Dear Families,

It is hard to believe that Term One is rapidly drawing to a close. It has been busy, productive term. Below are some of the students' highlights:

Dallas - library

Ella - I think it will be camp but that's next week! Chemical Science.

Sammi - Tennis

Jack - DRI: swimming with the dolphins and seals

Lilly - Swimming Carnival

Sadie - learning in Mathematics

Tommy - the Colour Run

Goldie - outside play

Albert - Lego

Malakai - Mathematics and Writing

Fete

Many thanks to the Assunta, Tahnee and their dynamic team on our wonderful Community Fete. It was great to see so many families enjoying themselves. A huge thank you to everyone who supported the fete in some way - through generous donations, manning stalls, setting and packing up, purchasing from the stalls, entering Sorrento's Got Talent, selling raffle tickets and baking goods. It may take some days before we know how much money was raised. Money raised will go towards the running costs of the swimming pool, including the new fence.

Student Led Learning Conferences

School will finish for students at 1:00pm tomorrow. The Student Led Learning Conferences will provide parents with insights into their child's learning. Increased student engagement, activation of student voice, greater collaboration between teachers, parents and students are some of the benefits from this new structure. I look forward to hearing your feedback on Student Led Learning Conferences. Megan has included suggestions on how families can assist their children at home in Literacy and Mathematics as well as a guide to the Learning Conference in the Learning and Teaching section of this newsletter. Mrs Jacqui Hayes (PE) and Mrs Jenny Young (Visual Arts/Performing Arts) will be in the area just near the 1/2 and 3/4 learning spaces for any parents who would like to see them to discuss their child's learning.

Thank You

We wish Monica Smith and her husband Sam all the very best as they embark on new roles of being parents shortly. Monica will be starting her Parental Leave at the end of the term. We thank her for her commitment to her students' learning outcomes, her passion for teaching and her care for all. Mrs Laura Dimogerondas will be replacing her for four days of the week and Mrs Julie Finn will be teaching on the fifth day.

St Joseph's Harmony Day

We had a fantastic day celebrating St Joseph and that everyone belongs at St Joseph's School. Thank you to Jenny Todd, Jess Lumsden and Jacqui Hayes for planning our activities. Thank you to all the parents who assisted in some way on the day.

Parent Representatives

You would have been notified today of your class reps for 2023. The role is to co-ordinate a parent social event each semester. This is another way we have planned to build community connections. Thank you to the parents who have taken on the role:

Prep: Cath (Albert's Mum) & Nicki (Tommy's Mum)

1/2 : Tahnee (Sienna's Mum) & Hope (Malakai's Mum)

3/4: Nicole (Oliva & Alex's Mum), Sarah (Flynn's Mum) & Liv (Hamish's Mum)

5/6: Jannica (Matilda & Tahlia's Mum) & Adriana (Lochlan's Mum)

Catholic Education Week - St Patrick's Day Mass

I was fortunate to attend the Annual Children's Mass at St Patrick's cathedral on Friday 17 March with four of our student leaders. It was wonderful to be a part of the celebrations with thousands of other students and staff. The Mass further reinforced this year’s theme: ‘Forming lives of faith, hope and love in the light of Christ’. In his homily, Archbishop Peter Comensoli reflected on the early life of St Patrick, who was taken into slavery at the age of 16. ‘His journey from that age gradually unfolded for him, but it is important that we acknowledge that he did not know what was coming, where it would lead’, said the Archbishop. ‘What Patrick did at 16 was to say yes to God and to place his trust in God.’

Welcome

A warm welcome to Maarten, Annalese, Anneke (Yr 5) and Phoenix (Prep) to the St Joseph's School community.

Easter

Please join us next Wednesday afternoon at 2:15pm for our whole school Holy Week Liturgy.

Parish Holy Week & Easter Mass Times

Palm Sunday: Sorrento Vigil Saturday 6pm Sunday 10.00am Rye Vigil Saturday 5pm Sunday 8.30pm

Holy Thursday: Rye only 7.30pm.

Good Friday: Stations of the Cross Sorrento & Rye 10.30am

Good Friday: Solemn Liturgical Act of the Passion of the Lord Sorrento & Rye 3pm

Holy Saturday: Easter Vigil Ceremonies & Mass Sorrento Only 7.30pm. There is no service at Rye on Holy Saturday.

Easter Sunday: Sorrento & Rye 8am, 9.30am & 11am

First Term will finish at 3:20pm on Thursday 6 April. Term Two will commence on Wednesday 26 April. St Joseph's School will once again be involved in the Anzac Day March and ceremony on Anzac Day. Times and information will be sent home via Operoo over the holidays, closer to the day.

Wishing you every blessing for this Easter and may you all have a relaxing, rejuvenating and fun-filled holiday.

Enjoy your week,

Monica

moshannassy@sjsorrento.catholic.edu.au

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