Newsletter - 19 October 2023
From our Principal
Dear Parents,
I share with you the following reflection.
‘One day, a small opening appeared on a cocoon. A man sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could and it could not go any further. So the man decided to help the butterfly: he took a pair of scissors and opened the cocoon. The butterfly emerged easily but it had a withered body, with tiny shrivelled wings. The man continued to watch because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would open, enlarge and expand, to be able to support the butterfly’s body and become strong. Neither happened! In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a withered body and shrivelled wings. It never was able to fly. What the man in his kindness and his goodwill did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening, were God’s way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings, so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon. Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our life. If we went through life without any obstacles, it would cripple us. We would not be as strong as we could be; never be able to fly.’
Parents frequently face similar dilemmas throughout their children’s growing-up years. You watch your children struggle with friendship difficulties, learning adjustments, managing emotions, battles for independence, coping with change and so on and it can be hard to know how to assist. In the above story, the man’s response, while well intentioned was ultimately detrimental to the butterfly’s long term well-being. Doubtless it is hard to stand by, feeling helpless, and watch a loved one struggle. The urge to solve the problem through a reflex response can be overwhelming and yet rarely does it provide a satisfactory outcome.
Sadness, anxiety, confusion, worry, loneliness, dissatisfaction …. are just some of the emotions we all must learn to face and manage in order to lead happy, healthy and productive lives. Learning the virtues requires being tested in their development e.g. to learn patience we must be exposed to waiting, to learn resilience we must be exposed to difficult situations, to learn courage we must face our fears. Learning these lessons, of course, is harder for some than for others and the process can be helped or hindered by the kind of support received in our formative years. Basically we adults can take to the situation with scissors, as in the butterfly story, or we can stand beside the child, offering timely support and wise counsel thus helping the child develop the necessary strength, confidence, resilience and character to face and overcome obstacles. This is not an easy decision to make however. It takes patience, trust and confidence that the longer-term outcome will be of greater benefit to the child than the ‘quick fix’.
And lastly, it takes trusting partnerships – parents and school staff – providing mutual support and encouragement in the important and complex business of student learning in all its facets. The stronger the partnerships, the better the outcomes for students. We are here. We are with you. We, too, want the very best for your children.
Wishing you every blessing for the coming week,
Geraldine Rostirolla
Principal
RE Matters
MONTH OF THE ROSARY
During October we are encouraged to pray The Rosary and to reflect on the mysteries of our faith which it memorialises. Please join us in praying this beautiful prayer for peace in our homes, school, community and world.
“The greatest method of praying is to pray the Rosary.”
(Saint Francis de Sales)
To find out more about The Rosary and how to pray it, go to Catholic Online:
To find out more about The Rosary and how to pray it, go to:
OCTOBER - WORLD MISSION MONTH
This month we will be celebrating SOCCERTOBER.
It is an opportunity for us to focus our attention on those less fortunate than ourselves and to be grateful for all that we have. Students in all classes will explore Catholic Social Teachings and participate in activities that promote JUSTICE, PRAYER and ACTION.
We are having an exciting SOCCERTOBER raffle. Tickets are 50 cents each or 3 for $1.00. The winner will win a soccer ball for themselves and a soccer ball for their class. The raffle will be drawn next Friday 27 October.
Next Friday we will also announce our 2023 MISSION CHAMPIONS and students in Years 3-6 will participate in an exciting WALKING SOCCER competition.
MISSION FAIR
The Mission Fair was held last Friday, and we are excited to report that it was an AMAZING success! The students enjoyed visiting the stalls, playing the games and filling their bags with goodies. We raised enough money to provide 22 cows or 192 goats or 192 pigs or 384 packets of seeds or 7682 chicks to families in other parts of the world who are not as fortunate as we are.
At the end of the Mission Fair lots of students contributed to a class Piggy Bank Challenge. The class who collected the most coins and the class who collected the most money will be announced at Assembly tomorrow. Both of these classes will enjoy a treat during the day. We will also find out who has Named the Bear to Win the Bear and who is the Lucky Ducky who wins the big rubber duck. I wonder who they will be going home with?
The ‘Trash and Treasure’ stall was very popular again this year and everyone who visited had fun seeking out a bargain. A big thank you to all who donated goodies to this stall. Lots of children found treasures to take home.
A big THANK YOU to our Year Three students who spent many hours making friendship bands for their stall. It was an amazing effort and a fabulous ‘service learning’ activity. We can’t wait to see what they will come up with next.
Special thanks goes to the Hovinga Family who made and donated some fabulous craft items for our Mission Fair this year. Their time, effort and contributions were most appreciated and highly sort after by our students.
