Term One Week Nine

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

St Isidore

Wisdom 2:1, 12-22. The Lord is near to broken hearts – Ps 33(34):16, 18-21, 23. John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30.

Jesus’ challenge to us

One wonders how St Isidore came to be recognised as the patron saint of the internet. He was born in Spain in the sixth century, before the invention of printing let alone cyberspace. The reason may stem from the fact that this bishop, a great scholar, was the first person to try to create a compendium of all Christian knowledge; a mighty task. So perhaps he was the forebear of our dear friends Siri and Dr Google who seem to know everything. The obvious difference is that Isidore was a knowledgeable person while Google is a useful algorithm. I hope this distinction is not being lost. In today’s Gospel, people want to kill Jesus because of what he said. No algorithm could have generated the unique and challenging words of Jesus. They came from his heart, which was the centre of his relationship with the Father. The Book of Wisdom likewise shows the vulnerability that comes with being truly authentic.

SCHOOL NEWS

MUFTI DAY

Next Friday, 11th April, is the last day of Term 1. Children can wear casual clothes with enclosed shoes.

We ask that all students make a gold coin donation to go toward Project Compassion.

Catholic Education Benefits All Australians

Catholic schools are Australia’s largest non-government education provider, delivering choice, affordability, and value for all.

With the election coming up, parents might be interested in finding out more information by going to link below. There is a great short video explaining how school funding works.

Sr Francis

Next week we will, sadly, farewell Sr Francis from our school and Parish. Sr Francis has been an important part of our school over the past few years. We will miss Sr Francis’ presence at Mass each week, her help with Reading and especially with the Parish Sacramental program.

You will have the opportunity to say goodbye to Sr Francis at a special morning tea after our Holy Week Liturgy on Thursday, 10th April at approximately 10:15am. Please come along to the Liturgy in the church and then the farewell. 

Anna Sutton

Next Thursday will be Mrs Anna Sutton’s last day at St Joseph’s. Whilst we have only had Anna for a short time, she has made a wonderful impression on our staff and students. We wish Anna all the best for the future.

ANZAC Day 

ANZAC Day, 25th April, is on the last Friday of the school holidays. St Joseph’s will participate in the march to the Cenotaph at the Village Green. We would love as many of our students to march with our school as possible. Children are to wear full school winter uniform to the march and the ceremony afterwards. This includes our school tie.

Please assemble outside the Molong RSL at 10:30am sharp.  

P & F Easter Egg Hunt

We still have spaces available and need a few parents helpers. Click on the link below the flyer to pick a time slot.

Student of the Week

SPORTS NEWS

Polding Swimming

The Polding Swimming Championships were held at Homebush this week. Bella competed in multiple events with some wonderful results. Bella won the 50 metre Breaststroke and placed 3rd in the 50 metre Backstroke. Bella will now compete in the NSW PSSA State Championships at Homebush next week. We wish Bella all the best as she takes on the best swimmers in NSW.

Winter Sports Trials

Last week eight students travelled to Bathurst for the Diocesan Winter Sports Trials. Our students trialed in Netball, Hockey and Soccer. Congratulations to the following students who were selected in Diocesan Teams to compete in the Polding Trials in Bathurst early next term. 

Georgie Bowman - Hockey

Bella Bowman - Hockey

Henry King - Hockey 

Jock Lyons - Hockey

The Polding trials will be a great opportunity for these students to play against teams of a very high standard.

Cross Country

St Joseph’s Cross Country will be held next Monday at the Molong Golf Club.

5, 6 & 7 year olds will compete at 12:15pm.

8, 9, 10, 11 & 12 year olds events will commence at 12:30pm.

All parents and families are welcome to attend to support the children in the events.

We look forward to seeing you there.

School Athletics Carnival

St Joseph’s Athletics 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. 

FROM THE REC

Holy Week Liturgy 

Holy Week Liturgy 

Easter falls on April 20th this year, which is during the middle weekend of the school holidays. This means that Holy Week will take place in the first week of the break.

Before we finish the term, we will commemorate Holy Week with a special liturgy on Thursday, April 10th (Week 10), at 9:30 am. During the liturgy, we will reflect on the key events of Holy Week, with each class presenting one of these moments through drama and song:

• Kindergarten: Palm Sunday
• Year 1: The Lord’s Supper
• Year 2: The Washing of the Feet
• Year 3: The Garden of Gethsemane
• Year 4: The Crucifixion
• Year 5: The Burial

When we return in Term 2, we will hold a short liturgy to celebrate Easter, where Year 6 will explore the Resurrection.

We warmly invite all friends and family to join us for the Holy Week Liturgy in Week 10. We look forward to sharing this special celebration with you!

Please see attached information about Mass times and locations for the Easter period. 

Upcoming Masses:

• Week 10: Whole School Mass (Wednesday, 9th April 9:30am)

Holy Week Liturgy: Week 10 (Thursday, 10th April 9:30am)

Miss Taylah Woodhouse

Religious Education Coordinator

STUDENT WELLBEING

The Resilience Project

This week I have attached a take it home lesson on Empathy that Year 3 have discussed this term.  It is a superhero activity that everyone at home can participate in and use for discussion whilst sharing a meal together.

I have also attached below An article from Michael Grose "Finding the off switch for kids who constantly worry: A practical guide."

Hope you have a great weekend.

Anna Bowman

Finding the off switch for kids who constantly worry:

A practical guide by Michael Grose

If you’ve ever spent a sleepless night worrying, you'll know that problems seem overwhelming when you think about them too much.

You feel like everything is stacked against you.

You need to find the Off switch to escape your worries for a while.

The same principle applies to kids who worry too much.

They need to find their OFF Switch before full-blown anxiety takes hold.

