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Dear Parents,
It is a pleasure and a privilege to join the St Joseph’s community as the Acting Principal and it has been great to experience the positive and vibrant culture of the school this week. Thank you to everyone for the warm welcome! Thank you to parents and community members who have popped by to say hello! If we have not yet met, please do drop by next time you are at school.
Special thanks to the staff for all their help, patience and support as I settle into this exciting role. It is inspiring and impressive to see how our teachers have embraced and excel with the Catalyst initiatives and I am delighted to join the dynamic learning and observe the high levels of engagement of the children.
The children have been very welcoming, showing their friendliness, helpfulness as I learn the routines of the school, and enthusiasm towards their learning and all the initiatives available at the school. I have been particularly impressed by the children’s courtesy and cooperation.
We have a busy term ahead and I look forward very much to being part of the life of the school.
Welcome Ms Cindy Washbrook!
Another teacher also commenced at St Joseph’s this week, or should I say, welcome back Mrs Washbrook! Ms Washbrook is stepping into Mrs King’s role during her absence, and it is great to have her expertise on the team.
What is the most more effective thing parents can do at home to support their children’s learning?
For my first newsletter, I would like to encourage parents to make 20 minutes reading time with your child/ren a top priority, something close to my heart. Rather than a chore, make this a relaxed and peaceful time. Sometimes your child may prefer to be read to, sometimes you will be hearing the same story for the umpteenth time! The main thing is that you are creating positive reading habits and a love for literature and reading.
Sporting Schools
We are delighted to have been successful in securing a Sporting Schools grant for term 3. The children are excited to participate in weekly clinics with representatives from the Brumbies every Tuesday commencing 1st August.
St Joseph’s Choir
Following on from the recent success in the eisteddfod, we have had a special request from MPS to perform for the aged care residents. Mr Barone, Ms Washbrook and I look forward to accompanying the Choir on this visit next Thursday.
In Conclusion…
We have an action-packed term ahead and look forward to your participation in a range of events and activities. The children have already got started on their speeches for the Public Speaking Festival and we hope you will have the chance to have the children present their speeches to you at home. Watch this space for more dates and details.
During this term we will also celebrate Father’s Day and a number of the children will participate in the Sacramental Program.
The St Vincent de Paul appeal is this coming Friday 28th July. Please see more details later in the newsletter.
I look forward very much to getting to know you all over the coming weeks and months. In the meantime, please do let me know if there is anything we can do to further support your child/ren at school and please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any questions or if I can assist in anyway.
With best wishes,
Louise Grant
Acting Principal
Staff Spirituality Day
Our staff travelled to West Wyalong on Monday, 17 July to attend a staff Spirituality Day with fellow colleagues from St Mary’s War Memorial School, West Wyalong, and St Francis Xavier School, Lake Cargelligo. The day was led by Lee Herden, Principal Catholic Identity Officer at Catholic Education Canberra Goulburn. Our focus theme was ‘Mercy’.
Mercy Definition: The disposition to be kind and forgiving. Founded on compassion, mercy differs from compassion or the feeling of sympathy in putting this feeling into practice with a readiness to assist. It is therefore the ready willingness to help anyone in need, especially in need of pardon or reconciliation.
Staff focused particularly on Scripture exploring mercy, defining characteristics of a Catholic School and the grammar of dialogue. The staff found the day very rewarding as they reflected on their work in schools and considered future actions that they could implement.
“We should be as the compass that goes round its circle without stirring from its center. Our center is God from whom all our actions should spring as from their source.”
- Catherine McAuley
It has been wonderful to see the eager smiling faces of students as they return to school this term. We are looking forward to another busy, yet very productive term ahead for everyone.
Sunday Gospel Reflection (July 30)
Gospel Mt 13:44-52
We must all seek, find, and appreciate the hidden pearls within people. It is essential to understand that God has also sought, found, and recognised the treasures that lay within ourselves. God paid the highest price and ultimate sacrifice of His Son Jesus on the cross so that we might be saved and made welcome in the kingdom of heaven. Being a Catholic comes with sacrifice. Do you face yours with the exuberant joy of the man in the parable, or do you give way to frustration, exhaustion, and apathy? We need to remind ourselves of the celebration of the treasure that we are seeking and to reach for the ‘fine pearls’ that are found in the scriptures and the sacraments. The analogy of the dragnet is an apt one, particularly in schools gathering people from many backgrounds and beliefs. For some, it might be tempting to seek only the ‘good fish’ and not extend the invitation to the diverse faith experience that we find in our seas. By narrowing our focus, we risk overlooking the treasure that exists in both the new and old. Have you seen the pearl of great value, for which you are ready to sell all that you have to buy it? (Nathan A’Hearne, Mission and Life Formation Marist Schools Australia)
Dear Lord,
Help us to seek the treasure of a comforting kindness,
which manifests as understanding more precious than riches,
more powerful than the oppression of others,
with the power to continually transform our hearts.
Let our parable be manifest in our actions, our kindness, our generosity of time
and our hearts for understanding the needs of the world.
Amen.
Source: Formed in Prayer, CSYMI
Mini Vinnies – St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal
Student Prayer of the Week
Sacramental Program
St Joseph’s Parish will be offering the Sacrament of Confirmation to eligible candidates. To be eligible to prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation, candidates must be in Year 5 or above and must have already received the Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion.
The meetings for the Confirmation candidates will take place during Terms 3 and 4. The dates are as follows:
- Wednesday 6th September – Preparation Meeting at 6pm
- Wednesday 20th September – Preparation Meeting at 6pm
- Wednesday 18th October – Preparation Meeting at 6pm
- Sunday 22nd October – Confirmation Mass at 8am
The preparation meetings will be held on each of the above dates in the St Joseph’s School Library. A Catholic parent (or caregiver) of each candidate must attend each of the meetings.
If you are interested in enrolling your child/ren please contact me (if you have not already done so) at the school on 6343 1514 or via email: danielle.mcfarlane@cg.catholic.edu.au
Furthermore, if you know of anyone else interested in further information, who may not have access to this newsletter or the Parish bulletin, please encourage them to contact me also.
Yours in Faith,
Danielle McFarlane
Religious Education Coordinator
Parish News
Sunday 8 am Mass
St Joseph’s Church, Grenfell
Please note that a Mass will be held on the second and fourth Sundays each month. There is a Celebration of the Word with Holy Communion, not a Mass, on the first and third Sundays of each month. Everyone is welcome to attend!
The Parish would love to welcome more children to be involved in Mass on weekends. There are many opportunities for involvement, including doing the readings. If your child can participate in any way, please let me know.
If you wish to visit St Joseph’s Church, it is open daily from 10.00am – 4.00pm and following Mass on Sundays.
Indi did a great job representing St Joseph’s at the Orange Anglican Grammar School K-12 Equestrian Interschools over the weekend.
She placed second in the Hunter class, 3rd in the Show Horse ring and 4th in an extremely tough open rider class. Indi also placed third the following day in dressage.
These results are well received due to the record numbers making it a hotly, contested event.
Chelsea Harveyson (Anderson)
Classroom Teacher and Sports Coordinator
