15 May 2024

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Welcome to Week 5 of Term 2.

Congratulations to our CQ Capras Rugby League team who competed at Kettle Park last week against eight other Rockhampton schools. The team won Pool A by defeating St Anthony’s 6-0 and Rockhampton Grammar 22-0.  They then won a hard-fought semi-final against Parkhurst SS 20-16 progressing to the final against Frenchville SS.  In the final, Joey’s were pipped by a try right on the final buzzer going down 14-12.  This was a huge achievement as Joeys was the smallest school competing in the A Division eventually losing the final to the largest school in our region.  The team competed with pride and sportsmanship while representing Joeys beautifully.

This has capped off a real ‘purple patch’ for our school community recently with NAPLAN results trending in the right direction and improving each year, 1^st and 3^rd team placings in the inter-school Maths Competition and a 2^nd place in our first inter-school Reading Challenge.  These results, along with a tremendous representation at the recent ANZAC March, exhibits Joey’s commitment to excellence and providing opportunity for our students within the community.  Thanks to the staff and students for their efforts in these various community events.

Well done to our wonderful Inclusive Curriculum team with the school taking part in a Post Enumeration Audit of our Government and NCCD funding.  When receiving the report last Wednesday, I was told that the school passed with flying colours by the visiting auditor.  Congratulations to all of the staff led by Mrs Donohoe who contributed towards the immense planning and preparation both before and on the day.

2024 Satisfaction Surveys.

A reminder that the entire school community would have received emails from a company named MYPCorp who will be conducting and collating surveys for our school.  All parents should have received an email with their own personal login details.

Please note that this survey will be confidential. No member of the leadership team at St Joseph’s Park Avenue will have access to your individual responses. We will be provided with a summary of collated results only. The survey would only take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete with all but two questions being multiple-choice.

The surveys are scheduled to close on Wednesday, 22^nd May.

Thank you for your assistance in helping to shape the future direction of St Joseph’s Park Avenue.

Catholic Education, Diocese of Rockhampton – School Fees and Funding – Advice 1

Dear Parents and Carers

Please find attached the first of a series of Advice pieces, developed to inform our Catholic Education families of the new Federal Government Funding model (Gonski model) and the impact on funding for Catholic Schools.  Over the coming months, further Advice pieces will be shared, with each piece building on the detail of the previous.  Please take the time to read each of the Advice pieces, to understand the impact of the changes on the funding for our school and School fees.

Don’t Forget …

• School Board Meeting. Wed 15^th May in Library @ 5:30pm.
• No Tuck-Shop. Mon 20^th – Tues 21^st
• Mr Mike Kelso Term 2 visit. Tues 21^st
• OLHC Feast Day Mass. Fri 24^th May in OLHC @ 9:00am.
• Children’s Mass/Sacraments Celebration. Sat 25^th May in OLHC @ 6:30pm.
• 10^th Anniversary Mass of Episcopal Ordination of Bishop Michael. Wed 29^th May 10:00am @ St Joseph’s Cathedral.
• Athletics Field Events Day. (9-12yrs) Mon 3^rd June @ SJPA Oval.
• Athletics Track Events (Whole school) Tues 4^th June @ Emmaus Brosnan Oval.
• Semester 1 Performing Arts Assembly. Mon 10^th June in MPA @ 8:35am.
• Show Holiday. Thurs 13^th
• Children’s Mass. Sat 15^th June in OLHC @ 6:30pm.
• Semester 1 Academic Awards. Mon 17^th June in MPA @ 8:35am.
• Semester 1 Academic Reports posted to Parent Lounge. Wed 19^th
• Under 8’s Day. Thurs 20^th
• Semester 1 Concludes. Fri 21^st

Have a great week.

Regards
Bernard Fitzgerald
Principal
St Joseph’s Catholic School, Park Avenue

St Joseph’s 2024 School Improvement Priorities:

• Christian Virtue – Dignity
• Increased Learning Gain & Achievement
• Learning Dispositions

CURRICULUM NEWS

Premier’s Reading Challenge

I am delighted to invite all students to join in the 2024 Premier’s Reading Challenge (PRC).

The PRC is not a competition but a way to encourage students to develop a love of reading for life. Students are encouraged to select a range of fiction and non-fiction books suited to their reading ability and record books read during the reading period, from 7 May to 23 August. Attached to the newsletter is a reader record form to tally books read throughout the challenge.

To complete the challenge:

• Prep to Year 2 must read or experience at least 20 books
• Years 3 and 4 must read at least 20 books
• Years 5 to 9 must read at least 15 books.

Experiencing books can include shared reading, listening to stories, or reading picture books. The aim for the 2024 challenge is to encourage students to make time to read. Last year saw more than 110,000 children from around the state participate.