Our Mini Vinnies group once again ran the freerice.org stall at this year’s fair. This online challenge that rewards correct answers with ‘free rice’ is an initiative of the United Nations World Food Programme. Students who visited the stall collected 14 800 grains of rice – that is more than two cups of rice. It is great to think that we can have fun, practise our skills/increase our knowledge and help to feed the hungry of our world at the same time. I encourage you to visit this website with your child/ren. There are various categories and levels of difficulty. It is worth the effort, for you and for others.
A big THANK YOU to our creative, hardworking staff who organised and managed the stalls, painted fingernails, made fairy floss, baked goodies, provided prizes and supervised the activities. Our Year Six students are also thanked for their efforts and enthusiasm. They manned stalls, sold tickets, badges and balloons, helped staff with set up and clean up and supported younger students to navigate the fair. We are so proud of them!
Together we are contributing to family life and making a difference in the lives of others. WELL DONE and THANK YOU EVERYONE!
CELEBRATING THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH
On World Mission Day, which we celebrate each year on the penultimate Sunday of October, we recall with gratitude all those men and women who by their testimony of life, help us to renew our baptismal commitment to be generous and joyful apostles of the Gospel. (Pope Francis 2021)
Please join with Catholics around the world this Sunday to pray for those in need and those who generously support them in word and action. Remember to pray for yourself and the people you love and the members of our school, parish and local communities who live the mission of the Church every day.
DAY FOR DANIEL - WEAR RED
On Friday 27 October we will join with the rest of Australia in acknowledging ‘Day for Daniel’. It is a child safety and protection initiative that aims to help empower our children to Recognise, React and Report if they feel something is not right. ‘Wear Red and Educate’ is the theme of ‘Day for Daniel’.
All students are invited to wear something red (t-shirt, socks, shoelaces, ribbons) with their school uniform on this day. It is not a free dress day. No donation is required for participation. Badges will be on sale in the week leading up to the day. All monies raised will be forwarded to the Daniel Morcombe Foundation.
For more information about the Daniel Morcombe Foundation and ‘Day for Daniel’ go to:
For weekly Gospel readings, reflections and meditations go to http://www.prayasyoucan.com.au/
Download this week’s parish bulletin @ https://rok.catholic.net.au/parish/mackay-st-josephs/#
For Parish News, updates and to book for weekend Masses go to the Catholic Parishes
of North Mackay and Farleigh Facebook page.
MONSTER CHRISTMAS RAFFLE
There may not be NORFAIR this year, but our parish is selling tickets in an amazing raffle. With a First Prize of $10 000, tickets are great value at $5.00 each. The raffle will be drawn on Saturday 16 December, just in time for Christmas. You’ve got to be in it to win it!
Tickets are available online, before and after weekend Masses and from St Joseph's Parish Office
(Monday - Friday 9am to 12:00pm - phone 49574855).
VIRTUE OF THE FORTNIGHT – GRATITUDE
Gratitude is the quality of being thankful and showing appreciation. It is a mindful acknowledgement of all that we have been given. When we focus on the abundance in our lives, we discover a greater capacity for generosity, cheerfulness and contentment.
“If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.” (Meister Eckhart)
Noeleen Kliese
Assistant Principal Religious Education
EMMANUEL KINDERGARTEN CELEBRATES 10 YEARS
On Tuesday, the families of current Kindy students, Fr Andrew Hogan, Tracey Novak and other invited guests joined the staff and students to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Emmanuel Kindy. Students from all groups played together in the outdoor spaces and classrooms. The formal part of the morning included a beautiful Acknowledgement of Country and prayer of thanks. Fr Andrew read a story written by the Kindy classes and the students led the singing of Andrew Chinn’s ‘These Hands’. Everyone then enjoyed a piece of the anniversary cake. It was a wonderful celebration.
Kindy photos from over the years …….
Curriculum Corner
2024 BOOKLISTS/BOOKPACKS
Janine Refalo
Assistant Principal Curriculum
APA News
CLASSES 2024
Term Four will see staff arrange classes for the 2024 school year. This process is very deliberate and time consuming, but also very important to creating balanced classes throughout the school. I would like to provide parents with some of the underlying principles that drive our decision making:
1. We always aim to create classes that are balanced in need. We consider the academic, social, emotional, and behavioural needs of the children when placing them in a class. This is never straight forward and often needs considerable thought. A past practice has been that students nominate a friend, but as you can appreciate this is very difficult to accommodate in a school with 589 students. This practice is no longer a deciding factor in class placements.
2. We consider the gender balance within the group, the body of knowledge that we have gathered on each child and any parent input that may assist.
