St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Wandal Newsletter

Waiting for Christmas

 Maybe I hadn’t been noticing but it was only this morning that I realised the Christmas decorations had arrived in the shops.  Usually by this time, we have been inundated.  Perhaps the time of uncertainty we have had with Covid has collectively made us stop and appreciate just what we have on hand, in the here and now instead of being pressured into getting ready for the next big event, the next exciting encounter.

What we have here and now, our ordinary lives, is to be appreciated.  That is one of the most important messages of Christmas.  That God came in our flesh, as a baby, just like one of us.  Came to a poor insignificant family.  Came to a family that loved each other and who were welcoming of the strangers, the shepherds and magi who came to welcome their son.  He came to reveal to us the hidden depths of life and love that are in each and every life.  If we haven’t grasped that, a mountain of tinsel will not make our lives rich in meaning not give us true joy. 

I suspect this Christmas there will be many travelling to be with family.  I know I will.  And I can feel the excitement growing.  Thinking of what presents I will make, what activities we will do together, how we will have time to just be with family.  That has been one of the blessings of Covid:  that we consciously appreciate our family time together. 

Next Sunday, our Church begins the Season of Advent, the time of waiting.  The waiting is meant to deepen our desire, to carve deeper spaces in our hearts for love.  As you think towards Christmas in the coming weeks, let your desire to be with each other help you understand just how much you are made for love.  As you embrace that desire, may you have some inkling of the passion that God has to be with you.

Loving God, as Advent begins let me appreciate the small and precious moments by which you come into my life.  May my time with family, reveal to me the love you have to me. I ask this in the Jesus’ name, confident that you will hear me.

Sr Kym Harris osb 

It was delightful to be joined by the 2020 Executive Committee members, as well as some new faces, at last week’s P and F Meeting.  I would like to offer a sincere thank you to all of the parents who have given of their time and energy to attend a P and F Meeting this year. Your advice, support and sharing of ideas to make our school an even better place to learn, is much appreciated.

I thank in particular, the Executive Committee members of 2020: Emma Singleton (President), Nathan Crossland (Vice President), Tricia Burns (Treasurer) and Ryan Kitzelman (Cluster Representative).

During the Annual General Meeting, all positions were vacated in order to appoint the Executive Committee for 2021 which will be as follows:

President: Emma Singleton

Vice President: Nathan Crossland

Secretary: Carla McDonald

Treasurer: Tanya Johnson

Cluster Representative: Ryan Scott

Congratulations on your appointments, and I look forward to working in partnership with you all next year.

 *Reminder* Report Cards will be distributed via Parent Lounge next Thursday, 3rd December. Families leaving our school at the end of this year will need to access these documents promptly before details are ‘archived’. If you are experiencing issues with your home internet, please remember that we have computers available for your use. Please ensure your login details for Parent Lounge are correct and working before this date.

I understand that some parents are anxious to find out their children’s class groupings and teachers for the 2021 school year. Please understand that our priority at this point in time is the quality teaching, learning, assessing and reporting occurring in our current classrooms. It is an expectation that our students continue to learn until the very end of the school year. Class lists will be distributed, via email, on or before Friday 11 December.

Reminder: We require EVERY family in the school to complete an Confirmation of Enrolment Form which this year, is available on Parent Lounge. Please complete the forms at your earliest convenience so that we can finalise our preparations for classes in 2021 and ensure that  those of you with multiple children in Catholic Education schools, are receiving the correct discounts. 

 * Reminder * As children begin to write their Christmas cards we ask that you refrain from sending along candy canes. Please encourage your children to write thoughtful messages as they spread some Christmas cheer through card giving. Supporting projects in our school and community such as the St Vinnie’s Christmas Hamper Appeal or Centacare’s School Savvy Project are alternative ways to give, with quite a different message for children. 

Thank you to those families who have addressed their outstanding school fee accounts this week. Significant outstanding amounts have the possibility to impact on our school budget for the 2021 year, which in turn can result in school and classroom funding cutbacks. If you have not made contact with me regarding your account as yet, please do so as soon as possible.

All items will be donated to St Vincent de Paul next Friday if not claimed. Lost property is located just outside the office. 

We ask that all children’s medication stored in the school office be collected by a parent/carer prior to the end of next week. We are unable to send this medication home with the children so would appreciate your assistance. 

