Blessing and Opening

The Blessing and Opening ceremony occurred today with Mr Paul Velten Director of Catholic Education, Diocese of Sale, Fr Darren Howie and Linda Tack, our most senior member of the School Advisory Committee making up the official party.

Our vision, behind the building projects over the last few years, was to create learning spaces that are inviting, dynamic, open, flexible and adaptable. We wanted them to inspire intellectual curiosity, promote social interactions, and provide for an open, collaborative environment for students and staff alike. Enhancing child safety, comfort and providing additional classroom spaces for our growing school was also a priority.

The learning areas needed to reflect our Catholic identity which is a keystone for the evangelising mission of our Catholic education community. Our Catholic Identity is expressed in structures and processes; in curriculum and the learning environment; in the formation of staff to support, teach and lead; in strategic planning and community culture; the wellbeing of students; and the engagement of parents, parish and wider community.

Thanks to Alan Cubbon of Crosier Scott Architects, who have an established reputation in the specialist field of education, the designs exemplified qualities such as flow, visibility, flexibility, views, play, and rich materials.

TS Constructions, working closely with Alan, brought his designs to life. They were a wonderful team to work with! We thank them for their excellent communication and professionalism throughout the process and for being so accommodating and understanding of school requirements and processes.

The classroom and outdoor areas that have been created are welcoming in their design, vibrant in their use of colour, innovative in their use of space and contemporary in their function. The learning spaces help cater for individual differences, the differentiating of learning tasks, and the flexible and creative use of learning tools and resources. The classrooms have spaces for focussed and explicit instruction, group learning and collaboration and individual learning. They have transformed and enhanced teaching and learning!

Stage 1 involved the refurbishment of student amenities and the grade 1/2 classroom area. A new classroom and a covered outdoor learning space was added to the space. During Stage 2, the 3/4 classrooms were refurbished and extended to create a fourth classroom and a new outdoor learning area. The staff amenities were also refurbished. In Stage 3 the 5/6 classrooms were renovated to establish an additional classroom, internal break out spaces and improved visibility and access to outdoor learning areas. Contemplative landscaping and a connecting covered walkway from main school building learning areas was also created.

Special thanks go to Alister Fixter and Mick Maye from DOSCEL, Mal and Jason from TS Constructions, Matt Crooks of island landscape + design and to Damien O’Connor of Dollar Curtains and Blinds & Coast to Country Flooring who made an extremely generous donation of new carpet to replace the old carpet squares in the 5/6 building.

Thanks to all who attended the ceremony!

Senior Athletics

This week, on Thursday March 30, the Senior Athletics will be held at Wonthaggi Recreation Reserve. One of the things I particularly enjoy about this annual event is the opportunity it gives for some students to shine! Their beaming faces and ribbons reflect the pride and excitement of their achievements and they should be celebrated!  However some students can find this event very challenging for different reasons. Some are simply not athletically inclined or as competent as others or believe they are not as competent as others, so are less enthusiastic about participating. Others find that their results on the day don’t match their own expectations of themselves and can become very disappointed and disheartened. This can play out in different ways. They might burst into tears or express excuses for their performance…. or they might ‘swallow their pride’ and congratulate the winner.

Our staff spend time before the event to prepare the students for what happens on the day, the expectations and also how to cope with disappointment. We expect the students to participate and give everything a go. Mrs Michelle Richards has been teaching the skills in Physical Education classes for some time. We encourage the children to acknowledge and value everyone’s efforts. We try to be happy for the winners of the events (even if we are disappointed) - we try to be ‘good sports’. Winners are encouraged to be gracious. In other words we try to teach the children how to self-regulate: understand and manage their emotions and behaviour. Parents could assist by reiterating these messages at home.  

The Senior Athletics are a great opportunity for students to practise some of these life skills!

Holy Week

Holy Week commences in the last week of term.  On Monday April 3, the Grade 3/4s and 5/6 classes will lead us through the Stations of the Cross, at 9.15 am, in the parish church. The grade 1/2s will help us recall and celebrate Easter Sunday at The Whole School assembly in Week 2 of next term: Monday May 1 at 9.05 am in the gym. All parents and friends are welcome to attend.

Easter Raffle

The annual Easter Raffle will be drawn on Wednesday April 5 at 2.30 pm in the school gym. All are welcome! Sincere thanks for all the generously donated Easter prizes so far and to all those who have sold and bought tickets! Our fundraising will go towards our school playground!

Joanne Coldebella
Principal

In 1/2 we have been learning about how living things grow and change. Our plants are flourishing from us looking after them every day.

