20 March 2019

Newsletter Articles

FROM THE ACTING PRINCIPAL

St Joseph’s Feast Day

As always, last Friday’s Feast Day Mass for St Joseph’s Day and the Grandparents morning tea that followed was absolutely tremendous. Well done to Mrs Brennan and the students for a wonderful Mass and to all the Joey’s students for their participation in the celebration in very hot conditions. Thanks also to the members of the community who provided food for the morning and the students who helped serve on the day.

Thank you to Fr Marcel who was the celebrant for the Mass. The school community is very lucky to have such a supportive priest who genuinely cares about the whole school community.

Well done to all who contributed to the Year 6 Easter Raffle which was drawn on Friday at our Grandparents Morning Tea. Due to the generosity of those in our community, over $2600 was raised to help with the Year 6 camp costs.

Congratulations to Gayle Evans who was presented with the P&F Community Spirit Award after Mass last Friday. Over the years, you’ll have seen Gayle in and around the classrooms, from reading and classroom help when her children were younger, to a general presence around the school. Whether it be her weekly “shift” in Tuck-shop, her almost daily “shift” in Breaky Club, her assistance contacting and preserving books in the library, or being available to give a helping hand at any Joeys event. Gayle strives to help in an understated way and her help has not gone unnoticed. Well done Gayle.

Also at the conclusion of Friday’s mass we thanked and farewelled long standing staff member Mrs Kath Howell. As many of you would be aware, over the Christmas holidays, Kath was successful in her application for the Learning Support Coordinator position at St Anthony’s school. Kath spent twenty years as a member of our staff and attended St Joseph’s as a student before that. During her time as a staff member Kath played a very significant role in the lives of the St Joseph’s staff and students. She always gave her all to her various roles and above all, Kath has always advocated for the students in her care. Thank you Mrs H and best wishes for the future.

Friday also saw St Joseph’s Park Avenue taking part in the National Anti-Bullying, Say No to Violence day. After the events from the morning, the lower school classes participated in a variety of age appropriate lessons and activities to gain an understanding of how to respect and care for each other. Some of the activities included making posters, role plays, finger puppets, wrist bands and discussing online scenarios.

Thank you to all those who contributed towards making last Friday such a wonderful day.

Staff Taking Long Service Leave

Tracey Brosnan will be taking Long Service Leave during Weeks 9 and 10 of this term. Ms Lyn Lavender will be stepping into Tracey’s role for this period. We wish Tracey all the best for a well-earned break and I’m sure everyone will welcome Lyn to the very complex role on our front desk.

Michelle Hannah (Year 1 teacher) will also be taking some well-earned Long Service Leave. Michelle will be taking leave from Wednesday 3rd April through to Friday 3rd May. We wish Michelle all the best for her time away.

School Performance Tours

Last week our Prep – Year 3 students were treated to a performance entitled ‘Look How We’ve Changed’. This energetic, entertaining and educational show enabled students to gain an understanding of what preceded many items which are often taken for granted today. The students were transported back to a time when televisions, cameras, music players, watches, torches, compasses and phones were all separate items and not all on the one device they use today – a mobile phone. They also gained an understanding of what it was like to shop for groceries back during a time where your local general store supplied all of your grocery items.

Parent Teacher Interviews

Semester One parent teacher interviews have been scheduled for Week 2 of Term 2 (Monday, 29th April through to Friday, 3rd May). Parent Lounge will be open to parents from Monday 1st April through to Friday 5th April (Week 10 of Term 1) to make a booking to see your child’s teacher.

NAPLAN 2019

In 2019, St Joseph's will be participating in NAPLAN online. All students in Years 3 and 5 will be completing all NAPLAN assessments online with the exception of the Year 3 writing assessment which will be completed on paper. Last year we participated in a practice NAPLAN online test in order to ensure our technology infrastructures and equipment were sufficient. This year, we will participate in another practice test which is designed to allow for any complications to be identified and resolved before the official test occurs in May. The practice test for St Joseph's will occur on Wednesday, 3rd April while the official testing period will occur in week 4 of Term 2 (14th – 17th May).

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your child sitting either the practice test or the official tests, please make an appointment to discuss these concerns with either myself or Bernard Fitzgerald.

ICAS - 2019

Students are invited to participate in ICAS assessments in 2019. This year the ICAS assessments have moved to an online format and are occurring later in the year. These assessments are designed to recognise and reward academic excellence. The assessments are based on the curriculum for each relevant year level. These assessments are designed to allow students to demonstrate a deeper, integrated and thorough level of learning.

