Week 4, Term 1 2024

Dear Families

Our first four weeks at school have been a very successful start! It has been great to see our three school pillars of faith, learning, and community, in conjunction with our values of kindness, love, and care, actively being lived out every day.

School Leaders

At our first whole school assembly, we presented and blessed our 2024 Year 6 leaders. It was with great pride that the Year 6 students presented their applications for the leadership positions for appointment. We are excited to see the positive impact each of the students will have on our school community this year.

The Year 6 students shared speeches in application for the leadership positions. In their speeches the students outlined the various opportunities and experiences they have undertaken whilst at school, as well as, their vision to lead our community this year.

Congratulations to newly appointed 2024 School Captains Sienna and Jack for being voted for and selected by the school community:

I would also like to congratulate the Sports House Captains:

Tappeiner (Yellow) House Captains: Taylor and Vincent

MacKillop (Red) House Captains: Olive and Mia

Woods (Blue) House Captains: Corey and Jessie

Joseph House Captains: Nicole and Jack

I would like to congratulate our students appointed as Social Justice Leaders:

I would also like to congratulate our students appointed as Information Technology Leaders:

School Sports Commencement

Our afterschool and weekend sports have commenced for the first term with Basketball, Cricket and Netball. It has been wonderful to hear positive reports from coaches and students in regard to the way the teams are cohesively working together and improving their skills.

Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday

Last week, our community celebrated and learned about Shrove Tuesday, the day prior to the commencement of Lent on Ash Wednesday. The Bridge Street students all enjoyed writing a procedure text on how to make a pancake and then enjoying the process of making and eating delicious pancakes. On Ash Wednesday, we held liturgies at the Bridge St. and William St. campuses. It was an amazing opportunity to prepare and learn more about the commencement of Lent.

Chinese New Year Learning and Celebrations in Preschool

In recent weeks, our Preschool celebrated Chinese New Year. The preschool children made hand drums and created a dragon head for a New Year dance, as it is the year of the dragon.

Parent Welcome Drinks

The event last Saturday night was an amazing opportunity for parents to catch up and connect. It was wonderful to see new families who have joined the community attend the evening. Thank you to our Parent and Friends committee for their organisation and planning to ensure the event was a huge success.

It has already been a brilliantly positive start to the school year.

Kind regards,

Adam Slater

Principal

Dear Parents and Caregivers

This Sunday at Mass we hear the story of the Transfiguration of Jesus. This is one of the most dramatic events in Mark’s Gospel and reveals the true identity of Jesus.

The word ‘transfigure’ means to change or be transformed. In this event we read that Jesus’ physical appearance changes, “His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them.”

The disciples who are with Jesus, see before them two of the most important figures in Judaism - Moses and Elijah. Moses represents the law as God gave him the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai and Elijah, regarded as the greatest prophet.

In the Transfiguration, we anticipate Jesus’ Resurrection as we have the benefit of knowing what is to come. His Disciples however, don’t and as such, their confusion continues as they do not understand what Jesus means by his words below:

Mark 9 – 10: “As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. ¹⁰ They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant.”

POPE FRANCIS’ WORDS 

Do you want to fast this Lent? 

A Prayer for Lent 

Author unknown. 

Project Compassion 

Last week students took home a Project Compassion box from Caritas Australia.  This year, Project Compassion shares stories of three resilient women from three different corners of the world. They are facing vastly different challenges, but are all united by one dream: to create a better tomorrow for all future generations. ​

Meet Ronita from the Philippines. Ronita is a mother of two young boys living in a slum in Quezon City. She went back to school to finish her education so that she could earn income to support her children.

Meet Leaia from Samoa. Not having access to a reliable source of clean water was very difficult for Leaia and her family. But, with the support of Caritas Australia, a water tank was installed at their home, improving their health and living conditions.

Meet Memory from Malawi. Memory, the eldest daughter from a rural Malawian family, trained to become a carpenter and is now a trailblazer for future generations of women in her village. 

This year, we will focus our Fundraising efforts for Caritas in Week 8. Further information will be available shortly. Money raised during this week will go to supporting Caritas in their work with Ronita, Leaia, Memory and their communities.

Upcoming Masses and Liturgies of the Word

Week 5:

Thursday 29 February – Year 5 & 6 Mass

9:15am in the PAS

 Friday 1 March – Year 1 Liturgy of the Word

9:15am in the classroom

Week 6:

Friday 8 March – Year 3 & 4 Mass

9:15am in the PAS

Just a reminder if your child is unwell we recommend that your child stays home. This is to ensure the wellbeing and safety of all our community members at SJMS.

Student (Rec-6) Lunch Orders are available every Monday and Friday (during school term) organised by Louie’s Deli at Norwood.

Orders can only be made via the QKR app and have a range of pies, pasties, hotdogs, roast chicken wraps, croissants and some gluten free options. 

Please visit the QKR app to view the full menu option.

It has been brought to our attention that children are being dropped off before 8.20am on William Street campus and 8.30am on the Bridge Street campus.

We remind all families the importance of children’s safety and the duty of care with yard duty commencing at those times.  If your child needs to be dropped off before these times, they must be signed in to OSHC.

We also remind ALL families at William Street that siblings are not to be dropped off if sports training is taking place without the supervision of a parent.

Please note that OHSC is available every morning from 7am.

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 1

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.

Learn an instrument in 2024!

Students wishing to start learning an instrument next year are welcome to contact Learning Through Music to enquire about enrolling ready for Term 1!

If you would like to take instrumental music lessons please contact Learning Through Music online at www.ltmusic.com.au or email info@ltmusic.com.au if you would like further information.

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

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

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.

Term 2

• Week 1 - Monday 29 April 2024 R-6
• Week 10 - Friday 5 July 2024 Preschool-6 (Whole School Pupil Free Day)

Term 3

• Week 1 - Monday 22 July 2024  R-6

Term 4

• Week 1 - Monday 14 October 2024 R-6
• Week 9 -