15 August 2018

Newsletter Articles

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Congratulations to our Bishop Michael McCarthy who celebrated a Jubilee mass with all priests in the Diocese last Friday. The mass celebrated the milestones of a couple of our clergy including our Bishop’s 50 years since being ordained and acknowledged the great work that he has done in service to God and the people in the many various communities in which he has served. Well done to Bishop Michael as 50 years is a wonderful achievement and we look forward to his continuing faith filled guidance within our community in the future.

Last week we celebrated St Mary of the Cross MacKillop’s Feast Day with a whole school liturgy in OLHC church. It was wonderful to see our school community taking part in this event and I must acknowledge the great dedication of all involved that made the celebration so successful.

Friday’s assembly was a delightful way to celebrate the important role that Mary MacKillop had in inspiring the Sisters of St Joseph to found our school 89 years ago. We also took the opportunity to acknowledge the year level winners of our Mary MacKillop portrait competition. The amazing art work from all of our students will be on display around our school over the next few weeks.

We anticipate a big year next year as we look to mark St Joseph’s 90th anniversary in providing quality Catholic education in Park Avenue since 1929, which is another momentous achievement.

Once again, I congratulate the staff and students on their part in this wonderful shared faith experience.

As the new touch football season is now upon us, I would like to take this opportunity to remind people that, as per law, the Multi Purpose Area and the corresponding toilet block and drink taps will not be able to be accessed of an afternoon other than by the students attending our OSHC. Touch teams training on the school grounds will need to use the newer toilet and refrigerated drink facilities near the lower school eating area. This situation would only be reversed if the MPA court is being used for a school based activity, such as a school disco and our OSHC group moves to the lower playground area for the afternoon. Please ask your children to keep an eye out for the bright yellow signs indicating if the toilets are not to be used. As our designated parent/disabled toilet is also situated in the MPA and should not be accessed of an afternoon, parents are asked to use the toilet facilities found in the administration block. Adult visitors, including parents should never enter the children’s toilet block. If you need to assist a young child in going to the toilet it should always be in the parent/disabled toilet or in the administration block. The only time the toilets are able to be used by adults is in the situation where the school is running events such as the school fete, where children are under parent supervision or trivia night where no children are present at school. Thank-you in advance for your consideration on these matters.

Don’t Forget …

• National Science Week, 13th – 17th August
• SJPA Science Week Expo Evening, Thursday 16th Aug @ 5:00pm
• CAPRAS Cup Gala Day, Saturday 18th August @ Rockhampton High
• Children’s Mass, Saturday 18th August @ OLHC 6:00pm
• Book Week, 20th – 24th August
• School Disco, Thursday 6th September.

Have a great week.

Regards
Bernard Fitzgerald
St. Joseph’s PA Acting Principal

APRE REFLECTION

The Josephite Emblem

Last week you may have noticed in the children’s works of art the blue Josephite Symbol. The symbol was embroidered on the front of the Sisters’ habits (the long loose garment worn by the sisters) contained religious traditions and devotions that were particularly significant to Mary MacKillop and Father Julian Tenison Woods.

• The cross is linked to the name Mary took when she made her vows (or special promises to become a sister): Sister Mary of the Cross
• The central symbol in the middle of the cross is created from an ‘A’ and an ‘M’ which stands for Ave Maria. Ave Maria or Hail Mary is a special prayer devoted to Mary, the mother of Jesus.
• The 3 ‘J’s are to remind the Sisters of the importance of Jesus, Joseph and John the Baptist in their everyday lives.
• Mary devoted her life to Jesus.
• Joseph was Mary MacKillop’s patron, her special person to whom she prayed for guidance every day.

• John the Baptist was chosen because Mary and Father Julian wanted the Sisters to prepare the way for Jesus just as John the Baptist had done.

