2 April 2015

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s News

Dear Parents and Caregivers

As we approach Holy Week, we are reminded that we are called to take up our cross. But what does this mean? My parents used to say to me when I whinged about something, upon reflection, insignificant, that “everyone’s got their cross to bear, Michael.” But, that didn’t help me much, mostly because I had no idea what they were talking about; they knew I had no idea and they revelled at my frustration at not having a clue what they were talking about. They are great parents though!

But that expression has been clarified for me as I traversed the journey to wisdom (I still have many miles to travel). To take up our cross is to share in the greatest act of love ever in human history – Jesus giving up his life for all. Jesus, in pure love, sacrificed his own life out of service to humanity. So, to carry our cross is to be a true lover, and we take up this cross in service, which requires sacrifice. It is a love that costs us, but it’s true love. Below is a teenager’s take on the way Jesus would have us act.

‘Jesus was no dummy. He saw the cross coming. Look at what he was doing!

He’s touching all the unclean people, eating with outcasts, breaking up the temple money game, criticizing corruption, raising people from the dead!

Jesus wants a better world, but a lot of people are doing real well in the world as it is. They are not going to give up and fade away. This is not news.

Now Peter – there’s a dummy. Jesus lays it out for him – the cross, the resurrection, the whole thing – and he says, “No way.”

Jesus is not happy.

So Jesus says to him,” Not only for me, but for you too, Peter.”

So now Peter is not happy.

So Jesus tells him – and here’s the thing I like – Jesus tells him,

“Don’t let them lay the cross on you, Peter. Take it up. Don’t let them lay it on you. Take it up.”

Wow! You gotta love Jesus for that.’

When we know the price of loving as Jesus did and are willing to pay it, the inevitable sufferings do not make us victims. We become proactive, expanding our circle of loving. We engage in the struggle for a better world and embrace the suffering that comes with it (Patricia Thomas).

Have a holy Easter and enjoy this time with your children, away from the frenetic pace of the School term.

Dr Michael McCarthy
Principal

Leader’s News

On St Joseph’s Day the students of St Joseph’s joined with thousands of people across Australia to raise money for the Leukaemia Foundation. Funky hair doos were found across both campuses in support of this worthy cause.

The $505.20 raised by the students of St Joseph’s supports the Leukaemia Foundation's work – providing practical and emotional support to people facing the challenge of blood cancer, as well as investing in vital research to find better treatments and cures.

WHY DOES ST JOSEPH’S SUPPORT THE LEUKAEMIA FOUNDTION

• More than 12,000 Australians will be diagnosed with leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma this year – equivalent to 31 people every day. Money raised will be used by the Leukaemia Foundation to fund research to beat blood cancer, and provide free emotional and practical support to help Australian families.
• Research is making a difference. More than 80% of children survive acute lymphoblastic leukaemia today compared to just 20% a few decades ago.
• Treatment for blood cancer can range from months, to several years and generally lasts longer than treatment for other cancers. This can have a greater impact on relationships with others, education, career, and financial security. Families can suddenly find themselves in crippling financial circumstances, especially if the person is also the major breadwinner.
• Blood cancer is the third biggest cause of cancer death in Australia, claiming the lives of more people each year than better-known cancers, like breast cancer and melanoma.

Thank you to everyone who joined in and donated on the day in support of this fundraiser.

Mr David Fleming

School News

ANZAC DAY

ANZAC Day (25 April) is a Saturday this year and falls on the first weekend of Term 2.

All students are invited to march with school at the main parade along Maryland Street. While this is not compulsory attendance for students, over the years we have had such excellent attendance by students that participation has been the norm rather than the exception. The details of each of the events on the day are included for your information.

UNIFORM: The uniform for all services on ANZAC Day is:

• Usual school uniform for PRIMARY students, including the wide-brimmed hat.
• Formal uniform for SECONDARY students, including the formal hat.

Dawn Service

WHERE: Weeroona Park
TIME: 5:30AM
COMMENTS: The school will provide staff, students and their parents with a complimentary breakfast after the service, held in the RSL.

Parade

WHERE: Students gather in Folkstone Street (near Andersen’s Carpets)
TIME: 10am (for a 10:30am start)
COMMENTS: Students can be collected from Weeroona Park at the conclusion of the Parade.

