Lent:  The staff and students have commenced their Lenten journey this week, celebrating Shrove Tuesday with the traditional pancakes, and joining the Parish community for Mass on Ash Wednesday. On Ash Wednesday Father George placed a cross made from ashes on our foreheads. The cross reminds us to repent, to think about our actions and to be more like Jesus as we enter the season of Lent. The ashes, which are mixed with holy water or olive oil, are made by burning palm leaves from Palm Sunday the previous year. The ashes are a physical sign that Lent has begun, and that it is time to reflect on how we can prepare ourselves spiritually for Easter.

During Lent we focus on fasting, almsgiving, (giving to those less fortunate than ourselves), and prayer. Traditionally Catholics have ‘given up’ something – in particular food they enjoy such as chocolate or coffee for the 40 days of Lent. While fasting is still a focus of Lent, another goal is to ‘take up’ something, such as doing extra acts of charity or engaging in prayer. These are not just external acts, but reflected as changes in the heart. Lent is a time of self -discipline, generous concern for those in need, and prayerful reflection as we prepare for the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Sunday Mass:  If any families are able to come to Sunday Mass, please contact Mrs Beavan as the school is rostered on for reading and cleaning this weekend. Any children that would like to be trained as Altar Servers please contact Mrs Murray, as Father Namora is happy to complete some training to prepare the children. To be eligible for serving the children need to have received the sacrament of Communion.

Thank you to all the families for coming to celebrate our Opening School Mass today. It was wonderful to share this special time with you. Congratulations to our Year 6 Leaders who are already showing their commitment to leadership in our school and leading us beautifully today. It was delightful to see Mason and the Kindergarten children standing confidently to receive their ‘Welcome’ certificates. Father George complimented the children on their reverent participation during Mass and for their wonderful singing and reading skills. He loves coming to celebrate Mass in Adelong and joining our supportive parent and parish community. We look forward to a wonderful year ahead with all the students at St Joseph’s as we live out the Gospel message from today’s Mass: ‘Love one another, as I have loved you’.

Liz Murray

REC Co-ordinator

The 4/5/6 class have settled back into the routine of school really well. In Religion, they have been exploring what makes a good leader and completed a “Diamond 9” activity to discuss and place in order of importance the qualities of a good leader.

For a bit of fun before swimming on Fridays, students have been teaching each other card games, such as “Uno” and “Spit”.

Year 6 received their new t-shirts that they designed themselves, and don’t they look fantastic!

This week on Monday, 9 swimmers went to West Wyalong for the Western Region swimming  competition.

Tom Roche, Charles MacDougall, Henry Roche, Toby Roots, Lochie Roots,Arthur Roche, Fred Roche, Nicholas Campbell, Culley Reynolds were all participants on the day.

Charlie, Tom, Toby, and Arthur were in the smalls schools relay team. They placed first and they go straight to the MacKillop trials in Sydney.

Also Tom, Charlie and Nicholas made it to Narooma to swim at Archdiocesan level. Tom made it in freestyle and breaststroke, Charlie made it in breaststroke and Nicholas made it in breaststroke. 

All of the swimmers would like to thank all of the parents for driving to West Wyalong swimming competition.  

- Harry & Tom

Library days his term are:

Tuesday - Yr 2/3

Wednesday - Yr 4/5/6

Thursday - K/1

Please ensure your child brings their library bag to protect the books.

Thank you,

Cath Parker - Librarian

The Community Council wishes to thank all the St. Joseph’s families who baked delicious goodies, chopped coleslaw, cooked the bbq and generously donated their time for the Yavenvale Bull Sale. Your amazing efforts are greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Meet & Greet Evening

The aim of the night was to encourage parents to come along, learn about the role of the community council and meet current members, with the hope of more parents becoming involved.

It would be wonderful to have more parents involved with the community council meetings and fundraising activities, which all contribute to the growth of our school community.

The community council provides the opportunity for members of our school and parish to support the catholic education in our school. The community council also has a decision-making role in certain policy areas and an advisory role in other areas. The council works with Mrs Beavan, our principal, the parish priest or representative and school staff, to provide leadership in our school community.

