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Dear Parents,
After a few ‘bumper’ newsletters this term, we are sharing a shorter version this week. Just a reminder that parents and friends can always visit our Facebook page for the latest news: https://www.facebook.com/p/St-Josephs-Primary-School-Grenfell-100063559871895/
Junior Excursion to Possum Magic
Thank you to Ms MrFarlane for organising a super-dooper trip to Wagga with the K and Year 1 students on Friday. The children had a wonderful time enjoying the magic of Possum Magic and the awe and wonder of the Wagga Botanic Gardens.
Thanks to Ms Green and Ms Hutson for accompanying the trip.
How does our garden grow?
Thanks to Bec Waples and Mrs Mc Farlane, St Joseph’s now has our very own strawberry patch! It seems we have quite a few keen gardeners amongst the children and they were more than happy to get their hands dirty preparing the bed and planting the strawberry plants.
My Body, My Life – YEAR 5 AND 6 PARENTS THIS EVENT IS SCHEDULED FOR NEXT WEEK!
Year 5 and 6 parents have received a letter with regards to the My Body, My Life program.
On Tuesday 14th November 2023 the Archdiocesan Healthy Relationships Team will be here at St Joseph’s working with the Year 5 and 6 students to present the My Body, My Life puberty and personal development program.
As a Catholic school, we are keen to ensure that parents and carers are fully engaged in this very important aspect of their child’s development. Research also shows that despite any awkwardness you and your child might feel, children prefer to hear this information first from their own parents or carers. To that end Yr 5 and 6 families are invited to view 60 minutes of online video content and participate in some activities together at home with your child prior to the 14th November.
Student School Leadership 2024
All students in primary school need to be given the opportunity to demonstrate and develop leadership skills. Positive student leadership opportunities and experiences will facilitate the development of a responsibility and assist transition to high school and the world beyond.
At St Joseph’s the students experience leadership all the way from Kindy to Year 6. Through these experience,s they learn about responsibility, cooperation and flexibility. Once the children reach the end of Year 5, there are opportunities for the children to put themselves forward in more formal, ongoing leadership roles such as School Captains and House Captains.
On Tuesday, the Year 5 children learnt about roles available and the essential criteria for fulfilling those roles. They have the opportunity to nominate for the role of House Captain, School Captain or both. Nominations will be due by this Friday 10th November.
Please watch this space for continued updates on this process.
In Conclusion…
This coming Saturday 11th November is of course Remembrance Day. Representatives of St Joseph’s students will be participating in the service at Memorial Park at 11.00am. And all families are invited to attend what promises to be an inspiring and important event. If possible, students are asked to wear school uniform.
The Principals Retreat takes place each term at Galong and I will be attending this event on Tuesday evening and Wednesday. The St Jospeph’s Primary School and Parish community and their special intentions will be in my thoughts and prayer,s as always.
Please remember these important dates for our calendars. Yes! Christmas is just around the corner so please do reserve the following:
Christmas Fair - Friday 15th December 5.30pm at Vaughan Park
Christmas Carols - Sunday 17th December 5.30 for 6.00pm Start at Taylor Park
Our St Joseph’s Parent and Friends Association has been kindly invited to host the BBQs for the above events. This is potentially an excellent fundraising opportunity for the school and more importantly, a great way for St Joseph’s to contribute to the wider Grenfell community. We will need lots of helpers for these events so please do keep these dates free and we will keep you posted on how you can volunteer and support our school and thel ocal community.
With best wishes,
Louise Grant
Acting Principal
Lake Cargelligo Collaborative RE Planning
Last week, Mrs Harveyson, Mrs King, Mrs Best and myself travelled to Lake Cargelligo to meet with staff at St Francis Xavier Primary School, as well as Lee Herden (Principal Catholic Identity Officer CECG). The purpose of our visit was to develop our Term 4 RE units of work, as well as the Scope and Sequence that will be used to guide teachers in their teaching in 2024. This continues the work we started earlier in the year. Overall, this was a great opportunity for us to share our knowledge and expertise with our fellow colleagues.
Request for Year Six Graduation Mass Photos
It is that time of year where we put a call out to all Year Six parents to submit school related photos of your child from throughout their schooling. We are looking for approximately 12-14 photos in total. Among those photos, or in addition to, we would also like you to provide us with a photo of your child in Kindergarten and Year Six, to contribute to a display at the Graduation Mass. We require all photos by Monday the 27th of November. Feel free to email them directly to me or save them to a USB. Thank you for your time and assistance!
Class Mass Dates
Please note in your diaries the following Mass dates:
- Year 2/3/4 Class Mass – 20th November
(now a Liturgy of the Word due to priest unavailability)
- Year 6 Graduation Mass – 13th December
We welcome everyone to attend these very special events at St Joseph’s Church.
School Christmas Food Drive - Grenfell Food Hall
With the festive season drawing closer, and in the spirit of Christmas, we are asking all families to provide generous support to provide hope for many locals who face an uncertain Christmas. The aim is to bring relief to those who need it most through a food drive.
