Principal's Message
Making Mistakes
We have had a strong focus this term on creating a school where everyone is valued, treated respectfully and feels safe. Teachers and staff have been working consistently to uphold high expectations for behaviour both in and out of the classroom. Our whole school approach to positive behaviour, with its three school wide expectations: Be Respectful, Be Safe, Be a Learner, is the backbone of this work. Part of this approach is following through with consequences when students make mistakes. Making mistakes is a part of life that cannot be avoided. Some people find making mistakes hugely challenging, perhaps because they don’t like being wrong or they are embarrassed/ashamed or they can’t see another person’s point of view or they think it will make them less of a person if they admit to being wrong.
We try to teach our students that it is OK to make a mistake and that we should forgive others their mistakes as we would like ours to be forgiven. We give the students a process to follow: Admit Responsibility (own up to your behaviour- don’t make excuses or try to blame others, don’t focus on the behaviour of others-which you can’t control), Say Sorry, Make Amends (try to do something to make up for your poor choices/bad behaviour). This process is outlined in the visual we use below. We strongly believe that by teaching children how to deal with mistakes, we are teaching them a life skill which will promote mental health and wellbeing.
None of us are perfect, as humans we will always make mistakes, how we deal with those mistakes is a true mark of character.
This week on Thursday evening, Gr 3 students will receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time. This sacrament celebrates the forgiving, loving nature of our God who is always inviting us into a relationship with him. Through admitting our faults in this sacrament, expressing genuine sorrow and remorse and receiving God’s forgiveness via the priest we are able to make a fresh start, a chance to improve ourselves and grow.
When children make mistakes, they need to know this opportunity for a fresh start is always open to them, an opportunity to experience forgiveness, understanding and to learn and grow from this, striving to become the best version of themselves.
Holy Week
Holy Week, the final week of Lent, commences on this Sunday. This is a time when Catholics remember the Passion of Jesus Christ. The Passion commemorates the short, final period of time before Jesus’ death. Monday, at our whole school assembly, the Prep students helped us remember what Palm Sunday (Sunday, March 24), the first day of Holy Week is all about. Jesus rode triumphantly on a donkey into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, with the crowds waving palm branches.
Next Monday, March 25, the Grade 3/4s and 5/6 classes will lead us through the Stations of the Cross, which portray the Passion of Jesus, at 9.15 am, in the parish church:
The Stations of the Cross is one of the most simple, yet powerful, ways to prayerfully walk alongside Jesus and encounter him like never before.
There are fourteen Stations of the Cross. Each is an invitation to contemplate and experience a pivotal moment from Jesus’ sentencing to his death to his burial. They are a powerful way to step into some of the most significant moments in human history and encounter Jesus like never before. One of the most impactful times to pray the Stations of the Cross is during Holy Week, especially on Good Friday.
There are traditionally fourteen Stations of the Cross. Each station represents a different moment in Jesus’ Passion and Death, including:
- Jesus is Condemned to Death
- Jesus Carries the Cross
- Jesus Falls for the First Time
- Jesus Meets His Mother
- Simon Helps Jesus Carry His Cross
- Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus
- Jesus Falls a Second Time
- Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem
- Jesus Falls a Third Time
- Jesus is Stripped of His Garments
- Jesus is Nailed to the Cross
- Jesus Dies on the Cross
- Jesus’ Body is Removed from the Cross
- Jesus is Laid in the Tomb
The Grade 1/2s will help us recall and celebrate Easter Sunday, the resurrection of Christ, at the Whole School assembly in Week 2 of next term: Monday April 22 at 9.05 am in the gym. All parents and friends are welcome to attend.
Staffing News
At the end of this term we farewell Mrs Carly Zammit who is expecting her second child later this year. We thank Carly for all her hard work and her contribution to our school and look forward to her return in the future. Replacing Carly in 5/6F will be Mr Phil McKechnie. Phil is moving back to the area after teaching interstate. We welcome Phil to our school community and feel very fortunate to benefit from his experience and dedication to the teaching profession.
After School Care
St Joseph's Primary School and TheirCare are seeking interest from families who may be interested in accessing the After School Care Service at Wonthaggi North Primary School.
Children would be required to take the ‘town’ bus which arrives at St Joseph's Primary School at 3:30pm and would deliver the students to Wonthaggi North Primary School at 3:32pm, which is only one bus stop away. The cost of the bus would be $1.50.
Once at Wonthaggi North Primary School, the After School Program would run until 6:00pm and would include a range of fun activities with a healthy afternoon tea provided. Parents would then pick their children up from the Wonthaggi North Primary School Campus.
It is expected the average out-of-pocket expense will be less than $2.00 after government subsidies. Could you please help us determine the viability of the service by clicking on the link below and answering a few quick questions. The survey should take less than 1 minute to complete.
Responses will be collated on Monday March 25.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5WHXDC9
Easter Raffle
Huge thanks to all the families who have donated to our annual Easter Raffle and bought and sold tickets!
The raffle will be drawn next week on the last day of Term 1: Wednesday March 27 at 2.30 pm in the school gym. All are welcome!
As this is the final newsletter for the term, I would like to wish all our students and families a very happy Easter and holiday break!
Joanne Coldebella
Principal
