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Welcome back to the start of Term 2. Our focus as a Catholic community of late has been on the Easter season, where we celebrate the great mystery of Jesus’ resurrection.
Easter gives us hope! We are Easter people, a people of hope. Hope is not wishing, hope is not dreaming; hope is our serene confidence that God will always be there. Hope is at the heart of our faith, and Easter marks the greatest hope for all humanity.
As we enter Week 2 of Term 2, the reality of school has certainly set in; here are some tips that may help as we begin another term:
- Manage your own anxiety: Avoid questions that may convey your worries eg “Do you like your teacher?” Instead, focus on positive action eg “Tell me about the best thing you learned today; Who did you help today?”
- Be open to what your child is feeling eg “I see you are feeling sad, that’s okay”.
- Listen: you don’t have to solve everything.
- Meet other parents: Show your child you are part of the St Joseph’s community.
- Go to bed early, get up early and be organised: It is hard for a child to focus and participate all day if they are tired or have had a frazzled morning.
- Work with the teacher: Parent/Teacher interviews are a great time to share concerns and discuss successes. Remember that you may contact your teacher to make an appointment anytime throughout the year.
- Be realistic: Each child is unique and special. What works for one, may not work for another. In all aspects of their learning- academically, physically, socially and emotionally - children will vary. Embrace the difference!
ANZAC DAY
Thank you to the students, parents and staff who represented St Joseph’s School at the ANZAC Day march. It was inspiring to see such a commitment from so many from our community as they took part representing our school in the wider community of Atherton.
P & F MEETING– WEDNESDAY 30 APRIL @ 5:00pm
Our next P&F Meeting will be held tomorrow (Wednesday 30 April) at 5:00pm in the staffroom. Please come along, meet new friends and play an active role in your child/ren’s school.
APRE APPRAISAL – Wednesday, 7 May
Thank you for all who were able to participate in the survey as part of Mrs Mary MacCallum’s Performance Review. The next stage in the process involves interviews with community members including parents, staff and students. These interviews will allow the Review Panel to talk directly with members of St Joseph’s School Community. If you’d like to be part of this process, please reach out to me ASAP. Thank you to those who have already volunteered to be part of these interviews.
2026 PREP ENROLMENTS
We have commenced the enrolment process for our 2026 Prep classes. As existing families with Prep age children receive priority placement, I urge existing family to ensure they have lodged their enrolment form. I would also ask for your assistance in informing new families who may be considering enrolling their child here at St Joseph’s in any grade to make contact with the school as soon as possible.
Word of mouth is always the best form of communication and I am always thankful for the positive feedback I hear from new enrolments and I am most appreciative of those of you who spread the “good news” about our great school.
MOTHER'S DAY
On Sunday, 11th May we celebrate our mother on Mother’s Day. This is a special day of reflecting, sharing, giving and appreciating our own mothers and their importance in our lives. The role of motherhood is indeed a role of sacrifice – a role where time, energy, commitment and love are generously given unconditionally and without question. We are very fortunate to have this day on which we can show our mother how much we appreciate their love for us.
My prayer is that we all recognise and acknowledge the significance of mothers in our own lives, and that Sunday, 11th May be a special time when we thank our mothers for who they are and for all that they have done.
DATE CLAIMER:
Mother’s Day Bingo Night: Wednesday, 14 May (5:30 – 7:00pm)
VALE POPE FRANCIS
Pope Francis now rests in peace, but his spirit walks on with us. A shepherd who led with mercy, joy and courage, he reminded us that faith is lived in action, and hope is our mission. As we continue the journey into the Jubilee Year, we carry his legacy forward—not in mourning, but in movement, as Pilgrims of Hope.
May his prayers for peace come to life.
Rita Petersen
Welcome back to Term 2 and Happy Easter!!
Death of Pope Francis
The death of Pope Francis came as a huge shock to the world on Easter Monday. As we continue to mourn his loss, we are also grateful for the way in which he led the church in such a positive way over the last 12 years. We continue to pray that the conclave will deliver us a new leader that will serve the church like Pope Francis did. When the conclave begins shortly, we will await the vision of the white smoke to symbolise that a new pope has been elected.
Easter Season – 50 days from Easter Sunday to Pentecost
You may think that Easter is over, but we are currently still in the Easter Season of the Church which lasts for 50 days. During this time, we continue to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and to celebrate our faith.
We gathered for an Easter Liturgy last Wednesday to celebrate the resurrections story as a school community. It was a lovely celebration, and the students participated with so much enthusiasm.
