7 June 2017

Newsletter Articles

FROM THE ACTING PRINCIPAL

Last Thursday was a huge day on the Joey’s calendar as we hosted our Validation Day visitors for our School Review and Improvement process. This process is quite a new one with St Joseph’s being only the second school within the Rockhampton Diocese to undergo the new process. To end the day, I presented the School’s Improvement Plan for the next few years. This is a document that will play a prominent role in not only the future direction of the staff and students but also the School Board and P&F Association.

As I have said many times in the past few months, this process along with our NSIT reports and Catholic Ethos audit have highlighted just what a wonderful school we have. When describing our school all of our visitors have consistently used the words generosity, family, community, calm, caring, pastoral care and welcoming in their reports. I must also make mention the beautiful behavior of our students not just during these visits but also for the entire beginning of the 2017 school year.

I have included the summary results of both our Parent and Student SR&I surveys to give you an indication of just how well our Joeys community rated in the responses. As you will notice, our school rated in the ‘excellent’ range in all of the Key Areas. This is most certainly something for our community to celebrate.

Throughout the reports, the results have been colour coded.

Summary of Parent Responses by Key Area.

Summary of Student Responses by Key Area.

Please remember that Term 2 school fees are now well past due. If you are not a consistent contributor towards your fees or are finding it a bit difficult, please book a time to see our Finance Secretary, Megan and myself as soon as possible. With large amounts of outstanding fees, it makes it extremely difficult to continue to maintain and resource our great school. Your attention to this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Due to Mrs Mooney beginning her maternity leave in Week 10 of this Term, Leonie has generously offered to come in and conduct Year 4 interviews along with Mrs Wayman and Mr Joyce before the June/July holiday break. Due to this scenario, Year 4 will not be conducting interviews at the usual time early in term three. Year 4 parents are asked to make contact through the school office to book an interview time as soon as possible.

Finally, a huge thank-you to Leisure Pools (The Hallam Family) and Battery World (The Wren Family) for their donation of the new Joey’s netball uniforms. It was wonderful to see all of our girls wearing their new uniforms with great pride last Friday. These generous donations are hugely appreciated.

Don’t Forget …

• Friday Whole School Mass with the Bishop, Friday 9th June @ 9:00am
• Confirmation Celebration, Holy Family church Friday 9th June @ 6:00pm
• Eucharist Celebration, OLHC church Saturday 10th June @ 6:00pm
• No Monday Morning Assembly, Monday 12th June due to Athletics
• Athletics Field Events Day @ SJPA, Monday 12th June
• Athletics Track Events Day @ Emmaus, Tuesday 13th June
• Rockhampton Show Holiday, Thursday 15th June
• Shared School Board and P&F Meeting, Tuesday 20th June
• P&F Meal Deal, Wednesday 21st June
• QLD to win State of Origin 2, Wednesday 21st June

Have a great week.

Regards
Bernard Fitzgerald
St. Joseph’s PA Acting Principal

APRE REFLECTION

Solidarity

What is authentic power? Everyone belongs to one human family, regardless of their national, religious, ethnic, economic, political and ideological differences. Everyone has an obligation to promote the rights and development of all peoples across communities, nations, and the world, irrespective of national boundaries. At Joey’s we express solidarity by reaching out to those who are most marginalised. We are committed to long-term engagement and sustainability.

Enjoy the rest of your week

Bernadette Brennan
Acting APRE

RELIGIOUS MATTERS

Bishop Michael

This Friday 9th June, Bishop Michael is coming to OLHC to celebrate the 9:00am parish mass. This will be a whole school mass, instead of the scheduled prayer assembly. Families and friends are welcome to join us.

Confirmation and First Communion weekend

This year, 13 St. Joseph’s students are participating in the Confirmation/Eucharist sacramental program. Bishop Michael will confirm these candidates at Holy Family on Friday 9th June at 6:00pm. On Saturday, 10th June, many of the students will make their First Communion at OLHC with the community during the 6pm mass. All members of the community are invited to join the children and their families as they receive these sacraments.

No Prayer Assembly this Week

Due to the whole school mass this Friday with Bishop Michael, the scheduled prayer assembly has been cancelled.

