Dear Parents and Carers

As we settle into the rhythm of Term 2, we give heartfelt thanks for the recent rain that has blessed our region. After a long, dry spell, the gentle fall of rain has brought much needed relief to our land and renewed hope to our farming families. We continue to pray for further rain to ensure a prosperous season. With the rain has come the chill of the changing season, and our days have grown noticeably colder with winter upon us. This has meant some considerable illness in the community, particularly influenza which has affected our staff and students throughout the school. We ask that you continue to keep your children home if they are ill until their symptoms have subsided to ensure the continued safety and wellbeing of our school community.

Sacrament of First Eucharist

This Sunday at 9.30am in the church, some of our students will be partaking in the Sacrament of First Eucharist celebration. Our Year 4 students along with Ivy Hunter (Yr 6) and students from local public schools have been preparing for the Sacrament of First Eucharist for the last 5 weeks. A very special thank you to Fr Paddy, Mrs Lucy Dowell and Mrs Kellie Salmon for their instruction and coordination of this very special milestone in the faith journey of these children.

Pupil Free Day: Monday 2nd June - Staff Spirituality Day

Just a reminder that next Monday is a Pupil Free Day. The school office will be closed as all staff will be participating in our annual Staff Spirituality Day. This day is dedicated to staff faith formation which is part of our ongoing Work, Teach and Lead accreditation. Mrs Sandra Harvey, Leader of Religious Education and Evangelisation will be facilitating the day and we will be continuing our work on renewing our school vision and mission statement, Jubilee Year of Hope and the Gospels. We look forward to seeing students back on Tuesday 3rd June.

National Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week

This week holds special significance in our nation’s journey toward healing and unity. On Monday 26th May, we marked National Sorry Day, a time to acknowledge the grief, suffering, and injustice experienced by the Stolen Generations. It is a day of reflection and a call to walk together in truth and compassion. Following this, from 27th May to 3rd June, we observe National Reconciliation Week. This year’s theme, Bridging Now to Next, invites us to consider how we can build respectful relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the wider Australian community, both now and for future generations. In response to this theme, our students will participate in a special Peer Support session tomorrow involving a STEAM activity that encourages collaboration, understanding, and creative thinking skills essential to building the bridges that lead us forward.

SJJU Social and Fundraising Committee

Our fundraising for Terms 1 & 2 has been very successful and we are so grateful for the generosity of families and community. In Term 1 we had the canteen for the Athletics Carnival, Easter Raffle and the Bulb Drive which was so kindly organised by Mrs Felicity Harris. This term we had the Mother’s Day High Tea organised and hosted by our amazing Kinder families which was a huge success, and the canteen for the Junee League Legends Day. Both canteens were not possible without the time, effort and organisation of Mrs Lisa Oliver and those who have assisted her.

On behalf of our school community I would like to say a huge thank you to all who have supported these fundraisers which we are using to to pay for the ongoing improvement of our Infants and Primary playground.

We are close to finishing the Infants Nature Playground with some new concrete sleepers installed around the edge of the playground equipment a week ago. The wooden barrier which was there had deteriorated and rotted. The concrete sleepers around the new sandpit and play equipment are hard wearing and will last longer. We are hoping to have the bark spread next week and are working towards a shade sail and cover for the sandpit.

Concrete edging will also be installed around the primary play equipment along with a new shade sail. The work that has been completed and the infrastructure yet to be installed in both playgrounds is in excess of $70,000.00. All fundraising money from last year and this year will be used to cover the cost of the playground renovations along with some contribution of monies from CEDWW. Below are the amounts raised for the fundraisers to date for 2025:

Mother's Day: $1,459.27

Athletics Carnival Canteen / League Legends Canteen: $3,011.73

Easter Raffle: $1,869.10

Bulb drive: $779.80

TOTAL: $7,119.90

Next Friday 6th June, parents are invited to attend our Term 2 SJJU Social and Fundraising Committee Meeting which will be held at the school MPC after assembly starting at 3.30pm. Children are welcome. We thought it might be more convenient if parents were at the assembly already then it would be easier to stay on afterwards for the meeting.

Other Building Projects

A week ago, we had the named pavers purchased by families in a fundraiser when the new school was opened laid. We have had them installed around the southern side of the school library close to the other pavers around the St Joseph statue. Thank you again to the families who donated these pavers. They look fantastic integrated into the library building.

80’s Trivia Night Social Event for Parents and Adults

You're invited to join us for a fun-filled 80's Trivia Night—a chance to come together as a school community and enjoy a night of laughter, games and a bit of friendly competition!

Organised by Mrs Sheree Ballard and our Year 5 parents, this event is all about connection, and is not a fundraising event. It will be held on Friday 27th June at the Junee Ex-Services Club, with doors opening at 6:30pm for a 7:00pm start. An external trivia company will run the evening, and the cost is $15 per person or $100 for a table of 10, which simply covers the event. Tickets are available now on QKR. Feel free to bring along friends to join families and staff for what promises to be a fantastic community night. For more details there is a flyer in this newsletter or you can contact the school.

Winter School Uniform

There appears to be an issue with our senior boys not wearing winter school trousers. We keep addressing this at a school level and through our PBL our focus has been ‘We wear the correct uniform with Pride’. If your son is not in winter school trousers you will need to contact the class teacher with a reasonable explanation otherwise there will be time out of play. School uniforms play an important role in fostering a sense of belonging, equality, and pride within our school community. Thank you all for your assistance with this.

Enjoy the weekend everyone.

God Bless

Angela Scott

St Joey's Trivia Night

Pull out your leg warmers, spray that hairspray and grab your tickets now!