Dear Parents and Caregivers
Ash Wednesday
Next Wednesday our whole school will celebrate a special Liturgy for the first time this year. This Liturgy is a Liturgy celebrating Ash Wednesday which begins the church season of Lent. On this day we receive some ashes to remind us that as believers of the Good News we are going to try to live out Jesus message of love and forgiveness. The ashes come from the palms used at last year’s Palm Sunday celebrations.
Lent goes for 40 days, from Ash Wednesday to Holy Week, the beginning of the Easter celebrations. Lent is a time for us to Fast, Pray and Give Alms (Serve Others).
The number 40 is very significant in the Bible:
The rain lasted for 40 days in the mighty flood – Noah (Genesis 6)
Moses stayed on Mount Sinai for 40 days (Ex 24:18)
Jonah gave the people of Ninevah 40 days to repent (Jon 3:4)
Jesus, before beginning his ministry, spent 40 days in the desert in prayer and fasting (Matt 4:2)
I remember Lent as a child as a time of fasting and going without. We fasted as a way of helping us understand some of the suffering Jesus went through when he fasted in the desert and as a way of focusing the mind on holy thoughts. In some ways it was quite exciting because it was one of the few times we had ‘takeaway’, as on Fridays we were only allowed to have fish and no meat. The local fish and chip shop always did a roaring trade on Fridays.
Fasting is common among many religions. The Jews have Yom Kippur, a solemn time to show a need for forgiveness of sins through fasting and praying. The Muslims have Ramadan, a month when they fast from before sunrise to sunset. The Hindus fast at festivals and at other times to show devotion to the Hindu deities.
Let us reflect on the words that Pope Francis wants us to FAST from during Lent – and beyond.
Project Compassion
This week the season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, which also marks the beginning of the annual Caritas Australia Project Compassion Appeal. Donations to Project Compassion allows Caritas Australia, the Catholic Agency for International Aid and Development, to work with local communities around the world to alleviate poverty, hunger, oppression and injustice.
The theme this year is: For all Future Generations. We encourage you to put your compassion into action this Lent through your prayer, fasting and almsgiving by supporting Project Compassion. Your generous support can help to change the lives of some of the world’s most vulnerable people. Join us this Lent to raise much-needed funds for people living in poverty. Together, we can make a difference now, and For All Future Generations.
Each family will receive a Project Compassion box for their donations or you can donate online via the Caritas Australia website at: lent.caritas.org.au
Sacramental Program
The preparation and celebration of Sacraments occurs through the Family Faith Formation Program (FFFP) run through the Norwood Parish. This week, families received information regarding the Reconciliation, Confirmation and Holy Communion Programs for 2022. Parents are asked to complete the Enrolment Form attached and return it to the Parish Office or myself, along with a copy of your child’s Baptism Certificate.
If you have any questions about the program or eligibility or; if you are considering starting your children’s Religious Journey with the Sacrament of Baptism, please contact Franco Canil at the Office.
This Week’s Sunday Readings are:
First Reading: Ecclesiasticus 27:5-8
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:54-58
Gospel Reading: Luke 6:39-45
Also, as a quick reminder that Mass times at St Ignatius Church, Norwood are:
Saturday: (Vigil) 6:00pm
Sunday: 8:30am, 10:00am, 5:00pm
“We are all a reflection of God’s love”
Franco Canil
Acting APRIM
Correspondence from the Parish re. Lent.
Dear Parents and Caregivers
A very happy New Year and welcome back to the ‘old’ families and to all of the new families to our very interesting start to the school year. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas that enabled you to spend time with your loved ones as you celebrated the birthday of Jesus, our Lord and Saviour.
I thank all the parents that I have met at the Bridge St site for their warm welcomes to this wonderful community. I am looking forward to meeting the families at the William St site soon too. Just a little bit about myself: I have been in Catholic Education since 1990 in many different and varied roles. From ESO, teacher of Rec-Yr 7, to many different POR leadership positions. I have undertaken a number of Acting APRIM roles in the past 4 years – which have provided me with wonderful and rich experiences. I have been privileged to get to know so many different school communities and the Parishes they are in; and I am sure this is going to be the same here at St Joseph’s Memorial.