Commemoration

WHERE: Civic Centre
TIME: 11am
COMMENTS: Our School Captains and Prefects attend this ceremony, and all students and their families are also welcome. The ceremony concludes with a wreath laying at Weeroona Park.

The School looks forward to seeing our students and families at this important community event on the 100th Anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli.

Year 11

We have been working out our goals to allow us to focus on our role as Seniors. This will help us to become better leaders. We are currently studying leadership styles and what is means to be a good leader. Our focus is on democratic leadership which can build teamwork and respect within our Year 11 cohort. The journey we are taking will see us taking part in a leadership camp at Emu Gully at the end of Term 2. We will focus on the ANZAC tradition and all that this encompasses (this will have particular significance in the Centenary year).

To help us bring our group together we have set up a common eating area outside Frayne building (See below), where we now have new benches made by the ITS class. In English, Yr 11 are writing short stories. In Physics, energy and motion is the main area of study with a focus on vectors and scales. In Physical Education our focus is badminton and skill learning, while in Hospitality the focus is on barista work. In Business Studies the focus is on work place health and safety. Religious rites is the main area of study in SOR and in Tech studies students are working on educational kids toys. Finally in Legal Studies students are learning about the courts system.

All in all we have had a busy and interesting start to the year.

Matthew Green and Steven Testa

Year 4

This term 4BF entered the Don’t Forget Me Cobber poetry competition. The students were required to write a poem about the ANZACs. There were two divisions for the poetry competition; Primary and Secondary School. The winner of this competition has their poem printed in a special centenary magazine remembering Anzac Day.

4BF worked in partners or groups of three to create their poems. We learned a lot about the pacing and format of a poem and also read through some other poetry before beginning our task. The students were also very interested in doing research and reading stories about the ANZACS to help with their brainstorming. Our class read wonderful stories during this time, such as My Mother’s Eyes and Photographs in the Mud.

When the students completed their poems we sent them off to the competition. We also printed out extra copies which the students decorated and can be found in the library, alongside the special Anzac display.

Here is one of the very special poems written by Bronte Duff, David Nemeth and Jack Spencer.

Dusk and dawn
By Bronte Duff, David Nemeth and Jack Spencer

The poppies that stand
Are the strong soldiers that fought for us
And the poppies that lie
Are the weakest.

The poppies that fought for us
The ANZACS that fell.
We remember.
We thank you.

A field of bursting poppies.
Who fought for us.
They will fight for us.
Dawn to dusk.

We live in peace.
And freedom.
We are a country in peace.
Australia we thank you
4BF and 4M recently attended a special presentation ‘Think Before You Bin It’, which taught us all about the importance of recycling and being careful when we throw away litter. The students were very interested in this presentation.

Miss Barber and Mrs McLucas

Poetry Competition

A number of our students entered the Bruce Scott Poetry competition with the theme, "ANZAC - Don't forget me cobber." Entries from across Queensland were received by Mr Scott's office, and the short-list of entries (30 in number) were judged by Hon. Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker of the House of Representatives).

Congratulations to Year 8 students Hannah Debnam who placed 1st, and to Jacob Rashleigh who placed 3rd. A great achievement and well done students.

Take Me Home

By Hannah Debnam, Year 8, St Joseph’s Stanthorpe

Take me home to a place I can forget this,
To a place I can forget these memories,
To a place I don’t wake up to bullet fire,
To a place where I can sleep right through the night.

These memories will never leave me,
They may leave my mind but never my heart,
They will torture me till the day I die,
Till I take my very last breath they won’t leave me.

Take me home to a place where my mates surround me,
To a place where my mates aren’t ripped away from me,
To a place we can live our full lives,
To a place we can walk around in peace.

Please don’t leave me all alone in this dark world,
I just can’t live without my mates’ support,
I really can’t go on without them,
So please don’t rip their lives away from me.

Take me home to a place where my family can be with me,
To a place where they don’t have to wait for me to come home,
To a place where we don’t have to read deathly telegrams,
To a place we can live without a fear of death.

Why must we go through all this pain?
All these poor families losing hope,
Hope of loved ones ever returning,
Hope of homes ever being full again.

Take me home to a place where I don’t live in fear,
To a place where my bed isn’t the trenches,
To a place where every day is not a nightmare,
To a place where I don’t have to face possible death.

