Shove Tuesday:

Today as a school community we celebrated Shrove Tuesday.  Shrove Tuesday is an important day as it marks the day before Ash Wednesday, which begins the season of Lent.

Shrove Tuesday is also known as Pancake Day in many countries, particularly in English-speaking ones. The tradition of eating pancakes on this day stems from the need to use up rich foods like eggs, butter, and sugar, which were often given up for Lent. It's a kind of final feast before Lent begins.

Tomorrow as a school and parish community we will celebrate Ash Wednesday.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent in the Catholic Church. It is a day of reflection, repentance, and fasting, where Catholics come together to acknowledge their wrong actions and their need for God’s grace. The significance of Ash Wednesday lies in the marking of ashes on the forehead in the shape of a cross. This ancient tradition is a powerful symbol of human mortality, recalling the biblical reminder that "You are dust, and to dust you shall return" (Genesis 3:19).

The ashes are made from the burnt palms of the previous year’s Palm Sunday, linking the symbolism of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem with the humility and suffering that led to His crucifixion. The ashes also serve as a call to repentance, inviting individuals to start their Lenten journey with humility and sincerity.

What is Lent?

Lent is the 40-day period of fasting, prayer, and almsgiving leading up to Easter. It begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter Sunday. The 40 days of Lent symbolize the 40 days that Jesus spent fasting in the desert, where He was tempted by Satan but remained faithful to God. The number 40 holds deep significance in the Bible, often representing times of trial and preparation, such as the 40 days of rain during the Great Flood or the 40 years the Israelites spent in the wilderness.

Lent culminates in the events of Holy Week, which includes Palm Sunday (celebrating Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem), Holy Thursday (commemorating the Last Supper), Good Friday (marking the crucifixion of Jesus), and Easter Sunday (celebrating His resurrection). Through Lent, Catholics are invited to reflect on the depth of Christ's sacrifice and His love for humanity, ultimately leading to the joy of Easter.

During the Lenten season as a school, we will support Caritas through donations made to Project Compassion. The Project Compassion boxes will be in each classroom and we welcome any donations.

Singing with Andrew Chin

On Thursday 19th Feb the school was delighted to welcome Andrew Chin, a singer and songwriter Andrew shared his music and his faith with all the children. He engaged the children in learning new songs and actions and we hope to share some of these new songs when we attend mass as a whole school.

District Swimming 

Congratulations to all students who participated in the school district swimming carnival. A great day was had by all and the children participated with great sportsmanship.Thank you to all who attended and supported the children. 

Thank you to Michelle Richards who does a terrific job organising the children  in preparation for the day.

A great day was had by all.

Dianne Gin
Deputy Principal

Well done to all our award recipients, congratulations on all your hard work!

The Preps have been doing a wonderful job in settling into the school routine. They arrive happy, remember to hang up their bag, put their drink bottles away, and then play with friends. It has been wonderful to see the connections they are making.

We have been very busy with our learning. This term we are focusing on constructing sentences, recognising sounds and developing our counting skills.

A highlight for the Preps has been spending time with our Grade 6 buddies, enjoying our picnics with lots of laughter and fun. We are grateful for their help and look forward to the rest of the term together.

Prep Team

As we reach the halfway point in Term 1, we couldn’t be more proud of our Grade 5/6 students and the fantastic start they’ve made to the school year. They have embraced the school year with enthusiasm and commitment, laying a strong foundation for a year full of learning and growth. At the beginning of the term, we focused on establishing clear class expectations—fostering a positive and respectful learning environment where every student can thrive. It’s been wonderful to see our Grade 5/6 students demonstrate great maturity in their approach to their studies. 

A special mention goes to our Grade 6 students, who have taken on formal leadership roles within the school. They’ve stepped up as outstanding leaders in a variety of positions, and it's been fantastic to watch them shine. We’d also like to congratulate our students who were selected as the Level’s SRC (Student Representative Council) representatives. These students will play a key role in representing the voices of their peers, and we are confident they will excel in these important roles. Another highlight has been the way our Grade 6 students have taken on the responsibility of supporting their Prep buddies. It’s been wonderful to see the older students stepping into mentoring roles, offering guidance, and fostering positive relationships with the younger students.

