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Dear Parents, Guardians and Caregivers
Of late I have been participating in many individual Annual Review Meetings with our wonderful staff (online of course). These meetings are a chance for all staff to reflect on and evaluate the effectiveness of their practice, identify strengths and achievements and also areas that they want to work on.
It has been a pleasure to converse with each member of staff and I am humbled by their dedication to their work and loyalty to our school.
One of the things that is frequently acknowledged is the importance of building relationships with the students and other members of staff.
Knowing the students, their interests, motivators, strengths, weaknesses and learning needs is pivotal to helping them achieve the utmost success in their learning and ensuring their wellbeing. For teachers and Education Support Officers, initiating and building these relationships is our ‘bread and butter’ and we are overall very adept at it. However at times we can be challenged! Sometimes there is that student who is hard to get to know, maybe they are uncommunicative, withdrawn, troubled.
I know that within my own extended family I have a young relative, who appears quiet and taciturn and is usually very hard to draw into a conversation. He can appear aloof at best, rude at worst- on the surface. You need to be creative and work at it to engage him in conversation and persist to encourage him to open up. However if you put in the work - you do get results! When he finally opens up, a truly unique and gifted person is revealed with extraordinary insights and perspectives.
It is crucial for us as educators to reach all students on some level, whether it is through common interests or by showing empathy and understanding. Sometimes we go to extraordinary lengths to achieve this- and it is so rewarding when it works!
Now is a good time to remember that we are all different and the person that is projected or perceived on the outside may be very different to the person within. Individuals may be coping with this ongoing situation very differently and this can change daily. We need to continue to strive to be loving to our families, thoughtful, considerate and tolerant of others. We also need to be kind, patient and forgiving with ourselves (especially for the times we don’t achieve the former!)
Please see the attached document for information on our phased return in term 4.
Phased Return to Classroom Learning Term 4
Joanne Coldebella
Acting Principal
Finally, all of you, be like minded, be sympathetic, love one another,
be compassionate and humble.
-Peter 3:8
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
-Colossians 3:12
Looking back on some of the great classroom work from our students and teachers.
Cant wait to see you all back soon!!
Teach me to listen, O God, to those
nearest me, my family and my friends.
Help me to be aware that no matter
what words I hear, the message is
Accept the person I am. Listen to me
Help me to be less afraid to trust the
voice inside - in the deepest part of me.
We pray for Louise Alexander on the loss of her beloved husband Ray. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Louise, Joseph, Sam, Hannah and all their extended family, watch over them as they grieve and give them strength to seek comfort in each other and their faith at this time.
Wednesday September 9 will be a planning day, there will be no new work set for the Remote Learning program on this day. Students may use the time to catch up on unfinished work or pursue their own interests.
We will still need to take the roll, so please click the heart on the teacher's morning message by 9:30am.
With the beginning of Spring all families are reminded that students will be required to wear their hats when they are outside and must adhere to our SunSmart Policy.
Please ensure that your child's school hat is clearly named.
For all your uniform supplies Totally Workwear Wonthaggi is our school uniform supplier.
Contact Brad and his team for your uniform need heading into the new school year. Click below for contact details.
Our school raised $2924, well done!
National Child Protection Week
This year National Child Protection Week will celebrate its 30th year with the theme:
Putting children first…
National Child Protection Week 6-12 September 2020 has moved online, but the message that we all have a part to play is more important this year than ever. We have included tip sheet for talking to children about personal safety and brochure titled Ways to Support and Encourage a Child's Right to Speak and be Heard, click on the image below to find out more information and resources about National Child Protection Week.
We are starting the process of planning for the 2021 school year and as such the process of developing class lists will soon commence. If parents have a genuine reason for class placement requests for next year, you are required to put this in writing and submit it to the School Office. Please be aware that a request has to be made for this current year, we will not be referring to requests made 12 months ago as circumstances change and it is important this is requested and submitted each year. Obviously, we cannot (and will not) accommodate requests for particular teachers; we can only look at the needs of the child.
All requests are to be submitted in writing by Friday, 9 October 2020. It is important to note that once classes are established for the year, no alterations to allocations will be made. While we welcome parent input about your child’s individual learning needs, please be mindful that preferences are requests only and school staff decide the final placement of children based on the learning needs of all students.
WE ARE BACK! As of 11:59pm 27th October, 2020 Regional Areas are permitted to resume Indoor religious ceremonies: permitted with up to 20 people plus one faith leader. Those necessary for the Mass e.g. readers, cleaners etc are included in the number.
For the Wonthaggi Parish this means we will be contacting parishioners on a weekly basis to invite Mass attendance and to make a fair and equitable opportunity for everyone to attend. If you would like to attend a particular Mass we would welcome your call on 03 56 721 111 to be included on the list of 20.
This weekend Father Geoff Baron will be saying the Mass for us and those parishioners have been contacted.
