2 March 2016

Newsletter Articles

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

One of the most significant events of the Jubilee Year of Mercy is the celebration of ‘24 Hours for the Lord’. This is a special time of prayer and reflection as a catholic community and will take place at St. Joseph’s Cathedral commencing this Friday at 5.30pm until 5.30pm Saturday 5th March. I would encourage you to read through Fr. Don’s detailed description of the event further in the newsletter.

A reminder that our School Fete, ‘The Country Fair’, is on this coming Saturday, 5th March. Congratulations to Alarnah McKee who, at this week’s assembly, was fortunate enough to win a ‘Free Unlimited Rides’ voucher. You can still purchase ride vouchers at both the tuckshop and office this week for $25 each. Why not grab yours now so you don’t have the expense on the day?

We are looking forward to a great day on Saturday with the fete commencing at 2.00pm and running through until 5.30pm. Come along and have some fun and support the school at the same time. We hope to see you there!

This Thursday, 3rd March Mr Craig Fairbairn, Assistant Director Schools Rockhampton, will be visiting. Craig is a great supporter of the school and I ask that you make him feel welcome should you see him around.

This afternoon at 4.30pm we will be offering a Board Pre-service meeting for any parents that may be interested in joining the Board. If you haven’t already let me know, please just give the office a ring.

Next Tuesday, 8th March is our monthly P&F meeting. This will take place in the staff room commencing at 6.30pm. Please come along and share your ideas.

Don’t Forget …

• Wed 2/3 - Fete Meeting;
  - Board Pre-Service;
• Thu 3/3 - Craig Fairbairn – Assistant Director Schools Rockhampton visiting;
• Sat 5/3 - School Fete;
• Tue 8/3 - P&F Meeting;
• Wed 9/3 - School Board Meeting.

Have a great week!
Alan

24 HOURS FOR THE LORD

This week we come to one of the central events of the Jubilee Year of Mercy called 24 Hours for the Lord. Pope Francis has invited the Church throughout the world to open its doors for 24 hours this Friday and Saturday (March 4-5) so that people might encounter Jesus Christ anew in the Sacrament of Confession and Eucharistic Adoration.

It is a time of reflection and prayer, an opportunity to speak with a priest, go to Confession and to rediscover — or perhaps discover for the first time — the great mercy at the heart of the Catholic Faith.

The Pope says in his letter Misericordiae Vultus (17) that “The initiative of “24 Hours for the Lord,” should be implemented in every diocese. So many people are returning to the Sacrament of Reconciliation; through this experience they are rediscovering a path back to the Lord, living a moment of intense prayer and finding meaning in their lives.

Let us place the Sacrament of Reconciliation at the centre once more in such a way that it will enable people to touch the grandeur of God’s mercy with their own hands. For every penitent, it will be a source of true interior peace.”

So everyone is invited to share in this event which starts at 5.30pm on Friday at the Cathedral with a Penitential Service, followed by adoration with confessions available until 8pm that evening. Adoration will continue until 5pm on Saturday, concluding with Benediction.

Hopefully there is some time we can all give to the Lord over these 24 hours as part of our Year of Mercy journey

Fr. Don.

APRE REFLECTION

All of our students are constantly reminded of the importance of our school values of Self Worth, Mutual Acceptance and Personal Responsibility.

These three vales are present in both our school’s Mission Statement and School Prayer as well as being displayed in each of our classrooms.

As Grade 3T led us in Prayer last Friday in the church, they reflected on the many wondrous gifts that God has provided us with and how it is our responsibility to care for the world that has been given to us.

Grade 3T presented us with the following prayer;

Creator God, you have entrusted us
with the care for the Earth.
Help us to keep the promises we have just made
so that not only we,
but our children and our children’s children
can enjoy the precious gifts of your creation.
We make this prayer in Jesus’ name

I mentioned that for most Primary aged students, thinking of your children let alone your children’s children can be very tough when you are still but a child yourself. But like most things in this great world we must teach our children how to care for the wonderful gift of creation at an early age, for God’s gift of creation is truly precious.

The Grade 3’s message reminded me of the last paragraph of our own school prayer which states

May we take on the responsibility
of looking after our environment to thank you
for the wonderful gift of creation.
Amen.

I hope you have a great week.

Regards
Bernard Fitzgerald
St. Joseph’s PA APRE

RELIGIOUS MATTERS

Prayer Assembly

Grade 6B will be leading us in Prayer this Friday at 11:40am in Our Lady Help of Christians Church. Being The Jubilee Year of Mercy, the Grade 6’s will be focusing on how we can show Mercy to those around us and how we can share our abundant gifts with those less fortunate than ourselves.

