St Joseph's Primary School Warrnambool
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70 Botanic Road
Warrnambool VIC 3280
Subscribe: https://sjwarrnambool.catholic.edu.au/subscribe

Email: office@sjwarrnambool.catholic.edu.au
Phone: 03 5561 1343

PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

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Matthew O'Brien, Principal

    Dear Parents, Guardians, Staff, Students and the wider St. Joseph’s Primary School Community,

    Prayer

    To mark the 150th Anniversary of the Diocese of Ballarat in 2024, Bishop Paul Bird composed a special Anniversary Prayer. Following a request from the Diocesan Liturgical Commission, Bishop Paul has now adapted this prayer to serve as an ongoing Diocesan Prayer.  We encourage its use throughout the diocese as a unifying expression of faith and community.

    First Eucharist

    Sunday at 10:30am & 6:00pm – St. Joseph’s Church

    This Sunday, we’re excited to celebrate a very special moment in the lives of our First Eucharist candidates. Over the past four weeks, our students have been preparing for this sacrament with the support of their parents.  During the 10:30am and 6:00pm Masses at St. Joseph’s Church, some of our students will receive the Body of Christ for the very first time.

    The Eucharist is at the heart of our Catholic faith, and this sacrament marks an important step in our students’ spiritual journey. It’s a meaningful reminder of the deep faith tradition that brings us together as a Catholic school community.

    Please keep our First Eucharist candidates and their families in your prayers as they take this beautiful step in their faith.

    Our Candidates are:

    Ava Walsh, Gus Kenna, Islay Allison, Nova Gainey, Annie Murrell, Patrick Kerr, Darcy Schrama, Lucas Sarra, Maddox McDermott, Max McCosh, Diesel Harrington, Grace Densley, Harvey Umbers, Stella Bell, Beaux McInerney, Ollie Gynes, Tully Moloney, Alejandro Lopez, Ezra Smith, Georgia Perry, Millicent Hughson, Daniel Wakely, Louis Kenna, Mary Fitzgerald, Harry Kerr, Saina Maria Manjaly Tony and Abel Delaney.

    Cara Chisolm (Religious Education Leader)

    Australian Catholic Education Commission Conference

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    Last week I was fortunate to attend the Australian Catholic Education Conference in sunny Cairns.  The conference theme was “Hope Anchored in Faith” and delegates attended from all Dioceses in Australia. Guest presenters included Jason Clare (Federal Education Minister), Archbishop Anthony Fischer, Dylan Wiliam and Dr Steve Constantino. Many themes ran through the event, in particular the value that Catholic Education provides our communities, the positive partnerships that schools and families create in order to support students to flourish, the role of the Catholic School in the mission of the church and artificial intelligence, its opportunities and implications for education.   

    The highlight was the celebration of Mass led by Bishop Joe Caddy in the Cairns Tipans Snake Pit with a choir of over 400 students accompanied by musicians from local Queensland Catholic Schools.

    School Improvement Review

    This week we have welcomed Lee Schlooz (Education Consultant), Janet Cain (Principal, St Colmans Mortlake) and Pauline Fischer (External Reviewer) to support us in validating the recommendations of our school review. This panel will meet with a range of staff, students and parents to help shape our school improvement priorities for the next 5 years. I look forward to sharing their findings with you in the coming newsletters. 

    Matthew O'Brien, Principal