9 May 2018

Newsletter Articles

FROM THE ACTING PRINCIPAL

With our first set of new formal parent/teacher interviews completed, I would like to take the opportunity to thank everyone who made time to come in and share in the educational journey of our students. It goes without saying that if you need further time to discuss the progress of your child, you can always book a time to see your teachers by contacting them directly.

As you may be aware, our Years 3 and 5 students will be taking part in NAPLAN numeracy and literacy testing next week. As we are trying to ensure that we give our students the best possible chance to perform to the optimum of their abilities, we will be limiting the amount of noise and movement around our school during these NAPLAN testing times.

This weekend, Sunday 13th May, we will all celebrate Mother’s Day. This is the day in which we acknowledge the special role our mothers and grandmothers play in our lives. Mother’s Day is a time in which we remember and appreciate all of the things they have done for us and thank God for the special bond between a mother and the unconditional love for her children.

To all of the women in our Joey’s community, have a fantastic Mother’s Day with your families.

Just a reminder that all of our students should have brought home their individual MSP Photography photo envelopes. These envelopes will need to come back to school with the students on Monday, 21st of May.

To all families that may have younger siblings and are looking to enroll at Joey’s for Prep in 2019, I strongly encourage you to drop into the office and pick up an enrolment package as soon as possible. In the last few years, positions have been very competitive and with this in mind we need to know the number of siblings in order to properly prepare the enrolment interview process that will begin in early Term 3. Please be aware that even if you have a child or children currently at St Joseph’s, we still follow school enrolment policy and interview all possible new students to the school.

Congratulations to the staff of Emmaus College who on the weekend hosted the 60th Anniversary of St Stanislaus College’s opening in 1958. It was a wonderful day to honour the past by walking down memory lane with the old boys while also celebrating the present and looking on to the future. Well done to all those involved.

Don’t Forget …

• NRL Development Cup Gala Day, Fri 11th May
• Mother’s Day, Sun 13th May
• NAPLAN Yr 3 & Yr 5 Testing, Tues-Fri 15th – 18th May
• Season B inter-school sport begins, Fri 18th May
• School Photo Day, Mon 21st May
• Installation of new Adventure Playground, Week 6
• National Sorry Day, Sun 26th May
• Athletic Field Events @ SJPA, Mon 11th June
• Athletics Track Events @ Emmaus, Tues 12th June
• Prep Enrolment Forms for 2019 due by end of term

Have a great week.

Regards
Bernard Fitzgerald
St. Joseph’s PA Acting Principal

APRE REFLECTION

Sixth Sunday of Easter Reflection

A pagan Roman officer was so evidently graced by the Holy Spirit that St Peter realised that the followers of Jesus Christ need not be constrained within the confines of Judaism. This incident, together with St Paul’s mission, has helped Christianity spread to every tribe and nation on the face of the earth.

‘Catholic’ simply means ‘world-wide’, and the Church’s universal mission is to preach the truth of Christ’s victory over death and the true meaning of love: ‘No greater love can a man have than to lay down his life for his friend.’

In our experience, this is best exemplified in the desire of a mother or father to substitute themselves for a dying infant or child. Our Lord practised what he preached with incredible intensity. He substituted himself for the whole of humanity dying because of a broken relationship with its Creator. He did so on behalf of us whom he calls friends, those with whom he wishes to share his victory over death.

This is the message entrusted to the members of the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church to be spread to the people of every tribe and nation.

We could take a moment to pray that we better express our undying gratitude for our status as friends of the Risen Lord, and better do our part as missionary disciples spreading the news of his great love embracing the whole of humanity.

© Fr Michael Tate
Liturgy Help

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

RELIGIOUS MATTERS

Date Claimers

*OLHC – Our Lady Help of Christians church – next to school

SPORTING MATTERS

No Interschool Sport this week

Season B interschool sport commences on Friday 18th May.

Save the Date

The Joey’s annual athletics carnival is in Week 9 – Monday 11th & Tuesday 12th June. Monday is field events day for children born 2009, 2008, 2007 & 2006. Tuesday is the Track events day at Emmaus College – Yaamba Road Campus for all students.

