Week 2, Term 4 2023

Dear Families

Welcome to the last term of the 2023 year.

As this term is only 9 weeks, please take the time to review the Term 4 Calendar below which includes the events for the term.

Some of the upcoming events for Term 4 include:

• Musical Performances
• Children’s University Graduation
• Swimming lessons (Reception to Year 5)
• Year 3 & 4 Camp
• SACPSSA Athletics Carnival (Year 3 to 6)
• Various assemblies, liturgies, incursions and excursions
• Carols night
• Year 6 Graduation
• Norwood Christmas Pageant

Staff will provide further information prior to each event so that you have clarity about arrangements.

Student Traffic Monitors

This term the students in our upper primary classes have commenced undertaking work as traffic monitors at our William Street campus. So far, the students have enjoyed this leadership opportunity to provide service to the community by helping to keep our school safe. Thank you to the students and families for your positive contribution to support this new initiative.

Grandparents' Day

This week we held our annual Grandparents' Day Mass at the Norwood Parish. It was incredible to see the Church and school filled with so many Grandparents and special people who attended and joined in the activities sessions afterwards at William St.

School Sport

I would like to congratulate our junior netball team who played their first game for the season last week. It was wonderful to see so many Year 1 students who have started playing for the school. I would like to thank the coaches for their incredible work to support the students to improve in their respective sports.  

Thank you,

Adam Slater

Principal

In my last newsletter article at the end of last year, I said that I hoped that our paths would cross again. Well, I didn’t expect it to be so soon but am really glad that they have. Since I have been back, I have noticed many new faces, beautifully finished play spaces, and as always, the excitement for learning at this wonderful school. Thank you to all the students, staff and families for a wonderful and warm welcome. It has been like I have never left.

WELCOMING COMMUNITIES

No matter where you go during the day nothing can beat a welcoming and smiling face.  Research has shown that you are more likely to buy in a shop where you are made to feel welcome. You will probably revisit someone or someplace where you have felt welcome and maybe even choose a school by how welcoming it is.

In the Gospels there are many times when the words WELCOME and STRANGER are used to highlight the way God asks us to treat each other. It is easy for us to welcome people we know and like but God asks us to also welcome the stranger. The stranger being the immigrant, refugee, disabled, poor and lonely.

“Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God”. - Romans 15:7

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,” Matthew 25:35

The Statue of Liberty welcomes immigrants with the poem by Emma Lazarus, “The New Colossus:" "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…"  Over the years our country has welcomed immigrants from all over the world too, which has made Australia the wonderfully diverse nation that it is today. So many things in our country show how when you welcome the stranger you will reap many benefits. The food we eat, the restaurants, architecture, sports, books, entertainment are all examples of the diversity we experience every day that have come from welcoming the stranger to our country and into our communities.

There has been much research undertaken in our education systems about how our schools welcome children and families. All children have the same right to education no matter their culture or disability. Whenever there is a major crisis somewhere in the world, innocent people caught up soon become refugees who fear for their lives and look to other countries to “welcome the stranger”. Unfortunately, in today’s world, the word ‘stranger’ often has a negative feel to it inciting people to fear the stranger.

Our fear of someone or something different often causes us to give in to a selfish spirit of self-protection and self-preservation. Xenophobia, the fear of strangers, has increased in our communities and we often hear and read about ‘strangers’ as terrorists, illegal aliens, ‘they don’t want to be like us’, ‘they’ll change our way of life’. Like Jesus, we must love people, have compassion and freely give of ourselves for people without expecting anything in return. Treating people like Jesus did means offering hospitality and welcoming those in need.

I would like to share with you a Prayer that was written by a lady who had been a ‘boat person’ from Vietnam during the 80’s and how the welcome she received changed her life.

“I escaped from Vietnam and came to Australia in a refugee boat during the early 80’s.  I settled in Australia and I appreciate all the support from the community, especially all my friends during those hard times.  I would like to pray that all refugees around the world can find a new life, as well as their happiness.  I thank God who has helped me believe that there are such things in life as hope.  Something I thought that couldn’t be achieved when I was stuck on that boat, drifting across the sea with no one to help me.”