As we move into the second month of 2022 we know the year will have its rewards and its challenges for us. As we know it is through challenges and the way we work through them that help us truly grow and develop our full potential. The start of a new year also gives our students the opportunity to set new goals for their learning both in the classroom and the school yard.
One of our challenges as teachers is to help each of our students develop their relationship with God our creator. It is in our relationships with others and the world around us that we come to understand our God. We remind them that they are unique, made in the image of God. They all have gifts and talents and that God wants them to use these to help others.
Sometimes it is hard for us to see the gift/s we have been given or how best to use them. You can help your child by telling them about their gifts you have noticed and encouraging them to use these special gifts or talents eg. They play nicely with brothers/sisters/friends, they draw/colour in well or they are good at building things/reading/singing.
I have also been in contact with the Parish with regards to the Sacramental Program. More information will be given out later in the Term concerning the students who are preparing for the Confirmation and Holy Communion program. Students involved in Reconciliation during 2021 and any other students in Years 4 or above who have been Baptised and have undertaken Reconciliation can be involved.
If you have any questions about the program or eligibility or; if you are considering starting your children’s Religious Journey with the Sacrament of Baptism, please contact Franco Canil in the Office.
This Week’s Sunday Readings are: First Reading: Jeremiah 17:5-8
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:12,16-20
Gospel Reading: Luke 6:17,20-26
Also, as a quick reminder that Mass times at St Iganatius Church, Norwood are:
Saturday: (Vigil) 6:00pm
Sunday: 8:30am, 10:00am, 5:00pm
“We are all a reflection of God’s love”
Franco Canil
Acting APRIM
Photo: The 2022 Leadership Team (Acting Principal Mrs Grace Vassallo-Wakefield, Acting APRIM Mr Franco Canil, Leader of Learning Mr Nick Ryan, ICT Key Teacher Ms Amy Parker and Inclusive Education Co-ordinator Mrs Toni Benci, who is taking some well-earned Long Service Leave during Term 1.)
Dear Parents and Caregivers
As I write the first newsletter of the year, I acknowledge that it probably isn’t the way we anticipated how the beginning of the 2022 School Year would begin. I would like to thank you all for your support in these first 2 weeks of school, with face-to-face learning for our Preschool, Reception and Year 1 students and online learning for our Year 2 – 6 students. Next Monday, I look forward to seeing the fresh smiles of our students on our William Street campus as they too return back to the classrooms. I am sure that many parents and caregivers are also grateful for this.
Just a reminder as we return to school that we follow the current COVID restrictions. Until further notice, parents are reminded not to access the school site. For students who are new to the community, parents may come onsite to accompany their child to their classroom on their first day. Parents are reminded to QR code and wear facemasks when onsite at any time. At the end of the day, we ask parents to utilise the Kiss and Drop zone rather than wait for their child at the gate to ensure we are socially distancing and keeping safe. If you require a Yellow car sign, could you please contact either Jess Nelson or Mary Fantasia to organise one for you.
WELCOME
I extend a warm welcome to all our new students and their families as you join our community. Although we aren’t able to meet in the traditional ways of the past, we hope that in the near future we might be able to host a welcome morning tea for parents and caregivers.
NEW STAFF 2022
This year we welcome the following new staff members to our community:
Mr Franco Canil - APRIM
Mrs Zoe Gower - Rec/1 R Teacher
Ms Cristabel MacLeod - Year 5/6 R Teacher
Ms Eloise Di Sisto - Year 5/6 G Teacher
Mrs Kate Didyk - Year 5/6 G and PE Teacher
Mrs Megan Pollard - Performing Arts Teacher
SPORTS TRAINING
At the beginning of Week 4, sports training may commence on school sites. Only the coach and the team members are allowed to be onsite during this time. For morning training sessions, students are to wait with their parents at the front gate at William Street for their Coach to collect them and escort them to their training session in the morning. If sports training is in the afternoon, the coach will escort the students to the front gate and wait for the students to be collected by their parents. We thank you all for your support as we navigate this time.
