2024-13 Newsletter - Term 3 Week 5

Principals Message

As we reach the midpoint of this term at St. Joseph’s, I want to take a moment to reflect on the incredible work and efforts of our teachers, students, and entire school community. This time of the term is always busy, but it’s also a period of great growth and achievement, and I am filled with pride at what we have accomplished together.

This term, our students from Kindergarten to Year Six are working to tackle challenges with determination and embraced opportunities to learn and grow. Whether in the classroom, on the sports field, or in their personal faith journeys, students continually strive for individual excellence. I encourage all students to keep up the great work, to continue supporting one another, and to remember that every effort you make is a step towards becoming the best version of yourselves.

The support of our families is invaluable to the success of our school community. The partnership between home and school is essential in helping our students thrive, and I am grateful for the trust you place in us to educate and guide your children.

As we look ahead to the remainder of the term, I encourage everyone to stay focused and motivated. There is still much to be done, and I have no doubt that we will continue to achieve great things together. Let us also remember to take moments to reflect, recharge, and give thanks for the blessings we experience each day.

In Faith & Truth,

Simone Taylor 

Reflection

Reflection for 2024 Social Justice Sunday - 25th August 2024 : Truth and Peace

Theme: "Truth and Peace: Foundations of a Just Society."

As we gather for Social Justice Sunday in 2024, we are invited to reflect on the vital role that truth and peace play in building a just and compassionate world. In a time when misinformation and division often overshadow truth, and conflict disrupts peace, we must turn to the teachings of Christ to guide us in fostering a society rooted in these essential values.

Truth in Christ

Jesus Christ, who is "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6), calls us to live in truth. This means more than just being honest in our words; it requires us to seek and uphold the truth in all aspects of our lives. In a world filled with competing narratives and falsehoods, it can be challenging to discern the truth. Yet, as Christians, we are called to be truth-seekers, committed to justice, integrity, and transparency.

Living in truth demands that we confront injustices and speak out against lies and corruption. It also requires us to educate ourselves and others, to be informed about the realities of the world, and to resist the temptation to accept convenient or comfortable falsehoods. Truth is the foundation of trust, and without trust, there can be no true peace.

Peace as a Fruit of Truth

Peace is not merely the absence of conflict; it is the presence of justice, harmony, and right relationships. The Bible teaches us that peace is a gift from God, but it is also something we must actively pursue. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God" (Matthew 5:9).

True peace is built on truth. When we live in truth—when we are honest, fair, and just in our dealings with others—we create the conditions for peace to flourish. However, peace also requires patience, understanding, and a willingness to forgive. It involves building bridges, healing wounds, and striving for reconciliation.

The Role of the Church and Community

As members of the Catholic community at St. Joseph’s, we are called to be both truth-tellers and peacemakers. This means standing up for the truth in our schools, families, and communities, even when it is difficult or unpopular. It also means working to resolve conflicts, promoting understanding between different groups, and advocating for policies that protect the rights and dignity of all people.

In our current world, where misinformation and hostility can spread rapidly, the Church has a critical role in promoting truth and peace. By fostering open dialogue, educating about social justice, and providing a moral compass, the Church can help guide society toward a more just and peaceful future.

Prayers for Truth and Peace

Prayer for Truth:

God of Truth,
Guide us in your ways and help us to seek and uphold the truth.
Grant us the wisdom to discern right from wrong,
and the courage to speak out against falsehoods and injustices.
May we always live in integrity,
reflecting your truth in all that we do.
Amen.

Prayer for Peace:

Lord of Peace,
Bless us with your peace,
a peace that surpasses all understanding.
Help us to be peacemakers in our homes,
schools, and communities.
Grant us the patience and strength
to resolve conflicts with love and understanding,
and to work tirelessly for justice and harmony.
May we be instruments of your peace in the world.
Amen.

As we reflect on this year’s theme of truth and peace, let us commit ourselves to living out these values in every aspect of our lives. May our actions reflect the light of Christ, guiding us toward a more just and peaceful world.