Here are seven easy-to-apply, evidence-based strategies for teaching your kids to stop ruminating (repeating the same thoughts and worries):

1. Broaden their vision.

Kids get tunnel vision when they worry. (Their reptilian brain ensures they focus on imminent danger. However, it can’t distinguish between a coming math test and a prowling tiger.)

They can’t see the bigger picture.

For instance, a young person may fret over minor work matters, such as getting the exact font match for an assignment, and neglecting to get the sleep necessary for good learning the next day.

• Sometimes, a wise adult needs to remind children and young people about what truly matters.

Expert tip: Encourage them to step away from their source of stress or anxiety for a few minutes. This will help them refocus on the bigger picture and stop sweating the small stuff.

2. Put their attention elsewhere.

Shifting attention away from worries is an age-old technique parents and teachers use.

Commonly known as distraction, focusing on something other than what causes them distress is vital for good mental health.

Examples of distractions include going outside, playing a game, shooting basketball hoops and listening to music.

Expert tip: Help your child identify three sources of distraction to use when they worry. Then, ask them to choose one when they are anxious. This not only distracts them from their worries but heightens feelings of control. Feeling out of control is behind a great deal of childhood and teen anxiety.

3. Give their worry a name.

Somehow, giving a worry a name makes it feel less scary and more manageable.

My favourite picture storybook for toddlers, ‘There’s a Hippopotamus on Our Roof’, by Hazel Edwards, personifies fear of the dark as a friendly hippo.

Much more friendly and easier to boss around if you’re a child.

Ten-year-old Jeremy calls his pre-tennis match nerves Neville.

“Ah, Neville’s back to annoy me. Oh well, I’d better listen to some music. He hates that”

• Jeremy has a great tool in his well-being toolbox to combat his anxiety.

Expert tip: Help your child create different names to express their worries and fears. This fun activity can help lighten their moods when they worry.

4. Put your worries in a jar.

Wouldn’t it be great if you could put your worries in a safe and throw away the key!

You do this as an adult when you watch your favourite TV show or wander for hours online.

Children who constantly worry need something more practical.

They can write their worries on paper and lock them in a jar by the side of the bed at the end of the day. It’s good to know that their fears can’t get out because they are locked up tight.

• A diary or notebook works just as well with older kids.

Expert tip: Put a writing pad by their bed and encourage them to draw or write about their worries and concerns. Getting their worries out can help them relax.

5. Limit time talking about worries.

It’s good if kids can talk about what’s on their minds, but talking needs to be kept to a minimum (unless you're doing something about the problem) to prevent their worries from dominating their lives.

Some kids talk their worries up, blowing them out of all proportion.

• Set aside five minutes daily to talk about their worries and then put worry time aside until tomorrow.

Expert tip: Create a separate place for worry/problem-solving talk. It could be a chair, a couch, or their bed. This will help contain their anxiety/worry talk to those places. Be careful where you choose. Location carries memory, so it may not be easy to have fun in those locations in the future.

6. Normalise rather than lionise their anxiety.

Anxious kids are susceptible to their parents’ concerns and worries.

We build their concerns by continually reassuring them that things will be fine. Most of the time, one reassurance should be sufficient, followed by “I’ve already talked to you about that.”

• Continually going over old ground can allow worries to linger longer than necessary.

Expert tip: Share instances where you’ve worried or been anxious with your worrier. Let them know how it felt for you. This will help you form a deep connection and understand their feelings.

7. Give them the tools to relax and go into flow.

My wife relaxes in front of the TV, which is sufficient for her to forget her worries.

However, some people need a bigger set of tools, including:

• Exercise and sport
• Playing games
• Listening to music
• Mindfulness or meditation
• Coloring in and other art forms

Expert tip: Experiment with different forms of relaxation, as one child’s form may be stressful or unenjoyable for another child.

Finally…

Mental health and well-being are the new pillars of resilience and good health for kids.

We need to discuss it openly in all its guises, including sleep, exercise, and diet, as well as how to stay mentally sharp, handle emotional highs and lows, shift moods, and more.

The above tools may not work for every child or every situation. Consider them suggestions or idea starters as you build your Child’s Well-Being Toolbox.

P & F / CANTEEN NEWS

HEALTH MATTERS

COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

Hi Waste 2 Arters

The first APRIL UPDATE

I wanted to give you the first opportunity to book into the COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS that will be held at the Environmental Learning Facility (ELF), Orange Showground. Orange City Council would like to invite all interested residents to come along.

Children’s Workshop - Saturday 26 April 2024 from 2pm—5pm

Follow the link to book: https://tinyurl.com/W2AChildrensWorkshop2025

This workshop is facilitated by local artist Tavia Lyons and is aimed at our younger people and their parents. Tavia was involved with Waste 2 Art in Orange since its’ inception in 2015.

Families, adults, and community groups Workshop - Sunday 27 April 2024 from 9am—12nn

Follow the link to book: https://tinyurl.com/W2ACommunityWorkshop2025

This workshop  is suitable for families with older children, adults and community groups who would like to learn some techniques to use to make an artwork to display in the Waste 2 Art Exhibition. It is facilitated by Jaq Davies, a multidisciplinary artist also local to Orange.

Come along and share ideas, individuals and groups are welcome. If you have an idea already, take advantage of this opportunity to gain some advice on how to go about it.

Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by a parent, carer or guardian.

The theme is The Year of Toys. That doesn’t mean that you must use this material in your artwork but we want to raise awareness each year of one particular problem waste stream.

If you have collected materials you want to use, feel free to bring them along. We will supply a range of materials as well as glues and paints.

The Library team would like to thank NetWaste and Orange City Council for the opportunity to host Waste 2 Art in 2025.

Kind regards

Monica Engel

Co-ordinator Waste 2 Art

Central West Libraries