Leader's Message
Welcome back for 2022 at St Joseph’s!
It was so lovely to see students coming in through our gate this morning, ready to go and looking fabulous. Visiting the classrooms through the morning showed that students are engaged with their teachers and peers, with excited chatter and sharing of their past six weeks visible. Just quietly, we think that there were also some excited parents and carers to have their routines back in place and children back at school!
Yesterday we sent out a letter to welcome all existing and new families to school and to give some key messages that impact on these first days and the conditions we are in currently. Please have a read as this included FAQ's around COVID for families and should answer many questions you may have.
During the past two years when parents have been unable to see us, we often included Principal and school videos to enable the feeling of connectedness. These will continue throughout the start of this year, so watch out for the links in our newsletter, emails and social media. In case you missed it, here is our first one for the year:
It is wonderful to also welcome new students and families to our school for 2022. We are pleased to have the following students join our community:
All of our Kindergarten students
Year 1: Cooper Wallis and Flynn Wallis
Year 2: Liam Clarke, Jacob Lees, Faith Ojeda
Year 4: Hudson Jones
Year 5: Adrienne Arce, Lillian Hyde
Year 6: Macie Taylor
RAT Kits
As you know, we are required to advise and offer RAT kits for students to test twice a week for the first four weeks of the school year. Collection of RAT kits for the first two weeks of term took place throughout the week as families came for MAI and Best Start Interviews. The next set for students will be available with a “drive through” time, which will be advised once we know when kits will arrive. Should you not be able to collect during that time, they will be available in the following days from the office.
Celebrating Our Faith
Nourished by Faith
Welcome to the 2022 school year and another wonderful opportunity to grow and flourish at school. The start of a new school year never fails to remind us all that we are continually in the process of becoming disciples - learning, growing and practicing the art of following Jesus in faith and life.
To do this successfully we need to be nourished by and in our faith. We need to be nourished by Scripture, the Sacraments, prayer and through community.
The term ahead will provide many opportunities for us as a community to be nourished in and by our faith - Mass for Beginning of Year, Ash Wednesday, Lent and Holy Week, Incitare Retreat, Sacrament of Reconciliation.
The prayer life of our school is a fundamental element that nourishes our faith. It brings us closer to God and allows us to think of others. Our students are engaged in many prayer opportunities throughout the time at school. They lead prayer in their classrooms and for the whole school community. Each class is committed to practicing Christian Meditation whose benefits have been well documented and researched.
Evidence from within our schools and other Australian Diocese is demonstrating that Christian Meditation is proven to:
- make children calmer and more relaxed.
- help create a sense of wonder in children.
- help create a sense of God in those who meditate.
- help create a sense of community where each person is reverenced.
- allow children a chance to be silent and experience God’s presence.
- develop in children a greater ability to learn and maintain attention.
Introduction to Christian Meditation
As a family, you may like to consider being nourished by prayer too.
- Maybe your child could teach you how to engage in Christian Mediation.
- Maybe you and your child could lead prayer before your family meals.
- Together you could read about a Saint you know nothing about - do you know about Saint Isidore of Seville ~ Patron Saint of the Internet?
- Take a walk in nature and talk about the beauty of the God revealed in the things you see.
Learning Together
We are so excited to have everyone back at school ready to engage in what will be an exciting year of learning together.
This week has seen our staff engaged in learning of their own to help prepare our students for the year ahead and beyond. We were very fortunate to have Nicole Dyson from Future Anything spend one day with us. She lead us through how best to support our students by planning authentic learning experiences that connect students to the real world - the world they live in. She inspired us to lead authentic ‘future ready’ experiences that embed the necessary entrepreneurial skills that our students need beyond the gates of St Joseph’s Primary School.
Bus Flashing Lights Campaign
Thursday 27 January - Saturday 12 February 2022
- Sticking to the speed limit and following the road rules in school zones.
- Slowing down to 40km/h when bus lights are flashing.
- Looking out for children crossing the road near bus stops, in school zones or along bus routes.
- Giving way to buses when they merge back into traffic.
- Never drop off or meet children on the opposite side of the road to the bus stop or call them across the road. Always drop them off or meet them on the same side of the road as the bus stop.
- Encouraging their children to be distraction-free around buses - put down their phone and take off their headphones.
If you would like further information please visit Transport NSW Bus Safety for School Students.