Any requests for alternative uniforms, must be made in writing to Mrs Jenkinson, who will discuss the request with the school board. Please take careful note of the school Uniform Policy when purchasing new items, such as shoes, over the Christmas break. Shoes with white soles, and the ‘canvas’ type styles are not permitted. Thank you for adhering to our uniform expectations, we are always very proud of our neatly attired students. 

If you are wishing to sell uniforms at the end of the 2020 school year, please return them to the school, clean and labelled with your name, size and price.

A huge thank you to all of the Tuckshop Volunteers who have assisted Gail Brady and Elise Wadsworth this year, we appreciate your time and energy in providing this service to our families. If you would like to assist in this capacity next year, please notify the school office.

Our Year 2 classes for 2021 have decided to join the Unpacking Party!

 On Thursday 21 January, children in Prep – Year 2 may pop along to school for 10 minutes between 3.00pm-4.00 pm to see their new classrooms, say hello to their teachers and to unpack their belongings to make for a smooth and calm first day back at school the following week. Please bring all items to Unpacking Day and ensure they are clearly labelled with your child’s name. Years 3-6 children will bring their booklists with them on the first day of school.

Some upcoming dates to keep in mind:

Thursday 26th November - Combined School Board and P and F 2020 Executive Committee Dinner at 6.30pm at CocoBrew. (Board to meet at 5.30pm)

Monday 30 November - 2021 School Captains Speeches commencing at 10am in the Hall 

Tuesday 1st December - 2021 House Captains Speeches commencing at 10am

Tuesday 2nd December and Wednesday 3rd December – ‘Wandal’s Got Talent’ commencing at 11.40am 

Thursday 3rd December – Whole School Spelling Bee Finals in the Hall at 11.40am 

 Thursday 3rd December - Report Cards distributed via Parent Lounge

Thursday 3rd December – ‘Handover’ assembly to newly appointed 2021 School and House Captains

Friday 4th December – Year 6 Graduation Assembly (registered guests of Year 6 families only, others are welcome to join our livestream link) and………………last day of Term 4.

Christmas is second only to Easter in its sacred importance. Like Easter, Christmas is preceded by a four-week-long season of joyful expectancy and hope know as Advent, for the coming of Christ's arrival. In many homes and churches, the season of Advent is marked with an Advent wreath. One candle is lit every Sunday, until all four are illuminated, heralding the arrival of Jesus Christ, “the light of the world.” Violet candles are often used, with one pink candle for the third Sunday. 

Please be advised that nominations for “Wandal’s Got Talent” will be taken in the coming days. This is an event which is held in the last week of school. All of our students are welcome to showcase their special talents. Please note that this is a very informal event – our priority is our students ‘having a go’ and having fun! All students are welcome to participate, however they must discuss their proposed ‘talent’ with their teachers beforehand.

A reminder from Mrs Westgarth regarding library books. All school library books are now overdue. Please ensure any books your children have borrowed are returned by this Friday to avoid being charged a replacement cost. 

Due to the study requirements of our wonderful TCC Homework Club supervisors, Homework Club has now finished for the 2020 school year. We hope to offer this service to our Years 3-6 students again in 2021.

Congratulations to the following students on their achievements.  Please click the link for further information.

Thank you to our wonderful Wandal Coaches - Ashley Price and Robert Lovegrove and the team of parents who ensured our two teams made their early game times every Saturday morning.

Congratulations to our players on the 2020 successful Touch season.

Full dental treatment is being offerred to students currently enrolled at St Joseph's Wandal. This service will be provided at the Allenstown School Dental Clinic, commencing December 2020.

 Lissetta Grant will be the health professional on site. Please direct any enquiries to Lissetta on 4922 2673 or Melissa Plath on 4920 7553 during business hours.

 Students may be treated by Bachelor of Oral Health students who will be fully supervised by a highly experienced Oral Health Therapist. Parents need to advise if they do not wish their child/children to be treated by a student when the initial appointment is booked via phone.

 If you wish utilise this service, please email the school office, and forms will be shared with you. Parents are asked to return completed forms to the school office by the 27th November 2020. Alternatively, completed forms can be emailed to cqoralhealth@health.qld.gov.au. 

 Parents will be responsible for ensuring their child/children attend at the agreed appointment times.