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- Principal's Report
- Prayer for Ash Wednesday
- Junior News
- Senior News
- Lunchtime Clubs
- Book Club Issue 1
- Conveyance Allowance Term 1 2021
- Finance Information
- Canteen
- Operoo
- Expression of Interest for Enrolment 2022
- Diary Dates
- Parish News
- Bicentenary of Catholic Education
- Mary MacKillop College
- Fish Creek Children’s Literature Day
Dear Parents, Guardians and Carers
One of the things that staff and many students lamented the absence of last year, was Lunchtime Club. For a long period of time (when we were at school) we were unable to offer this activity due to COVID restrictions. Lunchtime Club is open daily in the school library. It offers alternative activities: games, construction materials, drawing, reading, role play props etc. for those students who are seeking to do something different, engage with peers in a quieter setting or have a break from the school yard. It was certainly missed and we were fortunate to reinstate the club before the end of the year.
This year Lunchtime Club in the library continues and we are thrilled to be able to offer some more specific types of clubs running on different days of the week. These will vary on a termly basis.
Mrs Heim is conducting a Yoga/Meditation Club on Tuesdays this term. The students are practising breathing exercises, easy yoga poses and finishing with some quiet meditation to relax their minds and bodies.
Mrs Gin is supervising a Gardening Club on Wednesdays. An eager group of students have already been hard at work weeding. This club has already improved our school playground!
Ms Paulson has organised a Music Club for Thursdays who will focus mainly on singing this term. There is already an enthusiastic group of aspiring artists attending who hope to perform the songs they are learning in front of an audience.
Mrs Richards is running a Sports Club on Fridays. This term the focus will be on athletic sports. Mrs Richards reported that last week’s club was so much fun- she would like to run two Sports Clubs a week! (One for the Juniors and one for the Seniors). We will start this next term.
Several grade 6 students have volunteered to be assistants at each of the clubs- giving them an opportunity to exercise leadership, learn new skills and develop relationships with the younger students.
Each term we hope to offer some different types of clubs. Some, the students will need to ‘sign up’ for, others will be open on a ‘walk in walk out’ basis. From next term we hope to invite parents to assist at some of the clubs if they are interested and able to.
This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the period of time the Catholic Church knows as Lent. This special time of preparation, of about 6 weeks / 40 days before Easter, we try to focus on prayer, almsgiving and fasting. Through almsgiving we strive to be aware of the needs of others and give generously to help those in need. Fasting can take the form of self- sacrifice, self-discipline or restraint. On Ash Wednesday the Priest places ashes on our foreheads as a symbol of repentance- being sorry for our failings and ready to try harder to be true to the messages in the Gospel- to be loving, forgiving, wise and accepting like Jesus. The Grades 3-6s were to attend Mass at the parish church while the Prep and 1 / 2 students experienced a liturgy in their areas, with Father Darren visiting the classrooms to bestow the ashes on them later in the day (due to COVID density limits for the church). We will now need to mark this day a little differently, hopefully when we are back at school later this week.
A reminder that Parent -Teacher interviews will occur on Tuesday February 23 and Thursday February 25. Please make a booking to meet with your child/ren’s teacher/s.
Joanne Coldebella
Acting Principal
Blessed are You O Lord
who gives us life and all things.
Lead us into repentance and
renew our lives with your grace.
May the crosses of ashes that mark our
foreheads be a reminder that we belong to your Son.
May our worship and prayer be sustained
throughout these days of Lent.
I ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The Grade 1/2's have had a great start to the school year. Students hit the ground running as we launched right into our learning for 2021. In reading we have been focusing on making good predictions and retelling the story using the Five finger recount. In writing, our focus has been on writing recounts and understanding what a good recount text must include. They all did a great job with their Big Writes about My Recess. In maths we are learning to skip counting by 2's, 3's, 5's and 10's and ordering numbers into the hundreds. We are very much looking forward to watching our seeds grow and change as we explore our Integrated topic this term, Growing Older and Wiser.
The 5/6 students have been working on recontextualising parables by turning them into modern comics. They have been working hard to modify the story and create high quality comics.
Students have been enjoying the new Lunchtime Clubs on offer this Term!
Gardening Club
Yoga Club
Sports Club
Music Club
Conveyance Allowance Term 1 2021
What is Conveyance Allowance ?
The conveyance allowance is a form of financial assistance to help families in rural and regional Victoria with the cost of transporting their children to their nearest appropriate school/campus. The conveyance allowance is available to eligible students travelling by public transport, private car and private bus. The conveyance allowance is also available to eligible students whose nearest school is not serviced by a free school bus.
Students attending a government or non-government school must:
• attend their nearest government or non-government school/campus appropriate to their year level at which admission is permissible
• be enrolled at a school/campus outside Melbourne’s metropolitan conveyance boundary
• reside 4.8km or more by the shortest practicable route from that school/campus attended
• be of school age (5 to 18 years old at time of application) and reside in Victoria.
Forms are available at the school office, if you have any questions please contact the office or email kcarew@stjwonthaggi.catholic.edu.au
Just a reminder to families if you have a concession and haven't already done so please complete a concession form and a CSEF application, please remember that all concession and CSEF applications need to be accompanied by a copy of your current concession card. If you have any queries please contact the office or email kcarew@stjwonthaggi.catholic.edu.au
Due to current restrictions our canteen is currently suspended. Any orders previously placed for this week will be carried over for when canteen resumes. We thank you for your continued patience and understanding.
