Kindy Enrolments – Now Open!

It’s been great to meet some of our 2024 families over the last couple of weeks. If your friends or relatives have a Kindy 2024 aged child, please do encourage them to contact the school or pop by as soon as possible for a tour and a chat. And if you have a child due to commence in January, please do let us know as soon as possible as planning for staffing in 2024 is well underway.

We will be inviting interested families to a Kindy Information session on the evening of Tuesday 19^th September.

Celebrating St Jospeh’s Heritage

Towards the end of last term, Sr Mary Corkeron visited St Joseph’s to share with the children the heritage of the Mercy Sisters who established our school in 1885. Sr Mary introduced the students to Catherine McCauley who founded the Mercy Sisters in Ireland in 1831. We were delighted to welcome Sr Mary back to school on Tuesday for a session with the staff where we too had the opportunity to be inspired by the life and work of Catherine McCauley.

Catherine McCauley is an outstanding role model for us all having devoted her life to helping others and to overcoming the many obstacles for a woman of her era. Interestingly, she made her vows to become a Nun at the age of 53 after many decades of helping the poor and marginalised. Many Mercy convents were established and the Sisters’ went on to found convents, schools and hospitals across the globe. They arrived in Australia in 1846, led by Mother Ursula Frayne. The Australian congregation established schools and convents around the country and opened their first hospitals in Brisbane and Sydney.

Mrs McFarlane has now established a Catherine McCauley medal which will be presented to a student each month who displays character traits such as those demonstrated by our Founder. We will report on the awards in the Newsletter.

St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal

Congratulations Mrs McFarlane and Minnie Vinnies on the very successful Winter Appeal on Friday. It was great to see the children experiencing service to others through their participation in this event. Thank you to the parents who helped with the delicious hot chocolate too! I was certainly the right weather for it!

Public Speaking Competition 2024

On Friday we were inspired by the children and their thoughtful speeches during the St Joseph’s Speak Offs. The standard of the students public speaking is impressive, and St Joseph’s is always well represented at the Western Region and Archdiocesan Public Speaking events. It seems 2023 will be no exception!

Special thanks to Margaret and Matthew Lynch for adjudicating the speeches on Friday. Their help, support and expertise are greatly appreciated!

Congratulations to the following children who will represent St Joseph’s at the Speak Offs with St Mary’s Young here at Grenfell on Friday 11h August:

Year 3: Jack Fanning and Brydie Hunter

Year 4: Emily Protheroe and Braxton Chalker-Triolo

Year 5: Grace Reeves and Saskia McClelland

Year 6: Camilla Gibson and Stella Fanning

NAPLAN Reports

Parents and Year 3 and 5 students should have received the reports deliver to you by the children last week. Please do let us know if you have any questions.

Important Date for your Diaries!

Please reserve Monday 11^th September for Grand Parents Day and please do inform the children’s grandparents so that they can join us for this special day. More details to follow.

In Conclusion…

Sporting Schools Rugby sessions commence this week, and the children are reminded to wear their Sport kit for these Tuesday sessions.

Thank you to the Weddin Community Native Nursery for the kind donation of 4 native trees. Representatives will be visiting us on Friday morning for a tree planting ceremony in honour of National Tree Planting Day.

With best wishes,

Louise Grant

Acting Principal