for your enthusiastic contributions to our class discussions and eagerness to help whenever possible. Your energy brightens our classroom each day. Special Mention to all of 6B for starting off your final term of primary school with enthusiasm, respect and focus.