Father Darren Howie will return to Parish duties from Saturday 7th, November, 2020. We will then not only be offering the opportunity to attend Mass on the weekend for 60 parishioners in total, but we will also be making contact for Weekday Masses as well. That is Tuesday at Our Lady Star of the Sea Inverloch and St. Joseph’s Wonthaggi on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
In the meantime, any calls regarding a visit to the sick or urgent need please contact Father Manny Lomagno on 03 59 525 418 (if unanswered please leave a message and Father Manny will return your call ASAP)
Please pray for all who have passed away recently and ALL those who have passed due to the Covid-19 Virus. The anniversaries of Fr. Patrick Sterling, Fr. William Tierney, Archbishop Patrick O’Donnell, Fr. Cornelius (Con) Donovan and for our own loved ones. May God’s merciful love shine on them and on their loved ones left behind.
PLANNED GIVING ENVELOPES: The roll out of envelopes for the next 12 months are now available for collection from the Parish Office, unfortunately in place of the usual collection at the Masses. If you are unable to attend the office and would prefer them to be delivered or mailed please phone the Parish Office on 03 56 721 111 as we have volunteer parishioners who have offered to do this.
The envelopes apply to those who give weekly, fortnightly or monthly. Those who continue to make their contributions by Direct Debit/Credit Card will not be receiving envelopes.
Thank you to ALL for your continued generosity, as in these difficult times it has enabled us to keep the wheels turning.
ALL donations to the 1st Collection, Planned Giving envelopes can be brought to the office, passed through the secure slot into the Presbytery near the front door. The next roll out of Planned Giving Envelopes is now available see notice above. Thank you for your continuing generosity.
To celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the canonisation of Saint Mary MacKillop. The Sisters of Saint Joseph have created a commemorative prayer booklet to inspire us all to “take fresh courage…”as Mary did so often. These prayers share details of her personal journey, highlighting Mary’s values and spirit, and offering prayers and blessings for our modern world. We invite you to download your free copy of Encountering St Mary MacKillop in Prayer. To order your exclusive copy please go to: www.marymackilloptoday.org.au/prayer-book or call us on Ph: 02 8912 2777.
Bishop-Elect Gregory Bennet: POSTPONEMENT! In light of the current circumstances of Covid-19 restrictions in the State of Victoria and following the announcement of “Steps” by Premier Andrews for Regional Victoria and Metropolitan Melbourne, it is necessary to postpone the planned Ordination and Installation of Bishop-Elect Gregory Bennet which had been scheduled by 20th October at St. Mary’s Cathedral Sale. The steps for Regional Victoria prevent public religious worship within the Cathedral and other settings (with special exemption for restricted funerals) until 23rd November 2020. Once the Diocese is able to receive advice that we are able to proceed with the liturgy of Ordination and Installation of Bishop-Elect Bennet you will be notified immediately. As you would understand the liturgy will respect all restrictions as required. In any event the Ordination will be live-streamed in order that we can gather as One people in faith in welcoming our new bishop among us.
A list of live streams across the Diocese is on cdsale.org.au/coronavirus page. This page has listed the Mass times which occur regularly, ie. Don’t change from week to week.
We have been emailing and sending out important communications from the Diocese and if you would like to be involved and receive this information then please contact the Parish Office on 56 721 111 or email your details to wonthaggi@cdsale.org.au.
We are a Child Safe Parish. Any children, young persons and vulnerable adults have a right to feel safe and be safe. If you are concerned about any form of abuse, or believe that someone is at significant risk, you should immediately raise your concerns with one of our Parish Safeguarding Officers. Contact Kristine McRae via the Parish Office: 03 56 721 111 or St. Joseph’s School Safeguarding Officer 03 56 721 052. Take care, we are here to help.
Last week, the Archdiocese of Melbourne launched a new resource Ready, Set, Pray! Children’s Liturgy of the Word @ Home and we have been heartened to hear that this has been a useful resource for our parish and primary school families.
The YouTube link (below) enables access to the weekly episodes of Ready, Set, Pray! This site will allow families to ‘catch up’ on previous episodes they may have missed but also access the recent episode.
Ready, Set, Pray! Children's Liturgy of the word @ Home
No Meditation or Prayer Group until further notice.
PRAYER SHAWL GROUP: Over these past months in lockdown our girls have been busy knitting, crocheting and sewing up squares! There is an amazing assortment of beautiful rugs, shawls, caps and socks on our display table in the Parish Office, ready for distribution. So, if you know anyone who is struggling with life in any way, please let us know or come in and choose an item yourself. For further information or enquiries please contact: please contact Kristine (0499 915 784), Philippa Warby (0408 331 340) or Maureen Maartensz (0407 055 447).
If you are in need of urgent assistance, please phone eithe Father Darren Howie 0356 722 923 or Kristine on 03 56 72111 or 04999 15 784.
Finding Christ in a COVID Christmas
Thank you for your patience and understanding
Father Darren Howie Mrs. Kristine McRae
Parish Priest Parish Secretary
St. Joseph’s Parish Wonthaggi