Areas that the community council makes decisions in include

• Supporting the catholic identity, ethos and mission in the school
• Supporting pastoral care
• Promoting the school in our local community
• Assisting with school maintenance and capital development
• School uniform
• Provide input on parent priorities
• Raise funds for school resources
• Provide opportunities for social interactions

Areas that the community council can provide advice in are

• Curriculum
• Educational policies
• Student welfare policies
• Parent support processes

The members of the community council include

• The principal, Mrs Beavan
• Parish Priest or Parish Representative, Julian Roche
• Staff representative, Miss Braun
• Chair, Jenna Roots
• Deputy Chair, Frank Corbett
• Secretary, Lauren Roche
• Treasurer, Jess Reynolds

Members are elected for a 2 year term, may hold the same position for 2 consecutive terms, and can be an executive member for 3 consecutive terms.

Community council meets at least once per term. We are looking at holding a meeting in the coming weeks. 

In the past, fundraising activities have included street stalls, catering for various activities, raffles throughout the year, golf days, movies by moonlight, just to name a few. We are currently looking at street stall dates for this year, and the possibility of participating in Adelong Winter Bites Festival.

If you have any wonderful or exciting fundraising ideas, the community council would love to hear your plan and assist you in bring it to life.

The community council is very conscious on our family’s time and resources, many hands make light work and it would be truly wonderful to have more family involvement to support the growth of our wonderful school.

An absence note is a legal requirement, any student who is absent from school is required to have their absence explained. 

At St Joseph's absence notes are available via the website, you can email the school office email, phoning the school and via our SZapp.  We ask that if you do choose to phone the school, please ask the staff member taking your call to fill out an absence note on your behalf.

It is very important that an absence is explained, if after 7 days a note has not been received by your classroom teacher, your child will be marked with an unexplained absence. 

If you have a Working with Children Check number we ask that you check it's expiry date.  Please send in a copy of your Working with Children Check if you have recently aquired a number of have renewed it.  We thank you for your assistance in this matter.

Every student in Canberra/Goulburn Archdiocese schools signs an acceptable use agreement in order to use technology in their school.  The student agreement is for children in Kindergarten to Year Six. 

A reminder to return your child/ren's Computer Facilities and Network policy.

"As part of the pastoral care program for students, St Joseph's have access to a Student and Family Counselling service provided by CatholicCare Canberra & Goulburn (CCG). CCG are contracted to St Joseph's to provide a counselling service to students and their families. There is no fee to access this service.

The role of the counsellor is to focus on the emotional, social and educational well-being of the students. Counsellors welcome contact with students having difficulty with some part of their life, whether or not it affects their school work. The problem does not have to be a big one. It is better to seek help sooner than later. Some typical concerns that counsellors work with include: anger, anxiety, behavioural problems, depression, eating problems, family breakdown and family conflict, grief and loss, learning and educational challenges, parenting challenges, peer and other social relationships, school avoidance, stress and study skills. As well as individual sessions with students, counsellors can run groups, do family work, consult with parents and teachers and make referrals to other services and supports. 

If the Counsellor believes the support for the student is beyond their scope of expertise, they will suggest referrals for specialist services. Counsellors also do not provide cognitive or learning assessments or court reports. Families requiring these will be referred to another service. 

Student and Family Counsellors subscribe to a set of professional ethics that include duty of care and respect for the individual rights to privacy and confidentiality. The counsellors’ obligation is to ensure the safety, wellbeing and confidentiality of the student they are working with. All counsellors are mandated to report any disclosure or sign of abuse (including self-harm) or neglect to Child Protection Services. Outside of our mandated requirements, all counselling sessions are confidential and the details will not be discussed with other parties unless written consent is given by the client.

2021 has seen some changes to the school counselling service. The biggest change relates to consent and permission. Parent consent is now required for all students under 14 years of age, consent will be sought and provided via email. The other major change is how to make an appointment. Referrals and requests can be made by completing the online referral form accessed via https://catholiccare.force.com/housing/s/school-referral-form"

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