For My Mother

Tuesday 13th - Friday 17th May - NAPLAN Testing week

Monday 20th May - Athletics Field events for Years 3 to Year 6

Tuesday 21st May - Athletics Day for track events, relays and ball games

Thursday 23rd & Friday 24th May - St Augustine's & St Monica's school visit

Monday 27/05/19 - P&F Meeting @ 7pm

Wednesday 29th May - Wonders of Living Program Parent sessions in the evening.

Thursday 30th May - Wonders of Living Program Student sessions 

Friday 31st May - Feast of the Visitation

Dear Parents, Guardians and community members,

I am writing this week’s newsletter as I wait at the airport in Cairns where I have been attending the Principal’s Conference. These conferences are compulsory and designed to build school effectiveness across all schools in the Diocese. The focus of this terms conference has been on Student well being, Positive Behaviour for Learning, Child Protection, policies, procedures and compliance. Friday included presentations from Principal throughout the Diocese regarding innovations in learning that they have been successfully implementing.

Positive Reinforcements for Appropriate Behaviour

St Joseph’s Parish School is committed to continual improvement. This year we have been reviewing and updating our current Responsible Behaviour policies and procedures against Catholic Education Services guidelines for being a ‘Positive Behaviour For Learning’ School. 

With all new initiatives after a trial period we have reviewed and refined the Whole School Behaviour Reward System. We will be sending out an email early next week outlining these minor changes along with further explanation of our Behaviour Policy and Guidelines.

Mothers’ Day                                                                                                   

 Be it a skinned knee, a scary dream or a broken heart, kids instinctively reach for their mum. Such confidence in mothers’ compassion and care is born of experience from earliest days of love, nurture and protection.

Mothers’ Day brings us opportunity for both thanks giving and promise: thanks for our lived experience of all who care for us with mother-like love; and our promise to support the role of mothering at its best through our personal, family and community recognition, respect and support.

Motherly love and affection is depicted in so many ways. One of my favourite images, though, comes from Bil Keane’s newspaper comic series ‘Family Circus’. It depicts mum, Thel, coming home loaded up with groceries and her four kids hanging off her coat tails. When a neighbour inquires how she divides her love amongst her kids, she simply replies “My love isn’t divided; its multiplied!”. Isn’t that the truth; love never diminishes us – it enriches us all.

With a hug, a kiss, or a silent prayer, lets thank our mums for multiplying love through us!

God bless!

Megan

This week ends in a very special way with us celebrating and recognising the wonderful work of all the mother’s in the world.

May - the Month of Mary

May is the month that Christians dedicate to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of the Church. We can do this by incorporating any of the Marian prayers into our daily prayer life. Below is a selection of prayers you may find useful this month.

A Child’s Prayer to Mary

Holy Mary, mother fair, filled with love for God, pray for us in all our needs. Pray for us today. Amen.

The Hail Mary

Hail Mary full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death, Amen.

The Holy Rosary

In the Western Church the Holy Rosary is the foremost prayer dedicated to the Blessed Virgin. There are a number of Rosary Apps available for both Android and Apple devices which will guide you through how to pray the Rosary.

Thank you and blessings for a wonderful weekend,

Amanda                                              

A blessing and prayer tribute to all mothers

"Blessed be all mothers who have come into our lives
Whose kindness, care and loving remain with us to guide.
Your inspiration in us made us strive in every way
Especially, to remember helping others makes our day.
Mothers, this little tribute flows directly from my heart
You are so loved and cherished invaluable, one and all, you are.
Susan Kramer

Today we held our annual Mother's Day stall and it was once again well supported. We would like to thank all of those involved in preparing for the day and hope our mums love the gifts they will receive on Sunday. Next week we will include a gallery of photos from our Mother's Day Movie night.

St. Joseph's Weipa, 2019 NAPLAN Schedule

BICYCLE SAFETY FOR KIDS
Cycling is lots of fun, and it is also a great way to keep fit and healthy.
When you ride your bike, it’s important to be careful of cars, and also look
out for other cyclists and pedestrians.
Whether you are riding your bike to school or on the weekends,
these safety tips will help you to cycle safely every time you ride!

St Augustine's and St Monica's Colleges in Cairns will be visiting Weipa on Thursday 23rd and Friday 24th May for their annual Country visit and Dinner. This is an opportune time to gather information about the colleges and what they provide for Day and Boarding students. The flyer attached contains information on how to make contact and arrange an interview during their visit in Weipa. 

They will be holding a Parent Information session on Thursday 23rd May with a time to be advised sometime after 3pm.