We measured out strips of paper that represented our baby length, we then compared our current length and worked out how many baby me's fit into me now.

We have been creating our timelines by including 1 picture from each year of our lives and writing how we have changed each year. They are looking fantastic and we have been really enjoying watching ourselves grow over time.

During writing we have been learning about procedure writing. We now know that a procedure is writing about how to do something. We have written a procedure about how to brush our teeth, wash our hands, how to make a mess and how to make fairy bread. On Friday we were lucky enough to use our procedures to make fairy bread!

1/2 Team

It has been a busy time in the Grade 3/4 area of late. We continue our studies of Place Value in Maths, Making Connections in Reading and Persuasive texts in Writing. On top of this, we have been learning about Healthy Choices in our Integrated Studies unit. We are currently working hard on making board games to showcase our learning.

The Grade 5/6 students took part in an online session with Kids Helpline. Students learned about different leadership styles and identified the leadership qualities they could see in themselves and those they would like to develop further. Communication styles were a big focus of the session and students looked at ways to improve their communication with others and show leadership.

5/6 Team

Project Compassion

Fifth Week of Lent
(Week beginning Monday 27^th March)

Project Compassion brings together Australian schools, parishes and supporters to raise funds for people in vulnerable communities across the world. This year, we introduced you to the story of four inspiring people whose lives have been transformed with your generous support: Laxmi, Tereesa, Priscilla and Thu.

Today, they are creating a better world for their families, their communities and for all future generations.

Project Compassion is a demonstration of the faith, empathy and generosity of our supporters. It is the lifeblood of Caritas Australia – without it, we could not do the vital work we do. Thank you for helping transform lives today and for all future generations.

Please support Project Compassion: www.caritas.org.au/project-compassion.  

 HOLY WEEK 
(Week beginning Monday 3^rd April)

As we enter Holy Week, we continue to reflect on the lives of people vulnerable to extreme poverty and injustice and how we can respond through supporting Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion appeal. 

Your generosity is the pebble that allows Caritas Australia to create the ripples that will improve the livelihoods of vulnerable communities, supporting them to flourish and create opportunities for future generations to live to their full potential. 

Thank you!

Please return all Project Compassion boxes and envelopes to the school office by Friday 26th May or donate online via the Caritas Australia website at www.caritas.org.au/project-compassion

St. Joseph’s School strives to ensure all children feel cared for and valued by all the adults working within the school.

Research evidence informs us that - 

• Students achieve better outcomes when they are accepted, valued, respected and included.
• Students’ value teachers who have clear boundaries and expectations, demonstrate a friendly, fair and respectful manner, see the good in all (regardless of behaviour) and take a genuine interest in them. 

Building positive relationships involves at our school involves:

• Understanding each student’s background and context (social, emotional, cultural, societal, academic)
• Conveying to students that they are worthwhile and accepted as individuals, despite any difficulties they may be experiencing
• Knowing the interests and strengths of each student
• The belief that every student is capable of making progress
• Creating an environment where challenge is expected, normal and safe
• Building and fostering strong relationships across the whole school community
• Working collegially to share expertise
• Using interpersonal skills to establish and maintain respectful relationships
• Teaching and modelling respectful relationships through appropriate language, teaching practice and decision making
• Encouraging students to collaboratively participate in social action and leadership initiatives that contribute to the culture and reflect the charism of the school
  
  Whole School Approach to Positive Behaviour Co-ordinators

Trish Martin and Travis Newton

The Liturgy Captains have created child safety posters to remind our students that teachers can help them if they feel unsafe or see anything that worries them. Thanks to Sambriddhi and Mia, who visited the Grade Prep classes to deliver this year's new child safety posters, and Jed and Jaxon who talked to the Grade 3/4 classes.

Transition to the winter uniform will begin at the beginning of Term 2
Totally Work Wear has some supply on hand but please go in this week as they are now taking  orders for additional sizes if needed. 

Please call 5672 5878 or visit instore if you wish to place an order. 
 Pinafore sizes can be measured by current summer uniform sizes. 

Our Annual Easter raffle is running now.  For this fundraiser we are asking families to donate an Easter egg or chocolate bar to the school, which will enable us to make up Easter prizes to raffle.

Raffle tickets have been sent home with your child to sell at .50 per ticket (selling both sides) which needs to be returned to the school with money no later than Monday April 3.  Please clearly write the full name and phone number of the person purchasing the ticket.  Additional booklets are avaliable from the office.

In past years this has been an excellent fundraiser for the students of our school.  It has always been greatly supported by the families and school community.  This year we will be raising funds for our school playground.