Operoo is a vital communication link for families to know what is happening around St Joseph's. You will receive email notifications when new information becomes avaliable. Please ensure that all your family contact details as well as emergency contacts for your child/ren are kept current and up to date.
Expression of Interest for Enrolment 2022
We are now accepting Expression of Interest Application forms for student enrolments for 2022. Current families with students attending in 2022 should also complete and return an application to ensure all details are current and up to date. The application form can be found below. Email completed forms to jblair@stjwonthaggi.catholic.edu.au
Friday March 5 will be a school closure day for staff proffessional development.
Welcome back Father Darren and thank you to Ruben, Lola and Kath who organised the Liturgies. We are very blessed to have such help.
Due to Stage 4 Restrictions please contact the Parish office for Mass details.
Please pray for those who have passed due to the Covid-19 Virus and the anniversaries of Bishop Arthur Fox, Fr. Emanuel (Manny) Spiteri, Fr. Wladyslaw (Les) Lisik S Chr, our own loved ones and the Souls who have no one to pray for them. May God’s merciful love shine on them and on their loved ones left behind.
LENT 2021 WITH BRUCE DOWNES THE CATHOLIC GUY Be inspired, Be refreshed, Be renewed! Come on a 40 day journey with me and I know this will be a powerful and prayerful Lenten journey together. Receive a short inspiring video each day during Lent. This program is FREE and you can sign up here: https://BruceDownes.org./Lent Call 1300 734 880 for more info.
Aid to the Church in Need Australia: As we begin a new year please remember the suffering Church. Your donation helps keep the faith alive during these difficult times.
Visit www.aidtochurch.org
Aid to the Church in Need/ACN Australia P.O. BOX 335, PENRITH NSW 2751
PH: 1800 101 201/ 02 9167 9517
Meditation Group: Will recommence following the Lenten Program. Just thought you may be wondering. Such a special activity and will be welcomed back into our Diary.
WORLD DAY OF PRAYER SERVICE 2021: PRAY FOR VANUATU FRIDAY 5TH MARCH 2021 @ 10:30 a.m. St. Georges Anglican Church, Cnr Hagelthorn and McBride, Wonthaggi Contact Jennifer Boer 0431 44 00 73.
Don Bosco Retreat Centre: Lysterfield
Week Lent Easter Retreat with Fr. Peter Varengo 21-26 February,2021
Saturday 13th March: Family Retreat Day
Saturday 20th March: Youth and Young Adult Reflection Day
Friday 26th March: Seniors Retreat Day Further information: donboscoretreats.org.au
PRAYER SHAWL GROUP
If you know anyone who is struggling with life in any way & would benefit from receiving a shawl or rug, please ring Kristine in the Parish Office or come in and see the range available. There is no charge. Also if people wish to donate wool, we would specify that it needs to be 8ply acrylic. Newcomers are warmly welcomed, even just for a cuppa/chat & help with cleaning up.
Further enquiries: Philippa Warby 0408 331 340 and Maureen Maartensz
0407 055 447.
Yarra Theological Union, a Catholic College of the University of Divinity in Box Hill is taking enrolments for study in 2021. New students can make an appointment with the Dean by emailing: admin@ytu.edu.au Or contacting the Dean directly via email: dean@ytu.edu.au. Further study details are available on our website www.ytu.edu.au.
PALMS AUSTRALIA: REACH BEYOND THE NEED IS ACUTE! (Please Read attached Letter)
Low-income communities are not asking us for money or gifts. They reject degrading dependence. They want you to share your skills to help develop self-reliance and sustainable solutions to poverty. The call is to all trades and professions to assist build the ability of their people and the capacity of their organisations. To properly prepare for a 2022 placement you do need to enquire now.
Find out more: Ross House, Mezzanine-Sue Healy Room 247 Flinders Lane, Melbourne Saturday 20th February, @ 10:00 a.m. palms.org.au
- Yarra Theological Union, a Catholic College of the University of Divinity in Box Hill is taking enrolments for study in 2021.
New students can make an appointment with the Dean by emailing: admin@ytu.edu.au
Or contacting the Dean directly via email: dean@ytu.edu.au.
Further study details are available on our website www.ytu.edu.au.
PALMS AUSTRALIA: REACH BEYOND THE NEED IS ACUTE! (Please Read attached Letter)
Low-income communities are not asking us for money or gifts. They reject degrading dependence. They want you to share your skills to help develop self-reliance and sustainable solutions to poverty. The call is to all trades and professions to assist build the ability of their people and the capacity of their organisations. To properly prepare for a 2022 placement you do need to enquire now.
Find out more: Ross House, Mezzanine-Sue Healy Room
247 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Saturday 20th February, @ 10:00 a.m. palms.org.au
A list of live streams across the Diocese is on www.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.
Wonthaggi Parish farewells the Sisters of Saint Joseph
Farewell to Sisters of Saint Joseph Wonthaggi - Sue McGuinness
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.
Thank you for your patience and understanding
Father Darren Howie Mrs. Kristine McRae
Parish Priest Parish Secretary
St. Joseph’s Parish Wonthaggi