The season of Advent

Advent is the time before Christmas, starting around the beginning of December and ending on Christmas Eve. It is a time of waiting and preparation for Christmas, a celebration of the birth of God’s son Jesus. Advent began this year on Sunday December 3. We believe it is also a time for prayer and a chance to reflect on the times we have made the right choices and the times we could have made better decisions. The students have been learning about Advent across the school and using Advent wreaths in their prayer times. The Advent Wreath has different meanings for different people.  Some believe the wreath is circular because it represents the season's ending and the beginning of another year. Others believe that the circle represents God’s love lasting forever.  Advent wreaths are made using the leaves of evergreen trees. They represent eternity. The candles represent light in the darkness and Jesus being born into the world to bring people hope and love in their lives in times of sadness and sorrow. The word ‘Advent’ means ‘coming’. When we light the candles on the wreath, it symbolises the coming of light (Jesus) into the world.

 Candle 1 (violet): represents hope

Candle 2 (violet): represents peace

Candle 3 (rose): represents joy

Candle 4 (violet): represents love

 The central white candle is lit on Christmas Day and represents Christ.

Advent Prayer:

Advent 

Jesus, you are light even in the darkest places.

Help us to trust in you when we are lost or lonely.

Shine hope into our hearts we pray.

Amen.

As this is our final newsletter for 2024 I would like to thank all our students, parents and community for their support of the school and participation in school events during the year. We highly value working in partnership with parents to achieve the best outcomes for students so your involvement is much appreciated! Thanks also to our wonderful staff for their dedication and hard work!

School Advisory Committee

We welcome three new members to the Committee for 2024: Susie Green, Taryn Robinson and Chandrakala Trasanayagam.

I would like to extend our gratitude to these new members for volunteering their time to contribute to the continued formation of our school and look forward to working with them over the next three years. 

Orientation

Today the students will meet their 2024 teachers. Teachers have been preparing students for the transition, reinforcing that every child will be with a friend they have nominated and while they may not be with their first choice, they will still be able to engage with them at recess, lunchtime and during various activities. Parents can help by reminding students that even though change can be confronting, over time we can and do get used to new things and that it is good to meet and get to know other people and have new experiences. 

End of Year Grade 6 Graduation Mass

The end of year whole school/ Gr 6 Graduation Mass, will occur on Friday December 8 at 12.00 pm. We are really looking forward to celebrating this as a school. Parents and the wider community are very welcome to attend. 

Staffing Update

Congratulations to Ms Hannah Parrett who has been appointed our Religious Education Leader!

Mrs Belinda O’Brien and Mrs Julia Foster will both be working part time in 2024, in classroom support roles. 

2024 School Captains

Over the last week Mrs Gin, myself and the 2023 school captains have had the privilege of interviewing students who have written outstanding applications for the positions of School, House and Liturgy Captains for 2024. We have been working with the students to identify and unpack desirable leadership attributes. We have highlighted that good leaders demonstrate humility, inspire trust, and are authentic and transparent. They take responsibility for their actions and have a deep respect and empathy for others. They are enthusiastic, have good communication skills and are willing to serve. They are also exemplary role models, adhering to our school expectations, wearing the uniform with pride and able to work well in a team.  We feel very fortunate to have such a wonderful group of students aspiring to leadership. The students' pride, appreciation and gratitude for our school shone through in their applications. As always, it was a very difficult choice to make. We commend all the students who applied for the positions and assure them that the whole Grade 6 cohort will all be leaders next year, with or without a badge and we hope the students will use many opportunities to exercise their leadership throughout the year.

We congratulate the following students who have been appointed:

I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday period and look forward to seeing everyone in the new year!

Sincere best wishes to our Gr 6 graduating students and families who are leaving our school! 

Joanne Coldebella

Principal

What a fabulous term we have had in Prep. We have been very busy learning about living and nonliving things and have just started to make our dioramas along with their animal of choice. 

The Prep children have an exciting last two weeks at school with lots of fun activities to look forward to. Today we get to meet our new teacher, classmates and practice being a big grade one student. On Wednesday we have our junior athletics on the oval where we will participate in lots of different activities in our house colour. On Thursday we are very much looking forward to our tabloid sports, buddy lunch and gift exchange with our buddies. The Prep children have done a great job making their buddy's Christmas gift.

