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Create in me a clean heart,
Oh God; and put a new
Spirit within me.
Psalm 51:10
As we enter the season of Lent, we open our hearts in prayer, to be closer to God. In our actions, we can be present to others and make a difference. We pray for those around the world who are currently facing turmoil and heartache. May their faith, and the actions of those around them, bring them peace and comfort.
Something about nothing…
Every day after school it’s the same thing:
“So, what did you learn today?”
“Oh, nothing.”
“Well, what did you do in class?”
“Nothing.”
Yet people remark on my child’s extensive vocabulary. She can explain why land masses shift, figure the angle of a trapezoid, and do a lot of other things that I never taught her. I don’t understand it, but I’m grateful to all her teachers, who must be awfully good at “nothing.” - Teachers Touch Tomorrow
This is a great reminder from a little book on my shelf about the challenges as a teacher and also as a parent. When we ask our children, “What did you do today?” and get the standard, “Nothing” in reply, we can simply pass it off as maybe not wanting to share, or worse, that they actually did nothing for the day.
First, I can assure you that we are always doing ‘stuff’ at school. Walking around the school at the moment, it is incredible just how active the students are in their learning… and the teachers are in their teaching. Yet, as teachers we can still get similar responses at the end of lessons that make us question what we have done for the past hour!
However, we just need to go past the immediate response we get from the children. Changing our questions to, “How did you learn today?” “What was the best part of your day?” or “What will you do tomorrow with what you learned today?” ensures a deeper response. As teachers, parents and learners, we can be better questioners and thinkers, able to reflect on what happens each day. We just need to ask (and be asked) the right questions.
Thank you to all our wonderful teachers and parents for all the “Nothing” they do each day.
School Board
The School Board met for the first time on Wednesday 16 February for the AGM, at which time the Executive positions were filled. There will be further information in the coming weeks about the various members of the Board for 2022, so that all in the community are aware of who they are. In the meantime, thank you to all the members of the School Board, and congratulations to those filling executive positions.
| Parish Priest | Fr Paul Nulley | Assistant Principal | Amy Doszpot |
| Principal | Cameron Tarrant | Staff Rep | Tiffany Fletcher |
| Board Chair | Rebecca Jackson | P&F Rep | Nicole Mahar |
| Treasurer | James Strachan | Parent Rep | Jane Childs |
| Secretary | Alicia Porter | Parent Rep | Si Kayser |
| ELC Director | Molly Henson | Parent / ELC Rep | Simon Loftus |
Upcoming Reminders
- Online Parent / Teacher Interviews continue this week. If you have not made a time to meet with your child’s teacher, please contact them to arrange a time.
- Nachos Day – Tuesday 8 March - See flyer in the Canteen section
- P& F Meeting – Wednesday 16 March (moved from 9 March) – a link will be made available to all parents
- Feast of St Joseph’s – Friday 18 March – more details to come
Have a great end to the week.
Yours in Christ,
Cameron Tarrant
Religious Life of St Joseph’s
Today we celebrate Ash Wednesday which marks the change in our Liturgical
Project Compassion
This week, through the Lenten act of Almsgiving we have commenced raising money for Caritas Australia. Jesus teaches that giving alms means making the needs of others our own, especially the needy of our world. They are all around us: children and the old, the sick and the suffering, families and individuals, next-door neighbours and people in lands faraway. One way that we can participate in almsgiving is through Project Compassion.
Project Compassion is Caritas Australia's annual Lenten fundraising and awareness-raising appeal. Millions of Australians come together in solidarity with the world's poor to help end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity. Donation boxes have been placed in all classrooms and at the front offices of the main school and ELC. We would encourage parents to support their children in the act of Almsgiving by providing them with donations every week for the next 5 weeks. Project Compassion boxes can be collected from the Front Office if there are any families who would like to participate in their own homes.
A Lent for Our Common Home
Another way of participating in Lent is through taking sustainable action. Each week during Lent we will be sharing some ideas on how you might take sustainable action at home with your family.
