Filter Content
Dear Parents and Carers,
The end of the year is fast approaching. Staff have been busy completing final assessments and preparing Semester 2 reports. Whilst there are only three weeks left, we have many exciting events ahead that we look forward to sharing with you, so please read on for more information.
Staffing Update
In good news - Phoebe Baker has been appointed as Student Welfare Officer in 2023. This program (and Phoebe running it) will be a fantastic asset to our school community! Phoebe will be employed a few hours per week, involved in projects that engage with the community and build wellbeing with our students. More details to come.
Sadly, Jacqui Mitton has resigned for family reasons. Her last day is today. I would like to thank Jacqui for her dedication to the role and wish her all the best in the future! We hope she comes back to us one day. Jacqui's Classroom Assistant position for 2023 has been advertised earlier this week. Please share with anyone you know that may be interested.
Mr Martens will commence parental leave on Monday 5th December for weeks 9 and 10. There will be a combination of teachers covering 2/3/4 for the last two weeks including Mrs Baker, Mrs Walker, Mrs Harvey and myself.
We wish Lachlan, Paige and Clementine all the best for their new arrival!
Secret Santa
This year we will be having ‘Secret Santa’ in classes. It is an opportunity for students to participate in the festive season by thinking of others. Students are invited to bring a gift to the value of $5-$10 (no more please) for someone of the same gender in their class.
On ‘Secret Santa - Gift Giving Day’ (Friday 9th Dec) students will draw a name from a hat to give their gift to. This will take part during our Christmas Fun Day.
Upcoming events:
Tuesday 29th December - Reports
Reports released to parents on Compass.
Thursday 1st December 7pm - Presentation Night
All students to attend please in full school uniform. The event be held under the Cola.
Friday 2nd December - Cootamundra Touch 7’s
Students that were participating on the original day need to complete a new consent on Compass please.
Sunday 4th December - Carols in the Park
All students invited to attend at Taylor Park, in full school uniform please. Students can wear a Christmas hat or accessory with their uniform if they wish.
Tuesday 6th December - P&F Meeting 7pm
Please note the change of date. A teams invite will be sent prior.
Friday 9 th December - Christmas Family Fun Day & Talent Quest
Students are invited to come to school dressed in a Christmas outfit/ colours/hat etc.
Families are invited to join us for the Talent Quest at 11:45am, followed by a sausage sizzle lunch. We need volunteers to assist cooking the BBQ, so please let the office know if you can help.
Students will do Secret Santa sharing this day also (see information above).
Tuesday 13th December - Breakfast Club Pancake Breakfast
Thanks to the generous donation of pancake mix from the Grenfell Food Hall, we will be holding a pancake breakfast. Donations of fresh berries and syrup would be appreciated please. We need volunteers to assist cooking the pancakes, so please let the office know if you can help.
Wednesday 14th December - Graduation Mass 6pm
Year 6 students and their families are required to attend. All other students are invited to support and celebrate the Year 6 students. Captains and House Captains will be announced at the Mass for 2023.
Thursday 15th December - Pool Fun Day
Whole school reward day. Please provide consent on Compass.
Friday 16th December - Last day of 2022 for students and staff
The first day of school for students in 2023 will be Wednesday 1st February.
Please contact the office if you have any questions about upcoming events.
Kind thoughts,
Melissa Hotham
Principal
Year 2/3/4 Class Mass
The Year 2/3/4 students will have been preparing a mass for the 30th of November. This mass will be held at 12 o'clock in St Joseph's Church and parents, grandparents and friends are welcome to attend. This will be our last whole school mass for the year.
Mufti Day
Just a reminder...tomorrow is our last official Mufti day for the year and tomorrow's Mufti collection will be donated to St Joseph's School in Eugowra. Please be generous if you can.
Grenfell Food Hall Christmas Hampers
Next week we will begin our Christmas hamper collection in earnest, but I am pleased to tell you that we have already collected 10 boxes of cereal. Keep up the great work and remember, donations can be made at any time even though we have a focus each week.
Here is the list of the items that we will be collecting by week, but feel free to donate items at any time. Please provide items with expiry dates well into 2023.
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,
Connect Before Transitions
For a child, one of the most difficult challenges is handling transitions — leaving one activity and moving to the next. During the day, key transitions for your family might be dropping your child off at school or daycare, packing up after playtime, or putting down a good book to come and eat dinner. While they can be a challenge, learning how to connect with your child during these transitions can be an invaluable way to deepen your relationship.
When a transition is coming up, give your child a few minutes’ warning, then look them in the eye, use their name, and try to make it fun. Motivating your child to pack up by taking turns tossing toys into a basket creates a valuable moment together while achieving the job that needs to get done.
Transitions happen throughout your child’s life at school as well. Now is a good time to start talking with your child about the transition into next year. For some, it will mean a change of teacher while for others it may be a move to a new school. It is important to check in with your child to see how they are feeling about the transition. Knowing that you are there to listen to their feelings can help prepare them and make them more comfortable about the changes ahead.
Our next P & F will be held Tuesday the 6th December at 7pm
The meeting will take place in the school library or a link can be sent via teams.
We hope to see as many families as possible at our last P & F for 2022.
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 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!
