Dear families,

It has been a fantastic week at St Joseph's, and I couldn't be more proud (and in awe) of how the year has started and how settled our staff and students are.

This week began with an Indigenous Cultural Day, which was a wonderful opportunity for all students to learn about the rich and vibrant Indigenous cultures that are an integral part of our country's heritage, enriching our Indigenous topic for the term: On This Land.

We were honoured to have Barama from Cultural Infusion perform a smoking ceremony to start the day, and we thank the families who joined us for this special event. The day was filled with Indigenous art, dance, and sport, and our students gained a deep appreciation and understanding of the unique traditions and customs of Indigenous Australians.

Our students also enjoyed the opportunity to work alongside other year levels and their 'partner' grades during the activities. What a special day for our community!

Information Sharing Sessions

We would also like to thank all the families who attended our parent-teacher meetings on Thursday; I received such positive feedback from teachers about your support and trust in them!

These meetings were informative and constructive, and it was heartening to see our teachers working in partnership with parents to ensure the best possible outcomes for our students. We appreciate your ongoing support and collaboration.

Parents and Friends

Next week, we are looking forward to the first P+F meeting of the year. This is an exciting opportunity for parents to get involved in planning social and fundraising events, and we encourage all parents to attend. See Ash's flyer for more information.

Something tells me it's going to be a BIG year!

A taste of Chess

We are delighted to welcome Miss Toni, our chess teacher, to the school on Monday. She will be running some free 'taster' sessions with Preps-Year 4s, and we are sure our students will enjoy this opportunity to learn and develop their chess skills.

Good Luck!

On Monday, our swimming squad will be competing in the Dendy District Swimming Carnival, and we wish them the best of luck for the day. We are grateful to Liam Cleary and Tanya Huebner for the before-school swimming training sessions that have helped to prepare our students for this event.

Shrove Tuesday, Ash Wednesday and Lent

Next week marks the beginning of Lent, and we invite all families to attend Ash Wednesday Mass with our school community, which will be held in the church at 2 pm. This is an important time of reflection and renewal, and we look forward to sharing this experience with our school community.

On Tuesday, we will also be celebrating Shrove Tuesday, which is traditionally a day of feasting and pancake-making before the start of Lent. We would like to thank the parents who have volunteered to help with pancake making on Tuesday morning. We will meet in the hall at 9 am, and we will be serving pancakes to all of our students in a shared 'picnic' at approximately 10 am.

As we enter the season of Lent, it is important to reflect on the significance of this period in the Catholic calendar. Lent is a time of spiritual renewal and reflection, leading up to the celebration of Easter. During this time, we are called to focus on our faith and our relationship with God.

The season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, which is traditionally a day of fasting and repentance. On this day, we receive ashes on our foreheads as a symbol of our mortality and our need for redemption. These ashes are made from the palms that were blessed on Palm Sunday of the previous year, and remind us of the humility and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. All students and staff will receive ashes on their forehead during the Ash Wednesday Mass at 2pm, on the 22nd of February.

Lent is a period of forty days, representing the forty days that Jesus spent in the wilderness, fasting and praying before he began his public ministry. During this time, we are called to abstain from certain pleasures or practices as a form of self-discipline and sacrifice. This might involve giving up a favourite food or committing to additional prayer or service.

Shrove Tuesday, also known as Pancake Day, is celebrated on the day before Ash Wednesday. It is a day of feasting and celebration, traditionally associated with using up rich foods such as butter, eggs, and sugar before the fasting period begins. This is why pancakes are such a popular food on this day.

During Lent, we are also called to focus on the practice of almsgiving, or giving to those in need. This might involve donating money or goods to a charity, volunteering at a local shelter or food bank, or simply reaching out to someone who is in need of support or companionship.

The season of Lent culminates in the celebration of Easter, which is the most important feast day in the Catholic calendar. It is a time of great joy and celebration, as we remember the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

As we begin this season of Lent, we encourage all families to take the time to reflect on their faith and their relationship with God. Whether it involves giving up a favourite food or committing to additional prayer or service, or simply taking the time to reflect on what matters most in our lives, Lent is a time of renewal and transformation. Let us embrace this opportunity to deepen our faith and draw closer to God.

Thank You...

Well done and a sincere thank you to Simone, Mel and the team for running our Sustainable Uniform Shop last week, which not only raised in excess of $1200, but, most importantly, provided an invaluable service for our families.
Thank you to our School Advisory Council for a productive meeting on Tuesday evening. We are very grateful for you generously giving your time and sharing your thoughts and expertise.
Thank you to all families and staff for your partnership and support of one another; this is key to a high-performing school, where students flourish!

We are truly blessed to be part of such a vibrant and supportive school community, and we look forward to many more productive and inspiring weeks/ months ahead.

Have a lovely weekend,

Michelle

The Fast Life

Fast from judging others;

Feast on Christ dwelling in them.

Fast from fear of illness;

Feast on the healing power of God.

Fast from words that pollute;

Feast on speech that purifies.

Fast from discontent;

Feast on gratitude.

Fast from anger;

Feast on patience.

Fast from pessimism;

Feast on hope.

Fast from negatives;

Feast on encouragement.

Fast from bitterness;

Feast on forgiveness.

Fast from self-concern;

Feast on compassion.

Fast from suspicion;

Feast on truth.

Fast from gossip;

Feast on purposeful silence.

Fast from problems that overwhelm;

Feast on prayer that sustains.

An Invitation from Georgina Manning: "Anxious Little Minds"