Dear Families,

The Season of Lent:

Lent is a special season in the Christian calendar that invites people to pause, reflect, and grow. Lasting for forty days, Lent prepares Christians for Easter and focuses on prayer, generosity, forgiveness, and making positive changes in our lives. It is a time to think about how we treat others and how we can live with greater compassion, integrity, and purpose.

Lent begins with Ash Wednesday – 18th February, a day of reflection and commitment. In many Christian communities, people receive ashes on their forehead in the shape of a cross as a sign of humility and a reminder to turn their hearts toward God and toward others in love and service. It marks the beginning of the Lenten journey.

The day before Ash Wednesday is Shrove Tuesday – 17th February, known as Pancake Day. Traditionally, it was a time to use up rich foods before the simpler Lenten season began. Today it also serves as a reminder to prepare ourselves, not just outwardly, but inwardly this supports us to enter Lent with honesty, gratitude, and a willingness to grow and think of others.

As a school community, Lent offers us an opportunity to focus on compassion, justice, service, and renewal in our daily actions. Throughout the school year our students will regularly participate in social justice activities and events to help them reflect on our school values of being Respectful, Inclusive and Resilient.

Swimming Sports:

A wonderful day was had by everyone last Tuesday with our school swimming sports being held. All students participated in a number of novelty and swimming events-with Malachy being the winners at the end of the day by the smallest of margins. It was wonderful to see everyone cheering on their friends and students regardless of the team they were in - true sportsmanship at its best. We wish Scout, Ruby, Hunter, Finley and Sebastian all the best when they represent St Josephs's at Division Swimming next month.

Melbourne Excursion:

This Wednesday all students from Year 1 to Year 6 will participate in an excursion to Melbourne Museum as part of their learning this term. This excursion came about due to Catholic Education doing some upgrades on internet and cabling at the school. We were advised to have a pupil free day as internet/phones and possible power could be interrupted. As the hall is also part of this upgrade there would not have been the opportunity to have 'holiday care' with Uniting Care- so we decided to save the issue of either having to take time off work mid week, or finding care for your children. It is going to be a great day, with many experiences for the students to enjoy. Please make contact with your child's class teacher if you have any concerns or questions.

Communication Platform: Simon Everywhere (PAM)

Since the end of last year our platform that we use to communicate to parents known as SIMON Everywhere was out of order due to technical problems. It is now back up and running with a few changes that havebeen made. New families will receive an email from the office this week to give you a password to access your log in details. For existing families you can now access the app using a unique 6 digit School Code for St Joseph's Nagambie - it is 555052

Below is a guide for parents to connect and use the app.

https://simoneverywhere.com/#howto

Below is the direct link to app store if you haven't already accessed the app before.

Apple/iOS: https://apps.apple.com/au/app/simon-everywhere/id1467854354
Google/Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hordernit.simoneverywhere

There may be teething problems as we get used to the new format/system so please reach out to us if you are having difficulties. Andrea (our IT guru) is in the process of making a flyer with simple instructions on how to access this platform as well. It should be available in the next week.

Learning Conversations are taking place next week (Mon/Tues/Wed after school) for families who do not have PSG's. A form will go home Monday/Tuesday for you to pick times to meet with your child's teacher to discuss how your child has settled into school, their goals for the term/year and the leaning they have begun. Please watch out for this paper and return to school as soon as possible. Times will be allocated on a first in first serve basis.

As always, I am available for any conversations, feedback, suggestions that will improve our great school. My door is always open.

Take care and stay safe,

Maree

Communication Outline

Who to see when you have a concern or question.