3. We always endeavour to be just, fair, and compassionate to the needs of each child.
I invite parents to write to me if you have information about your child that may assist the staff in placing your child. While I always stipulate that parents are not able to request certain teachers and groups of friends, there is often information that, as a school, we are unaware of and would benefit from knowing. Please put your consideration in writing and send to the office addressed to Miss Rostirolla by TOMORROW Friday 20 October.
I would also like to stress that our staff know their students very well and will do their very best throughout this process. I urge parents to trust us in making informed decisions that we consider will be the best for each child.
Geraldine Rostirolla
Principal
Amanda McDonald
Assistant Principal Administration
Strategic Priorities 2023
Sporting News
EMMANUEL YEAR 2-6 SWIMMING CARNIVAL 2023
The Inter-house Swimming Carnival will be held NEXT Thursday 26 October at the PIONEER SWIM CENTRE, North Mackay. The carnival is for all students from Years 2-6, with students competing in the age group that they will turn in 2023.
Year 2 students will participate in width events in the main pool and/or novelty events in the wading pool and on the grass. They will then return to school mid-morning (approx. 11:00 am). All other students (Years 3-6) will return to school around 2.00pm, ready for dismissal at the usual time of 3:00pm. Students will travel to and from the pool by bus.
Year 3 – Year 6 students aged 8-13 years may compete in either width OR length events, not both.
Only students who have been nominated by parents via the Google Doc will be able to swim on the day.
Please Note: Points towards Age Champion are only awarded for length events for students aged 8-13 years.
I hope that all students participate in at least one event on the day. Participation and fun are the name of the game. We welcome all school community members to attend to urge on our young stars.
Reminders:
- SLIP! SLOP! SLAP!
- A LARGE water bottle is a must.
- Students need to bring sufficient food and water to see them through the day. A packed lunch is essential.
- The pool canteen will have snacks available from 11:00am.
- Leave all valuables (iPods, games, smart watches etc.) at home.
- No coloured zinc or crepe paper is allowed, as this interferes with the pool.
- Nominations for width / length events have now closed. NO FURTHER NOMINATIONS ARE POSSIBLE.
- Only students who have been nominated by their parents via the Google Form will be participating/swimming in events.
- Please find attached a program for the day.
- The marshalling area is out of bounds to everyone except the competitors.
- A designated parent area is allocated on the eastern side of the pool. Please bring a chair/rug.
- The Year 2 novelty area will be roped off – parents are asked not to sit in this area.
- Parents are responsible for non-school age children – they cannot be in the wading pool.
- We ask that student swimming attire be brightly coloured – NOT the same colour as the pool
- Entry is free for parents
Carnivals are a great way for our students to participate in a friendly environment, competing against schoolmates. If you would like any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me through the school office.
Luke Dodson – HPE Teacher
SchoolTV
For lots of helping Parenting tips be sure to check out School TVs via our school website or the tab below.
School Choir
YEAR 3 STUDENTS ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE AND ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO JOIN THE CHOIR.
Tuckshop News
Please Note: It is imperative that volunteers DO NOT attend tuckshop if they are unwell or have anyone at home who is unwell.
Finance
TERM 4 SCHOOL FEE STATEMENTS
Term 4 School Fee Statements were emailed to all families on Wednesday 11 October, with payment due by 25 October. Statements can also be viewed via parent lounge using the ‘make a payment’ tab from the menu bar and clicking on the paperclip. If you did not receive your statement, please advise the finance office immediately.
Notices
NON STATE SCHOOLS TRANSPORT ASSISTANCE
The Non State Schools Transport Assistance Scheme provides financial assistance for families transporting students to non-state schools in Queensland. To find out more about eligibility requirements click here:
Intersection upgrades at Holts Road, Pioneer Street
There will be one-way traffic only on Pioneer Street as council undertakes upgrade works to the intersection with Holts Road.
The work is scheduled to begin on October 16, weather permitting, with expected completion in mid-December.
While work is under way, there will be one-way traffic from the Pioneer Street and Holts Road intersection to the roundabout on Pioneer Street.
In the first stage of works traffic will flow from the south to the north in this section of road and detours will be in place. It will then alternate in the second stage to a north to south direction.
Work will take place between 6am and 6pm, Monday to Friday. Some weekend work may also be required.
Traffic control may be in place at Holts Road and there will be some noise and dust disturbances with various plant and equipment on-site.
This project is funded by the Australian Government’s Black Spot program.
For more information go to www.connectingmackay.com.au/pioneer-st-and-holts-rd-intersection
Council apologises for any inconvenience. If you have any concerns, please contact council on 1300 MACKAY (622529)
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