As I write this newsletter, I am feeling very privileged this week for I have experienced several terrific experiences with our senior students. On Tuesday, as part of our endeavour to increase our awareness of Reconciliation Week and Indigenous culture, Aunty Chris, an Aboriginal elder came to share her story with us.
National Reconciliation Week is the time for all Australians to learn about our history, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. Reconciliation must live in the hearts, minds and actions of all Australians as we move forward creating a nation strengthened by respectful relationships between the wider Australian community and our indigenous people.

Our Years 5 and 6 students, our younger students with an indigenous background, and some of our parents, came together to hear how Aunty Chris was not a ‘stolen generation’ child but one whose life had been deeply affected by this practice. She shared how, as a 3 year old, her mother, due to illness was declared an unfit mother and her and her siblings were unable to live with her. They lived with their father and an Aunty at times and she told how her life was quite unsettled as when word came the ‘big black car’ was in the vicinity they uprooted or on several occasions they had to hide when it was too late to move on and they saw the dust in the sky indicating the car to take them away was coming towards them. They hid under a bed which turned out to also have a red belly black snake under it and on another occasion they had to climb into a dark water tank and stay in there until it was safe to come out. As young children they had to stay inside to play as it was too risky to be outside. They were unable to play with nearby cousins on a mission as Aunty Chris had an Aboriginal mother and a white father and only full Aboriginals were allowed on the mission site.

When she was around seven, the family lived together again for a while, however her parents were unable to get married as it was not legal for a white person to marry an indigenous person. She began school, however it was considered she would not amount to much in life other than a servant so the nuns would get her to undertake kitchen and shopping duties for them rather than formally educate her. Her mother became ill again as did her father, who had fought in two wars, and when the neighbours came in to assist they said disparaging racist comments about her parents and told her that she would never amount to anything as she was a ‘hopeless black’. She took great offence at this and resolved to show them they were wrong.

She began high school, though left after being accused of cheating in a test, as the teachers felt her results could only be as a result of cheating and forced her to strip down to her underwear in order to locate her notes.
Aunty Chris then began to work in a returned servicemen’s home and it was then that she first began to feel she had something to offer others and that she felt cared for, valued and loved. Chris then went on to work in a hospital as well as a youth detention centre. She had found her calling - working with children who, like her, had been affected by trauma in their lives. She was able to ease her pain by helping others get through their hurt.

Aunty Chris followed the words of Pope John Paul II, who, when he was in Australia for the bicentenary urged Aboriginals to make their contribution to the country as well as feel the right to be welcomed by all those in our country.
Aunty Chris’ life experiences taught her the importance of speaking up and not being afraid to ask questions. The messages that she passed on to us were how she does things for others as she sees everyone as important and that it is not her place to judge anyone. She has the deepest respect for all and she is thankful for her life.
She urged our children to walk with respect, to respect one another but also to respect themselves for if you don’t do these things you are not taking responsibility, and you will not form quality relationships in your life. She also reminded them that it costs nothing to be kind. These were strong messages and the children were receptive towards hearing and learning from Aunty Chris. A particularly poignant moment in the afternoon was when one of our students asked her to describe her school years and her response was: “friendless, lonely, unworthy and unloved”. This greatly affected both the children and adults in the room and this simple response really impressed upon us what trauma our indigenous people have experienced. We now have such a greater understanding of the significance that Kevin Rudd’s Sorry Speech has for our indigenous population. A number of years ago, Aunty Chris moved into the education sector and was invited by her local MP to be in Parliament House to witness the delivery of this national apology. She described it as a day of great elation for her.

We are so grateful to Aunty Chris for spending time with us, for reminding ask to give ourselves the opportunity to grow and learn to be the best people we can be. We hope that all our students will be as thankful for their lives as she is for hers and to be aware that regardless of the background we come from we all have choices and we need to take responsibility and make them, and to be open to all people and full of hope.

The second experience that I am privileged to have this week is to spend three days in Canberra with our Year 6 students. To have the opportunity to share in what we generally consider to be ‘a right of passage’ for primary students has been wonderful. To be out of the school environment and to see and hear our students socialise with one another, inquire about things that interest them, work out who gets what bed in their rooms and how to ensure you’re not going to have a wet towel the following day (funny that some think that if you leave it on the bathroom floor in front of the toilet it will be fine!) along with identifying who can and who can’t use cutlery or who knows how to dress appropriately for the climate, along with identifying potential future prime ministers or senators, has all been interesting! Look out for their version of events in the next newsletter.

