St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Wandal Newsletter

Come Holy Spirit

 We all love passion –young love, a grandparent’s delight, winners at the Olympics, medical professionals finding a cure – the story of these people light up our hearts and give us joy.  We all love passion – but if we are sensible, we also fear it – marital affairs, money lost through gambling, children neglected because of parents’ other interests – we know the grief and heartache that comes from passion gone awry. We all love passion – because the alternative is a dreary life, bogged down by boredom, and crippled by sadness.

The secret to having good passion is to look to the source.  When our passions are based on our own selfish desires, even though they may feel ‘good’ at the beginning, they will end in grief.  But if they are based on love of God and care of others and of our own selves, we will grow into the fullness of love and life and, even though our circumstances may be difficult, we will have joy.

The source of good, even great, passion is the Holy Spirit, the gift of God’s love to us. This coming Sunday we celebrate Pentecost, the feast of this Holy Spirit.  Now is a good time for stocktaking the passions in your life. How do you do that?  By actually noting what you do and asking yourself what are your habits.  Not the ‘gunna dos’ by which we often make our self image, but what we really do.  As we see who we are, we can ask the Holy Spirit to give us the wisdom and courage to embrace passions that will actually make us the work of art God wants each of us to be.

 Loving God, send into our hearts and lives your fire of love, the Holy Spirit.  In the wisdom of the Spirit may we love our family, friends and community, as Jesus would love them.  We ask this in his name confident that you will hear us.

Sr Kym Harris osb

We are excited to announce that next Tuesday afternoon, our school will be hosting the Governor of Queensland, His Excellency Paul de Jersey AC as our special guests. Also in attendance will be the Mayor of Rockhampton Tony Williams, Bishop Michael McCarthy, Diocesan Director Leesa Jeffcoat and a number of other invited guests. As you can imagine this is a very exciting opportunity for our school! A significant amount of organisation and protocols are to be followed when the Governor is visiting and the most impactful of these on the parent body will be that the two-minute pick up zone in front of the Administration building may be reserved parking for dignitary until the 3pm bell. Please be patient if cars are still parked there when you arrive to collect your children. We will farewell our visitors as promptly as we can and aim not to hold anyone up too much. If you usually arrive early, you may have to pull up elsewhere until we can clear the space. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

In the last week, we have had two near misses, when adults have chosen to walk their children through the line of cars in the pickup zone along Herbert Street, rather than walking to the supervised crossing. Please, for the safety of your children. (and for the modelling safe and lawful behaviour) walk to the crossing and cross there.

Season B Friday sports commence THIS FRIDAY. A reminder that phone calls will not be permitted for students who have forgotten their uniforms or equipment and instead, these students will remain at school to work. We would love to see our SJW parents and grandparents at the games to support our students.

School Fees – Term Two fees were distributed Friday, 30 April and were  due  Friday 14 May. Please contact me if you are experiencing any difficulties with meeting your fee commitment.

We are busily taking enrolments for the 2022 school year. Our Prep Parent Information Session has been set for Thursday 15 July at 5.15pm. If you know of any families interested in a place at our school next year, please urge them to complete their online enrolment process as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. I hope to begin the interview process for existing families towards the end of this term and will start contacting existing families (who have completed their enrolment process) in the next couple of weeks.

The 2021 Athletics Carnival will be held at Brosnan Oval, Emmaus College for ALL students in Prep - Year 6 on Wednesday  9 June (Note Changed location). We will have an E-Form on the app through which you can ‘book’ your child a place on a bus to and from Emmaus on the day. Please indicate by Friday 4 June if you children require bus transport. If we do not receive a response from your family, we will assume you will arrange your own transport and will not have seats allocated for your children. Field Events finals for Years 4- 6 students will also be held on this day. Children are to wear their sports uniforms to our Atheltics Carnival. A plain, house-coloured polo shirt may also be worn if preferred.

Today your child has received their school photo envelope.  These are personalised envelopes with students names and details already printed.