Confirmation

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Logan, Parker and Sophie who recently received the Sacrament of Confirmation with Bishop Michael McKenna. It was a truly beautiful ceremony, filled with the presence of the Holy Spirit and surrounded by the love and support of family, friends, and our entire school community.

Confirmation is a significant milestone in your spiritual journey, marking the deepening of your commitment to Christ and the Church. Through this sacrament, you have been strengthened by the Holy Spirit to live out your faith with courage and conviction. We pray that the gifts of the Holy Spirit will continue to guide and inspire our students in all that they do.

Thank you to our Altar Servers - Callie, Lori and Grace and to Jack, Zandar and Lilah for helping out during the Mass and supporting their senior students. 

Prev

Showing images 1 - 8 of 11

Next

Retreat Days - Years 4 & 6

Students from Years 4 and 6 will soon have the opportunity to participate in their own CYSMI Day at La Salle Academy. CYSMI, an international network of Catholic schools, is an initiative of CSYMA (Catholic Schools Youth Ministry Australia), with the mission to inspire and equip Catholic schools to become centres of the New Evangelisation. 

These days foster solidarity between Catholic schools, forming strong networks while allowing students to develop and sustain a personal, living relationship with Jesus and a strong Catholic identity. Through ongoing formation and participation in the life and mission of the Church, students will have the chance to grow in faith and community.

These special days have always been filled with joy and fun, and we are certain our students will have a memorable experience. 

Year 5 Retreat Day - Lasalle Academy

Lasalle was thrilled to welcome Year 5 students from both St. Patrick's and St. Joseph's to their school  for the Year 5 Retreat Day. Centered around the theme of 'Hope, Understanding & Compassion,' the day was enriched with engaging games, meaningful reflection, and shared laughter among peers and friends.It was a pleasure meeting everyone and getting to know and make new friends. A special thank you to the Lasalle students and staff who assisted and supported the Year 5's throughout the day and prepared a delicious sausage sizzle for lunch!Thank you to Mrs Wilsmore- Smith (REC) for leading and organising this day for the primary students. 

My New Gallery

Enrolments 2025

Thank you to our families who have completed Enrolment Applications for our Kindergarten 2025 class. Last week letters were sent out to families as part of our Enrolment Process. These letters are required to be returned by Friday 13th September 2024. Enrolments for the K/1/2 Class in 2025 have now closed. 

Infants Excursion - The Gruffalo

The K/1/2 class recently enjoyed a delightful excursion to see a live production of The Gruffalo in Bathurst. The students were captivated as the beloved storybook characters came to life on stage, providing a truly engaging and educational experience. Following the performance, the day continued with a visit to a nearby park, where the children enjoyed themselves on the playground activities, climbing high and certainly making us teachers nervous!

It was a memorable day filled with learning and joy, leaving the students with big smiles on their faces. We love our trips to Bathurst!

Prev

Showing images 1 - 8 of 21

Next

Athletics Carnival

Eastern Region Athletics Carnival Success

On August 7th, ten of our enthusiastic students represented St Joseph's at the Eastern Region Athletics Carnival. It was a beautiful sunny day, and our students shone brightly as they participated in a range of events, giving their absolute best in every competition.

A huge thank you to the parents who provided transportation and cheered on our athletes—your support was invaluable and greatly appreciated!

We are thrilled to congratulate Noah on his outstanding achievement in the discus event. Noah secured 2nd place with an impressive throw of 19.26 meters! He will now advance to Dubbo to represent St Joseph's at the Diocesan Carnival. We wish Noah the best of luck in this next stage of competition.

Well done to all our students for their hard work, sportsmanship, and dedication!

Book Week 2024

Book Week was a magical celebration this year, with students embracing the theme "Reading is Magic" by dressing up as their favorite book characters or in costumes inspired by the Olympic theme of 2024. We are thrilled to announce that our school book fair was a huge success, with sales exceeding $1500, which enabled us to purchase nearly $500 worth of new books for our school library. The day concluded with an exciting sports tabloid, making it a memorable event for everyone involved.

