Term One Week Four
Our Vision and Mission
Vision Statement
With Jesus Christ as their role model, all children can and will achieve.
Mission Statement
Inspired by Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop and in partnership with parents, our Parish and the wider community, we aim to impart a holistic education on all children in our school. We endeavour to live by the values of our school motto.
Learning, Understanding and Peace.
St Joseph’s is distinguished by a great sense of belonging, where each person is valued and where learning is enjoyable.
Prayer of the day
Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands
Ecclesiasticus 6:5-17. Mark 10:1-12.
Unity in love
The readings today offer an update on Law. Ecclesiasticus gives us very sensible advice about friendship, and our experience recognises this as truth. The last part though qualifies it. Fear of the Lord is necessary in a friendship, in any relationship. It means that love has to be the basis of any real relationship. When we fear God, we are incapable of hurting love, of those we love.
As the psalmist declares, our delight is in following the path of God’s commands. In Mark’s Gospel Jesus also insists, when the Pharisees try to trick him, that unity in love cannot be divided because it comes from God and if we truly love God then we will be able to love others in a way that can never hurt them. We can choose to live in this way and not be the unteachable ones to whom Jesus refers.
Schoolzine - Newsletters
As of this week we are using the Schoolzine platform for our weekly Newsletter.
Schoolzine is the platform used for our school Website. Catholic Education Diocese Bathurst Limited (CEDB) have started moving all schools in the Diocese to this way of delivering their newsletters. Please be patient with us as we adjust to this new system. Any feedback is welcome.
SCHOOL NEWS
Craft Club
Craft club has been busy making friendship bracelets on small cardboard looms. The children are enjoying sitting and chatting with their friends as they weave. Other projects on the go are 'stitch books' and tapestry type stitching.
When the weather starts to cool I would like to introduce the children to knitting and crocheting, but unfortunately these are not skills I possess!! If you would be interested in sharing your skills and knowledge in these areas with the children pleas let me or Mrs Reid in the office know and I will be in touch to organise suitable times. (Craft Club runs on Wednesdays and Fridays from 1:25 - 1:50pm).
Likewise, if you have an interest in scrapbooking, please get in touch and we can organise a time for this project to go ahead as well!
Also, we would appreciate any donations of yarn or embroidery floss/thread, that you may have laying around at home, unused. ( We are not asking for brand new resources, we would like to be sustainable in using things that would otherwise we wasted!)
Thank you!
Mrs Jennie Corben
Student of the Week
SPORTS NEWS
Southern Region Swimming Carnival
We are incredibly proud of our talented swimmers who participated in the Southern Region Swimming Championships, on Wednesday showcasing their dedication, skill, and competitive spirit. Congratulations to the following students who represented our School. Isaac Hobbs, Lily McKenzie, Patrick Murphy, Oliver Townsend, Digby Bowman, Elke Brazier, Alf Hawke, Nash Jeffries, Archie Sullivan, Sarah Toynton, Sinclair Dowling, Otis Duncan, Lewis Elliott, Riley Elliott, Lachlan Haynes, Pippa Lawrence, Georgie McKenzie, Bella Bowman, Tilly Brazier, Gilbert Dowling, Maisie Evans, Bill Ostini, Jack Toynton, Georgie Bowman, Bryson Elliott, Dustin Lawrence, Isabella Murray.
Outstanding Achievements:
Bella Bowman: 11-year girls age champion.
- 1st - Senior Girls IM
- 1st - 50m freestyle
- 1st - 50m butterfly
- 1st - 50m backstroke
- 1st - All Age Girls 100m freestyle
She also set new records in the 50m freestyle and 50m breaststroke, reflecting her exceptional performance across multiple events.
Sinclair Dolwing: Junior Boys Runner-up
2nd - 10yrs 50m freestyle
3rd - Junior Boys IM
Individual Achievements:
- Dustin Lawrence: 1st Senior Boys 50m breaststroke
- Gilbert Dowling: 3rd Senior Boys IM, 2nd 11yrs 50m breaststroke
- Lachlan Haynes: 1st Junior Boys 50m breaststroke
- Bill Ostini: 3rd 11yrs 50m Breaststroke
- Alf Hawke: 2nd Junior Boys 50m breaststroke
- Elke Brazier: 3rd Junior Girls 50m breaststroke, 2nd 9yrs 50m freestyle
- Maisie Evans: 3rd 11yrs 50m butterfly
- Nash Jeffries: 2nd 9yrs 50m freestyle
- Otis Duncan: 1st Junior Boys 50m backstroke
- Georgie McKenzie: 3rd 10yrs 50m freestyle
- Digby Bowman: 1st 9yrs 50m freestyle
- Patrick Murphy: 2nd 8yrs 50m freestyle
- Riley Elliott: 3rd Junior Boys 50m butterfly
Relay Success:
- 3rd Senior Boys relay - Bill Ostini, Jack Toynton, Bryson Elliott & Gilbert Dowling
- 3rd Senior Girls relays - Georgie Bowman, Tilly Brazier, Maisie Evans & Bella Bowman
- 2nd Junior Girls relay - Georgie McKenzie, Sarah Toynton, Elke Brazier & Pippa Lawrence
- 1st Junior Boys relay - Lewis Elliott, Lachlan Haynes, Digby Bowman & Sinclair Dowling
Our swimmers displayed outstanding teamwork and individual brilliance, with many setting personal bests and achieving podium finishes. Congratulations to all involved—your hard work and determination have truly paid off!
