St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Wandal Newsletter

Going for Gold in your Life

Nobody wins an Olympic medal without aiming for it. And nobody wins an Olympic medal without the support and encouragement of others.  And often, no, always, they win a medal in spite of difficult circumstances and discouragement from others, and often injury, even serious injury.  Olympians know what they want and go for it.

Next Sunday, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Assumption of Mary.  We commemorate Mary’s entrance into heaven to be with Jesus, her son and her Lord.  In the Gospel reading for this day, we see that Mary knew from a young age what she wanted and that, with God’s grace, she could do this.  In today’s language, she wanted to be her best self – the self that God wanted her to be.  And as she predicted, ‘All generations would call her blessed.’ She had a dream.

What is ours?  What is your ‘realistic’ dream for your life?  What do you think God wants for you? Many of us have little voices in our heads telling us that we can’t make it.  From our childhood and past failures, these negative voices seek to bring us down.  But we don’t have to listen to them.  Take some time this week, pondering on what God might want to do you in your life.  Seek out the people and situations that will support you.  And ask for God’s grace and Mary’s support as you seek to ‘go for gold’ with your life.

Loving Father, you show us in Mary what your Spirit can achieve in someone who listens to your voice and allows your grace to work in her life.  Give me a dream to live by, one that leads to the fullness of life, not only for me but also for my family and those around me.  I ask this in Jesus’ name confident that you will hear me. 

Sr Kym Harris osb

Our Year Six classes, along with Mrs Starr, Mrs Lidster, Mr Ivory and Miss Hinz departed for camp yesterday morning. They have settled in well and are having a fantastic time by all accounts. We look forward to welcoming our Year Six students back on Friday evening. A reminder for parents that the train is due at approximately 6:45pm.  Thank you to our Year Five students who have taken on the role of school leaders this week. We will endeavour to post regular updates on our campers on the school Facebook page throughout the week.

Term Three School Fees are due now OVERDUE.

Concession Card Tuition Fee Discount:  A 70% Tuition Fee Discount is available for ‘means tested’ government Health Care and Pensioner Concession cards. These cards must meet eligibility criteria for this concession to apply.  Please check the expiry date of your card and ensure that we are provided with up to date information.

A reminder please to ensure that you are notifying the school, in writing, of any family absences. This needs to go through the school office and the preferred method is through Parent Lounge (as this updates our classroom rolls automatically). You can also notify us through the School App, or send through an email. Sometimes teachers are notified, but as the absentee text messages are generated automatically through our office systems it is important to ensure administration staff are notified to avoid unnecessary messaging or confusion. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

Sacraments 2021-2022

 Continuing the Journey in the Catholic Faith Sacraments 2021 - 2022

Calling all families with children who have reached the age of reason (which is seven years of age) to join the preparation journey for 2021-2022 towards the celebration of Reconciliation, Confirmation and Eucharist in 2022.

To register please call The Cathedral Centre on 49 27 6744.

Parents are asked to check skoolbag for the education apps permission form and complete.  This allows your child to use some of the educational apps that have specific usage requirements.  All of the apps listed are ones that the teaching staff wish to use to support learning. Currently we have only 128 submissions for over 340 students.  

On Monday 16 August our Years Five and Six students will have some virtual visitors.  STEM ambassadors from the Wonder of Science programme will virtually visit our classes.  The students will explore STEM challenges that are curriculum aligned.  Wonder of Science promotes a STEM culture  – where students understand the importance of STEM and believe that STEM education and careers are accessible to them.

Year Five 10:00 a.m.

Year Six 12:00 noon

Congratulations to our students on their outstanding achievements. 

“Striving for Excellence” Award – (for a student who has exhibited academic improvements and/or has been applying themselves to the very best of their ability)

Eleanor P - Year 1 - For using success criteria to independently write your information report about Koalas.  Well done Eleanor!

Adelynn C - Prep - For naming and describing a variety of 3D shapes.  Thank you for sharing your knowledge with your classmates.

“MacKillop Award” - (for a student who exhibited Gospel values in their words and actions.)

Xander G - Prep - For demonstrating the Spirit of Jesus everyday through your kind words and throughtful actions.  Thank you for making our classroom a friendly place to learn.

Kaitlyn M - Year 1 - For demonstrating consideration of others everyday in many ways.  Your acts of kindness are always appreciated.

Rhiannon L - Year 5 - For the compassion you show towards helping others when they are upset or feeling a little lost.  Keep sharing the Spirit of Jesus with those around you.

Looking for a new lunch time play option? Our Year Six leaders have created two new lunch club groups and are looking for new members. Drawing Club will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11:20am in the quadrangle for those wishing to work on their drawing skills. Lego Club will meet on Monday in the quadrangle from 11-11:20am for all Lego Master enthusiasts. Our Year Six leaders look forward to seeing you there!

Thank you to the students and parents who have registered for 2021 Touch football season.

 The Junior Competition will commence August 13/14 and will finish November 19/20. Registrations will close August 7.

For further information, please visit: https://rockhamptontouch.com/.../junior-team.../

 Please see link for draw (at the time of printing the draw was not available) the link will be updated as soon as available.   Please note training times at the top of the draw link.

Please follow this link.

Term Dates for 2021

Term 3       12 July - 17 September - 10 weeks

Term 4      5 October - 3 December -   9 weeks

August

10-13 August  Year 6 School Camp

13 August Year 2 Prayer Assembly

13 August Friday Sport for Years 4 - 5

15 August Feast Day of the Assumption of the Blessed Mary

18 August Real Talk Year 5 and 6

20 August Year 6 Prayer Assembly

20 August Friday Sport for Years 4 - 6

23 August Book Week

24 August Book Swap

25 August Book Character Parade

27 August Year 1 B

27 August Friday Sport for Years 4 - 6

29 August Chamber Music Concert 1:00 - 4:00 pm Cathedral

September

2 September Prep Prayer Assembly

3 September Pupil Free - Professional Development Staff 

5 September Happy Fathers Day

10 September Year 5 Prayer Assembly

11 September  High Tea

15 September Catholic Schools Touch Challenge

17 September Staff Prayer Assembly

17 September Term 3 Concludes

October

4 October Public Holiday - Queen’s Birthday

5 October Term 4 Commences (9 weeks)