3 June 2020

Newsletter Articles

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Dear Parents & Guardians

As the excitement begins to ramp up with our Admin, Library and Lower Learning Precinct heading towards the final stages, I thought that it would be a good time to talk about the furniture that we will be purchasing for our ‘Open Learning Spaces.’ For some years now, we have maintained the importance of open, collaborative spaces for our staff and students. I will also note that during the current COVID crisis, most primary schools have had to move away from traditional practices and adopt new educational approaches that are similar to those that we have been working towards at Joeys for some time now.

BFX furniture has been a company that we have worked with over the years, and recently they published this educational article that I thought would be beneficial to share with the school community.

The article is well worth a read and addresses the following areas;

• What is Flexible Seating?
• The Many Benefits of Flexible Classroom Seating
• Busting Common Myths About Flexible Seating
• Tips for Making Flexible Classroom Seating a Success

Through the week, MSP Photography contacted us regarding our rescheduled school photo day. Our new school photo date is the first day back in Term 3, Monday the 13th of July. Due to prior bookings as well as the many rescheduled schools such as ourselves, this date is non-negotiable and totally out of our control. I will send out a reminder on the holiday break and further information as it comes to hand over the next few weeks.

As Stage 1 of our Capital Works nears completion and Stage 2 commences over the June/July holiday break we will not have the capability of providing a tuck-shop service for the second half of the year. As we all know, during Stage 2 a sorely needed tuck-shop upgrade is on the cards for Joey’s. Unfortunately though, during this time we will not have access to appropriate food storage and preparation facilities while this is happening. Friday pizza and icy-cups will still be run by the Year 6’s and OSHC will have their own food preparation facilities during this time. Sorry for any inconvenience.

Congratulations to Jessie Ivers and the Joey’s students on the video that they created for Reconciliation Week. Lots of talented kids performing and celebrating our wonderful diversity. Also, a shout out to Jessie’s husband Cal who wrote and composed the song that they are all singing. It’s great to celebrate the many talented people in our community.

Kindest Regards
Bernard Fitzgerald
Principal - St. Joseph’s Catholic School Park Avenue

Happy every day. Learning every day.

APRE REFLECTION

Pentecost Sunday

As the Father sent me, so I send you: Receive the Holy Spirit

John 20:19-23

This, the ‘fiftieth day,’ concludes the season of Easter, the continuous single festival of the Risen Christ. Pentecost, the Jewish feast of harvest, which also commemorates the giving of the Law of Moses. was the day when the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles. The event has been celebrated on this day at least since the third century. The joy of Pentecost is that the risen Christ breathes upon the Church and says, “Receive the Holy Spirit,’

On Pentecost day the believers heard a powerful wind and saw tongues of fire. The phenomena filled the environment around the gathering. This was an incredibly sensual experience of God and one which moved the believers to action: their joy in the ‘marvels of God’ urged them to share the good news with others. It was this elemental experience of the Spirit which spurred them on.

@Liturgy Help & Daily Mass Book

CURRICULUM NEWS

Important Curriculum Dates:

NATIONAL SIMULTANEOUS STORYTIME

Last week our Year 1 students participated in the 2020 National Simultaneous Storytime. National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) is held annually by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA). Every year a picture book, written and illustrated by an Australian author and illustrator, is read simultaneously in libraries, schools, pre-schools, childcare centres, family homes, bookshops and many other places around the country. Now in its 20th successful year, it is a colourful, vibrant, fun event that aims to promote the value of reading and literacy, using an Australian children's book that explores age-appropriate themes, and addresses key learning areas of the National Curriculum for Foundation to Year 6.

The book chosen this year was Whitney and Britney Chicken Divas written by Lucinda Gifford. What better way to experience a book about a pink and blue chicken than by making chicken masks and spending some time with our very own pink and blue chickens? The experience looked so much fun that when the Kindy teachers saw the year one students out with the chickens, they decided to bring the Kindy kids over to join in. Congratulations to our year 1 teachers for planning such an engaging and fun way to experience this book.