As we move forward in the term, we’re excited to see how our Grade 5/6 students continue to grow and challenge themselves.

5/6 Team

This term our students 3-6 have begun using a gratitude journal. Gratitude journals offer numerous benefits for mental and emotional well-being. Here are some key positives:

1. Improved Mental Health: Regularly writing down what you're grateful for helps shift focus away from stress or negative thoughts, which can alleviate feelings of anxiety and depression.

2. Increased Happiness: Focusing on positive aspects of life boosts your overall happiness. The act of noticing and appreciating the good things encourages a more positive outlook.

3. Better Sleep: Writing about gratitude before bed can help reduce negative or anxious thoughts, leading to more peaceful and restful sleep.

4. Enhanced Relationships: When you focus on the positive traits of people in your life, it encourages more appreciation and gratitude towards them, which can strengthen relationships.

   

5. Improved Resilience: A gratitude journal can help you better handle difficult situations by shifting your mindset and highlighting things to be thankful for, even in challenging times. 

6. Boosted Self-Esteem: Reflecting on the positive things in your life helps you feel more positive about yourself and your accomplishments, improving self-worth.

7. Encourages Mindfulness: Practicing gratitude brings you into the present moment, helping you become more mindful and aware of what's happening around you.

8. Physical Health Benefits: Studies have shown that practicing gratitude can lead to better physical health, including improved heart health and stronger immune function.

Overall, gratitude journals are a simple but powerful tool to help improve both mental and physical well-being. Practising gratitude can be as simple as conversation around the dinner table or in a written form. Our Preps to Grade 2s will join the rest of the school later in the year with this approach.

Claire Shannon

St. Joseph’s School strives to ensure all children feel cared for and valued by all the adults working within the school.

Research evidence informs us that - 

• Students achieve better outcomes when they are accepted, valued, respected and included.
• Students’ value teachers who have clear boundaries and expectations, demonstrate a friendly, fair and respectful manner, see the good in all (regardless of behaviour) and take a genuine interest in them. 

Building positive relationships involves at our school involves:

• Understanding each student’s background and context (social, emotional, cultural, societal, academic)

• Conveying to students that they are worthwhile and accepted as individuals, despite any difficulties they may be experiencing
• Knowing the interests and strengths of each student
• The belief that every student is capable of making progress
• Creating an environment where challenge is expected, normal and safe
• Building and fostering strong relationships across the whole school community
• Working collegially to share expertise
• Using interpersonal skills to establish and maintain respectful relationships
• Teaching and modelling respectful relationships through appropriate language, teaching practice and decision making

• Encouraging students to collaboratively participate in social action and leadership initiatives that contribute to the culture and reflect the charism of the school

Trish Martin and Kylee Bertacco

Whole School Approach to Positive Behaviour Co-ordinators

Terry Cole’s ‘Circus in a Suitcase’ visits St Joseph’s School this term.

It’s that time of year again—our Annual Easter Raffle! Raffle tickets have been sent home to families.

In previous years, this raffle has been a fantastic fundraiser for our school and has received great support from families and the school community. The funds raised have contributed to purchasing books, sports equipment, and much more, all benefiting our children.

For this fundraiser, we ask families to donate Easter eggs or chocolate bars. These donations will help us create prizes for the raffle.

Tickets are $0.50 each, or you can purchase both sides of the booklet for $10. Please return the tickets to the school with cash or submit them to the office with payment via CDFpay by Tuesday, April 1. Be sure to write the full name and phone number of the ticket purchaser clearly on the tickets. Additional booklets can be collected from the school office.

Raffle prizes will be drawn on Friday, April 4. Good luck, and thank you for your continued support!

On Friday, March 21, St Joseph’s will celebrate Harmony Day. Harmony Day is a time to show cultural respect for everyone who calls Australia home, from the traditional owners of this land to those who have arrived from many countries around the world.

This day is an opportunity to celebrate Australia’s cultural diversity and promote inclusiveness, respect, and a sense of belonging, with the key message being “Everyone Belongs.”

To mark Harmony Day, students are encouraged to wear a splash of orange with their full school uniform. This could be an orange hair ribbon, headband, socks, or scrunchie.

Child Safety Team

Fee statements for 2025 are now available upon request. If you would like to receive one, please contact us at kcarew@stjwonthaggi.catholic.edu.au or call the office at 5672 1052.

