24 June 2020

Newsletter Articles

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Dear Parents & Guardians

It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to our dedicated groundsman Mr Tim Harkin who will be finishing with us this week. Tim has elected to graciously step aside as schools are transitioning to ‘Facilities Managers’ being onsite each day compared to the previous Groundsman role that Tim has fulfilled now for many years.

For those that do not know Tim, (and his lovely wife Shelly who also spent many of her weekends here contributing to the beautification of Joeys) he took up the job in a totally voluntary role as a parent who, just like St Mary of the Cross MacKillop;

saw a need and did something about it.

Tim eventually took on the role at Joeys in addition to his already demanding ‘day job’ at the hospital.

In my time, no task has ever been too much for Tim and the grounds have drastically improved due to his belief and commitment to our school. He has been the champion of the children as he constantly retrieves what seems like hundreds of handballs from the school gutters every few weeks and was always committed to a good laser light show setup for our school discos. He is and always has been a genuine and authentic community member who would give the shirt off his own back for anyone.

I wish Tim the best and thank him for the positive influence he has had on the Joey’s community as a parent, staff member and more importantly, a good person.

I know that our community is better for having Tim in it and I know I am better off as a person for knowing Tim as a friend. Tim, I will miss the tradition of ours as we would spend a late Wednesday night together getting the lighting just right the day before Presentation Night. I am sure you will join me in wishing Tim and the Harkin family all the best. The Harkin family will always be welcome at Joeys.

To finish the Term, I will post the last of BFX Furniture’s informative electronic articles on current educational matters that I think are very relevant for our Joeys community. Even though some of these articles are heavily aimed at educators as their target audience, I still think they are very informative for the wider school community, especially with what we are striving towards in our educational philosophies here at Joeys. This article is called, ‘What is Co-Teaching?’

I hope you enjoy it.

The article addresses the following areas;

• The Six Major Types of Co-Teaching.
• The Pros and Cons of Co-Teaching.
• Impact of Co-Teaching on Student Learning.
• Impact of Co-Teaching on Relationships.
• Impact of Co-Teaching on Teacher Workload.

Here are the last three articles that have been in Weeks 7-9 Newsletters for those who may have missed them.

Attached is a reminder and information in regard to our rescheduled school photo day. You will see plenty of reminders over the next three weeks on the school app and the Joey’s Friends and Family Face Book page in regard to school photos being taken on the first day of Term 3, Monday the 13th of July.

Please ensure that children are wearing correct formal uniform, appropriate hair styles and school coloured hair accessories, plain stud or sleeper earrings and no fingernail polish, rings or bracelets. I realise that individual photos mean that shoes and socks are not as important as in the past, but I wish to remind all families that the formal uniform sock colour is navy not black. Clarification on all acceptable uniform elements, including appropriate winter wear, are clearly set out in the school's uniform policy that can be accessed on the SkoolBag app and the school website.

I have also included an information flyer for a free parenting seminar on the topic of, ‘Raising Resilient Children’ exploring ways that you can help your kids cope with life’s ups and downs. It will be an online seminar hosted by MP Brittany Lagua on Tuesday the 21st of July from 7:00pm to 8:15pm.

Have a safe and enjoyable holiday break and I can’t wait to see our new buildings including our wonderful new Lower Precinct open on the first day of Term 3.

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

Happy every day. Learning every day.

APRE REFLECTION

12th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Those who acknowledge Christ will be known to the Father
Matthew 10:26-33

In this week’s reading Jesus continues to prepare his most trusted disciples for their ministry. His tells them, three times, not to be afraid. The twelve are not to fear the darkness nor death, because God is all powerful and values the faithful. The twelve are to be the light in the darkness for others.

What things are you afraid to talk about because you may be teased or mocked?

How often do you talk about your inner fears and concerns?

How often do you talk about your biggest dreams for yourself and for the world?

What is the most important focus of your life right now?

@Liturgy Help

PARISH NEWS

Dear Parishioner,

With the lifting of some restrictions by Queensland Health, we will be opening Our Lady Help of Christians, Holy Family and St Mary’s Churches this weekend, 27th and 28th June for the Celebration of Mass.

In order to meet the Queensland Government’s Legislative requirements, Parishioners will be required to register to attend a Mass. The registration links can be found below.