A special thank you goes out to our students and parents for their incredible costume designs and support. We also extend our gratitude to Dianne Nunan for judging the costume parade, Courtney and Kerena for providing our hot dog meal deals, and Mrs. Bettison for organising the sports tabloid. 

Prev

Showing images 1 - 8 of 11

Next

From our Wellbeing Officer

Little Athletics - "Come & Try"

Last week, our school had the pleasure of welcoming Kate Lynch, a Development Officer for Little Athletics NSW. Despite the inclement weather forcing the activities indoors, students eagerly participated in sessions where they learned various athletic skills. Kate guided them through the correct way to start a running race, proper javelin throwing techniques, and how to execute the high jump effectively, among other skills. It's always invaluable to have experts in their respective sports visit our school, providing our students with quality instruction and inspiration.

National Tree Day

Our school was excited to participate in National Tree Day, a wonderful initiative that encourages communities to come together and make a positive environmental impact. We extend our appreciation to Jason Bennett, General Manager of Lean & Bennett Toyota Lithgow, for generously supplying the trees to our school. Your support is deeply appreciated, and we look forward to seeing these trees grow and benefit our school and the environment for years to come.

100 Days of School for Kindergaren

In addition to our Book Week activities, we celebrated a significant milestone—our kindergarten students reaching 100 days of school!

To mark the occasion, a special 100 cookie cake was shared among students. Staff joined in the fun dressing up as if they were 100 years old. 

What's happening ...... in K/1/2

“Never see a need without trying to do something about it”. Mary MacKillop

The children have been learning about  Saints in Religious Education and Mary MacKillop was one that was very popular. We celebrated her feast day on August 8th and discussed ways we can be more like Mary.

The Gruffalo was a fantastic performance and a day away from learning at school. We used this story as a great opportunity to practise writing descriptions. We also made an artwork of the Gruffalo and labelled his main features. The children were so well behaved at this excursion and showed exceptional manners and respect for others. We were very proud of them.

Our Mathematics lessons over the last two weeks have been very busy with the children exploring shape, pattern and arrays using a variety of objects and materials. We had a lot of fun exploring number patterns based on shape. Some children even challenged their thinking by working with octagons!

Mrs Slattery

What's happening ...... in 3/4

The Olympic Games

3/4 were eagerly following the Olympic Games in Paris during the first few weeks of school this term, tracking the medal tally each day. Each table group drew a country out of a jar for them to keep track of and recorded their chosen country’s gold medals on a chart. Australia, Japan, China and the USA start off strong, but the final day brought a surprise as both China and the USA ended up with 40 gold medals each. Congratulations to Edie and Grace who had selected the USA and James H. who had selected China and earned themselves a special prize from our prize box. Other table groups enjoyed a sweet reward with Freddo Frogs. 3/4 have also been reading newspapers and getting information old school style!

Over the last couple of weeks students in 3/4 also had the opportunity to participate in drumming sessions with our school counsellor Jemimah. Rhythm2Recovery is a great program aimed at supporting students’ emotional and social development. Thank you Jemimah!

Miss Porter & Mrs Bettison

What's happening ...... in 5/6

Parachutes - Forces at Work

The big question under investigation in Science & Technology the past two weeks has been:

• Does the size of a parachute affect how fast it falls?

YES, it does!

The larger to parachute the slower it will descend to the ground. So, our advice is if you are going skydiving make sure you get a big parachute not a small one.

August & Jones

We are learning all about characterisation and what techniques authors use when creating their characters for their stories. The novel August & Jones by Pip Harry is proving to be a valuable resource for our lessons. It is a heartwarming story of two completely different characters who eventually meet each other and become best friends. The novel also addresses the topic of illness which allows us to develop our empathy skills and think of how others may be feeling.

V W S – Vertical Work Spaces

This is a new activity to our classroom during Maths lessons. We break into small groups (picked randomly using a pack of cards) and work together to solve a problem using a vertical work space instead of our grid books sitting at our desks. Mrs Nicholson was very pleased with the outcome of this and our ability to work in a small group and stay focused on the task.

Cheers Year 5/6 Students :) 

Bullying No Way - Week of Action

Community Information