6 September 2023
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Dear Parents & Guardians
This week is a big week with parent/teacher interviews scheduled before and after school each day. Please ensure, if for whatever reason you are unable to make your scheduled interview time, you contact your classroom teachers so that they are not waiting around needlessly.
For those who are able to make their interview times, this is a great opportunity to work in partnership with your classroom teachers before Semester 2 reports are issued in Term 4.
This week is also National Child Protection Week with a number of activities scheduled around the theme of, ‘Where we start matters.’
This is from the NAPCAN website:
Where we start our lives in terms of where we live, the resources available to us, and the opportunities presented to us make a significant difference to our life outcomes.
Where we start as a service sector in offering children and their families support and assistance makes a significant difference to life outcomes.
Where we start as decision makers in addressing large complex policy problems such as child abuse and neglect, also has a significant personal, social and economic outcomes.
We invite you to use this theme to explore and talk about the many ways that ‘where we start matters’ for children, young people and their families.
Of course where we start isn’t where we finish.
Next week we will culminate in R U OK? Day on Thursday and a community BBQ in Week 10 next week.
R U OK? Please make sure you take the time to check with your friends and family to ask them if they are OK.
A big Happy Birthday to the St Joseph’s Park Avenue Catholic Kindy community that celebrated their 10th birthday last Wednesday in which I was lucky enough to attend and share my favourite childhood book with the current students. As you can see, we organised a photo of all of the current Joey’s students who attended the Kindy in the past several years with well over 100 students in the picture. With only two Catholic Kindergartens in Rockhampton, we are certainly lucky to have this great facility in our community.
Well done to the Year 6 class and their teachers for hosting their final whole school disco last Thursday evening. With Term 4 fast approaching, our fundraising efforts will begin to shift to the Year 5 class as they begin to prepare for life as the school leaders in 2024.
Have a great week.
Don’t Forget….
- Week 9 – Parent/Teacher Interviews. 4th – 8th September
- National Child Protection Week. 4th – 8th September
- Catholic Education Student Protection Gathering. 7th - 8th September
- Board Meeting. Tuesday, 12th September
- P&F Meeting. Wednesday 13th September
- R U OK? Day. Thursday, 14th September
- End of Term 3. Friday, 15th
- Public Holiday. Monday, 2nd
- Term 4 Commences. Tuesday, 3rd
Kindest Regards
Bernard Fitzgerald
Principal - St. Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Park Avenue
St Joseph’s 2023 School Improvement Priorities:
- Prayer Life
- Learning Dispositions
- Increased Learning Gain & Achievement
RELIGIOUS MATTERS
Jesus reveals his future death and rebukes Peter.
Living the Gospel. Have you got what it takes?
For some people, to be a Christian is a ‘soft option’ – they see being Christian as being a bit ‘fluffy’. This week’s gospel is a reminder of the real challenge of being a Christian. Jesus reminds us that to be one of his followers we must be prepared to pick up our cross – whatever our particular cross might be – and still follow his example. To be a Christian means that we don’t fall in a heap when difficulty comes our way; we take up the burden – our cross – and continue to look forward with hope. To live like Jesus is no easy option.
@Liturgy Help – Greg Sunter
Season of Creation
Each year the Catholic Church celebrates our Common Home with the Season of Creation. Pope Francis leads the charge for us and his encyclical Laudato Si' guides us to Care for our Common Home. At Joey’s we take this challenge up with our Laudato Si' Expo each second year and this year, we honour the Season of Creation in our community.
“Let Justice and Peace Flow” is the theme chosen for Season of Creation 2023, the ecumenical celebration we hold each year from September 1, World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, to October 4th, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi.
The prophet Amos cries out, “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” (Amos 5: 24), and so we are called to join the river of justice and peace, to take up climate and ecological justice, and to speak out with and for communities most impacted by climate injustice and the loss of biodiversity.
The following link will allow you to Join the river of justice and peace: visit the Season of Creation website.
