APRE
Events to reflect on from the beginning of this term...
ANZAC Day
We commemorated this day of remembrance as a whole school with a Liturgy the day before the public holiday. It was lovely to have Parx & Jed’s Grandfather, a past soldier, join us, as well as some wonderful war keepsakes shared by our families. We also had around 30 of our students wake up very early on ANZAC Day to represent our school in the March & Dawn Service.
Fun fact: ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps
St. Joseph the Worker Feast Day
We honoured our Patron Saint, St. Joseph the Worker, with a Liturgy in our Church. During this special morning, we awarded one student from each class with a Spirit of St. Joseph award. This award is given to a student who embodies our school values of Justice, Compassion and Humility. In true feast style we shared lots of yummy food, including cupcakes, burritos and icy poles. We learnt about St. Joseph the Worker throughout the day, enjoyed some arts and crafts and played lots of fun games with our friends and buddies.
The feast of St. Joseph the Worker honours St. Joseph's role as a worker and a model of humility, labour, and dedication. This feast emphasises the dignity of labour and the importance of work in the Christian faith. It encourages reflection on the value of work, the rights of workers, and the need for fair and just labour practices. It is particularly significant for those who find meaning and purpose in their work, as it underscores the idea that all honest work, regardless of its nature, has dignity and worth.
Ascension of Jesus
We remembered the Ascension of Jesus on the 9th of May. This event took place 40 days after the resurrection of Jesus. The ascension literally means that Jesus ascended (was taken up) to Heaven. This is a significant event as it shows that Jesus returned to Heaven after completing his mission on Earth. Christians believe that Jesus is in Heaven with God, until He decides to send Jesus to Earth for the final judgement.
In the Bible, the Ascension of Jesus (Luke 24:50-53) says: When he (Jesus) had led them out to Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up (ascended) into heaven. Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.
Mother’s Day
We celebrated our wonderful mothers and all mother figures with a Liturgy, Picnic Lunch and Games at school. Thanks to our P&F, Miss Rachael and some lovely volunteers, we had an amazing Mother’s Day Stall, where our students could shop for a nice gift for their mums. And thanks to our resident chef, Mr Jamie, our mothers were treated to finger sandwiches, lemon coconut slice and a refreshing raspberry lemonade. The students loved having their mums with them at play time and it was great to see them all playing soccer, tiggy and on the playgrounds together!
Some information on upcoming events...
Pentecost
Last Sunday, the 19th of May was Pentecost. At Assembly, Year 4 shared with us some facts about this day:
- Pentecost is fifty days after Easter Sunday
- It marks the coming of the Holy Spirit
- Symbols of Pentecost are wind, fire, water, a dove & the colour red
They also shared the story of Pentecost with us:
Jesus promised his disciples he would send the Holy Spirit but he didn’t tell them when this would be. The Holy Spirit descended on the disciples as they gathered in a room in Jerusalem. The men heard the sound of a violent wind and tongues of fire appeared upon their heads. Each disciple was filled with the Holy Spirit and was then able to speak in different languages. The disciples went out to preach the word of God to people of different cultures. They also baptised thousands of people, receiving them into the new, Christian church.
Fun fact: The word Pentecost is Greek and it means ‘50th day’
Trinity Sunday
This Sunday, the 26th of May is Trinity Sunday. This day celebrates the Christian doctrine of the Trinity, the three Persons of God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Trinity, in its great mystery, is the perfect representation of a beloved community. We talk about the idea that God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are one, just as much as they are individuals—three-in-one. Trinity Sunday is a solemn celebration of the belief in the revelation of one God, yet three divine persons.
National Sorry Day
This Sunday, the 26th of May is National Sorry Day. It is an annual event in Australia that commemorates the Stolen Generations — the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who were forcibly separated from their families in an attempt to assimilate them into Australian culture. The event remembers this mistreatment of the country's Indigenous peoples as part of an ongoing process of reconciliation between the Indigenous peoples of Australia and the settler population. As a community we recognise this day of significance and work together for reconciliation.
In other news...
Welcome
We welcomed a new addition to our St Joey’s Community, Miss Elle Gear. Congratulations to Brad, Michelle, Willow and Zoe on the safe arrival of their beautiful baby girl Elle earlier this year. She is a much-loved little girl, and we wish the Gear family all the best with their girl tribe.
We love welcoming new additions and celebrating the success of our students. Please let us know of any accomplishments your child or your family have, as we would love to acknowledge these with our St Joey’s Community.
Enjoy the rest of Term 2!
Mrs Julie Dore
Acting Assistant Principal Religious Education (APRE)