Yet if you can’t grant me these wishes,
Then please hold the flag up high,
And remember all us troops who gave our lives,
So we could have peace, and harmony.

Remember us all this ANZAC day,
Show them we gave our lives for a reason,
Show the world we must fight for fair,
Mates, family, lives – we fight for home.

My Anzac Journey

We were tossed and turned on the boat
and there was so much fire I didn’t think
it would stay afloat.
For when we hit the land,
it truly was a no-man’s land.
Bodies and blood were everywhere
you could not see any sand.
If we could reach the trenches,
you would have to watch your step
because a mine could be hidden deep within the depths.

We were fighting for our lives at the moment
and fighting for those at home
In days to come I might die
and if I meet my death
I hope they take me home and put me to rest
and so I can think of what I have done
for myself and my country to help them reach victory.
Give peace to all my fellow soldiers that fell with me
and those who still are fighting
they are serving their country well.
May all the people at home find peace
as I fought for them well.
For all the soldiers that have fallen with me
may they be kept in our prayers.

By Jacob Rashleigh (Year 8)

Chalk Drawings

On the 12th of March a number of Year 12 students visited the Primary Campus to run an activity as part of our Lenten campaign. The activity involved Year 5 and 6 students chalk drawing on the walls of the multi-purpose building. Our aim was for the students to become more aware of the true meaning of Lent. We encouraged them to think about what they and other students had given up, as well as highlighting the fact that we are very fortunate to live in Australia. The students all enjoyed themselves and participated very well. It was a wonderful opportunity for us to connect with the Primary students at such a significant time of our Easter journey.

Our Year 3 students hands on in Science

Sports News

Congratulations to Ally McLellan and Anika Spiller who made 15 Years Darling Downs girls soccer team, Allison Hernandez - Under 19 Girls Darling Downs Football Team
and to Hannah Reeves who made the Open Darling Downs Golf Team. Hannah will also be heading to Cairns in July to compete in the State Championships. Good luck to all our amazing Sports Stars!

P & F News

The P&F Association is giving you and your family the opportunity to be involved in an exciting new fundraising venture, which will coincide with this years 140 year anniversary of St Joseph’s School Stanthorpe.

“Design-A-Brick” offers personalised engraved pavers, which will be used to create a long lasting legacy, which will not only beautify our school, but bring about a sense of ownership and community.

All current and past students and staff of St Joseph’s School Stanthorpe have the opportunity to purchase a paver with their name/s engraved.

There will be two options available:

Option 1 – Paver engraved with a name and or names. Up to 3 lines engraved on a 230 x 115mm coloured paver. At a cost of $30 per paver

Option 2 – Paver engraved with a hand drawn image. A simple hand drawing or hand written name on a 230 x 115mm coloured paver . At a cost of $35 per paver.

We have not yet decided where the pavers will be laid, but we would like to include a pathway with seating and gardens. This will also be dependent on how many pavers are ordered.

Please find attached an order form, which will need to be returned to the school, with payment, by the end of term three, Friday 18th September 2015. Payment is by cash, cheque or bank deposit.

I encourage you to support this wonderful fundraiser and please pass on this information to any past students and staff who may be interested. More order forms will be available from the school office. If you would like to view the pavers please check out the website at www.designabrick.com.au

Thank you for supporting our wonderful school.

Reminders and Updates

Old Jeans Needed

Next term Year 7 and 8 students will be using old denim jeans to create aprons. If anyone has any old denim jeans or denim shorts at home, which are not being worn, rather than throwing them out these will gladly be taken off your hands. Please deliver to the school office, or if Secondary students are bring them in, to the Secondary staff room. Thank you.

Miss Maria-Nella Di Mauro

David Ross will be absent on the 21st of April, there will be no music lessons this day.

Presbytery News

CHILDREN'S EASTER WORKSHOP: St Joseph's Parish is offering an Easter Workshop for primary school students, just before school resumes and as part of the Easter Season. Come to 8.30am Mass in St. Joseph’s Church on Sunday 19 April and remain until 11am for a time of prayer, sharing and Easter craft in the Parish Centre. RSVP to the Parish Office on 4681 2157 or to Selina (parishioner and catechist) on 0409 735 462. Cost is a gold coin donation. Would you please send some morning tea along with your child. (Please do not send any nut products.)