Bernadette Brennan
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

RELIGIOUS MATTERS

St. Mary of the Cross Portrait Winners

What’s Happening this Term

Peer Support

Respect is the focus of the Peer Support sessions this week. Through various activities the children will be identifying what it means to have respect and discuss ways they can demonstrate respect for others. By completing a maze of scenarios, the children will need to select the correct way to respond to a situation, progressing through the maze and reaching ‘Certificate of Respect.’

Encourage your child to discuss with you different people they respect and why. It is important to remind them that although we may not always agree or get along with people, we still need to respect them.

Bernadette Brennan
APRE

SPORTING MATTERS

Friday Sport 17/08/2018

Hockey

St Joeys 2 v Frenchville 3 on Turf 3 @ 1:00 – 1:15
St Joeys 4 v Frenchville 1 on Grass 7 @ 1:00 – 1:15
St Joeys 1 v Lighthouse Christian 1 on Grass 5 @ 1:20 – 1:35
St Joeys 3 v Crescent Lagoon 2 on Grass 8 @ 1:20 – 1:35
St Joeys 2 v Depot Hill 1 on Grass 7 @ 1:40 – 1:55
St Joeys 4 v Park Avenue 2 on Turf 3 @ 1:40 – 1:55
St Joeys 1 v Frenchville 6 on Grass 6 @ 2:00 – 2:15
St Joeys 3 v Frenchville 4 on Grass 5 @ 2:00 – 2:15

Netball

Junior E
St Joey’s BYE

Junior D
St Joey’s v St Mary’s on Court 8 @ 1:10

Junior B
St Joey’s v St Paul’s on court 11 @ 1:50

Senior D
St Joey’s v The Hall on Court 7 @ 1:50

Senior C
St Joey’s v RGS on Court 3 @ 12:30

Senior A
St Joey’s v Frenchville on Court 5 @ 1:10

Rugby League

6A’s Preliminary Final
St Joeys v RGS @ Victoria Park @ 1:45

5A’s Preliminary Final
St Joeys v Berserker @ Browne Park @ 12:45

Bernadette Brennan
APRE

CURRICULUM NEWS

Important Curriculum Dates

SCIENCE WEEK EXPO

This Thursday (16th August) is our Science Week Expo evening. 42 students have entered this challenge which is an amazing effort from both our student and parent body. The evening is scheduled to begin at 5pm in the multi-purpose area. It will be a fairly informal evening with an opportunity for the judges and any spectators to wander through the exhibits talking with the students. The P&F has sponsored this event through providing prizes for the winners of the challenge and a free sausage sizzle for anyone who comes along. I thank the P&F for their support to help make Science Week extra special for our school community. I thank everyone who has entered and look forward to seeing all the amazing presentations.

PREMIER’S READING CHALLENGE

You should have received a letter explaining the 2018 Premier’s Reading Challenge. Every child is invited to participate in this challenge and read or experience a number of books over the next few months. The challenge runs from Monday 14 May until Friday 24 August.

This year the Premier has challenged all school students from Prep to Year 2 to read or experience 20 books, Years 3 and 4 to read 20 books and Years 5 to 9 to read 15 books. Experiencing books can include shared reading, listening to stories or reading picture books.

Every student who completes the challenge will receive a Certificate of Achievement signed by the Premier.

For more information about the Premier’s Reading Challenge, please visit the link below:

UNDER 8s MORNING

Our annual Under 8’s morning will take place at St Joey’s in Term 3 on Thursday 13th September. 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.

BOOK WEEK

Every year St Joseph’s celebrates book week. This year we will be celebrating book week with two official events. The first one is our annual character dress up day. All students from Prep – Year 6 are invited to come to school dressed as a character from a book. We will hold a parade in the MPA where all students can show off their outfits. This parade will start at 10:30am on Thursday 23rd August.

