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Dear Parents and Carers,
Grandparent’s Day
Thank you to the grandparents and special friends who were able to come along last Friday to join us for our grandparent’s celebration. It was a relaxed afternoon enjoying a picnic, tours of the school and a special craft activity. Here is the finished product from the craft and some other photos from the day.
2023 Captains
Year 5 Captain nominees presented their speeches to the school community yesterday. Votes were cast and the outcome will be announced at the Graduation Mass. They did a wonderful job preparing their speeches and are to be congratulated on their leadership and efforts, regardless of the outcome.
House Captains and Vice-Captains will be voted on at House Meetings next week. I have discussed with the Year 5’s what their preference would be if they were voted both, they all said School Captain. House Captains will also be announced at the Graduation Mass.
Important Dates
Between now and the end of term is VERY busy. There are lots of exciting and important events happening so please read below to keep up to date on what’s coming up!
Kind thoughts,
Melissa Hotham
Principal
On Friday, the 4th of November, the Year 6 students travelled to Young to attend a retreat day with other Year 6 students from Catholic schools in the area. The day was organised and run by members of the Catholic Youth Ministry Australia team. This included teachers and students from Hennessy Catholic College, as well as facilitators from Catholic Education in Canberra. The students engaged in games and activities designed to get them thinking about the challenges ahead of them as they head off to high school.
The theme, ‘Journeying with Jesus’ helped to highlight that Jesus will be with them on their life journeys and is always there as a friend and guide. The Hennessy students spoke to our students openly about their relationships with Jesus and why they find that relationship important. Our students engaged enthusiastically in all of the activities, had a great deal of fun, and met some new friends along the way. It was a very worthwhile experience, and it left the students with plenty to reflect upon as they prepare to move on to the next chapter of their lives.
Mufti Day Collection
The money we collect on our final Mufti Day for 2022 (Friday the 25th of November) will be donated to St Joseph's in Eugowra, who will be able to use it to replace some items that were damaged or lost in the recent devastating floods. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all affected there, and other places in New South Wales, as the clean-up begins.
Week 7 – sweet and savory biscuits
Week 8 – Christmas treats (lollies, chips, chocolate, long-life custard etc)
All of the collected items will be delivered to the Grenfell Food Hall on the morning of the 9th of December by a group of students from the school. These students will also have the opportunity to visit the Food Hall and learn about how it operates and why it is important to our town. I thank you in advance for your donations. I am always amazed at how generous we are for this project!
Peace and Blessings,
Religious Education Coordinator
Merit awards for the past week.
Postive Behaviour Awards this week
India Edwards, Harper Wildsoet, Angus Hotham, Lettie Hunter
It has been a fantastic first half of the term. By all accounts, the students had a fun-filled time while on their excursion to Canberra visiting the National Dinosaur Museum and Australian National Botanic Gardens. Whilst exploring all that was on offer at these two venues the students also got hands on by creating fossils and pond dipping to learn about creatures that live in freshwater ponds. The class also travelled to Harden to watch Trinity Catholic School’s tremendous theatre performance of The Wizard of Oz. Thanks to Mrs Hunter and Miss Caruana for accompanying us!
The students have been continuing their impressive progress in English this term. The InitiaLit program has been highly successful and has equipped students in the foundation years with strong literacy skills that will hold them in good stead as they progress through their schooling and beyond. The students have also had a particular focus on improving their writing skills this term as well.
This term, in Mathematics, the students have been exploring a range of topics including fractions, three-dimensional objects, and chance and data. Kindergarten have been learning to describe two equal parts as halves, manipulate, sort, and represent three-dimensional objects and describe them using everyday language, represent data and interpret data displays made from objects, and order, read and represent numbers. Year One have been learning to represent and model halves, quarters and eighths, sort, describe, represent, and recognise familiar three-dimensional objects, including cones, cubes, cylinders, spheres, and prisms, recognise and describe the element of chance in everyday events, and gather and organise data, display data in graphs, and to interpret the results.
In Science this term, the students have been learning about everyday materials including wood, plastic, metal, water, and rock. They will learn to identify and name everyday materials and have an opportunity to explore the properties of these materials. The students will carry out a simple investigation to help them decide which material would be the most suitable to use for an umbrella.
We have a busy time ahead of us as we finalise units of work and prepare for the many exciting events on offer in the lead up to the end of the year. We also bid a very fond farewell to Miss Caruana as she finishes her last university practicum with us. We wish her well in her future studies.
Today was the final Kinder 2023 Transition day. They were greeted by Sadie the School Support dog on their arrival, which was a big hit! Then kinder visitors and their buddies enjoyed a fun orienteering activity that helped them get to know the school a little better.
Kinder students went home today with a pack filled with important information on getting ready for big school as well as some fun activities and special gifts. We can’t wait to welcome our new Kinders in 2023!
St Joey’s P & F Christmas Cash Bonanza
At our last meeting, the St Joseph’s P & F decided to create a simple, no-work Christmas fundraiser to finish off our fundraising for the year. Thanks to generous donations, we are holding a 100 Club with the draw to be taken place at the school Christmas Family Fun Day on the 9th of December 2022.
Tickets are $20 each for the selection of 1 number or purchase more numbers if you would like to increase your chances! Numbers available are between 1-100 subject to availability.
Prizes are:
1st Prize $500 Cash donated by Crutcher’s Developments
2nd Prize $300 Cash donated by GGM Lawyers
3rd Prize $100 Cash donated by The McLelland Family
4th Prize $50 Cash donated by Hunter Carriers
5th Prize $50 Cash donated by Hunter Carriers
Tickets will be sold at the school office and at various venues throughout the community. Tickets will be available Saturday 26th November at the Railway Hotel to coincide with their live entertainment. 2 meat trays will be raffled on the night, donated by David Knight Transport, as well as selling tickets in our Christmas Bonanaza.
Contact the school to secure your lucky number/s and let us know if you are available to sell tickets, we always love a helping hand!
