St Joseph’s School News

Term 4 Week 9 5 December 2017

Upcoming EventsThursday & Friday December 7 & 8Newhaven Year 7 Transition Days

Monday December 11Book Fair open for the week P&F Room

Tuesday December 12Newhaven Year 7 Orientation DayWSC Year 7 Orientation Day

Wednesday December 13P&F Dinner - Taberners 6.30pm

Thursday December 14School Concert Matinee - 12:00-1:00pmSchool Concert Evening - 6:30pm-7:30pm

Friday December 15SCHOOL RAFFLE DRAWN AT ASSEMBLY

Tuesday December 19Grade 6 GraduationOrientation Day New Students 2018 Grade 1/2 Open Afternoon

Wednesday December 20Final school assembly 2.50pmFINAL DAY OF SCHOOL 2017 2018

Tues 30 January & Wed 31 JanuaryStudent Diagnostic Testing Days

Thursday February 1ALL STUDENTS RETURN TO SCHOOL

Tuesday February 6Bass Coast Young Leaders Workshop

Wednesday February 7Prep Day Off

Friday February 9Whole School Mass - 9:15-10:15am

Monday February 12School Photo Day

Tuesday February 13Shrove Tuesday

Wednesday February 14Prep Day Off

Friday February 16P&F Meeting - 9:15am

Tuesday February 20Young Leaders Awards RACV - 5-7pm

Wednesday February 21Prep Day Off

Wednesday February 26Prep Day Off

Tuesday February 27District Swimming - 9.00am - 2.30pmCowes Primary School

Wednesday February 28Prep Day Off

Principal’s ReportDear Parents, Students, Staff and all associated with St Joseph’s CommunityOn Sunday we celebrated the First Sunday of Advent, and in doing so we moved into a new liturgical year. We give thanks for the blessings of the year just gone and begin with the joy of waiting and preparing for the coming of the Christ child.Advent is preparation time for the coming of Christ at Christmas, when we are invited to accept Christ, not only into the world, but into our personal lives. Too often our preparations are tied up getting the decorations ready, the presents, the food, the family’s social calendar. This year let us look at this in another way:Decorations - let us decorate ourselves with thoughts for those around us; what can I decorate another’s life with? What colour and light can I bring to others?Presents - let us be present to those around us. Can we give someone the gift of our presence- sometime doing something for them, or just taking time to talk rather than rushing off to buy something else?Food - have we prepared ourselves for the life giving eternal food of receiving Christ in the Eucharist this Christmas? This food has the cheapest cost we will expend – but the greatest nourishment!Social Calendar - in amongst the family dinners and parties have we set aside time to party with Christ? Will we be attending Mass during Advent to get ready for Christmas?Journeying with Christ is a life-long journey that leads to joy and peace. And so, in these weeks of Advent let us take this journey with Christ first, and worry about the consumerism second.

2018 Staffing

Our teachers are our greatest asset and they are trained professionals with a passion for education and improving student learning. Our 2018 teaching team is a blend of youth and experience including teachers at differing stages of their careers. In 2018 we welcome two new staff members, Belinda O’Brien and Andrew Christensen, to our team.

The 2018 teaching staff is as follows:Prep: Trish Martin and Belinda O’BrienYr 1/2: Tracy Allan, Kate Egan, Joel EvansYr 3/4: Toni Moser, Andrew Christensen and Susan HolmbergYr 5/6: Leigh Granger, Jenny Lawlor and Sarah KeatingDi Gin and Kylee Bertacco will be supplementary teachers for these classes while Ann Diviny, Anne Tschiderer, Rosemary Daniels and Michelle Richards will be providing specialist support.

God, help us to change. To change ourselves and to change

our world.

To know the need for it. To deal with the pain of it.

To feel the joy of it. To undertake the journey without

understanding the destination.

The art of gentle revolution.

Amen.

Prayer Presentation and Assembly Pictured are award winners presented at assembly November 24. 3/4L presented prayer.

Sophie Pothoff our crossing lady was acknowledged at assembly for her 20 years of service, receiving a huge bunch of flowers and a big thank you from our school community.

Our next assembly will be this Friday December 8. 3/4T will present prayer. At assembly Friday December 15 our School Raffle will be drawn and 3/4F will present prayer.

The final assembly for the year will be Wednesday December 20 at 2:50pm. Our Grade 6 Graduating students will perform their Graduation Song.

