11 September 2019

Newsletter Articles

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

I would like to begin this week’s newsletter by mentioning how much I appreciate the majority of people who are following our new car park processes. I know at the moment that the situation has been aided by touch football practice as well as absenteeism due to a terrible strain of the flu being around, but there has been a noticeable improvement. As I have mentioned earlier, car parks are an issue for nearly every school community. We do however have a responsibility to the safety of our students and all the changes that we have put in place are trying to ensure that our children’s safety is our main priority.

Thank you again for your assistance in this matter.

Well done to our wonderful Parents & Friends Association for their very successful 90’s trivia night Trivia. The 90’s themed costumes were fantastic! An event like this just does not come together without a tremendous amount of preparation by the two hosts as well as the volunteers who gave of their time generously to set up for the event.

A special thank you to Amanda Conway and Amanda Ryan for both organizing and hosting what was a wonderful community event. You are both legends.

By the time you read this we will be well into our Parent/Teacher interviews for Semester 2. It is no secret that a positive relationship between the school and home is a great contributor towards successful outcomes for students. If you have not caught up with your child’s teacher, I would encourage you to keep an open line of communication with them at all times, even if you have no specific concerns.

When students see their teachers and parents having regular, respectful catch-ups it sends them the message that both parties are invested in their education and everybody wants what is best for their future.

Remember, if a 15-minute catch-up is not enough, feel free to contact your teacher and book a longer meeting if needed.

Don’t Forget …

• Parent/Teacher interviews, Week 9
• Children’s Mass, Sat 14th Sept in OLHC Church @ 6:30pm

Have a great week.

Regards
Bernard Fitzgerald
St. Joseph’s PA Principal

APRE REFLECTION

Thursday 12th September is R U OK? Day. The occasion reminds us that checking in with friends and family is one of the most important things we can do to help a person who may be dealing with mental health issues. If something does not seem quite right, or we have noticed changes in behaviour, taking the time to reach out and ask the right questions can make a difference.

When done well, these connections help get perspective in a difficult time. It is important to listen and not to judge someone’s distress. Reassure people that we are there to listen and to help them get through the struggle. Allow time and space for them to respond in their own way. Ask open questions that give them agency to respond eg. I notice … I am worried about you. R U OK? How can we get you the help you need to find other ways to cope? Is there someone you trust who can help with this? Just having someone listen can increase our sense of belonging and we all need to feel that we belong. There is more information on the website below.

Bernadette Brennan
Assistant Principal Religious Education

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

RELIGIOUS MATTERS

Bernadette Brennan
Assistant Principal Religious Education

SPORTING MATTERS

Sporting Dates

Bernadette Brennan
Sports Co-ordinator

CURRICULUM NEWS

ICAS ASSESSMENTS

If your child has enrolled to complete any of the ICAS online assessments, you can download practice questions from the following website to help them prepare for tests:

PARENT TEACHER INTERVIEWS

This week we are holding our Parent Teacher Interviews. The timeslots will be 15 minutes in duration. This is a great opportunity to find out how your child is progressing with their learning. Please be advised that there is no supervision for students provided on these afternoons / evenings. Students are most welcome and encouraged to attend their interview to be active participants in discussions about their learning.

Kind Regards,
Deanne Senini
Assistant Principal Curriculum

CLASSROOM MYTHBUSTERS

Year 4

Through the “Egg Drop Challenge” Year 4 are developing the ability to adapt and generate alternatives when new information or arguments are presented. The learners were able to design, create, reflect and re-evaluate the choices they made. Much imagination was present to visualise and be creative in their thoughts rather than thinking within conventional boundaries. Year 4 are working towards creating better learning skills as they gather and absorb new information and are improving their thinking skills as they transform this knowledge and generate new ideas.

Year 4 are a creative group of thinkers and learners that are interested in the world and are motivated to pursue this curiosity.

FINANCE NEWS

TERM 3 FEE ACCOUNTS NOW OVERDUE

Fee Accounts for Term 3 are now five weeks overdue. These were due on 5/8/19.

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?

All new families would by now have received your Parent Lounge Login details.

If you have not received these, please contact Tracey or Megan in the office.

If paying by Direct Deposit, please use your Account Number as the reference

(This is the 6 digit number on your Fee Statement).

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Congratulations to the following students and staff who will celebrate their birthday this week. They are: Liahna Cook (Yr 5), Phoenix Thorn (2M), Blake Jones (1C), Xavier Boswood (2M), Savannah Austin (Yr 6), Aria Smith (PM), Nicholas Thompson (Yr 6), Cooper Kane (Yr 6), Mia Smith (1C), Kobe Hannah (Yr 4), Paige Barron (Yr 4), Sebastian Clarke (PM), Mia Cruickshank (3M) and Miss Beak.

Have a great day.

P & F NEWS

Thanks to everyone who came and helped set up, serve, mark and host our annual Trivia Night on the weekend. Also, a big thank you to those who came and supported our event. We trust everyone had a great night.

Brekky club and tuckshop could still use some helpers and donations. Please see Deb in the tuckshop if you can help at all. You just need a current Bluecard – it does not cost anything to have a Bluecard and the paperwork is available from the office.

Our next P&F meeting is this afternoon, Wednesday September 11th at 6:30pm in the staffroom, and we’d love to see some new faces join us for a chat. We hope to see you there.

Reminder:

Thanks,
Joeys P&F\

TUKSHOP NEWS

Tuckshop is now in its fifth week of using online ordering with QuickCliq. If you haven't registered yet, you can simply go to the link below. Some features include ordering in advance and cancelling an order if you child is sick.

Tuckshop was trialling Home Ice Cream in this term and we have now transitioned over. We no longer sell Peter's ice blocks. A new updated menu will be going out at the beginning of next term.

Tuckshop is always looking for volunteers, if you can spare an hour or a couple of minutes, please come and see me."

Thank you,
Debbie Rooney

PARENT LOUNGE

Changes to your address, phone number or work phone number can be made in Parent Lounge. To do this, log in through the Skoolbag App, go to the Parent Details tab, make your changes, and then submit.

Changes to Parent Lounge are the submission of your child’s absentee days (but only for the current term). It will be similar to the way you do this on the Skoolbag app. Once accepted our end (when we log into our computer), this will be entered straight onto our system, and saves the double handling.

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.

SINGING AUDITIONS FOR CHRISTMAS MUSICAL

The singing students at St Joseph’s will perform “The Night the Reindeer Rocked” (a Christmas Rock-musical) in term 4. There are 5 lead roles and approximately 15 chorus roles and we are opening auditions to all students in year 3-6. Any interested students/families are invited to contact Mrs Kate Ellis by email. kate_ellis@emmaus.qld.edu.au

Please note that to participate in the production you must be enrolled for term 4 singing lessons and be prepared to attend rehearsals each Tuesday at 1st break. The exact performance time and date is still to be confirmed.

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 at 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