14 September 2016

Newsletter Articles

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

At the commencement of this week, Erin Tranberg, Brooke Black and myself had the opportunity to visit some schools in the Parramatta Diocese, who are using models of flexible/connected/collaborative learning. We were able to visit St Monica's North Parramatta, St Michael's at Blacktown and Delany College in Granville. The trip proved quite worthwhile with a good number of insights and provided some opportunities to highlight some of the things we are already doing well. My thanks to the Parramatta Diocese for the invitation and to DCEO for organising the same.

This term, in relation to our P&F meetings, we have been experiencing clashes with our regular time and people's work schedules. As such during Term 4, P&F meetings will be scheduled from the second Tuesday of the month to the second Thursday of the month. Therefore our next P&F meeting will take place on Thursday, 13th October. Please adjust your calendars accordingly.

Tomorrow we will have a number of students competing in the Catholic Primary Schools Touch Challenge and we wish them all the very best for their competition.

Don't Forget …

* Fri 16/9 - Last day of Term 3;
* Tue 4/10 - School Resumes for Term 4.

Enjoy your break!

Alan

APRE REFLECTION

A Prayer for Stronger Communities, Safer Children

Gracious God you said let the children come to me.
The hurt felt by those wounded by abuse weighs heavily upon us. Often trust has been eroded when institutions failed to appropriately respond to their needs. Lord, we as your Church stand in need of your healing and help.
We ask you God to strengthen and guide all in our Catholic communities. Grant us wisdom in our time to make decisions that protect children and the vulnerable.
May our families and communities, through love, generosity, commitment and patience build stronger communities safe for children.
Let your grace and love fall gently upon our children giving them the inner strength, peace and resilience they will need for their life's journey.
We ask you God to help our Catholic communities to be resolute in building a community where our children both flourish and are safe.

Amen

Have a great week.

Regards

Bernard Fitzgerald
St. Joseph's PA APRE

CURRICULUM NEWS

Hygiene and Food Safety Lessons

During weeks 9 and 10, Environmental Health Officers from the Rockhampton Regional Council will be visiting St Joeys and presenting lessons on hygiene, hand washing and food safety. These sessions will occur during the children's regular Health lessons. During week 9, information will be presented on bacteria, viruses and germs and how they can spread. Week 10 will focus on food safety at home and in the classroom. Age appropriate information will be presented in a fun, engaging manner. If you wish to discuss this program further please don't hesitate to contact me.

Last week you should have received a parent pack containing a letter explaining what the students will be learning about during this program as well as some information on hygiene and food safety. The students all received an activity pack to help reinforce the messages they have received during the lessons. I thank the Rockhampton Regional Council for their generosity in running the sessions as well as providing the resources and 'goodies' for the students.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a safe holiday.

Regards,

Deanne Senini
Assistant Principal Curriculum

CLASSROOM NEWS

Prep

Greetings from Prep!

It has been a busy couple of weeks, with lots of exciting things happening. Prep M were proud to honor fathers during their Father's Day Prayer assembly and celebrated with a wonderful morning tea after. A big thank you to all the parents for the donations of such glorious food! It was such a treat and enjoyed by all!

We had a visit from The Queensland Police Service and got to see inside the back of a police car! It was very exciting!

In classrooms we have been busy learning the weather, reading fairytales and exploring the country through the story Possum Magic, written by Mem Fox.

Next term we are heading off on our first school excursion to the FLOW Centre to discover all the incredible things happening in our region.

From everyone in Prep wish you all a safe and happy holiday, and cant wait to see you back next term!

Yr 1

What a busy term we've had! It seems like such a long time since we began Term Three.

We began the term with Catholic Education Week and celebrated with a Prayer Assembly and Cultural Day.

We also welcomed Miss Peters, a first year education student from CQU. She was here one day a week for most of the term and has spent the last two weeks with us full time. We have thoroughly enjoyed working with Miss Peters as she brings new and exciting learning opportunities to our classroom.

Book Week was a great chance to dress up as our favourite book characters. Mrs McCutcheon, Miss Noake, Miss Beak and Miss Peters looked particularly fetching as the multi-coloured fish from Dr Suess' One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish. Thanks to Mrs McCutcheon for the amazing tutus. But we couldn't compete with the amazing costumes our amazing Year Ones wore on the day. We particularly loved how each costume came with a story.

We made many wishes and purchases when the Book Fair came to Joey's.

