Leader's Message
Congratulations Kindergarten
We are so very proud of our Kindergarten children and their families, for the way in which they have settled into school in their very first week. They have been amazing at coming in from Day 1 on Monday, settling and allowing their parents to leave. As they have been required to come into school from the gate for the rest of the week, they have managed this with success and their teachers have been telling the rest of the staff that they have been so capable and engaged in their learning. We have included some photos of them for our newsletter this week.
Welcome New Staff
Last week we welcomed our new students to St Joseph’s. This week we would like to acknowledge staff who have taken leave for 2022 and welcome new staff. During the holidays, Mr Damian Lawrence and Mrs Leah Toole took the opportunity to expand their horizons. They have taken leave for 2022 to work in other schools, so we welcome Mrs Danielle Taylor to work with Year 2 and Mrs Eloise Wilson to work across a number of grades. Danielle and Eloise have quickly become wonderful parts of our teaching teams and staff. We also welcome Miss Lucy Barber teaching 3B and Miss Kaihlee Patterson teaching in 1PS.
Beginning Year Mass
It is a special part of our school tradition when we are able to celebrate the beginning of the year through a Mass with our whole school gathered. Unfortunately we won’t be able to attend in the Church or with our parents and carers due to the need for a COVID safe plan. However, it is wonderful that we are able to gather our students together for this celebration at school. We are grateful to Fr Paul our Parish Priest for coming to share this occasion with us. At our Mass we will induct our Year 6 school leaders for 2022. As we are unable to have their parents with us, we will take photos and video to share and make a time to individually photograph parents with their children to mark this special occasion.
Celebrating Our Faith
Christian Meditation is an integral part of the prayer life of St Joseph’s Primary School; in fact this practice holds a special place in the prayer life of all Parish schools across the Diocese of Lismore.
No one doubts that children can pray; they can be present in the here and now with extraordinary intensity and naturalness.
Through Christian Meditation we are teaching our children to be still and know God. Being still is a great challenge for adults and children alike.
Here at St Joseph’s we make the commitment to be still in the presence of God everyday after Lunch 1. We quarantine this time as God’s time.
It is through this opportunity to be still in the presence of God that meditation can help children search for God, grow in awareness of God, find comfort in God and find a sense of their own personal wholeness.
Learning Together
As a school community, we encourage each of our students to become the best version of themselves they can be. We have the responsibility to educate each student academically, emotionally, spiritually, physically and socially. If our students are able to understand the thoughts, feelings, and needs of others, they will be able to interact in a selfless manner. This will also help them to avoid physical and unpleasant conflict. This week our students in 4MM spent time developing their understanding of empathy. They watched a TEDx talk by Belgian Michiel Vandeweer, 19, who suffers from Progeria. Through his presentation he shares how his life is an immense challenge with an unknown outcome, but despite all the inconveniences, Michiel’s positive attitude in life is remarkable. The students in 4MM discussed how they can overcome and support each other in their lives. How they can be attentive to the needs of others and the way in which they learn. When visiting the classroom it was inspirational to hear the students engaging in conversations about how they can display empathy for each other and those around the school community
Take a moment to listen to Michiel, he certainly puts life into perspective. Here is a young man who despite the limitations and the negative effects of the disease, tries to enjoy his life to the fullest.