Last week I was also privileged to be part of the liturgical service for some of our children who made their Confirmation with Bishop Bill at the cathedral. The Holy Spirit was most definitely amongst us that evening and to see so many of our children commit to their faith is extremely affirming. May the gifts of the spirit continue to be with all our confirmation candidates throughout their lives and may they continue to use these gifts to enhance both their lives and the lives of others.

DISCO

Disco fever was definitely out in force recently! We had at least three quarters of the school attend our first disco of the year. The hall was flashing with a multicoloured array of lights, the music was pumping and our students were dressed to impress! At our Infants disco we saw some great dance moves, an amazing conga line and fabulous mixing with one another. Our Primary disco was a cross between a disco and a concert. Everyone was lined up outside as though they were going into the most popular concert venue of all time and once the music started up there was a wide range of interesting dance moves as well as lots of crowding around the DJ on the stage, arms swinging in time to the music and many would be artists joining in with the singing, often doing a solo verse or two with the microphone. It was a fabulous night and the children are very keen for the next disco. The number of parent helpers on the night was brilliant and the organisation of it all was terrific. Thank you to all those who helped out in both big and small ways and especially to Tammy Wilson and Joanne Smith, who were instrumental in organising the evening and working with their fellow Year 5 parents and a range of parents from other year groups in ensuring the night was a success.

Uniforms

Earlier this week we spoke to the children at assembly in regards to their uniforms. Many teachers have noticed that there is a tendency at the moment for children to be deviating from our uniform policy, mainly in regards to ‘accessories’. We ask that you continue to help us develop your children’s sense of pride in wearing the St Joseph’s uniform correctly.This looks like:

• shirts tucked in, and sleeves rolled down and buttoned, on the way to and from school, and out in public
• hair accessories to only be in the school colours of blue and yellow
• all hair tied back if shoulder length or longer (both boys and girls)
• no nail polish
• polished black school shoes and white trainers on sports days only
• plain silver or gold studs or sleepers - no ‘bling’
• no necklaces, bracelets etc

If there is a particular reason for your child to be out of school uniform, such as damaged shoes, etc please write a brief explanatory note or email.

Parent teacher interviews

All staff are currently in the midst of report writing for Semester One. Reports will go home at the end of Week 9 and parents are invited to come along in Week 10 for parent teacher interviews. You’ll be able to book these on Compass in the near future.

Farewell Fr Peter

Due to a Priest retiring in the Diocese, the Bishop has recently relocated some of the Priests.  Our Fr Peter is one of them.  He has been assigned as the Parish Priest of Forster and begins this weekend.  He is pleased to have his own parish but a little disappointed to be leaving Newcastle and the connections he has made here.  We thank Fr Peter for the many Masses, liturgies and class visit he has been involved with since joining us two and a half years ago.  We also thank him for his support of the staff and his support of our school initiatives.  We wish him well and hope that he finds the parish of Forster a warm and welcoming one.

We haven’t been informed whom our priest will be, as yet, however we  will let you know  once this has been shared with us.

Canteen

We have been struggling to get volunteers recently for the canteen, particularly on a Friday, which is causing a great strain when the amount of lunch orders is up around 150. Many people have been out of the habit of putting themselves on the roster due to COVID but we now strongly encourage you to once again sign up and lend a hand where you can. If we are unable to get any volunteers we will need to look at some changes, which are not what we want to do. These changes may include such things as a narrower window for ordering so that numbers are capped on a Friday; limiting the menu to make it easier and more efficient to handle the Friday demand etc. we would greatly appreciate any time you can give to help out in this area.

To be included on the roster please click here remember to make sure you are cleared to Volunteer before signing up.

P&F Meeting

Our next P& F meeting is this coming Monday, 31st May at 6:00pm in the Library or via Zoom. We will share the Zoom invite on Monday. Remember, if you have anything you wish to put on the agenda please send it through to the secretary, Karen Stathis, at sjpandf@gmail.com

Important Dates