I hope and pray that our country, cities, towns, churches, schools, clubs and individuals will be able to put aside their fears and become welcoming communities for all people.

Upcoming Events at our School to Place in your Diaries

Tuesday 1st November – All Saints Day

Pre-Yr 1 Liturgies in own classes

Yr 2-6 Parish Mass at the Church at 12:00pm

Friday 3rd November – Yr 1 Liturgy – Bridge St at 9:15am

Sunday 5th November – School P&F BBQ – Bunnings Kent Town 9am-4pm

Friday 10 November – Yr 4 Mass – PAS at 9:15am

Sunday 12th November – School Picnic – Kensington Park Reserve at 11:30am onwards

How Well Do We Know Our School?

Another beautiful area of our school.

Have you seen it before, do you know where it is?

Sacramental Program 2023/2024

If you have any questions about the program for next year or; if you are considering starting your children’s Religious Journey with the Sacrament of Baptism, please contact Franco Canil at the School Office or email fcanil@sjms.catholic.edu.au

This Week’s Sunday Readings are:

First Reading: Exodus 22:20-26

Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1:5-10

Gospel Reading: John 14:23

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

Come see our Preschool in action, contact us for a tour or enrolment information.

Once again SJMS Preschool and School will be involved in the Norwood Christmas Pageant to be held on Saturday 18 November 2023.  All families are welcome to come along and walk together to represent our wonderful school community. Our order number is 17 and will meet on the northern side of  The Parade near the Sydenham Rd intersection. Please aim to be there between 9.10am and 9.30am wearing your fun Christmas clothes with a decorated umbrella. If you have any queries please contact Maree at maree@sjms.catholic.edu.au  

As we come to the final term for 2023, the P&F is busy organising events for the term, finalising outstanding items as well as preparing for 2024. We appreciate there is a lot of communication this time of year. Here is a one stop summary we hope helps.

Kent Town Bunnings Fundraising Sausage Sizzle

Thank you to everyone who has offered their time to assist with this. We will be in touch shortly.

Family Picnic – Sunday 12 November – Kensington Gardens Reserve

As per our ‘Save the Date’, this will be held on Sunday 12 November from 11.30am. It will be a casual event with families invited to bring along their own picnic lunch, sporting equipment, chairs/picnic rugs.  The P&F will be providing a cake stall with proceeds raised going to the St Vincent de Paul Christmas appeal.

Calendars

You will have seen both the P&F Calendar, which we send around each term (updated as necessary) and the broader school calendar which includes all school masses, pupil free days, excursions, camps etc.

Please note that the school calendar also includes all P&F events so if easier, you are welcome to refer to the school calendar knowing that all dates are consistent.

P&F Community Survey – Closes Friday 3 November

Thank you to anyone who has already responded, your feedback is invaluable. We look forward to seeing the results and passing on any suggestions for 2024 to next year’s Committee.

P&F Celebration Drinks – Monday 30 October – All welcome

We will be having casual drinks in the Performing Arts Studio next Monday from 6.30pm. It’s a chance for us to thank our volunteers and class reps for all of their efforts this year, provide a wrap up of what the P&F has achieved (noting the formal report comes at next year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) as it does each year) and hopefully, hear from members of our community who are interested in being involved in the P&F next year.

Expressions of Interest for 2024 P&F Committee

As the old adage goes, ‘many hands make light work’. We will both be stepping down at the end of the year as we move on from SJMS after almost 15 years at the school. During our time here, we have always been proud of the commitment of the parents who have given their time to the P&F or volunteered wherever possible. This year’s Committee and volunteers have been no exception.

If you are interested in being a member of the Committee next year, please come along Monday night or let us know via email.  You will then be invited to attend our end of year meeting on 27 November (evening) where the exciting planning process for 2024 begins.