BUILDING PROGRESS
The building of our Performing Arts Studio is quickly taking shape. We have had a slight hold up to the end date but hope that by the end of March, the transportable classrooms will be removed and access to the Performing Arts studio will be available to staff and students. This does mean that for the next few weeks there will still be limited play space. Also, students who walk to school will no longer need to use the oval gate to access the yard.
Once this work is complete, work on our Nature Play area will commence. We hope that by the beginning of Term 2 we will have a transformed outdoor area for our students to use. I thank all staff, students and parents for their patience as we move towards this time. At this stage, a date and time for the Official Opening and Blessing of this space has not been set. We will advise you all as soon as a date has been set.
CAR PARKING
A reminder to all parents and caregivers to obey the parking signs near our school. Please do not park across driveways etc. as this causes our neighbors great stress and anxiety trying to access their homes.
Prayer for the New School Year
Blessed are you, Lord God,
Creator of body and mind and heart;
you have sent the Spirit of wisdom and knowledge
to guide your people in all their ways.
At the beginning of this new school year
we implore your mercy:
bless the students, teachers, and staff of St Joseph’s Memorial School,
that together we may grow in faith, hope, and love
as we learn from you and each other
how to follow your Son Jesus.
Expand the horizons of our minds,
that we may grow in wisdom,
understanding, and knowledge;
deepen our commitment to seek the truth of your ways;
and enliven our faith to reach out to those in need.
Amen
Yours sincerely
Grace Vassallo-Wakefield
Please check the SJMS Calendar for up to date Pupil Free Days.
2023
Term 2 Monday 1 May to Friday 7 July
Term 3 Monday 24 July to Friday 29 September
Term 4 Monday 16 October to Friday 15 December
2024
Term 1 Monday 29 January to Friday 12 April
Term 2 Monday 29 April to Friday 5 July
Term 3 Monday 22 July to Friday 27 September
Term 4 Monday 14 October to Friday 13 December
2025
Term 1 Tuesday 28 January to Friday 11 April
Term 2 Monday 28 April to Friday 4 July
Term 3 Monday 21 July to Friday 26 September
Term 4 Monday 13 October to Friday 12 December
Please remember to check the SJMS calendar regularly for important dates and events.
Dear Parents and Caregivers
On Sunday at Mass we lit the first candle on our Advent Wreath. The main characteristics of Advent, are waiting, hope and renewal. There are two types of waiting, passive and active. Passive waiting is a little like being at a bus stop; there’s nothing much you can do except look up every now and again to see if the bus is coming or watch the passing traffic or read a book etc. Active waiting is a like preparing for a guest to come and visit us in our home. Our eyes are on the clock as we tidy the house, prepare food and other refreshments, put some flowers into a vase and consider what would please the person coming to visit.
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
This week we commenced the Season of Advent and a new year in the life of the Church, Year C. Advent usually begins around the last Sunday of November, and is celebrated across four Sundays – each building on the other, inviting us to prepare actively for the feast of Christmas,
Congratulations to Joseph, winners of the 2021 SJMS Sports Day Shield!!
Congratulations to MacKillop, winners of the 2021 SJMS Sports Day Spirit Cup!!
Congratulations to our students, your positive attitude and sportsmanship shone today in a sea of colour and smiles!!
Thank you to the SJMS community for helping make this year’s Sports Day such a success!
Dear Parents and Caregivers
It was wonderful to see some of our students become fully initiated members of the church when they celebrated the Sacrament of the Eucharist on Sunday afternoon. This is a very important moment in the lives of these students as they become full and active members of the Eucharistic community.
On Monday students came together to celebrate All Saints Day with mass for our Years 2 – 6 students and a Liturgy of the Word for our Preschool – Year 1 students.