For families eligible for the School Savings Bonus, forms have been emailed to you. Please complete these forms and return them to the office or email them to kcarew@stjwonthaggi.catholic.edu.au as soon as possible.

School photos will take place on Monday, March 17. Photo envelopes will be distributed once received, and these need to be completed and returned with your child on the day the photos are taken.

Transition to the winter uniform will commence at the beginning of Term 2

Totally Work Wear is currently accepting orders for winter pinafores.

Please call 5672 5878 or visit in-store if you wish to try on or place an order for a pinafore.

Pinafores will take approximately 6 to 8 weeks to arrive.

Please ensure your child/ren have their hats labeled and in their school bags, lots of students have been forgetting to bring their hats recently.

SchoolTV is hosting an exclusive session with two of Australia's leading experts in youth wellbeing and cybersafety, Dr Michael Carr-Gregg and Susan McLean. Gain invaluable insights on how to empower young people to navigate the online world safely and responsibly.

Please note, this webinar is a one-off event and will not be available to replay later.

Book Club Issue 2

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 or download below. If you have any questions please contact the office or email kcarew@stjwonthaggi.catholic.edu.au

Applications are to be submitted to the school office by Tuesday, March 11 for processing.

Conveyance Allowance Application

School closure dates for your diary

Friday, March 7, will be a school closure day.  Monday, March 10 is the Labour Day Public Holiday, and school will resume Tuesday, March 11.

Trafficquiz.com is a free-to use website developed with the aim of spreading awareness regarding traffic rules and road safety rules. Through trafficquiz.com, students can learn and test their knowledge about traffic and 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, and 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.

We request that you kindly share the links given below with students, parents, teachers, and the driving staff so that everyone can learn and be conscious about following road safety and traffic rules. This can save many lives.

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

Weekday Masses:

Tuesday Our Lady Star of the Sea, Inverloch 11:00a.m.
Wednesday 9:30am St. Joseph’s Wonthaggi
Friday 9:30am St. Joseph’s Wonthaggi

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

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

PLEASE PRAY FOR;  Anniversaries:Peter Robinson For the deceased clergy of the Diocese of sale. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. “May they rest in peace.” We pray for the sick, lonely and those suffering from illness and pain. May God’s merciful love shine on them.

Baptism: We welcome into the Christian Community - Daisy Josephine Gonsalves May God Bless Daisy and her family.

Parish Office will be open on Wed & Fri 8.30am-4.30pm. All items for the bulletin or Mass intentions to be received by 5pm on Thursdays.

Prayer Shawl Group :will be held at Wonthaggi Church on Mondays at 1.15pm. All Welcome

Help Needed: We are looking for Parishioners to assist with counting Church offerings after 10.30am Mass on Sunday. There is a 3 monthly rotational roster and it takes approx. 3/4—1 hour. (Training will be provided) Please contact John Bordignon 0438 672 279 or Denise Jeffries 0419 721 433

St Joseph’s Wonthaggi Cuppa after Mass held on 1st Saturday & Sunday of the Month

Our Lady Star of the Sea—Inverloch Cuppa after Mass held on 1st Sunday of the Month

CWL Meeting will be held on Monday 3rd March at 10.30am in the annex. All Ladies are welcome. Please bring lunch to share

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 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 Ann on 03 56 72111 or 04999 15 784.

Father Darren Howie                                                              Ann Hemming  
Parish Priest                                                                          Parish Secretary
                               St. Joseph’s Parish Wonthaggi                                                                        

Live Your Best Life in Love...

A Marriage Encounter weekend is for you…

Every married couple deserves this very special weekend.

Time-out to nurture your most precious relationship away from daily distractions.  

The two of you will come away from your weekend feeling more deeply connected 

and with tools to help keep the passion alive.

No group sharing required.

The weekend is based around Catholic values. Couples of all faiths are welcome.

Please check our website for more details and to book your special weekend:

Our next weekend is: 25-27 April 2025 at St Paul's Retreat Centre, Wantirna South.

Starts Friday evening at 7pm and finishes Sunday afternoon around 4:30pm

Information/Bookings: Phone Mercy & James 0409 183 676 or

Email: vicbookings@wwme.org.au    Website: wwme.org.au