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Dear Parents,
Nelson Mandela once said, “A fundamental concern for others in our individual and community lives would go a long way in making the world the better place we so passionately dreamt of.” This Christmas season we have the opportunity to help make this world a better place by doing something for others. We have decided this year to support two very worthy causes in our community – the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Hamper Appeal and The Little Juddies Christmas Drought Run. The Vinnie’s hamper Appeal will provide food and drink for those in our local vicinity who for various reasons are doing it tough and will not be able to celebrate Christmas in the manner in which we all are able to. The Little Juddies appeal is for food, toys and gift cards for drought stricken country families who are doing it tough.
With 2.9 million people currently living below the poverty line in Australia, including over half a million children, your support to these causes is invaluable. Please ensure that any food items you send in are non-perishable. To uphold the dignity of those receiving the hampers, please also ensure that all food items are not due to expire for 6 months.
In order to support both causes we ask that all those in Blue classes bring in hamper items for the St Vincent de Paul appeal. For the Little Juddies Drought Run we ask that all those in the Gold and Kinder White classes bring in donations as outlined below. The Little Juddies items need to be at school no later than Thursday 21st November and for the Vinnies Appeal, the following Thursday 28th November.
If you wish to learn more about the Little Juddies Drought Run please go to:
Kinder Transition
Over the last two Tuesdays we have held two of our three Kinder Transition mornings. This year we have done things a little differently and have held a Transition program for parents as well as the children. The first week the parents spent some of the morning in Kinder with their children, accompanying them in play based activities. They had strict rules to follow – no chatting with other parents, no directing their children to what mum or dad wanted to do and actively engage with their child in the activities the children chose to do. Following this we all gathered back in the hall to discuss what play based learning and Successful Foundations is in order to understand the significance between play and learning.
This Tuesday we held a Kinder Expo which consisted of tables set up around the hall. Each with a different focus. Our tables included: Student Leadership, Extra Curricular Activities, Library, Canteen, Uniform, P&F, OOSH, Learning Support amongst others. Rather than parents being required to sit and listen to staff talk in a more formal setting, this Expo enabled parents to move around and find out information on levels that were relevant to them as well as being able to meet and connect with other parents – both old and new.
A huge thanks goes to all our parents who gave of their time to both ‘man’ tables and share their knowledge as well as to our current Kinder parents who provided and organised a most delicious Morning Tea. We had a range of students from Years 3 – 6 who assisted us at the Expo. They were extremely mature and helpful and we are very grateful to them and to the choir who entertained us with their favourite song, “Shine Like a Diamond” and our rousing school song.
Working Bee
What a magnificent turnout we had for our Working Bee and what a great atmosphere abounded. We accomplished so much on the day and the feedback about the changes as well as the actual day itself has been wonderful. The connections people made with one another over a shovel, guerney or bucket of woodchip were terrific and there was a real sense of a community in action! It was lovely to reenergise afterwards at Bar Beach Bowling Club with a sausage and salad lunch and cold drink. We thank the P&F for both providing and cooking this. To all those families who came along, we are so very grateful to you both for your hard work and for your wonderfully positive approach that abounded.
Take a look at our Before and After photos to see a little of what was achieved. It is incredibly satisfying to see what was achieved in a relatively short amount of time.
Important Dates
8 November | Junior Cricket Gala Day |
11 November | Remembrance Day |
14 - 15 November | Year 6 Retreat |
15 November | Summer Sports Trials |
21 November | Interrelate |
22 November | Pupil Free Day |
Curriculum Corner - Renata Powell
Newcastle Permanent Mathematics Competition
Each year a selection of students in Years 4, 5 and 6, participate in the Newcastle Permanent Mathematics Competition. This is an opportunity to test the students’ numeracy and problem-solving skills in one of Australia’s longest running annual mathematics competitions. The competition is now in its 38th year and continues to grow each year, attracting almost 19,000 students from 340 schools. We congratulate all students for their participation and acknowledge the students below who received either a High Distinction of Distinction.
