Learning Happens Here Everyday

On Wednesday evening, we saw many parents and caregivers come out to our Parent-Teacher Learning Conversations. At St Joseph’s, we believe it is essential that you have the opportunity to meet with your child’s teachers, along with the School Leadership Team, face to face. I thank all our Parents and Caregivers who attended the evening, and I hope you saw it as a valuable aspect of our St Joseph’s parent-school partnership.

Our second night will be held next Wednesday evening the 2^nd April. Parents are asked to make only one appointment per child across both evenings.

Our First School Community Group

Last Monday, 17^th March, St Joseph’s held its first School Community Group gathering. The group has been introduced to strengthen our Family, School & Parish Partnership. We welcome parents & carers to partner with the school, to strengthen student development and learning. The group will meet each term, focussing on authentic community engagement, including an educational component to build capacity amongst parents and carers.

Last week we also invited Mrs Janita Thomson from Mission Services, Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools, to talk a bit more on the School Community Group.  Please refer to our school website for the School Community Group Guidelines.

I thank the parents and carers who attended the evening.

Showing Commitment -
reliable, loyal and trustworthy

At today’s assembly I spoke to all of our students about commitment, defining it as ‘giving a lot of time and energy to something because it’s important to you’, ‘to stick to something even if it isn’t easy, or is inconvenient’.

I then outlined the importance of commitment as a Christian value which; builds trust; is a sign of respect towards others; helps you achieve your goals; can push you past your comfort zone; gives you a sense of purpose; makes you more resilient and; is crucial to success.

I would love it if you could continue this conversation with your children, talking to them about being the kind of person who doesn’t give up, is reliable, loyal and someone people can trust.

As always, I thank you for your support in regards to your child’s ongoing learning and growth.

Guy Campbell
Driving Excellence in the Macleay

The parable from Luke this weekend is probably one of the best-known teaching stories that Jesus gave us. The Prodigal Son, or more recently, The Forgiving Father is a complex story with many messages for us. The father in the story is the image of God. A father who is there for us, providing all we need in life. A father who gives each the freedom to choose how they will embrace their life and make decisions for themselves, whatever direction that decision may lead them in. And two sons who represent the human condition. The younger son is allowed to take what the father offers and leave him for a life focussed just on self, that leads down a path of self-destruction. The older son meanwhile lives a life conforming to the rules and expectations of his father, staying and working the family farm. We hear that the younger son wastes everything. He literally hits rock bottom and for a Jew, feeding pigs would have been about as low as you could go. He then realises his mistakes and bad decisions and decides to return home to seek forgiveness and security back with his father. But not as a son anymore, just a servant as he had lost the right to be family. But he is welcomed home with open arms by his father and his return is celebrated with a feast. He is given sandals, a sign that he was not a slave but a son. He has been found again. The elder son though is not as forgiving and resents the celebration, as he had never been offered one, even after his years of fidelity. He refuses to join the feast, and his father has to remind him that he has always been there with him and all he has in life, is his too. The story doesn’t tell us what decision the elder son made but we do know that his father would have been patient and waited to welcome him back in to the family when he was ready, as he had for his prodigal son. (Reflection in part by Greg Ryan)

“Be kind and merciful. Let no one ever come to you without coming away better and happier. Be the living expression of God’s kindness.” Teresa of Kolkata

PRAYER

Lord, give us the courage to be honest with ourselves and change when needed, to turn back and be embraced by you. We ask this in your name.

Amen

Sourced from: https://cms.vinnies.org.au/media/esollqua/1124-spiritual-reflection-guide-jan-2025-web.pdf?folder=nsw__publications-nsw__spiritual-reflection-guides&path=esollqua%2F1124-spiritual-reflection-guide-jan-2025-web.pdf