15 November 2023

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Dear Parents & Guardians

Welcome to Week 7

Last Thursday evening we held our Parents and Friends Annual General Meeting with the main order of business being the nominations and elections of office bearers for 2024.  I would like to take the opportunity to thank those executive members who have stepped away from their roles especially Lorinda Goodsall and Katrina Perkins.  Both community members have been awesome in their commitment to supporting our students on their educational journey. 

The following community members will constitute the P&F Executive for 2024 whom I look forward to working with next year.

P&F Executive 2024

• P&F President –
  Leah Benson.

• P&F Vice President –
  Jodie McDonald.

• P&F Secretary –
  Petrina Brady.

• P&F Treasurer –
  Leonie Mooney.

• P&F Regional Delegate (2yrs) –
  Robert Brady (2^nd Year 2024) Julie Brydon (1^st Year 2024)

• P&F Grants Officer –
  Jodie Cain

Next Saturday, the 25^th of November will be our final Children’s Mass for the year.  Please come and join us in Our Lady Help of Christians Church at 6:30pm as we celebrate with the Parish.  There will be a ‘cuppa’ after mass, so families are asked to bring a shared plate for a light supper if possible.  Hope to see you there.

This week marked our final Monday Morning Whole School Assembly as our final two weeks we will be holding our Semester 2 - Performing Arts Assembly on Monday, 20^th November in Week 8 and our Semester 2 Academic Awards on Monday, 27^th November in Week 9.  All are welcome to attend these special events.  If your child will be receiving an award, you will be notified by the school via text message by Friday the 24^th of November.

Enjoy the third last week of the year.

Have a great week.

Don’t Forget….

• Semester 2 Performing Arts Assembly. Monday 20^th November
• Presentation Night/Christmas Concert. Thursday 23^rd November
• Children’s Mass. Saturday 25^th Nov @ 6:30pm in OLHC
• Semester 2 Academic Awards. Monday 27^th November
• Semester 2 Report Cards posted to Parent Lounge. Wed 29^th
• Year 6 Graduation Mass. Wednesday 29^th November
• End of Year Mass/Term 4 concludes. Friday 1^st December
• Cathedral’s Lights of Christmas. Sun 17^th Dec – Sat 23^rd Dec @ 7:30pm
• 2024 School Year commences. Monday, 22^nd Jan 2024

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

32nd Sunday Ordinary Time
Parable of the 10 Bridesmaids.

Matthew 25:1-13

Living the Gospel – Living in hope.

A feature of Christian faith is an approach to life that views the future with hope. In our world today many people look to the future with distrust and even fear. As Christians, we look forward with hope. When change occurs, some allow that change to happen to them whilst others engage in the change process and approach it with hope and expectation. Today’s gospel reminds us to be ready for what the future holds; to look with hope towards what lies ahead, but to ensure that we’ve prepared ourselves properly. The future can only be viewed with expectant hope if we’ve done the proper preparation!

                    @Liturgy Help – Greg Sunter

2024 CHILDREN’S SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM

The Catholic Community of Rockhampton Sacramental Program will be beginning in January 2024.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

Children who are baptised Catholics and who are at least nine (9) years of age during 2024.

INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

Parent Information Nights will be held on:

Tuesday, 30 January 2024  5:30 – 6:30pm (at Holy Family Church) and

Thursday, 1 February 2024 5:30 – 6:30pm (at St Joseph’s Catholic School, Wandal)

Attendance at one of these nights is essential for those wishing to enrol in the program.  Please use one of the contacts below for further information.

St Joseph’s Cathedral Appeal

As the spiritual home for our Diocese, St Joseph’s Cathedral is vital to our school community.  Many groups of students have had the opportunity to visit St Joseph’s and to participate in important celebrations held in it, over many years.

A significant building such as this requires upkeep, and your contribution can help. 

Please use the QR code on the image below if you can donate to St Joseph’s Cathedral, Rockhampton.