Week 1- Food
During this first week of Lent the focus is on food. You could:
- Enjoy one meat free day a week
- Buy locally sourced food
- Grow your own herbs and vegetables
Prayer and Worship
Celebrating Liturgy and Sacraments
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Prayer Celebrations and Class Masses |
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Week 5 Class Mass: Year 3 Thursday 9.15am Week 6 Class Mass: Foundation Tuesday 9.15am Class Mass: Year 3 Thursday 9.15am Week 7 Class Mass: Year 3 Thursday 9.15am St Joseph’s Feast Day Whole School Mass Friday 12.10pm |
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Sacrament Dates 2022 |
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As we are a growing community we are asking families to help us be as prepared as possible by enrolling in all Sacraments for 2022 now. Please use the following link to enrol in all Sacraments for 2022. http://bit.ly/sjosacraments2022 Reconciliation Formation Evenings: Wednesday 9 March and Wednesday 23 March - 5:30 - 6:30pm in the Parish Centre Reconciliation Retreat Day (all Year 3 students): Wednesday 6 April - School hours Sacrament of Reconciliation: Wednesday 6 April - 6:00pm First Holy Communion Formation Evening dates still to be confirmed Sunday 19 June: Sacrament of First Holy Communion Confirmation Still to be Confirmed |
Melanie Stratford
Religious Education Coordinator
Sustainability in Action
The Year 3 Waste Warriors are back in action, and better than ever. These warriors are trained to help students properly dispose of their rubbish, as well as correct any misplaced items with their pickers.
As we begin Week 1 of Lent for Our Common Home, we ask students and families to think deeply about food consumption. This could be through harvesting garden goodies, eliminating food waste, minimising meat intake, or buying local produce.
‘Throwing away food is like stealing from the table of those who are poor and hungry.’ -Pope Francis
Ryan McGee
Sustainability Coordinator
ryan.mcgee@cg.catholic.edu.au
Sport News
Swimming Carnival - LAST CALL FOR NOMINATIONS for ACT Championships
Due to COVID restrictions in place for Term 1, the St Joseph’s Swimming Carnival has been cancelled for this year. All Term 1 events/Regional Swimming Carnivals can not take place, but at this stage the SSACT 12&U ACT Swimming Championships could still take place in Week 2 of Term 2 – this would allow a State Team to be selected for the SSA National Champs scheduled for August in QLD. With no School Carnivals nor Regional Swimming Carnivals as qualifying events, SSACT and Swimming ACT will implement a process to accept entries from schools across all events conducted within the ACT Champs Program. Entry times provided will have to be verifiable by Swimming ACT – they have a full database of all ACT swim club meets, this unfortunately means that entered students will need to be part of a club or established swim squad. There is an option to attend an outside of school club to get a verified time for those students not a part of a registered club. Please contact me ASAP for further information. Verifiable times will need to come from the most recent season (Oct 2021 the earliest date).
If you would like to nominate your child for the ACT Swimming championships please email koby.allan@cg.catholic.edu.au by no later than 3rd March with your child’s name and DOB, Events and where the latest/personal performance times can be obtained e.g. Swimming ACT Meet Results, Swimming Australia National database etc. I will nominate students and once their times are verified will be in contact with those students who qualify.
Koby Allan
Sport Coordinator
Hello Parents and Carers,
Thank you to the canteen volunteer's who have offered to help in the canteen. New volunteers are always welcome, please don’t hesitate to email me on stjosephscanteen@gmail.com or pop in and say hi.
NACHOS DAY!!
Regards
Katie Jenkin
Canteen Manager
Congratulations to the Week 5 award recipients.
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Foundation Red |
Amelia B Ryder McD |
Foundation White |
Charlie P Aaron R |
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1 Purple |
Dakota W Nathaniel M |
1 Teal |
Sophie P Mia M |
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2 Magenta |
Emery D Claire A |
2 Yellow |
Alex B Charlee F |
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3 Black |
William C Owen H |
3 Navy |
Anna J Toby S |
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4 Gold |
Ricky B Kathy A |
4 Green |
Sebastian R Holly H |
|
5 Blue |
Christopher B Tom H |
5 Orange |
Dechen P Pema C |
|
6 Lime |
Fahad A Anthony S |
6 Silver |
Oliver A Maria P |
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Sustainability |
Will C Ajmer S |
Happy birthday to these students who celebrated their birthday this week:
| Nicholas G |
| Zoe G |
| Eloise McD |
| Azrielle T |
| Callum A |
| Daniel G |
| Shamita B |
| Harriet P |
| Rinisha G |