Cash or CDF Pay are options for this fundraiser, just return the cover with your tickets and tick your payment option.

Raffle prizes will be drawn on Wednesday April 5  at 2.30 pm in the school gym, all are welcome!. Good Luck and thank you for your continued support.

Our thanks to Foon's for another successful School Photo day today. Although some students had forgotten to bring in their photo forms, all students photos were taken. For those that may have forgotten to bring their photo envelopes in on photo day, please return them to Foon's Photographics 72 McBride Ave, Wonthaggi.

If your child was absent you can give Foon's a call to make a time to have a make up appointment made and they will take your child/rens photo for you in store.  Contact Foon's on 5672 1411 for further information on booking a time or information regarding photo orders.

We will be conducting Prep tours during first term.  Emails have been sent to all those families who have submitted an expression of interest form for 2024.  If you have not already done so expression of interest forms can be sent to jblair@stjwonthaggi.catholic.edu.au.  Bookings for Prep tours can be made by contacting the school office on 5672 1052.

Expression of Interest for Enrolment

Please return any overdue
Library Books before the holidays.
Thank you.

Library Team

Statements for Term 1 have been emailed to families.  Concession paperwork and CSEF Applications can be forwarded along with a copy of your current concession card to the office or email kcarew@stjwonthaggi.catholic.edu.au

If you have any queries or have not received your statement or have any queries please contact the office or email kcarew@stjwonthaggi.catholic.edu.au

Thursday April 6 will be a school closure day for staff professional development.

Monday April 24 will be a school closure day for staff professional development.

Tuesday April 25 is the ANZAC Day Public Holiday

Term 2 for students resumes Wednesday April 26

Please find attached a fact sheet regarding the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD) on School Students with Disability for your information.

NCCD Parent Fact Sheet

Weekday Masses:
Tuesday Our Lady Star of the Sea, Inverloch Anointing Mass 11:30a.m.
Wednesday St. Joseph’s Wonthaggi Mass 9:30a.m.        
Friday St. Joseph’s Wonthaggi Anointing Mass 9:30 a.m.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS WILL FOLLOW THE MASSES AND LITURGIES AT OUR LADY STAR OF THE SEA, INVERLOCH EACH TUESDAY DURING LENT.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS WILL FOLLOW THE FRIDAY 9:30 MASS AT ST. JOSEPH’S WONTHAGGI DURING LENT.

ANOINTING MASSES: TUESDAY 28^TH MARCH 2023 AT OUR LADY STAR OF THE SEA, INVERLOCH 11:30a.m. (PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF MASS TIME FOR THIS WEEK ONLY)

ANOINTING MASS: FRIDAY 31^ST MARCH 2023 AT ST. JOSEPH’S WONTHAGGI AT 9:30a.m.
Weekend Masses

Our Lady Star of the Sea, Inverloch 
Sunday 9:00am

St. Joseph’s Wonthaggi 
Saturday 6:30pm, Sunday 10:30am

COMMUNION ON THE TONGUE: People who prefer to receive communion on the tongue, would you please come last for communion, as there is still widespread fear of COVID.

PLEASE PRAY: For those who continue to be affected by the Ukrainian War and the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. For the anniversaries of Irene Hanily, Michael Stack, Fr. Joseph Tran and our loved ones.  May God’s merciful love shine on them and on the loved ones left behind.

Prayer for Peace and Justice in Ukraine.

Prayer for Peace and Justice in Ukraine.
God of peace and justice,
Who change the hardened heart and break the power of
violence, we entrust the people of Ukraine to you.
Protect them in this time of peril;
let them know not death but life, not slavery but freedom,
You are Father of all;
we are brothers and sisters.
Give us the strength to live that truth in love,
choosing peace not war.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

LENTEN GROUP: An additional opportunity to attend a Lenten Group will be at the home of Helen Murphy, 35 Lyndhurst Street, Wonthaggi on Wednesday evenings at 7pm. Pat and Anne Kelly will be facilitating this group. There is a sheet in the Foyer at St. Joseph’s Wonthaggi for you to record your name to attend and therefore we can make sure that booklets will be available.  Booklets are $10.00.

  INVITATION TO THE BLESSING AND DEDICATION OF ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE CATHOLIC CHURCH CLYDE NORTH ON SUNDAY 23^RD APRIL 2023.

DIOCESAN CATECHIST ASSOCIATION Diocese of Sale. An invitation is extended to all Catechists and those involved in Children’s Liturgy to attend.

Annual Gathering and Eucharist on Tuesday 21st March 2023. Venue: Teacher’s Centre, Sion House, Warragul.  

