St Joseph's Catholic School - Mundingburra eNewsletter

Acknowledgement of Country

We respectfully acknowledge the past and present traditional owners of this land on which we stand, the Wulgurukaba and neighbouring Bindal people who are the custodians. We pray that we can walk together to a better future.

From the Principal

Dear Parents, Caregivers, Staff and Students

As the year draws to an end, it is timely to reflect on and give thanks for the gift of our school community. For the many opportunities we have had to learn, flourish, and grow, and for the support of all who have journeyed with us through good and challenging times.

Every year, the days leading up to Christmas take on a whole new level of wonderful, yet hectic activity. With the pressure and preparation which goes into making Christmas a special time, it is important to find time to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas.

For Christians, Christmas holds deep religious significance. It’s a time to reflect on the birth of Jesus Christ and the message of hope and salvation that it represents. The story of The Nativity, as told in the Bible, is a tale of hope and redemption. It speaks of the humble birth of Jesus in a stable, surrounded by shepherds and wise men who traveled from afar to pay homage to the newborn King. Christians celebrate Christmas as a time to remember and honour this miraculous event, and to reflect on the teachings of Jesus which emphasise love, forgiveness, kindness and selflessness.

The birth of Jesus Christ speaks to the true spirit of Christmas. It’s a time to focus on the needs of others and to show compassion to those less fortunate. Acts of charity and goodwill are an integral part of the Christmas season, as people come together to support those in need. Whether it’s donating to a local charity like St Vincent de Paul, volunteering to assist hand out Christmas hampers to those in need, or simply reaching out to a lonely neighbour, the act of giving can bring immense joy and fulfillment. Christmas reminds us of the power of selflessness and the impact we can make in the lives of others. It encourages us to be kinder, more compassionate human beings, not just during the holiday season, but throughout the year.

For many, Christmas is a time of deep spirituality and faith, a time to reconnect with their religious beliefs and find solace in the story of Jesus’ birth. For others, it’s a time to cherish family and friends, to express gratitude for the love and support they provide throughout the year. It is also an opportunity to slow down, to appreciate the simple joys in life, and to extend kindness to those around us. By reflecting on the true meaning of Christmas, we can cultivate a deeper sense of purpose and find ways to make a positive impact in the lives of others.

So, as we approach this joyous season, let’s take a moment to pause and reflect on the true meaning of Christmas, and how we can infuse its spirit into our lives all year round.

God bless

Tracy

APRE News

2024 Prayer Theme: Blessed to Serve

Bear with one another, help one another, and ever strive to serve God in a generous spirit. ~Mary MacKillop

Thank you to all of our families who have contributed to the St Vincent De Paul Christmas Hampers. This Christmas, more families are experiencing poverty and are on the brink of homelessness due to the relentless rising cost-of-living in Australia. The crisis has been an ongoing issue impacting Australians for a number of years. As the crisis deepens, so does the amount of people turning to Vinnies for support. Our hampers provide support and to help people in our local community ensuring that they receive the gift of joy and hope during the festive season. Our hampers will be presented to members of our local St Vincent de Paul Society chapter on Tuesday 3rd December at our Advent Liturgy.

Advent

In the coming weeks the Church will begin to prepare for the season of Advent. This is the beginning of the Catholic Church’s liturgical year and is celebrated during the four weeks leading up to Christmas. It is a time where we prepare and wait in excitement for the birth of Jesus Christ.

Celebrating Advent as a Family

There are many ways that you can celebrate Advent as a family. The most commonly known way of celebrating Advent is through the use of an Advent calendar. Here are some ideas on how you can enrich the season of Advent with your family:

Use an Advent calendar to pray and learn how we can focus on the true meaning of Christmas.
Make an advent chain with a link of the chain and an activity for each day of Advent. See more information here https://goo.gl/Wmvcni
Create an Advent wreath
Schedule times of silence and stillness in this very busy time of the school year. Advent is a time of preparing where children can identify gifts that they can be for others e.g. kindness, courageous. Families could create an Advent Tree of Kindness. Read more here https://goo.gl/XBwC4I
Attend Mass to celebrate the four Sundays of Advent in the lead up to Christmas. Mary MacKillop Parish has Mass on Saturday at 5:00 pm and Sunday at 7:30 am.

Thank you for all of your support throughout the year. I hope you and your families enjoy a Happy and Holy Christmas. May God’s blessing be with you all.

Peta

St Mary of the Cross MacKillop Parish

HOLY TRINITY CHURCH CHILDREN’S LITURGY PARTY

On the conclusion of Children's Liturgy for the year, all primary school children and their carers are invited to a fun games session and morning tea after the 7:30 am mass on 1 December, at Holy Trinity, Mundingburra.