Hope to see you there.

The Sacrament of Confirmation and Eucharist 2016

If your family is taking part in the Sacrament of Confirmation and First Eucharist Sacramental program please be aware of the following dates.

• Wednesday, 2nd of March – Parent/Child Confirmation Workshop held in the Multi Purpose Area at St Joseph’s Park Avenue beginning at 6:30pm.
• Saturday, 5th of March – Confirmation Rite of Enrolment held during 6:00pm mass at Our Lady Help of Christians Church.

For further information, please contact the Parish Office
(4928 2800) or
berylmills18@gmail.com

Regards
Bernard Fitzgerald
St. Joseph’s PA APRE

SPORTING MATTERS

Friday Sport 04/03/2016

OZ TAG

Girls Pool B 12:45pm
St Joseph’s PA Maroon v Mt Archer Yellow on Field 4
Girls Pool C 12:45pm
St Joseph’s PA Blue v The Hall on Field 6
Boys Pool A 12:45pm
St Joseph’s PA Maroon v Crescent Lagoon on Field 7
Boys Pool B 12:45pm
St Joseph’s PA Blue v Mt Archer Yellow on Field 7
Mixed 1:35pm
St Joseph’s PA v Berserker on F4

Due to the number of teams nominated this year, games will be played at the Saleyards fields on the Southside (off Gladstone Road), and at Rockhampton Grammar School. When I just have a field number, these games are played at the Saleyards.

SOCCER

Yr 5 12:40
St Joseph’s PA v Frenchville @ Norbridge Park 3
St Joseph’s PA 2 v Berserker @ Glenmore SS
Yr 6 1:35
St Joseph’s PA v Frenchville @ Norbridge 3

AFL

12:30
St Joseph’s PA v Crescent Lagoon on Field 1
1:30
St Joseph’s PA v The Hall on Field 2

Games are played at Kele Park, which is off Western Street on the Southside

CURRICULUM NEWS

Important Curriculum Dates

ICAS

The University of New South Wales will, once again, be running the International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS) in 2016. These competitions are open to any children in Years 3 to 6, and some of the competitions allow the year 2 children to participate, (Science, English & Mathematics). Those children wishing to be involved can participate in the areas of Digital Technologies, Science, Spelling, Writing, English and Mathematics.

Dates and costs associated with the competitions are as follows:

These competitions are a great way for students in our school to compare their academic achievements against students in other schools around Australia. If you would like more information please visit the UNSW website:

It would be appreciated if anyone wishing to enter any of the competitions could return the permission slip (sent home last week) to the office, along with entry fees by Monday 21st March (beginning of Week 9 - Term 1).

DANIEL MORCOMBE CHILD SAFETY CURRICULUM

Weeks 5 and 6 focus:

Prep – Year 2
Lesson Objectives:
Students will:

• identify a range of ‘body clues’
• recognise that ‘body clues’ may help to identify unsafe situations

Years 3-6

Lesson Objectives:
Students will:

• identify relationships between rules, lays and safety
• discuss how rights, rules and responsibilities can all play a role in our ability to stay safe
• consider if and when people should take responsibility for their own actions

Information about the Daniel Morcombe Child Safety Curriculum can be found at

I encourage you to talk to your child(ren) about the week’s session to re-enforce the important message of being safe.

If you have any questions about the program please feel free to come and see me.

LITERACY CORNER

Reading:

Learning to read involves children learning skills in comprehension, fluency, accuracy and expanding on their known vocabulary. This week’s skill comes under the heading of Comprehension.

Strategy: Back Up and Reread

This strategy is used when a child reads a sentence or passage and realises that what they have just read doesn’t make sense. They then go back and reread the sentence or passage again to understand the meaning of the sentence.

Spelling:

Strategy: Rainbow Words

This strategy involves students writing each of their spelling words. They use two colours. They write their spelling pattern in one colour and the rest of the word in a different colour. An example of this is:

Regards,
Deanne Senini
Assistant Principal Curriculum

FINANCE NEWS

Term 1 Fees were DUE Friday 19th February 2016

If still unpaid, your account is now overdue for payment.

If you are unable to settle your account, your immediate contact with either Alan or Megan is requested to advise when the account will be settled.

