Week 1 Term 3 2022

Dear Families,

Hoping everyone enjoyed the two-week Winter break. It is great seeing the smiling faces back at school.

Welcome new students, families and staff

As we begin Term Three, I welcome the new mid-year Preschool and Reception children (and their families) to St Joseph’s Payneham.

I also welcome the following staff members, new to our community.

• Josie Colangelo: Front Office Receptionist (replacing Lanette Burke, who has moved to Enrolments/Admin. as a result of Dora Cavuoto’s retirement).
• Maria Catalano: Italian teacher (replacing Tayla Carosi, who has moved to be one of the mid-year Reception teachers).
• Rebecca D’Amico: Reception teacher in RK (replacing Amanda Karam who has commenced maternity leave).
• Jane McDowell: Music/Performing Arts teacher (replacing Emma Hills who has also commenced maternity leave).
• Stephanie Donnarumma: Providing Preschool release on Wednesdays.

National School Improvement Partnership Survey

Catholic Education South Australia (CESA) through National School Improvement Partnerships (NSIP) are asking parents/caregivers to participate in a survey regarding St Joseph’s Payneham.

This survey is being offered to Catholic schools across South Australia. When you access the survey and enter the specific code for our school community (details below), all the relevant information will be sent to our school.

Staff and Year 2-6 students are participating in a sim ilar survey, and like the parent/caregiver survey, all responses are confidential.

Please click on the following link and enter the unique school code when asked: SJPLLLP www.NSIPartnerships.com.au. The survey closes on 12 August 2022. 

Deputy Principal/APRIM Staff News

Ingrid Douventzidis will be taking long service leave during Weeks 3, 4 and 5 of this term. I have communicated with Catholic Education South Australia (CESA) leadership appointments team and they have agreed for Michael Musolino to be Acting Deputy Principal/APRIM in Ingrid’s absence. Michael is currently involved in the CESA Aspiring Leaders’ Program and also part of our school’s Leadership Team. I congratulate Michael on this appointment.

St Joseph’s Payneham, celebrating 60 years

As has been emphasised previously, this year is our school’s 60th Anniversary. Next Friday 5 August, is a whole school Mass (at 10:00am), celebrating the feast of St Mary MacKillop, and also recognising our 60-year history. During recess, there will be a treat for the children and extended play time.

Building and Infrastructure update

The Stage 1 building work will be commencing in the near future. As mentioned previously, this will be a two-level, eight classroom structure with added facilities (on the eastern side of the school).

The new STEM Room (located on 11 Marian Road) has been completed and is being used as a specialist classroom this term.

There are three containers located on 11 Marian Road. These are temporary pods which contain parish gear from their existing sheds. Once new parish sheds are constructed, the equipment will be transported into the new sheds and the pods removed.

You may have noticed the property on the corner of Tarcoma Avenue and Portrush Road has been demolished. As has been cited before, this space will be made into a staff and visitor car park.

School Performance Report, 2021

If you are interested in viewing St Joseph’s Payneham School Performance Report from 2021, please access the following link: https://www.stjopayn.catholic.edu.au/our-school/school-performance  Alternatively, there are paper copies located in the Front Office.

OSHC Service Supervisor

Carissa Cristancig, is the current OSHC Service Supervisor on Monday and Friday afternoons. However, Carissa will be on teaching placement from the 8th August until 23rd September. We wish Carissa the best for her placement. As Carissa won’t be with us during this period, Emma Burke will be the OSHC Service Supervisor on Monday and Friday afternoons. Emma is known to the community, as she currently works at St Joseph’s as an ESO.

Gifted Awareness Week Competition and Winners

During Term Two, we had several children enter the Gifted Awareness Week Competition. I am pleased to announce that we had multiple winners.

• Michael Calabrese (1P), won the ‘Cardboard Box Making Competition’ for Year 1 students;
• Connor Dhanoa (RPT) and Alice Jonas (RPT) won the ‘Lego Marble Run Competition’ for Preschool aged children; and
• Isabella Guidolin (RPT) and Olivia Mastrullo (RPT) also won the ‘Cardboard Box Making Competition’ for Preschool children.

School Uniform and School Photos, 2022

As I mentioned in the last Parent Newsletter, thank you for having your children wear the correct school uniform. The students look smart and professional when wearing the right attire. A reminder that students are able to wear a navy or dark blue rain jacket or parka during Term Two and Three, when conditions are cooler. Additionally, the Uniform Committee, in liaison with School Board is discussing a new school uniform for St Joseph’s Payneham in the future. We’ll keep you updated of developments.

Also, I provide for you School Photo dates which are coming up:

• For our R-6 students, photos will be occurring on Tuesday 9 August; and
• For our Preschool children, photos will happen on 16 and 18 August.

