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- Principal's Report
- Prep Neighbourhood
- Senior News
- Book Week 2020
- SRC Art Competition
- Assembly Award Winners
- Crazy Sock Day
- Finance Information
- Conveyance Allowance
- School Closure Information
- CatholicCare Gippsland
- Parish News
- I CAN Network
- Bass Coast Sport Program
- Ritchies Community Benefits
- Wonthaggi Cricket Club
Dear Parents, Guardians and Caregivers
It is wonderful to have all our students back at school, face to face and observe them engaging with their teachers and peers. The circumstances of the last few months have certainly made me grateful and appreciative of our school community. The students have settled back into school routines and the staff are making the most of these precious weeks to advance their learning.
This week the School Advisory Committee will meet again, we have continued to meet remotely throughout the year. The committee is comprised of a group of parents, school representatives and the priest. This group has continued to be very supportive of the school, provide an avenue for open communication and valued feedback. We generally meet five times a year on a Tuesday at 9.00am, but may also be called together at other times when specific projects or issues are being discerned. The role of the School Advisory Committee is very much one of support, stewardship and collective representation in working for the best interests of the school and its student body.
The purpose of this committee is to:
- act as an advisory body to the principal on matters concerning education in the school
- act as a forum for discussion on matters concerning education in the school
- provide a link between the parish priest, principal, teachers and parishioners in relation to the provision of Catholic education in the parish community
- promote community development by fostering a strong inter-relationship between the parish, the primary school and Catholic secondary colleges.
Our School Advisory Committee members are currently:
Joanne Coldebella
Tracy Allan
Father Darren Howie
Linda Tack
Erin Howell
Carla Poletti
Nicole Sampson
Sara Donohue
The responsibilities of the School Advisory Committee are to:
- promote the Catholic ethos of the school
- provide feedback on and review of school policies
- plan for the future of the school and its ability to accommodate future enrolments
- provide advice on budget planning and finance-related matters
- contribute to the selection process for the school principal
- provide advice on the appropriate provision of faith development and Religious Education programs
- promote child safety in the school
This year three of the committee members will have served a three year term: Linda Tack, Erin Howell and Carla Poletti. All three are eligible for another three year term. Linda and Carla have accepted nominations to serve another three year term. Erin Howell has decided to step aside to allow another an opportunity.
Erin has been a member of our school community for over 20 years. She is a dedicated supporter of the school who has generously volunteered her time and efforts at many, many school functions over these years. Her and her families contributions are much appreciated and we thank her for her generous and unwavering service!
The positions are also open to other parents in our school community who may wish to join this group.
A nomination form can be provided by emailing the front office: info@stjwonthaggi.catholic.edu.au. This nomination needs to be returned to the School Office by Friday October 30th.
The AGM of the School Advisory Committee is Tuesday November 17, 2020.
School Closure Days
Our scheduled school closure days for professional development on Religious Education and our Whole School Approach to Positive Behaviour were cancelled due to COVID 19 and Remote Learning. They have been rescheduled to Tuesday December 15 and Wednesday December 16. Medical training for the staff will, as usual, occur on December 17 and 18, along with curriculum planning.
We have endeavoured to choose days that would have the least disruption to student learning.
Joanne Coldebella
Acting Principal
It has been a very busy couple of weeks for the 3/4s. We have moved into our new classrooms which are amazing. We have some special features in our rooms like extra classrooms, beehives, an upstairs area and an outdoor eating space. We are all so grateful for our new classrooms. Thank you to all the people involved in making these amazing new rooms.
Dragsters
In other news we have been continuing our dragsters unit. We started dragsters in Term 1, but due to the pandemic we were not able to finish them, but now being back at school we are able to continue on the project. Last lesson we were shaping and painting but some of us are still waiting to do the details. At the end when the dragsters are finished, we will do a race to see who shaped their dragster the best. A huge thank you Mr Newton for coming up with this brilliant idea and supplying us with all the materials needed. Also a big thanks to all of the ESOs for setting and packing up. It was a big help.
Classwork
In the 3/4 unit, we learnt about time in Maths. Our Learning Intention was to learn how to read the time on analogue clocks and digital clocks as well as learning how to convert 24 hour time into 12 hour time.
Writing
In Writing, we have been focusing on writing explanation texts. Our Learning Intention is to learn how to write explanation texts on lots of different topics. We have also been planning inventions and writing an explanation text on what our invention is and how it works.
Integrated studies
In Integrated Studies we have been making stop motion animation. Our Learning Intention is to work on developing our settings, characters and story plot.
