Dear Parents and Caregivers
Every year on the first Sunday of September we celebrate Father’s Day. It is a day when we spoil and spend time with dad or a significant person, as a way of saying “thank you for all of the things you do for me”. We acknowledge the significant role of fathers and special persons in the lives of the students at our school. Joseph the father of Jesus was to witness, he is the patron saint for fathers around the world. Father’s Day is a good time to pause to appreciate a unique person that God has put into our lives – our ‘father’. It is easy to take fathers for granted.
Research has shown us that the self-esteem of children is greater when their fathers or a male role model (father figure) are involved in their formation. To have a more balanced view of life, children need both a male and a female role model in their lives; sometimes easier said than done.
I hope the ‘father’ or ‘significant person’ in your family has a wonderful Father’s Day on Sunday.
Book Week Parade
A landmark in the school year is the annual dress up for Book Week Parade which was last Friday. Although it is a recent memory, I’d like to share my thoughts and congratulations on this cornerstone of Book Week. There was colour and spectacle of the hundreds of creative ways of interpreting characters from books. There was a great sense of awe and wonder at the marvellous costumes that graced the school all day and a deeply felt sense of appreciation from the children, for all of the efforts made at home and in school to make the day so special. We are still trying to get Mrs Liebich off of the stage!!!!
Child Protection Week
The second week of September is Child Protection Week (5/9 - 11/9). The theme for the 2021 National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN) Child Protection Week campaign is ‘Every child, in every community, needs a fair go. While this has always been at the forefront of the NAPCAN, it has been chosen as this year’s theme as it underpins wellbeing of all children. The theme also very much aligns with our St Joseph’s mission.
In Child Protection Week we are asked to be someone who listens to children, someone who will start a conversation with children and if needed, be that someone whom children will turn to when in need. The Commission is committed to the safety, wellbeing and protection of all children and young people from harm. This includes supporting the rights of the child and child safe environments by working together with key partner agencies towards care and protection of children within our community.
This is why we need to support every child, family and community according to their needs. This will create a healthier, fairer Australia for all children. A lot of great research is helping us understand more and more about what children need to thrive. Child Protection Week 2021 will be an opportunity to translate this knowledge into action. All skillsets, all people, and all communities are assets in this important endeavour.
Middle School Building
Our building is progressing well. External/Internal works of 7-9 building: cladding sheets, Internal, Internal sheet walls and insulation, Food Innovation Building works, External cladding and render will be a focus this month.
In addition, after our students chose their micro credentialing tasks they would like to see in 2022. Mrs Lamont has been working hard, making community connections and building partnerships to ensure our students have the opportunities they are wanting.
Congratulations
Congratulations to Fr John Vildzis (Assistant Parish Priest) who celebrates an amazing 50 years being a priest (Golden Jubilee). On behalf of St Joseph’s congratulations and thank you for your service to our school and Murray Bridge community Fr John.
God Bless
Brady Stallard
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