Parents and Grandparents are welcome to join us at Assembly each Friday afternoon in the school gym.

Junior News - 1/2FAdvent is in the air in the Grade 1/2T Classroom. We have changed our prayer table cloth to purple and added our Advent wreath.

Our Advent calendar will help us count down the days to Christmas. This week we will honour Mary the mother of Jesus and be reminded that nothing is impossible for God.

The students have been exploring differences between past generations and those of the present. The Grade 1/2 excursion to historical Coal Creek was a wonderful experience to step into the past, especially into a one hundred year old classroom setting.

We are also looking forward to showing our Past and Present Projects to family members on the afternoon of December 19. If you have any spare cardboard boxes and paper towel rolls we will gladly take them off your hands, to help students bring their design plans to life.

Prayer

2018 School Fees & Levies

Joanne Coldebella will be continuing as Deputy Principal while assisting Jenny Watts as our Learning Adjustment and Welfare Teacher.

Leaving St Joseph’s at the end of the year will be Renee Pilkington and Cate Kavanagh. Kylie Keogh will be on leave in 2018. We thank these teachers for the gifts and talents they have shared with us in their time at St Joseph’s and we acknowledge their significant contribution to the lives of our students and their families.

School Advisory Board

Over the last few months the School Advisory Board have come to together to work on our school’s constitution. The primary function of the Advisory Board is to improve the capacity of St Joseph’s as a Catholic school in order to deliver quality educational outcomes for its students. As an advisory forum to the Principal, it provides input on matters around educational, pastoral and financial matters as well as project development and facility management. The role of the School Board is very much one of support, stewardship and collective representation in working for the best interests of the school and its student body.

If you are interested in becoming part of our Advisory Board, further information and the process in the calling of nominations will be available at the beginning of next year.

Yours in Catholic Education

Ronan O’Mahony Principal

Quote for the Week

There are only two ways of spreading light - to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.

Edith Copeland

2018 School Fee and Levies were sent out last week. The payment arrangement and other applicable paperwork is to be returned to the school by Friday 15 December 2017.

REMINDER if you still have outstanding fees for 2017, please have these paid in full by the end of term - Wednesday 20 December.

It is not too late to contact the office immediately if you are facing financial difficulty and are going to be able to make payment in full.

Angela Bye - Finance

November 29 & 30 saw our Year 3/4 students travel to Phillip Island for an overnight camp at the Phillip Island Adventure Park.

For a short visit all students managed to fit in canoeing, archery, the flying fox and the giant swing. The weather was very hot so a dip in the pool was always a favourite.

Here are some student thoughts: Camp was really fun and great. Our activities were archery, the giant swing, the giant flying fox and canoeing. After our activities we all swam in the pool. Scarlett Jeager

This year at St Joseph’s Primary school we went to the Phillip Island Adventure Park. Personally I loved the giant swint. It went 18m into the air. Scarlett Seuren

Camp was great!! I really loved the food. My favourite activity was canoeing. Connor O’Mahony

The first activity we did in our group was the flying fox. It wasn’t very big but it was very long. Next was canoeing and my side of the boat tipped and I fell out! The next morning I rode the giant swing and finally archery.

I loved camp and send a big thank you to all the teachers. Holly Carr

Grade 3/4 - Phillip Island Adventure ParkIn the 5/6 area the Year 6 students have sent invitations to their families to attend Graduation and are preparing a dance for their Graduation Ceremony. The mass this year will be themed Our Shining Lights and will be held at 9:15am on the day.

The Grade 6 students are also busy with orientation at the high schools they will be attending and are looking forward to moving into Year 7.

Meeting up with their Prep buddies for 2018, the Grade 5s have been busy working on activities with them. We look forward to seeing them all here next year.

The have also been preparing for leadership roles in 2018. We have had a lot of guest speakers to talk to us about the important qualities of leadership.

Senior News - 5/6F

Mayor Pamela Rothfield visits St Joseph’s

On Monday November 27 the Year 5/6 students received a visit from Pamela Rothfield, our Mayor, to talk about Leadership. Talking about her journey and her experience as a mayor, she described her highs and lows during this time. Pamela shared lots of information about making mistakes and pointed out that no one is perfect, it’s how you learn from the mistakes that is important. Thank you Pamela Rothfield for for coming to our school and we wish all the Year 5s good luck with their 2018 leadership applications.

