Dear Parents, Guardians and Caregivers

Sacraments

Last weekend many Grade 6 students received the Sacrament of Confirmation. In place of the usual large celebration there were four intimate, very personal ceremonies. The children received the gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel (right judgement), fortitude (courage), knowledge, piety (reverence), and wonder/awe of the Lord and we pray that these gifts will be utilised and developed as they continue to grow and face new challenges in the years ahead. 

Next weekend the Grade 3 students will be receiving the Sacrament of First Holy Communion. We pray that the faith of these young children is enriched and deepened by this very special occasion. 

We thank Father Darren Howie, Catherine Cavanagh, the parish Sacramental Coordinator, the 5/6  and 3/4 teachers, Mrs Tracy Allan, our Religious Education Leader and the parents of the students for all their work in preparing the students and making the celebrations possible.

2021 School Captains

Last week Mrs Allan, myself and the 2020 school captains had the privilege of interviewing students who had written outstanding applications for the positions of School, House and Liturgy Captains in 2021. We are extremely fortunate to have such a terrific group of students aspiring to leadership. The students' pride, appreciation and gratitude for our school shone through in their applications. As always, it was a very difficult choice to make. We commend all the students who applied for the positions and assure them that the whole Grade 6 cohort will all be leaders next year, with or without a badge and we hope the students will use many opportunities to exercise their leadership throughout the year. 

We congratulate the following students who have been appointed :

School Captains :           Ruby Morris                    Nate Pugh

School Vice Captains : Samantha Carmichael  Julia Lindsay

Liturgy Captains :            Eddie Coyne                     Lani Horrocks

                                           Harvey Richards             Eleanor Smith

Red House Captains :     Max Plenkovich              Isla Spradbury

Blue House Captains :    Jack Howell                      Finn McNally

Green House Captains :  Lulu Curtis                       Michaela Shepherd

Gold House Captains :    Brodie Magro                   Juliette Sibly

Teacher Positions and Grades for 2021 

Prep Trust Kate Egan

Prep Love Patricia Martin

1 / 2 Faith Susan Holmberg

1 / 2 Trust Christie Panozzo

1 / 2 Love Belinda O’Brien

1 / 2 Hope Courtney Brann

3 / 4 Faith Rebecca Nielson

3 / 4 Trust Loreena Keane

3 / 4 Love Leigh Granger

3 / 4 Hope Travis Newton

5 / 6 Faith Hannah Parrett

5 / 6 Trust Jennifer Lawlor

5 / 6 Love Kate Morison

Each level will have support staff working in the neighbourhood on a part time basis.

Support Staff:

Prep Kasey Heim

1 / 2 Dianne Gin

3 / 4 Julia Foster

5 / 6 Kylee Bertacco

Each level neighbourhood will also have Education Support Officers to assist in catering for the diverse learning needs of the students.

Specialist teachers:

STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) Nicole Buccilli

Italian Rosemary Daniel 

Physical Education Michelle Richards 

Performing Arts Grades Prep-2  (Dance, Drama and Music) Kasey Heim

Performing Arts Grades 3-6  (Dance, Drama and Music) Danielle Paulson

Positions of leadership

Michelle Richards will continue in her position as Sports Coordinator, we are most grateful for her expertise, diligence and efficiency in undertaking this role.  Kate Morison will continue to be our eLearning Leader. Kate endured a steep learning curve this year with her skills and talents being in hot demand- especially with the advent of remote Learning. She certainly delivered! We are most grateful for your knowledge and patience Kate!

The Planning Leaders for 2021 will be Ms Jennifer Lawlor, Mr Leigh Granger,  Mrs Dianne Gin and Mrs Trish Martin. These leaders undertook this new role for the latter half of this year and the school has greatly benefited from their command of the curriculum and their extensive knowledge and experience in teaching and learning. 

