St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Wandal Newsletter

How to be a saint like Mother Teresa without leaving home

I knew two people who had met Mother, now Saint, Teresa and both gave interesting insights into her sanctity.  The first was an Australian nun, travelling in India.  By happenstance, she was seated on a train with a nun in the habit of the Missionaries of Charity.  The Australian said both had a pleasant time and she felt her companion was so interested in what she had to say that she ‘had made this woman’s day’.  Only afterwards, when the woman left, did she realise she had been speaking with Mother Teresa and that it was the quality of her attentiveness that made the time so special.

The other, a friend, spent time working in her order and her experience was that St. Teresa was not necessarily soft and kind.  She had a vision of what was needed for the poor and helpless, and those who were there to help could be treated with a real tough love in order for them to learn how to serve.

True loving care of children requires both those qualities.  As parents, teachers and guardians we need to give our children a level of attentiveness that often is difficult and self-effacing, but true care will never take place without it.  It is not enough to be around children.  We need to stop, listen to the stories or their reading, watch their reactions and just be with them.  We have to go out of ourselves. As we get to know them well, we come to realise where the ‘tough love’ needs to be applied.  We are not our children’s friends and, at times, for their good we have to make decisions, say things, take a stand in ways our children will not like. Often, we will feel that we need to be a saint to rear with our child/ren. And indeed you do … they are God’s way of making you a saint.  May St. Teresa pray for you and for all parents who serve God with love when they serve their children in love.

Loving Father, thank you for the gift of my child/ren. May my care of them be the way you make a saint of me.  I ask this in Jesus’ name and through the intercession of St Teresa of Kolkata.  

Sr Kym Harris osb

Congratulations to our Junior C and Senior C netball teams who both won their grand finals last Friday.

The Junior team defeated Heights College 15-7, and our Senior team defeated The Hall 19-4. Well done to all players and coaches involved!

Friday Season B sport concluded last Friday. All netball and rugby league uniforms must be returned, cleaned, to the school office at your earliest convenience to avoid paying replacement costs. 

Father’s Day is this Sunday, 5 September. Tomorrow, we will have our Father’s Day gift stall. If you have purchased a gift to donate to the stall, don't forget to bring in your $5 to purchase a gift for dad or another special person. If your child wishes to purchase two gifts, you will be required to donate two gifts.  All profits from the stall go to our P and F, which in turn purchase resources and equipment for our learners.

Our second round of Parent Teacher interviews for the year will be held at the end of this term. These interviews are formal conversations which focus on the academic progress of your children. Interviews will be held in the school hall over a couple of afternoons. As always, we urge all parents to book a Parent Teacher interview.

WHAT: Semester Two – Parent/Teacher Meetings

WHEN: Monday 13 September and Tuesday 14 September (please note, some teachers may also choose to open spots on Wednesday 15 September)

TIMES: From approximately 3.20pm, 20 minute slots

WHERE: The school Hall

Bookings can be made via Parent Lounge and will close at 10am  9 September.

These bookings are strictly 20 minutes. We know that some families and teachers require longer conversations and that for some of you, multiple meetings regarding learning support, or medical conditions will be required. 

Term Three School Fees are 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.

This Friday 3 September is a Pupil Free Day. If your child/children require care, please contact our friendly OSHC staff on 0429316543 for enquiries or bookings. Our teaching and support staff will be onsite during this day, participating in a range of professional development opportunities.

Lord, when we listen with your ears we hear: the bush grown more silent, the birdsong less vibrant, the stream’s sluggish ripple. Have mercy and open our ears. Lord, when we look with your eyes we see: the soil depleted, the sky smudged, the oceans rubbished and the great currents slowed. Have mercy and help us to see. Lord, when we look with your eyes we see: the workers who struggle to get by, the women subjected to violence, the people who are excluded. Have mercy and help us to see. Lord, when we listen with your ears we hear: the sound of hungry children, the distress of the mentally ill, the silent pain of homeless women and men. Have mercy and open our ears. Send your Spirit upon us Lord to renew our sight, to restore our hearing, and to reclaim your reign of justice for all people and peace for creation. AMEN

© Office for Justice, Ecology and Peace

Sunday, 5 September is Father’s Day and we would like to help spoil all of our dads, grandads and people who do the work of dads! We will be hosting a Father’s Day Sausage Sizzle on Thursday 2 September from 8.15-8.35am. Sausages on bread will be for sale for a gold coin donation along with a glass of juice for a gold coin donation. We urge all of our mums, dads, grandads etc. to join us for breakfast. Proceeds for the sausage  sizzle will go towards Catholic Mission Fundraising Appeal.

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.

Hello everyone,

Volunteer opportunities for "Father’s Day stall" are now open.

Please click on the following web link (or copy it into your web browser if clicking doesn't work) to go to the signup sheet:

volunteersignup.org/7A44F

To sign up, just follow the instructions on the page. It only takes a few seconds to do.

Thank you for volunteering! Emma Singleton wandalhightea@gmail.com

CQ Oral Health are offering full dental treatment to students currently enrolled at our school. This service will be provided at the Allenstown School Dental Clinic located in Margaret Street on the school grounds. Lissetta Grant will be the health professional on site. If you are interested in accessing this service, please request a Medical History/Consent Form from our school office and return these to us by 13 September 2021. For any enquiries, please contact Allenstown Dental Clinic on 49206 769 or alternately Melissa Plath on 4920 7553 during business hours.

“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)

Luke P - Year 4- For enthusiastically constructing an entertaining story to enter the Kids News Writing Competition.  You independently added paragraphs and exciting vacabulary choices.  Keep up the wonderful work.

Olivaia J - Year 1 - For using description and drama to entertain your reader.  You are becoming an "Awesome Author".

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

Dexter S - Prep - Thank you for always taking the time to look out for your friends. I appreciate the kindness you show towards others.

Year Five Netball Teams - For your continued improvement on the court each week, your enthusiasm towards the game and your encouragement and support towards your team mates on and off the court. Well done! Congratulations to our students on their outstanding achievements. 

Mrs Kennedy - For your enthusiasm and giving up your valuable time each week to referee our hockey games. We appreciate the amazing hockey skills you have taught us this year. Thank you! From Year 4, 5 and 6 Hockey Teams.

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

Harry C- Prep - For the positive attitude you have displayed towards your learning. Thank you for modelling our classroom expectations in Prep. Keep up the great work!

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!

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.

If you ordered and paid for Challenge Cup photos they have been distributed today.  Please check your child's bag.

If you have ordered and not yet paid, please contact the office to make payment.

Term Dates for 2021

Term 3       12 July - 17 September - 10 weeks

Term 4      5 October - 3 December -   9 weeks

September

2 September Prep Prayer Assembly

2 September Fathers Day Stall

3 September Pupil Free - Professional Development Staff 

5 September Happy Father's 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)