SEMESTER ONE REPORTING

Last week a letter was emailed to all parents and put on the school app regarding changes to Semester One reporting. If you haven’t already, I encourage you to take some time to read that letter as Semester One reports will be issued at a date later than normal and will look a little different than normal due to the significant disruption to learning in Semester One.

PREMIER’S READING CHALLENGE

All students are invited to participate in the Queensland Premier’s Reading Challenge again this year.

Reading plays an important part in students’ lives during their school years and beyond. It allows children to actively engage their imagination and opens up a world of educational opportunities.

Last year, 168,000 students from 937 schools took part in the challenge, reading an astounding 2.31 million books. What an incredible result.

The reading period for the 2020 Premier's Reading Challenge commences on Monday 11 May and closes Friday 28 August.

This year the Premier has invited all state and non-state school students to take on the challenge:

• Prep to Year 2 should read or experience at least 20 books,
• Years 3 and 4 should read at least 20 books, and
• Years 5 to 9 should read at least 15 books.

Experiencing books can include shared reading, listening to stories, or reading picture books. The aim for the 2020 challenge is to engage more students reading more books than ever before.

Every student who completes the challenge will receive a Certificate of Achievement signed by the Premier. Students who participate but don’t complete the challenge receive a Certificate of Participation from the school.

Attached to this newsletter is the form to be used to record the books read during this period. Once completed, please send this form back to the school office.

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

You can play a big part in your children’s future by encouraging them to be part of this positive initiative.

I look forward to seeing as many of our students as possible take part in the 2020 Premier’s Reading Challenge.

COMPETITIONS

Literary Competition:

Students in Years 5 and 6 are invited to enter the 2020 Independent Education Union literary competition. To enter this competition, you need to write a poem or short story. If you are interested in entering this competition, please see Mrs Senini for more information. This competition closes on Friday, 19th June.

Art Competition:

Students from Prep – Year 6 are invited to enter the 2020 Independent Education Union Awards for Excellence in Art Design competition. The task is to produce a piece of artwork that best reflects the theme: Perfect Places. If you are interested in entering this competition, please see Mrs Senini for more information. This competition closes on Friday, 24th July.

ICAS COMPETITIONS 2020

St Joseph’s Park Avenue will be participating in the world-renowned ICAS Assessments again this year. ICAS is developed by UNSW Global, a wholly owned subsidiary of UNSW Sydney, with over 35 years’ experience in educational assessments.

ICAS is designed to target students’ higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills in English, Mathematics, Science, Writing, Spelling and Digital Technologies.

Each assessment celebrates students’ accomplishments by providing opportunities for recognition. Every student will receive a printed certificate and an online result report. Top performers will be eligible for medals and are invited to attend special award ceremonies to have their academic excellence publicly recognised.

I encourage you to consider entering your child into ICAS this year. The assessments are suitable for students wishing to extend themselves academically and take up the personal challenge of competing in an international assessment. Your child will be presented with high-quality, expert-developed questions, allowing them to apply their learning without the need for prior study or revision.

ICAS Assessments are now online, a move that reflects a sector-wide transition to computer-based assessments. This allows greater accessibility for students and faster delivery of results.

In 2020, students have the opportunity to participate in the following subjects:

Cost per test: $15.95 including GST

Please note: The ICAS writing test is not being offered in 2020.

In 2020, all payments for the ICAS tests are to be made by parents online. These assessments will take place during the school day as per the above schedule. If you would like your child to participate in any of the subjects listed above, please visit the new online Parent Payment System to make a direct payment to UNSW Global. The Parent Payment System is a simple and secure online payment service specifically for parents to purchase ICAS Assessments.

The web link is:

Our school’s unique access code is: XRM723

Online payment closes Friday, 17 July 2020.

