eNews Term 1, Week 3 2023

FROM ASHES TO EASTER

Next Wednesday our whole school will celebrate a special Prayer Service in the Auditorium led by our Deacon, Arturo.  This Prayer Service will celebrate Ash Wednesday which begins the church season of Lent.  On this day we receive a sprinkling of ash on our foreheads to remind us that as believers of the Good News we are going to try to live out Jesus message of love and forgiveness.  The ashes come from the palms used at last year’s Palm Sunday celebrations.  We extend an invitation to all families to join us for this celebration at 9:30am in the school Auditorium.

Lent goes for 40 days, from Ash Wednesday to Holy Week, the beginning of the Easter celebrations.  The number 40 is very significant in the Bible:

• The rain lasted for 40 days in the mighty flood – Noah (Genesis 6)
• Moses stayed on Mount Sinai 40 days (Ex 24:18)
• Jonah gave the people of Ninevah 40 days to repent (Jon 3:4)
• Jesus, before beginning his ministry, spent 40 days in the desert in prayer and fasting (Matt 4:2)

I remember Lent as a child as a time of fasting and going without.  We fasted as a way of helping us understand some of the suffering Jesus went through when he fasted in the desert and as a way of focussing the mind on holy thoughts.  In some ways it was quite exciting because it was one of the few times we had ‘takeaway’, as on Fridays we were only allowed to have fish and no meat.  The local fish and chip shop always did a roaring trade on Fridays.

Fasting is common among many religions.  The Jews have Yom Kippur, a solemn time to show a need for forgiveness of sins through fasting and praying.   The Muslims have Ramadan, a month when they fast from before sunrise to sunset.  The Hindus fast at festivals and at other times to show devotion to the Hindu deities.

Strict fasting is no longer imposed but we are encouraged to try to overcome our faults by our good deeds and to try to put aside more time in praying so that we can really let God into our lives.  Another way is through our giving to Caritas through Project Compassion.  On Ash Wednesday every family will receive a Project Compassion Box for you as a family to consider giving what you can to support the communities Caritas will be supporting this year. These can be returned to school in Week 10 of this term.

Ash Wednesday reminds us that God made us all beautiful as we are all made in the image of God.  We may not always be Christ-like in our behaviour though so:

This Lent, fast by listening to others;
Pray by opening your hearts to them;
 Give alms by holding your hands out to them.

Dear parents, carers, teachers and students, 

After a very full two weeks of schooling, this week is shortened by two days due to our Pupil Free days on Thursday, February 16 and Friday, February 17. During the two days, the classroom teachers will be working with key Catholic Education South Australia School Improvement Leaders on planning curriculum lessons and assessments using the updated v.9 Australian Curriculum.

Student Pupil Free Days are dedicated to Professional Development days for all school staff. They allow us to ensure we provide the highest quality education for our St Joseph's School children. Parents and carers will be notified with a term's notice of the date/s so that adequate care can be arranged for all students. St Joseph's School CAMP AUSTRALIA (OSHC) will always do their best to cater for whole day/s care to support families, for which we are grateful.

Our St Joseph's School Senior School Captains are pictured with me in this newsletter. Alexis Watkins and Bailey Motbey, inaugural Year 9's, were introduced to the community in 2022, and during the school holidays, their blazers to wear at important events and functions arrived. They certainly look brilliant, and both Alexis and Bailey look forward to being active and positive role models to all students in the school and having the opportunities to wear their blazers at cultural, school and community events

At St Joseph's School, we value parent involvement and can now explore how COVID-19 is manageable in our society and how our parents, carers and friends can be involved and help at our school. Below in this newsletter, there is an invitation to be involved in the School Board. We also welcome volunteers for the school canteen and future sporting and excursion events.

It is the policy and practice of the Catholic Archdiocese of Adelaide that all persons who have a responsibility through their role within the Archdiocese (whether paid or voluntary) and/or who have the potential to have one-on-one contact with children undergo a DCSI Working With Children Clearance and Catholic Police Check. The check is used as part of the assessment process to determine a person's suitability for volunteering within the Archdiocese of Adelaide and also within associated organisations closely affiliated with the Catholic Archdiocese, therefore, St Joseph's School.