A pre-paid system requires all online orders to be finialised by midnight on photo day Thursday 17 June 2021.  Late orders and payments are accepted but will incur a late fee.  

All students will have their photo taken and envelopes are required to be returned on the day (or to the office for safe keeping until photo day).

Each May, Queensland marks Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month to raise community awareness of domestic and family violence and to send a clear message that violence of this sort will not be tolerated.

What does Domestic and Family Violence involve? Behaviour that is violent, which can, but does not have to be physical.

Please visit: https://www.1800respect.org.au/violence-and-abuse/domestic-and-family-violence/

 If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic or family violence, you can contact 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or through online chat.

On Monday, 24 May a National Mass will be celebrated on the Feast of Our Lady Help of Christians to commemorate 200 years of Catholic Education in Australia. Year 6S students will attend this Mass at St Joseph's Cathedral at 12 noon.

Important dates for those participating in Confirmation and Echuarist

Pentecost is celebrated this Sunday.  In His ministry, Jesus taught his disciples many things.  We are His disciples today.  Jesus promised that he would not leave us, so when he left our world he breathed his own life into us through the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who lives in us, guides us and helps us live the gospel. 

Pentecost gave courage to the disciples. When is a time you felt courage?

Are you or your children bakers, artists, chicken farmers or photographers?  Check out the list of opportunities that can be found at the Rockhampton Show.

https://www.rockyshow.com.au/Competitions

Would you like to help us build a scarecrow or two for the scarecow competition?  Please email me if you are keen: janette_mclennan@rok.catholic.edu.au. 

With the Tokyo Olympics set to begin on Friday 23 July, we thought it would be wonderful for our school to be a part of a program called 'Olympics Unleashed'. This program brings Olympians and athletes aspiring to the Tokyo Games and beyond, into Australian schools to inspire and motivate students to be their personal best. We are very fortunate to have an athlete visit us on Friday 21 May, at 12 noon, in the Hall.

Friday Tuckshop helpers required.  Can you spare a few hours between 8:30am to 12 noon to assist Gail and Elise in our tuckshop? Please email the school at sjwl@rok.catholic.edu.au if you can assist.

Congratulations to our students on their outstanding achievements.  Please click on the link for details.

Please click on the link for this week's draw.

Term Dates for 2021

Term 2      19 April - 25 June 10 weeks

Term 3       12 July - 17 September 10 weeks

Term 4      5 October - 3 December   9 weeks

Term 2 2021

MAY

21 May Year 3 I Prayer Assembly

21 May Friday Sport Commences for Years 4 - 6 (Rugby, Netball & Hockey)

23 May Pentecost Sunday

26 May The Midnight Gang at The Pilbeam Theatre Years 3 & 4

27 May Questacon school visit

28 May Year 2 R Prayer Assembly - Pentecost

28 May Years 4 - 6 Friday Sport

As you are aware every year Queensland experiences an influenza or flu season. As we enter this season it is timely to remind parents and care-givers not to be complacent about flu. Queensland Health advises that where possible, people need to be vaccinated for the flu every year.

Flu is a virus more serious than the common cold and can be spread through talking, coughing and sneezing. Symptoms include sudden fever, dry cough, muscle aches and pains, fatigue, headache, sore throat and a stuffy or runny nose.

If your child has flu-like symptoms, the following is advised:

·       Keep your child home from school;

·       Ensure your child washes their hands regularly with soap and water or sanitiser gel;

·       Encourage your children when coughing or sneezing, to cover their mouth and nose with disposable tissues which should be disposed of immediately;

·       Ensure they drink plenty of fluids and get lots of rest;

·       Consult your doctor if you are concerned about their symptoms.

Queensland Health Guidelines advise that individuals displaying flu like symptoms should  stay at home until such symptoms have passed (normally 5-7 days). 

Families should also reinforce the recommended protective actions listed above.

Increased awareness and ongoing attention to prevention and control measures, such as vaccination and good hygiene, are steps that we can all promote to reduce the impact of influenza.