IMPORTANT: Please enter your child’s name accurately into the System as it will appear on their ICAS certificate.

Privacy notification

UNSW Global stores, uses and modifies the ICAS Assessments data in order to generate reports, conduct research and analysis, and improve its products and services. UNSW Global will not hold or use ICAS Assessments data that constitutes personal information for longer than 15 years. As the parent or guardian of a student who intends to sit ICAS Assessments, you consent to the school collecting the ICAS Assessments data that relates to the student, disclosing it to UNSW Global and to UNSW Global’s use of it in the manner outlined above. You also consent to the school assigning this consent to UNSW Global.

We are proud to partner with UNSW Global in offering the ICAS Assessments and look forward to some fantastic results later in the year.

Learn more about ICAS here: unsw.global/ICAS

Please do not hesitate to contact me on deanne_senini@rok.catholic.edu.au if you have any questions.

Regards,
Deanne Senini
Assistant Principal Curriculum

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Congratulations to the following students who will celebrate their birthday this week.

They are: Elizabeth Compagnoni (Yr 1), Amelia Horton (Yr 5), Cassius Austin (Yr 4), Maddie Campton (Yr 1), Walker Currie (Yr 2), Mia Harris (Yr 6), Ava Tranberg (Yr 5), Abby Eyles (Prep), Henry Timms (Yr 4) and T’ahnee Lawton (Yr 5)

Have a great day.

P & F NEWS

This Saturday, June 6th is Queensland Day, and this year we’ll be celebrating on Friday June 5th. Grade 6 are holding a Meal Deal Camp Fundraiser, with orders due in by the end of today. Come dressed in Maroon on Friday as part of a Free Dress day as well. Information regarding these events was sent home with the children. Thanks to everyone for supporting the Meal Deal and we hope there’ll be more throughout the year.

Our next P&F meeting will be next Wednesday afternoon, 10th June at 6:30pm via Zoom again. This time the meeting will be open to anyone who wishes to join, and the beauty of this meeting is that you can join from the comfort of your own home. More details will be made available with the meeting ID closer to the date.

Have a great week!

Reminder:

Fri June 5th: Year 6 Meal Deal and Queensland Day Free Dress Day
Wed June 10th: P&F Meeting 6:30pm via Zoom, details to follow

Thanks,
Joeys P&F

Jabbering with Joeys

We finish our Year 1 profiling this week with a long-term Joeys teacher and parent, Michelle Hannah.

Name: Michelle Hannah
How long have you been at Joeys?: 8 years I think
Favourite Food: I’ve got a huge weakness for cheese and chocolate
What did you want to be when you grew up?: A naturopath and a flight attendant (but I stopped growing, hehehe)
Favourite Music: Country and R&B
Coffee or Tea: Tea in the morning and at night, coffee ALL day long
Favourite subject at school: English for sure!
Hobbies outside of Joeys: Cooking, playing with dogs, listening to music and reading
Favourite book/movie: No favourites but I do love anything Dr Seuss
Favourite colour: Orange
Best “Dad” joke: "What do you call cheese that isn't yours? Nacho cheese."
Favourite thing about Joeys: The smiles and laughter that happen everyday

FRIDAY PIZZA

Due to the current situation we have had to change the way we run pizza and icy cups on a Friday. The following changes have been made:

• Pizza and Icy Cups to be ordered and paid for from outside the Year 6 room in the morning from 8:15 – 8:35am.
• Brown bags not required for pizza – students simply bring their money ($2 per slice) and tell the Year 6 students what you would like to order.
• Pizza slices will be delivered to classes in provided brown bags in tuckshop boxes at lunch time.
• Icy Cups will be delivered to the classrooms at approx. 2:55pm ready for home time.

Please note: There is a pizza order form available if you think this will be helpful to assist your child with the ordering process. Also, Icy Cups can sell out, so it is first in best dressed when ordering in the morning.

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