Southern Region Gallery
Cross Country
School Cross Country will be held at the Molong Golf Club on Monday, 7th April. Details will be sent home in the coming weeks. Diocesan Cross Country will be held at Coolah on Tuesday, 6th May.
School Athletics Carnival
St Joseph’s Athletic Carnival will be held on Monday, 19th May. Southern Region Athletics will be held on Friday, 1st August. We are hosting the carnival this year. Planning will begin in Term Two.
EMMY Athletics
St Joseph’s will rejoin the EMMY (Eugowra, Manildra, Molong, Yeoval) Athletics Carnival again this year. Our students will compete in their sporting house groups as Yuranigh and MacKillop.
The carnival will be held on Friday, 13th June in Manildra.
FROM THE REC
Ash Wednesday
Next Wednesday, 5th March, is Ash Wednesday, marking the first day of Lent. Lent is a time of reflection and spiritual growth, focusing on prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. During this season, Christians deepen their faith through prayer, make sacrifices as a form of fasting, and show kindness and generosity by helping those in need. We encourage our families and friends to join us for Mass as we mark the beginning of Lent.
Project Compassion
Project Compassion 2025 calls on our school to stand with Caritas as we Unite Against Poverty this Lent. Every dollar raised will help transform the lives of some of the world's most vulnerable people, enabling us to stand in solidarity with them as they create change from the ground up.
During Lent, each classroom will have a Project Compassion donation box as part of the prayer space. Alternatively, our school fundraising page will remain active for those who wish to contribute online.
To inspire generosity, we will be running a competition during Lent to see which class can dig the deepest and play a pivotal role in standing together to Unite Against Poverty.
Upcoming Masses:
- Week 5 Wednesday, 5th March 2025, 9:30am: Whole School Mass - Ash Wednesday Mass
- Week 6 Wednesday, 12th March 2025, 9:30am: Primary Mass
Shrove Tuesday
Next Tuesday, 4th March, is Shrove Tuesday, the day before Lent begins. Traditionally, Shrove Tuesday is a day of feasting before the 40-day season of Lent, when Christians prepare for Easter through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Pancakes are commonly eaten on this day as a way to use up rich ingredients like eggs, milk, and sugar before the Lenten period of fasting.
At St Joseph's, we will be holding a pancake stall for students to enjoy a delicious plate of pancakes. All proceeds from the stall will go toward our Project Compassion fundraiser. More information was sent out earlier this week, and a pamphlet can be found at the end of the newsletter.
Miss Taylah Woodhouse
Religious Education Coordinator
STUDENT WELLBEING
The Resilience Project
The children are enjoying our resilience lessons each week. We’re proud to be implementing this evidence-based whole school wellbeing program. Students are engaged in weekly lessons to understand and strengthen their practice of Gratitude, Empathy, Mindfulness and Emotional Literacy. Please see attached flyers with information on topics we have covered and activities you can do at home.
P & F / CANTEEN NEWS
P & F Welcome BBQ
Tuesday 4th March at the School Hall.
This is a great opportunity to meet new families and come together and enjoy a casual BBQ dinner. Please see flyer below.
Canteen
Thank you to our wonderful canteen volunteers! It's great to see some new faces behind the counter this term - the kids have enjoyed it, too.
St Joseph's canteen has been 100% volunteer run since 2014, with all profit going directly to the P&F, and back into our school.
The roster is now full for Term One. Thank you again to our volunteers.
Remember to keep an eye on the "Sign Up Genius" App. This has shown to be a great tool for our volunteers to pick tim slots to assist in the canteen. Please see the link below if you wish to sign up to assist in the future.
Please know that new helpers are always very welcome, and we will make sure you have someone there to guide you.
There will be some delicious canteen special "meal deals" offered from week 4, please see the updated Menu.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
Enquiries welcome: Jane Shannon 0428 656 167
CEDB INFORMATION
Tell us about your experiences as a Catholic school parent and what you'd like to know more about
We value every parent's thoughts and opinions!
CCSP would like to know how involved/engaged you feel you are in your child's learning at a NSW/ACT Catholic school, how connected you feel in your child's school, and your thoughts on how schools could enhance family-school partnerships.
This data informs our parent learning program and provides us with valuable information about how our dioceses and schools are engaging with families.
Thank you so much for taking time out to give us your feedback.
Please click the link below to go to the survey.
CEDB Attendance Information
2025 Address Collection Notice
HEALTH MATTERS
COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD
