31 January 2024
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Dear Parents & Guardians
Welcome back to the start of the 2024 school year, with our first official newsletter.
Even with the shortened, extremely hot Week 1, it has still been a great start to the year with both new and familiar faces settling well into the school routines. As we begin the year, we are slightly altering our afternoon pick-up procedures with the school gate opening at approximately 2:50pm with parents and guardians being able to enter the school to meet their children outside the classroom. Please be aware that the Multi-Purpose Area becomes a strictly OSHC area at 3:00pm and that car park spaces being taken up with a parked car for excessive times prevents our pick-up time from being as efficient as possible.
A very special welcome to all of our new families; we trust that you will find the Joey’s school community to be very warm and welcoming.
In 2024 we welcome Miss Lauren Hitchen in Year 6, Mrs Jessica Trounsen in Year 5, Mrs Alison Mann in Year 3 and Miss Amanda Wilden in Year 1. We also welcome back Miss Lauren McDonald to Year 5 after taking some medical leave in Term 4 of last year. I am sure we will all make these people feel very welcome as they get to know our wonderful school community.
We will be celebrating our opening school mass this week on Friday, February 2nd. The mass will be held in the school Multi-Purpose Area due to the expected extreme heat. The mass will commence at 9:00am with everyone welcome to attend. Please remember that car parking will be at a premium.
This year our Parent Information Night will be held on Tuesday, 6th February. The afternoon/evening event will be held as an open evening with all classrooms open from 4:00pm-6:00pm for parents to be able to meet with their children’s new teachers for the year. Please remember that if your child or family has any specific medical needs or unique family circumstances and you feel this will not be enough time to properly address this, that making an alternate time to catch-up should be a priority.
At Monday’s assembly, we took the opportunity to introduce our school Student Protection Team members for 2024 to the students. The team is as follows:
- Bernard Fitzgerald
- Deanne Senini
- Elizabeth Carter
- Brooke Black
- Michelle Hoffman
- Rebecca Duncan-Wason
- Chelsea Holden
Finally, thank-you to all of our parents and students who have made a tremendous effort to begin the school year not only with both the correct school uniform and suitable haircuts, but in particular our car park drop off zones.
Don’t Forget …
- Opening School Mass, Fri 2nd Feb 9:00am in School MPA.
- Ash Wednesday, Wed 14th Feb
- First P&F Meeting for 2020, Wed 14th Feb @ 6:00pm
- School Board AGM, Wed 21st Feb @ 5:30pm
- Bishop’s In-service Day, Fri 16th Feb (Pupil Free Day)
Have a great week and I look forward to working with you in 2024.
Kindest Regards
Bernard Fitzgerald
Principal - St. Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Park Avenue
St Joseph’s 2024 School Improvement Priorities:
- Christian Virtue – Dignity
- Increased Learning Gain & Achievement
- Learning Dispositions
CURRICULUM NEWS
Welcome back to the school year. For all the new families, I’d like to introduce myself. My name is Deanne Senini. I’ve been a teacher with Catholic Education for 21 years with 10 of those being here at St Joseph’s. For the past 8 years, I’ve been in the role of Assistant Principal, Curriculum. This means that I assist our teachers in their important role of teaching as well as supporting Bernard in leading the school as a member of the school leadership team. If you have any questions about how we implement the Australian Curriculum or conduct any of our learning programs, I’d be happy to have a conversation with you. Feel free to reach out at any time.
Guinea Pigs
As many of you would be aware, we have four wonderful guinea pigs in the school: Possum, Wombat, Snowball and Cuddles. These pets provide a lot of joy and emotional support to our students (and staff). They had a great time over Christmas spending time at both my place and Mrs Shaw’s house. Like many of us, they had some extra holiday cheer and have now outgrown their current enclosure. As such, they have a larger home on the way and will be relocating from Year 2 to the Prep room once their new home is ready for them.
We will be recommencing lunch time cuddles with the guinea pigs in a couple of weeks’ time. Hopefully you would have seen a permission form come home last week. If you are happy for your child to interact with the guinea pigs, please complete the permission form and return it to school. Students will not be permitted to touch the pets until their permission form has been returned.
