4 September 2024

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Welcome to Week 9.

Dear Parents & Guardians

Due to a number of staff attending Student Protection Professional Development next Monday the 9^th of September, there will be no Monday whole school assembly that day.

School Fees 2025 Information

A few weeks ago, the fourth School Fees Advice piece introduced our new, simple and transparent fee structure for Catholic Education schools and colleges. 

Rather than a tuition fee plus numerous levies and charges, from 2025 we will present our school fees as an All-Inclusive Education Fee that covers the curriculum offering of the school.  The only other charge is a Building Levy, which funds the capital costs of providing contemporary and educationally engaging spaces for our students and staff.  We do offer some activities that fall outside the curriculum offerings of the school, which will be charged as Specific Purpose charges. At a primary level, Specific Purpose charges will be quite few.

On Monday morning, I sent out a letter that included the 2025 Statement of Fees to the entire community.  This was sent as an email, placed on Audiri and as a physical copy to all families. 

 In this communication, the fees are presented in this communication as annual, term, and weekly fees.  The Schedule also provides details of available payment options.  Consistent with previous years, we offer family and concession card discounts to eligible families, and support for any of our families experiencing periods of financial hardship.  Please do not hesitate to contact Megan, the school finance secretary to discuss affordability concerns, payment options, and to establish a suitable payment plan.

Have a great Week 9.

Don’t Forget …

• Parent/Teacher Interviews. 2^nd – 6^th September
• National Child Protection Week. Week 9
• Week 9. 2025 Fee Schedule Communication emailed to SJPA community
• Student Protection Team at PD. Mon 9^th
• RU OK? Day. Thurs 12^th
• RU OK? Day Joey’s community BBQ Breakfast. Thurs 12^th
• Term 3 Concludes. Fri 13^th

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

RELIGIOUS NEWS

The 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Jesus confronts the Pharisees who pay only lip service to God.
Mark 7:1-8

Gospel Focus – The things within

We live in a culture that is very quick to lay blame on external factors; some people are very reluctant to accept responsibility for their own actions and look for opportunities to distance themselves from feelings of guilt or even regret. Jesus makes it very clear that evil intentions – the things that make a person ‘unclean’ – come from within. He presents a confronting list of the things that come from within, and we may be able to add others relevant to our own time. In our culture of no personal responsibility, Jesus challenges us to rethink just where the buck does stop.

@Liturgy Help – by Greg Sunter

Season of Creation

In the Catholic church the Season of Creation begins on the first day of Spring and concludes on October 4^th, the Feast of St Francis of Assisi.

In Laudato Si’, his encyclical ‘On Care for Our Common Home’, Pope Francis quotes the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew saying that ‘to commit a crime against the natural world is a sin against ourselves and a sin against God.’

As we start the Season of Creation, we might examine our lives in this the spirit of Laudato Si. Have we, in what we have done or failed to do, sinned against what God has made?

The beauty of creation, itself an expression of God’s love, embraces the entire universe. This is why Pope Francis invites us to face the wrongs of the present by using the world’s resources responsibly and equitably.

When we next stop to pray, admire a sunrise or consider the lives of communities less fortunate than ourselves, we could pray for the grace to become a blessing for Creation.

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

SPORTING MATTERS

Catholic Schools Touch Challenge (Tony Novak Memorial)

Congratulations and good luck to the year 6 students who have been selected to represent Joey’s at the upcoming Catholic Schools Touch Challenge being held on Wednesday 11^th September.

Challenge Cup Sponsorship

We would like to thank Stephen and Selena Baker from Autobarn Rockhampton, for their generous sponsorship towards the Challenge Cup polo shirts.  This contribution goes beyond just the shirts, it boosts team spirit and brings our community together.  

JOEYS GALACTIC ENCOURAGEMENT AWARDS

This week, the Encouragement Awards for Joey’s Touch goes to the following students:

Charlotte H, Zoe T, Maci J, Bibi G, Riley R, Harper Y, Cullen W and Kasey SH.

CLASSROOM NEWS

Inclusive Curriculum

Enhancing Learning with Assistive Technologies

Our commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive learning environment ensures that all our students, especially those with learning difficulties or disabilities, can access assistive technologies within our school. These tools are designed to help them access the curriculum more effectively and independently.

C-Pen Reader: a handheld device that scans and reads texts aloud. This tool is especially beneficial for students with a Specific Learning Disorder with Impairment in Reading (dyslexia) or other learning challenges, enabling them to engage with written material without the barrier of decoding text.