Lastly, we have the all exciting KK gift giving in our own grades. Kris Kringle takes place on the last day of school.

Parents, Grandparents and Carers we have thoroughly enjoyed working with you and your child/children this year. Thank you for your ongoing support and cooperation. 

The junior area would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful holiday period.

Prep Team

The Grade 5/ 6 students have been very busy in recent weeks!   One of our focus has been LEADERSHIP and we have had some excellent guest speakers come to our area to give us valuable information about what it takes to be a good leader. 

Many Grade 5’s have written application letters for leadership positions for next year and the quality of these, along with their interview, have been of a very high standard.  

The Grade 5’s are extremely excited to meet their new buddy on Tuesday, they will spend some time doing an activity with them to assist their transition to St. Joseph’s next year.

Our Grade 6’s are also busy, preparing for graduation this Friday!

They have various exciting events over the next week with transition day at their Secondary School for next year and a celebratory day at Gumbuya World!

5/6 Team

Guest speaker - Kieran O’Flynn LEADERSHIP

On Monday 4th December we were fortunate to have Kieran O’Flynn come to talk to us about leadership and business as part of our Integrated Studies unit this term. Kieran spoke to us about various topics including immigration to Australia, back to Ireland then back to Australia again, roles in business, leadership and other interesting facts.

Kieran was born in a small place in Ireland and grew up there until he was 17 and started planning with his friend to come to Australia. He told us about the qualities of being the leader of his company Bridgecon.  Bridgecon was a company founded in 2015 by Kieran and is working with the Victorian Government to help with the Victoria Big Build - this includes the new rail link.

During his talk, Kieran also discussed interest rates, positions in business, inflation, and deflation. For example, he mentioned that in 1980, petrol was only 30 cents per litre.

Kieran came to Australia in 1999 and lived in a rural town in Queensland called Mackay with his friend and started doing work there. Overall, Kieran's speech was so interesting.

We also learned an interesting fact about the Eureka Tower - it is filled with ¾ water in a tank on one of the levels. This water serves as a counterbalance in case the building starts to lean due to strong winds.

On behalf of the entire 5/6 community, we would like to thank Kieran for his intriguing speech. We are all grateful for the knowledge he shared with us.!!

By Cooper M & Cathal

Our Senior student's beautiful performance of Andrew Chinn's "Hold My Hand" in Italian has been added to his Butterfly House site..Well done to all who participated.

As part of our end of year Christmas celebrations all students will be involved in a class Kris Kringle.

Soon the children will randomly draw the name of a child who will be their Kris Kringle.

We ask that you purchase and wrap a gift up to the value of $5 for your child's Kris Kringle.

Please bring this gift to school labelled with the recipient's name but not the gift giver's name.

Could students bring in their gifts by Thursday December 7 as some classes will begin their gift exchanges.

Thank you

Classroom Teachers

Please note that due to Grade 6 Graduation celebrations the school canteen will not be operating on Friday December 8. The final day of canteen for 2024 will be Thursday December 14 (students final day).  

We thank families for their support and patronage over the year.

The Canteen Team

School closure dates for your diary

Friday December 15 - Wednesday December 20
(Last Day of Term 4 for students Thursday December 14 3:25pm)

Please return all Library Books this week,
there will be no further borrowing this Term. 

Library Team

We hope that your child has enjoyed their orientation time at St. Joseph's. During the first seven weeks of Term 1, Prep students have a rest day on Wednesdays. This is to help new Prep students ease into the routine and rigour of school. It is also a time when classroom teachers will conduct Prep assessment appointments with students. Families will receive an email with the date and time of the appointment, which will last for 45 minutes.

School Fee information for 2024 has been sent to all families via PAM. If you hold a concession card in 2024, we kindly request you complete the relevant forms and return them to the school office along with a copy of your card.

If you are already on a direct debit payment and there are no changes to your details, the direct debit will continue for 2024.

We request you complete the forms and return them to the school office by Friday,  December 8, 2023

If you have any queries please email kcarew@stjwonthaggi.catholic.edu.au

School Fee Schedule 2024

Direct Debit Form

Concession Application

CSEF Application Form 2024

Weekday Masses:

Tuesday Our Lady Star of the Sea, Inverloch 11:00a.m.