Parking, road safety, driver etiquette

School drop-off and pick-up times are busy for everyone. For everyone’s sake, we want this to happen in a safe and courteous manner, including not parking or stopping your vehicle in a ‘no parking/standing’ area; this includes on solid yellow lines and across driveways. Therefore, please demonstrate consideration and patience, as well as travelling slowly around the school.

Volunteering in the Canteen

Our School Canteen would love to have more volunteers. If you are interested, please contact the Front Office, either in person, or via email at: info@stjopayn.catholic.edu.au

Condolences

Sympathies to the Caiazza (Olivia, 5S and Anthony, 1R) and Lionello families (Ava, 2M and Alessio 1R), on the recent passing of their great grandmother.

Congratulations

Lastly, I share with you the following ‘good news’ and offer my best wishes to:

• Amanda Karam (Reception teacher), who during the holidays gave birth to a baby girl, ‘Emmanuelle Maria’.
• The Do family (Matthew, 1T) on the birth of a baby boy, ‘Mason’.
• The Jonas family (Alice, Rec. PT) on the birth of a baby boy, ‘William’.

Wishing you well!
Simon Mechis

Feast of St Mary of the Cross 

Who is this remarkable woman who has inspired so many to pray through her intercession for their needs? 

Mary MacKillop was an Australian who co-founded the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart in 1866. The Order grew because it was needed. There were 750 Sisters in the Order when she died. Even in her dying she was deemed to be a saint. Today there are over a thousand Sisters, who live the charism of Mary MacKillop, to do the will of God with love and gratitude, in their day to day lives. 

St Mary MacKillop certainly knew tough times. Julian Tenison Woods described Mary’s life as  ‘a nest of crosses’ and yet she never lost her faith and her hope that everything would turn out okay.  

St Mary Mackillop was a prolific writer and there is so much wisdom in her words; wisdom for all time.

 She wrote in 1890 “Keep your mind in peace whatever happens”

What can we take from Mary MacKillop’s wisdom for these unpredictable times we find ourselves in?  

Mary MacKillop reminds us to slow down in our minds and be in peace there. If only we could keep our mind in peace we would not miss the ordinary. Slowing down offers the opportunity to take in more of the ‘ordinary’ things in our lives, that in busyness we can overlook. The ordinary has so much to offer if we are in tune and have a feeling for what is going on around us. 
St Mary MacKillop was always aware of the presence of God hidden in the ordinary things of life. She knew that she was called to bear her cross.  

Mary MacKillop lived by the power of the Cross, in the light of resurrection. She carried her cross without complaint, as a gift from God. She never shirked hardship because she saw it as Christ asking her to do something for him. 

Mary MacKillop died on 8th August 1909 in the Josephite convent in North Sydney. She was beatified in 1995 and was canonised on 17th October 2010. This year marks the 10th Anniversary of her Canonisation.

Saint Mary MacKillop Prayer
Ever generous God,
You inspired Saint Mary MacKillop to live her life faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and constant in bringing hope and encouragement to those who were disheartened, lonely or needy.  With confidence in your generous providence and joining with Saint Mary MacKillop we ask that you grant our request.

Feast of the Assumption

On 15th August as Catholics, we celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, when we remember that Mary was taken or ‘assumed’ into Heaven after she died. This was God’s way of showing us that Mary is special to God, she said ‘yes’ to becoming the Mother of Jesus.  

The Assumption Mass will be celebrated at school on Monday 15th August led by Year 5s, which will be in the Church at 9:15am.

Reconciliation Statement

If you are intending to enrol your child for the Sacrament of Reconciliation please send in your enrolment form to school, which has been distributed to all Year 3 student’s last term. Extra forms are available from the front office. 

Thank you to those parents who have already expressed interest in being part of this program. Further information will be provided in the coming weeks.

Mass

Mass is the formal religious service, usually held in the church. Father Michael Romeo will be the celebrant for all Masses. All children attend Mass, both as a whole school and in class groups. Families are encouraged and welcome to come and join us this term.

The School and Parish also encourage and welcome families along to Mass every weekend. Saturday night Mass is at 6pm. Sunday Mass is at 8:00am and 11:00am.

Class Masses/Liturgies this term are going ahead as planned. Parents will be able to attend.

Term 3 Class Mass/Liturgy Schedule 

Year 1 – Friday 2nd September 10:15am Liturgy in the Church 
Year 2 – Friday 16th September 10:15am Liturgy in the Church 
Year 3 - Friday 2nd September 9:15am Mass in the Church 
Year 4 - Friday 26th August 9:15am Mass in the Church 
Year 5 - Monday 15th August 9:15am Whole School Mass (Yrs. 3-6 only) in the Church
Year 6 - Friday 5th August 10:00am Whole School Mass  (R-6)in the Church 

Ingrid Douventzidis