This new school week marks the fifth week of the school term and the start of our Christian Lenten season. “It is said that it’s better to travel hopefully than to arrive” (Quote Breaking Open the Word). One element of truth that underlies this saying is that the normal nature of life is that we are continually on the move, that there is always another stage of the journey to be undertaken. It could be travelling for sport, visiting family, holiday breaks, moving house, changing jobs or beginning a new role.

The beauty of our Covid experience last year, and as recently as last week, it taught us the beauty of not always having to move. Stillness, being in the moment with family and the importance of the “here and now”; this pause and focus can renew us and help us to make the really important journeys of life!

The gospel reading on Sunday took us back to the first book of the bible, Genesis and a journey story we all know well, that of Noah and his trip of 40 days in the Ark. Some the key massages I draw from this bible story are:

The importance of thinking of everyone when we start on the journey of a new school year. (Noah was encouraged to have 2 of every animal!)

Noah trusted God’s advice (As adults involved in the growth and development of young people it is important that we listen to each other with empathy and understanding. Teachers can help provide clarity to learning and behaviour, parents bring insight and understanding of their child as a leaner and students bring commitment, endeavor and sometimes worry. (Noah had to trust God's commitment to the covenant, that is that the Ark would lead the travellers to the safety and new life that the dry land promised).

The Lenten journey is a trip of the heart; our faith invites us to do something for each other (Alms Giving) and make a personal sacrifice to achieve the goal of self-discipline. Building self-discipline adds to our resilience and ability to move through difficulties to achieve a goal. (Self-denial). The third element of the Lenten journey is prayer. A primary purpose of prayer, with young people, is to connect with a loving and caring God. To also help young people know they can support family, friends and community by thinking about others and sharing their thoughts via a prayer. Prayer is not specifically about “changing the circumstances” but rather accepting that we can connect with people, places and situations. The Lenten journey is well summed up by the Saint, and past Bishop, Oscar Romero, he said; “Aspire not to have more but to be more”.

Around School Updates

Grounds Work. A big thanks to our facility team (and generous lend by the Owen family) of farming equipment to ensure our ovals are in top condition for the school sports and lunch time play.

A great deal of thanks to Jo Barfus McCoy who has been able to start up the Grade 2 Cooking/Gardening Experience. Last week pizzas! The week before wonderful muffins!

Over the break, and throughtout the start to school year our ICT Team have been working on the introduction of the google chrome books to Grade 4 students and roll out to Grade 5 students for 2021. Devices are nearly ready to go and user contacts will be a formal aspect of the user experience.

Assembly Update. This program had to be cancelled in 2020 to comply to Covid rules. Staff and School Leadership have taken the opportunity to review the program. A Covid safe arrangement will operate for 2021. Once finalised this will be shared with the community. The program will still be held on Friday afternoons with a class roster program and program schedule being developed.

Secondary School Year 7 Experience. Grade 6 students will have an excursion experience visiting a Year 7 setting as part of building their personal understanding of secondary schooling. The setting will be Emmanuel College over a morning and will be held on Tuesday 9th of March, 2021. Further information will be shared at the Grade level.

Our 2021 Fun and Fundraising Campaign. “St Joseph’s Day Fun Run” was launched last Friday. This special event will replace the normal school fair as an opportunity for a community event in this post Covid reality. The event will be held at St. Joseph’s on Friday 26th March, St. Joseph’s Day. This will be an opportunity to celebrate our School Patron Saint (St. Joseph the Worker), enjoy a community fun day and raise funds to pay for the recent upgrade to our new hall projector, larger screen and PS lesson activity divider. The mascot of the day is “Chase” the very fast cheetah! Chase will visit classrooms to support the effort to create a great fun day for all.

Parent Teacher Interviews, this week. To help start the year with a clear understanding of student needs at St. Joseph’s we conduct 10 minute parent teacher interviews with all parents and guardians starting this week.

Interview topics include family sharing information, staff updates on student progress thus far and teachers sharing an overview of your child’s work in the literacy/numeracy interview program. We have asked teachers to keep a strict eye on the 10 minute program to ensure equity for all families. If your child is engaged with a Special Education Individual Learning Plan (ILP’s) the program support meetings (PSG’s) will again commence in Term 1.

A Covid safe environment will be in place; including mask wearing at all times, social distancing and application of hand sanitizers. All families must enter the building from the school front office foyer, register via the QR code and only attend the classroom of your child/dren. Waiting seats will be at classrooms for parents/guardians. Extra cleaning of areas will also occur. Once the meeting has concluded please sign out via the school office.