Week 8 Term 1 - 2022
Dear Families
What a wonderful week we have had!
Following the sadness and shock of the recent flood devastation, it was a pure joy last Monday to see the children reunited with their friends and classmates. They are adapting very quickly to our new space and have been very understanding of the need to change things on a daily basis as we learn to live in our temporary school.
It is also wonderful to catch up again with you our parents. We are here for you, so if you feel the need to call in the mornings, please do, we'd love to see you. If there is anything that we can do specifically to help, please let us know.
We haven't received any feedback in relation to a breakfast club yet, please let us know if there is a need.
Please contact the school if there are any issues with uniforms (for those impacted by the floods). There are still some second-hand uniforms available in the Stage2/3 area. I have also been in contact with School Locker and we can assist if needed.
The provision of food for fruit break, lunch and recess has been the biggest hit for the children. I didn't realise that the Stage 3 children could eat so much! We are very grateful for this donation.
When things start to slow down a little and we are more settled, we will begin to list and acknowledge the mammoth number of people who have helped us in so many ways to get back together again in this space. We are still receiving offers of help. We are so very grateful and will acknowledge each person or group with a card and/or video thank you from the children.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
We have been so lucky this week to have extra staff on hand to help wherever the need has been and walk the children through some wonderful new and exciting digital technologies. We thank and acknowledge the following visitors for their skills and time.
Mrs Karen Evans - Lead Pastoral Care
Sr Margarent Banon- Pastoral Care Diocesan Team
Mrs Jan Seymour- Creative Arts Specialist
Mrs Mary McEvilly Butler- Digital Technologies Team
JJ Purton- Lead Digital Technologies and Learning
Mrs Tracey Caitlin - Digital Technologies Team
Well being- Recovering Together
This week the students have engaged in a variety of activities to help process what has happened to their school and community. I would like to share some of the experiences that your children have had this week to help them process what has happened
Early Stage 1 and Stage 1 have used the Queensland Health resource Birdie and the Flood. This book is one of a suite of resources called ‘Birdie’s Tree’ designed to help children recover from a natural disaster or disruptive event. You may like to read the story with your child at home. The students excitedly engaged in a variety of drama and craft activities.
Stage 2 have focused on resilience and how we bounce back when we are feeling down. The students read the beautiful book In My Heart. The book explores a range of emotions, describing how they feel physically and empowers them to practice articulating and identifying their own emotions. Our favourite saying from the book is ‘my heart is hopeful’.
Stage 3 are working through a ‘Tools of Resilience’ unit from the program ‘Weaving Wellbeing’. It teaches the students a range of tools they can use when faced with a problem. So far we have learned what resilience is and why it is important, how to put our problems or worries into perspective and have identified healthy distractions that can stop us worrying or becoming anxious about things we have no control over.
The students from K to 6 have enjoyed exploring the new resources in the Rainbow Room at break times. There are a variety of activities for all students from theraputty, lego, games, kinetic sand, colouring activities to bubbles and a car mat.
The Parent Resource Centre on the Catholic Schools Office website has recently been updated with a new section: Support After a Natural Disaster which provides families with information about how to access practical post-disaster relief support as well as resources and strategies to help parents support children's emotional and mental wellbeing after experiencing natural disasters.
A belated St Joseph's Day
Today we took the time to celebrate a belated St Joseph's Day. Our Patron Saint's Feast day falls on 19 March every year. We weren't able to celebrate as we normally do on that day so we took some time today. Thank you to Catholic Schools Office for providing a beautiful surprise cake to help us do just that.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Regards
SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION
The Sacrament of Confirmation for the children in our Parish will be celebrated by Bishop Gregory Homeming on Thursday 31st March 2022 at the St Joseph’s Catholic Church at CORAKI.
All are welcome to attend this important sacramental celebration.
The Bishop has requested that the parents of the Confirmation candidates be in the church at 5:30 pm for a short meeting.
Please keep the following students and their families in your prayers:
Caleb Doran, Lotte Duignan, Sophie Flanagan, Meluca Jett, Rita Murada, Rose Quirk, Sunni Reece, Ayla Stahl, Sullivan McCabe-Dobbie, Philippa Swanson, and Thomas Walsh
St Joseph's Cross Country 2022
Date: 31st March 2022
Venue: Stan Payne Oval Evans Head
St Joseph’s School Cross Country will be held at Stan Payne Oval Evans Head on Thursday 31st March commencing at 9:30 am and finishing at approximately 11:30am. All students will be walking to and from the oval. Please ensure you have returned the excursion permission note. Medallion, ribbons and the winning colour House will be announced at a special sports assembly on Thursday 31st March at 2:40pm.
Distances for the Cross Country are:
- 3000 metres (3 kilometres for 11, 12 and 13 year old boys and girls
- 2000 metres (2 kilometres for 8,9 and 10 year old boys and girls
- 1000 metres ( 1 kilometres) for 7 year old boys and girls
- 500 metres ( 0.5 kilometres) for 5 and 6 year old boys and girl
If you have some spare time we would love some parent helpers for the cross country. If you can assist please call Gayl at the office on 66822468
Students who are successful at the school Cross Country (8-13 years olds) will attend the Richmond Zone Cross Country which will be held at a venue to be confirmed on Wednesday 27th April. (Term 2, Week 1). Children who are successful will be issued notes on the day and they need to be returned by Tuesday. 5th March 2022. A timetable will be published on Compass and Facebook early next week.