Below is a list of the categories/ items we will be collecting on a weekly basis to donate. For all items, please check that the expiry dates extend into 2024. Thank you for your kindness.
At the conclusion of the food drive, all donated items will be delivered to our local Food Hall.
If you have any questions, please let us know. We thank you in advance for your support!
Sunday Gospel Reflection (November 12)
Gospel Matthew 25:1-13
Is your lamp ‘trimmed’ and filled with oil? When the bridesmaids trimmed the wick of their lamps it was to ensure that the flame would be clear and bright, for an untrimmed wick is dim and sometimes smoky. Can those we teach and lead clearly discern in the witness of our lives the light of Christ? What do we need to ‘trim’ to ensure Christ’s light, the light of our faith, burns more clearly and brightly, lighting and warming the lives of others?
Are you running on oil fumes? Mary Coloe, in LiturgyHelp.com writes, “...the Gospel asks me to consider my own resources and what I am doing to ensure that these do not run out, as some of the companions ran out of oil.” What resources my faith? The oil for her lamp, she explains, includes daily personal quiet time with God, joining with others for prayer, being part of a local worshipping community, reading spiritual books, taking time for a retreat or a short course on some aspect of faith. She reflects that this all requires some effort and determination and the daily discipline of making time.
Loving God,
as the day and the hour is unknown,
help us to keep the light of your presence alive for others,
warming and inviting them into a relationship with you.
Amen
Source: Formed in Prayer, CSYMI
Prayer For Remembrance Day
November 11 marks Remembrance Day, which falls on a Saturday this year. The following prayer is in dedication of this important day:
God of peace and love, on this 11th day of the 11th month we once again gather to remember. We remember that in Jesus of Nazareth you have called us to be people of peace saying, “Blessed are the peacemakers” and reminding us that we are to love our neighbour and our enemy as we love ourselves.
But we also acknowledge that there are times when we as a global community fail to live out those words, times when young men and women hear the call to don the uniforms of their country and serve under their flag.
Today we give thanks for all who have chosen to serve their country. We give thanks for their bravery, their commitment, and their love. But we know that when armies meet on the field there are always some who don’t come home. And so we pause in the memory of those who went and did not return to mothers and wives and children left behind.
God, we pray too for those who returned from battle forever changed by what they had seen. For those who bore, and still bear, wounds of body and soul. In particular we remember those from within this community who have died since the last time we gathered in this way.
And now, God of love, as we have remembered and honoured, we prepare to go back into our everyday lives. May the remembering we have done here today reawaken and strengthen our commitment to work for peace, true peace. Help us to remember that peace will never truly come from a gun barrel but from the depths of our hearts. Help us remember our calling to be peacemakers at home and abroad, in the big things and in the small. And may we never forget the cost that has already been paid.
God of peace that surpasses all understanding, we pray our remembrances and our hopes in the name of Christ, the Prince of Peace, who taught his friends to pray by saying together:
Our Father, who art in heaven…
Yours in Faith,
Danielle McFarlane
Religious Education Coordinator
Parish News
Sunday 8 am
St Joseph’s Church, Grenfell
Please note that a Mass will be held on the second and fourth Sunday of each month. There is a Celebration of the Word with Holy Communion, not a Mass, on the first and third (and any fifth) Sunday of each month. Everyone is welcome to attend!
If you wish to visit St Joseph’s Church, it is open daily from 10.00am – 4.00pm and following Mass on Sundays.
Sports News:
Upcoming Swim Safe Lessons.
Students will participate in daily swimming lessons, commencing on Monday the 4th of December (Weeks 9-10), run by the Grenfell Aquatic Centre and their qualified instructors. Lessons will run until the end of term or will be stopped if there is risk of poor weather conditions.
Students are to come to school in their school uniform and their swimmers ready to go underneath. It is important that students are at school on time and prepared as we will be swimming first up, in the morning session. Students will change back into their uniform to return to school.
Please ensure that students have a rashie or t-shirt to swim in, their goggles (if required), sunscreen, towel, underwear, and that all items are clearly labelled.
If your child/ren are not season ticket holders, an entry cost will be incurred, amounting to $20 for the entirety of the lessons. This can be paid in full when providing consent.
For any questions or concerns, please contact the office.
A compass event will be sent out in the upcoming days. Consent will be required along with details in regard to season tickets or payment for pool entry fee.
Advertisement:
Grenfell Youth Theatre Performance Quiz Night
Come along and support some of our St Joseph's students take centre stage.
A great opportunity in our wonderful community.
Maybe your children would like to see what it's all about and sign up for the next production.
TICKETS still available for this Friday night!!
Also, three tables available for Saturday night.
$10 adults, $5 children
Cash only
Tickets can be purchased at Raine and Horne or at the door.
Friday 10th November 7:00pm
Saturday 11th November 7:00pm
BYO Snacks and drinks. This is a family event. Alcohol free.
Kind Regards,
Chelsea Harveyson (Anderson)
Classroom Teacher and Sports Coordinator