Our second event is our biannual Joey’s in Jamas evening. This evening is held in the school library and all students and their parents are invited to come along in their pyjamas and spend some time reading books together. PLEASE NOTE – THERE IS NO OFFICIAL TEACHER SUPERVISION SO ALL STUDENTS NEED A PARENT WITH THEM. This evening will begin at 5pm and conclude at 6:30pm. You are welcome to come along at any time during that 90-minute time slot.

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 – Chunk Letters and Sounds Together

Chunking letters and sounds together (familiar word patterns such as blends, digraphs, prefixes, suffixes, compound words and smaller words within a word) to make decoding more efficient, rapid and accurate. For children to be able to understand what they read, they must be able to read the words rapidly as well as accurately. This frees children to focus their attention on the meaning of what they have read.

Spelling:

Activity: Tracing words
Trace your words into sand, shaving cream or paint. This is a fun way for students to learn their spelling patterns.

Regards,
Deanne Senini
Assistant Principal Curriculum

FINANCE NEWS

Term 3 Fees were due for payment on Monday 6th August. If these have not been paid they are now overdue.

Fee Accounts are now being published to Parent Lounge and will no longer be posted out in hard copy. You will need to Login to Parent Lounge to access your Fee Statement.

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?

Please remember to update your Concession Card if it has expired, as you are unable to get the Concession without a new card being presented.

CLASSROOM NEWS

3T

We have had a great start to the term. First, we celebrated student achievements with the presentations of academic awards.

Wonderful day celebrating NAIDOC in recognition of all cultures at our school.

Fun times at the ‘Circular Circus’ learning about Mathematics concepts.

Congratulations to Patrick Joyce for recognition of his Dot Painting of Mary MacKillop

Prayer in 3T – each week a small group is responsible for leading the class in prayer.

In The Arts we are comparing and contrasting smooth and rough textures.

Things to look forward to – class visit to the Pilbeam Theatre to see ‘Josephine wants to Dance’ and creating our Prayer Journals with our photos from home.

From Mrs Tennyson and the students of 3T.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Congratulations to the following students who will celebrate their birthday this week. They are:
Thomas Harth (PG), Rori Kipling (3T), Jaiden Wust (Yr 4) and Daniel Tanner (3F).

Have a great day.

DENTAL CLINIC

Towards the end of last term, dental notes went home to every child. If you have not yet returned your form or you have misplaced it, pop in and we will give you another one.

This is a FREE service offered to school aged children, and is located just down the road before the Park Avenue State School in the little brick building.

2019 KINDY ENROLMENTS

St Joseph’s Park Avenue Kindergarten are currently taking enrolments for 2019. If you or family/friends have a child born between July 1st 2014 and June 30th 2015, they are eligible for Kindergarten in 2019. We currently have positions available in both groups for next year. Expressions of Interest forms can be collected from the Kindy, or emailed on request. Please phone 4994 9302.

SCHOOL BANKING

School banking every Thursday.

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 do not 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 conduct 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

POSITION VACANT: HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGER

The Catholic Diocese of Rockhampton invites applications for the position of HR Manager. Reporting to the Director of Diocesan Services, the HR Manager is responsible for promoting a positive organisational culture that is focussed on Catholic values, performance and accountability. The position is full-time but consideration will be given to a part-time arrangement.

For further information or a copy of the Position Description and Key Selection Criteria, please call Vicki Oliver on 07 4887 3090 or email hr@rok.catholic.net.au .

Applications will close on Monday, 20th August at 9am.

POSITIONS VACANT - Secretaries, North Rockhampton Parishes

North Rockhampton Parishes are seeking two part-time secretaries to work at the Parish Centre at Holy Family Church, North Rockhampton. The roles support the parish ministries and administration. One of the secretaries will work from 9am to 2pm Monday-Wednesday and the other from 9am to 2pm Wednesday-Friday. Applications close: COB Wednesday, 29th August 2018. Please see our website, linked below, for the full details of this position or contact Vicki Oliver on 4887 3090 or hr@rok.catholic.net.au.