9 March 2016

Newsletter Articles

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

A huge congratulations to our Fete Committee for their organisation of last Saturday’s school fete. The ladies of the committee, driven and inspired by our P&F President, Amanda Ryan, delivered our first fete at St. Joseph’s in 22 years and did so with great success. It was wonderful to see so many families, friends and parishioners come along and enjoy themselves, while at the same time supporting the school. Along with our committee, the teachers have been working very hard with their classes and each of the grade stalls proved to be a great success. Of course, let’s not forget our two secretaries who have worked tirelessly in preparation for the day. We were truly blessed with the weather, as while there may have been a little drizzle here and there, only minutes after bringing the fete to a close, the heavens opened and down came the rain! On behalf of the school, my sincere thanks to everyone who had a hand in the success of our fete; the planners, organisers, workers, volunteers and importantly the great many people who attended, for their patronage on the day. It was wonderful to see such an enthusiastic community spirit.

This Saturday, 12th March is the annual St. Patrick’s Day Races, which is a significant fundraiser for Catholic Education in Rockhampton. My thanks to those families who managed to sell raffle tickets leading up to the event and a reminder that all of the tickets, sold or unsold, were due back to school yesterday. If you still have not returned tickets please do so as a matter of urgency.

Next week from Monday to Thursday, is the annual Diocesan Principals’ Conference, which I will be attending. Please direct any inquiries to Bernard Fitzgerald, our APRE, during my absence else please feel free to make an appointment to see me on Friday.

Also happening next week on Friday, 18th we will be celebrating our school feast day to mark the feast of St. Joseph. As is our practice, we would like to invite any grandparents to the multipurpose area for morning tea following mass. Mass will commence at 9.00am

In closing this week, a number of parents have raised a significant concern around people smoking in and around the school car parks. The Queensland government brought in laws commencing 1 January 2105 banning smoking at all schools and for 5 metre beyond their boundaries. School car parks are classified as being within our boundary. The law states that, ‘It is a 5 metre no-smoking area around the perimeter of the school, beyond the school land boundary; including all structures in this area, such as bus shelters and car parks.’ While I recognise people have a choice to smoke I would urge you not to do so in or around the school premises, as this is a serious health issue for all our students.

Don’t Forget …

• Wed 9/3 - School Board Meeting;
• Sat 12/3 - St. Patrick’s Race Day;
• Fri 18/3 - Celebrations for feast of St. Joseph and Grandparents’ morning tea.

Have a great week!

Alan

APRE REFLECTION

As a school community we quite often speak to our students about the gift of compassion. Compassion is not only a difficult word to spell and read for a lot of our younger students, it can also be quite difficult to understand the plight of others when they have very little of their own life experience to draw from.

To be compassionate is to have deep empathy for those who are suffering or living with misfortune.

Mercy takes this one step further as we are not just being compassionate and identifying the troubles other people are experiencing, but acting upon those needs. True Mercy is understanding and caring for others less fortunate than ourselves coupled with a strong desire to act and care for them in order to help ease their distress.

In this ‘Year of Mercy’ we are challenged to ask ourselves -

‘Do we show mercy to those around us?’

St Mary of the Cross MacKillop wrote many letters about caring for others.

These two quotes in particular she wrote to challenge her Sister’s of St Joseph in their everyday work.

‘Find happiness in making others happy.’
---
‘Never see a need without doing something about it.’

Two great pieces of advice to try and live by.

Children’s Mercy Prayer

In this Jubilee Year of Mercy we pray together for God’s help as we try to make our world more just.

In this year of Jubilee;

May our hearts be open to those who suffer.
May our eyes be open to see those we may help.
May our hands be open to give comfort and support.
May our lives be open in celebration and friendship.
God of mercy;
Fill us with compassion.
Fill us with hope and joy.
Fill us with the love of your Son and our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Amen.

I hope you have a great week.

Regards
Bernard Fitzgerald
St. Joseph’s PA APRE

RELIGIOUS MATTERS

Prayer Assembly

Due to unforeseen circumstances, there will be NO Prayer Assembly this Friday

St Joseph’s Feast Day/Grandparents Day Mass – 18th of March

One of, if not the biggest day in the Joey’s annual calendar is our St Joseph’s whole school Feast Day Mass followed by our Grandparents Morning Tea. This will be held next Friday, the 18th of March commencing with the mass in OLHC Church at 9:00am followed by the morning tea in the MPA till 11:00am.

Families with eldest children in Grades 3 – 6 are asked to bring a plate of sandwiches to share, while families with eldest children in Prep to Grade 2 are asked to bring a plate of biscuits, cakes or patty cakes to share.

A note about this will be sent home next Monday.
Hope to see you there.

