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Dear Parents, Guardians and Caregivers
Welcome to Term 4! I hope everyone managed to have a relaxing break over the holidays.
We thank you all again for your part in the Remote Learning program and your persistence, understanding and patience throughout this challenging year.
We have been really looking forward to welcoming the students back to school in person. The school is looking better than ever with the area between the soccer pitch and Senior Playground being asphalted and the completed 3/ 4 classrooms- a wonderful space has been created here thanks to Crosier Scott Architects and TS Constructions who have also been fantastic to work with. More gardening work has been completed- thanks to Shane Bertacco from Jim’s Mowing.
In the next few weeks we also hope to see some new playground markings and the basketball courts re -lined. We hope the students enjoy these improvements!
Bass Coast Young Leaders
Each year schools in Bass Coast select two students from both Year 6 and Year 11 to be the recipients of the Young Leaders Award.
The Award recognises students who display qualities in one or more of the following areas:
- Respect
- Responsibility
- Friendship
- Team work
- Leadership
- Academic excellence
- Sporting excellence
- Outstanding improvement
- Arts and culture
As part of the Young Leaders program, students participate in a Leadership Workshop and Lunch with the Mayor. This provides an excellent opportunity for the Young Leaders to get to know Councillors, learn more about how to contribute to Council decision making and build relationships with students across Bass Coast. As part of the program, students also participate in a filmed interview aimed at exploring and defining leadership.
Holly Carr and Maeve Wilkinson were the two students selected to participate in this program. Both students are particularly passionate about environmental issues in addition to being outstanding young leaders at our school, displaying many fine qualities. The following are their own recounts of the experience:
Joanne Coldebella
Acting Principal
Phillip Island day
When Maeve and I went to Phillip Island, we did many fun and creative activities. Firstly, we started introducing ourselves to everyone else and speaking about what we are most passionate about in the environment. After a delicious morning tea, we all got given playdough to make something that represents the environment to ourselves. Some included trees, rubbish in a bin and many kinds of animals.
Once we had done the introduction, the crew at Phillip Island started to talk about what they do to help the penguins and, more importantly, the world. Sometime later, everyone designed posters and almost an hour later, after lunch, we had a group photo while holding up our newly made signs bearing a message of change and hope.
By Holly Carr
On Wednesday Holly and I had a google meet with Mick Green. We talked about the environment and local leadership. We did this because way back in Term 1 we went to a workshop with all the young leaders for the environment in the area. We learned so much and had lots of fun. We ate yummy food and made lots of friends. Also we talked about our environment, and how we as young leaders protect and create awareness about it. We also made protest signs and wrote a cool song with Mick while he videoed it.
It was a great experience. There was going to be a Young Leaders event and he would showcase a little video about that day. Obviously we can’t do the event, but we are still using the footage from that day to make a cracking clip!
Going back to Wednesday, he did a virtual meeting with us and asked us questions. Most of the questions were along the lines of current leadership and the environment. For example, why is the environment important? How do you show environmental leadership? Do you think young people are being listened to in this pandemic? We all had a great time and can't wait to see the movie.
By Maeve Wilkinson
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.
WOW! Congratulations to everyone on a great return to STEAM in term 3. Even though it was a tricky term as we returned to remote learning many people still did some amazing work. We covered so many topics, from learning about being scientists, to engineers, experiments and more!
Here is just a little sample of some of the fabulous work
Coming up in term 4 our topics are:
Weather in Prep, 1/2s will be looking at Changes that Happen All Around Us and the 3/4s and 5/6s will be studying Coasts and the Impact of Erosion.
Lots of great observing, describing, experimenting, presenting and designing will occur. I can’t wait!
Friday October 9 wear the craziest socks you own.
We are raising money for Catholic Mission and asking
for a coin donation per family.
We will be having our Book Week Dress Up Day on Monday October 19
This year it will look a little different with students showing off their outfits via our Assembly online. Students will participate in Book Week activities in their class.
Students may choose to dress as their favourite book character, this may include wearing a mask or a hat if you do not have a complete costume or if you don’t have a costume you may wear your school uniform.
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.
Applications for Conveyance Allowance close November 25. You can download a form by clicking the tab below. Please forward completed forms prior to this date for procesiong to kcarew@stjwonthaggi.catholic.edu.au
Due to the current circumstances the St Joseph's Annual School Raffle has been postponed until 2021. We thank you for your continued support.
School closure dates for your diary
Monday 2 November
Tuesday 15 - Friday 18 December - Curriculum, Compliance and Professional Development Days
I CAN Network’s AWETISM 2020 Virtual Expo is scheduled for Friday 20 November 2020. Now in its sixth year, the AWETISM Expo has a proud reputation for providing Autistic young people aged 9-20-year-old with a platform through which they can share their passions and build networks for future study and work. For more information please click the image below.
Our Fundraising Partner Ritchies IGA, are launching their new Ritchies Card. The program now has an App for both IOS and Android smart devices. For those members who don’t have a smart phone, or would like a physical card, this option is also available and can be linked to the App. For further information please see the attached infomation.
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