Friday, October 7 2016 Dear Parents and Friends, We have had a huge first week back, with all students participating in art workshops with our Artist-In- Residence Roger Bushfire Saunders. Roger and his wife, Chrissi, have thoroughly enjoyed their time working with our students and cannot wait to unveil the murals when they are finished next week. This activity was subsidised by a grant of $1500. This year all students will once again participate in the verse speaking section of the 2016 Mackay Eisteddfod. The performance days are as follows: WEEK 3: Tuesday 18 October Prep, Year 5 and Year 6 Wednesday 19 October Year 1 and Year 4 Thursday 20 October Year 2 and Year 3 Students are to be dropped at the Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre (MECC) by 8am on the day of their performance. They will meet their teachers on the grass between the MECC, the Art Space and the fountain. The session starts at 8:30am and we must be seated by 8:15am. Students who arrive after the doors of the theatre close will not be allowed to entry. Students will be transported back to school via bus after the session is completed (approximately 10:30am). Please note, the bus is for performing students only and not for siblings we have stayed with parents to watch the session. What to wear: Students in Year 1 6 are asked to wear their formal uniform (checked shirt). Prep students are to wear their sports shirt. It is important that all members of the choir are wearing the same uniform and it is worn correctly as per the school uniform guidelines available on our school website. All students need to wear their hair in a neat and tidy manner. Hair is to be tied or pinned back so the audience can see the performer s facial expressions. What to bring: Students meeting their teacher at the MECC are to bring their school bag packed ready for the day (lunch, water bottle, hat etc). Students will be given the opportunity to have a snack either before or after their performance. Tickets: Parents are welcome to come and watch their child perform and tickets are available from the MECC on the day of the performance.
We are also holding a pre-eisteddfod performance for all classes during Week 2. If you are unable to attend the eisteddfod, you make like to see your child perform their poem next week on the following days: Tuesday 11 th October Year 3, 4, 5 and 6 Wednesday 12 th October Year 1 Thursday 13 th October Year 2 Friday 14 th October Prep Our School Choir have also been rehearsing well, giving up play time and rehearsing before school to be ready for their performance on Thursday 20 October, with their section starting from 6.30pm. We also have a large number of drama students participating in a variety of sections during the week. The students have been working hard over the last term learning and perfecting their two poems. We wish all our choirs the best of luck for a wonderful experience at the eisteddfod. Term 4 Date Claimers Year 6 Camp Wednesday 12 to Friday 14 October PUPIL FREE DAY - Monday 17 October Book Fair Week 3 Mackay Eisteddfod School Performances Tuesday 18 to Thursday 20 October 1:1 Devices Parent Information: The Fine Print St Joseph s Hall 6pm Grandparents Day Liturgy and Morning Tea Friday 21 October 8.40am in the hall Day for Daniel and Mission Fair Friday 28 October students wear something red! The Grinch Who Stole Christmas School Musical Thursday 3 November. Performances at 1.30pm, 6pm and 7.30pm. Tickets on sale from next Monday 10 October from the school office. Prep Orientation Thursday 10 November 9am 11am Final P and F Meeting 2016 Thursday 10 November 6pm (Dinner meeting location to be advised) NORFAIR at St Joseph s School Friday 11 November 5pm 9pm Year 5 Camp Wednesday 16 to Friday 18 November St Joseph s Art Show and Carols Under The Stars Wednesday 23 November 5pm - 8pm Year 6 Graduation Liturgy and Supper Tuesday 29 November 6pm Last day of school Friday 2 December Liturgy and Leadership Handover 9.30, Morning Tea 10.30, Year 6 Final Assembly and Farewell 11am Students depart at 12pm or book in to OSHC from 12pm CLASSES FOR 2017 As we near the end of the school year, planning has begun for 2017. We will be working to finalise student placements in classes by the end of Week 5 in preparation for transition activities planned for the end of this term. Parents with requests regarding class placements for 2017 are invited to submit these in writing to the office by Friday 28 October. For privacy reasons, we do not hold requests on file from year to year, so if you have previously submitted a request and this is still relevant, a written request will need to be submitted again this year to ensure it is considered. Requests for particular teachers will not be considered, however we do consider the needs of your child and will try to accommodate requests in consultation with teachers to create balanced classes for 2017. STUDENT PICKUP Just a reminder that all students must be collected via the Church carpark. Parents parking on Canberra Street must enter the school and collect students for them to leave via this exit. Please continue to follow the traffic flow rule and avoid parking in car parks that disrupt the flow of traffic and slow the pick-up process down in the Church carpark.
