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Dear Parents, Carers and the St Joseph’s Community,
We always want the best for our children (and students) and all work tirelessly to do what we can to smooth the path and to allow them to take ownership for their decisions – both good and bad. We carefully try to balance the right amount of support and guidance, while at the same time hoping that as soon as possible, they can be confident and happy to be themselves and to find their place in the world. However, parents must also advocate for their children, to see things that need to be spoken about and to show they can be relied on when faced with difficult times. I thank all parents and carers for taking on this incredible responsibility, to support their children and to imagine a future for each and every one of them.
Parenting Ideas
Below is a link to an article that gives some great tips for parents and carers, to foster independence and resilience. The Parenting Ideas website is a valuable resource that is easy to navigate.
https://www.parentingideas.com.au/blog/15-ways-to-love-your-child-confidently/
Newsletter 2021
As we continue to find the best ways to communicate with the St Joseph’s community, I am interested to know what parents believe is the purpose of the newsletter. Currently, this weekly communication seeks to give an opportunity for sharing school-wide events and information that is relevant for the wider community. However, it is evident that there is little engagement with this weekly newsletter, as many times parents ask questions of staff that have been answered in previous newsletters. Therefore, you are invited to provide some feedback via the brief survey below, so that we can review the purpose that the newsletter has in our broader communication plan for 2021.
https://sjpsoconnor.schoolzineplus.com/survey/12
School Board
The Board plays a vital role in the functioning of the school and is an extremely worthwhile avenue for parents to assist with the success of the school. The Board’s work is dedicated to enhancing all that happens for your children at our school and we endeavour to work towards our vision of St Joseph’s being an excellent school within a Christ-centred community.
The School Board is comprised of elected members, voted in if necessary, who take on a two-year position on the Board. Members can only serve three consecutive terms. Please see below a link to information relating to nominations and elections for the 2021 School Board. Nominations close COB Thursday 26 November.
School Board Nomination Form 2021.pdf
Just to see if the newsletter is being read, the first 5 parents / carers who email me will go into a draw to win a bottle of red!
2021 Classes
Final reminder that Sociograms, which allow for students the chance to consider 3 friends that they would like to be in a class with in 2021 must be returned by Friday 27 November.
If there is any final information that you would like to be taken into consideration to assist the composition of classes for 2021, then this must also be done in writing to me either via email or letter by Friday 27 November.
Have a great end to the week.
Yours in Christ,
Cameron Tarrant
Principal
Religious Life of St Joseph's
Our St Joseph Charism
Our Week 7 focus is:
Advent Prayer Celebrations
Our Advent prayer celebrations start this Friday. These prayer celebrations are a vital part of our St Joseph’s tradition and parents of classes leading the prayer celebration are warmly invited to attend these prayer celebrations. The dates and times are:
Friday 27th November 9.15am led by 5 Orange
Friday 4th December 9.15am led by 5 Blue
Friday 11th December 9.15am led by 4 Gold
Friday 18th December 9.15am led by 4 Green
St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal
It’s that time of year again. Time to share all the wonderful Christmas cheer at St Joseph’s with those who are less fortunate than us. To help those in need we will be participating in the St Vincent de Paul 2020 Christmas Appeal. Due to our current Covid climate and building works, this year instead of seeking donations of Christmas food as we have done in the past, we are asking for families to donate a Woolworths or Coles grocery card for families in need to purchase Christmas food.
Woolworths Grocery Cards
Coles Grocery Cards
These grocery cards can be sent in with students to be given to class teachers and will be sent up to the office each morning in the notebags.
For families wishing to provide a gift for specific families in our area from the 1st December there will be a giving tree in the front office at both the ELC and school. These giving trees will have gift tags with the age and gender of people in the O’Connor and Lyneham area that are in need this Christmas. If families would like to donate a gift, adults are invited to take a tag, and tape it to the wrapped gift before placing it under the giving tree. Suggested gifts are included with the gift tags.
