Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome back to school for our final term of 2018.  I hope that everyone enjoyed the break away from our regular school routine and has been able to enjoy a good time with your families.

Term 4 will be a busy term for us.  During this time the children will continue with their regular learning as well as various sporting and other activities.

Class teachers will also be completing assessments with the children and preparing reports during this time.

Kinder Transition - Orientation mornings for our 2019 Kinder students will be held in November.  If you are aware of any parents who would like their child to participate in our transition program, please invite them to make contact with us at school.

The dates for this year’s program are as follows: November 7 and 14, 21 and 28.  These days are an opportunity for children to come along and learn some more about “big school” routines.  Everyone is welcome to join our Transition program.

Thank you to those families who have already returned completed and returned enrolment forms for our new Kinder students.

End of Year events – please be aware that our presentation evening will be held on Thursday December 13 and the End of Year Graduation Mass will be held on Tuesday December 18.

Website – please be aware that our new website is now up and operational.

 www.stjosephsgrenfell.nsw.edu.au  

This new site allows us to streamline several of the different programs that we have been using to date.  Over the coming months we will migrate from Skoolbag and school interviews etc. to the Schoolzine platform, which incorporates these processes.  Attached to this newsletter is a set of instructions for downloading the new Schoolzine app that will replace our current skoolbag app by the end of this year.

Residential Address collection of data – please be aware that the Australian Government department of Education and Training (AGDET) will be carrying out the annual collection of residential addresses and other data.  If you require further information please contact us at school.

Rural and regional school travel – we have received some information about travel to school.  Further information can be found at www.transportnsw.info/school-students or by calling 131500.

Armistice Day – remembrance service will be held on Sunday November 11 commencing at 10:45am.  Everyone is welcome to join us at the service at the Cenotaph.

Thank you for the welcome home this week.  It was a fantastic time for me to be able to spend time with family and to travel to lots of different parts both in Australia and overseas.  Mrs King noted at the end of last term about the opportunities that arise when taking on other duties, the same can be said for travel.  It is terrific to visit other places and it is also good to be at home.

Sincerely,

Therese Clancy

Principal

This Sunday, Catholics around the world will be celebrating Mission Sunday. This is a time for us to recognise that it is necessary to stop and think about, pray for, and if possible, provide financial aid to the people in our world who are desperately in need of our help. We will also be highlighting Mission month at school by holding our annual Mission Day later in the term. It is important for our children to understand that we can make a difference with the little things that we do.

As Pope Francis says in his Mission Sunday message, “Every man and woman is a mission; that is the reason for our life on this earth.”

If possible, please start saving your coins for our annual Mission collection. We are happy to relieve you of the 5, 10 and 20 cent coins that tend to be only nuisance value in your wallet or purse. Every little bit helps!  

Leslie King