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Dear parents and carers,
Last week I was incredibly fortunate to spend some time in Spain with my beautiful wife, Janelle. We travelled to Madrid, enjoying the old cobbled streets and piazzas, surrounded by amazing buildings and history that dates back to before Christ. We spent a day in Segovia, where the aqueduct built by the Romans in the first century AD still stands, and was in use until the 1970s! A highlight of the trip for me was visiting Catedral Primada Santa María de Toledo, otherwise known as the Catherdal of Saint Mary of Toledo. It was awe inspiring to spend time in this immense cathedral, reflecting on the lasting presence of our Catholic faith around the world. Thank you to all the staff who kept the school going, while I had this wonderful experience.
Staffing
As communicated earlier in the week, Melanie Stratford has been appointed as Religious Education Coordinator at St Monica’s Evatt from the start of 2024. Melanie continues to foster a wonderful faith life across our school and is a dedicated and passionate classroom teacher. We will certainly recognise her contribution here at St Joseph’s, towards the end of this year.
More immediately though, is the announcement today that Amy Doszpot has been appointed as Assistant Principal at St Bede’s Braidwood, from the start of Term 4. This appointment, while very quick, is a wonderful opportunity for Amy as she prepares to relocate to the coast in 2024, at the same time continuing to provide great leadership and capacity in a new school community. We will farewell Amy this Friday as a school, so please feel free to join us for Morning Gathering. I take this opportunity to thank Amy for her tireless efforts and support over the past 5 years. She has made a lasting impact in our school community and will be missed. Good luck Amy as you start a new journey.
This time of year always brings about change within a school, and while it is sad to see wonderful staff members leave our school, it is pleasing to know that they are moving onto exciting opportunities in other schools. Moving forward, an Acting Assistant Principal for Term 4 will be appointed from within our current staff, with the substantive Religious Education Coordinator and Assistant Principal positions advertised and appointed for the start of 2024.
Musical
Things are starting to come toegther for our upcoming musical, Peter Pan. Over recent months, our lead cast members have been learning their lines and rehearsing with Mrs Fletcher. It is all sounding great. Today the staff have spent the afternoon preparing some of the backdrops and planning the production… still lots to do! As we move closer to the opening perfomance, please keep an eye out for information from the clasroom teachers about items for costumes and also the opportunity to purchase tickets. There will be a matinee and evening performance on both Tuesday 24 and Wednesday 25 October.Below is information that Catholic Principals have been asked to share with communities, inviting participation in an online survey.
NEEDS OF LAY CATHOLICS TODAY
What do adult lay Catholics need today to help them live a committed Catholic life amid the circumstances of modern society? To find out and to help improve their services to our Archdiocese, the Canberra Circle of The Catenians, an international association of lay Catholics, is conducting an Archdiocesan-wide online survey.
Please help by completing this brief, anonymous, tick-box survey via this URL. Thank you. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CLTZGMW
Contact: Phil Murray, President, Canberra Catenians 0419 695 927 or phil13murray@gmail.com
New Bus Timetable
Below is the Term 4 bus timetable for Route 51 that services St Joseph’s Primary School.
End of term
Thank you to all the students for their efforts this term. Today we had guests from the Parramatta Diocese who visited classrooms to see the wonderful teaching and learning that is taking place. I could not be more proud of our students and teachers, with our guests commenting on the energy that is in the classrooms and the focus on learning that is evident.
I hope you all have an opportunity to have a break from the busy routines of school in the coming weeks. I look forward to seeing all the students on Monday 9 October, the first day of Term 4.
Have a great end to the week.
Yours in Christ,
Cameron Tarrant
Week 3 next term is a busy one with our musical and week finishing with our Grandparents and Special Friends Day on Friday 27 October. While family are in town for our magical musical, why not stay the extra few days and come to our Grandparents and Special Friends Day Prayer Celebration led by Foundation in the Hall at 9.15am, open classrooms and Devonshire Morning Tea afterwards.
Save the Date St Joseph’s Parish Golden Jubilee
Saturday 28 October from 10am
On 28 October, 2023, St Joseph’s Parish, O’Connor will celebrate its Golden Jubilee. Either Archbishop Christopher Prowse or Rev. Fr. Richard Thompson (Vicar-General) will grace the event with a Eucharistic celebration at 10am. This “Multicultural Day” is a day of celebration with programs and performances as well as showcasing of food from different cultures and religious groups. Everybody is welcome. Let’s bring our families and friends as we reminisce the history of our beloved Parish and enjoy our friendship. Please get in touch with the parish office if you would like to be involved - oconnor@cg.org.au.
