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

Loving God, help us to teach our children that you love us totally and unconditionally.

Help us to encourage our children to grow in love and to learn how to say sorry,

knowing that you always forgive.

Give us the courage to pray with our children

and to share our faith with them as we journey together.

Amen

This evening many of our Year 3 students will be celebrating the Sacrament of First Reconciliation. Reconciliation (officially called the Sacrament of Penance, and also known as Confession) is an experience of the gift of God's boundless love. As described by St Augustine in the 5^th century, a Sacrament is ‘an outward and visible sign of an inward and invisible grace.’ Through Reconciliation, not only are we freed from our sins, but we are also challenged to have the same kind of compassion and forgiveness for those who sin against us.  We are liberated to be forgivers. Please keep these students and their families in your prayers this evening.

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

(John 20:21-21)

Learning Journeys

Next Tuesday, 16 March, we will be holding Learning Journeys between 9am – 10am and 2pm and 3pm. The purpose of a Learning Journey is for students and parents/visitors to engage in conversation about the learning process. Students will walk their visitor/s around the learning space, looking at displays in the classrooms and discussing what the whole class learning is about. Students will also share their individual learnings. We encourage our visitors to engage in conversation with the student by talking about their work samples, allowing students to explain the task, their learning, challenges they may have faced and what aspect they enjoyed the most.

Please note that although the classrooms will be open for hour-long sessions, the intent is not that you stay the whole hour, rather, that you pop in for a brief period as we are still conscious of numbers within the school. So please feel free to pop in anytime between 9am – 10am or 2pm and 3pm that suits you.

This is an exciting opportunity for the students and we hope to see many of you next week.

Social and Emotional Learning

Square Breathing: This exercise can be used to relieve stress or anxiety. They key to square breathing is to focus on taking slow breaths that expand the diaphragm.

In a seated position with hands relaxed in laps, begin by breathing in through the nose for a count of four, then holding the breath for a count of four. Breathe out through the nose for the count of four and then hold for a count of four. Repeat this process.

Whilst breathing, visualise the square – each breath and each pause is a side of the square.

Younger children might like to trace their finger on a table in the shape of a square while they are breathing, or slowly walk in a large square.

Church Carpark

The Church carpark is very busy in the afternoons and of late we have had some close calls with students running in front of cars. If you park in this carpark at the end of the day, we ask that you ensure your child is closely supervised at all times.  

P&F

Last night the P&F met again to discuss and plan for the year ahead. While there is always lots of energy and ideas, the P&F is open to everyone and welcomes input from the community. Please keep an eye out for the next meeting in Week 2 next term. 

A key priority for the P&F, particularly after the last twelve months, is to find ways to have the community come together and also to raise funds that go directly back into the school. This year the focus for fundraising is likely to centre on improving the outside of our school, now that the inside looks so great. This may include things such as improvements to the courtyard space, providing some seating on the edges of the oval and contrinuting to the playground upgrade master plan. 

Our P&F relies on the efforts of all, but also the commitment of a few. We are still looking for volunteers in the canteen and also the Uniform Shop. If you are able to get more involved, please speak to someone on the P&F or contact the school.

I hope you have an enjoyable end to the week.