Program for the Day    

9:00 am Arrival   9:30 Mass with Bishop Greg-Sion

Chapel, 10:30 Morning Tea, 10:50 Annual report,

11:00 a.m. Dr. Elissa Roper “Pope Francis and Synodality

What it means for us.”     1:00pm Lunch  

2:00pm Dr. Elissa Roper “Missionary Discipleship in our homes and parishes”.       3:00pm Close

Please bring a plate of morning tea to share. Lunch will be provided. 

Please RSVP by Wednesday, 15th March, 2023 to

Barbara Durand at bdurand@sale.catholic.org.au or 56 226678.

Reflection from St. Vincent de Paul Conference.

WE ARE TRULY BLESSED

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the million who won’t survive the week.

If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture or the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 20 million people around the world.

If you attend a church meeting without fear, harassment, arrest, torture or death, you are more blessed than most three billion in the world.

If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet and spare change in a dish someplace, you are among the top 8% of the world’s wealthy. If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful, you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not.

If you can hold someone’s hand, hug them or even touch them on the shoulder, you are blessed because you can offer God’s healing touch.  If you can read this message, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world that cannot read anything at all.

You are so blessed in ways that you may never even know.

PRAYER SHAWL GROUP:

There will be a blessing of shawls & rugs at the Anointing Mass in Inverloch this coming Tuesday at 11:30a.m. Many thanks to those who are knitting or crocheting at home and unable to attend our meetings, but still very much a part of the group. Your work is much appreciated. If you are knitting squares, we would ask that you follow the suggested measurements as it helps those sewing the squares together to create rugs. Plenty of wool is available as well as the patterns at both our churches. We thank Margaret Egan for her wonderful contributions over the years and wish her well in her new home in Leongatha.

Next meeting is Wednesday 19^th April 2023 at 10:30a.m. in the Inverloch Church Annex. Enquiries: Philippa 0408 331 340 or Maureen 0407 055 447.

MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER WEEKEND “Live Your Best Life in Love” Every relationship is a journey and the grind of everyday life can cause you to lose touch with your spouse. This weekend gives married couples the tools to keep passion alive in a gentle, nurturing environment, away from pressures and distractions of daily living.

The weekend is based around Catholic values and couples of all faiths are welcome. Please check our website for more details. 28-30 April 2023 in Melbourne (Book early to avoid disappointment) Information/Bookings: Phone Mercy and James 0409 183 676 or Email: vicbookings@wwme.org.au     Website: wwme.org.au

AID TO THE CHURCH IN NEED: ACN AUSTRALIA A message from Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) is asking for support to provide sisters in Romania with a new heating system. The Sisters of the Mother of God are the oldest congregation of sisters in the Romanian Greek Catholic Church. The history of their community has long been one marked by persecution, particularly when Romania was under communist rule. Today the sisters continue to aid their local community with youth groups, spiritual support and counselling, as well as providing the poor with basic necessities. But they are facing a major problem. Their ancient heating system has finally broken down and needs to be replaced, but they cannot afford the cost. The sisters need your help!

To make an offering and learn more visit www.aidtochurch.org./monthlyproject  

MISSAL ONLINE: ‘An App’ which Father Darren Howie finds very helpful is Universalis.This will allow you to follow the Daily Mass.                                               

CARITAS AUSTRALIA: There is still time to support our global neighbours as they tackle the challenges of poverty. Your generosity today can help create a better tomorrow for people living in some of the most remote and marginalised communities in the world.  All donations over $2 are 100% tax deductible. Caritas Australia:   www.caritas.org.au

CATHOLIC CARE: New self-help mental health service for parents, families and individuals.

Teaching children and young people how to keep safe online (on how to use technology wisely) is important for their mental health and wellbeing.

But as a parent or carer, ensuring eSafety for kids and teens can feel overwhelming or unachievable.

Whether you’re worried about cyberbullying, privacy, online content, social media, or time spent using technology, there’s things parents and carers can do to help keep kids safe.

To learn more please contact CatholicCare Victoria.

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.

WORKING WITH CHILDREN: AS WE ARE HOPING TO RETURN TO A ROSTER SYSTEM FOR READERS AND SPECIAL MINISTERS, THIS IS JUST A REMINDER TO CHECK THAT YOUR WORKING WITH CHILDREN HASN’T EXPIRED AND IF IT DOES NEED RENEWING, PLEASE CONTACT THE PARISH OFFICE FOR ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THIS.

Our Parish is committed to the safety, well-being and dignity of all children, young people and adults at risk. Find out more at: catholic.org.au/childprotectionsunday and www.catholicregligious.org.au/safeguarding

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..                    

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.

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