Our prayers must call for justice not only for human beings, but for all creation. In covenant with peace, we are called to repent of our ecological sins and to change our attitudes and actions.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE AN ALTAR SERVER?
Playing an active role at Mass is a great way to develop an understanding of the Eucharistic celebration. The Catholic churches in Rockhampton are inviting girls and boys, women and men who have received all the Sacraments of Initiation to think about becoming an Altar Server.
If you would like to find more out about this ministry there will be information sessions on:
Sunday 10 September from 11:00 am – 12:30pm at the Cathedral Parish Centre
Thursday 14 September from 4:00pm – 5:30pm at Our Lady Help of Christians Church, Main Street, Park Avenue
If you (or your child) would like to attend either of these sessions, please contact the Parish Office Ph: 4927 6744 or email cposj.admin@rok.catholic.net.au
Liturgical Celebrations Coming Up
WEEK | DAY | DATE | EVENT | TIME | PLACE |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Week 9 | Fri | 8 SEP | Year 5 at Mass | 9:00am | OLHC |
Week 10 | Thurs | 14 SEP | Sustainability Group Prayer Celebration | 2:15pm | OLHC |
*SJPA – St Joseph’s Park Avenue
*OLHC – Our Lady Help of Christians church (next to St Joseph’s, Park Avenue)
*HF – Holy Family Parish Centre (next to Anthony’s School)
*MPA – Multipurpose Area (Basketball court)
Elizabeth Carter
Assistant Principal Religious Education
National Child Protection Week: 3 – 9 September
This year National Child Protection Week will continue to focus on the message:
“Every child, in every community, needs a fair go”.
This year‘s theme is ‘Where we start matters’. By providing children and young people with the opportunities to thrive when they grow up in environments that support them according to their needs, now and into the future, we give them a great start.
Children are safest when they are listened to, respected and believed.
All adults can play a part by ‘tuning in’ to children in everyday situations about small worries; then, they are much more likely to feel comfortable telling us if something big is wrong.
Talking with children about safety:
- Support children to identify trusted adults (both within the family and outside) they can talk to if they are worried, upset, or don’t feel safe. Make sure these adults know they are on your child’s list.
- Remind children they can talk to you or a trusted adult about anything, no matter how big or small their worry might be.
- Talk to children about how they know when they feel safe or unsafe. Help them to listen to their early warning signs (how their body feels) and to trust their feelings and instincts.
- Use everyday activities as conversation opportunities (e.g. preparing meals and snacks, going for walks, playing, shopping). If children are used to having lots of communication, it can make it easier to talk when big or tricky issues come up.
- Be open to talking about all kinds of feelings, including anger, joy, frustration, fear and anxiety. This helps children to develop a ‘feelings vocabulary’.
National Child Protection Week is a great time to talk with children about feeling safe.
On Tuesday, all classes participated in Australia’s Biggest Child Safety Lesson.
This is a national live event developed by the Daniel Morcombe Foundation.
At Joey’s, we continue to learn how to Recognise, React and Report as part of the Daniel Morcombe Child Safety Curriculum.
Have a great Child Protection Week, being a part of making a great start for all kids!
Brooke Black
Pastoral Support & Wellbeing
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Congratulations to the following students & staff who will celebrate their birthday this week. They are: Tom C (Yr 6), Aubrey S (Prep), Ava B (Yr 6), Aleeya H (Yr 3), Phoenix T (Yr 6) and Blake J (Yr 5).
Have a great day.
DRAKES SUPA IGA
Drakes Fundraiser for St. Joseph's Cathedral
I thank you for your support of this project which has raised over $40,000, of which the school community has played an important role. Please continue to support the Cathedral by shopping at DRAKES using your key tag and receiving the benefits.
If you have not been part of this fundraiser you are invited to get a key tag from your local School or Church and shop at your local Drakes, one cent in every dollar you spend will go to the Cathedral. No Fuss, only benefits.
Hoping to see you at Drakes
Stay Safe
Shirley Hopkins,
Co-ordinator, Drakes Fundraiser for St Joseph's Cathedral