Bernadette Brennan
Acting APRE

Mass times

Weekday

Tuesday 9.00am Holy Family
Wednesday 12.00 Noon St Mary’s
Thursday 8.00am Emmaus College (Yaamba Rd)
Friday 9.00am Our Lady Help of Christians

Weekend

Saturday – Vigil
6.00pm Holy Family
6.00pm Our Lady Help of Christians
Sunday
7.00am St Mary’s
9.00am Holy Family

Bernadette Brennan
Acting APRE

SPORTING MATTERS

Athletics Carnival Next Week

Monday @ St Joseph’s Park Avenue
Commencing @ 9:00am – NO ASSEMBLY

Tuesday
@ Emmaus College

Friday Sport 09/06/2017

Hockey

1pm

St Joseph’s PA 1 v St Mary’s 3 on Turf 1
St Joseph’s PA 3 v St Mary’s 1 on Grass 2
St Joseph’s PA 5 v Frenchville 4 on Grass 4

1:20pm

St Joseph’s PA 2 v St Mary’s 4 on Turf 1
St Joseph’s PA 4 v St Mary’s 2 on Grass 2
St Joseph’s PA 6 v Frenchville 5 on Grass 4

1:40pm

St Joseph’s PA 1 v Frenchville 4 on Grass 2
St Joseph’s PA 3 v Frenchville 2 on Grass 3
St Joseph’s PA 5 v St Anthony’s 3 on Turf 2

2:00pm

St Joseph’s PA 2 v Frenchville 5 on Grass 2
St Joseph’s PA 4 v Frenchville 3 on Grass 3
St Joseph’s PA 6 v Frenchville 1 on Turf2

All Hockey games are played at Kalka Shades

Netball

Junior D 1:50pm

St Joseph’s PA v St Mary’s on court 8

Junior C 1:50pm

St Joseph’s PA v St Peter’s on court 9

Junior B

St Joseph’s PA v The Hall (The Hall FORFEITED)

Senior D 1:50pm

St Joseph’s PA v RGS on court 3

Senior B 1:10pm

St Joseph’s PA v St Peter’s on court 8

All Netball games are played at Jardine Park

Rugby League

Year 6 A’s 1:45pm

St Joseph’s PA v Gracemere Giants @ Victoria Park Top

Year 5 A/B’s 1:45pm

St Joseph’s PA v St Mary’s @ Victoria Park Bottom

CURRICULUM NEWS

Important Curriculum Dates – Term 2

ICAS

Term 2 and 3 is when ICAS competitions will take place. If your child has nominated to participate in any of these competitions, they will receive a copy of a previous test which they can use as a practice. These practice tests will be sent home as each test gets closer. They do not need to be returned to school – they are merely a way of helping your child prepare for the ICAS competition they have nominated for.

Save the Date - Under 8s Day

Our annual Under 8’s Day morning will take place at St Joey’s in Term 3 on Thursday 10th August. This is a day where we celebrate the learning and development of our younger students. The day will begin with a short liturgy in the multi-purpose area. Following the liturgy, the children will be free to investigate the various hands on activities prepared by our Prep – Year 3 teachers. Parents are most welcome to attend this part of the day. After first break students will head back to class where they will complete activities with their class for the rest of the day. Students in Prep to Year 3 are invited to come along to this day in free dress. It is essential that this free dress consists of clothing which is sun safe (no sleeveless shirts), a school hat and fully enclosed shoes. If you are able to assist your child’s teacher on the day, please let them know as soon as possible. If you have any questions about this day, please don’t hesitate to see me.

Self Defence Lessons

As many of you would know, last year we employed Mrs Ashleigh McNae from McNae’s Taekwondo to provide our Year 3 – 6 students with a 4-week self-defence course. This activity was a huge success with the students learning simple yet effective ways of getting themselves out of unwanted arm grabs and shoulder grabs. This course complements the Daniel Morcombe Child Safety Curriculum which talks about staying safe and being able to exit from unwanted and unsafe scenarios.

This year has seen our school develop a plan to implement the new Australian Health Curriculum. As part of that whole school planning we have invited Mrs McNae back to St Joseph’s to implement her self-defence course with all Year 4 and Year 6 students. Our hope is that this will continue into the future and all students when they are in Year 4 and Year 6 will be offered the opportunity to learn and practise these protective life saving skills.

This year these sessions will occur during normal Health lessons in weeks 2-5 of Term 3. A note has gone home with all Year 4 and Year 6 students. Please complete the permission forms and return them to school as soon as possible.