More information about how to sign up for these assessments will be made available next term.

Write4fun Competition

The 2019 Schools Writing Competition is now open. Write4fun encourages students to read and write through fun competitions. School students across Australia battle it out for the great cash and prizes on offer. First prize is $500 cash for the winning student and $500 cash for their school plus their choice of an Apple iPad 32GB, Xbox One X, $500 Rebel Sport Gift Card or a PlayStation 4.

To enter this competition you need to write either a Poem consisting of 16 lines or less OR a short story consisting of 500 words or less. You can choose any writing style and any topic. The competition is open for any student in Kindergarten through to Grade 12.

For more information and details on how to enter please visit www.write4fun.net.

Entries close on Sunday 31st March 2019.

Daniel Morcombe Child Safety Curriculum

Throughout Semester One, our school will be implementing the Daniel Morcombe Child Safety Curriculum with students in all year levels. The curriculum is based on principles of best practice in child safety education and centres around three key messages: Recognise, React and Report. Through a series of lessons, students will learn how to recognise, react and report when they are unsafe or find themselves in situations that can have a significant detrimental effect on their physical, psychological or emotional wellbeing.

The Daniel Morcombe Child Safety Curriculum has been mandated by our Diocese to be actively taught in all of the Rockhampton Catholic schools each year. In 2019, classroom teachers will teach these lessons on a Friday morning as part of the Health Curriculum.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this program please don’t hesitate to contact either Mrs Senini, Mr Fitzgerald or your child’s classroom teacher.

More information about the Daniel Morcombe Child Safety Curriculum can be found at:

Regards
Deanne Senini
Assistant Principal Curriculum

APRE REFLECTION

Tati is a Dayak woman, living in a remote forest of West Kalimantan, Indonesia, with her husband and two of her three children. Tati’s Dayak culture is deeply linked to the rainforest and her family has relied on it for sustenance for generations. Over the last few years, communities which depend on the native forests have seen them shrink, along with vital habitats for endangered orangutans, rhinos and tigers. Caritas Australia, with its partners Caritas Indonesia – KARINA and the Diocesan Caritas are working with local communities to develop alternative sustainable livelihoods, by training them in ecotourism activities. Before Tati joined the Caritas program, she and her husband mainly earned their income from rubber tapping and raising chickens. Now, Tati has increased her family income ten times over by cooking for tourists and making souvenirs. Her community is also developing a strong financial base so that it can manage its own land.

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
5.00pm Holy Family
6.30pm Our Lady Help of Christians

Sunday
7.00am St Mary’s
9.00am Holy Family

Bernadette Brennan
APRE

RELIGIOUS MATTERS

Project Compassion

Check out our droplet display that demonstrates the children’s responses to the first week of Lent story. We looked at how fortunate we are to have clean, healthy, unlimited water.

THIS LENT GIVE 100%

Bernadette Brennan
APRE

SPORTING MATTERS

Rockhampton District Selection Trials

Term 1

Below are the Rockhampton and District Trials (RDS) for the following Primary School sports happening in Term 1. If your child has the prerequisite skills and you wish for them to trial in the following sports, you can contact me through the school office to obtain the appropriate trial forms. Alternatively, the forms can be downloaded in the Parents Notes section of the Skoolbag App.

• Rugby Union – Boys (10-12yrs) Mar 25 Frenchville SS 4pm-5:30pm
• Tennis – Boys & Girls (10-12yrs) Apr 1 Rocky Tennis 9am – 3pm

Please be aware that for your child to attend these trials as a 10-year-old student that they would need to be exceptional as they will be competing against students up to 12 years of age.

Sporting Success

Congratulations Zac on being selected in the Capricornia Under 12 AFL team. Zac will compete at the state titles in Brendale during June.

Cross Country / Fun Run

What a great way to kick off the rivalry between our sporting houses!

We have had an overwhelming response to the Run4Fun with all students able to participate doing so. Congratulations to the winners of the 10, 11 and 12 years Cross Country Races.

All cash sponsorship is now due back at school with the booklet indicating what prizes are selected. Thanks for all your support!

