Dear parents and carers,

We are now well in to the second half of the term and there are many activities taking place across our school, and the busyness of home activities is ever increasing.  As the busyness of harvest, end of year festivities and general daily routines increases  I encourage all of our children to ensure that they are getting enough rest as this is important to ensure that the end of the year is an enjoyable time.

Planning is under way for our Presentation Night on Tuesday December 8.  The event will begin at 6:30pm.  Please be aware that there are several Covid Safe health regulations that we will need to observe on the night.  However, we are looking forward to being able to hold this event, although it will be in a modified format.

This week, we temporarily farewell Mrs Hinde as she takes Maternity Leave – we wish the Hinde family all the best as they prepare for the arrival of their new baby.

Mrs Mitton will be joining us while Mrs Hinde is on leave and we look forward to working with her during this time.

KINDER TRANSITION – our Kinder transition program concluded yesterday.  The children’s confidence has grown each week and it was fabulous to see them joining in with increasing confidence each week.

All children who are eligible to commence school in 2021 are welcome at St Joseph’s - even if your child did not make it to our transition days.

Choosing a school for your child can create many questions, if you would like to know more about our school please touch base to discuss your queries.

Thank you to those who have completed enrolment forms in preparation for 2021. 

At present our teachers are working on the reports for this semester in preparation for distribution later this term.

There will be an opportunity for you to meet with your child’s class teacher if required. 

Quite often school reports can mean anxious times for parents and students. Children of all ages take their cues from their parents, so your reaction to their school report can affect the way they see themselves as learners and as people. When you open the school report do you look for strengths or weaknesses first?

The challenge is to focus on strengths rather than focus purely on areas that need improving. Consider your child’s effort and attitude to learning. If the report indicates that effort is below standard, then you and your child have something to work on. If your child is putting in the required effort, then you can’t ask any more than that regardless of the grading. Broaden your focus away from academic performance to form a picture of how your child is progressing as an individual in a social setting.

Swimming – our swimming program will take place in Wk. 9 (Dec 7-11). Notes were sent home earlier this week.  Please complete and return to school if you have not already done so.  If you need another copy of the note, please make contact.

Library – as we are now moving towards the end of the year, please start looking for those extra library books to return to school.  They might be under the bed, on the coffee table, in the pile of things on the kitchen bench.

All returns will be appreciated – our record for the most overdue library book in recent years is 1587 days, I wonder if we can beat that?

Calendar - You might notice that our newsletter calendar has clicked over to 2020 – we are already in the planning stages for next year, and dates that we have available have been included. Please note that there may be some minor changes.

P & F Lunch Special Event – the next P & F lunch special will be on Friday December 4

The $7 combo includes a Hamburger with Lettuce, tomato, meat patty with tomato sauce, zooper doper and popper.

All orders are to be placed by December 2.  Please include any special dietary requirements on your order.

Changes to routine - Thank you to those families who are keeping us informed when children are absent from school, or there are changes to the regular routine. 

 Please make it your custom to check in at the office if your children are running late to school – we appreciate your efforts to do this.

Catholic School Parents Newsletter - The link below will take you to the latest edition of the Council of Catholic School Parents Newsletter, it makes for interesting reading.

https://ccsp.schoolzineplus.com/newsletter/69642/#a0

Congratulations to Holly, Adam, Baxter, and Amelia on the arrival of Sunny Robert!

Take care and stay safe,

“Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.” (James 5.7-8)

 As we begin the season of Advent, it seems appropriate that the scripture is about farmers waiting for the precious crops from the earth. Being patient can be challenging but it does allow us some time to think and reflect on what is important in our lives. I think some people have experienced this during the pandemic lockdown as well.

 Reflection:

Advent is a waiting time,

*we await the celebration of the birth of Jesus,

*we await Christ’s second coming,

*but God waits for us too.

 Opening Prayer:

Almighty God, we begin this advent season as an advent people – ready to do your will. Let your blessing come upon us as we begin this season of Advent. May it turn our hearts to you in the days ahead. Grant us the peace and joy we long for, as we await the coming of your Son with patient hearts. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

 God lives today, and so … our first challenge is to bring Jesus to life in our own living, to become aware of his presence, the presence of the Spirit within us, prompting us, sustaining us, working through us, waiting for us.

 Week One: Come, long-expected Jesus.

Excite in me a wonder at the wisdom and power of Your Father and ours. Receive our prayer in the hope that we may do our part in God’s own work for justice.

 Sharing time: What hope do we have for the world?

 Closing Prayer:

O God, open our hearts to prepare the way for the coming of Christ. Guide us in your ways of compassion so that we may extend your love and mercy to all people. We ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord, who lives with you and the Holy Spirit forever. Amen.

 Prayer retrieved and adapted from https://www.cwl.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/704-Advent-Reflection

 Peace and blessings to all as we journey through Advent, waiting patiently for the joy of Christmas.