1. education
2. school

St Joseph’s Journal
The Newsletter of St Joseph’s Primary School Laurieton
Term 1 2015
Week 3
Ph 6559 9466
Fax 6559 6765
Email: [email protected]
Web Site: http://www.larplism.catholic.edu.au
Ash Wednesday & Lent:
Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, the season of preparation for the
resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday. All of our primary students will attend Mass on Wednesday
at 12pm and receive the ashes. Infants classes will receive the ashes at school. The distribution of ashes
reminds us of our own mortality and calls us to repentance. The Church emphasizes the penitential nature of
Ash Wednesday by calling us to fast and abstain from meat. This fasting and abstinence is not simply a form
of penance, however; it is also a call for us to take stock of our spiritual lives. Although children under 14 are
not required to fast or abstain, I believe it is good for families to discuss this tradition and encourage their
children to do something to mark this day and season. Mrs Koenig has included some school and home
suggestions for children and families, along with a prayer from the Arise Program, on the next page of the
newsletter.
Staff Focus:
On the pupil free day before students started the staff
reflected on a focus what they would like to work towards this year. The
central theme they came up with was “Inspiring Growth, Enriching
Lives”. When reflecting on how they would do this they decided
on four key words: Educating, Engaging, Empowering and
Building Relationships. This focus will become our theme for the
year and hopefully you will see it displayed and lived by all staff
as we work towards creating a better future for all members of our
school and parish communities.
SPORTSMANSHIP AWARDS:
Please see our Sporting News section on Page 3 listing our recipients (pictured below) for last
week’s school swimming carnival. Well done everyone!
CALENDAR Term 1
MONDAY 16th
Feb
TUESDAY 17th
Feb
WEDNESDAY
18th Feb
THURSDAY 19th
Feb
FRIDAY 20th Feb
Guitar Tuition is now
available on Fridays with
tutor Benny Hardman.
Our budding six string
enthusiasts include:
Jacob Bennett, Calum
Aldridge, Jordan Guest
& Riley Armstrong.
Future Events
Week 4
CBA Banking
Canteen
Band Music lessons
8:15a.m. Staff Meeting
Library Years 1, 6 & 5
P&F AGM 7pm
ASH WEDNESDAY: Mass 12.00
3:15 p.m. Staff Meeting
Sports Uniform
Library Year 3
First reconciliation meeting 6pm
Library Years 4, 2 & K
Canteen
Guitar lessons
Sat. 28 Feb Family Mass 5.30pm
Tues 24 Feb Family Pool night (Kendall)
Monday 2 Mar Pupil Free Day
Next week Year 4 will be hosting Morning Prayer.
Pupil Free Day (Forward Notice): Each year the Lismore Diocese sets aside several days for teacher
professional development, with the first of these days to be held on Monday 2nd March. Staff at St Joseph’s
Laurieton will combine with staff from St Peter’s Primary Port Macquarie (Laurieton hosting) to be trained on
the implementation of the Australian Curriculum for Mathematics, so this will be a pupil free day. There will
be a second pupil free day early Term 2 for the annual Staff Spirituality Day (Date yet to be confirmed). If
you require child care for March 2nd please contact the school next week.
P&F AGM: The first P&F meeting for the year will be held next Tuesday evening at 7pm in the meeting
room opposite the hall. This is an important opportunity to become more informed and involved in what is
happening in our school. Parents are able to contribute to decision making that has a direct impact on your
children. All parents, including all new families, are invited to come along and have a say about what
happens at St Joey’s.
Family Pool Night: Each year we start off with a family fun night at the pool to welcome new families and
start the year off with a fun social occasion. This year we have booked the Kendall pool for Tuesday 24
February from 5.30 – 7.30pm. The pontoon will be available and hopefully the weather will be kind enough
to allow us to have a BBQ dinner. More information will be sent home next week.
Basketball Court Clean-up: Two generous dads, Brendan Burke and Duwaine McCullough have offered
to come in Saturday morning to help clean the mould off the basketball court. We hope to give it a chemical
treatment and one or two more helping hands might make the job easier and quicker to complete. No need to
contact us, just turn up about 7.30am tomorrow morning if you can help (suitable footwear & clothing
required).
David Hughes (Acting Principal)
Lenten Prayer
Lent and Easter preparation in our school community…
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of 40 days of Lent where as a Catholic
community we begin our sacrifice of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. The
ashes taken from the blessed palm leaves of last year’s Palm Sunday are
placed on our foreheads in the mark of a cross by the Priest to remember
the Gospel words that we are made from dust and to dust we shall return.
Following this day, we will launch into our Project Compassion fundraising
where each week we will be asking families to donate a few coins in
different ways. We suggest to our students and parents to consider giving up
something such as time, money or a want in order to be reflective about
what Jesus gave up for us. We also spend more time in prayer during our
church services, in our school and in our home life to feel a closer
connection with God during Lent. We begin our journey of the sacrament of
Reconciliation or Penance for the first time with our year 3 class and
further opportunities for this are available to everyone in our church.
