19 July 2023

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Dear Parents & Guardians
Welcome to Week 2 of Term 2

It was wonderful to attend the NAIDOC Mass at Holy Family Church last week with our Indigenous students.  The celebration was wonderful with this year’s theme being: FOR OUR ELDERS.

I would also like to congratulate past Joey’s student and current TCC Year 9 student, William Littleboy who was awarded a Catholic Education scholarship.

Our students were beautifully behaved and represented our school and their culture with great pride.

Congratulations to our staff and students who competed at the 17^th annual Challenge Cup last week.  The three days were hugely successful with the netball team placing 3^rd overall out of 32 teams and the rugby league team placing 4^th overall out of 24 teams.  This is a massive achievement with Joey’s PA being the 15^th biggest school to nominate for the tournament.

Even more impressive was the fact that out of all the schools competing, Joey’s placed equal 2^nd overall with St Anthony’s in the Challenge Cup. Winners were Emmanuel Mackay placing 1^st in rugby league and 4^th in netball.  It is also worth noting that Emmanuel and St Anthony’s at nearly six hundred students each are nearly double the size of Joey’s.  Our little school always performs well against the biggest schools in our Diocese.  Congratulations to all who were involved.

Joey’s Challenge Cup Netball Awards 2023

• Best and Fairest – Emma Clarke
• Coach’s Award – Aliana Fitton
• Player’s Player – Ella Coughlan

Joey’s Challenge Cup Rugby League Awards 2023

• Best and Fairest – Kade Scott
• Coach’s Award – Eli Pearce
• Encouragement Award – Nate Oliffe

This week I’ve commenced interviews with the new families that have applied to Prep in 2024.  As I will be conducting these interviews continuously over the next four weeks, I may not be as readily available as usual.  If you do have a concern during this time, please contact Mrs Senini or Mrs Carter through the school office during this time.

Congratulations to Peter Doherty who will be ordained as a Deacon tomorrow at 11am at St Joseph’s Cathedral.  We look forward to working, worshiping and celebrating in the future with Peter as he journeys on his path to priesthood.

I have started to compile a list of dates through to the end of this Term and will add to it each week as new events are confirmed.

Don’t Forget….

• New Family Prep Interviews with Mr Fitzgerald. Weeks 2-5
• Catholic Education Week. Term 3, Week 3
• Emmaus Musical (High School Musical) 21^st-23^rd July
• R’ton District Interschool Athletics. 24^th-25^th of July.
• SJPA NAIDOC Day. Thursday 27^th July
• Mary MacKillop Feast Day Mass. Friday 11^th August
• National Science Week. 12^th-20^th August
• Feast of the Assumption. Tuesday 15^th August
• 2024 Prep Offers sent out. Friday 18^th August
• National Book Week (Read, Grow, Inspire) 19^th-25^th August
• Season B Sport concludes/Grand Final Day. Friday 25^th August

Kindest Regards
Bernard Fitzgerald
Principal - St. Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Park Avenue

St Joseph’s 2023 School Improvement Priorities:

• Prayer Life
• Learning Dispositions
• Increased Learning Gain & Achievement

RELIGIOUS MATTERS

15^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Parable of the Sower.
Matthew 13:1-9

Living the Gospel – Scatter that seed!

The teaching of the parable of the sower is as true for us today as it was in its original context. The word of the kingdom continues to fall on people who are at various stages of readiness to receive it. What Jesus suggests to his disciples – and to us – is that the ‘good soil’ can’t always be predicted. Jesus doesn’t tell his disciples to only sow the word in people who are receptive. Rather, he wants them – and us – to scatter the word everywhere and to rejoice when it does find good soil and yields a rich harvest.

@Liturgy Help – Greg Sunter

Children’s Mass.

How wonderful it was to see our school come together at the end of our first week of term.  A big thank you to the families who continue to commit to celebrating with the parishioners of Our Lady Help of Christians Church.

I would also like to mention our staff who joined us Saturday night.  Taking time from their weekend to be part of our school Mass is very much appreciated and I love their commitment and know the children love seeing them too.

Catholic Education Week

Catholic Education Week is a state-wide initiative, and it is an opportunity to recognise the impact that Catholic schools make in the education of young people and the wider community. It focuses on the stories of Jesus, of the founders of our schools and the importance of offering an education in the Catholic tradition. 

In Week Three, we will celebrate Catholic Education Week for 2023 with a number of exciting opportunities and celebrations both in and out of the classroom.

Please see the Liturgical Celebrations coming up on the calendar below and keep an eye out on our Facebook page for more details.

