. www.balranald.catholic.edu.au Wednesday, 2 nd August: Whole School Mass @ 12.30 pm. Year 2/3 s Whole School Assembly @ 2.15pm in the library. All are welcome. Thursday 3 rd August: Year 4 Reconciliation P&F meeting @ 3.00 pm Tuesday, 1 st August 2017. Dear Parents and community members, It is great to be back after a fantastic week at Roses Gap with Mrs Standen and Year 5/6. Excursions give everyone the opportunity to step outside their comfort zone of being at home. This camp in particular offered our students (and adults!) lots of challenges to overcome and I am very proud to say that everyone on the excursion attempted every physical challenge, with many reaching the ultimate in each of the challenges. Huge thanks to Charlie Matarazzo for driving the bus and being a fantastic all-round asset to our team. Mrs Standen did an outstanding job of organising and co-ordinating the excursion. It was a resounding success and one of the best excursions I have ever had the pleasure of attending. There will be more information shared about the excursion in coming weeks. Congratulations to the super athletes who represented St Joseph s so admirably yesterday at the Southern Cluster Athletics Carnival. By all accounts everyone had a fantastic day, with some outstanding results achieved. We had 21 students attend the carnival, which is a significant percentage of our student population. Many thanks to the parents who attended the carnival to support our students and Mrs Standen for her organisation and management of our school team. The feedback I have received is that everyone had a great day and that our athletes did their very best. Further information is contained later in the newsletter. Today the children in Years 4 and 6 participated in a practice Religious Literacy exam. The actual exam will take place in week 6. Tomorrow the school will gather for our first whole school assembly for the term. Ms O Toole and the Year 2/3 students have been working hard to prepare for this important gathering and I am very sad that I won t be able to attend. This Thursday the P&F will meet at 3.00 pm in the school library. All are welcome to attend. On Sunday St Dympna s will be celebrating a very special event, with seven candidates receiving the Sacrament of the Eucharist for the first time. Special thanks to Mrs Gaston for her hard work and commitment to assisting the students with their preparation for Sunday. This is a very important rite of passage in the Sacramental life of each individual and I look forward to joining with the parish for this very special celebration at 10.00am on Sunday. Have a great week, The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion By perseverance and the the will snail to reached help others. ark. Albert Schweitzer Charles Spurgeon.
CELEBRATING OUR STUDENTS AND THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS WHOLE SCHOOL BEHAVIOUR FOCUS: Helping hands Home Reading Update 50 nights 100 nights 125 nights 150 nights Lucas Griffiths Sophie Haines Melody Cimino Addison Papa 2017 Cluster Representatives Jordan Cimino Lucas Griffiths Philipa Gaston Ashlyn Mitchell Isabella Papa Aleah Richards Cohen Doyle Jack Duryea Tristan Lowe Jett Militto Amy Gillbee Niamh Gillbee Benny Cimino Rory Hillerman Nicole Kayne Tyler Barrett Glen Gillbee Cruz Jolliffe Sebastian Papa Liam Farnsworth Blair Manning Liam Farnsworth Tarkyn Doyle Cluster Athletics Carnival 31 st August Congratulations to the following athletes who have qualified for the Diocesan athletics carnival to be held in Parkes on Friday, 18 th September: Lucas Griffiths, Jordan Cimino, Isabella Papa, Aleah Richards, Amy Gillbee, Benny Cimino, Rory Hillerman, Nicole Kayne, Tyler Barrett, Glen Gillbee, Cruz Jolliffe, Sebastian Papa, Liam Farnsworth and Blair Manning. Further results: Junior Boy Champion: Sebastian Papa 11yr Girl Champion: Nicole Kayne Senior Boy runner-up Champion: Liam Farnsworth Don t Forget. Our P&F meeting will be held on Thursday @ 3.00 pm. All are welcome.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION M NEXT SUNDAY WE HAVE THREE SPECIAL CELEBRATIONS 1. Feast of the Transfiguration 2. Celebrating 100 years of the Wilcannia-Forbes Diocese 3. Celebration of First Communion RELIGIOUS LITERACY ASSESSMENT In Week 6 of this term all Year 4 and Year 6 students across the diocese are sitting an online Religious Literacy Assessment. Today our student had a practise assessment. This Religious Literacy Assessment project provides at a diocesan level a sustained and systemic approach to the documentation and reporting of students learning in the key learning area of Religious Education, specifically religious literacy. Assessment of religious literacy focuses on students knowledge and understanding of the key concepts of Religious Education and the children s ability to communicate with their religious tradition. The Religious Literacy Assessment is intended to influence learning and accountability and drive a culture of reflection on learning and pedagogy in the domain of Religious Education. Results will be out by Friday October 28. HELPERS FOR MASS ON SUNDAY SUNDAY 6 th August 13 th August Altar Servers Nicole Kayne Cam Matarazzo Glen Gillbee Bree Hodgson Cruz Jolliffe Amy Gillbee MC Nat Lay S Cameron Readers Ash Gillbee K Weaver Nadine Matarazzo M Butler Gifts Collectors Ministers of Communion Communion to the ill Alex Calleja Chloe Calleja Peter Doyle Brendan Doyle Kevin Murphy Joanne Simpson T Comitti B Blake H Murphy K Connellan J Manning K Manning This Sunday 6 th August is a special time of celebration with our First Communion candidates receiving the body of Christ for the first time. Our candidates, Helaina Alderuccio, Alex Calleja, Benny Cimino, Tarkyn Doyle, Amy Gillbee, Niamh Gillbee and Lilian Matarazzo, have made a wonderful preparation. Please keep them in your prayers. Trish Gaston
General News Canteen Corner Special Thursday, 3 rd August Traditional Lasagne or Spinach & Ricotta Lasagne $4.00 St Joseph s is a Safe and Secure School Calling for Quotes for new fence We are calling for quotes to supply and fit a fence and gate running from our existing fence line across to the admin building to finish off securing the school. Please see Jo or Nat for further details. All quotes must include contractor s ABN number. ST DYMPNA CONFERENCE BALRANALD The dedicated members of St Vincent de Paul Society Conference in Balranald were delighted to meet with their Regional President, Phil Mertz and Central Council President Jim Rogers this week. The members all came together to discuss the work they are doing to support those in need in this local community. The Conference members are passionate about helping those in need in their local community and they work together to achieve this goal. This involves meeting with people requiring various types of assistance and deciding on the most effective method of support. People who are being assisted by conference members are often provided with food, clothing and household items as well as assistance with bills. community and providing friendship and support to those they serve and to each other. The society would not exist without its members and volunteers; they are the Society. Each day across Australia more than 20,000 Society members continue to visit people in their homes, nursing homes and retirement villages. Anyone in need of assistance please contact our conference on 0458 630 877. Please also call this number if you are interested in joining the St Vincent de Paul Society or would like to make a donation. The members come from diverse backgrounds, experiences and beliefs and they bring great depth of understanding, expertise and compassion to their service and involvement in the Society. They live their faith in action by visiting people in their homes or in the
Some photos from Year 5/6 s excursion to Roses Gap
Balranald Junior Football Club We the Balranald Junior football club will be hosting tea on Thursday 3 rd August Can you please provide a casserole (pasta, stew, Stir Fry, or Casserole for example.) We also will require helpers on the night to dish up, serve and clean up starting at 6:30. We would also appreciate the Auskickers to be involved. This is our last fund raiser for the season so all help is required. For any more info please see a committee member.