Dear Parents, Carers, Staff, Students and the wider St. Joseph’s Primary School Community, welcome back to the new school term; Term 4, 2020.

It goes without saying this Covid-19 experience has been significant, and in many cases very worrisome. However, we should all feel confident, and have a renewed sense of hope as Victoria’s cases lower. Areas are opening back up, activity options improving and more business activity evident.  Something we all appreciate too is the beautiful natural environment we live in here in the south west of Victoria. Patience, care and gentleness will be critical for each of us as we move into the future.

A personal experience over the break

As we all re-adjust back into a more normal school routine I share the following experience I had over the break. I caught up with many friends, family and colleagues for my 60th birthday, which was a very special ‘Zoom’ on-line experience. (I must admit it was an easy way to host a family for a birthday celebration, via zoom for 2 hours and no house to tidy up afterwards!)

I was given a book for my birthday and have been reading it over the break. The book’s title is ‘The Happiest Man on Earth’, an autobiography by Eddie Jaku. Eddie, who is a Holocaust survivor. When I first read the jacket cover I was worried it would be a very dark read of human tragedy, loss but hopefully survival. Essentially this was true but the catch for me was that Eddie just turned 100 this year and lives, and still works, as a volunteer at a Jewish museum in Sydney.

In the book Eddie tells how he found gratitude, kindness and hope in the darkest of places. He spent a great deal of time in Buchenwald and Auschwitz concentration camps until he was rescued by Allied soldiers. Eddie married after the war to Flore and moved to Australia in 1950. Eddie and Flore have been married for 75 years and they have 2 sons, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. As I said earlier Eddie turned 100 this year and recently completed a TED talk.

On the back of the book jacket cover he has a very simple but very powerful key quote;: “Life can be beautiful if you make it beautiful. It is up to you.” I encountered many other insights after reading Eddie’s amazing story and I share a couple of Eddie’s thoughts for your reflection. Sometimes there are uncomfortable truths in these real life stories but I enjoy learning about different perspectives, talking and debating different views with people; especially my family.

“Don’t walk behind me, I may not lead. Don’t walk in front of me, I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.”

“They were scared. They were weak. And their weakness allowed them to be manipulated into hatred.”

“Tomorrow will come if you survive today. One step at a time.”

Important School Curriculum Updates

• Student Grouping for 2021

With this newsletter is correspondence regarding this important preparation for grouping our students into classrooms in 2021. The letter outlines our policy and procedures. With the home schooling experience this year this information will also inform our decision making. If you would like to add your specific educational thoughts to the process there is a non-compulsory, private form; the ‘Green Form’ available from the office to collect and complete.

• School Swimming Program

Typically for the St. Joseph's program there are lessons at Aquazone for Foundation to Grade 4 and a beach and waterways safety experience in Grades 5 and 6. The swim lessons (Foundation to 4) have been cancelled due the COVID rules for schools and after receiving advice regarding community venues. The indoor pool is still closed and Aquazone have advised that they have closed the changing rooms. Our school decision has been to cancel for 2020 the swim lessons element, Foundation to Grade 4.  Families will be refunded the levies paid but we are very keen to keep the outdoor element of the program for Grades 5 and 6 if possible. The feasibility of this program will depend on bus availability and final covid-19 advice. Program planning is underway with final advice to be shared with families and students closer to the dates of the program running.

Prayer of Support

To encourage a personal faith reflection and connection to the wider Church community I have added a prayer shared by Catholic Education Ballarat recently.

The prayer is titled: Your loving care

Lord Jesus,

when you walked with us on earth you spread your healing power.

We place in your loving care all who are affected by Coronavirus.

Keep us strong in faith, hope and love.

Bring relief to our sick, console our bereaved, protect those who care for us.

We lift our prayer to you Lord, and trust in your infinite mercy, as we wait for each day.

St. Joseph:  Pray for us. May the spirit of Catherine McAuley guide us in all we do this week.  Amen.”

A perspective to these times from Pope Francis

“Once this health crisis passes, our worst response would be to plunge even more deeply into feverish consumerism and new forms of egotistic self-preservation,” Francis writes in the opening chapter of his recent encyclical, which addresses the “dark clouds” the Pope says he sees hanging over the world.

Among the things the Pope puts up for discussion are: trickle down economics, the world’s unfair distribution of wealth, continued use of the just war theory and the death penalty, and popularist leaders who appeal to people’s “basest and most selfish inclinations.”

Conclusion

Much for us all to consider! On a more localised note I share several photographs of our creek flooding over the break with the new footbridge holding up well, and I had a great day umpiring football last term, no ‘Razor Ray’ but the players were very forgiving.

Creek Flooding

Football Umpiring

Regards,