All Saints Day, has its origins in the Roman Catholic Church of the Middle Ages. Reflecting on the lives and examples of the saints had been a widespread practice for Christians since the earliest days of the church. By the early Middle Ages, the liturgical calendar was filled with the commemorations of hundreds of saints and martyrs. Many of these lesser observances were combined into a joint celebration called All Saints Day.
This was a very special day for our students at William Street as it was the first mass Fr Chris Jenkins celebrated. We welcome Fr Chris to our community and look forward to him joining us at many of our school celebrations.
Parish Assembly / Picnic
An invitation to all families to join the Parish for their Parish Assembly and Picnic after the 10am mass on Sunday.
Building Update
Work on our Performing Arts Studio is certainly coming along. Over the holidays, the electrical work leading to the building was mostly completed while the students were off site. The frame is almost completely up and I look forward to seeing the walls going up soon. It certainly is an exciting time.
School Concert
This term on Thursday 25 November, our students from Preschool to Year 6 will showcase what they have been working on with Mrs Williams. We all look forward to coming together as a community to celebrate their hard work. Details regarding the purchase of tickets has been sent out via the Skoolbag app.
Reports
Semester 2 reports will be sent home on Friday 3 December with your child. If your child is not at school on the day, it will be available for you to collect from the School Office until Wednesday 8 December. Any uncollected reports will be mailed home after this date.
Yours sincerely
Grace Vassallo-Wakefield
Acting Principal
Dear Parents and Caregivers
As the weather warms up, we commenced November with the celebration of All Saints, recognising all those who chose to follow in Jesus’ footsteps. Inspired by examples of saints like Mary MacKillop, we pray that we are also open to ways in our own lives we can respond to the needs of others as Jesus taught us. November is also a time where the Church helps us to reflect on our love ones who have passed and the promise of eternal life. The Feast of All Souls leads the Church into a month of communal prayers for those who are now placed in God’s loving care.
Socktober Mission Focus
Last week, our Year 5 students blew us away with their leadership and energy. Supported by Paula Wesley and Tony Johnston from Catholic Missions, we engaged in a variety of ‘Head (understanding), Heart (connection) or Hands (actions)’ activities. Across the three days, the Year 5 students explored a focus on ‘Mission.’ Each Year 5 student shared in the responsibility of speaking to classes about the Mission of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd. In particular, how our efforts will go a long way to support the Sisters to provide safety, education, food and training for young mothers and children in Thailand who are living in poverty. As a connection with our ‘brothers and sisters’ in Thailand, the Year 5 students created sock balls out of recycled materials and led an opportunity for each class to participate in penalty shootout using both a sock ball and soccer ball.
Thank you for the gold coin donations and for generously supporting Catholic Missions in 2021.
First Holy Communion
Congratulations to the 13 recipients of the Sacrament of First Holy Communion on Sunday 31st October. This completes their Sacraments of Initiation and means that each recipient can now receive the Eucharist during Communion and fully participate in each part of the Mass.
Masses and Liturgies of the Word
It was wonderful to have parents and caregivers join us for our Year 2-6 All Saints Mass on Monday morning and for those who received their First Holy Communion on Sunday to go up for communion a second time. As per the communication last week, we are once again able to have onsite community gatherings which will include class Masses and Liturgies of the Word. We look forward to sharing these celebrations as a community.
Way2Go Update
On Tuesday 2 November, representatives from the Department of Infrastructure and Transport (DIT) and the Norwood, Payneham and St Peters Council observed both our sites between 3:00pm and 4:00pm. As part of the Way2Go process we were able to discuss our school crossing point, drop off and pick up procedures and pathways between our Kensington and Norwood Campus. The data gathered through this observation and discussion provides timely evidence which will inform ongoing consultation, processes and actions between our school, the DIT and local councils.
