2 August 2017

Newsletter Articles

FROM THE ACTING PRINCIPAL

It is with great sadness that we were informed that Fr Chris Schick passed away late Sunday afternoon. Fr Chris was a much beloved member of the Joeys community who was an example to all in the way he loved life and served God.

Fr Chris was a frequent visitor to our school living close by in the presbytery that was situated in our now upgraded car park until early 2010.

In my first year at Joeys I was lucky enough to visit Fr Chris in his home and find out that we both shared a common interest in painting. Unfortunately, even though Chris encouraged me to continue to explore this hobby, I found it increasingly difficult to do so. I was however able to view the many paintings that he was working on or had just completed. As you may have guessed, many of Fr Chris’ works had religious, uplifting themes and they were absolutely beautiful. I am very lucky that I get to walk past my favourite painting of Chris’ each day. The following image is a photo of the painting depicting the power of the risen Christ. This painting is hanging in our school office and I invite you all to come in and view it in person as no photograph can truly ever capture its true beauty. Just as I feel no words I can offer you as my school community, can really capture the true beauty of this man.

Some more of Fr Chris’ paintings.

Eternal rest, grant unto him O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him.
May he rest in peace. Amen

Have a great week.

Regards
Bernard Fitzgerald
St. Joseph’s PA Acting Principal

New Federal Funding Model

The Federal Government has now passed legislation to implement a new model for school funding from 2018 to 2027.

The Federal Government has made changes to its model to address some of the concerns of the Catholic sector including providing increased transitional funding to assist us to adjust to the new funding regime.

The Government has also agreed to a review of the highly significant Socio-Economic Status (SES) and Capacity to Contribute elements of the funding model. The Catholic sector has been calling for this review for some time as it was one of the recommendations of the original Gonski report. We are pleased that the Government will now examine the suitability of the current system and seek improvements.

Some key elements of the funding package also include:

• Schools transitioning upwards to meet their Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) target will have their funding increased to the required level over six years (meaning they will attract more funding, sooner). The SRS is a key part of the new needs-based funding model which takes into account the circumstances of students, schools and systems in deciding how funding is allocated;
• Schools currently funded above their SRS will have their funding reduced over 10 years (meaning that, although they will attract less funding, this transition will still occur over 10 years).
• The System Weighted Average through which the SES for all Queensland Catholic schools was averaged and funding allocated based on the average has been abandoned. However, over the next 12 months Queensland Catholic schools will receive an estimated $7.5 million in transition funds to assist in the first year of transition away from the System Weighted Average.
• A new National School Resourcing Board will be established to oversee the distribution of funds and to review funding levels and other matters. Its powers and composition have not yet been outlined in detail.

We will continue to keep you updated as further discussions with the Federal Education Department take place and we gain a greater understanding of the details of the legislation.

CAPRAS CUP 2017

Well done to our Capras Cup team who played in the inaugural round robin competition format on the weekend. The team, made up of 10-9yrs students from Years 3-5, did very well in making our fourth consecutive Rockhampton final. In our lead up games we won fixtures against Mt Archer 14-12 and Crescent Lagoon 18-0 to top our pool and progress to the final.

Unfortunately, we then faced a red hot Frenchville side, with our team valiantly going down 38-0 in the Rockhampton final. This was a fantastic effort when you think that most of our players have only played a handful of games before and a few of our players played their first games of rugby league ever during this competition. Chase Everingham (Yr 5) was our best player of the carnival and Linkin Richardson-Burge (Yr 3) received the coach’s encouragement award.

Thank-you to Mrs Brennan who assisted with the team as well as the parents and students who participated not only in the day but all the lead up preparation beforehand. I look forward to seeing our new crop of footballers develop over the next few years.

Regards
Bernard Fitzgerald
St. Joseph’s PA Acting Principal

RELIGIOUS MATTERS

Year 2F Prayer Assembly

This Friday 4th August, Year 2F will be leading the prayer assembly in OLHC church at 11:30am. The year 2 students will be presenting a ‘choices’ themed assembly. Parents, families and friends of the school are all welcome to come along and share this prayer celebration.

St Mary of the Cross Mackillop Feast Mass

Next Friday, 11th August, Year 5 will be leading our St. Mary of the Cross feast day special mass. The mass will be at 9:00am in Our Lady Help of Christians church. All families and friends are welcome to attend.

Children’s Mass

Peer Support

During Peer Support this week the children look at qualities their friends may have and the concept that we choose friends based on the qualities we admire in them. They will also explore the skills of friendship, specifically those of cooperating and listening.

During the week encourage your child to show they are interested in the person they are talking to by being an active listener.