Year 5 Paper – Distinction
Luca Avery, Kolby Barr, William Boyle, Kaylah Broadhead, Xavi Grace, Arun Griffiths, Ivy Kiem, Angus Lane, Elki Long, Austin McNaughton, Oliver Moran, Ellen Moran, Chloe O’Donahue, Eleanor Phillips, Tom Scanlon, Emily Simpson, Charlie Whittaker and Ava Williams
Year 6 Paper – Distinction
Avalon Amodio, Patrick Burgess, Henry Chaston, Timothy Collins, Billie Davies, Hannah Horn, Angus McCluskey, Thomas Mooney, Benjamin Moran, Mia Stanger, Jack Webber
Year 6 Paper – High Distinction
Molly Boyle, Michaela Fernando, Thomas Woods
Year 6 Retreat
Year 6 will be attending Retreat on Thursday 14th November to Friday 15th November at Glenrock Scout Camp. This is a very special time where students reflect on their time here at St Joseph’s and begin to look forward towards their transition to high school. Please keep the students and teachers in your prayers.
Celebrating our Faith - Stephanie Colvin
Prayer
Socktober
Thank you to the Mini Vinnies team for holding a fabulous and fun Crazy Sock Day last Wednesday. Everyone looked great in their crazy socks. A special thank you goes to the children and families of Year 4 who hosted an amazing cupcake sale, raising $587! Each class were given a sock to collect their donations over the week. On Thursday 31st October, we weighed the socks to see who had the heaviest sock. The class socks ranged between 1-8kg. The winner was 6 Gold with a weight of 8.2kg and it also had the greatest value of $220. Well done 6 Gold, they will have the choice of an afternoon of playground games or class movie as their prize. The class sock donations in total came to $1128.20! Thank you to everyone who brought in spare change and added their donations. Our total whole school donation to Catholic Mission this year will be $1715.55. Congratulations St Joseph’s! This money will help many in need, including Sister Stan in Ghana who runs the Nazareth Home for God’s Children.
Remembrance Day
We invite parents to join us for our Remembrance Day liturgy at morning assembly at 8:50am under the COLA, Monday 11th November. We greatly appreciate the Year 4 students and the school band who have prepared to lead us in this liturgy of remembrance.
The school leaders will also be representing our school and lay a wreath at the local community Remembrance Day Service at Gregson Park, Hamilton at 11am on Monday 11th. Molly Boyle will be participating in the official service with her reading of The Ode. All are invited to attend.
Diocesan Synod Celebration
All are invited and welcome to attend the Diocesan Synod on Saturday 23rd November, 9:30am-5pm, at the Catholic Schools Office and Sacred Heart Cathedral. The theme for the Synod is: Building the Kingdom of God Together in the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle.
Please see the flyer attached for more details and registration.
Class Mass Timetable – Term 4 2019
Each class joins with the parish community once a term in the celebration of Mass. These Masses are held of a Friday and begin at 10:15am in St Joseph’s Church. Below is a list of dates when each class is attending in Term 4. Parents and grandparents are invited to join their children in prayer at this time.
Date | Class |
15th November | Year 3 |
29th November | Kindergarten |
6th December | Year 1 |
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Newcastle Inner City Catholic Community - Weekend Mass times
Sacred Heart Cathedral – Vigil Saturday 5:30pm, Sunday 9:30am and 5:00pm
St Joseph’s, The Junction – Sunday 9:00am
Immaculate Heart of Mary, Tighes Hill – Sunday 8:00am
St Mary’s, Newcastle – Sunday 7:30am
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Cricket
The Woolworths Cricket Blast School Cup Gala Days for Stage 2 and 3 are no upon us.
The Junior Gala Day for students in Year 3 and 4 will be held this Friday 8th November, while the Senior Gala Day for students in Year 5 and 6 will take place on Friday 22nd (Pupil Free Day). Each event will be held at Harker Oval.
Thank you to those parents of senior students who have notified that school that their child will no longer be participating due to the Pupil Free Day scheduled for the 22nd. As a result of these changes, please note the amended Senior teams below.
Thank you also to all the parents who have volunteered their time to support our students at these events. Your support is greatly appreciated.