If you have any questions or concerns about this activity, please come and see me.

Big Book Swap

Every second year during book week we have a big book swap morning. This is when we ask students to bring in an unwanted book (in good condition) and swap it for another pre-loved book. This activity has been very well supported in the past and I’m hoping it will be again this year. The aim is for every child to go home with a new pre-loved book. Any leftover books are distributed to classrooms and used as classroom readers. Although this event won’t be happening until next term (22nd August), it takes time to collect the books so if you would like to donate a book (or multiple books) for this event, please drop them to the library to Mrs Roberts who will place them aside for our big book swap.

Questacon Science

Last Thursday we had the Questacon Science people present performances for our students. From all reports, the students had a great time exploring many scientific principles. They also held an interactive expo at CQU on Sunday. It was great to see many of our students and their families at the expo enjoying the wonders of science.

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 – Use Prior Knowledge to Connect with Text

Readers bring information from what they already know or what they have read before about a topic and connect it with what they are reading to increase their understanding of the text and to remember what they have read. Using prior knowledge can help students connect their own experiences with the text to better understand and make sense of what they are reading.

Spelling:

Strategy: Rhyming words

Write each of your spelling words. Next to each word write a rhyming word. It’s ok to use a nonsense word if you can’t think of a rhyming word. This strategy reinforces the spelling pattern the student is studying.

Eg cat, bat – reinforces the at word family

Regards,
Deanne Senini
Assistant Principal Curriculum

CLASSROOM NEWS

Prep M

Greeting from Prep M! As we near the end of Semester One, we can really see how much the students have grown and flourished. With new friendships established and routines sorted they have settled into our wonderful school life at St Joeys.

In the classroom we have been establishing our connection to faith with the creation of our own personal Prayers of Thankfulness and learning how to recite the Sign of the Cross at the beginning and end of our Prayers. We have also learnt about positional language by looking at the story of Rosies Walk written by Pat Hutchins, where Rosie goes over the hay stack, under the beehives, around the pond, unaware that she is being followed by a very sneaky fox.

Thank you to all the families that contributed to our museum, it has been wonderful to see students engaging and learning about items from the past.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Congratulations to the following students and staff who will celebrate their birthday this week. They are: Henry Timms (1F), Tahnee Lawton (2H), Bryce Wogand (6F), Talei Bolaqace (1F), Abby O’Sullivan (1F), Jordan Semple (6B), Mrs Brosnan (Office) and Miss Kerrisk (Health)

Have a great day.

FINANCE NEWS

TERM 2 FEES were due on Monday 8th May

Fee Accounts for Term 2 were due for payment on Monday 8th May.

If your account remains unpaid, these are now 4 weeks Overdue and require your urgent attention.

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

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

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, and on Tuesday afternoons from 2:30pm - 3:00pm. Sue Clarke will also be conducting induction sessions in the tuckshop, if you are helping out in there.

Thanks

NDIS

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is the new way of providing disability support. Please join experienced staff from the National Disability Insurance Agency to learn more about accessing the scheme and the types of support available for people with disability, families and carers.

Rockhampton Regional Library (Fitzroy Room)

Friday, 23 June 2017
11:30am to 1:00pm
203 Bolsover Street, Rockhampton

To Register

Go to the Queensland Events page at the link below to register online. Alternatively, please email nqengagement@ndis.gov.au or call 1800 800 110.

Please let us know of any accessibility requirements.
Children under adult supervision are welcome.
Places are limited.

UNIFORM SHOP

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

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

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

The Uniform Shop has quite a lot of good second hand uniforms. Please feel free to pop in (at the opening times above), and have a look.

There are second had Emmaus uniforms also.

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.

TUCKSHOP IS UNAVAILABLE ON FRIDAYS

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)
• Emu Park

ARCHER PARK RAIL MUSEUM - FAMILY FUN DAY

DATE: Sunday 25th June 2017
TIME: 9AM – 1PM
COST: $2 ENTRY – 14YRS AND OVER
            $2.50 – TRAM RIDES OVER 18 MONTHS

Come along and enjoy the displays and market. Ride the Purrey Steam Tram, see the Diesel and Steam engine and heritage rail carriages.

There will be morning tea and sausage sizzle, vintage, classic and ford cars, military museum stall, live music, rail memorabilia, exhibits and lots more.