Week 3, Term 1 2022

Dear Parents and Carers,

This very different start to the school year has certainly provided us with many opportunities for growth, to learn new skills and develop a good sense of patience and resilience. Thank you for all your support and understanding as we continue to work our way through the significant restrictions that have been put in place to keep us safe.

This week, parents and carers from our Year 1-6 classes have had the opportunity to be part of an online meeting to hear from the class teachers about the year of learning ahead. This is certainly the new norm (for now) as we look to connect, inform and engage our families. We hope you found this a useful and helpful experience and if you were unable to make any of these online meetings, simply contact your child’s teacher and they will be able to send you the link or the slide presentation.

Spiritual Wellness

If you are looking for some spiritual tools for your family you may find this article of interest. the article looks at simple ways you can nurture your spirituality through gratitude and this is especially useful in uncertain times. This article and others can be located on the Catholic Education Website as part of its online learning resources for students, teachers and families. If you are interested in ways of praying as a family please feel free to contact me.

St Joseph’s Parish Sacramental Program 2022

Please contact me at amccard@stjotran.catholic.edu.au if you have discerned that your child is ready to celebrate the Sacraments and you have not received an email from me this week containing the parish enrolment information.   As part of the Adelaide Archdiocese, the Sacramental program is Family centred, Parish based, and School supported.  This year the program will be a primarily online mode with resources to support families.

Shrove Tuesday, Ash Wednesday and Lent

It is hard to believe but we are moving towards the Lenten Season and Easter.

On Tuesday 1^st March we commemorate Shrove Tuesday where we typically enjoy eating pancakes. Did you know that this tradition has been handed down and reminds us that people often fasted and not eat meat, eggs and animal produce for the next 40 days of Lent? Some Christians still follow this tradition. Did you also know that the first known recipe for pancakes was recorded in 1439? It is believed that pancakes could date back as far as Roman times.

The beginning of Lent is marked by Ash Wednesday on 2^nd March. Typically we would gather with an Ash Wednesday Mass however with the current situation we will probably have liturgies (prayer services) in class groups. On this day we also send home the Project Compassion boxes. As a catholic school we participate in the Project Compassion efforts each year. This has particular meaning for our context as we remember a famous Mary MacKillop saying “never see a need without doing anything about it. If you would like to know more information about Project Compassion and how donations can change lives please click on this link.

This year we welcome our new group of Receptions to our school. We would like to welcome Zein, Clara, Lucy, Jack, Esther, Sophia, Ava, George, Hamish, Nuit, Cleo, Ollie, Ruby, Charlie, Georgina, Xavier, Tennyson, Liam, Lydia, Mila, Flynn, Nellie, Stevie, Trey, Sofia and Cayden. It has been lovely getting to know all of our new children and their families as we welcome them each morning and afternoon in the bottom yard.

The Reception children have enjoyed meeting their new class members through playful learning and classroom activities. To support the children in their transition to school we have been reading lots of stories and talking about how we are always connected to our loved ones even when we are far away. We have also been focusing on developing our new sense of place within our school community.

In weeks 1 & 2 the Reception classes enjoyed listening to our ‘Mystery Readers’. Our Mystery Readers program is a wonderful way to meet the different faces that make up our St Joseph’s School staff community and help to familiarise the students with all of the members who they may see in the yard. 

It has been wonderful to watch the children engage in their learning tasks with enthusiasm and excitement as we begin our learning journey.

Mae McGee and Charlotte Winders

We are pleased to welcome Tania Gal to our staff team this year.

Tania is a Registered and Qualified Professional Counsellor for Time For Yourself Counselling Practice within the Hampstead Health Family Practice, which is an accredited "Child Safe Environment".​​

Counselling Experience

Tania's counselling experience of four years consists of working with adults, teenagers and children who are faced with grief and loss, trauma, anxiety or depression, and relationship issues.  She provides a very safe, engaging, creative and interactive counselling environment, where people feel heard and valued at all times, whilst focusing and working on how to manage, change or resolve any issues or concerns they may be facing that are affecting their mental health or wellbeing. ​

Children Counselling

As well as counselling experience, Tania has thirteen years experience working in the educational sector with children in schools and students with disabilities. Tania works with children who may be experiencing trauma, grief and loss, anxiety, depression, anger, stress, fear, have lack of confidence or low self esteem. 

Tania provides a positive counselling environment, that makes children feel comfortable and safe, whilst encouraging them to talk at their own pace, and express what is really upsetting or worrying them. Children enjoy the interactive therapies and strategies that are used, which include cognitive behaviour therapy and play therapy techniques (they are age appropriate and supportive). Counselling can help children learn how to look at, manage or change their way of thinking, behaviour or situation. 

Tania's professionalism, passion and enthusiasm to support and accept anyone through counselling, is evident and complemented by her warm, empathetic and engaging personality, together with her own life skills and experience.  

Congratulations to our families who have recently welcomed new additions to their families.

Congratulations to James &  Alison on the birth of baby Theodore.  A baby brother for George (RMM).

Congratulations also to Grant & Melita on the birth of baby Amalija.  A baby sister for Noah (3/4RM).

Congratulations too to Linzi & Jesse on the birth of baby Raine. A baby sister for Marcus (1/2LB).

Best Wishes to you all.