Welcome to Wk 5.  Our 3/4 students had a great day yesterday participating in Trent Barrett.  Our boys were the St Joseph’s team and our girls joined with St Pat’s Gundagai.  A big thank you to parents who transported the children to and from Gundagai.  The children all played with great sportsmanship and are to be commended on their great behaviour and conduct.  The children have a report later in the newsletter.

Our last Kindergarten Orientation will take place next week on Tuesday and we look forward to welcoming our 2021 students into our school again.  The children have been extremely settled and have followed the classroom routine beautifully.

Annika Casey from Tumut High School has been with us this week on work experience.  We hope that Annika has enjoyed her time with us, and we know that the students have enjoyed having her in their classes this week.

Our focus for the Principals award this week is kindness – which is fitting as this Friday is World Kindness day.

Have a great week.

Kirsty Beavan

Principal

NAIDOC WEEK

As we celebrate NAIDOC WEEK this week we focus on the spirit of reconciliation in our prayers.

This year, the  NAIDOC theme is Always Was, Always Will Be, recognising that First Nations peoples have occupied and cared for this continent for over 65,000 years.

In the spirit of NAIDOC we pray the following blessing, which was written by Uncle Vince Ross.

May the God of creation warm your heart

like the campfires of old.

Bring wisdom and peace as shown

To the First Peoples of this land.

Shake off the dust from the desert plains

By the refreshing rains followed by

the glow and warmth of the sun.

Let the light of God show us the right path

and stand tall like the big river gums

drawing life from the ever flowing waters.

Amen

Please see the Parish News for information on Sacramental programs for 2021.

- Liz Murray

Religious Education Co-Ordinator

 

*  As it has been a busy year with the mowing and we have split the whole area into two sections, we have had to start again with roster.  We would like to thank our families for continuing to support our school looking maintained.

Please start looking for library books from week 7, students need to return all books.

Overdue notices will be sent home from week 8.

Thank you, Mrs Parker.

Parents dropping children off and picking them up will need to sanitise and sign the sign in sheet and keep to the 10min drop off timeframe.

If children or parents are feeling unwell we ask that you follow the COVID guidelines and do not attend the Orientation sessions.

Media leaders Gypsy & Matilda interviewed the Student Spotlight this week, what will we learn about our student at St Joseph's.

Panav - Kinder	Sam - Yr 3	Arthur - Yr 4
Tell us who’s in your family? Rick (Dad) and Aman (Mum). Tell us 5 words that describe you? Kind, smart, generous, handsome, responsible. What do you like to do on the weekends? I like to play games. What’s your favourite game to play at school?  I like to play shops. What do you want to be when you grow up?  I would like to work at a cafe.	Tell us who’s in your family? Ian (Dad), Donna (Mum), Jack (brother). Tell us 5 words that describe you? Handsome, athletic, tough, smart, funny. What do you like to do on the weekends? I like to ride my motorbike. What’s your favourite game to play at school?  I like to play jockey's. What do you want to be when you grow up?  I would like to be a farmer.	Tell us who’s in your family? Julian (Dad), Lucy (Mum), Eliza (sister), Fred & Barney (brothers). Tell us 5 words that describe you? Crazy, sporty, smart, competitive, happy. What do you like to do on the weekends? I like to farm and help Dad. What’s your favourite game to play at school?  I like to play cricket and footy. What do you want to be when you grow up?  I would like to be a farmer.

This week at St. Josephs we have been celebrating World Kindness Week (8-13th November) by creating a Kindness Tree.

At St. Josephs we believe acts of kindness should be encouraged.

Why Kindness?

Research tells us there are some important reasons why schools should incorporate kindness into their curriculum.

Here are a few:

1. Happy, caring children
2. Enhanced feelings of gratitude
3. Greater self esteem
4. Increased peer acceptance
5. Reduces bullying
6. Enhanced student and teacher wellbeing

Every Act of kindness helps our hearts and tree grow. May we all work together to create ripples of kindness within our school, our families and our communities.    

https://ripplekindness.org/

Many thanks to Gypsy for writing some lovely words to explain the Kindness tree:

Thanks to Mrs Turnbull and Mrs Clay with the help of Yr 2,3,4 class have made a kindness tree in health with Mrs Parker.

This term the whole school has been learning about personal power, for example how to stop bullying, and how to use your own power for a good thing.

Mrs Clay has made us aware that this week is kindness week, so the school has decided to award people with the opportunity to be on the tree that is represented in the hallway. So basically  once anybody sees, or does an act of kindness the teachers will write on an apple. Mrs Beavan writes on a bird and the students write on leaves, once written you pin the piece of paper to the tree.

The school is encouraging for students to bring one home so that the parents can write if they see an act of kindness protrude at home.

We as a school encourage the students to be kind all day every day.

Congratulations to our students who received awards in Week 4. 

Principal Awards: Matilda, Lochie & Alice.	Student of the Week Awards: Gypsy, Jack R, Jack C, Alice, Saanvi & Cody.

On Wednesday, Saanvi, Faith and Culley from Yr 3 and Annabelle from Yr 4 went to Gundagai for Trent Barrett to play with St Patrick’s at ANZAC Park. The girls from St Patrick’s showed exceptional sportsmanship and were a great model for our players. The girls lost all of their 5 games but they were proud of what they did. The opposing teams played well and were exceptionally good at playing league tag. They had lots of drink breaks and they had a recess break and a lunch break. At the end of the day, the girls were hot and tired. The boys were still playing their game, but they soon finished it. The girls had a fantastic day, and I’m sure they will want to do it again next year.

- Culley Reynolds

On Wednesday, 10 Yr 3 & 4 students Toby, Arthur, Jack, Nate, Preston, Riley, Lochie, Sam, Fred and Nicholas went down to Gundagai at Anzac park to play 5 games of Trent Barrett. Mrs. Beavan and Ms. Soulsby took them down! They won 4 of the 5 games they played. One of our players Sam did get hurt and had a trip in the Ambulance but we are pleased to say he is back at school today. They had great sportsmanship and played with great teamwork. Each game they congratulated the opposition for their great effort. 

- Toby Roots

St Joseph's paused for Remembrance Day with a service lead by the Yr 6 leaders in the school grounds and remembered the fallen soldiers and those who fought for our country. 

The next meeting is scheduled for this evening, Thursday 12 November at the S & C Club Adelong. 

6pm Executive Meeting followed by 

6:30pm General Community Council Meeting.

Confirmation: Please keep Archie, Eliza, Gypsy, Hugh, Marli and Matilda in your prayers as they prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Our last lesson will be held today after school. Father George is coming to speak with the candidates and help them prepare for this special Sacrament.

Confirmation will be held in St James Church Adelong, on Sunday 29^th November 2020, at 10.00am Mass.

Reconciliation and First Communion: A reminder that if you would like to enrol your child for the Sacrament of Reconciliation or First Communion in 2021 you need to complete an enrolment form by the end of term. Enrolment forms are available at the back of the Church.

Please contact me of you have any questions.

- Liz Murray

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