Wednesday 9:30am St. Joseph’s Wonthaggi

Friday 8th December 2023 NO MASS AT 9:30- MASS WILL BE AT 5:00PM St. Joseph’s Grade 6 Graduation Mass 12 noon

Weekend Masses Our Lady Star of the Sea, Inverloch Sunday 9:00am

St. Joseph’s Wonthaggi Saturday 6:30pm, Sunday 10:30am

Christmas Masses:  Wonthaggi Christmas Eve 6:30pm Christmas Day 10:30am.

Inverloch Christmas Eve 5pm, Christmas Day 9am.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE CHRISTMAS MASSES ARE IN ADDITION TO THE NORMAL WEEKEND MASS TIMES

CHILDREN ARE INVITED  TO DRESS UP IN NATIVITY COSTUMES FOR THE CHRISTMAS MASSES.     

COMMUNION ON THE TONGUE: People who prefer to receive communion on the tongue, would you please come last for communion, as there is still widespread fear of COVID.

PLEASE PRAY:

For those who continue to be affected by War and earthquakes. For all who are sick, lonely and suffering from illness and pain. For those suffering from Road Trauma, both death and injury. For Walter Barber who has recently passed away and the anniversaries of Kevin McIntosh, Kevin McRae, Fr. James Hayes, Fr. David (Dave) Cagney, Fr. Frank Young, Fr. Patrick O’Donohue and our loved ones, may God’s merciful love shine on them and on the loved ones left behind.

Pope's Prayer intention for the month of December: For Persons with Disabilities 

We pray that people living with disabilities may be at the center of attention in society, and that institutions may offer inclusive programs which value their active participation.

PRAYER GROUP:  Will resume in 2024.

WORKING BEE: OUR LADY STAR OF THE SEA INVERLOCH: Saturday 9th December 10-12noon. Garden Maintenance and cleanup. Bring hand tools, gloves etc. ALL WELCOME!

PRAYER SHAWL GROUP:  Our end of year gathering will be on TUESDAY DEC 5 at the ESPLANADE HOTEL in Inverloch @ 6pm for 6:30pm. We look forward to celebrating the year’s work together. Please RSVP by Saturday Dec 2nd to either Philippa Warby 0408 331 340 or Maureen Maartensz 0407 055 447.
New members are always welcome-plenty of wool & simple patterns available. Good weather for knitting over a cuppa & chat! If you would like a shawl or know of someone in need, please phone Philippa or Maureen. Alternatively, shawls are available at the Parish Office and Our Lady Star of the Sea, Inverloch. Enquiries: Philippa Warby 0408 331 340 and Maureen Maartensz 0407 055 447.

The Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney invites groups of high school students (Year 9 - 12) and young adults to the inaugural archdiocesan youth conference – Purpose Conference. For more information, please visit their website at https://tinyurl.com/mv6s6dyd 

PARISH OFFICE HOURS: THE OFFICE IS CLOSED ON MONDAYS.

THE OFFICE IS OPEN TUESDAY TO FRIDAY FROM 9:00a.m. to 5:00p.m. with Lunch being taken between 1:00pm and 1:30pm.  PLEASE CONTACT FATHER DARREN ON 03 56 722 923 OR KRISTINE ON 0499 915 784 IF THE MATTER IS URGENT.  ITEMS CAN BE PUT THROUGH THE LETTER BOX AT THE PRESBYTERY FRONT DOOR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING.

Synthesis Report of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops

The official English version of the Synthesis Report of the First Session of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, "A Synodal Church on Mission." Is now published. The 41-page report summarises the discussions from the first assembly with every item in the report being approved by at least a two-thirds majority of the voting members of the Synod. This "is not a final document but an instrument in the service of ongoing discernment." This Document can be found at https://bit.ly/3qYiozA

The Bishops Commission for Evangelisation, Laity and Ministry has published a document on evangelisation, offering a scriptural and theological reflection on the proclamation of the Gospel through the lenses of encounter, discipleship and mission. It draws on seminal documents on evangelisation from recent decades, including the teachings of Popes Paul VI, John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Francis. Evangelisation can be downloaded directly from https://bit.ly/Evangelisation2023