Our guinea pigs love to eat, and therefore, can be quite expensive to maintain a good healthy diet for them. If you would like to assist with providing some food for these wonderful pets throughout the year, please drop donations to the office or the prep classroom. They love to eat the following:
- Lettuce (all kinds except iceberg)
- Capsicum
- Cucumber
- Carrot
- Celery
- Apples
- Tomato
- Kale
- Cabbage
- Beans
- Corn
- Coriander
- Mint
- Rosemary
- Asparagus
- Cauliflower
- Rocket
To name a few. A quick google search is all you need. They also need a constant supply of fresh hay. All donations will be gratefully accepted.
Regards
Deanne Senini
Assistant Principal Curriculum
RELIGIOUS MATTERS
4th Sunday Ordinary Time
Jesus commands an unclean spirit
Mark 1:21-28.
Scriptural context – The Messianic Secret
A feature of the Gospel of Mark is an element of secrecy and confusion that surrounds Jesus’ identity. He silences demons who would announce his identity and warns those he heals to be quiet about what has occurred. There is a real lack of understanding displayed by the disciples about who Jesus is. At one point, Jesus asks the disciples, ‘who do you think I am?’ They identify him as the Messiah but immediately demonstrate that they don’t really understand what that means. The theme that runs through the gospel is a developing understanding of what it means that Jesus is the Messiah.
@Liturgy Help – Greg Sunter
SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM
This week, the Rockhampton Sacramental program begins. Parent Information Nights are on Tuesday and Thursday. Attendance at one of these is essential if you wish your child to be part of the Sacramental Program this year. Children participating are not required at the initial Parent Information Night. Please use the QR code below for more information.
SCHOOL PRIORITY: CHRISTIAN VIRTUE - DIGNITY
This year, one of our school priorities is Christian Virtue – Dignity. The dignity of every person, independent of ethnicity, creed, gender, sexuality, age or ability, is the foundation of Catholic Social Teaching. No human being should have their dignity or freedom compromised. Poverty, hunger, oppression, and injustice make it impossible to live a life in-line with this dignity. So as God’s people and in the tradition of St Mary MacKillop, we are called to honour the dignity in everyone and to work to ensure the lives of all reflects this God-given virtue.
VIRTUE AWARDS
Each Monday students from every class are presented with a Virtue Award. These have previously seen a focus virtue for each class. In 2024 this will be changed. Last year, the staff reflected on our virtues and a group of 20 focus virtues have been selected for our weekly Virtue Awards. These incorporate our initial seven virtues, virtues that reflect our learning dispositions and those that are essential for a flourishing life as a learner and active member of the Joeys community.
OPENING SCHOOL MASS
On Friday, we will celebrate the beginning of the school year with our first whole school Mass. This is a fantastic way to begin together, and all members of our community are welcome.
Due to the temperatures lately and those predicted, Mass will be celebrated in the Multi-purpose Area. A big thank you to Fr Jomon and the Our Lady Help of Christians parishioners who have generously given us the opportunity to share Mass together this Friday.
Liturgical Celebrations Coming Up
WEEK | DAY | DATE | EVENT | TIME | PLACE |
Week 2 | Wed | 31st JAN | Christian Meditation – Year 1 | 11:30am | Arts & Drama |
Fri | 2ND FEB | Opening School Year Mass | 9:00am | MPA | |
Week 3 | Wed | 7th FEB | Christian Meditation – Year 6 | 11:30am | Arts & Drama |
Fri | 9th FEB | Year 5 at Mass | 9:00am | OLHC | |
Year 6 Prayer Celebration | 10:30am | MPA | |||
Week 4 | Wed | 14th FEB | Ash Wednesday – Liturgies in Classes | SJPA | |
Fri | 16th FEB | BISHOP’S INSERVICE – PUPIL FREE DAY | |||
Sat | 17th FEB | St Joseph’s School Children’s Mass | 6:30pm | OLHC |
*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)
*STM – St Mary’s Church (next to St Mary’s School)
*MPA – Multipurpose Area (Basketball court)
Parish Newsletter
Elizabeth Carter
Assistant Principal Religious Education
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Congratulations to the following students who will celebrate their birthday this week. They are: Harper A (P), Alice P (Yr 1), Sienna B (Yr 1), Taylarni H (Yr 5), Korbin H (Yr 2), Harrison H (Yr 3), Kolsen S (P), Lincoln B (Yr 2), Jack N (Yr 1), Jax B (Yr 3), Wesley J (Yr 6), Spencer B (Yr 5), Zane B (Yr 5) and Kruz H (Yr 3).
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.
Please see the attached information letter for details on required year levels for each instrument, and a downloaded version of the enrolment form.
Further information is available online from the link below.
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