We farewell Mrs McCutcheon at the end of this week, as she is taking some time off to visit her family in Ireland and to do some travelling with her sister. We can't wait to follow her on her many adventures as she sends photos back to us. She is leaving us in the capable hands of Mr Geoff Joyce who has already enjoyed many an hour with our favourite peeps. But don't fear it won't be the last we see of her this year. Mrs McCutcheon has promised to visit us when she is back in the country with pressies and photos.

With just under a week left of Term 3, Miss Noake and Mrs McCutcheon along with Year 1 would like to wish you a happy, safe holiday and we look forward to Term Four.

Yr 2

2F

We have had a very busy term learning lots of new things. Learning how to use the Green screen room to make videos and using our ipads to create books about our chosen research animal. We have discovered parts of the school that show us about its past and many more things.

Some highlights from our term are:

Riley – I enjoyed learning how to shade in art with Mrs Evans

Hugh – I enjoyed learning new skills about soccer in our PE lessons

Linkin – I enjoyed going on our excursion to the zoo where I learnt about the dingoes.

Lilly – I learnt about the animals at the zoo. I learnt that the cassowary lays green eggs.

Chandler – I have enjoyed starting our peer support groups.

Ethan – At the zoo Ranger Mark told us that the saltwater crocodile can lay over 50 eggs.

Ava – I learnt that mealworms can eat apple and carrot and they turn into a darkling beetle.

Callum –I enjoyed going to the zoo and learning that the saltwater crocodile is bigger than the freshwater crocodile.

Have a nice break from 2F, Mrs Farr and Mrs Evans

2H

What a busy term it has been. We began the term with our prayer assembly. After that we had numerous events such as a shoelace tying session, Book Week and our excursion to the Rockhampton Botanical Gardens and Zoo.

Throughout the term we have used our iPads to record our friends and ourselves and created some green screen clips, have taken numerous photos and added them to our SeeSaw account and also used apps such as Showbie, Popplet and Explain Everything to document and enhance our learning.

Mrs Hannah has then, with our help, created a short iMovie to showcase some of our favourite things from this term. Enjoy the holidays! See you in term 4!

Yr 3

3A

Solar Ovens

This term in Year 3 we have been exploring the heat of the sun. We have discovered that you can use the sun to help cook food. Here are some snaps of us designing, creating and testing our solar ovens.

3T

Term Three in 3T

What an interesting term we have had! In Science we have been learning that heat can be produced in many ways and can move from one object to another. In Religion we have been focusing on the Sacrament of Reconciliation and that all people have the freedom to make choices. As part of Humanities and Social Science we are identifying and describing aspects of our Rockhampton community that have changed and remained the same over time. Our genre writing in English this term is writing Fractured Fairytales and we are in the process of producing a Stop Motion with the Ipads which is an animation technique that physically manipulates an object so that it appears to move on its own. This week we are finishing off our Mathematics topics by completing an investigation and making a time card game.

We would like to wish everyone a safe and restful holiday.

From Mrs Tennyson and the students in 3T

Yr 4

A few weeks ago Karen Messmer had a chance to read the weather on Sea FM. If you missed it, please go to the Sea FM site and listen to the audio. We have a picture here with Karen and the Sea FM Breakfast announcers.

Yr 5

During the past few weeks the students have been busy completing assessment tasks in all subject areas. It has been a very busy term and the children are ready for a well-earned break.

In Religion the students have been learning all about Mary and the Rosary. They have had to respond to scripture through a comic strip, write a journal entry from Mary or Joseph's point of view and write a summary about the Rosary.

In Media Arts the students have had to create and analyse a short digital sequence using camera angles such as close-ups and medium close-ups to focus on character relationships, power and mood. The students have each designed an animated sequence that personifies inanimate objects and creates smooth action and considered viewpoints and the conceptual approach of artwork.

In Science, the students have been conducting experiments on matter. They were excited to make milk fireworks and elephant's toothpaste. The students worked in groups to record their experiments on video and explain why the changes occurred.

If at any time you wish to catch up with either of us, please do not hesitate to let us know.