Book suggestions are available on the PRC website: 

Every student who completes the challenge, and returns the completed record reader form, will receive a Certificate of Achievement. I look forward to seeing as many of our students as possible take part in the 2024 Premier’s Reading Challenge.

ICAS

Once again, St Joseph’s will be offering ICAS assessments for students who wish to participate.  ICAS continues to lead the way in international academic competitions. Over 10 million school students from 16,000 schools across 41 countries have been inspired, celebrated and challenged since the annual event began over 40 years ago.

ICAS recognises academic performance in a way others celebrate achievements in sport or the arts. Students can sit up to six literacy and STEM papers including English, Mathematics, Science, Digital Technologies, Writing and Spelling Bee. The questions are engaging and fun and have been designed by psychometricians, education measurement experts and experienced teachers to push students to their academic limits, as well as test higher-order thinking and problem-solving abilities.

More information on these assessments can be found at icasassessments.com

Purchases must be made before Monday, 29^th July

To sign your child up for any of these assessments and to pay for the assessment please log onto the following link and use the below school access code:

Your school access code is: WSO834
Your parent page link is: https://shop.icasassessments.com/pages/pps

Regards
Deanne Senini
Assistant Principal Curriculum

RELIGIOUS NEWS

The Ascension of the Lord

Jesus commissions the eleven, ascends to heaven.
Mark 16:15-20

Living the Gospel – Proclaim Good News

Francis of Assisi is credited with saying, ‘Preach the gospel at all times and when necessary, use words!’ In every interaction we have we say so much about who we are, what we think of the other person and what we believe – even without opening our mouth. Our actions and attitudes proclaim our beliefs more powerfully than our words ever do. If we claim to be concerned about justice and yet behave unjustly then it is our actions, not our words, that will be heard! When we are called to ‘proclaim the Good News’ we are called to do this first and foremost in action.

@Liturgy Help – by Greg Sunter

The Role of women in Religious Education and Dialogue

Last week, I reflected on the challenge facing Catholic schools in our modern context. We are called to dialogue with others and to use dialogue as an opportunity for all in our schools to make meaning. Our sacred texts, rituals, and symbols can be recontextualised for the students in our schools and their families.

What role do women play in a culture of dialogue, then? Our classrooms and schools are full of strong and intelligent women who have much to offer. Pope Francis acknowledges the unique contribution women can make and says:

"Women are guardians of a spiritual and peaceful society. They are always using their mediation skills, negotiating skills, for conflict resolution in the family, skills that can be transferred from a family situation to society. A society that does not value its women cannot achieve prosperity and peace."

In our Catholic Dialogue Schools – and, indeed, in the world – where respectful communication as well as a certain vulnerability is required, may we make use of our strong, wise women! May we value their contributions to interreligious dialogue; may we highly esteem their listening skills and discernment; may we honour those women in our families and schools who are busy "forging justice and peace in an antagonistic world" (Elizabeth Johnson, She Who Is).

Catholic Dialogue School Newsletter, May 2024

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)
*STM – St Mary’s Church (next to St Mary’s School)
*MPA – Multipurpose Area (Basketball court)

Elizabeth Carter
Assistant Principal Religious Education

SPORTING ACHIEVEMENTS

CQ Capra’s Challenge Rugby League Gala Day

Congratulations to our team who competed at the CQ CAPRA’S Challenge Rugby League Gala Day last Friday.  You were all amazing and made us very proud!! (See Bernard’s piece above)

Rockhampton District Cross Country Trials 2024

Several of our students ranging from 10-12 years competed at the Rockhampton District Cross Country trials last Tuesday.  Congratulations to all, you all competed in true JOEY’S spirit!

CLASSROOM NEWS

Greetings from Prep

On Friday 10th of May we joined with Year 1 to host a Mother’s Day Picnic.  We celebrated the special people in our lives with lots of food and fun activities. 

In Religious Education, we have enjoyed investigating Prayer and how Christians grow a relationship with God.  We were very excited when the Year 5 students came to show with us how they participate in Christian Meditation and shared their knowledge of Prayer. 

We have been learning about letter sound relationships and using our knowledge to create simple sentences in response to the story we have been reading Mrs Wishy Washy, written by Joy Cowley.  We have also been exploring numbers to 20 in maths workshops including formation, identifying numbers one less and one more, counting collections and other hands-on activities

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Congratulations to the following students who will celebrate their birthday this week.  They are: Maci J (Prep), Fuller C (Yr 4), Aysha H (Yr 1), Sonny K (Yr 2), Bentley Mc (Yr 5) and Izabella L (Yr 3).

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