COVID 19 Easing of restrictions 

The easing of some restrictions will enable us to revert to our usual recess and lunch breaks (rather than staggered breaks) from this week as it is no longer required to reduce mixing amongst different year levels. The outside drinking taps will also now be able to be used.

We still are required to ensure that students and families do not congregate at the school before or after school and that all maintain 1.5 metres between each other.

With this in mind we will continue with our current pick up and drop off procedures until the end of this year.

Staff and parent feedback have indicated that the morning procedure (where students enter the school independently and go straight to their classrooms) is working extremely well. The staff report that the students have never been more settled and ready to learn in the mornings and many parents have indicated that this has been terrific for reducing student anxiety, separation issues and encouraging the development of student confidence and independence.   

We intend to continue with this morning routine next year, which is working so well, with the exception of the first day for all students and the first two weeks for Prep students. On the first day of school for 2021 (COVID 19 restrictions permitting) which will be Thursday January 28, for the students, parents may choose to accompany their children to their new classrooms. The morning carline will still be in operation for those who choose to use this option that day. From Friday January 29 all students should be using the bus, crossing or carline independently in the mornings  with the exception of the Preps. We encourage parents to continue to contact teachers via Seesaw or email when they need to communicate. 

The afternoon carlines have also become more efficient. We intend to continue this procedure as well. We do ask, however that parents not arrive too early if possible, as it causes traffic issues on Korumburra Rd. 

Hopefully from next year parents will have the option of parking in the parish carpark and entering the school to collect children in the afternoons-COVID-19 restrictions permitting. 

Canteen

We hope to reinstate the canteen on Thursdays and Fridays early in the new year. We will let you know when this will occur.

With the final day of student attendance being Monday December 14, this will be our last newsletter for this term. I want to sincerely thank you all once more for your incredible support over his year. The staff and I feel very fortunate to have such a compassionate, understanding and resilient parent body who have worked with us throughout this year. I hope everyone has a very happy Christmas and an enjoyable break!

May God bless you all, 

Joanne Coldebella

Acting Principal   

School Advisory Committee AGM

For your information please find the Principal's Report attached.

It's been a hive of activity in the 5/6 space this last week! We congratulate our Grade 6 students who received the Gift of the Holy Spirit through the sacrament of Confirmation over the weekend. 

As our Grade 6 students prepare to graduate from St Joseph's, they have been working hard preparing their graduation posters and practicing their graduation dance. We can't wait to share these with you all. 

We are also very thankful to our Grade 5 students for their display of maturity and flexibility whilst all these preparations are taking place. We are all so proud of the effort and thought they have put into their captains applications this past fortnight. No matter what the outcome, you have all shown you are leaders, ready to take on more responsibility next year. 

5/6 Team

Congratulations to the recipients of their Pen Licence / Handwriting awards.  Well done everyone!

Prep's

The Prep children are really excited and very thankful for their brand new colourful tables. 

We are all very busy making our puppet theatres and are doing a great job as well as having lots of fun.  In Maths we have been learning about addition and subtraction and we are getting really good with our strategies. Mrs Martin and Ms Egan have just changed our reading group games and we are learning lots about reading strategies as well as how to work in a group. We are loving the Footsteps dance programme too.  The songs are really cool and we are getting really good at the dance moves. In Prep T and Prep L we are focusing on being kind to each other as we get closer to the end of our Prep year. 

Prep Team

1/2's

Over the past few weeks the students in the 1/2 area have been collecting an array of different boxes and items to make some very creative robots.  Thanks to everyone at home who helped us collect our items to make these amazing robots.

1/2 Team

After all the planning and construction of our dragsters the finished product of racing was so much fun!

Please make alternative arrangements for the first day back at St Joseph's as buses will not be running.

The bus co-ordinator has advised us that buses will commence as usual on Friday 29 January 2021.  

For all your uniform supplies Totally Workwear Wonthaggi is our school uniform supplier. 

Contact Brad and his team for your uniform need heading into the new school year. Click below for contact details.