Friday Sport 22nd March

Soccer

Yr 5 boys St Joeys Navy v Mt Morgan SS @ Norbridge Park 3 @ 12:40
Yr 6 boys St Joeys Maroon v Mt Morgan SS @ Norbridge Park 3 @ 1:35
Yr 6 girls St Joeys v RGS @ Norbridge 1 @ 12:40
Yr 6 Blue (mixed) St Joeys v Lakes Creek 2 @ Pilbeam Park @ 1:35
Yr 5 White (mixed) St Joeys v Lakes Creek 1 @ Pilbeam Park @ 12:40

Softball/Teeball

St Joeys Navy v The Hall on 4A
St Joeys White v Gracemere Yr 6 Boys on W1
St Joeys Maroon v Crescent Lagoon on 4C
St Joeys Blue v Ridgelands on 2C
St Joeys Gold v Glenmore on 3A

Softball/Teeball games commence about 12:30

FINANCE NEWS

URGENT Attention is now required for Term 1 Fee Accounts. These are now 4 weeks overdue.

If you have not received your Fee statement or are unable to make any payment, can you please make immediate contact with Bernard or Megan to advise your current situation?

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.

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.

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

CLASSROOM NEWS

YR 4

Wow what an amazing start to our Flexible Learning journey. We are getting used to the language of Flexible Learning including workshops instead of lessons and learning space instead of classroom. Fun is being had in all areas of our learning. M & M’s and problem solving in maths, early start to our athletic training for PE, Caritas and bible study for Religion and learning about explorers in HASS. We’ve already had our first whole class Prayer Assembly with a focus on Love. We have also been looking at Virtues in the Classroom.

We started with RESPECT and are now looking at GENEROSITY.

We were also lucky enough to be included in a talk with our past year 6’s about coming to Emmaus to learn. They had a lot of information to help demystify high school.

Last week we helped celebrate Grandparents Day and St Joseph’s Feast Day with a beautiful morning tea. See some of our families in the photos.

This week of course we had our fun run. What great participation from Year 4. Well done to you all. Looking forward to the last two weeks of term and we hope that you all have an amazing holiday before celebrating Easter with your families. Stay safe.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Congratulations to the following students who will celebrate their birthday this week. They are: Amelia Nolan (3M), Olivia Green (PG), Elle Honeyball (3M), Ryder Millar (2F), Hanna Haigh (Yr 4) and Charlotte Hopkins (1H).

Have a great day.

P & F NEWS

A big thank you to the cohort of parents who gave up their Saturday morning sleep in to make rolls and organize food for the Rugby League Selection trials on Saturday the week before last. Even though most parents didn’t have kids involved, for them to still come and help was greatly appreciated.

Another thank you for all of the assistance assembling platters and for all of the food donations we received for St Joseph’s Feast Day/Grandparents Day. The help from the Joeys community helped make the morning the success it was.

Continuing with the notes of thanks, a big thanks to the community for all the Breaky Club donations that we’ve received. If people would still like to donate, Breaky Club is always in need of margarine, however other items are fully stocked for now. We’ll update as the need changes.

There is NO TUCKSHOP available Tuesday April 23rd, the Field events day, due to it being the first day back for Term 2. Please make sure your kids have lunch packed this day, however for parents and friends attending the field events, there will be homebake and drinks available for purchase from the Tuckshop.

Notes will be coming home sometime soon for you to order lunch for Sports Day. Sports day is Wednesday April 24 (second day back of Term 2), and notes will need to be returned by the end of term if you wish to order lunch. We will also be asking for donations of Homebake goodies to be sold on the day with all profits going back to Breaky Club.

Reminders:

Tuesday April 23rd:

Field events at school for ages 9-12
NO TUCKSHOP AVAILABLE this day, however there will be Homebake and drinks available for purchase.

Wednesday April 24th:

Track events at Emmaus for the whole school.
Lunch orders to be returned by end of Term 1.
Homebake donations and help required on the day.

PARENT LOUNGE

Changes to your address, phone number or work phone number can be made in Parent Lounge. Simply log in, go to the Parent Details tab, make your changes, and then submit.

ABSENTEES

Absentees can be done through the Skoolbag App. Click on our School Logo, eforms and then Absentee Form.

All notifications from the school are done through this app. Our weekly Newsletters are also posted to this app.

Please make sure that you have downloaded it.

SCHOOL BANKING

School banking happens every Thursday.

If you wish to start school banking, you need to open a Youth Saver Account at the Commonwealth bank, make no deposit and they will provide you with your banking book and details.

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 and Wednesday afternoon from 2:45 – 3:15.

Please feel free to drop any uniforms you no longer need so they can be 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 inside.

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