Term 1 Week 2 - Friday 14 February 2025

Principal's Message

This week’s Gospel: 

Luke 6:17, 20-26

Jesus came down with the Twelve and stood on a stretch of level ground with a great crowd of his disciples and a large number of the people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon.
And raising his eyes toward his disciples he said:
            “Blessed are you who are poor,
                        for the kingdom of God is yours.
            Blessed are you who are now hungry,
                        for you will be satisfied.
            Blessed are you who are now weeping,
                        for you will laugh.

    Blessed are you when people hate you,
                        and when they exclude and insult you,
                        and denounce your name as evil
                        on account of the Son of Man.
Rejoice and leap for joy on that day!
Behold, your reward will be great in heaven.
For their ancestors treated the prophets in the same way.
            But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. Woe to you who are filled now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will grieve and weep.
            Woe to you when all speak well of you, for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way.”

Swimming Carnival

It was great to see all our students enjoying themselves at our swimming carnival. Thank you to Mr Mitchell and Mrs Henderson for your organisation of this event. Thank you also to our wonderful parent helpers, as well as the awesome students from McKillop.

50^th Anniversary Celebrations

At last night’s meeting, we continued to work through the planning of several events. We will shortly be sending out a save the date reminder. We will provide more information after the fete.

Parent / Teacher Meetings

Thank you to everyone who has booked a meeting. A reminder that these meetings are an opportunity for parents to discuss any relevant information about their child. If you think that you will need more than 15 minutes, please book another time over the next few weeks.

Year 5/ 6 Camp

This wonderful event always sneaks up on us. We would like it to be just a little later in the term, however, with NAPLAN being moved to Term 1, our options are reduced. If your child has not spent any time away from home, especially overnight, please organise a sleep over in the next few weeks. We are currently finalising the date for 2026 camp, which again looks around 18 – 20 February. Please pencil those dates into your 2026 calendar.

Fete 2025

We are only 4 weeks away and excitement is starting to gather. Please keep an eye out for information, remembering that many hands make light work. This is our main fundraiser of the year, and funds raised will go towards replacing the current oval irrigation system. I believe that the QR code with volunteer opportunities on the day has already been circulated. Please lock yourself into helping out on one of the stalls, set up or pack up.

Metal Detector required

Part of our plan for the 50^th celebration is to locate and dig up the time capsule that were buried. I believe that there was one in 1988 and one in 2000. We know the rough vicinity. Anyone who may be able to assist with this, through having been there or owning a metal detector please reach out to the front office.

Thank you for your continued support

Cameron

Important Dates

Birthdays

School News

PART-TIME PARISH SECRETARY, NORTH WODEN

Part-time position of 19 hours per week.  Applications addressing the Selection Criteria with attached resume should be addressed to Parish Priest, Fr James Antony (james.antony@cg.org.au ) by Friday 28 February 2025.  Please email wodennorth@cg.org.au or phone (02-6281 3999) for duty statement and selection criteria. 

RE News

What is Hope?

For Catholic's, hope is more than just wishing. Hope is placing our trust in Christ's promises and relying not on our own strength, but on the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit. It is a theological virtue, by which we desire the kingdom of Heaven and eternal life as our happiness. Hope isn't easy, its not a simple as wanting something to happen, it is an active virtue and requires strength to act on and share

To welcome the year of Hope, Pope Francis opened the doors to the prison to show prisoners that hope never disappoints. He celebrated mass and talked with them about the Hope that God gives us through the Holy Spirit to be strengthened and renewed. He brought hope to those who had lost it.  

Giving others hope is the epitome of having hope ourselves. 

A reminder that registration for the Sacrament of Reconciliation is currently open. Students who have been baptised Catholic and are in Year 3 and above are encouraged to make their first Reconciliation as part of their Sacramental journey. First Reconciliation needs to be complete before making other Sacraments such as First Eucharist and Confirmation.

Key dates for Reconciliation this year are as follows:
Gathering Mass - 15/16 February (any weekend Mass at St Jude's or St John Vianney's), books will be handed out to new registrations.
Reflection Hour - 18th March 2025, 5:30pm St John Vianney's Church (books returned, stoles handed out)
Sacrament of Reconciliation - 2nd or 3rd April, 5:30pm, St John Vianney's Church, April 6th, 9:15am St John Vianney's Church

Registrations for the Sacrament of Reconciliation can be made through the Parish Qkr! account and close on Friday 28th February. If you have any questions about the Sacramental program please contact Cathy, the Sacramental coordinator: sacramentalOLA@cg.org.au or 6288 1979. 

Sacrament dates

ELC News

ELC NEWS

Happy Birthday to Hugo S, Hana S, Alice T

The ELC children have made a wonderful start to the year. They have settled in beautifully, have enjoyed exploring their new learning spaces and are starting to make connections with each other.