Bernadette Brennan
Acting APRE

CURRICULUM NEWS

Important Curriculum Dates – Term 2

NAPLAN

NAPLAN tests will be held on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of Week 5 for Year 3 and 5 students. Teachers have been preparing the students for these tests and will continue to do so until week 5. NAPLAN tests are important for our school as it gives us a good ‘snapshot’ of the areas we are doing well in and also the areas where we as a school need to focus on in the future. The staff at St Joseph’s do our best to make this time as stress free as we can for the students. I recommend that all students who are participating in the tests have a good night sleep the night before each test and a good hearty breakfast each morning of the tests.

If you have any concerns about your child sitting the NAPLAN tests please see me as soon as possible.

SELF DEFENCE LESSONS

As part of Health lessons and as a follow up from the Daniel Morcombe Safety Curriculum taught during Semester One, Year 4, 5 and 6 students are invited to take part in a 4-week self-defence program. 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 self-defence program has been running at St Joseph’s for the past 2 years and has proven very enjoyable, practical and educational for our students.

A note with more information was sent home with your child last week. Please complete all the relevant forms and return to school by Tuesday 22nd May.

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 Expanding vocabulary.

Strategy – use dictionaries, thesauruses and glossaries as tools

When readers don’t understand a word they should be encouraged to use tools such as dictionaries, thesauruses and glossaries to help them. Children don’t normally use these tools. As a first port of call they are more likely to ask an adult to tell them what the word means. These are great tools and important for your child to be proficient with using them so encouraging them to use one before you tell them the answer will be a good way to assist them in expanding their vocabulary.

Spelling:

Strategy: Hopscotch words. Make up a hopscotch board on a path with chalk. Write letters instead of numbers in the boxes. You then get to HOP your words.

Regards,
Deanne Senini
Assistant Principal Curriculum

FINANCE NEWS

Fee Accounts for Term 2 were emailed and posted to Parent Lounge on Monday 23rd April.

These are due for payment on Monday 7th May.

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.

CLASSROOM NEWS

2J

Term 2 has been another busy term fitting so much into a number of short weeks since returning from school holidays.

Fun Run

Year 2 this term ran spectacularly in the inaugural Joey’s Fun Run at Colts field. It was great to see all the children trying their best and having people sponsor them in their run. All the students across year 2 had a great time and loved the idea of having a ride in the Emmaus bus.

Writing

Hot! Hot! Hot! In year 2 this term in writing. ‘Sizzling Starts’ have been our focus the past few weeks, with many students across the year writing some great openers to their writing pieces. In the past two weeks we have been using our ‘Sizzling Starts’ in a shared writing approach. Students write WOW words or phrases on the board for all students to use in their next piece. All our writers have been enjoying hearing the stories read back by each student.

Maths

Year 2 are really enjoying the different ways we are learning about 2D shapes, including addition and subtraction facts this term. We have used 2D shapes in Art lessons using patterning and matisse colouring. Lady Bug, Connect Four and other interactive dice games for our addition and subtraction mental strategies and recall speed have been very popular with all our students. They love competing!

Mr Joyce & Year 2.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Congratulations to the following students and staff who will celebrate their birthday this week. They are: Isabella Austin (PM), Gabriella Halil (Yr 2), Star Loader (3F), Emma Clarke (Yr 1), Wyatt Currie (3F), Isabella Currie (Yr 5), Aliana Fitton (Yr 1) and Mrs Paap (Yr 3).

Have a great day.

SCHOOL BANKING

School banking has started up again on Thursdays. Please send your child’s banking book in so they can place it in the grey classroom-banking bag.

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 don’t take long and are available after assembly on a Monday morning with Deanne Senini, and on Wednesday afternoons from 2:30pm - 3:00pm. Debbie Rooney will also be conducting induction sessions in the tuckshop, if you are helping 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 hand 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

THINK YOU KNOW

Please see attached a flyer for a Think you Know seminar.

In conjunction with the QLD Police service, the Commonwealth Bank will be hosting a ‘Think you know’ seminar in the branch from 6pm-7pm.

This is a free session for parents of children to understand what their children are exposed to and accessing on the internet and how we can safe guard and support our children online.

This session is available for all people in the community. They DO NOT need to be customers of the bank and there is no ongoing contact made with the people that attend the session, just an opportunity for parents to be empowered to understand some of the challenges our children are faced with on the internet and using social media today.

All that is asked is that if you are intending on attending, that you register. All information is on the attached flyer.