Sunday Gospel Reflection
Sunday gospel reflections written by the clergy, religious and laymen and women of our diocese are published weekly through the diocesan website and the diocesan Facebook page enabling us to reflect and prepare ourselves on the Gospel before we get to the weekend masses. The link to  our website is   https://www.cdsale.org.au/news/sunday-gospel-reflections
and the link to our Facebook page is  https://www.facebook.com/dioceseofsale 

MISSAL ONLINE: ‘An App’ which Father Darren Howie finds very helpful is Universalis. This will allow you to follow the Daily Mass.                                           

CARITAS AUSTRALIA: There is still time to support our global neighbours as they tackle the challenges of poverty. Your generosity today can help create a better tomorrow for people living in some of the most remote and marginalised communities in the world. All donations over $2 are 100% tax deductible. Caritas Australia:   www.caritas.org.au

Bishops Conference: On August 31, 2018, the Bishops Conference and Catholic Religious Australia responded to the Royal Commission's recommendations. On its fifth anniversary, an update reflects the Church’s ongoing efforts to be publicly accountable for how it is working to create, maintain and enhance safe environments for children and all people who are at risk. You can access a copy of the media release and the report on our diocesan website at https://www.cdsale.org.au/news/."

The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference has launched its 2023-24 Social Justice Statement. This year’s statement is titled Listen, Learn, Love: A New Engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. “Strengthening our relationship with our First Peoples is integral and indeed critical to the strengthening of the whole nation,” Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv said at the launch. The media release and the statement can be found at the diocesan website at cdsale.catholic.org.au.

In a letter addressed to bishops and eparchs around the world, Cardinal Mario Grech , Secretary General of the General Secretariat of the Synod, invites the faithful around the world to participate through prayer to the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops that will open in the Vatican on October 4.
With this letter, the Secretary General wants to remember that the Synod Assembly is above all a spiritual event, of prayer and listening to the Holy Spirit, the true protagonist of the event.

A copy of the letter and more information on the synod can be accessed through the diocesan website at https://www.cdsale.org.au/synod-of-bishop

WORKING WITH CHILDREN: AS WE ARE HOPING TO RETURN TO A ROSTER SYSTEM FOR READERS AND SPECIAL MINISTERS, THIS IS JUST A REMINDER TO CHECK THAT YOUR WORKING WITH CHILDREN HASN’T EXPIRED AND IF IT DOES NEED RENEWING, PLEASE CONTACT THE PARISH OFFICE FOR ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THIS.

Our Parish is committed to the safety, well-being and dignity of all children, young people and adults at risk. Find out more at: catholic.org.au/childprotectionsunday and www.catholicregligious.org.au/safeguarding

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.                  

If you are in need of urgent assistance, please phone either Father Darren Howie 0356 722 923 or Kristine on 03 56 72111 or 04999 15 784.

Father Darren Howie                                                        Mrs. Kristine McRae
Parish Priest                                                                       Parish Secretary
St. Joseph’s Parish Wonthaggi                                                                        

Trafficquiz.com is FREE to use website developed with an aim to spread awareness regarding traffic rules and road safety rules. Through trafficquiz.com school students can learn and test their knowledge about traffic & road safety rules in an entertaining way i.e. by playing quizzes. Teachers and Parents can also use trafficquiz.com regularly to refresh their knowledge about traffic, road safety & child safety rules. School bus drivers can also regularly use it to learn and be conscious about following traffic rules. The benefit of being ONLINE is that trafficquiz.com can be used anytime, anywhere on any device. 

The road safety quizzes cover various topics, such as :

a. Pedestrian safety (Safe walking)
b. Bicycle safety (Riding safely)
c. Bus Safety (School bus)
d. Car safety (passenger safety)
e. Child safety quizzes for Parents

The links are as follows:

1. For Age group (5 to 9 years):
    https://trafficquiz.com/road-safety-quiz-junior-level-1/
2. For Age group (10 to 15 years):
   https://trafficquiz.com/road-safety-quiz-secondary-level-1/
3. For Parents (Child safety quizzes):
   https://trafficquiz.com/child-safety-quiz-for-parents-level-1/
4. For Parents and Teachers (Traffic & road safety rules quizzes):
   https://trafficquiz.com/road-safety-quiz-for-adults-level-1/
5. For Drivers and support staff:
   https://trafficquiz.com/road-safety-quiz-for-adults-level-1/
6. Road Signs quiz