Erin & Ray

Yr 6

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Congratulations to the following students and staff who will celebrate their birthday this week, and over the holidays. They are:

Savannah Austin (3T), Nicholas Thompson (3T), Kade Adam (6Br), Cooper Kane (3A), Kobe Hannah (1M), Paige Barron (1N), Mia Cruickshank (PW), Chace Da Silva (2F), Dylan Neden (4H), Dominic Whiting (1M), Layla Whittaker (PM), Logan McDonald (3T), Karlin McKee (3T), Soren Ricks-Beck (5C), Oscar Tranberg (3A), William Farr (PW), Xavier Rooney (3A), Sarah Marlin (3T), Cooper McCrohon (1M), Anikah Savage (1M), Jennifer O'Brien Morgan (6Br), Cienna Mills (5C), Emylia Stjernqvist (6Bl), Linkin Richardson-Burge (2H), Isabelle Barber (2F), Anna Turner (6Br), Abraham Hunt (3T0, Hayden Hamilton (3A), Jamie Kertesz (6Bl), Miss Foster (Yr 5), Miss Giles and Mr Barker Have a great day.

TERM 3 FEE ACCOUNTS

Fee Accounts for Term 3 were due for payment on Tuesday 2nd August.

If your account remains unpaid, these are now WAY OVERDUE

If paying by Direct Deposit, please use your Account Number (6 digit number on your Fee Statement) as the reference.

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.

SCHOOL COUNCILLOR

As we approach the school holidays, it is a good time to think of all the activities and events that await us and our families. The hustle and bustle of everyday life can contribute to daily stressors which add up as the days and weeks go by. School holidays can be a wonderful opportunity for children, parents, friends and families to unwind and make time to relax. Creating time to do nothing, or to rest can help contribute to general well-being and promote positive health in us all.

We all need space – children and adults alike. Space to breathe. Now we have many things that look like play. We are pretty good at entertaining ourselves. We have apps, we have YouTube, we have Instagram, we have movies at our fingertips, we have social media, we have video games … but are any of these things really play?

In many ways, true play has been pushed out by work, by outcomes, by expectations and agendas. In fact, play is often seen as frivolous, and making time for the 'shoulds' often override play. The reality is that there is less and less space left for play in our lives and in our children's lives. This is becoming a real dilemma because it turns out that play is actually a necessary ingredient for development. It is through play that our ability to learn, to solve problems, to interact, and to express emotion, first takes place. Play is what actually equips us for the world of work, for school and for social interactions. And yet, we have a hard time sometimes even finding time for this on our vacations, let alone in our regular lives.

Making time to rest, relax and play will allow us to recharge and come back with a renewed sense of energy. Wishing everyone a stress-free school holidays and hopefully we can all make time to unwind in the weeks to come!

Camelia Perkins
School Counsellor
Direct: (07) 4923 5700
Fax: (07) 49235 716
Emmaus College & Saint Joseph's Park Avenue: Tuesday to Thursday
Email: Camelia_Perkins@emmaus.qld.edu.au

CASSEROLE CLUB

We are in need of some frozen meals for our Casserole Club. These meals can be Stews/casseroles, mild curries, Spaghetti Bolognese, etc – whatever can be made, frozen, defrosted and heated.

We distribute these meals to families who are finding things a little tough from time to time. And as little as a frozen meal for dinner goes a long way. If you could help us out, please see Sue in the Tuckshop for some containers for the meals to go in. We do ask that you put the name of the meal and the date that it was cooked on the lid. Your help is greatly appreciated by all who receive.

Thank you

VACATION CARE

Please find attached the September Holidays Vacation Care Program and Booking Form. If you are intending on sending your child/children along, please be sure to book them in. The program is packed full of exciting things to do. You can reach Vacation Care on 4921 4922 or 0408 703 482.

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 Thursday afternoons from 1:30pm - 3:30pm. Sue Clarke 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 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.

DRAKES SUPA IGA

Simply scan your Drakes Supa IGA key tag and the checkout with your groceries, and automatically 1 cent of every dollar you spend goes to the Cathedral Conservation Fund.

Key tags are available from the office, local church or Drakes stores. Put it on your car keys so you remember to use it.

Key tags can be used at any Drakes Supa IGA supermarket in Queensland. Currently in our Diocese Drakes stores are located at

• Glenmore (North Rockhampton) - Gladstone
• Emu Park - Toolooa Street
• Calliope - Sun Valley

TENNIS

Beak's Tennis holiday programs available over both weeks of holidays for all ages and skill levels.

For more information or to enrol for term 4 coaching call 4936 1021

Thanks,
Andrew Jones
Beak's Tennis

FRIDGE FOR SALE

We have a glass door fridge for sale – as is – in present condition.

All reasonable offers will be considered. Please contact the school office if interested