Term 4 - 2021 - Week 1

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Welcome back after the holidays, I trust that it was a great time to reset and spend valuable time with family and friends.

Its amazing that we have arrived at Term 4 already.

Sports Day

Tomorrow, there will be a sea of colour at our 2021 Sports Day – fingers crossed with the recent unpredictable weather. Mr Law has been busy preparing the students with trials and team chants. I ask everybody to support their team through wearing their team colours, however students are asked not to colour their hair.

Sports Day needs the support of our school community to be run successfully and as a staff we are very grateful for your offers of assistance and support. Please refer to Mr Law’s letter distributed earlier this week for further details particularly about the ticketing arrangements, lunch and movements from school to LeMessurier Oval which vary from year level to year level.

End of Year events

Over the holidays and this week, staff have been looking ahead at the calendar and events that are occurring:

• Excursions
• Swimming
• Yr 7 Aquatics
• Primary School Graduation (Year 6&7)
• End of year Performances

Current SA Health advice is that education sites are currently exempt from density requirements.  Notwithstanding, that it is recommended that school sites allow for adult physical distancing and observe the following density requirements:

• 3 per 4 sqm density wherever and whenever possible for adult only indoor seated events
• 1 per 2 sqm for non-seated indoor activities
• All outdoor events to stay under 1000 people

In order to adhere to physical density requirements each of the above-mentioned events will need to be tailored to minimise overcrowding and face masks must be worn by attendees.

Academic Testing

Over the next few weeks we will undertake our bi-annual whole school testing, this is a combination of assessments which inform the reporting process and measure progress achieved in 2021. These assessments are selected from the myriad of educational tests available, to enable our staff to observe growth and areas of continuing development for our students. This also enables our staff in 2022 to have a continuity of learning from this year, ensuring that learning time is maximised at the beginning of the school year.

2022 Class Groupings

Over the next week the class placement process for 2022 will commence. This is a complex jig-saw as we work to develop the right mix of students and the best possible fit in terms of both class size and class structure.

Our teachers aim to keep abreast of the needs of every child through the course of the year and in their discussions with parents. Please understand that we take into consideration a range of factors including learning styles, academic achievement, gender, previous class history, friendship groups, social and emotional issues, siblings / relatives and so on. However, there is no doubt that some families will feel the need to write to me regarding placement. If you feel you must write, please base your request on these educational issues that you feel we do not currently hold and that is crucial to a successful placement occurring. This is not about ‘selecting a teacher’ but is an opportunity for you to provide information that will help us with the process as these are just class lists. I must stress that letters of requests for certain teachers will not be considered. Please ensure all requests are forwarded to me no later than next Friday.

Building Update

I am pleased to say that despite the many set backs with weather over the break, including some minor flooding that the building will be completed on time and within budget no later than December 4^th, 2021 but likely by November 26^th, 2021 ready for our students to commence Year 7 and 8 in 2022.

God Bless

Brady Stallard

PLEASE SELECT Read More for the full Term 4 Calendar

On Saturday 25th September the Murray Bridge Agriculture & Horticulture Show Society hosted their 102nd Annual event.

After last years show being cancelled due to Covid it was wonderful to be able to showcase the many and varied art projects or assignments produced by our very talented students from Reception through to Year 7. Your efforts and the work produced is a fantastic reflection of the Engaged Learners and Empowered Creators we have at St Joseph's School.

The picture below shows the colourful display that was produced.

Thank you to all the staff involved in putting together our display.

Spirituality is a word much like the word love in that it is used loosely to describe a number of things concerning the human condition.  However, most would agree that it includes an inner sense of being connected to something or someone greater than oneself and that it is the process of recognising that there is meaning and purpose to our existence.  In fact, spirituality is not an “add-on” extra; it is there already, a part of being human.  Spirituality is a big part of the jigsaw of life and, if we don’t see it, the picture won’t make sense.

So, how do we help children in the development of their spirituality?  Well, Jesus leaves us in no doubt that he believes that the spirituality of a child can at least be as well grounded in Gospel truths, as that of an adult.  In fact, he states rather provocatively, that children are more spiritually grounded than many adults: “I tell you the truth anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it”. Mark 10:16

Children are quite capable of their own spiritual experiences and knowing, for they have an uncluttered simplicity, an openness to spiritual matters; they are trusting in relationships and dependent on others.  Children do not always have the language to articulate their spirituality but that does not mean they do not have an active spirituality.  Parents and teachers need to take care that religious teaching does not stifle spiritual growth rather than aid it.  Many adults today still bear scars that reflect the hurt they received from religious educators, when they were young.

As adults, we need to listen to our children and value what they tell us.  Jesus tells us that children are whole persons who should be valued for who they are, not just for what they will become: “…you have hidden these things from the wise and learned and revealed them to little children”. Luke 10:21.  Spiritual awareness cannot be taught; it is part of the biological inheritance that makes us human.  So, we need to spend at least as much time helping children experience God, as we do teaching them about God.

One of the greatest needs of children is relationship, and spirituality is their encounter and relationship with God.  Like our children, we have the breath of God within us and like our children we are growing up in Christ.  We can further develop our own spirituality, as we assist our children to develop theirs, for this development is not limited to talking about God, using special language or going to church; simple things like watching rain fall, sighting a rainbow, being cuddled, gazing up into the night sky, hugging a tree, seeing things grow can be spiritual events.  Of course, there is no better way for a child to learn of God’s love, than to experience unconditional love from a parent.

Our Parish has begun once again our Sacramental Program on Initiation into the Catholic church.  Children who have been Baptised who are in Year 3 or above now have the opportunity to prepare to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  Please keep these children and their families in your prayers:

Isaac Rowland, Mackenzie Ramm, Isaac Chapman, Leo Sobels, Elena Watkins, Jake and Sam Jarred, Fritz Pable and Patreece DelaCerna.

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Hello friends and families,

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