Hello St Joseph’s School Community

 “Grace be with you all.” Hebrews 13:25.

Term 1 kept our amazing Spirit Team very busy, with many religious events that they planned, managed and presented. I commend them for their forthcoming attitude and team work and look forward to many more events in the coming terms. My favourite celebration was the St Joseph’s Feast Day Mass, when we were joined by so many family members and parishioners. On this day we reflected on St Joseph’s protective nature, on the legacy of Mary MacKillop and on the history of our school. We found many things to be grateful for.

The term was brought to a beautiful end by the Easter Mass and then the Easter Play, presented by the Year 5 and Year 6 classes and Mrs Coghlan. A big well done and thank you to the Year 5 and 6 students, their teachers and ESOs and to Mrs Coghlan who worked tirelessly all term to put together this production.

SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM

The Sacramental Program has been progressing well, with the group of Candidates celebrating the first of the three sacraments in the program: Reconciliation, over a number of events in the past week. The program will now continue with preparation and the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation and Communion. I encourage the Sacramental candidates’ families to keep an eye out for information coming through via email, and as always, please contact me with any questions or queries’.

RECYCLONATORS! Drink Container Recycling activity.

The Eco Warriors have worked tirelessly to plan and prepare for the launch of RECYCLONATORS, which is a scheme that encourages our students to recycle 10c drink containers. The Eco Warriors came up with a clever slogan: “name it, drink it, rinse it, bin it, WIN it” that we encourage you to use with your child at home. Students are being encouraged to put their name on their drink containers and after drinking, to RINSE the container out as best as they can before placing it in the designated bin. Every week, the Eco Warriors will clean out the bin, and while doing so, will draw one of the labelled and rinsed containers, the owner of which will be awarded a $1 voucher to spend in the canteen. We hope that this initiative has a big impact on what our school sends to landfill, as well as starts to build some funds for the many projects that this group of students want to undertake this year.

VINNIES WINTER APPEAL

The annual Vinnies Winter Appeal will be launching in Week 5. Please hold on to sleeping bags, blankets and warm clothing that you may be looking to declutter or give away- there is a big need for them this year. We will also be collecting non-perishable food items.

CATHOLIC EDUCATION WEEK

Last week was Catholic Education Week, and as has become our tradition, we created a project that helps us engage with the community outside the school fence. This year we chose the theme: A tapestry of our Community where the students marked their personal strengths (based on our Visible Wellbeing Program) on strips of fabric which they then wove into the school fence to form our school Crest. We talked about how we all contribute to our school through our strengths making it a Connected, Grateful and Excellent community. Please engage with this art installation: stop and have a look as you walk past.

Christine Farrugia

Assistant Principal: Religious Identity and Mission