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

Friday Sport 04/08/2017

Hockey

1pm

St Joseph’s PA 1 v Heights 5 on Turf 4
St Joseph’s PA 3 v Heights 3 on Grass 6
St Joseph’s PA 5 v Heights 1 on Grass 3

1:20pm

St Joseph’s PA 2 v Heights 6 on Turf 4
St Joseph’s PA 4 v Heights 4 on Grass 6
St Joseph’s PA 6 v Heights 2 on Grass 3

1:40pm

St Joseph’s PA 1 v Heights 1 on Grass 7
St Joseph’s PA 3 v St Joseph’s Wandal 3 on Turf 1
St Joseph’s PA 5 v St Joseph’s Wandal 1 on Grass 8

2:00pm

St Joseph’s PA 2 v Heights 2 on Grass 8
St Joseph’s PA 4 v St Joseph’s Wandal 4 on Turf 1
St Joseph’s PA 6 v St Joseph’s Wandal 2 on Grass 7

All Hockey games are played at Kalka Shades

Netball

Junior D 12:30pm
St Joseph’s PA v Gracemere on Court 5

Junior C 1:10pm
St Joseph’s PA v Parkhurst on Court 10

Junior B 1:50pm
St Joseph’s PA v St Mary’s on Court 11

Senior D 1:50pm
St Joseph’s PA v Frenchville on Court 12

Senior B 1:10pm
St Joseph’s PA v RGS on Court 4

All Netball games are played at Jardine Park

Rugby League

Year 6 A’s 12:45pm
St Joseph’s PA v St Paul’s Gracemere @ St Paul’s Gracemere

Year 5 A/B’s 1:45pm
St Joseph’s PA v Frenchville @ Rocky High Top

CURRICULUM NEWS

Important Curriculum Dates – Term 3

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.

Under 8s Day

Our annual Under 8’s Day morning will take place at St Joey’s 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 led by 3A 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 consist 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. Mrs Hannah is desperately seeking parent helpers for face painting so if you are able to help Mrs Hannah please let her know.

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 left over books are distributed to classrooms and used as classroom readers. 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.

Woolworth’s Earn and Learn

Once again St Joseph’s has registered to be part of the Woolworth’s Earn and Learn program. Through this program we will be able to get new educational resources for our school.

From Wednesday 26th July to Tuesday 19th September we are collecting Woolworths Earn & Learn Stickers. You will get one Woolworths Earn & Learn Sticker for every $10 spent (excluding liquor, tobacco and gift cards). Place the Woolworths Earn & Learn Sticker onto a Woolworths Earn & Learn Sticker Sheet and when it’s complete, the Sticker Sheet can be dropped into the Collection Box here at the school office.

At the end of the promotion we’ll be able to get some great new equipment. The range is extensive and offers lots of items ideal for our students – including resources for Maths, English, Science and some fantastic fun supplies for Arts & Craft, Sport and for our library. Last year through this program we purchased a variety of maths equipment including a teaching clock for every classroom, some stopwatches and sporting equipment.

You can get a sticker card from any Woolworths Supermarket and we will keep spare ones here in the office if you need an extra one. Please make sure you completely fill the sheet before you return it to school as partly filled sheets are not counted.

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 – Predict what will happen; Use text to confirm

To predict, readers tell what they think will happen in the story; to confirm, readers find out whether their predictions were true, partially true or way off. Using this strategy helps readers make connections to the text, think ahead and become more engaged.

Spelling:

Activity: Pass a Word

Pass or roll a ball back and forth with a partner. You say the 1st letter of the word and then pass the ball, your partner says the 2nd letter and so on.

Regards,
Deanne Senini
Assistant Principal Curriculum

CLASSROOM NEWS

3A

Happenings in 3A

We’ve had a hectic start to Term 3. Week 1 saw us learn about Future Earth and how we can care for our Earth for future generations. We read books, watched video clips, did some art work and conducted experiments. Here are some happy snaps of us trying to clean polluted water and an oil spill.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Congratulations to the following students and staff who will celebrate their birthday this week. They are: Alex Crane (2F), Nicholas Jahnke (5C), Brittney O’Leary (1F), Jazmyn Palmer (PM), Mackenzy Austin (2H), Marley Austin (2F), Ariana Upton (5T), Jaida Wilson (4J), Lani Duncan (1M), Lilly McLoughlin (2F), Cadence Lee (5C), Lachlan Roberts (4W), Hawk Loader (4W), Mrs Hannah (2H), Mr Harkin, Chelsea Holden (OSHC) and Mrs Senini.

Have a great day.

FINANCE NEWS

TERM 3 FEE ACCOUNTS

Fee Accounts for Term 3 were emailed and posted out on Monday 17th July.

Payment for Term 3 Fees is due Monday 7th August 2017.

If you have not received your Fee Statement, please contact Megan for a copy.

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

If you have an outstanding amount and are unable to make any payment, can you please make immediate contact with Bernard or Megan to advise your current situation?

YEAR 6 CAR WASH FUNDRAISER – THANK YOU!

Year 6 would like to thank everybody that supported the Car Wash last Saturday – it was a great morning! Thank you to all who brought their cars along. A special shout out to the parents that helped on the day – your help contributes to the success of these events.

SCHOOL BANKING

Our volunteer School Banking Co-ordinator is unavailable for the next two weeks.

Banking will recommence on Thursday 10th August.

LOST PROPERTY

The lost property is starting to mount up. If your child/ren are missing their jumper or school jacket, lunch box, water bottle or hat, this is where it could be.

At the end of the term, all unnamed items will be discarded or donated to the Uniform Shop.

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

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