Book Week
Book Week was on the 19th of October. Book Week is a day when every student gets to dress up as their favourite book characters. When we are all dressed up we go to the gym and do a parade but again, due to the pandemic, we were not able to do this and I am sure all the parents are very disappointed about that. We did have a virtual parade during our Google Meet assembly.
Olive Clifford and Cleo Kenny 3/4L
On Monday September 19, students and teachers at St Joseph’s School Wonthaggi, transformed themselves into real-life versions of their favourite book characters as part of their Book Week celebrations. Book Week is an anticipated highlight of the school year and while it may have looked a little different this year lots of fun was had just the same, head over to out facebook page to take a look at our book parade videos.
Book Week is a great opportunity to focus on the importance of books and why we all love reading. The theme for Book Week 2020 was Curious Creatures, Wild Minds.
Our Grade 5/6 students showed their amazing skills in the kitchen for our Bake a Book display, which produced some fantastic entries that the whole school were able to marvel at.
Thank you to all of the students who entered the SRC Art Competition. The purpose was to lift the spirits of everyone at school. The creativite pieces are proudly displayed outside the office area, and they are definitely inspiring and brighten everyone's day.
Last week St Joseph's held our annual Socktober Crazy Sock Day . Generosity and community spirit was high as students embraced the opportunity to wear a pair of colourful socks and donate to charity, we raised $280 to support Catholic Mission. Well done and congratulations to all.
Just a reminder to families if you have a concession and haven't already done so please complete a concession form and a CSEF application, please remember that all concession and CSEF applications need to be accompanied by a copy of your current concession card. If you have any queries please contact the office or email kcarew@stjwonthaggi.catholic.edu.au
Applications for Conveyance Allowance close November 25. You can download a form by clicking the tab below. Please forward completed forms prior to this date for procesiong to kcarew@stjwonthaggi.catholic.edu.au
School closure dates for your diary
Monday 2 November
Tuesday 15 - Friday 18 December - Curriculum, Compliance and Professional Development Days
CatholicCare Gippsland: Two Bushfire Recovery Positions
CatholicCare Gippsland is currently seeking two full time or part time positions:
Community Development Worker and Family Counsellor to join our Bushfire Response team to support, address and provide paths of assistance to people affected by grief and trauma within the bushfire affected regions in East Gippsland.
These are exciting positions that can include counselling to individuals, couples and families, group facilitation and liaising with key stakeholders.
As part of these two positions the Bushfire Response program will provide an outreach mobile service to the community, with a particular focus on remote townships using a CatholicCare especially fitted out vehicle
For a detailed position description, go to: http://www.ccam.org.au/page/58/careers. Applications close on COB Wednesday 2 November, 2020 and can be emailed to recruitment@ccam.org.au with the job title in the subject line, a cover letter explaining your experience in-line with the position description, and your resume. Enquiries can be directed to the HR team on (03) 9287 5584.
WE ARE BACK! As of 11:59pm 27th October, 2020 Regional Areas are permitted to resume Indoor religious ceremonies: permitted with up to 20 people plus one faith leader. Those necessary for the Mass e.g. readers, cleaners etc are included in the number.
For the Wonthaggi Parish this means we will be contacting parishioners on a weekly basis to invite Mass attendance and to make a fair and equitable opportunity for everyone to attend. If you would like to attend a particular Mass we would welcome your call on 03 56 721 111 to be included on the list of 20.
This weekend Father Geoff Baron will be saying the Mass for us and those parishioners have been contacted.
Father Darren Howie will return to Parish duties from Saturday 7th, November, 2020. We will then not only be offering the opportunity to attend Mass on the weekend for 60 parishioners in total, but we will also be making contact for Weekday Masses as well. That is Tuesday at Our Lady Star of the Sea Inverloch and St. Joseph’s Wonthaggi on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
In the meantime, any calls regarding a visit to the sick or urgent need please contact Father Manny Lomagno on 03 59 525 418 (if unanswered please leave a message and Father Manny will return your call ASAP)
Please pray for all who have passed away recently and ALL those who have passed due to the Covid-19 Virus. The anniversaries of Fr. Patrick Sterling, Fr. William Tierney, Archbishop Patrick O’Donnell, Fr. Cornelius (Con) Donovan and for our own loved ones. May God’s merciful love shine on them and on their loved ones left behind.
PLANNED GIVING ENVELOPES: The roll out of envelopes for the next 12 months are now available for collection from the Parish Office, unfortunately in place of the usual collection at the Masses. If you are unable to attend the office and would prefer them to be delivered or mailed please phone the Parish Office on 03 56 721 111 as we have volunteer parishioners who have offered to do this.