1:1 Devices Parent Information Session The Fine Print We now have decided on our model for the roll out of 1:1 Devices at St Joseph s in 2017. We are holding a Parent Information Session on Tuesday 18 October at 6pm in the hall. The initial roll out will be for students in Years 3, 4 and 5 in 2017, however the information presented will outline our whole school approach for 1:1 Devices, the projected costs and how the roll out will be managed. All parents are encouraged to attend this session so that you are informed of how the program will work here at St Joseph s. We look to sharing our ideas with you on Tuesday 18 October (Week 3). Bianca Hodges Principal OCTOBER 10 Grinch Rehearsals 3pm 6pm, CQ University Students will travel by bus there and parents collect students from the university at 6pm 12-14 Yr 6 Brisbane Camp 13 Board Meeting 6pm 16 Grinch Rehearsal 10am 2pm, St Joseph s Hall 17 PUPIL FREE DAY 18 Yr 5 & 6 Eisteddfod 18 Final Ipad Information Session The Fine Print 18-20 Book Fair 19 Yr 1 & 4 Eisteddfod 20 Yr 2 & 3 Eisteddfod 21 Grinch Rehearsals - 3pm 5.30pm, St Joseph s Hall LITURGY NEWS 7/10: 2S & 5D Midday Mass 14/10: Prep W & 4P Midday Mass 21/10: Grandparents Liturgy (1K 8.40am) 21/10:1K & 6GG Midday Mass 28/10: 1B & 6B Midday Mass 4/11: First Friday Mass with MacKillop 9.30am 11/11 Armistice Day liturgy 10.50am 11/11:5H & 2R Midday Mass 18/11 4B & P (R) Midday Mass 25/11: 3D & 3BM Midday Mass 29/11: Advent Liturgy 8.40am (1B) 29/11: Graduation Mass 6pm 2/12: Closing Mass 9.00am October is known as the month of the Rosary and during this month students will be praying the Rosary prayer for peace. The Rosary has been a popular prayer with Catholics ever since the twelfth century. It is a prayer in which we honour Mary, the Mother of God, and think about events in her life and in the life of Jesus. The liturgical feast of Our Lady of the Rosary is celebrated annually in October.
Originally the rosary had 150 beads - the same number of psalms in the Bible. In the twelfth century, religious orders recited together the 150 Psalms as a way to mark the hours of the day and the days of the week. Those people who didn t know how to read wanted to share in this practice, so praying on a string of 150 beads or knots began as a parallel to praying the psalms. It was a way that the illiterate could remember the Lord and his mother throughout the day. The Divine Office ; the official prayer of the church; is the recitation of the psalms over a four week period, and is still prayed today. This first rosary was prayed as we do today, a person would pass their fingers over each bead and say a prayer, usually the Our Father. The Hail Mary as we know it wasn t even around at that time. The Hail Mary owes its origin to the rosary. When people said the rosary in the twelfth century, Gabrielle s greeting Hail Mary, full or grace, the Lord is with thee was often said along with the Our Father. Later, Elizabeth s greeting blessed are you among women was added. It was not until the sixteenth century that the words Holy Mary., Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death were added. During this month of October as we celebrate the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary we are invited to rediscover the beauty of this ancient prayer. SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM 2016 DATES Family Workshop 1 : Reconciliation : Choice of Sunday 23 rd October at 10am OR Wednesday 26 th October at 7pm. Don t forget Children s Liturgy of the Word is held on the 2 nd and 4 th Saturday/ Sunday at St Joseph s Church and 1 st and 3 rd Sunday of the month at St Brendan PREP ENROLMENTS - 2017 We are still taking enrolments for 2017. If you have a child due to commence Prep next year (born between 1 July, 2011 and 31 July 2012) please complete an enrolment form and return it to the office. If you do not have an enrolment package please download one from the school website or collect one from the school office. CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF ST JOSEPH S CHURCH DINNER FRIDAY 4 NOVEMBER 2016 Time ~ 7:00pm for 7:30pm Start at Silverbird Chinese Restaurant, Wood Street, Mackay $20 per person; $15 children 6-12years; Free for children under 6years. Entertainment by Cecilia Hyde Bookings essential and can be done at Church after Mass or from Parish Office. FAMILIES LEAVING As our total enrolment drives many aspects of our school (staffing, budget, class sizes and structure) it is important that we try to be as accurate as possible in predicting the school enrolment for 2017. If you know that you will be leaving at the end of the year could you please notify the office as soon as possible? Your assistance with this matter is greatly appreciated.