We are now accepting Expression of Interest Application forms for student enrolments for 2022.  Current families with students attending in 2022 should also complete and return an application to ensure all details are current and up to date.  The application form can be found below. Email completed forms to jblair@stjwonthaggi.catholic.edu.au

Expression of Interest for Enrolment

School fee information for 2021 has been sent out via Operoo if you would like a paper copy sent home with your child please contact the office or email us at info@stjwonthaggi.catholic.edu.au 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.  Please return all completed paperwork to the office by Monday December 7th.

WE ARE BACK!!!!!!!! Well almost. On the weekend of the 5^th and 6^th December, 2020 we will be offering the Sacrament of First Holy Communion.

Given  numbers have increased that we are able to have socially distanced it is still NOT possible for the normal weekend masses to take place.

However the weekday masses of Tuesday at Our Lady Star of the Sea Inverloch, 11:00 a.m. and Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at St. Joseph’s Wonthaggi 9:30am are possible and there is no need to make a booking. Masks still need to be worn and social distancing respected.

Weekend Masses will recommence on 12^th and 13^th December, 2020 as per normal times at both Churches and again no bookings are necessary.

Please pray for ALL those who have passed due to the Covid-19 Virus. The anniversaries of Margaret Daly, Tom Daly, John Kelly, Connie Mabilia, Fr. James Hayes, Fr. David (Dave) Cagney and our own loved ones. May God’s merciful love shine on them and on their loved ones left behind.

A Memorial Prayer Service for Ruby Wells will be held at St. Joseph’s Church, Wonthaggi on Wednesday 2^nd December, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. Ruby passed away during the COVID Lock Down and we were unable to offer a service then, now is the opportunity to join the family in celebrating the life of Ruby. Due to increased numbers there is no need to make a booking.

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 1^st 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.  

CARITAS AUSTRALIA: Position of Youth Participation Coordinator:

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.  

Bishop-Elect Gregory Bennet: EPISCOPAL ORDINATION AND INSTALLATION OF BISHOP-ELECT GREGORY BENNET AS TENTH BISHOP OF SALE.

It is with delight that we are able to confirm that Bishop-elect Greg Bennet will be ordained Tenth Bishop of Sale on Tuesday 8^th December, 2020 at 11am at St. Mary’s Cathedral Sale. (Please see the attached letter from Rev Fr Peter Slater, Diocesan Administrator) Here is the link to the News story/Diocesan Statement regarding the appointment on the diocesan website. https://www.cdsale.org.au/news/diocese-of-sale-welcomes-the appointment-of-bishop-elect-greg-bennet

Theological Study in 2021 Enrolments OPEN (On-line options available) Yarra Theological Union, a Catholic College of the University of Divinity in Box Hill is taking enrolments for study in 2021. New students can make an appointment with the Dean by emailing: admin@ytu.edu.au Or contacting the Dean directly via email: dean@ytu.edu.au.  Further study details are available on our website www.ytu.edu.au.

Lebanon Update:  Immediately following the Beirut explosion, CAN provided an initial emergency grant of $400,00 AUD for food. ACN has just announced a further commitment of $8 million for the repair and reconstruction of churches and convents. ACN thanks everyone who has already donated to their national appeal and welcomes any further support. Visit www.aidtochurch.org/Lebanon or call
1800 101 201

Aid to the Church in Need CAN Australia

Post Office Box 335, Penrith NSW 2751

1800 101 201 OR 02 9167 9517 (Direct)

INVITATION TO ALL LADIES IN THE MEDITATION, PRAYER SHAWL AND CATHOLIC WOMEN’S LEAGUE: You are invited to a luncheon on Monday December, 7^th at Par 3 golf at 12:00. As numbers are limited due to social distancing would you please contact Mary on 56 741 367 and leave a message. Thank you

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.

Thank you for your patience and understanding

Father Darren Howie                                                        Mrs. Kristine McRae
Parish Priest                                                                       Parish Secretary
St. Joseph’s Parish Wonthaggi