Principals' Message
Dear Parents and Carers,
Welcome to Week 8! We hope you managed to enjoy the weekend with family and friends. With the weather now getting cooler, please ensure your child is dressed in the full winter school uniform as the long weekend was our official changeover from our summer school uniform. While some children do not seem too bothered by the cold weather, it is important that they wear their school jumpers/jackets to avoid the chill as much as possible. Please ensure that these items of clothing are clearly labelled with your child's name.
Sacraments
Term 2 is a busy time at St Joseph's with many students marking significant spiritual milestones with three sacraments being celebrated. Since our last newsletter, Year 2 children celebrated the Sacrament of Penance (First Reconciliation), experiencing God's mercy and forgiveness, while just yeaterday others received the Sacrament of the Eucharist (First Holy Communion), a joyous occasion where they received Jesus Christ in the Eucharist for the first time. We congratulate these students and many extend our thanks to all families, teachers and Mrs Mitchell, for their guidance in both sacraments.
Stage 3 students are preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation which will be celebrated on 28th June with Bishop Murphy presiding. This sacrament will deepen their baptismal grace, empowering them with the Holy Spirit to be witnesses of Christ. The community is asked to keep these students, their families, and sponsors in their prayers as they prepare for this important step in their faith journey.
Students Online
Please take a close look at the information about the digital usage of our students in Years 3-6 that has been compiled by Mrs Mitchell and presented on the Religious Education page in this newletter. Of course, we all share concerns about the increased use of digital platforms by children. Social media is a particular worry because primary school age do not have the maturity to fully understand the wide range of issues and the implications that come with it's use. Common Sense Media is a leading source of information for families and schools and is highly recommended.
Semester 1 Reports
Teachers have commenced writing Semester 1 Reports. These will be made available on Compass on Monday 23rd June, and then we have a couple of busy weeks with Three Way Learning Conferences held during Weeks 9 and 10. These conferences provide a great opportunity to meet with your child's teachers to discuss achievements and learning goals. This collaborative process highlights the important partnership between home and school in supporting student success. Bookings for the Learning Conferences can be made on Compass.
Congratulations
Congratulations to one of our Stage 3 teachers, Mr Luke Paterson, who has recently tied the knot. We also extend our warmest wishes to Miss Sampson, who returns today from her honeymoon as Mrs. Gillett! We wish both couples a lifetime of love and happiness.
Congratulations also to former student Ms Kylie Ellen Pussell who was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her service to community health, particularly through neonatal support. An amazing achievement!
Have a wonderful week!
Maree Holland & Greg O'Toole
Co-Principals
St Joseph's School - a Faith Filled Community Where Learning Matters