13 November 2024
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Dear Parents & Guardians
A special thank you to our Year 5 class that led us in a very moving and respectful Remembrance Day ceremony on Monday.
The students were well-behaved in the way they participated and paid their respects to those who have served our country during conflicts and made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve the freedoms we enjoy today.
LEST WE FORGET
On Monday we also hosted First Nations artist Mr Brandon Butler who officially presented the first of his completed murals to the Joey’s community.
Brandon engaged our students and gave insight into how the mural reflects the many varied elements of our Joey’s community.
I think the mural is wonderful with Brandon doing a great job.
Brandon has also explained his inspiration for the mural, which we will be looking to place on a plaque near the artwork in the new year.
This mural is the first of three murals in which Brandon has been engaged by the P&F Association, with the two remaining artworks being completed on the Administration building and Penola Precinct in 2025.
For those who have not had the opportunity to see the artwork, I have included a couple of images for your perusal.
Last Friday, I put our Excessive Heat Guidelines into practice.
The second level of our guideline’s states:
- If the ambient temperature is over 36 degrees Celsius and the relative humidity is over 30%, there is an extreme risk of heat illness. Planned vigorous, sustained physical activity should be postponed to a cooler part of the day or even cancelled.
We were actively tracking the predicted temperature for the day, and after 20 minutes of first lunch play and play at the second break, we decided to cancel Friday’s sport as both of the parameters listed above were exceeded. As Summer approaches, and we are experiencing a very hot and dry Spring, we will continue to monitor the situation for the safety of our students.
Next Monday and Tuesday, I will be offsite on some Long Service Leave. If you have any pressing matters that need to be attended to during this time, please make contact with Mrs Senini through the school office.
I look forward to seeing you back on Wednesday next week.
Don’t Forget….
November
- 14th Emmaus Year 12 Graduation Mass
- 14th P&F AGM (Thursday due to Leadership Gathering & Mass)
- 20th Board Meeting
- 21st Emmaus 2025 Year 7 Orientation Day
- 25th Semester 2 Performing Arts Assembly
- 27th Board & P&F Executive Meal
- 28th Presentation Night
December
- 2nd Semester 2 Academic Awards Assembly
- 4th Graduation Mass and Dinner
- 4th Semester 2 Report Cards posted to Parent Lounge
- 5th Year 6 Fun Day
- 6th End of Year Mass & Leadership Handover
- 6th Term 4 Concludes
Have a great week.
Regards
Bernard Fitzgerald
Principal
St Joseph’s Catholic School, Park Avenue
St Joseph’s 2024 School Improvement Priorities:
- Christian Virtue – Dignity
- Increased Learning Gain & Achievement
- Learning Dispositions
RELIGIOUS NEWS
The 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Widow who gave more.
Have you thought? What’s in a word?
It’s interesting that we have traditionally read Jesus’ comments about the widow’s offering as praise and perhaps even some pride in her actions. Nothing in the words themselves give away Jesus’ emotion. Try reading Jesus’ words with a variety of different emotions: anger; sadness; joy; triumph; dismay. How does the emotion with which we read these words change our understanding of them? Can you think of other passages that could be read in a whole new light if we changed our preconceived ideas about the emotion with which Jesus spoke?
@Liturgy Help – by Greg Sunter
Final Children’s Mass for 2024
This Saturday at 6pm is our final Children’s Mass for the year. It would be great to see lots of our families come along. Please RSVP via the note that was sent home on Monday. After Mass we will share in a BBQ meal. It is such a beautiful way to join with our Our Lady Help of Christians Parish community. Seeing the families chatting and the kids playing on the lawn with their friends reminds me of my Saturday nights as a kid. Please come along!
Liturgical Celebrations Coming Up
WEEK | DAY | DATE | EVENT | TIME | PLACE |
Week 7 | Fri | 15 Nov | Year 1 at Mass | 9:00am | OLHC |
Week 8 | Fri | 22 Nov | Year 1 at Mass | 9:00am | OLHC |
Week 9 | Thurs | 28 Nov | SJPA Presentation Night | 9:30am | MPA |
Week 10 | Fri | 6 Dec | End of Year Whole School Mass | 9:00am | MPA |
Elizabeth Carter
Assistant Principal Religious Education
CLASSROOM NEWS
Prep
Prep students have explored meaningful themes and developed essential skills for learning this term. In Religion, we’ve focused on our responsibility to care for the earth and one another, encouraging students to understand and honour these values. In literacy lessons, students practised sentence writing, identified high-frequency words in reading and built their confidence with language. During daily maths workshops we’ve explored simple addition, subtraction, and equal sharing, helping students build a solid foundation in numeracy. It’s been a fantastic year of growth, learning, and positive experiences for students.
Here are a few highlights from some of the students
Summer - I liked learning about Soundwaves.
Poppie -Golden Time is the best because we can investigate things we are learning about in the classroom.
Rory & Hugh -We like to play soccer.
Aiden - We got to make a sandwich.
Tahlie -Number hunts on the playground.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Congratulations to the following students who will celebrate their birthday this week.
Maisie D (Yr 4), Mila B (Yr 1), Cooper P (Yr 6), Ellie S (Yr 1), Summer B (Prep) and Georgia G (Yr 2).
Have a great day.
KEYBOARD LESSONS
Leanne Voss will continue to offer Keyboard lessons in 2025 for interested students in grades 1 – 6.
Lessons are of 30-minute duration and will be conducted weekly at school. Keyboards will be provided at school for lessons.
Students will be required to have access to a keyboard for practice and purchase a music tutor book and theory book. Lessons will generally be given to groups of 2 or 3 students with some individual lessons available when it is not possible to match students of similar musical ability. The lessons will focus on developing note reading and counting skills and using a chord bass accompaniment. There will also be an emphasis on utilising keyboard features such as different tones and rhythms.
Playing keyboard is an excellent extra curriculum activity to develop not only musical skills, but creative thinking, hand-eye coordination, concentration and commitment to task.
Enrolment forms are available for both new and continuing students.
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC in 2025
Enrolments are now being accepted for new and continuing students to learn the following instruments at St. Joseph’s Park Avenue.
FLUTE, CLARINET, SAXOPHONE, TRUMPET, TROMBONE, PERCUSSION, VIOLIN, VIOLA, CELLO, GUITAR & VOICE.
Instrumental Music provides so many benefits to a child – please watch the attached link to a fantastic video about Music and the Brain: Instrumental Music Learning and Brain Fireworks
Please see the attached information letter for details on required year levels for each instrument, and a downloaded version of the enrolment form.
Enrolment link is included here: Instrumental Music Enrolment 2025
Further information is available online at
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
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