Liturgical Celebrations Coming Up

*SJPA – St Joseph’s Park Avenue

*OLHC – Our Lady Help of Christians church (next to St Joseph’s, Park Avenue)

*MPA – Multipurpose Area (Basketball court)

Elizabeth Carter
Assistant Principal Religious Education

CURRICULUM NEWS

ICAS Results

Congratulations to the following students on their achievements for their ICAS assessments:

Jack Williams:

• Mathematics: Credit

Matilda Wooler:

• Writing, Spelling, Science, English: Participation
• Digital Technologies: Merit
• Mathematics: Distinction

Olivia Hewett:

• Mathematics, Spelling, English: Participation

Elizabeth Compagnoni:

• Writing, Mathematics, Science, Digital Technologies: Participation
• English: Merit
• Spelling: Credit

Corben Emerson:

• Digital Technologies: Distinction
• Mathematics: Distinction

Thomas Compagnoni:

• Digital Technologies, English: Participation
• Mathematics: Merit
• Science: Credit
• Spelling: Credit
• Writing: Distinction

Performing Arts Assembly

Next Monday we will be having our Semester Two Performing Arts Assembly starting at 8:35am in the MPA.  During this assembly, the students who learn an instrument (except for the Year 4 class who will be holding their own concert at a later date) will be showing off what they have learnt across the year.  Mrs Ellis’ vocal students will be performing a short musical theatre piece to display their vocal talents at this assembly.  We look forward to seeing how far our musical students have progressed over the year.

Regards

Deanne Senini
Assistant Principal Curriculum

TALKING TO CHILDREN ABOUT WAR AND CONFLICT

Media coverage can be hard to avoid, and the content related to war can be confronting as adults to process. It can be challenging to know how to explain war and conflict to children or if you should even talk about them at all. We want to protect children from the violent reality of these events, but in today’s ever-connected world, it isn’t easy to keep all media and information from reaching them.

Many children will end up hearing about the war or seeing news footage or images on television or online, intentionally or accidentally, in passing. Children may feel scared, angry, confused or overwhelmed by the events of the conflict, even if they don’t have a personal connection to the country or people involved.

Talking with children about their thoughts and feelings related to the event can be a healthy way to cope with any distress or worries they may have. The link below is to a fact sheet adapted from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network resource. It has been developed to support families when having honest, age-appropriate conversations about war and conflict.

These conversations give your child a healthy and helpful way to process their thoughts and feelings and develop empathy for others.

Brooke Black
Pastoral Support & Wellbeing

CLASSROOM NEWS

Prep

Prep is well and truly in the swing of school. The students have learnt so much and are excited to go to Grade 1 next year. Prep have been growing their love of reading and acting out some of their favourite texts. We have also been experimenting with measurement and counting to 20.

GOING ON A BEAR HUNT

Long wavy grass

Splashing through the river.

Through the deep dark forest.

Through the swirling whirling snow storm.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Congratulations to the following students who will celebrate their birthday this week.  They are: Mila B (Prep), Cooper P (Yr 5), Georgia G (Yr 1), Cody P (Yr 3), Andie C (Yr 1), Hallie M (Prep), Kaison M (Yr 5) and Emily S (Yr 5).

Have a great day.

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC IN 2024

Enrolments are now being accepted for new and continuing students to learn the following instruments at St. Joseph’s Park Avenue.

FLUTE, CLARINET, SAXOPHONE, TRUMPET, TROMBONE, PERCUSSION, VIOLIN, VIOLA, CELLO, GUITAR & VOICE.

Instrumental Music provides so many benefits to a child – please watch the attached link to a fantastic video about Music and the Brain: Instrumental Music Learning and Brain Fireworks

Please see the attached information letter for details on required year levels for each instrument, and a downloaded version of the enrolment form.

Enrolment link is included here: Instrumental Music Enrolment 2024

Further information is available online at https://emmaus.qld.edu.au/co-curriculum/instrumental-music/

KEYBOARD LESSONS FOR 2024

Lessons are of 30-minute duration and will be conducted weekly at school.

Students will be required to have access to a keyboard for practice and purchase a music tutor book and theory book.   Lessons will generally be given to groups of 2 or 3 students with some individual lessons available when it is not possible to match students of similar musical ability. The lessons will focus on developing note reading and counting skills and using a chord bass accompaniment.  There will also be an emphasis on utilising keyboard features such as different tones and rhythms.

Playing keyboard is an excellent extra curriculum activity to develop not only musical skills, but creative thinking, hand-eye coordination, concentration and commitment to task.

Enrolment forms are available from the office and in the newsletter for both new and continuing students.   

AFTER SCHOOL KARATE

Keppel Martial Arts, Uniting Church Hall, 321 Berserker St, Frenchville QLD 4701 

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

NON-STATE SCHOOLS TRANSPORT ASSISTANCE SCHEME

The Non-State Schools Transport Assistance Scheme (NSSTAS) provides financial assistance to families transporting children to non-state schools in Queensland. The weekly threshold is reviewed regularly and for Semester 1 2024, the weekly family threshold will increase to $35 ($25 for a concession card holder). Applications for financial assistance can be made now for semester 2 2023 at Non State Schools Transport Assistance Scheme (NSSTAS) (schooltransport.com.au).