Regards
Bernard Fitzgerald
St. Joseph’s PA APRE

SPORTING MATTERS

Friday Sport 11/03/2016

OZ TAG

Girls Pool B 1:35pm

St Joseph’s PA Maroon v Frenchville White on field 4

Girls Pool C 12:45pm

St Joseph’s PA Blue v Mt Morgan Black on field 6

Boys Pool A 12:45pm

St Joseph’s PA Maroon v Frenchville Blue on field 7

Boys Pool B 1:35pm

St Joseph’s PA Blue v Frenchville White on field 7

Mixed 12:45pm

St Joseph’s PA v Stanwell on field 4

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 Berserker @ Elizabeth Park 1
St Joseph’s PA 2 v RGS @ Southside FC (Wandal Rd)

Yr 6 1:35

St Joseph’s PA v Berserker @ Elizabeth Park 1

AFL

12:30

St Joseph’s PA v Mt Archer SS on field 1

1:30

St Joseph’s PA v Glenmore SS on field 1

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: www.eaa.unsw.edu.au

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

Week 7 focus:

This week all classes will be involved in assessment of the concepts covered so far.

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 accuracy.

Strategy – Cross Checking……Do the pictures and /or words look right? Do they sound right? Do they make sense?

Cross Checking is a strategy for ensuring the words (and sometimes pictures) make sense and match the letters on the page. When a word doesn’t make sense in the sentence they cross check the word with the pictures and look at the letters and sounds in the word. This concept is usually used for beginner readers.

Spelling:

Strategy: Definitions

Knowing and understanding the meaning of a word is an essential part of any spelling program. Whether your child looks up the word in a dictionary, asks you for the meaning, draws a picture to illustrate the meaning or writes out the meaning, it is important that they understand what their spelling words mean. They can then confidently use any new words in their speaking and writing.

Regards,
Deanne Senini
Assistant Principal Curriculum

YEAR FOUR ‘SUPER STUDENTS’

Here are some of our recent hard-working ‘Super Students’ from Year 4.

Congratulations to Bella, Ella & Dylan

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

YR 5

Flexible Learning/Our Class

Most of us have started off the year well and are working to the best of our abilities. Our new learning environment is a great place to work. Thanks Mr Barker! We already have our first assignment of the year! We’re researching a convict of our own choice and then writing diary entries as if we were in their shoes.

Also this year we are the first grade fivers to get one-to-one MacBook Airs. It is a great privilege. Everybody is thrilled to have the Macs and we do our best to look after them. When we don’t do the right thing there are consequences!

Prep Buddies

This year 5T students have Prep buddies. We have been helping them to use their XO’s with Skoolbo and soon we will help them with Tynker. We help them by reading questions out so they can work out the answers. It is a great experience for all of us.

Kindy Buddies

This year 5C students have Kindy buddies; we help them to borrow books from the library. There are lots of different personalities in the Kindy class. Some of our buddies even speak different languages. We think that even if we don’t know that language we should try our best to become friends anyway!

Curtis, Megan & Liam

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Congratulations to the following students and who will celebrate their birthday this week. They are: Oliver Barnes (5C), Noa Barnes (1N), Estelle Hunt (2F), Georgia Bubb (4M), Hayley Braney (6BL) and Michelle Shonhan (OSHC)

P & F NEWS

I would like to take this opportunity to thank EVERYONE who was involved in Saturday’s St Joey’s Country Fair! From Mr Barker, the leadership and admin team, the teachers, our hard working Fete Committee and of course our families. It was such an amazing day and I was so proud to see so many families chip in and help. Even Ex Joey’s student chipping in to lend a hand! It makes my heart sing to see this wonderful community come together for a fun filled day!

I have attached some photos of the day.

Congratulations to the following winners of our major raffles

1st Prize - Patricia Beck
2nd Prize – Audrey Whiting
3rd Prize – Cooper Wedel

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

CASSEROLE CLUB

For a number of years, we have had what we call a Casserole Club at school. What happens here is we ask parents to cook dinners (Casseroles, spaghetti bolognese, mild curry dishes etc) and freeze them. We keep them on hand and distribute to families in need. Families don’t ask for the meals, but are very appreciative of receiving them, and we are appreciative of the families that donate them. Takeaway dishes are available from the tuckshop, so pop in and see Tracy and grab one or two.

ST PATRICKS RACE DAY

This 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.

MOVEMENT IMPROVEMENT

SCHOOL HOLIDAY SPEED AND AGILITY CAMPS
Juniors (6-11 years) and Senior (12 years +)
3 x 1 hour sessions, Hegvold Stadium
Cost $60 includes sports pack
Ph: 4923 7576
email admin@movementimprovement.com.au

SCHOOL HOLIDAY FUN

Ride the Purrey Steam Tram and have a close look at the C17 Steam loco
Climb aboard restored passenger carriages
Change the signals and use the antique phones and other fun activities.

Wednesday the 30th March from 10:00am – 1:00pm. Entry fee $8.50. One adult free per family.