21st September, Week 10, Term 3

From Our Principal - Mr Brendan Moloney

Dear Families,

First Eucharist

Congratulations to Saoirse, Philippa and Isabelle who recently received the Sacrament of First Eucharist. It was fantastic to have so much support from our parish present for this special occasion, in particular we would like to thank those who helped by supplying morning tea. It was wonderful that so many were able to stay behind and enjoy some cake with our communicants.

Term 4 Return

Students will return to school on Wednesday the 11^th of October. Staff will be particpating in professional learning on the Monday and Tuesday. This professional learning will focus on the implementation of the new English and Maths curriculums that will be in use from the beginning of 2024 in Years 3-6.

Fire Safety Day

As we look forward to summer and the fire season we have all heard of the concern from fire services for the conditions that lay ahead. Families are encouraged to review their fire safety plans in the case of a fire emergency. As a school community we are currently reviewing our own emergency plans in preparation for the season ahead.

On the last day of this term we will be holding a Fire Safety Day at school. Each class will undertake fire safety activites and we will visit the local station as part of the activities.

On this day we will also have a special order day for canteen, this will be a sausage sizzle. Orders can be placed using our normal canteen ordering processes. No other lunch items will be available on this day. Chips, popper, icy poles, home cooking etc… are available as normal.

2024 Enrolments / Jun. Joey’s

Our Jun. Joey’s Transition Program will resume again in Term 4 on Friday the 20^th October (Week 2). This is an important program to support the transition of students to Kindergarten and provides the opportunity for them to start to build relationships with school staff and be familiar with the school environment and routines. Any families looking to enrol in Kindergarten for 2024 need to contact the school office to collect their enrolment pack. Enrolment forms need to be completed prior to the start of our Jun. Joey’s Program. Parents are also encouraged to join us for the program.

We ask families to please pass on this opportunity to anyone you may know who is considering St. Joseph’s as an excellent educational choice for their family.

God Bless,

Brendan Moloney

Student Awards Week 9

Mission News

Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

In this week’s Gospel Jesus uses the Parable of the workers in the vineyard to teach his followers. The context of the parable that Jesus tells is the day-labourer economy. In this parable we learn that God’s definition of fairness is different from how we consider what is fair. Jesus asks us to rethink what is fair. God’s love, as described in the parable, is generous and without prejudice. 

(From Celebrating the lectionary Year A)

Congratulations Philippa, Saoirse and Paige on the reception of the Sacrament of First Eucharist. 

Save the Date

Friday October 13 Whole School Mass @ 9:30; National Rosary Day celebration@ 1130; Socktober Celebration @ 2:00

Thursday November 9 Remembrance Day Service @ 10:45

Friday November 24 Whole School Mass for the Feast of Christ the King @ 9:30

Monday December 11 Whole School End of year Mass @ 9:30

Stage 3 Ten Ten Visit to St Mary's

On 13/9/23  we took a trip to St Mary's Casino to see the Ten:Ten Wildfire concert. We got to meet some old friends as well as make some new ones.  We got to listen to music and dance and we were put in different groups to talk about Jesus and have fun. We played games and talked to one another, we talked about how Jesus and God always wants to be our friend and is always there for us to talk to.

Ruby and Jaya.

Stage 2 Dorroughby Camp

Day one of Stage 2 Camp included a Platypus Walk, Rocky Creek Dam and a Dairy Farm visit.

Day two of Stage 2 Camp included a visit to the bush tucker garden, a school lesson back in time to 1870 and some damper making.

Stage 2 will return from Camp this afternoon. We look forward to hearing all about their adventures.

School Garden Report

School Garden Report by Indie & Jojo. We are fertilizing, mulching  and watering the gardens so they are healthy and safe during the holidays.  We put sticks in to hold up the tomatoes so we don't step on them.

Sports News

Upcoming Term 4 Sporting Events:

Rugby Union 7's Day - Thursday 12th Oct at the Byron Bay Recreation Fields

Intensive Swimming Week - Monday 13th - Friday 17th November, Coraki Pool

Library News

We have received a generous donation of books from Richmond Valley Council through the Community Recovery and Resilience Fund Project. These books will help us support the wellbeing of our children with disasters, emotions and  building resilience. They will be available early next term to borrow.

Happy Holidays!

Mrs Cherie Verrall    

Stage 1 News

Science

This term we have been learning about living things and how we can care for God's creation during a drought.  The children were tasked to design and make an animal feeder or drinker that could help native animals during the drought.  
Their first task was to plan their Drought Buster.  This is Gemeka and Kelsi's design of a bird feeder.  

God is always with us

As part of our Religious Education we have been learning about God's love and how he is always with us.  Last week Early Stage 1 & Stage 1 had a very special visitor from the Old Testament.  David came to our classroom to tell us about his difficult life as a shepherd boy and being the youngest of 8 brothers.  David answered questions about shepherding and even gave a demonstration of how he protected the sheep flock with his slingshot.  
We thank Saoirse Magee for playing the role of David and helping us teach the infant classes about God's love.  Saoirse answered some tricky questions and even told us she used tree sap to glue her slingshot!  

This term the Kindy and Stage 1 students have been learning that God is always with us and we are all part if His big family.  We know God is with us when we are happy and when we are sad.  God is with us when the wind blows and when we are in our beds.  As part of this study we visited St Joseph's Church to learn about Baptism. Fr Peter showed us the Pascal Candle, the Holy Oils and the Baptismal Font.  
We went into the church and then we spoke to Fr Peter.  We learnt about the 3 types of oils. 

Fr Peter told us about a very special candle and he told us Jacob Rose will be baptized on the 12 October.  

We keep Jacob and his sister Issy in our prayers as they prepared for their special sacrament of Baptism.

Stage 1 Writing

My favourite colour is pink. It smells like delicious and soft fairy floss from the circus. Pink tastes like a sweet strawberry smoothie in my tummy, and it also tastes like a delicious juicy dragon fruit. It sounds like a noisy car that is driving down the road beeping its horn, because it hit a pothole. Pink feels like a disgusting worm digging in the ground, looking for compost. It  looks like a delicious cherry, and a strawberry smoothie.   By Indie

I like green because it's the same colour as dinosaurs. Green smells like a ripe gum leaf on the ground and it also smells like seaweed. It tastes like a juicy apple, and it also tastes like sour lime. Green sounds like smelly leaves flapping in the wind, because it is very windy. It feels like gooey squishy slime in my hand because I’m playing with it. Green looks like glittering grass on a hot summer's day.  By Jack 

P&F & Canteen News

General Business

Happy Birthday to the following who have celebrated their birthday since our last newsletter: 

Charlee O'Rourke, Maxx Mercer