Lenten Prayer Group- ‘Arise’. All staff and any parents are welcome to
join us each Tuesday afternoon from 3:15 for half an hour (apologies for
the misprint last week on the finishing time) each week for 5 weeks to
journey through the Lenten program Arise. Our first gathering will be
Tuesday 24th February.
Lord of all newness,
be with us as we set out on our
Lenten pilgrimage.
Awaken the depths of our being
to your presence within us,
fountain of life and love.
Attune the ears of our heart to
the sound of your gentle voice,
challenging, yet reassuring.
Enlighten the eyes of our mind
to see the path you lay before us,
untrodden, yet paved with your
grace.
Walk with us into newness of
life in your Son and our brother,
Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Reconciliation – The sacramental program for children doing their
First Reconciliation has begun and the first parent meeting is this
Thursday 19th February at 6pm in the Tennison Centre. The
Sacrament will be held in our church on Thursday 19th March.
Mrs Jessica Koenig (Leader of Catechesis and School Evangelisation)
Yr 4 Nursing Home visit last week
Swimming Sportsmanship Awards:
Our Sportsmanship Awards, presented for our Swimming, Cross Country and Athletics Carnivals
each year, are highly valued. These awards are presented to children who display that ‘have a
go’ attitude at our Carnivals, as well as to children who go out of their way to
support/encourage others to complete an event that they may not find easy to do. It is always a
difficult job to decide on these award recipients as many children display these qualities.
Congratulations to the following Sportsmanship Award winners from our Swimming
Carnival last week: Lorna MacLachlan, Jessa Thew, Madielen Bucknell, Lillyana Watts, Milla Seals,
Piper Seale, Jade Hilton, Eli Watts, Harry Murphy, Matthew Small, Sonny Thomas, Oscar Hoad,
Keane Quinn, Logan Tunhavasana, Jackson Ashcroft and Thomas Tunhavasana.
Zone Swimming Team:
Sarah McIntosh, Emily Krige, Joe Black, Ellie deSilva, Mackenzi Dietrich, Summa Clare, Trey
Quinn, Noah Faddy, Isabel Krige, Aimee-Jai Dietrich, Blake Steep, Finlay Magnus, Elsie Roe, Tess
Threlkeld, Summah Armstrong, Demi Magnus, Noah Watts, Sam deSilva, Chloe Eichmann, Blake
Ellis, Hayden Dorn and Madelaine Goodridge will be representing our school at the Hastings
Zone Swimming Carnival being held in Macksville on Tuesday. We hope these swimmers enjoy
the experience in the ‘big’ pool (when are we going to get a 50m pool in Laurieton??!!)
Mark Bullock
Sports Co-ordinator
We'd like to invite all the Mums to join us in an informal get together.
Come along to meet the new Mums at school & catch up with all the others!
Where : Bonny Hills Surf Club
When : Friday 6th March from 5pm
RSVP or any questions call / txt Amanda on 0422558933
Tuition
available in piano, flute, voice.
Sheriden Sommerley is an active member of
the local musical community and the
founder of the Conservatorium Mid-North
Coast Friday Lunchtime Concert Program;
Blokes’ Notes (an all-male chorus);
Quintessence (an all-female choir) and
Hifalootin’ (flute choir). Term fees apply.
Contact Sheriden on 0429 313 089.
Tuition is also available in
reading recovery on a
one-to-one basis. Sheriden
has over twenty-five years’ experience in the
delivery and writing of special needs
educational programs. Reasonable rates.
Call 0429 313 089
(Sheriden Sommerley BA Dip Ed)
Camden Haven Redbacks
Registrations Now Open!
Register online at myfootballclub.com.au
Registration Days to be held at the LUSC on
14th and 21st February
Contact us at [email protected]
or find us on Facebook
or phone Tamara Burns (0419 469 908).
Camden Haven Parish
Laurieton 5.30 p.m. Vigil Mass
Laurieton 7.30 a.m. Mass
Kendall
9.00 a.m. Mass
(1st Saturday month 10.00 a.m. Mass Comboyne)
Monday
Laurieton 5.30 p.m. Mass
Tuesday
Kendall
9.00 a.m. Mass
Wednesday
Laurieton 8.00 am Mass
Thursday
Laurieton 8.00 a.m. Mass
Friday
Laurieton Midday Mass
Saturday
Sunday
* First Friday of month, Laurieton
11.00 a.m. Exposition
11.45 Benediction
Sacrament of Penance 5.00 – 5.20 p.m. Saturday
Mini Ball – Learn to Play Basketball
Ages: Aimed at Year 1 & 2, boys & girls.
Commences/registration: Tuesday 24/2/15 for 6
weeks.
Times: 3.45 pm to 4.30 pm.
Cost: $15 to register with Basketball NSW for initial
year (insurance) plus $25 for 6 week season.
Location: Port Macquarie Indoor Stadium, Hastings
River Drive.
Bring drink bottle & wear sneakers.
FURTHER INFORMATION See our website:
www.portmacquarie.basketball.net.au
Camden Haven High School
Information Night for Yr 7
2016
Wednesday 4th March
5-6:30pm at
Camden Haven High School
For further details please phone Erica Turner
(Year 7 Transition Co-ordinator) on
6556 8125