We thank you in advance for your generosity and enthusiasm for sharing love and the Christmas spirit with those in need.
Religious Education Coordinator
Sustainability in Action
With Advent kicking off this Sunday, Christmas is in the air! While this is traditionally a time where our waste output can exceed other times of the year, it is a HUGE opportunity to get into the spirit of sustainability, and Christmas. Here are 5 easy ways to reduce and celebrate mindfully our favourite planet.
- Buy less. Homemade gifts are thoughtful, creative, delicious and won’t need packaging and transportation. Avoid gifts with batteries which can be environmentally toxic.
- Speaking of transportation, buying local will give small businesses the boost it so desperately needs and reduce your carbon footprint. Two birds, one stone!
- Recycle and Reuse wherever possible! Check that your wrapping paper is recycled, or have the kiddies decorate your stash of brown bags.
- Light it up with solar or LED lights!
- Give! A great idea for Santa is to leave a basket of toys he can take to other homes, or take the opportunity to donate old toys to Vinnies.
“For it is in giving that we receive. - Francis of Assisi.
Ryan McGee
Sustainability Coordinator
Defence School Mentor News
Sally Adams
Defence School Mentor
The Uniform Shop Is Looking For New Members!
The Uniform Shop needs new members! The Uniform Shop provides a uniform delivery service of both new and second-hand uniforms to St Joseph’s school families. Members of the Uniform Shop volunteer some of their time to help organise children’s uniform orders. New team members will get training about how the ordering system on Qkr works, as well as how to organise and deliver uniforms. The uniform shop is open once a week on Thursday, 8:30-9:00 am and supports members to take flexible shifts. Additional help is needed urgently because right now there are only three uniform team members.
Uniform member Kate says, “It is like being in a community.” Monique says she loves volunteering in the Uniform Shop because, “You get to know the teachers, parents and the kids.”
All profits from the uniform shop go to the P&F and are used to buy school resources, equipment and support the running of the canteen. If you think that joining our team of fun and committed volunteers is something you can do, please contact
Kate Osborn at boroniadrive@gmail.com or on 0423 103 015
Uniform Shop Prices
This year has been challenging, from home-schooling to playing soccer while (attempting) self-distancing! Our wonderful school and our P&F have not been immune to the effects of 2020: we had to cancel the fete, and numerous other fun events. But rest assured we have some great things on the horizon.
However, we want to ensure that we continue to provide for the kids as best we can. So, for the first time in years, our uniform shop will be altering our prices. We know that this might come as a shock to you, but please know that every cent of profit goes back into our school.
Over the years we have provided play equipment, barbecues, helped fund farewells and even shifted a couple of tonne of mulch! We want to continue to do these things even if we can’t fundraise in the usual way!
Our prices will change on 24 September 2020. The new prices will be available in Qkr! that same day.
Thank you to everyone for your donations of second-hand summer uniform! Prices for these items will remain at $5.
Congratulations to this week's award recipients.
Students are now receiving their Awards at Morning Gathering on Friday, but we are still unable to welcome parents to join us.
| Foundation Red |
Charlee F Andy S |
Foundation White |
Adam L Charlie G |
| 1 Purple |
Gianluca P Tresa S |
1 Teal |
Harry F Anna J |
| 2 Magenta |
Yaanih N Aaron P |
2 Yellow |
Edward V-F Alex M |
| 3 Black |
Emilia R Amaani S |
3 Navy |
Sophie G Imogen W |
| 4 Gold |
Hamish E Oliver A |
4 Green |
Max M Troy T |
| 5 Blue |
Joshua O'K Olivia F |
5 Orange |
Henry D Jeremy S |
| 6 Lime |
Nellie R Madeleine S |
6 Silver |
Rea N Madeline S |
| Sustainability |
Anne P |
Happy birthday to these students celebrating their birthdays this week:
| Ivy E |
| Ryan L |
| Amaani S |
| Angelo P |
