Dear St Joseph's Community,

As we come to the end of Semester 1, I find myself reflecting on the liturgical seasons we have journeyed through together. From the hopeful waiting of Advent to the joy of Christmas, through the contemplative season of Lent and the triumphant celebration of Easter, we have witnessed God's love unfolding in our school community. This period of Ordinary Time invites us to carry the lessons of these sacred seasons into our daily lives, finding the extraordinary in the ordinary moments of learning, friendship, and service.

VINNIES WINTER APPEAL

I am overwhelmed by the generosity already shown by our St Joseph's families for the Vinnies Winter Appeal. Your donations of warm clothing, blankets, and essential items demonstrate the true spirit of Catholic social teaching in action. For our final push this Friday, instead of our usual gold coin donation for casual clothes day, we invite families to bring one last donation for those in need. All items will be lovingly delivered by our parish community to Vinnies Noarlunga, where they will provide warmth and dignity to those in most need. This beautiful partnership reminds us that when we care for one another, we embody Christ's call to love our neighbour as ourselves.

SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM

Our sacramental candidates are progressing steadily in their sacred journey of faith. Last week, we celebrated the beautiful sacrament of Confirmation with Archbishop Patrick O'Regan, witnessing our young people receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit. I extend heartfelt gratitude to our parish community for their wonderful preparation - from the beautiful decorations to the coordinating of the celebratory supper afterward. This event truly exemplified the beautiful collaboration between our school and parish family, showing how we strengthen each other in faith and fellowship.

WASTE MANAGEMENT AT ST JO'S

It has been an inspiring first semester watching our commitment to caring for God's creation come alive through our waste separation initiatives at St Jo's! Our new bins have seamlessly integrated into our daily routines, and each week we see improvement in how thoughtfully we separate our waste. Our weekly 'Creation 10' time has become a meaningful moment of environmental stewardship - cleaning our classrooms and school grounds, tending to nature, and resetting our recycling systems. Thank you to our community for supporting this mission by reducing packaging in lunch boxes. We eagerly anticipate Term 3 when our Eco Warriors will launch their 'Teach the Teacher' campaign, empowering our students to become educators for environmental change. As Pope Francis reminds us in Laudato Si', caring for our common home is not just an environmental issue, but a profound expression of our Catholic faith.

Blessings for a restful holiday,

Christine Farrugia

Assistant Principal: Religious Identity and Mission