31 May 2023

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Dear Parents & Guardians

Welcome to Week 7 as we pass the halfway mark of the Term.

My apologies for being ill and unable to attend our school disco last week but from all accounts the children had a tremendous amount of fun.

Thanks to the Year 6 students, teachers and DJ Brosnan for the night as well as all the staff who gave up their time to attend and make it a memorable event.

A reminder that the Rockhampton Show Holiday is on Thursday, 15^th June in Week 9. As a school we also have commitments to interschool sports the next day on Friday, 16^th June. Please ensure that every effort is made to attend on the Friday so we can meet our commitments to our teammates and the schools we are scheduled to compete against.

The old Skoolbag App has been updated and has changed name. The app is now called Audiri. Please check that you have the updated version so that you are getting up-to-date push notifications and the newsletter from the school. 

Athletics Update

Some confusion was experienced last year over which Year 3 students would compete during the Field Events on the Monday at school. 

Age champions medals are offered to 9 years – 12 years each year. Therefore, all 9 -12 years students will be competing in the field events on Monday.

All students born in 2014 – 9 years, 2013 – 10 years, 2012 – 11 years and 2011 – 12 years will be required to wear their full school sports uniform to school on Monday to take part in high jump, long jump, shot put and ball game practice.

Year 3 students born in 2015 – 8 years, will wear their normal formal uniform for the Monday.

A letter will be out today for Year 3 families to clarify what will be happening on the Monday.  Also, a school wide communication will be sent out regarding a number of requirements for both days that will also include an approximate timetable for both Monday at Joeys and Tuesday at Emmaus. Please be aware that these are only approximations of time.

The Tuesday at Emmaus will kick off promptly with the 800m events for the older students. All students need to be at the grounds and check in with their teachers by 8:30am.  Students are required to remain in their tents during the day and should not be crossing the track while races are being held.

Emmaus is currently experiencing some capital works and parking will be extremely difficult. Work is happening in the laneway between Emmaus and the cemetery so please be advised that parking and access to the ovals is very limited.

Due to safety reasons, Joey’s parents and students are not to wander through Emmaus school during the carnival.  Access will be via the laneway with no parking allowed to parents inside the school grounds.

The carnival will finish by approximately 2:45pm with students needing to be collected from the grounds.  Students will not be allowed to enter Emmaus academic areas to wait for older siblings. Please make some arrangements for an adult to collect your children from the venue.

Families with students attending Outside School Hours Care will need to let Chelsea know, so arrangements can be made to get them back to school, usually via school staff cars.

Don’t Forget….

• Field Events Day @ SJPA Oval Monday 5^th June (Week 8)
• Track Events Day @ Emmaus Brosnan Oval Tuesday 6^th June (Week 8)
• Semester 1 Performing Arts Assembly. Monday 12^th June @ 8:35am in MPA
• Deadly Day Out for Year 6 Indigenous Students. Tuesday 13^th June @ Dreamtime Cultural Centre.
• Rockhampton Show. 14^th – 16^th June
• Rockhampton Show Holiday. Thurs 15^th June
• Children’s Mass. Saturday 17^th June @ OLHC 6:30pm
• Semester 1 Academic Awards. Monday, 19^th June @ 8:35am in MPA
• State of Origin – Game 2. Wednesday 21^st June
• Semester 1 Report Cards posted to Parent Lounge. Wed 21^st June
• SJPA Under 8’s Day. Thursday 22^nd June
• Term 2 concludes. Friday 23^rd June
• Term 3/Semester 2 commences. Monday 10^th July
• Challenge Cup. Wed 12^th – Fri 14^th July @ St Brendan’s Yeppoon.

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

Pentecost Sunday

Jesus breathes the Holy Spirit into the apostles.
John 20:19-23

Historical Context – Pentecost

The word Pentecost comes from the Greek for fiftieth day. Pentecost Sunday ends the season of Easter and comes as a Sabbath day after seven weeks of seven days. In Jewish tradition the 50th day after the Passover was celebrated as a blessing of the harvest and rather than the unleavened bread of Passover it was celebrated by leavening the bread. It was for this reason that the disciples were gathered together when they experienced the Holy Spirit empowering them. In Christian tradition, Pentecost is celebrated as the arrival of the Spirit, promised by Jesus, that animated the disciples to spread the gospel of Jesus and gather believers to form what would eventually become the Church.

@Liturgy Help – Greg Sunter

Congratulations

On Pentecost Sunday, it is traditional for the Catholic Church to welcome new Catholics through Sacraments of Initiation.  Our Joeys community is thrilled to let you all know that Corben Emerson from Year 4 and Elie Clinton-Smith from Year 6 became Catholics last weekend.  Congratulations to you boys, we pray that the Holy Spirit guides you and that your faith enriches your lives.

Our Lady Help of Christians Feast Day

Friday’s Mass in our church was a beautiful way to celebrate the Feast of Our Lady Help of Christians.  As the patron saint for our church and the patron saint of Australia, it was wonderful to have the opportunity to stop as a community and reflect. A big thank you to everyone who was part of this occasion.

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

Chess Club

Congratulations to Mr Smith and the chess club for competing in your first official chess competition last week.  From all reports, the students really enjoyed the experience and conducted themselves exceptionally well.  Thank you also to Mrs Roberts who assisted with supervision on the day.