The envelopes apply to those who give weekly, fortnightly or monthly. Those who continue to make their contributions by Direct Debit/Credit Card will not be receiving envelopes.
Thank you to ALL for your continued generosity, as in these difficult times it has enabled us to keep the wheels turning.
ALL donations to the 1st Collection, Planned Giving envelopes can be brought to the office, passed through the secure slot into the Presbytery near the front door. The next roll out of Planned Giving Envelopes is now available see notice above. Thank you for your continuing generosity.
To celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the canonisation of Saint Mary MacKillop. The Sisters of Saint Joseph have created a commemorative prayer booklet to inspire us all to “take fresh courage…”as Mary did so often. These prayers share details of her personal journey, highlighting Mary’s values and spirit, and offering prayers and blessings for our modern world. We invite you to download your free copy of Encountering St Mary MacKillop in Prayer. To order your exclusive copy please go to: www.marymackilloptoday.org.au/prayer-book or call us on Ph: 02 8912 2777.
Bishop-Elect Gregory Bennet: POSTPONEMENT! In light of the current circumstances of Covid-19 restrictions in the State of Victoria and following the announcement of “Steps” by Premier Andrews for Regional Victoria and Metropolitan Melbourne, it is necessary to postpone the planned Ordination and Installation of Bishop-Elect Gregory Bennet which had been scheduled by 20th October at St. Mary’s Cathedral Sale. The steps for Regional Victoria prevent public religious worship within the Cathedral and other settings (with special exemption for restricted funerals) until 23rd November 2020. Once the Diocese is able to receive advice that we are able to proceed with the liturgy of Ordination and Installation of Bishop-Elect Bennet you will be notified immediately. As you would understand the liturgy will respect all restrictions as required. In any event the Ordination will be live-streamed in order that we can gather as One people in faith in welcoming our new bishop among us.
A list of live streams across the Diocese is on cdsale.org.au/coronavirus page. This page has listed the Mass times which occur regularly, ie. Don’t change from week to week.
We have been emailing and sending out important communications from the Diocese and if you would like to be involved and receive this information then please contact the Parish Office on 56 721 111 or email your details to wonthaggi@cdsale.org.au.
We are a Child Safe Parish. Any children, young persons and vulnerable adults have a right to feel safe and be safe. If you are concerned about any form of abuse, or believe that someone is at significant risk, you should immediately raise your concerns with one of our Parish Safeguarding Officers. Contact Kristine McRae via the Parish Office: 03 56 721 111 or St. Joseph’s School Safeguarding Officer 03 56 721 052. Take care, we are here to help.
Last week, the Archdiocese of Melbourne launched a new resource Ready, Set, Pray! Children’s Liturgy of the Word @ Home and we have been heartened to hear that this has been a useful resource for our parish and primary school families.
The YouTube link (below) enables access to the weekly episodes of Ready, Set, Pray! This site will allow families to ‘catch up’ on previous episodes they may have missed but also access the recent episode.
Ready, Set, Pray! Children's Liturgy of the word @ Home
No Meditation or Prayer Group until further notice.
PRAYER SHAWL GROUP: Over these past months in lockdown our girls have been busy knitting, crocheting and sewing up squares! There is an amazing assortment of beautiful rugs, shawls, caps and socks on our display table in the Parish Office, ready for distribution. So, if you know anyone who is struggling with life in any way, please let us know or come in and choose an item yourself. For further information or enquiries please contact: please contact Kristine (0499 915 784), Philippa Warby (0408 331 340) or Maureen Maartensz (0407 055 447).
If you are in need of urgent assistance, please phone eithe Father Darren Howie 0356 722 923 or Kristine on 03 56 72111 or 04999 15 784.
Finding Christ in a COVID Christmas
Thank you for your patience and understanding
Father Darren Howie Mrs. Kristine McRae
Parish Priest Parish Secretary
St. Joseph’s Parish Wonthaggi
I CAN Network’s AWETISM 2020 Virtual Expo is scheduled for Friday 20 November 2020. Now in its sixth year, the AWETISM Expo has a proud reputation for providing Autistic young people aged 9-20-year-old with a platform through which they can share their passions and build networks for future study and work. For more information please click the image below.
Our Fundraising Partner Ritchies IGA, are launching their new Ritchies Card. The program now has an App for both IOS and Android smart devices. For those members who don’t have a smart phone, or would like a physical card, this option is also available and can be linked to the App. For further information please see the attached infomation.