Quiz Night

Thank you once again to our outstanding school community for your support of this event. You will have noticed the banner at William Street (generously supplied by Get Displays and the Ebel family) displaying the logos of our Platinum, Gold and Silver Sponsors. All other sponsors have also been thanked and received Certificates of Appreciation.

We are so proud to announce that our final tally for the Quiz Night is $8,296.21!!!!!

We are in the process of determining exactly what will be purchased with these specific funds with the aim of ensuring each campus benefits in some way.

Fundraising Proceeds

Funds raised by the P&F throughout the year are combined and used to improve the learning environment of our children. In March this year, and following consultation with the school’s leadership, the P&F undertook to use the funds raised in 2023 for the purchase of sporting equipment, IT and STEM resources, library books and musical instruments. The allocation between these areas will depend on the final amount raised.

Details on where the funds have been utilised for the previous year, and the final amount raised, are provided at each year’s AGM.

How to contact the P&F

Remember you can contact us at any time at pandf@sjms.catholic.edu.au, by sending a message through the P&F Facebook page or approaching one of the P&F members (Pina Bria, Bec Humphrey, Janelle Harris, Vikki Schiavone, Diana Thompson, Wanda Musolino, Steph Semczuk) or alternatively, your class reps, who will be happy to pass them on.

Diary Dates for Term 4

Week 3

P&F Celebration Drinks (all welcome) - Monday 30 October from 6.30pm

Kent Town Bunnings Sausage Sizzle - Sunday 5 November

Dads, Granddads and Caregivers’ Lawn Bowls Night - Thursday 9 November

Week 4

Family Picnic Sunday - 12 November from 11.30am

Week 5

P&F Recess and Lunch Order - Friday 17 November

Week 9

Whole School Transition Day & Morning Tea for parents of new students - Monday 11 December

We look forward to a great term!

Bec Humphrey and Pina Bria

On behalf of the SJMS Parents and Friends Committee

We would like to inform you of the dates for Pupil Free Days (PFD) for this year. Please note that OSHC will be available for families that require this service on these days.

• 13 December 2023 Last Day of Term R-6
• 14 December 2023 Last day for Preschool Children 
• 15 December 2023 Whole School Pupil Free Day 

We are trialing a new Assembly format for the year.

All Assemblies will be held in the Performing Arts Studio at William St on Friday afternoons at 2pm.

Students from Bridge Street will walk across to William Street to participate in Assemblies, face to face.

Term 4

10 November - Year 2/3G Assembly
1 December - Mid-Year Reception Assembly

We will ask for help from our wonderful parents and caregivers to help walk the Bridge Street students across on these dates. Please look out for the form on Skoolbag, next week.

Please remember to check the school calendar regularly for any updates.

St Joseph's Memorial School provides a safe environment for all while valuing the partnership between school and home.

As a Catholic community, we welcome and value volunteers. To be able to volunteer, and/or attend at other times throughout the school year, we ask that you hold the following:

1. A current Catholic Police Check (parents/caregivers attending excursions, reading in class, helping in class, attending community events);
2. A current Responding to Abuse and Neglect in Education and Care for Volunteers certificate (please click here to view how to complete this requirement);
3. Completed the volunteers application.

A Catholic Police Check for volunteers at SJMS are free for our current parents and caregivers. Application Forms are available to download here or at either school office.

We ask that you present your completed form with verification ID to the front office, and we will submit the application on your behalf. You will then receive an email link to complete the process online. Once all cleared you will receive a Catholic Police Check ID card in the post, please bring this in to the front office and we will take a copy of your clearance.

This process ensures we maintain a child safe environment. To avoid disappointment, we encourage you to apply for a Catholic Police Check through either school office as soon as possible.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at either office.

Thanking you
The SJMS Admin Team
info@sjms.catholic.edu.au

For more information on how Catholic Education SA provides a safe environment for all, please click here.

Summary of what is needed to volunteer at SJMS:
Valid Catholic Police Check
Responding to Abuse and Neglect Education and Care Volunteer Certificate
Completed application form