Dear Parents and Carers,

Last week’s rain brought welcome relief to our dry land and much-needed water for our farm animals. We are hopeful that more showers will follow in the days ahead.

It’s hard to believe we are already in Week 4 of the school year, but as I visit classrooms and listen to our teachers, it’s clear that meaningful and engaging learning is well underway. Our Kindy students have settled in well as they move into their third week of school.

The Opening School Mass last Wednesday was a beautiful way to begin our 2026 school year as a community. Our Year 6 leaders stood proudly and pledged their dedication to our school community and school values Compassion, Respect and Commitment. A special Thank you to Fr Paddy, Mrs Salmon, Ms Gardiner, Mr Pratt and all the staff who contributed to the celebration of the mass.

Ash Wednesday/Lent

This Wednesday 18th February is Ash Wednesday and the start of the season of Lent. Lent is the liturgical time lasting 40 days before Easter when Catholics prepare to commemorate Jesus’s Resurrection through prayer, penance, almsgiving and fasting.

Almsgiving focuses on caring for others, especially the poor and vulnerable. For us as a Catholic School Community, we participate in Caritas ‘Project Compassion’ whereby students and families can donate money to assist those in need within Australia and abroad.

Families are invited to attend our whole school and Parish Ash Wednesday Mass at 9.30am in the church celebrated by Fr Paddy.

Below are some commonly asked questions about Ash Wednesday and Shrove Tuesday:

Can anyone receive ashes on Ash Wednesday?
Yes. Just as anyone is welcome to receive a blessing in the Catholic Church, anyone can receive ashes on Ash Wednesday.
Is the priest the only person who can distribute the ashes?
No, other members of the parish and community can distribute the ashes.
What does the priest say when you receive ashes?
When you receive ashes on Ash Wednesday, the priest says either “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return” or “Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”
Do the ashes come off your forehead?
Yes they do. Some sooner than others! Fr Paddy’s ashes stay on !
Where are the ashes from?
The palms from Palm Sunday the year before are burnt and the ashes are used for Ash Wednesday.
How is Pancake/Shrove Tuesday connected to Ash Wednesday?
Shrove Tuesday marks the day before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. Traditionally, it was a time for people to prepare for the Lenten season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving by using up rich foods such as eggs, milk, butter, and sugar which were ingredients that were often given up during Lent.

We will be celebrating Pancake Tuesday this week at St Joseph’s. Each student will receive two pancakes at recess time. These can be eaten alongside the packed recess parents send in. Gluten free options are available.

The pancakes will be cooked on our much needed new school BBQ which was purchased with money raised by our families last year. There are also gluten free pancake options available. If you do not want your child to have the pancakes please let their class teacher know by the end of the day.

School Drop Off and Pick Up Procedures

In this newsletter is a copy of the updated school pickup and drop off procedures for 2026. Please take the time to read and familiarise yourselves with this as there have been some changes. These guidelines are in place to ensure the safety of our students, staff and families. There are only 2 drop off and pick up options available which do not include the staff/visitors carpark. If you have any questions please contact the school. These updated procedures and an infographic will be sent home on Compass to all families as well.

Thank You Mr Pratt and Mr Manton

We continue to receive wonderful feedback from new staff, casual staff and visitors about how beautiful our grounds look and how clean and well-maintained our school is.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Mr Rick Pratt, our school gardener and maintenance contractor, and Mr Ian Manton, our cleaner. Both gentlemen work tirelessly to ensure our school environment is safe, welcoming, and immaculately presented each day.

We truly appreciate the dedication, care and effort they consistently invest in our school community.

School Swimming Carnival

Our Week 2 Swimming Carnival was a tremendous success, and we are incredibly proud of our students. Their effort, school spirit, encouragement of one another, and outstanding sportsmanship were on full display throughout the day.

We witnessed some exceptional talent in the pool and congratulate the students who have qualified for the Deanery Swimming Carnival on 23rd February. We are equally proud of those students who challenged themselves and gave their very best in every race, even when it wasn’t easy.

A very special thank you to Mrs Salmon for her excellent organisation of the carnival. We also extend our sincere appreciation to the parents and staff who generously gave their time to assist with supervision, timekeeping, marshalling, and enthusiastically cheering on our wonderful students.

Canteen

Last Friday we held our first canteen day for the year. I would like to sincerely thank Mrs Melissa Skewes, Mrs Felicity Moloney and the Canteen Committee for the incredible organisation, time and effort they dedicate to providing this service each Friday for our students and families. The canteen operates entirely with the support of volunteers and I’m sure our community appreciates the convenience of having lunch taken care of one day each week throughout the term.

Lunch orders can be placed via the QKR app. Students may also bring money to purchase delicious home-baked goods, kindly prepared and donated by our parents, along with other treats available at recess and lunchtime.

If you are interested in helping in the canteen, joining the Canteen Committee, or baking items to contribute, please contact the front office. Your details will be passed on so you can be added to the roster.

Funds raised through the canteen are used to purchase resources to support both the canteen and our students.

Transition to Kindergarten 2026

Last Friday, we proudly welcomed our Junior Joeys for their very first Transition to Kinder Day. With 25 children enrolled, it was a fantastic start to the program. The children enjoyed a wonderful day of learning and exploration with Mrs Brady, Mrs Jones and Mrs Huard.

As future Kindergarten students of 2027, this program provides a valuable introduction to the school environment. It supports the development of early literacy and numeracy skills while also nurturing social and emotional growth. Through these experiences, the children are building confidence and readiness for a smooth and successful start to school in 2027. We look forward to having the children back this Friday.

Parent/Teacher Interviews

Parent–Teacher Interviews will be held next Wednesday 25th and Thursday 26th February from 3:20pm to 5:30pm on both days. These meetings are an opportunity for teachers to connect with parents and learn more about each child through the valuable insights families can share. Each interview will run for 10 minutes.

Bookings are open on Compass, where parents can select a suitable time. Some teachers may also offer limited timeslots in the morning before school. If you are unable to make any of these times, please contact your class teacher to organise another suitable time.

Our teachers are looking forward to meeting with all parents.

School Advisory Council AGM and Term 1 Meeting

As previously advertised, all members of our school community are warmly invited to attend the School Advisory Council AGM this Tuesday, 17th February at 6:00pm in the school staffroom. The AGM will be followed by our Term 1 Meeting. Meetings are held in week 5 of every term on Tuesday starting at 6pm.

The School Advisory Council is not a decision-making body. Rather, it works collaboratively to support and advise the Principal. The SJJU Social and Fundraising Committee is a branch of the School Advisory Council and we also have a Maintenance Committee.

If you are interested in nominating yourself or someone else for the School Advisory Council, please contact me for further information.

My Leave

From 9th to 23rd March, I will be on leave and travelling to Japan. During my visit, I am hoping to spend some time in a classroom in Nagoya, where students are taught English by their Japanese teacher.

While I am away, Mrs Munn will be Acting Principal. I sincerely thank her in advance for her leadership and for taking on this responsibility during my absence.

Enjoy the week

God Bless

Angela Scott

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