Assistant Principal's Message

Dear Parents, Carers and the St Joseph’s Community,

With the closing of the Winter, help us to reflect on the places in our hearts where we have hunkered down, where we have closed ourselves to the bitterness around us. May we let go of the biting comments of the past, so they not fester in our minds. May we make room for the coming Spring, and for the seeds of the spirit –that are striving to bud. Bring us to your living water, may we drink in your possibility. The seasons remind us that all things are temporary. All pains have a way of passing, with new joys only a grasping hand away. Let us not fixate on what is past, rather, making it ever and always in our present. Teach us to learn what is to be learned, mourn for what is gone, to live brightly and sharply from those lessons and craft new stories for our lives.

Amen

COVID-19 New Protocols

On Monday, we shared via SZapp our updated COVID-19 Protocols. These updates follow recent changes to NSW schools’ safety guidelines and the adoption of these same guidelines by Catholic Education Canberra Goulburn.

End of Term 3 COVID-19 Safety Protocols

We ask that all members of the school community carefully read the protocols and adhere to the expectations in order to help keep everyone safe and healthy through a ‘risk averse’ approach.

Father’s Day Celebration

In line with our updated COVID-19 protocols, we are disappointed to inform you that we are unable to hold a Father’s Day Breakfast this year. Although we are unable to host all of our amazing father’s at school, we thought you could join us in an alternative way. As such, we invite all students to come to school next Friday (4 September) dressed up as their father or a significant male in their lives. We will also be holding a Zoom prayer celebration and invite all of our community to join us to celebrate the many gifts our fathers and significant males bring to our lives. A zoom invitation will be sent out next week.

Spotlight on Learning

Last week for Science Week, 4 Gold spent time during Literacy writing about oceans. They used a writing process called Power Writing where students are encouraged to use rich language. The below piece of writing by Addison is a fantastic example of how figurative language was used to describe ocean pollution. Great work Addison!

Power Writing

Social and Emotional Learning

Continuing with our work on emotional intelligence, my next focus in classrooms will be on empathy. An important aspect of emotional intelligence is noticing, understanding and influencing the emotions of others. By using the metaphor of the ‘bucket and dipper’, I will provide students with concrete skills in perspective-taking and thinking things through from different points of view. The ‘bucket and dipper’ theory states that each of us has an invisible bucket. This bucket is constantly emptied or filled, depending on how we treat others and how they treat us. We also have an invisible dipper that we use to fill or empty other people's buckets.

The simple question, ‘How full is their bucket right now?’ prompts students to step into the mindset of others and think about how other people may be feeling in the moment. Through nurturing empathy, students build their capacity to form strong attachments, supporting their healing, growth and learning.

Stanger Danger - A request from ACT Policing

This is a reminder to help our children understand the importance of stranger safety and the need to report any unusual incidents or approaches to staff immediately.
If you become aware of an incident or notice anyone acting suspiciously around a school or child, contact police immediately on 131 444. In the case of an emergency, call 000. If you witness an incident or if you have any information that could assist police, you can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Information can be provided anonymously. Please support us to keep our children safe by having conversations with your child about moving safely around the community and what to do if they ever feel unsafe. You may wish to visit the Australian Federal Police website that contains child safety information. In addition, Safety4Kids is a
non-government website that has useful information and links. The Constable Kenny website also has a number of child safety tips for parents.

Building Progress

Our building project continues to take shape. We are now finalising carpet and the location of LCD screens and whiteboard, as well as furniture considerations. As the rain has definitely impacted the completion date of the new classrooms, we are hopeful to have Year 1 and Year 2 in and making the most of the new spaces by mid-Term 4.

I hope you have an enjoyable end to the week!

Yours in Christ,

Amy Doszpot

Assistant Principal

amy.doszpot@cg.catholic.edu.au