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Dear parents,
We were delighted to welcome the new Kindergarten 2024 children for their final day of orientation on Tuesday. The children had a great day and were happy to stay until 2.00pm – it seems they are well and truly ready for big school!
The children explored St Joseph's during the school tour and participated in class and outdoor activities, experiencing the usual school timetable including recess and lunch. It is great to see the children growing in confidence and looking forward to joining us in January.
The Kindy 2024 parents joined us during the afternoon for an information and discussion session covering the transition to school arrangements for the beginning of the year. To conclude, we enjoyed a presentation by the children’s year 5 buddies highlighting the children’s visits over the past months. Thank you Mrs Harveyson and Year 5!
Introducing Ms Natalie Caruana
Children, parents and staff all enjoyed meeting Natalie Caruana who will be joining the St Joseph's Team as one of our Kindy teachers in January. It is my pleasure to introduce Natalie to you all:
Natalie’s teaching career commenced in 1995 and she has specialised in both the younger years and in schools called St Joseph’s! Natalie brings a great depth of experience to our school through her professional roles in a range of fields such as Managing Director of a product innovation company, Co Founder of a rural products promotion and distribution group, Head of Business Innovations and Leasing for a property group, and Education and Care Coordinator for MND NSW. Natalie is a great contributor to the communities to which she belongs, and she is our neighbour with her home in nearby Bumbaldry. Natalie has two daughters both studying in Sydney and a large assortment of farmyard animals. I am sure you all join me in giving Natalie a warm welcome to St Joseph's!
Mrs Caruana and Mrs Best will co-teach the Kindergarten class in 2024.
Please watch this space for further staffing updates.
School Leadership
One of the more powerful learning experiences for children and adults is to learn from an expert and we are grateful to Belinda Mawhinney for giving her time and expertise to address the Year 5 and 6 students on Monday. Belinda inspired the children to reflect on what makes a good leader and how they might develop their own leadership skills
The Year 5 students have now put forward their nominations for the roles of House Captains and School Captains. The next step in the process is to meet with Mrs McFarlane and I, sharing their vision for the role and the reasons why they believe that would make a good school leader.
My Body, My Life
On Tuesday, the Archdiocesan Healthy Relationships Team worked with the Year 5 and 6 students on the My Body, My Life puberty and personal development program. The students really enjoyed this session and the opportunity to learn, reflect and think about themselves and their lives both now and in the future.
Thank you to the Archdiocesan Healthy Relationships Team, Chelsea Harveyson and, of course, the Year 5 and 6 parents for all their contributions to this important programme.
Remembrance Day
It was good to join the Grenfell Remembrance Day Memorial Service on Saturday and experience the strong community and reflect upon those who have served our country.
Special thanks to Indie Edwards for representing St Joseph's and being part of the service by reading the poem, “One Thousand Men are Walking”. Thank you to the students and families who attended the service.
In Conclusion…
By now, St Joseph's families will have received a letter outlining the school fee increase for 2024. Please do let us know if you have not received this letter or if you have any questions. Thanks!
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 do volunteer to support our school and the local community.
With best wishes,
Louise Grant
Acting Principal
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 – 29th 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 the expiry dates extend into 2024. Thank you for your generosity.
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 19)
Gospel Matthew 25:14-30
“Come and share your master’s happiness!” This parable gives us an opportunity to reflect on the invitation God provides us. What is the invitation? It’s the same invitation the rich man gives to his servants - come and share your master’s happiness. For each of us, this happiness is the love and the mercy of God. What an invitation to receive! So how do we share in this happiness of God’s love and mercy? By doing as the servants did, opening ourselves to receive more and more of the master’s happiness, “for whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance”. God’s love and mercy is given to be shared, this was shown to us through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. The invitation is put to us now, to continue to witness to this by sharing this same love and mercy abundantly, in all that we do, to all whom we meet.
Lord,
Open our hearts and minds to the invitation you have placed before us.
Through the power of the Holy Spirit, help us to accept your love and mercy
and to grow and share it abundantly with those we serve
through our vocations and ministries every day
so that they too may share in your happiness!
Amen.
Source: Formed in Prayer, CSYMI
Socktober Thank You
As you are aware, Socktober is a program initiated by Catholic Mission which raises funds for programs benefiting children around the world. Each year, they choose a focus country to represent how the funds raised will benefit children overseas. In 2023, their focus projects are in Timor-Leste (more information about their work is listed the Catholic Mission website).
Further to our previous newsletter messages regarding our Socktober Mission Day activities, we have tallied all donations made towards this and the amount raised totalled $235.65!
This is an excellent outcome and we once again thank everyone for your generous support.
Student Prayer of the Week
Condolences
We would like to extend our condolences to Peter Mason and his family on the loss of Peter’s Mother, Lorraine.
We are thinking of you all and keeping you in our hearts and prayers at this difficult time.
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.