Baptisms
We have had a number of enquiries about children seeking to be Baptised. At St Joseph’s Parish we celebrate Baptisms for children and infants on the first and third Saturday of every month. Attendance at one family preparation session prior to the Baptism is an important part of this formation.
Preparation Sessions Occur:
1st Wednesday of every month - 5pm – St Joseph’s Parish Centre
3rd Wednesday of every month – 1pm – St Joseph’s Parish Centre
Baptism Celebrations (multiple families) Occur:
1st & 3rd Saturday of every month - 11am – St Joseph’s Church
To enrol in the baptism sacramental program please email oconnor@cg.org.au with your preferred preparation session time. Once your preparation session is confirmed, Father Anthony will guide you through the rest of the process.
Social Action and Justice
Well done St Joseph’s, we more than achieved our goal of creating 50 Dignity Packs to donate to St Vincent de Paul. Last Week Teah from the Vinnie’s Youth team came to collect them. Teah has let us know she delivered them to Sean from Night Patrol last week and he advised that the donations will be helping a variety of services including, the Night Patrol Van, Street to Home and Conference.
Yours in Christ,
Melanie Stratford
Religious Education Coordinator
Sustainability in Action
Last Friday, Year 5 was lucky to enjoy a presentation from Elle Lawless, Director of The Conservation Council. Following a unit on local endangered animals in the ACT, students asked great questions about how we can help to save our local flora and fauna, like The Earless Dragon and The Golden Sun Moth. If your child is in Year 5, be sure to ask about it!
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If your child is in Year 2, don’t forget to bring a veggie tomorrow for our kitchen garden session. Capsicum, cucumber, carrots and tomatoes are all salad faves!
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"Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food." - Hippocrates.
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Ryan McGee
Sustainability Coordinator
This term it has been overwhelmingly busy in the library, with Book Week and the Book Fair. I would like to thank all the parents and carers out there who have supported the children's learning through both of these events.
The Scholastic Book Fair and Book club have raised a total of $6806, with 20% going back into the library for purchasing new books.
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Overdue books
Overdue notices for all students have been sent out this week. Could all books please be returned ASAP (even if it is not your library day.) If you have any questions or queries please email me at georgina.jaram@cg.catholic.edu.au
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Georgina Jaram
Hi parents,
The kids are doing such an amazing job with sorting their lunch order bags in to the relevant bins for recycling. Due to the amount of brown lunch bags we are collecting, the shredder we were donated cannot keep up with the demand. So another call out for a second shredder would be amazing.
Also a friendly reminder when ordering lunches can you please order from the correct Menu on Qkr!. This will ensure the kids get their lunch orders on time and in the correct classes.
Foundation - Year 6 order from 1st Break Menu
ELC order from ELC Wednesday Menu
The Menus are different portion sizes and delivered at different times.
As always looking to see new faces next term, over the holidays the to do roster will be updated to reflect what is needed next term.
Thanks,
Julie-Anne
Congratulations to the Week 10 award recipients.
|
Foundation Red |
Zaria R Brianna T |
Foundation White |
Chris A Finlay M |
|
1 Purple |
Archie A Parker N |
1 Teal |
Ryder M Freddie D |
|
2 Magenta |
Max B Diya H George P |
2 Yellow |
Lola O Donald M Dominic O-H |
|
3 Black |
Samuel N Rinisha G |
3 Navy |
Samphel N Addison F |
|
4 Gold |
Toby S Owen H Emma P |
4 Green |
Phoebe G Jeremy P |
|
5 Blue |
Sophia A Ted V-F Dylan M |
5 Orange |
Keone S Leah F-C |
|
6 Lime |
Oscar H Nova S |
6 Silver |
Scarlett P Mitchell P Emilia R |
Happy birthday to these students who celebrated their birthday this week, and over the school holidays:
| Nova S |
| Isaac K |
| Bailey S |
| Cooper D |
| Atem M |
| Antonino R |
| Jasmeen S-J |
| Amarieah D |
| Patrick M |
| Toby S |
| Mereani T |
