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Dear community members,
This week we are filled with appreciation, gratitude, and love within our St. Joseph's School community. From National Volunteers Week to Catholic Education Week, this is a time to honour our incredible volunteers and reflect on the values that make our school so special.
National Volunteers Week
We had the privilege of celebrating National Volunteers Week at assembly yesterday. We express our heartfelt appreciation to the many individuals who generously give their time, skills, and energy to support our school. Our volunteers truly embody the spirit of gratitude, and their contributions enhance the educational experience for our students in countless ways. We believe that expressing gratitude and recognizing the contributions of others fosters a strong sense of community and encourages kindness and empathy. Our volunteers are very powerful role models to your children. Let us take this opportunity to express our sincere thanks to our volunteers for their unwavering commitment and the positive impact they make on the lives of our students.
"In all things Charity"
Inspired by our school motto, "In all things Charity," we aim to embody the spirit of love, compassion, and service. It is through acts of charity that we create a nurturing and inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and supported. I encourage each member of our community to reflect on how we can embody this motto in our daily lives, whether through small acts of kindness or larger initiatives that extend a helping hand to those in need.
Catholic Education Week: #LoveMyCatholicSchool
Coinciding with National Volunteers Week, we are also thrilled to celebrate Catholic Education Week, a special time for us to showcase everything we love about St. Joseph's School and celebrate the unique qualities and blessings of our Catholic education. Let us reflect on the importance of our faith, the values it instils in us, and the impact it has on our lives and those around us.
Some lovely comments from children #Love my Catholic School….
‘It’s welcoming and passionate about every student in the school and every student strives to be the best version of themselves.’ Bethany Frith – School Captain
'Because we have a positive attitude, we learn about our values and about our Catholic Church.' William Phillips - School Captain
Our captains asked some of our teachers too:
'We celebrate Mary Mackillop as Saint and our Catholic values.'
'The sense of community, everyone’s positive never give up attitude.'
'We have amazing community spirit.'
'Our school is relational, supportive and accepting community where everyone is valued and belongs.'
Wishing you all a weekend filled with kindness, gratitude, and joy.
In all things Charity,
Jodie Higgins
Principal
Debating
Debating, as an extracurricular activity, plays a vital role in the holistic development of our students. It goes beyond mere words exchanged in a formal setting; it serves as a platform for fostering confidence, critical thinking, and effective communication skills. Here at our school, we recognise the immense value that debating brings to our students' growth, and support this by providing opportunities for our students to compete in debating competitions.
One of the key benefits of debating is the enhancement of confidence. When students engage in debating, they are required to articulate their thoughts and ideas in front of an audience. This experience helps them overcome the fear of public speaking and boosts their self-assurance. As they develop their presentation skills, students gradually gain confidence in expressing their opinions and defending their viewpoints. This newfound confidence extends far beyond the debating arena, empowering our students to excel in other areas of their academic and personal lives.
Debating can be a powerful tool for honing critical thinking abilities. In the process of constructing persuasive arguments, students are encouraged to research, analyse, and evaluate various perspectives on a given topic. They learn to weigh the strengths and weaknesses of different viewpoints, to identify logical fallacies, and to develop evidence-based arguments. Debating challenges students to think critically, to approach complex issues from multiple angles, and to communicate their thoughts in a clear and coherent manner. These skills are invaluable, as they enable our students to become astute and discerning thinkers who can navigate the complexities of the world around them.
Debating also fosters teamwork and collaboration. Students learn to work together in teams, respecting different opinions and perspectives. They engage in rigorous discussions, listening attentively to their peers' arguments, and building upon each other's ideas. Through this collaborative process, students develop a sense of camaraderie, empathy, and mutual respect. These interpersonal skills are crucial for success not only in academic settings but also in future professional environments.
If you are still interested in joining our debating team please contact Emma Fowler.
Problem of the Week
George, William, John, Abe, and Millard have their birthdays on consecutive days, all between Monday and Friday.
- George’s birthday is as many days before Millard’s and William’s is after Abe’s.