CLASSROOM NEWS

3A

Over the past few weeks the children have been very busy rolling, shaping and creating many wonderful beads for our fete stall. This week the children will take these beads and turn them into necklaces and key rings. Here are some of action shots of the children making and creating.

Pop over to our stall on Saturday to see more of these action shots and to purchase some of our goodies.

Have a great week
Mrs Anderson and 3A

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Congratulations to the following students and who will celebrate their birthday this week. They are: Rhys Armstrong (1N), Caitlin Dives (3T), Laria Barnett (3A), Lucas Bellert (2H), Thomas Bellert (2F), Rhyley Clark (PW), Abby Druery (3T), Thomas Lill (2H), Tariq Tanner (6B), Elizabeth Fitzgerald (5C) and Breanna Gear (3T).

FREE PARENTING SEMINAR

Free Triple P – Power of Positive Parenting Seminar
with Professor Matt Sanders

Ever wondered: ‘why does my child do that?’ Find out how to get more of the behaviour you like – and less of the behaviour you don’t like!

Thursday March 3 – 6.30pm Central Queensland University, CQIRP Conference Centre, 361 Ibis Avenue, North Rockhampton

Come early for tea and coffee – seminar starts promptly at 6.30pm

P & F FAIR COMMITTEE

Don’t Forget your unlimited wristbands!

$25 per ticket BEFORE the day, $30 ON the day

• Unlimited ride passes are available from the Office, the tuckshop and the Uniform Shop.
• Help is needed on the day, notes went home yesterday. If you can spare 30 mins please fill out the form and return it this week. We would love to see you!
• Don’t forget to check with your class to see what they need to get their stall ready for the Fair. There is a Pizza Party for the year that can raise the most funds in their stall
• Fair Meeting at 3:15 in the Library every Wednesday
• Can you donate a prize or know someone that can? Drop them into the office for the Multi Draw Raffle on the day!
• Raffle tickets were sent home last week….1st Prize is a SKYDIVE and Accommodation at Cool Waters Holiday Village!

Let’s make this a day the kids will never forget!

CAPRICORN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES

We have been advised by CER that the Write & Wipe Folders that were on your child’s booklist are unavailable until late March. The supplier has run out and they are not available in Australia at this point. CER will notify us once they are in stock.

VOLUNTEERS INDUCTION SESSIONS

WPH&S Volunteers Inductions are necessary for the safety of your children. Therefore we ask that all parents who generously volunteer their time to the school, either in a classroom or in the tuckshop, attend a very brief induction regarding maintaining a safe environment for the children of St. Joseph’s.

These sessions only take about five minutes and are available after assembly on a Monday morning with Deanne Senini, or with Ray Carrington on Friday mornings at 9.00 am. Tracy Wren will also be conducting induction sessions in the tuckshop, if you are helping out in there.

Thanks
Ray Carrington

UNIFORM SHOP

Our uniform shop is run by VOLUNTEERS of the school and is open

Monday morning from 8:15- 8:45 and
Tuesday afternoon from 2:45 - 3:15
Friday morning 8:15 – 8:45

Please feel free to drop by any uniforms you no longer need to sell. Proceeds can go back to you or you can donate it back to the P & F.

FRIDAY PIZZA

Meatlovers, Chicken and Aioli and Hawaiian Pizza are available every Friday for $1.50/slice. Please have your order in a Brown Paper Bag with your name, class and order on it, with the money in side.

Please use a brown paper bag with child’s name and class written on the front.

TUCKSHOP IS UNAVAILABLE ON FRIDAYS

ST PATRICKS RACE DAY

Saturday the 12th of March is the St Patricks Races at Callaghan Park. Come along for a great day of racing. For further details, please see the attached flyer.

PRIMARY SCHOOL INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC WORKSHOP

Reminder: The Primary School Instrumental Music Workshops are on this Saturday (March 5). The workshop for BEGINNING STUDENTS is from 9am-12pm. The workshop for CONTINUING STUDENTS (ie. those who have been learning longer than 2 terms) is from 12:30pm-4pm.

The workshop is being held in the Performing Arts Block (Mary MacKillop Arts Centre) on Yaamba Rd. This building is located in between the dome (large shade structure to the left as you enter the carpark) and the new library.

A map is attached.

Students are reminded to return their completed permission slip and medical form to their school office ASAP, or give to Mrs Alexia Lally directly on the day.

If you require new forms or more information, please contact Mrs Alexia Lally on 49235782 or Alexia_Lally@emmaus.qld.edu.au