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: 

Read about ICAS subjects and prices here: (icasassessments.com/products-icas) 

1. Read the terms and conditions here: (icasassessments.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2023-ICAS-Assessments-Parents-PPS-TsCs_final.pdf)
2. Go to Parent Portal to purchase tests here:
   https://shop.icasassessments.com/pages/pps
3. Enter our school’s access code –  FPT347
4. 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 – 1st August
English – 7th August
Science and Spelling Bee – 14th 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 25th August to be eligible for a certificate.

Under 8s Day

Our annual Under 8s Day will be celebrated on Thursday, 22^nd June.  If you know of anyone who might be interested in setting up a display with some activities on that day please let either Mrs Senini or Mrs Mooney know.  More information about the day will come out closer to the date.

Other Competitions:

• Farm safety calendar competition. This is run by Workplace Health and Safety Queensland.  Students are invited to draw and colour a picture to illustrate one of these farm safety messages:

           Electrical Safety

• • Overhead powerlines are dangerous. Don’t play, park equipment, operate machinery, or plant trees or crops under them.
  • Safety switches save lives – ask an adult to get them fitted on all electrical circuits and test them regularly.

           Animal Safety

• • Make sure you are properly trained and understand animal behaviour before entering a stock yard.
  • Always wash your hands after touching or playing with animals as they carry diseases that can make people very sick.

            Tractor and machinery safety

• • Have a safe, fenced play area to keep children safe from machinery and water hazards.
  • Don’t have passengers on farm vehicles unless there is a designated seat and seat belt for them.

           Quad bike safety

• • Children under 16 should never use an adult sized quad bike.
  • Always wear a properly fitted helmet when you ride a quad bike.

           Water safety

• • Stay away from flood waters – there can be hidden dangers like strong currents, logs and other rubbish.
  • Always have an adult with you when playing near or in dams, creeks and rivers.

           Health and wellbeing

• • Make sure you’re ready to help out on the farm by eating healthy meals and getting plenty of sleep.
  • Stay sun safe when you’re outside – wear a hat, drink water and take rest breaks in the shade.

This competition is now open and closes on Friday, 23^rd June.  Please see Mrs Senini for more information.

• The Independent Education Union (IEU) annual competitions are now open:
  • Award for Excellence in Art Design invites entries from preschool, primary and secondary school students and teachers in non-government schools throughout Queensland and the Northern Territory. Entries close: 21^st July.
  • Queensland’s longest running literary competition, the QIEU Literary Competition invites Queensland and Northern Territory students and teachers to share their literary prowess by submitting either poetry, short stories or non-fiction prose. Entries close: 16^th June.
  • 2023 Premier’s Coding Challenge Students in years 3-10 are invited to enter the 2023 Premier’s Coding Challenge. The challenge aims to inspire the coders of the future. This year the theme is #digitalinnovationqld. Students are invited to help create change by examining real-world problems and responding with an innovative digital solution. The challenge in 2023 is to develop an interactive digital solution to create change in your local community or beyond. Students can develop an app, game or website and they must also submit a short video to explain and evaluate their entry.

Please see Mrs Senini for more information if you are interested in entering these competitions.

Regards,
Mrs Deanne Senini
Assistant Principal Curriculum

FINANCE NEWS

TERM 2 FEE ACCOUNTS NOW OVERDUE

School Fees for Term 2 were due for payment on Tuesday 16^th May. These are now overdue and requiring attention.

Please ensure that you check your email or log into Parent Lounge to check your School Fees on a regular basis. If you now have another child at the school you may need to increase what you are currently paying so as to not get behind with Fees.

If you have a means tested Concession Card and have not yet given a copy to the Finance Secretary, please do so as soon as possible.

If paying by Direct Deposit, please use your Account Number as the reference instead of names (this is the 6-digit number on your Fee Statement).

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Congratulations to the following students who will celebrate their birthday this week. They are: Harrison M (Yr 2), Izaiah S (Yr 6), Harrison B (Yr 1), Kade S (Yr 6), Elizabeth C (Yr 4), Walker C (Yr 5) and Abby E (Yr 3).

Have a great day.

CLASSROOM NEWS

Yr 6

What a busy semester we’ve had in Year 6.  Since we last reported we’ve been on camp, supported the students in the Colour Run, had our school photos done, run the cross country, walked the ANZAC day parade, some of us competed in the Chess Challenge, the Maths Challenge and in the Capra’s Cup, held our first disco, ran the Easter raffle, welcomed back a past Joey who is on her way to the Special Olympics in Germany and a Galactic Donut drive.  And that’s just outside of our classroom.

Inside we’ve taken ourselves on a trip around the world looking at the differences between our Australian culture, language, money etc and countries all over the world.  We’ve studied the Eucharist and its meaning in Religion, mould in Science, how food goes from the farm to the table in Technology, how to study a book in English and how to talk Maths Talk in Maths.

No wonder we need our weekends.  Year 6 is also the time for students to stand up and model correct behaviours for our younger students.   We have been made aware of many of our students demonstrating what being a Joey’s student means – caring, loving, supportive, eco-friendly, helpful, and just generally being good people.

Looking forward to seeing our students show their understanding at their Prayer Celebration this Friday in the church.  Looking forward to watching their sportsmanship at the Athletic Carnivals next Monday and Tuesday. 

What can we achieve in Semester 2 – can’t wait to find out!

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