Welcome to Week 6! It is a little hard to believe that we are halfway through Term 1 already.

There has been so many school and community events in recent weeks where our families have supported St Joseph’s; staff and myself are extremely grateful for this.

Our Parish mass on the 2^nd March was a beautiful celebration of the liturgy where students participated so reverently.  Our Ash Wednesday Mass on the 5^th March marked the beginning of our Lenten journey and the recent Adelong Show was where our volunteering spirit was definitely evident.  Again, thank you to all our families who gave so generously of their time to support not only the school but a fantastic community event.   It was also wonderful to see so many of our students put in entries to many of the categories at the show as well as our wonderful school display.

Last week I joined with all the Principals from our Archdiocese to attend Catholic Leaders Day and the Principals Retreat.  It was a wonderful opportunity for Principals to work with our Interim Executive Director Pam Betts who comes from the Brisbane Archdiocese, where she was Executive director for nine years.  Some of our Rugby families may be familiar with her late father – former Australian rugby union prop Neil’Tiny” Betts.  Principals also met with Mr David de Carvahlo who is the new Executive Director of Catholic Education, who will take up his role in June this year. David is a very experienced and well-regarded leader in the education sector, with a deep knowledge of, and commitment to, our Catholic faith.  It is a time of great change with incorporation taking place for our organisation – Catholic Archdiocese Canberra and Goulburn Education Limited on the first of January, a new board of directors and new Executive director.

Our Year 3 and Year 5 students will begin NAPLAN on Wednesday and the scheduled assessments will be:

Wednesday 12^th – Writing

Thursday 13^th – Reading

Friday 14^th – Conventions of language

Monday 17^th – Numeracy.

Please ensure that your Yr 3 and Yr 5 child attends school on these days unless they are unwell, where they will sit the assessments when they return to school.  Students are encouraged to do their best and are reminded that it is another opportunity to demonstrate what they already know and provides the school and parents with information on areas that may need to be revised and strengthened.

Our new school build is basically complete – we are just waiting on a few finishing touches and the green light to be able to move in.  We are still anticipating that we will be in for the beginning of Term two – if that date comes forward at all we will notify families.

Blessings for the week ahead,

Kirsty Beavan

Principal

Ash Wednesday

Last Wednesday we celebrated Ash Wednesday, marking the beginning of Lent. Lent is a time to prepare our hearts and minds to become a better version of ourselves, and to become more like Jesus. The disciplines of Lent - Prayer, fasting and almsgiving - help us prepare for Easter. 

St Joseph's Feast Day 

Staff and Students are excited to celebrate the Feast day of our School Patron, St Joseph, with a Prayer service held in the classroom on Wednesday 19th March. Students are invited to wear blue and yellow clothing to school on this day. 

St Joseph was a working man, a carpenter, but he used his hands to also do God's work in his life.

Easter Raffle

The year 6 leaders will hold an Easter Egg raffle to raise funds for Project Compassion - Caritas. Caritas Australia is the international aid and development organisation of the Catholic Church in Australia. 

Any donations from families would be greatly appreciated. 

Easter Hat Parade

St Joseph's will hold an Easter Hat Parade this term, with the date to be confirmed. Students are encouraged to start planning their wonderful and creative hats, incorporating bright colours and the symbols of Easter. More details to come! 

Many thanks,
Stacey Braun

Religious Education Coordinator

There is currently a stomach bug circulating around within the Community.

Gastroenteritis, also known as ‘gastro’, can cause vomiting and diarrhoea, as well as nausea and stomach pains. It spreads easily from having contact with an infected person. 

Students should stay home until they have not had a loose bowel motion or other symptoms for 24 hours.  

Congratulations to our four students that represented Western Region at the Archdiocese Swimming Carnival in Boorowa on Monday 3rd of March.  

Ollie will now represent the Archdiocese at the MacKillop Swimming Carnival on Wednesday 2nd April.  

We wish Ollie all the best! 

Our Media Leaders, Amber and Primrose will showcase our new Kindergarten Students in our Newsletters! 

Keep up to date with events happening at St Joseph's via our electronic school calendar (please note dates can be subject to change).