St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Wandal Newsletter

How can Jesus command us to love?

 It is odd how, in English, there are many single words for sexual intercourse that are crude vulgar or crass but there are no single words that describe it positively.  The best we have are two-word terms of which the most popular would be “making love.”  But those two words give us an insight into what true love is about, love being more than just sex.  It is not just feeling desire, getting a physical or emotional high or a warm glow.  True love doesn’t just happen – it is made.  A couple can be deeply attracted to each other, parents may experience an outstanding rush of love towards their baby at birth, but deep abiding love is made, built up over time, onto a bedrock of patience, with gestures of generosity and fortitude, joy and sorrow.

 

So what has this to do with Jesus’ twin commandments: to love God and our neighbour?  A lot.  Once we experience God’s love towards us, we have to learn how to ‘make love’ back to God.  This usually entails us accepting that God loves us unconditionally, discovering we don’t have to earn this love and that we need to be patient with our own failings.  When we truly experience that mercy, a power to love like that is born within us. What we have received, we want to give.   Jesus’ command to love isn’t an ‘order’: it is an entry into the creative, patient dance of love.  From God, we learn how to love ourselves, so then we ‘must’ offer that same love to others. 

 

Loving God, let me daily experience your love for me.  As I grow in that love, may I show it towards my family, friends and indeed all around me.  I ask this in Jesus’ name confident that you will hear me.

Sr Kym Harris osb

 

For the duration of this week, and the start of next week, I will be working at the Catholic Education Office. If you have any concerns or queries, please do not hesitate to contact Mrs Starr or Miss McLennan. I am in daily contact with school staff, and look forward to returning next week.

*Response is required by every family*

It is hard to believe that we are already busily planning for the 2022 school year. Our Confirmation of Enrolments forms are now accessible via Parent Lounge. We require EVERY family in the school to complete this form, to confirm your children's enrolment here in 2022. Please complete the form even if you plan on leaving St Joseph’s at the end of the school year (Year 6 students excluded). Please complete the forms at your earliest convenience so that we can commence our preparations for classes in 2022.

We have waiting lists for most of our classes, so please let us know if you will not be returning in 2022.

Staffing for 2022 is not yet finalised and teachers will not be appointed to classes until the very end of term (at the earliest).  We send out information regarding the next year’s teachers and classes the week after school finishes, as our priority for this term is providing quality teaching and learning opportunities until the very end.

In the next month or so, teachers, in conjunction with the Learning Support staff and Leadership team of the school, will commence preparations for class grouping for 2022 school year. If you feel you have information that teachers may not be already aware of, and which may be useful for this process, please ensure you notify your class teachers at your earliest convenience. A polite reminder that we do not take requests for particular teachers – they are all fabulous!

Thank you for your patience as we continue to negotiate a tricky parking and collection arrangement. If other people in your family are regular pickup people, could you please ensure they are fully aware of the changes. Some of our teachers have been met with surprised or disgruntled responses when asking people to move or wait. The vast majority of the community are showing a great sense of understanding and realise that staff are doing the best they can -  thank you!

Please remember that the area outside the office is strictly 2 minutes; you cannot park here.

To alleviate the congestion, the following will be in place for Term 4:

·         Families with students in Prep - Year 2 will be ready for collection at the Administration pickup gates at 2.45pm. Families with students in Years 3-6 only will be at the pickup zone at 3.00pm. Please do not come early and wait, we will ask you to move. So, if a family has children in Year 1 and Year 4, both siblings will be ready for collection at 2.45pm. If a family has children in Year 5 and 6, both siblings will be ready for collection at 3.00pm.

·         Please remember that the Rundle Street supervised area is for daycare busses only. We will not permit your children to exit or to be collected from this area unless boarding a bus.

Please understand that the priority of staff is to ensure that 350 children are safely and promptly delivered to their families. 

 

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 2021-2022 towards the celebration of Reconciliation, Confirmation and Eucharist in 2022.

The time has arrived for the journey to commence:

The first meeting will be held on 26 or 27 October

This meeting is for parents only – parents only need to attend one meeting.

•        5.30pm to 6.30pm

•       Venue Kevin Castles Centre West Street (opposite Red Lion Hotel) 

22 October	Year 4	Prayer Reflection
29 October	Year 2	World Mission Day
5 November	Year 5H	All Saints Day
11 November	Year 5M	Remembrance Day 10.40 am Thursday
19 November	Prep	Prayer Reflection
26 November	Staff	Christmas Prayer Reflection
3 December	Year 6	Graduation Prayer Reflection - Graduation Certificates

Students in Years One to Six are currently undertaking PAT (Progressive Achievement Tests) Assessments.  These are a way of assessing progress over time in Reading and Mathematics.  They help us to document where your child is on their learning journey.  These, along with other assessments such as NAPLAN, Developmental Reading Assessments, standardised assessments such as SA Spelling help us to pinpoint where your child's next step in learning should be.  Ask you child how they have found the assessments, and what they think they need to do to improve.  Please let teachers know if your child will be absent at any stage (as we need to complete these assessments with every student).  Standardised assessments such as these are diagnostic, and do not exclusively inform semester achivements (report cards).  You child's teacher uses these to map your child's next step in learning.  

Liz and Healthy Harold will be at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School Wandal from Monday 25 to Friday 29 October, 2021. We can’t wait to meet our old friends and make new ones, too. We’ll be learning about healthy lifestyle choices and having lots of fun along the way.  

Head to our Parent and Carer Hub  to have a look at the modules that your children will be working through. You will find detailed overviews of the modules and fact sheets with 'conversation starter' ideas so that you can carry on discussing the lessons at home. We will also post a story after the visit so be sure to ‘like’ and follow our CQ Life Education Facebook Page   

Liz and Healthy Harold.  

“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)

Ethan P - Year 1 - for using rhyming words and adjectives to write a short, entertaining poem. Well done.

Eliza T - Prep -  for your contribution to shared editing this week. You were able to notice many ways that we could improve our writing. Great work Eliza!

To Love is to Serve” Award (for a student who has consistently displayed leadership qualities)

Oliver B - Year 4 - Your willingness to help others on a daily basis. Your kindness shines through and does not go unnoticed. Well done.

Please see link for game times.

Term Dates for 2021

Term 4      5 October - 3 December -   9 weeks

October

22 October Year 4 Prayer Assembly

25 October Year 6 Orientation at TCC

25-29 October Healthy Harold

26-27 October Parent Workshop Sacraments

27 October Beats N Pieces - Performance

28 October Year 3 Testing Day for Instrumental Music (St Joseph’s Wandal)

29 October Year 2 Prayer Assembly

November

1 November All Saints Day

2 November Melbourne Cup

5 November Year 5H Prayer Assembly - All Saints Day

7 November Chamber Music Concert 1:00 - 4:00 pm Cathedral

8 November RSCS Workshop and Music Evening (at TCC more info to come)

9 November Prep Orientation Day

11 November Remembrance Day

11 November Year 5M Prayer Asssembly - Remebrance Day 10:40

16- 17 November Parent Workshop Sacraments 

18 November AGM 5:15pm at St Joseph’s Wandal

19 November Prep Prayer Assembly

19 November Christmas Concert

24 November Year 6 Rite of Passage - St Joseph’s Cathedral 

26 November Staff Prayer Assembly

December

3 December Year 6 Graduation Assembly and Graduation Certificate

3 December Term 4 Concludes