Dear parents and carers,

The evening at the Bowling Club was a very enjoyable one. It was so nice to be able to sit down and talk with one another face-to-face. Thank you to all the families and staff members who were able to join us on the night. I also extend my thanks to the members of the School Advisory Committee and P&F, who contributed their time and talents in a variety of ways to make the night a success. A special thank you to Kate and Phoebe Clifton who did a great job of face painting and then entertaining the large number of children who attended. This gave the adults time to focus on welcoming the new families.

The best news for this week is that we are able to offer our 2021 Kinder Transition program face-to-face. The new Kinder students will be with us on the four Wednesday mornings in November. It always creates such a positive buzz when the new Kinder students arrive for a taste of life at ‘big school’. I am so glad that we will be able to welcome them here for this important step in their schooling journey. Please pass on the message that all new kinder students for 2022 are welcome. As only two of the transition days overlap with the program being offered at Grenfell Public School, all eligible 2022 Kindergarten children are welcome to join us for our last two transition days. There is no need to enrol first.

Congratulations to the following students who won their year group competitions for public speaking at the Western Region Public Speaking Competition on Friday. These two students will now progress to the Archdiocesan Public Speaking Competition which will be held in November:

Year 4- Camilla Gibson    Year 5- Emma Clifton

The calibre of the speaking was very impressive on all counts. I was able to hear all of the Stage 2 speeches and Mr Martens heard all of the Stage 3 speeches. We both agreed how difficult it would have been to adjudicate at this level. Having two winners from our school is quite an achievement. Good luck and best wishes to Camilla and Emma as they begin to write, and prepare to present a new speech on a completely different topic!

Melissa Hotham, our new principal for 2022, has been in touch to confirm a date to come and meet the St Joseph’s School community. Please mark the 19^th of November on your calendar. Melissa will come to the school for most of the day and then meet with the parents after school. More information will follow as to where this get together will take place, as the current Covid restrictions do not allow onsite gatherings of this nature.

Today we are embarking on our gold reward day activity- tie dying. I hope we have fun and learn a few things along the way. I will be certain to share photos of the finished products in next week’s newsletter. Stay tuned…

Kind regards,

Acting Principal

Socktober Update

The K/1/2 students made their first ‘sockball’ using recycled materials last week. We have already received lots of donations of plastic/ paper bags, socks, old t-shirts, styrofoam, etc. Thank you to everyone for your donations as these will help enable all students to make their very own ‘sockball’.

 Our studies on Thailand, and ‘sockball’ making, will culminate in a school Socktober Mission Day on Wednesday the 27^th of October. The students will rotate around a number of activities, one of which will be an opportunity to practise shooting goals with their very own ‘sockball’, much like the one Pope Francis used as a young boy in Argentina, as well as a modern-day soccer ball, to compare the difference between both. The students will also participate in an outdoor Mission Day liturgy with Fr Joe. 

Thank you to everyone for your fundraising efforts. Those who have not yet donated on the Socktober fundraising page can bring along monetary donations on Socktober Mission Day which will be added to our school collection. This money will be donated to Catholic MIssion to assist children in need in Thailand. This important social justice venture is one the students will not forget and will have a lasting impact. It is the least we can do to assist others who are less fortunate than ourselves. 

To find out more information about Socktober please visit: socktober.org.au

Sacramental Program News

Reconciliation and First Communion are both sacraments of initiation which form part of a child's spiritual journey. Sacraments sustain us and are visible signs through which the Christian Community celebrates God's loving presence or grace. Congratulations to the children undertaking this journey.

Sacramental meetings for Reconciliation and First Holy Communion will be held this term at St Joseph’s Church adjoining the school. Due to current restrictions, we are unable to hold them onsite at school. Meetings will commence at 6pm. One parent is to accompany their child to the meetings.

These meetings will be held on the following dates:

• November 3^rd
• November 10^th
• November 17^th
• November 24^th

Please have your child bring their booklets with them to the meetings. The booklet for First Reconciliation was sent out last term and the First Holy Communion booklet is yet to be given out.

 For more information, please contact Miss Schneider. Email:

danielle.schneider@cg.catholic.edu.au

Danielle Schneider

Acting Religious Education Coordinator

Here are some photos of the students as they prepared their tie dye materials. It was great to see them working together to help one another