The Gospel reading which was read on Sunday is one of my personal favourites of the Easter season. This is the story of doubting Thomas. Jesus says to Thomas, “Do you believe because you see me? “How happy are those who believe without seeing me!” (John 20:24-29)
“Thomas is given the opportunity to be our representative who obtains this evidence.
He gives witness to us that the Jesus who was raised is the same Jesus who had died.
Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, we are among those who are blessed for we have not seen and yet have believed.” (Taken from Loyola Press)
ANZAC Day Prayer Service
Students and staff gathered on Thursday afternoon to commemorate ANZAC Day – a day on which all Australians remember the sacrifice of those who have died in war. During our school service we remembered the men and women who have been involved in all battles and thanked the armed services who gave of themselves to protect our country and strive for world peace.
During the service, which was lead by our student leaders, we prayed that the strength and courage displayed by the ANZAC soldiers who fought to protect our country, will be with all of us as we strive for peace in our world. We also heard important messages from RSL representatives, John Mudge MBE and Joshua Dodgson.
(The Ode is from the poem, For the Fallen by Laurence Binyon)
They shall not grow old,
as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them,
nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun
and in the morning
We shall remember them.
Lest we Forget
Thank you to those students, parents and staff members who represented our school at the March and Service at the Cenotaph on Friday.
Project Compassion
A huge thankyou to all those students and families who contributed to our Project Compassion appeal during Lent. Thanks to everyone for your wonderful support of this worthwhile cause. If you have any collection boxes at home, please bring them in by the end of the week so that we can send our money to Caritas soon.
Mother’s Day
Wishing all our mothers and grandmothers a special day next Sunday, May 11 for Mother’s Day. Blessings to you all for a beautiful day with your families.
Our Year 1 students will celebrate a Mother’s Day Liturgy on Monday, May 12 at 2.15pm to pray for all mothers in our school community.
God bless,
Mary MacCallum
Holidays are over but hopefully everyone kept reading during the break! Today I want to discuss the power of reading in building a child’s imagination. Sometimes parents and teachers may well wish a child didn’t have such a vivid imagination, but this skill plays a very important part in a child’s development towards adulthood.
Reading is a powerful tool for nurturing a child's imagination. When children dive into stories, they embark on adventures that stretch their minds and spark creativity. Through reading, they encounter new worlds, characters, and scenarios that encourage them to think beyond their immediate surroundings.
Developing a child's imagination is crucial for several reasons. Firstly, it enhances problem-solving skills. When children imagine different outcomes and scenarios, they learn to approach challenges from various angles. This creative thinking is invaluable in both academic and real-life situations.
Secondly, a rich imagination fosters empathy. As children read about diverse characters and experiences, they begin to understand and relate to perspectives different from their own. This empathy is essential for building strong, compassionate relationships.
An active imagination boosts language skills. Reading exposes children to new vocabulary and complex sentence structures, which they incorporate into their own speech and writing. This linguistic development is foundational for effective communication.
A reading-friendly environment, a variety of books that cater to their interests and introduces them to new genres supports their ability to develop their imagination. Discussing the stories together, encourages your child to express their thoughts and ideas.
Remember, the goal is to make reading enjoyable and engaging. Celebrate their curiosity and creativity, and watch as their imagination flourishes. By fostering a love for reading, you're giving your child the tools to dream big and think creatively, skills that will benefit them throughout their lives.
Year 3F are on a reading road trip around Australia in their Kombi van. It looks like they are in Victoria at the moment. Along the way they have been to the Eromanga Natural History Museum and also visited the Great Barrier Reef. They turned themselves into palaeologists on a dinosaur dig while in Eromanga and went snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef, to imagine what these two experiences would be like. Their artwork is a reflection of what wonderful imaginative experiences can be created through reading! Great imagining Mrs Bauer and 3F!
This term VPG’s Every Family Program will deliver a free parenting program for all St Joseph’s parents; Circle of Security.
I am happy to answer any questions you may have about the program and I will be organising and attending the progam as well.
This is a short 4 min video about the Circle of Security Program: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wpz8m0BFM8
Kind regards,
Toni Iacutone - School Counsellor
Uniform Shop Opening Hours
Tuesday and Thursday mornings between 8.15am – 8.45am.
Outside of these times by appointment only.
Online ordering of school uniforms is available via Flexischools. Order online at anytime. Orders will be packed on the next available Tuesday or Thursday morning and given to your child.
For all uniform information please contact:
Tricia Lee – plee@cns.catholic.edu.au
