Dear families,

Welcome back to what in some ways feels like the first week back!!  It is so wonderful to have the children here and to get back to doing what schools do best and that is teaching and learning!

The children are slowly settling back into a routine and we are using this time to do exactly that – settle in and make sure everybody is feeling comfortable with being back.  If your child is feeling a little nervous, not sure or has mixed emotions, please reassure them that this is very normal after what has been a very disruptive time.  It will take a little time to get back into the swing of things and we have been making sure that all children are easing back into school life.

Covid 19 has had a big impact on families financially, and if you or your business have suffered financial loss as a direct result of the virus please contact myself to have a chat about fee relief that you may be eligible for.

This term we are lucky to welcome to the St Joseph’s team Miss Jacqui Pribliovics.  Jacqui has been employed by the four t-bag schools (Tumut, Batlow, Gundagai and Adelong) to cover a big gap that exists in our area with relief teachers.  Jacqui will be with us for Term 2 (two days a week) and hails from Sydney and brings a wealth of experience and knowledge.  We look forward to working with her.

Thank you to all families who are adhering to the new protocols and procedures that the school has in place – not entering the school grounds where at all possible, social distancing at the gate and contacting the school by email or phone for any enquiries.  The children have also done a great job at washing their hands, and adhering to hygiene practices that aim to keep us all safe.

A big thank you has to go out to all our families with all your hard work during our remote learning.  We know that with multiple students and so many tasks and online meetings this was a huge ask for families.  All staff are so impressed with the support and guidance that was given to all students – and it has made such a difference with keeping their learning on track and we can’t thank you enough for doing that – we are lucky that our families are so supportive and willing to do all they can to help and support their children.

Have a great week and stay safe.

Kind Regards,

Kirsty Beavan

Feast of Our Lady of Fatima
Yesterday, the 13th May, marks the feast day of Our Lady of Fatima.

It was on this day that the Blessed Virgin Mary started her series of apparitions to three children in the small village of Fatima in Portugal in 1917. Lucia dos Santos (aged 9) and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta Marto (aged 8 and 6, respectively) were tending sheep, when they had a vision of a woman surrounded by light who identified herself as the Lady of the Rosary. She exhorted them to pray the rosary for world peace, as World War 1 was still raging.

Thousands of people began streaming to Cova da Iria, the site of the Virgin Mary apparitions. On Sept. 13, 30,000 people were present when dos Santos said the Virgin Mary told her, “In October I will perform a miracle so that all may believe.”

On that day, Oct. 13, 1917, the crowd of believers had swelled to 70,000. About 2 p.m., some began to see what later became known in the Catholic Church as “the Miracle of the Sun.” The rains that had plagued the day ceased, and the sun emerged from behind clouds to spin and tremble for 10 minutes.

After initially questioning the authenticity of the children's visions, the Vatican accepted them as appearances of the Virgin Mary (Our Lady of the Holy Rosary of Fátima), and Fátima became the location of one of the greatest Marian shrines in the world, visited by thousands of pilgrims each year.

Although Lucia dos Santos would later become a Carmelite nun and live to the age of 97, Francisco and Jacinta Marto died as children as a result of the influenza pandemic of 1918–19.

The pious siblings were beatified in 2000 by Pope John Paul II, making them the youngest non-martyred children to be beatified in the history of the Roman Catholic Church. They were canonized as saints by Pope Francis in 2017 to coincide with the 100th anniversary of their visions. (Taken from BNE Ways to Pray and Catholic Weekly.com)

- Liz Murray

Welcome back to our Kinder/Year 1 students who have settled in very well and have been working very hard.  

This week in 2/3/4, we have been revising our whole number knowledge. We have been learning about using the 'greater than, the same as and less than' symbols through a range of games and also practicing using different strategies for solving addition and subtraction problems. It has been so wonderful to back in the classroom learning together as a class. 

The 5/6 Class are so happy to be back at school! This week they have been exploring fractions using Cuisenaire rods, creating amazing Dreamtime Stories and building Aboriginal shelters from natural materials found in the school grounds.

Coping with Change

Change, is one of the many things in life that is inevitable. We as adults have learned this through time and experience. Trying to cope with change can be hard on anyone of any age. 

We all experience change differently and we need to be mindful, as it can be especially hard on our children.  It is important not to ignore the changes and expect your child to figure things out on his or her own.

Acknowledge all of your child’s new changes. Let them know you realise how hard it can be to get used to new things and that you are there for them through all these changes.  

5 ways to help your child cope with stress and change:

1. Listen when your child is ready to talk, it’s important that we listen. Remember we have two ears and one mouth it’s important to learn to use them in proportion.  
2. Keep a Routine – Children thrive with routine, in uncertain times it’s important to focus on the routines within your control such as bedtime, meal times, play time.
3. Offer two choices. We all know if we are presented with too many choices, we can become overwhelmed and then struggle to make a decision. Keep it simple offer two choices e.g. The red shirt or the blue shirt today? Apple or banana for fruit break?    
4. Let Them Be Upset – it’s OK to feel emotional, it’s OK to feel upset, encourage your child/ren to draw how they feel or write how they feel.  
5. Focus on the Positive – Ask your child….  What when well today? What made you smile? or Positively affirm your child “I love your smile’’ or ‘’WOW you are reading so well’’

While change can be challenging and hard to accept, we can all learn and grow through these changes. If you are worried about how your child is handling all these changes remember our school community is here for you and your family. Don’t hesitate to reach out and ask for help. 

Media leader Matilda interviewed the Student Spotlight this week, what will we learn about our student at St Joseph's.

This week Saanvi is our Student in the Spotlight.

What are 5 words that describe you?

Pretty, beautiful, playful, sensible, and smart.

Tell us about your family?

Om (brother), Dad (Akash) and Mum (Puja). 

What is your favourite part of school?

Art & STEM (Science, technology, engineering and maths) and religion.

What do you like to do on the weekends?

Go to the pool (in summer), visit my cousins (in winter).

What is your favourite game to play at school?

Bullrush and T-Ball

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Yoga teacher/gymnast.

Students will need to return to school in full winter school uniform.  Swans of Tumut will have stock available.  Please remember that students do need a hat.

Keep up to date with events happening at St Joseph's via our electronic school calendar (please note dates can be subject to change).