ELC Parent Information

Thank you to those families who were able to attend our Parent Information Night. Information can also be found in the weekly emails from your class teacher and emails from the ELC office. If you have not received these, please let us know as soon as possible. You may need to check your junk/spam folder. St Jude’s and St John Vianney’s both publish school newsletters on Thursdays. These can be accessed on the school websites and are also emailed. Also please regularly check your child’s notes pocket which hangs outside the classroom door.

ELC Parent Sharing Meetings

Over the next 2 weeks, the teachers will be holding parent sharing meetings. Booking sheets are on the classroom windows.  This is an opportunity for you to share information about your child and set goals for the semester. Please remember to complete your Parent Sharing Information sheet (in your notes pocket) prior to your meeting.

ELC Start Times

The Preschool program runs from 9am to 3pm and Preschool Plus from 8am – 5:30. Our front door will be closed at 8:50am to allow the Seahorse program (Preschool Plus) to finish up for the morning. It will be opened again at 9am for our Preschool Only children to enter. 

ELC Library - Wednesdays

Please remember to pack your child’s library bag and book every Wednesday so they can return and borrow books.

Fruit shop - Wednesdays

Next Wednesday our ELC ‘Fruit Shop’ will be open for business so you will not need to pack a fruit snack on Wednesdays. Children will learn about different fruits and vegetables, including a mystery fruit and they will be encouraged to taste things they may not have tried before. If you have fruits or vegetables growing in your garden at home that you would like to share, please let us know.

St Jude’s Fete – Saturday 15 March

Our school fete is a great family day out and a wonderful opportunity to connect with the school community. We are currently seeking donations for the Plant Stall and Trash and Treasure, as well as sponsors and volunteers. See the Fete section of this newsletter for more information. 

Mufti Day 

Mufti Day (non-uniform day) will be on Tuesday 25 February for the Stingray group and Friday 28 February for Turtle and Lobster groups. The aim is to collect supplies and donations for our fete stall. Children are invited to wear plain clothes and we ask that you donate a can of coloured hairspray and a gold coin.

Library News

Borrowing Books in the Library

Our first Book Borrowing Blitz was a success! Thank you to Mr Kaltner and Mr Reed for your assistance. Don't forget to pack your library books and bag on Mondays.

Students can return library books any day of the school week as there is a returns chute in the library. I am happy to loan books during break times when the library is open if students miss their class borrowing time on a Monday  due to absences.

Book Club

Book Club has started on Fridays at recess for Year 5 and 6 students. We will do lots of student led literary activities and initiatives during this time. Additionally, Book Club participants will be invited to participate in opportunities such as Kids' Lit Quiz and Readers Cup throughout the year. 

Scholastic Book Club

Scholastic Book Club orders are due by 19 February 2025. Orders can only be made on the LOOP app.
Ordering from Book Club supports our school library. Many thanks for your support!

Happy reading!

Mrs Hind

Sports News

Swimming Carnival

The swimming carnival yesterday was a huge success. Photos and results to come.  

Mulleyduds Uniform Shop

Uniform shop will be next open on Friday 28 February from 2:30pm-3:30pm.

For second hand requests please email to: uniform.stjudes@gmail.com. Please include your child’s name and classroom for us to deliver to. **Please do not make payment for secondhand items, until we reply to your request confirming stock is available.

Mulleygrub Cafe News

Canteen Volunteers week 3

Wednesday 19 February - Renee, & two more volunteers please

Community Council News

AGM – 20 February 6pm

The Community Council AGM will be held at 6pm on Thursday 20 February in the library with a Teams link to be circulated closer to the meeting. We would love to see as many people as possible attend. The meeting is open to all parents and carers, whether you are new to the school or interested in an official position or not, all are welcome. The Community Council is a fantastic way to contribute to the school. General meetings are held once or twice a term. The meetings are an opportunity to hear the latest news from the school and contribute to discussions impacting decisions around the school.

50th Anniversary Planning

Thank you to all those that attended the 50th anniversary meeting last night. We have some really exciting events planned this year, so keep an eye out for save the dates.

Parent Representative Network

The parent representative network is comprised of a volunteer parent/carer from each class. Some activities the parent rep may undertake include:

• Help the children celebrate their teacher’s birthday and organise an end of year gift
• Distribute Community Council communications via email
• Welcome new and farewell leaving families
• Organising social activities for the class (such as a catch-up in a park)

If you are interested in volunteering for your child’s class, please email Stjudes.scc@gmail.com

Many thanks,

Gemma Cabot

Stjudes.scc@gmail.com

Fete News

Mufti Day - 28 February

Volunteers

Opportunities for "St Jude's Fete 2025" are now open. We encourage each family to register to help out for at least one 1 hour session to share the load. Click here to register.  

Trash and Treasure 

Drop off this afternoon is cancelled. 

For more fete information please see attachment.