Dear parents and carers,

Last Friday, Mrs Hotham  visited our school for the first time and was officially welcomed by Dr Tony Bracken, the Assistant Director of Catholic Education for the Canberra Goulburn Archdiocese.

Dr Bracken also invited the other principals who have worked at the school this year to join the gathering to be acknowledged for their hard work and support of the St Joseph’s School community. Ms Clancy was recognised and thanked for her many years of service and Peter Hamill and I were also thanked for our contributions. You don’t often see four principals together who all will have worked at the same school within a one year time frame!

After school, many families came to meet Melissa at an afternoon tea. She enjoyed her time at the school and was really pleased with our facilities, both inside and out. It was great to see the children enjoying the lush, green oval.

On Wednesday, we had our final Kinder Transition day for 2021. The K-2 students also had a class mass with Father Joe. The new Kinder students are now looking quite comfortable at ‘big school’. They each made a book with their buddies, as a keepsake of their special time here with us.

Thank you to all who have returned their Swimsafe notes. The Swimsafe program begins next week.

All students will be swimming every day for the next 2 weeks. Please provide a rash vest or an old t-shirt for your child to wear, in order to comply with our sunsafe policy. The school will also ask all students to apply sunscreen, so if your child requires special sunscreen, please provide that as well. The students are to wear their school uniform to school, including regular school shoes. Thongs and sandals are only to be worn when travelling to and from the swimming pool.

 Today, Camilla Gibson and Emma Clifton will compete at the Archdiocesan Public Speaking Competition. We wish them all the best as they share their speeches with students and teachers from all parts of the Archdiocese.

 We have two big events remaining on this year’s calendar. As Level 3 Covid restrictions are still in place for schools, and both Presentation Night and Grad Mass are officially school events, the following rules will apply: all adults must wear masks when indoors, you must scan or sign in and sign the guest register, and adults must show proof of double vaccination. These rules will apply to both events. I thank you in advance for your cooperation.

  Birthdays

 Kind Regards

Acting Principal

Season of Advent

Ask, and you will receive;

seek, and you will find;

knock, and the door will be opened to you.

For everyone who asks will receive,

And anyone who seeks will find,

and the door will be opened to those who knock.

- Matthew 7:7-8

The liturgical season of Advent marks the time of spiritual preparation by the faithful before Christmas. Advent begins on the Sunday closest to the Feast of St. Andrew the Apostle (Nov. 30). It spans four Sundays and four weeks of preparation. This coming Sunday is the First Sunday of Advent.

 During the First Week of Advent, we light the candle of HOPE…Second Sunday of 

https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/7-powerful-advent-prayers-devotions-of-peace-and-joy.html

Prayer for Hope

Father God,

Every word in scripture points to the gift of hope that we have because of Christ Jesus.

The Christmas story wasn’t the beginning of that message of hope because the old testament is full of glimpses of your plan to redeem your people and restore them into a relationship with you,

but we are able to truly begin to see and understand just how great your love for us is when we read the story of Jesus’ birth in scripture.

Help us to see that you are with us. Nothing is too difficult, too messy, or too dirty for you.

Jesus came to give us the gift of eternal life through the salvation that only you, our Heavenly Father, can give when we believe in your Son, repent of our sins, and confess Jesus as our Lord and Saviour.

That first Christmas, you gave us the gift of hope wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger. Thank you, Father, for your immeasurable gift.

In Jesus’ precious name, we pray.

Amen.

Christmas Food Drive – Grenfell Food Hall

We are still seeking donations of food items for our Grenfell Food Hall Christmas Food Drive. Thank you very much to those families who continue to donate to this very worthy cause. This week we will especially appreciate donations of treat food items, such as chips, crackers, chocolate, puddings, etc. 

In saying this, we are open to receiving donations of any food items from the below listed food categories. We will be accepting donations up until the end of this week. If you have not already donated, this is your last week to do so. Please take time to look in the pantry in your kitchen or add a few extra items during your next grocery shop to donate to the collection. All donated items will be delivered to the Grenfell Food Hall. Thank you for your support of local families in need this Christmas.

Donatable food item examples include (but are not limited to):

Treat food items…

• Chips
• Lollies
• Pavlova nests
• Long life custard
• Chocolates
• Crackers

Food in plastic packets or bottles…

• Pasta
• Rice
• Salad dressings
• Cooking oil

Food in tins or jars…

• Tuna
• Baked beans
• Soups
• Tinned tomatoes
• Pasta sauce

Food that comes in a box…

• Cereals
• Jelly
• Biscuits
• Cake mixes

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

Danielle Schneider

Acting Religious Education Coordinator