BANG! - the starting gun has well and truly gone off, not only for the Olympics in Paris but here at St Joseph’s Glen Innes. We have begun the term in earnest with a myriad of activities designed to broaden and deepen our holistic learning experiences for our talented children.

From Message Stick art and craft activities and a Welcome Ceremony to practical mathematics activities from the World of Maths traveling roadshow to Grandparents’ Day, our first few days of term have been very busy, to say the least! Check out the pics on Facebook and in this newsletter.

Our Term 2 Attendance Assembly was held today and 81 children received Gold (100%), Silver (95%) or Bronze (90%) certificates with 16 of them receiving Super Strawberry Vouchers for being present at school every single day of Term 2! Please note that while we choose to reward attendance here at our GREAT school, Attendance for all school children is a LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY for all families to be strongly mindful of. Please click on the link HERE and carefully digest the full attendance expectations for school-age children.

I particularly identify the importance of providing an explanation for an absence on the COMPASS App or calling the office within 7 days. Families will receive a formal letter each Friday if you have not explained the absence. Similarly, all families are encouraged to take holidays or travel during gazetted school holidays. Principals are not expected to approve holidays during term time and if the holiday request is urgent and exceeds 10 school days, an Application for Extended Leave must be submitted. While all of this is certainly strongly worded, the implications for non-attendance have a massive detrimental effect on learning outcomes. Being absent for only 2 days across a fortnight has the potential for a child to miss up to 4 weeks of learning in a year! Thank you in advance for working in partnership to ensure the best academic and positive well-being outcomes for your child!

Two very important Feast Days are coming up in the Liturgical calendar that all parents and families are most welcome to attend.

Next Thursday (8 August) we commemorate and celebrate the Feast of Saint Mary of the Cross (MacKillop) at noon in the Undercroft. The children will eat Hot Chips from the Lions Van at 11 am and then have a quick run around before Mass presided over by Father Thaddeus. Families are welcome to bring along a picnic lunch and sit with their children on the top oval. After Mass, the children will receive some Super Strawberry ice creams with the Talent Show beginning at 1.50 pm in the Undercroft. Once again, families are most welcome to attend and watch our amazing children entertain us!

The following Thursday (15 August) is the Feast of the Assumption of Mary with Mass being celebrated in the Church from 12 noon and the whole school will attend with the parish community. I strongly encourage all families to join us as a faith community for this most important date in the Church year.

To conclude I present a copy of the beautiful poem “When You Thought I wasn’t Looking” read so eloquently by our Year 6 children at the Grandparents’ Day Liturgy last Friday. On behalf of our school family to all the Grandma’s, Nan’s, Pa’s and Granddad’s - thank you for your support and love of our wonderful children at St Joseph’s Glen Innes!