Reconciliation Garden Project
Exciting News! This weekend Saturday 6 November, we commence stage one of our Reconciliation Garden Project upgrade at Bridge Street. Stage one will involve the excavation of the compacted fill along the laneway fence line section of the garden. A skip bin will be delivered on Friday 5 November and removed on Monday 8 November. Therefore, throughout next week, this section of excavated garden will be surrounded by bunting.
The following weekend on Friday 12 November, soil and 150 donated plants will be delivered ready to prepare the bed and plant on Saturday 13 November. If you would like to help with the planting next weekend, please let me know via email at mharrison@sjms.catholic.edu.au.
Parish Picnic
This weekend, there will be a Parish Picnic following the 10am Mass on Sunday 7 November. The picnic will be held on the St Ignatius Junior Campus oval between 11am and 2:30pm. All are welcome! The picnic will include a sausage sizzle, ice-cream van, coffee van and some simple games. You may like to bring along a chair or a picnic blanket to sit on.
Have a wonderful weekend everyone.
Matthew Harrison
Acting APRIM
Dear Parents and Caregivers
Welcome back to Term 4. I hope that you all had a lovely mid-semester break.
This term is the shortest term of the School Year but sometimes I feel it is the one that is the busiest. There are many exciting things to look forward to like our Parish Picnic, Christmas Concert, End of Year Mass and Graduation Ceremonies for Year 6 and Preschool students as well.
A reflection on this Sunday’s Gospel
This Sunday, we hear at mass the story of the beggar Bartimaeus who is living in the darkness of his blindness. In a moment of desperation and inspiration, he cries out to Jesus who is passing by, undeterred by those in the crowd who call on him to be silent. Jesus restores his sight and tells him that he has been saved by his faith.
We note that Bartimaeus throws aside his cloak, one of his most prized possessions, as he approaches Jesus. The gesture indicates his decision to change his life and throw in his lot with Jesus.
Bartimaeus was a person of faith, not a person who prayed only in a crisis to get what he wanted from God. He had a deep relationship with God and that faith, that deep relationship with God, firstly answered his deepest need, his need for salvation, a far greater need than the restoration of his sight. Bartimaeus sought the kingdom of God first - God’s mercy - and the other thing, restoration of sight, was given to him as well.
Sports Day
This Friday, our community will come together to celebrate Sports Day. A reminder that all children should be at school by 8:30am so that we can leave by 8:45am to travel to Santos Stadium. Thank you to Tom Siinmaa and all the staff who have worked to make this a successful event.
A reminder to all parents and caregivers that you must adhere to all COVID regulations on the day. If you are taking your child home at the end of the event, your child/children must be signed out with their class teacher before leaving the stadium. This is for the safety of all children in our care.
Parish Assembly / Picnic
On Sunday 7 November, St Ignatius Parish will hold their Parish Assembly and Picnic. Following the 10am Mass from 11:30am - 1:30pm there will be the opportunity for members of the parish to share their thoughts / visions for the Parish. As well, this is the week that Fr Chris Jenkins joins the St Ignatius community as Parish Priest.
As part of the day, there will be games for children to participate on the oval which will be hosted by SJMS staff. Please come along, even if for ½ hour after mass not only to join in with the fun and festivities but to have your voice heard through your participation in the Parish Assembly.
Further details about this day will follow.
Sun Safe Policy
A reminder that from 1 August to 30 April, all children should be wearing their hats during Recess and Lunch, as well as when at PE lessons with Mr Siinmaa. Children who do not have their hats with them, will be asked to sit out under the verandah at both sites. In the interest of health and safety, children should not be sharing hats. As well, sunscreen is available to all students in the classrooms to be applied when needed. I urge parents to ensure their child has the correct school hat and that it is clearly labelled with their child’s name. Thank you for your support.
Kaurna Language Sessions
Thank you to Labhaoise Upton who is providing Kaurna language experiences for classes at William Street. Labhaoise who is also a parent of students at SJMS will share who knowledge during weeks 1 - 4 this term.
Yours sincerely
Grace Vassallo-Wakefield
Acting Principal