Liturgical Celebrations Coming Up

*SJPA – St Joseph’s Park Avenue
*OLHC – Our Lady Help of Christians church (next to St Joseph’s, Park Avenue)
*HF – Holy Family Parish Centre (next to Anthony’s School)
*MPA – Multipurpose Area (Basketball court)

Elizabeth Carter
Assistant Principal Religious Education

CURRICULUM NEWS

ICAS

St Joseph’s is offering ICAS assessments again this year.

What is ICAS? 

ICAS is an online academic competition that is designed to assess students’ higher order thinking and problem-solving skills in English, Mathematics, Science, Writing, Spelling and Digital Technologies. 

Each assessment celebrates students’ accomplishments by providing opportunities for recognition and development. Every student who participates will receive a printed certificate and an online results report. Top performers will be eligible for medals. 

We encourage you to consider entering your child into ICAS this year.   

How to participate in ICAS: 

If you wish for your child to participate in ICAS this year, please: 

1. Read about ICAS subjects and prices here 
2. Read the terms and conditions here
3. Go to Parent Portal to purchase tests here
4. Enter our school’s access code –  FPT347
5. Enter your child’s details, select the tests you would like to purchase, then proceed to payment. 

After payment is made via the Parent Payment System, you will receive an order confirmation email, please keep this for your records. 

Table 1: ICAS sitting windows per subject. 

Cut off dates to order tests are:

Digital Technologies and Writing – 1^st August
English – 7^th August
Science and Spelling Bee – 14^th August

If your child is away on the testing day, there is some flexibility for them to sit the assessment, but it must be in the same week as the scheduled date and fit in with the availability of staff trained in the implementation of ICAS assessments.

Premier’s Reading Challenge

The Premier's Reading Challenge (PRC) is an annual state-wide initiative for state and non-state schools and home-educated students up to Year 9, as well as children attending early childhood centres. Since the program’s inception in 2006, more than 20 million books have been read, and in 2021 alone, 168,000 school, early childhood and individual readers participated in the challenge reading more than 2.39 million books throughout the PRC reading period.

The challenge is not a competition but aims to improve literacy and encourage children to read widely for pleasure and learning. Students can participate in the challenge within their school or as individual readers (home-educated students or students whose schools are not participating in the program).

For a student to successfully complete the challenge they must read or experience the allocated number of books for their year level during the reading period. Students who complete the challenge have their efforts recognised through the receipt of a Certificate of Achievement signed by the Premier of Queensland.

Why read? Literacy skills are vital to ensuring children have the best chance to succeed in their schooling and life. The PRC is an opportunity for students to be enthusiastic about reading, writing, authors and illustrators. Reading a variety of books builds vocabulary and knowledge, improves spelling and comprehension, can improve confidence and is also a great way to relax.

To successfully complete the PRC, students must read or experience the number of books indicated on the reader record form.

Please see the link below for the reading record form if your child is interested in participating.  All forms need to be returned to the office by 25^th August to be eligible for a certificate.

Regards,
Mrs Deanne Senini
Assistant Principal Curriculum

CLASSROOM NEWS

Term 3 is going to be a big one for Year 4. Some of our students decided to share their ideas about the term ahead:

Olivia G: We are learning about persuasive texts in English and it’s where we persuade someone to do something. I like writing in English. I’m trying to be independent and finish everything.

Taylarni: I’m looking forward to working in school. I am looking forward to HaSS.

Katie: I am looking forward to learning about rocks in Science and all the different types of rocks.

Sebastian: I like learning about the types of rocks in Science.

Lilliana: I’m looking forward to Mr Loch coming in next week to talk more about God because I want to ask some questions that he will answer and I will get the hang of it and have more understanding.

We have been working on problem solving in Maths. We’re trying to ‘act it out’ - using physical learning strategies to solve problems. Check out some photos of our problem solving sessions where we used manipulatives like paddle pop sticks and even furniture to solve problems!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Congratulations to the following students and staff who will celebrate their birthday this week.  They are: Hudson R (Yr 4), Jake B (Yr 5), Corbyn D (Yr 5), Rhyver M (Yr 5), Saxon M (Yr 5), Hunter C (Yr 3), Ayva Pearson (Yr 1), Roland B (Yr 4), Chevy B (Yr 5), Ella C (Yr 5) and Mrs Mooney.

Have a great day.

DRAKES SUPA IGA

Drakes Fundraiser for St. Joseph's Cathedral

I thank you for your support of this project which has raised over $40,000, of which the school community has played an important role.  Please continue to support the Cathedral by shopping at DRAKES using your key tag and receiving the benefits.

If you have not been part of this fundraiser you are invited to get a key tag from your local School or Church and shop at your local Drakes, one cent in every dollar you spend will go to the Cathedral.  No Fuss, only benefits.

Hoping to see you at Drakes 
Stay Safe

Shirley Hopkins,
Co-ordinator, Drakes Fundraiser for St Joseph's Cathedral