Christmas Vigil and Day Mass Schedule

On Christmas Eve, two Vigil Masses will be held at Ignatius Park College Hall: the first at 6:00 pm and the second at 8:30 pm. On Christmas Day, Masses will be celebrated at Holy Trinity, Mundingburra, at 7:30 am; Holy Spirit, Cranbrook, at 8:30 am; and Holy Family, Gulliver, at 9:00 am. Please note that there will be no evening Mass at Holy Spirit Church, Cranbrook, on Christmas Day.

ADVENT 2024

In the lead up to Christmas, Holy Family parishioners will be holding their usual Advent program. This is a very informal group where the readings for the following weekend Mass are discussed. There is no cost involved although a donation box for Caritas will be provided for those interested. It is not necessary to attend every session so if the time is not suitable every week one or two sessions might be suitable. The sessions will be on Friday mornings after 8.00am Mass with the first session commencing Friday, 29th November in preparation for the First Sunday of Advent. All welcome

Statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Some of you may be aware that a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary is available for parishioners to take to their homes for special devotion and prayers. If you would like to have the statue in your home for a few days, please contact the parish office to check its availability.

Christmas Carols Evening

2025 Staffing

2025 Class Placements

Our Joey’s Class Transition morning is on Wednesday, 4th December. Students will gather in their 2025 class groups and spend time with their new teacher for the following year. Teachers have been working on the class lists for a number of weeks now. The lists reflect the social and academic needs of the children and I know you will acknowledge the planning that has gone into them and respect the teacher’s professional judgement in putting the lists together.

Each year there are always a small number of children (or parents/carers) who may not be certain that this is the best placement for them. However, this process is one which is taken very seriously and the result of many hours of planning. The staff work very hard to get the right mix of students and the best teacher for each group. I ask that you place trust in the process, understanding that there are a multitude of factors that need to be taken into consideration as class lists are formulated.

The Joey's Way

From the Office

Fees

Term 4 school fees are now overdue. Please ensure prompt payment is made before Friday, 29th November. If you have a payWave/Direct Deposit this will continue unless otherwise advised. If you have already paid your fees and would like to stop your payments, please contact the office as soon as possible.

Crazy Camel

Please be advised that all Crazy Camel orders have been distributed to students.

Booklists

2025 Booklists are on our website! 📚 Please review your child’s list carefully to prepare for Term 1.

Please note: At the bottom of each booklist, you’ll find textbooks that the school purchases on your behalf and provides directly to teachers. This ensures all students have the correct textbooks. The cost of these textbooks will be added to your Term 1, 2025 school fees.

Please see above for key dates in Term 1, 2025.

A full list of school events with additional details will be emailed to parents at the beginning of Term 1 next year.

Semester Two Reports

Semester two reports will be available on COMPASS on Tuesday, 3rd December 2024.

If you are a family leaving the school you will need to download your child's report before December 31st as you will lose access to your COMPASS portal.

Uniform Information for Parents

I have noticed a number of our students wearing the incorrect shoes recently. I have let this go as I realise it is the end of the school year and parents/carers would prefer to purchase new school shoes just prior to the school year commencing. Just a reminder to please purchase the correct shoes before we return. Black only joggers or polishable shoes (NO other colours). The guidelines are clear and are on the school website. The school Uniform Policy has been attached for your reference. Thank you in advance for your adherence to our school uniform requirements.

Tracy

Farewell Liturgy

Water Fun Day

Joey's Idol

Lost Property Alert!

A large amount of lost property has accumulated and will be displayed on tables near the tuckshop during Joey's Idol. Please take a moment to check if any items belong to your child/ren. All unclaimed items will be donated to charity on Friday, 6th December.

Thank you!

Tuckshop

Diary Dates

Library News

The month of November has raced by and the library’s final event, the Scholastic Book Fair 2024 is over. Again, a big thank you to parents and students for such a successful event with reward points from Scholastic benefiting our library and students in 2025.

HOLIDAY READING! NEVER BE WITHOUT A BOOK TO READ!

Our St Joseph’s Library will be closed during the school holidays, however our virtual digital book platform Sora, will be available to students 24/7. Children can log into our eBook Library and borrow books over the holidays anytime!

Students may access Sora through our Destiny Discover link on their student intranet (on our school site or via the Sora app).

Enter your school login information.
CLICK on the Sora icon and choose the ACEN (Australian Catholic Education Network) Member Collection from the drop-down menu.
Then explore thousands of eBooks and audiobooks over the school holidays!

It is that easy! Have fun!

St Joseph’s students may also access and read or be read to, by amazing authors with StoryBox Library.

CITILIBRARIES will also hold creative and entertaining events during the Christmas holidays! Visit them for more fun!