Voice-to-text Software: Students use a device that converts spoken words into written text. This resource assists students with difficulty writing due to physical disabilities, language processing difficulties, or other challenges.

Read to Me function: This function reads digital text aloud to students. It supports students with reading difficulties and aids in comprehension by allowing them to read along as the text is read aloud.

These assistive technologies are more than just tools—they empower our students to overcome barriers and provide the opportunity to succeed.

National Child Protection Week: 1 – 7 September

This year, National Child Protection Week will continue to focus on the message:

“Every child, in every community, needs a fair go”.

This year‘s theme is ‘Every conversation matters'. Let’s use this theme to explore and talk about the many ways that conversations matter for children, young people and their families.

Children are safest when they are listened to, respected and believed.

All adults can play a part by ‘tuning in’ to children in everyday situations about small worries; then, they are much more likely to feel comfortable telling us if something big is wrong.

Talking with children about safety:

• Support children in identifying trusted adults (both within the family and outside) they can talk to if they are worried, upset, or don’t feel safe. Make sure these adults know they are on your child’s list.
• Remind children they can talk to you or a trusted adult about anything, no matter how big or small their worry might be.
• Talk to children about how they know when they feel safe or unsafe. Help them to listen to their early warning signs (how their body feels) and to trust their feelings and instincts.
• Use everyday activities as conversation opportunities (e.g. preparing meals and snacks, going for walks, playing, shopping). If children are used to having lots of communication, it can make it easier to talk when big or tricky issues come up.
• Be open to talking about all kinds of feelings, including anger, joy, frustration, fear and anxiety. This helps children to develop a ‘feelings vocabulary’.

National Child Protection Week is a great time to talk with children about feeling safe.

On Tuesday, all classes participated in Australia’s Biggest Child Safety Lesson.

This is a national live event developed by the Daniel Morcombe Foundation.

At Joey’s, we continue to learn how to Recognise, React and Report as part of the Daniel Morcombe Child Safety Curriculum.

Have a great Child Protection Week, being a part of a conversation about protecting all kids!

Brooke Black
Pastoral Support & Wellbeing

R U OK? Day Thursday 12 September

You’re Invited!!!

Community Breakfast Sausage Sizzle 

In building awareness and growth as a mentally healthy community, we will be promoting R U OK? Day at Joey’s. We will gather from 8 a.m. on the lawn as you enter the school to enjoy a sausage sizzle (provided by the school) and the great company of those in our community. 

Free Dress Day (we are raising awareness, not money)

Students are encouraged to show their support during the day by wearing an R U OK? Day, kindness or yellow shirt. Hats and enclosed shoes are expected.

Start a Conversation

Here are some tips for children having an ‘Are you OK?’ conversation and what to say after they ask the question.

• Ask R U OK?~ Take the time to see if they are feeling okay.
• Listen ~ Let your friend tell you how they feel.
• Encourage action ~ Encourage them to tell a trusted adult, and if you are worried, you could do that to help them.
• Check-in~ Remember to keep checking in to see how they are feeling.

By choosing kindness, asking R U OK? then listening, encouraging action and checking in, your conversation shows others how much you care. 

Brooke Black
Pastoral Support and Wellbeing

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Congratulations to the following staff and students who will celebrate their birthday this week.  They are: Grace G (Yr 2), Saige L (Yr 2), Rory S (Yr 1), Aubrey S (Yr 1), Kelsie C (Prep) and Aleeya H (Yr 4).

Have a great day.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

We are seeking Volunteers to assist with the running of St Joseph's Cathedral Gift & Bookstore on an ongoing basis. The bookstore usually operates Wednesday to Friday 10am – 3pm and Saturday & Sunday 10am - 12pm, we are seeking Volunteers who would be confident to use an easy instore point of sale system. If you are keen to help out please contact Vanessa on 0499 359 719 or email communications@rok.catholic.net.au.

CARTOON WORKSHOP

Please see the below attachment for the upcoming September holidays

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

Congratulations – You have done it again.  Our latest cheque is for $2100.00, which is almost $500 better than our last cheque, and brings our total donation from Drakes to $56405.81.

It is 11 years since we received our first cheque and your loyalty through COVID and other distractions has been remarkable.

Keep up the good work!

DRAKES are celebrating 50 years of trading in over 60 locations across Qld and SA, employing over 5800 people.

Scott Perel Store Manager of Glenmore Store has the honour of being the top Manager of all DRAKES stores in QLD and SA this year.