- John is two days older than Abe.
- Millard’s birthday is on Thursday.
Can you figure out whose birthday is on each day?
The answer to the last Problem of the week in the Week 9 Newsletter is Saber is taking a nap, Ginger is getting her ears scratched, Nutmeg is going for a walk, Pepper is burying a chew toy, and Bear is playing catch.
Movie Night
We are delighted to share the success of our recent Movie Night, a memorable evening filled with laughter, joy, and a great sound track. The main attraction of the evening was the many pyjamas in the room oh and also Sing 2.
The lights dimmed, the screen flickered to life, and our young audience was mesmerised. We are immensely grateful to the P&F for their commitment to enhancing our students' experiences beyond the classroom. Special thanks are due to the event volunteers who generously contributed their time and energy to ensure the smooth execution of Movie Night. Their efforts in setting up, organising the nibbles and drinks as well as ensuring the night was a success were greatly appreciated.
We look forward to more movie nights in the future.
Emma Fowler
Dear Families,
It has been a busy few weeks here at St Jo’s!
Firstly, my congratulations to all our Sacramental Candidates who celebrated their First Reconciliation over the past week. It has been an absolute pleasure to work with the students and their families in the lead-up and I look forward to continuing the journey together for the next steps: Confirmation. The Family Confirmation Workshop on Sunday 18th June at 3 pm is the first event for this.
Catholic Education Week has just finished and I, again, am deeply thankful for all those who stopped to participate in our community art Projects at Seafield Avenue Gate, Mitcham Square and Our Lady of Dolours Church. The Canvases will be on display at our school in the coming days.
In Week 4 we are Launching our Term 2 Charity Run: Vinnies Winter Appeal. Please see the poster below for what to donate. It has been a very tough year for many in our society and we appreciate that donations for all our Charity Appeals have not faltered. Thank you for your love and commitment.
And on the occasion of Laudato Si (Caring for our Common Home) Week, let us pray:
Loving God,
Creator of heaven and earth and all that is in them,
You created us in your image and made us stewards of all your Creation,
of our common home.
You blessed us with the sun, water and bountiful land
so that all might be nourished.
Open our minds and touch our hearts,
so that we may attend to your gift of creation.
Help us to be conscious that our common home belongs not only to us,
but to all future generations, and that it is our responsibility to preserve it.
May we help each person secure the food and resources that they need.
Be present to those in need in these trying times,
especially the poorest and those most at risk of being left behind.
Transform our fear, anxiety and feelings of isolation into hope
so that we may experience a true conversion of the heart.
Help us to show creative solidarity in addressing the consequences of this global
pandemic,
Make us courageous to embrace the changes that are needed in search of the
common good,
Now more than ever may we feel that we are all interconnected,
in our efforts to lift up the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.
We make our prayer through Christ our Lord.
Amen
Blessings,
Christine Farrugia | APRIM
Catholic Schools Netball Carnival – Year 3-6
Registrations are now open for the Catholic Schools Netball Carnival which will be held on Thursday 6th July, Week 6.
The Netball Carnival is open to both boys and girls and is held at Netball SA stadium at Mile End with all students being transported to and from the venue by private bus. This is a very popular carnival so the school will need lots of parent helpers on the day. Please indicate on the SZapp if you can assist.
Students will play at least 6 matches on the day against various Catholic Schools across the state. The aim of the Carnival is on participation rather than results with no result or tables recorded on the day.
Registrations for the Carnival will close on Monday 29th May, Week 5.
SAPSASA Netball Gala Day
Congratulations to the Year 5/6 knockout Netball Team who were undefeated and Champions at the Netball Gala day on Monday at Netball SA Stadium. St Joseph’s also entered some teams in the round robin competition and all involved had a fantastic day.
Special thanks to Mrs Fowler for coaching the team on the day and Mrs Jacqui Heynen for helping the team prepare and helping on the day. Thank you also to Mrs Cassie Lange, Mr Bennett and Mrs Wicks for their assistance on the day.
Mr De Giovanniello