Volunteers must complete the online Responding to Abuse and Neglect - Education and Care (RAN-EC) induction session, which can be accessed at the following link (volunteers should always select 'Account User' as 'SA Catholic Schools'). If you require help with this, please contact the school administration office to do this training.

Our volunteers must complete the above online training (the school will ask for a copy of the certificate of completion) and obtain a DCSI Working With Children Clearance and Catholic Police Clearance before volunteering at the School. 

For more information about the processes, please contact Mrs Louise O'Neil or Mr Michael Gates in the administration office. All information obtained is kept in the strictest confidence.

https://www.plink.sa.edu.au/pages/signup.jsf

Kindest regards,

Mrs Ros Oates

Principal

For my first Newsletter article, I thought I would take this opportunity to introduce and share a little about myself.

2023 will be my 22nd year of teaching. I worked for the Department of Education in 2002 and 2003, I taught in London for three years from 2004 to the end of 2006 and have been employed in CESA (Catholic Education South Australia) schools from 2007. 

For the past three years, I have worked as the Substantive APRIM (0.6) and Leader of Learning (0.4) at St John the Apostle Parish School, Christies Beach. Over the past 6 years I have also gained senior leadership experience working as an APRIM at St Catherine’s – Stirling, St Raphael’s – Parkside, St Teresa’s School – Brighton and McAuley Community School – Hove. I have also increased my leadership capacity working in the position of POR 2 – Sports Coordinator at St Teresa’s School Brighton, from 2013 to 2018. In 2021, I graduated with a Master of Educational Leadership through Australian Catholic University. I am currently studying my second Master’s degree in Theology.

I have a 13 year old daughter, Skyla, who will be in Year 8 at Sacred Heart College this year and an eight year old son, Kailani, who will be in Year 3 at McAuley Community School.

I am excited to meet you all and work with our staff and students here at St Joseph’s in Term 1 and 2. I always try to show the face of Jesus in all of my actions and interactions, all day, every day. I believe that we are blessed to be employed in a Catholic School. I strive to always bring as much energy and positivity as I can to each school day. I have a genuine passion for what I do and look forward to working in partnership with you all at St Joseph's.

Over the last three weeks, I have really enjoyed getting to know our learners and meeting several you at the school gate in the morning or afternoon. Please feel free to come up and introduce yourself or make a time to meet with me.

Jamie Mulcahy

Our Joey’s graduates embarked on a new adventure and began the school year with big smiles as they were welcomed into the St Joseph’s School family. The three Reception classes were supported on the first day of school with many families continuing the tradition of taking their child to school and making special memories. While this can be an emotional and nervous occasion, the children took it into their stride as they were comfortable in their surroundings and explored their new learning spaces.

The children co-constructed class guidelines with their teachers. Through learning conversations, they began to build and develop the type of learning environment that they wish to have so they can learn at their best. They learnt about the school values of kindness, compassion, inclusion, co-operation, respect, and community and what it means to be a part of our school.

As a group, the children ventured over the school bridge to visit a special part of our school community. Mrs. Deb Holland gave the children a tour of the Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church. Their faces were filled with awe and wonder as they learnt about different features of the church and how we pray and celebrate many occasions in God’s house.

The Reception cohort have engaged in the Australian Curriculum with their class teachers and have enjoyed connecting and learning with the specialist educators. With a big focus on learning to read, the children have begun learning reading strategies associated with the Science of Reading method and we cannot wait to hear them read endless books throughout the year.

The future is looking bright for our youngest members of our school as they have shown a passion for learning and demonstrated kindness towards others. They have created a safe and happy place where their friendships will continue to grow, while their learning is at the centre of everything we stand for. We strive to give the next generation of learners at St Joseph’s School, Murray Bridge the best place to learn while embracing kindness to all.