OVERDUE BOOKS

Last week was the last chance to borrow some fantastic books from our diverse library collection, however this week all books have to be returned to the library for collection inventory. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any concerns regarding any student returns or lost items.

May I take this opportunity for all of us in the library, to wish you all a safe and blessed Christmas with families and friends over the festive season!

‘Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful’ – Norman Vincent Peale

Merry Christmas!

Guidance Counsellors

School Transitions

Whether it is starting school for the first time, moving into a higher grade or embarking on a new journey through to secondary school, there is no doubt that any school transition can be a very exciting time for children and parents. On the other hand it may also be a very anxious and stressful time for both parents and children alike. This school TV series gives parents some signs to keep an eye out for that may indicate that their child could be struggling with these transitions. It also gives some handy tips on ways to make these transitions as smooth as possible so that this journey onward becomes one that their child can begin to embrace. https://sjmbtsv.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/school-transitions

Managing Screen Time

With School holidays fast approaching, it is a timely reminder to review screen time for your children. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that there should be no screen time at all for children under two, less than an hour a day for children aged from two to five, and less than two hours for five to 17 year olds. However, these guidelines are often disputed by experts and often ignored by families. It is up to individual families to play an important role in modelling a positive approach to the use of screens and to assist children to navigate the content they access. This School TV series offers some useful tips on online privacy, screen-time rules and ways parents can support a healthy relationship with screens.

https://sjmbtsv.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/managing-screen-time

Inclusive Education

2024 has been a very exciting year for Inclusion! We would like to thank all families, friends and staff who have helped support all children within our schools with a special thank you to those who contributed to our Inclusive Education Committee. We farewell from the Inclusive Practice Teacher role Diane Engert who has been a champion for Inclusion in our school and has brought a wealth of knowledge, kindness and joy to the inclusion space. We know she won’t be far and will continue to promote and assist with inclusion within St Joseph’s. We wish Diane all the best as she undertakes her new role as a teacher in 1B. We welcome Mia White to the role of Inclusive Practice Teacher in 2025. Mia is a strong advocate for inclusion and will bring her own unique skills, experience, ideas and likely some glitter to the role. We wish all our families a very happy Holy and restful break.

Therese Lane and Diane Engert

Music

Many thanks to all our wonderful families for their support of their children learning a musical instrument this year. It is often tricky to get children to practice or play their instruments but the wonderful standard at the Christmas concert last week shows that it is all worth it. Maybe your children will even get their instruments out and play a Christmas Carol or two over the Christmas period.

Japanese

Year 6 wrapped up their Japanese studies with a fun and hands-on sushi-rolling activity! The students had an amazing time learning how to create their own sushi, and the highlight of the day? Getting to taste their delicious creations. A perfect blend of learning and laughter to round off the year!

Bimbi Wadja

Bimbi Wadja End of Year Celebration

Last Wednesday our First Nations students and their families gathered to celebrate the year that's been. Students reflected on what they loved about this year and shared ideas for how we can grow on our journey of Reconciliation next year. Parents, elders and siblings joined us for food and fun including making pom pom Christmas decorations using the colours of the Torres Strait Islands and Aboriginal Flags and collaging jars to give as gifts. Thank you to all the families for your wonderful support throughout the year and for your presence at events like these. The students love having you here. Looking forward to 2025, exciting things to come!

Mrs Bortignon

PE

In PE lessons, students have been learning key basketball skills from Townsville Basketball coaches Briony & Jade. In week 5, all grades focused on dribbling and completing a 'jump stop'. Preps to Grade 2 practiced this in mini game formats such as 'What's the time Mr Wolf' while older grades kept pace with Coach Jade mimicking her moves and playing a shootout game. In week 6, our coaches gifted the school 25 new basketballs which the students were very keen to use. The focus of the week was passing and teamwork. Preps to Grade 2 learnt the correct technique of a Bounce Pass and practiced this skill with a partner. Grade 3 and 4 learnt both the Bounce Pass and Chest Pass and practiced this skill through a partner challenge of how many passes they can complete in 30 seconds while the Grade 5s and 6s practiced 3 types of passes as a 30second challenge: the Bounce Pass, Chest Pass and Overhead Pass. It has been wonderful seeing our students engage with the basketball coaches and thank you to Mrs Hutchison for organising the visits! ️

Year 6 Rite of Passage

P&F News

Don't forget to return your Christmas Raffle tickets to the office by Friday, 29th November! 🎟️

The raffle will be drawn at our Christmas Break-Up on Sunday, 1st December at 5:00 pm. If you need additional tickets, more booklets are available for collection from the office. There are amazing prizes up for grabs! 🎁

You can also purchase raffle tickets on the night.

We look forward to seeing you there! 🎄