Principal's Update

Homelessness Week 

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP END HOMELESSNESS?

This year Homelessness Week with the theme, "It's time to End Homelessness". It is a genuine issue in so many communities across Australia, including Horsham. The St  Vincent De Paul Society is facing increased requests for assistance and emergency relief to cover the basics such as food vouchers and rent. This has been exacerbated by the decrease in the availability of rental accommodation and the increasing cost of rent across the country.  'These are choices Australians should not have to make,' said National President Mark Gaetani.  According to the Society, the statistics on homelessness are damning. 'One in seven are children, one in five identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, and 23 per cent are aged 12 to 24 years.' 'With more than 122,000 people homeless each night, we need all governments to act now'. 'According to Homelessness Australia, up to half of those seeking assistance do so because of housing or finances, including rent. It is time to end homelessness in this country. Charities cannot carry the burden of homelessness on their own. 

Helpers Needed

Our playground equipment requires a few repairs. The new parts have arrived, and we need a couple of people prepared to donate some time to complete the work. We would love to keep our playground open for the children; however, without these repairs, we may be forced to close it, and that would be a shame.

Contact the office, 5382 3000, if you can assist. It is a job for 2-3 people, no tools are required, and it should only take no more than a couple of hours (at a time to suit you).

School TV~ Supporting Parents

All families at SMJ have access to all the resources on the Schooltv website. To access the site, head to the SMJ webpage and find the link at the top of the home page or hit the link attached to the logo.

Coming up on Schooltv:

Wednesday, 23 August Respectful Relationships:  Teaching your child the skills to be respectful helps them to value their needs as well as others' needs.

Wednesday, 6 September R U OK Day You don't need to be an expert to reach out-just a good friend and listener.

Toys at School

Please note that children are not permitted to bring toys from home. Staff can spend significant amounts of time looking for lost toys or consoling children whose toy has been broken. 

Yours respectfully in Christ

Andrea