The teams will now be as follows:
Junior Gala Day Teams – Friday 8th November, Mrs Matheson
Team 1 |
Team 2 |
Team 3 |
Team 4 |
Team 5 |
Team 6 |
Team 7 |
Patrick Aguado |
Ben Duffy |
George Beath |
Luca Wildschut |
Eden Buxton |
Abby Booth |
Isla-Rose Spiga |
Carter Allan |
Mattias Flynn |
Luke Craft |
Archie Stathis |
Shiloh Flynn |
Isabelle Emmett |
Edie Callinan |
Christian DiNardo |
Angus Lane |
Leo Langworthy |
Harry Hillard |
Sunny Hardy |
Sienna Friend |
Hannah Hickey-Attewell |
Chase Firman |
Rajbir Gujral |
Elliot Mole |
Jake Kelly |
Abbie Harnett |
Gizelle Griffiths |
Shloka Tummala
|
Isaac Flanagan |
Archie Williams |
Edward Morton |
Isaac Moran |
Madeleine Lusby |
Raphy Molinia |
Halle Stewart |
Maverick Ford |
Sandon Keane |
Spenser Smith |
Hugh Mulley |
Lucia Merlo |
Lillian Scanlon |
Leila Waddell |
Zac Griffiths |
Rhys Kelly |
Jacob Urube |
Clancy Scanlon |
Lucia Minto |
Meera Sinha |
Bella Wildschut |
Oliver Moran |
Isaac Leonard |
Mason Vanhuisstede |
Theodore Spak |
Abi Taber |
Mary Tutman |
Eve Yuen |
Xavier Heaney |
Domenic Papichio |
Lucas Vickery |
Hamish Stanger |
Lucy Webber |
Chloe O’Donahue |
Milla Barr |
Heath Allan |
Jack Simpson |
Louis Wilson |
Christiaan Escobedo-Chateau |
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Coach: Rhys Allan | Coach: Sarah Simpson | Coach: Paul Langworthy | Coach: Ainslie Wildschut | Coach: Meg Webber | Coach: Bree Booth | Coach: Arna Hickey&Shannon Attewell |
Senior Gala Day Teams – Friday 22nd November, Miss Parish
Upcoming Dates
Summer Sports Trials – Friday 15th November
Senior Cricket Gala Day – Friday 22nd November
Diocesan Summer Sports Trials – Friday 29th November
Congratulations to all the students who participated in the Central Region Spelling Bee Competition earlier this week. It was a challenging morning of spelling at St James Kotara.
Early Stage 1 had nine rounds, Hannah Stathis made it to Round 8 and Iris Scanlan came in second place overall.
Stage 1 was a close competition with ten rounds. Joe Cootes made it to Round 8 while Otis Charnock made it to the end of a very difficult Round 9.
Stage 2 had a fantastic result as it was won by Marie Betts with Eleonor McConkey in 3rd place.
Stage 3 took fifteen rounds to get a winner, so well done to Phoebe Biswas and Arun Griffiths for their great effort. All the students who participated were fantastic not only in their spelling skills but also in their conduct.
Book Club
The last issue of book club for 2019 will be distributed next week. If you want to purchase items as Christmas gifts you can ‘click’ the GIFT option. When the order arrives at school I will notify you to collect it from the library. Your child will never see the items!
Thank you for your support of Book Club this year. The library has benefited in excess of $1500 in rewards.
Happy reading!
School Fees
School Fees are now due and payable. For enquiries regarding outstanding accounts please contact the office.
Please ensure you return your 2020 Family Discount and Diocesan Pastoral Contribution form by Monday 2 December 2019.
Term Planner
Unless otherwise stated, the advertisements placed in this newsletter are placed by independent third parties who have no legal relationship with the Diocese. The activities or services of the advertisers are not supervised or controlled in any way by the Diocese. The Diocese is not in a position to endorse the advertisers or the services provided and makes no representation about those matters. Accordingly, the Diocese cannot accept any responsibility for the advertisers or the activities or services that are the subject of these advertisements