Coco and Amelia 5/6T

Parish NewsPARISH BREAKFAST: Our next Parish Breakfast is Saturday the 9th Dec at the Hicksborough Store. Come for breakfast or just a cuppa and chat from 9am onwards.

CATHOLIC WOMENS LEAGUE INVERLOCH: The next will be our final meeting for the year on Monday 4th Dec at 10.30am in the Annex. There will be a special “Christmas Cuppa” after 9.00am Mass today as we are celebrating the beginning of Advent. New Parishioners especially welcome.

JOSEPHITE ASSOCIATES; Will celebrate Mass at Our Lady Star of the Sea Tuesday 5th December, 2017 at 11 a.m. followed by Luncheon at The Esplanade Hotel, Inverloch.

CALENDARS: Columbian Calendars for 2018 are now available at the Piety Stall $7.00 each.

CHRISTMAS CAROLS; In the Domain at Inverloch on Friday 15th December, 2017. Family activities commence at 6pm, Carols at 7:30p.m. At Apex Park, Wonthaggi on Sunday 17th December, 2017, Family activities 6p.m. Followed by Carols at 7:30 p.m.

ST JOSEPH’S WONTHAGGI BINGO: Every Monday Sales 7pm. Start: 8pm Venue: St. Joseph’s Parish Centre

Parish Priest: Fr Manny Lomagno - 5672 2923 . Parish Secretary: Marion Wishart - 5672 1111

WEEKEND MASS TIMETABLE Wonthaggi : Saturday Evening - 6.30pm & Sunday Morning 10.30am

Inverloch: Sunday Morning 9.00am

Music Lessons will be continuing next year. Anyone interested please

contact Leigh Owens on lowens@smartchat.net.au.

MUSIC LESSONS WITH LEIGH OWENS

TOTALLY WORKWEAR ARE OUR NEW SCHOOL UNIFORM SUPPLIER. FOR ALL PURCHASES AND ENQUIRIES CALL - 5672 5878

December 15 will be the FINAL DAY of CANTEEN for 2018

Please call Leonie Marotta if you are available to help

0407 341 2701.00pm - 1.30pm

ThursdayDecember 7

L Marotta

FridayDecember 8

M BoichA Wallace

ThursdayDecember 14

L Marotta

FridayDecember 15

N JeagerHELP NEEDED

CANTEEN 2017

KERNOT CHRISTMAS PARTY KERNOT HALL

SUNDAY 10th DECEMBER 10.30am – 2:00pm

Jumping castle, face painting, balloon twister, fairy floss, popcorn, kids activities and Santa.

Santa arriving approx. 1.00pm BYO food for BBQ/Picnic & plate to share for afternoon tea

$10 per family Please bring a present up to the value of $20 clearly labelled with the child’s name

and place this discretely in the Santa sacks located in the kitchen

Enquires Ph: Mark Rowe - 0402862006 Or Julie Johnston - 5678 8555

TERM 4 FINISH DATE WEDNESDAY

DECEMBER 20

December 11 - 15Here at St Joseph’s

If you are able to spare half an hour or an hour of your time to

help us sell tickets in our School Raffle it would be

greatly appreciated.We are selling at Ritchies on

Thursdays December 7, Friday December 8 and Saturday December 9.

Please contact the school office if you are able to assist.

St Joseph’s School Raffle

Wonthaggi Community Carols by CandelightSunday December 17

Wishart Reserve

Keep in touch with us these holidays through FaceBook

St Josephs School Wonthaggi

https://www.facebook.com/St-Josephs-School-Wonthaggi-165275233852668/

Parents of children with Down syndrome aged birth – 18 years Are you interested in meeting another parent who has a child with down syndrome? Would you like to be involved in a small group of parents who get together to share stories and learn from each other? Would you like information on a topic of interest to families of chil-dren with down syndrome?

Join us for a picnic / bbq in the park at Newman Park Peterkin Street Traralgon from 11am on Thursday December 14th. Bring the whole family. Bring

your own food & drinks. Parent To Parent Gippsland provides support and information to families in the

Gippsland region.

If you are interested contact the Co-ordinator Yvonne Waite on 1800 010 453 or mobile 0430 209 641

yvonne.waite@noahsarkinc.org.au