Please note the following :

• The North Rockhampton Catholic Community have opted to comply with the Industry COVID Safe Plan
• All persons (excluding household members/families) will sit socially distanced at 1.5 meters in groups of 20
• The Priests, Readers, Musicians will be included in one ‘1’ of these groups of 20

Online Bookings will open Monday 7.00am and while tickets last, will close Friday at 12noon. Please remember if you can’t get into your Parish you are invited to attend Mass at one of the other parishes if tickets are still available.

OUR LADY HELP OF CHRISTIANS Saturday, 27 June, 6.30pm

• There will be 77 persons (babies included) socially distanced (1.5 metres) allowed at OLHC

HOLY FAMILY Saturday, 27 June, 5.00pm

Sunday, 28 June, 9.00am

• There will be 100 persons (babies included) socially distanced (1.5 metres) allowed at Holy Family

ST MARY’S Sunday, 28 June, 7.00am

• There will be 50 persons (babies included) socially distanced (1.5 metres) allowed at St Mary’s

People who don’t have access to the Internet or a Smart Phone are asked to ring the Parish Office, Monday to Friday between 9am and 2pm, on 4928 2800 to gain a ticket of entry.

We must emphasise that if the conditions as outlined in the Industry COVID Safe Plan in respect to cleaning the churches after each Mass are not met, we will need to cancel Masses.

Just a reminder if you would like to join Bishop Michael online at 9.30am Mass on Sunday – this is the link

If you would like to volunteer to be trained to clean any of our churches, or to help people enter the church before Mass please call the office on 4928 2800 and leave a message. We will get back to you.

CURRICULUM NEWS

Important Curriculum Dates:

AUSTRALIA’S BIGGEST CHILD SAFETY LESSON

Tomorrow our Years 3-6 students will be viewing Australia’s Biggest Child Safety Lesson. This is prepared by the Daniel Morcombe Foundation and focuses on online safety strategies for children aged 8 to 12. Please ask your child what they learnt from this viewing, as online safety is extremely important in the ever increasing digital world our children live in.

SEMESTER ONE REPORTS

A reminder that Semester One reports will be available for viewing on Parent Lounge early next term.

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:

To download a reading record form click on the following link:

Interactive school reader record form (DOCX, 941KB)

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

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.

This competition closes on Friday, 24th July.

For more information and an entry form for either of these competitions please visit the following link:

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.

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.

I hope you all have a wonderful mid-year holiday break and I look forward to a more settled and productive term of learning in Term 3.

Regards,
Deanne Senini
Assistant Principal Curriculum

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Congratulations to the following students and staff who will celebrate their birthday this week, over the holidays and the first week back at school.

They are: Jace Scott Yr 5, Theo Pollack Yr 1, Layla wall Yr 1, Abbie Thistlewaite Yr 3, Cruz Roberts Yr 4, Slater Robertson Yr 3, Matilda Walker Yr 6, Mackenzie Da Silva Yr 4, Denzel Dougan Yr 6, Orlando Wyatt Prep, Adyn Slater Yr 5, Harper Spencer Yr 1, Oliver Davidson Prep, Tyler Ivers Yr 3, Kayleigh Serio Prep, Slade Carey Yr 4, Harpah Schukking Prep, Jacob Baker Yr 3, Freya Schoneveld Yr 1, Cairon Smith Yr 4, Maiya White Yr 4, Mikkaylah-Rose Serio Yr 3, Isabel Harth Yr 4, Hudson Doblo Yr 6, Carlo Safic Yr 1, Hudson Roati Yr 1, Jake Baker Yr 2, Henry Burgess Yr 5, Izabella Darwin Yr 4, Rhyver Maker Yr 2, Saxon Maker Yr 2, Hunter Collins Prep and Mrs Mooney

Have a great day.

P & F NEWS

That’s a wrap on Tuckshop and Breaky Club for 2020 and thank you again to all of our volunteers. Our school is really starting to take shape now and it’s looking amazing.

Have a great holiday break and onward and upward for Semester 2 2020!

Reminder:

Wednesday August 12th: P&F Meeting 6:30pm location TBA

Thanks,
Joeys P&F

Jabbering with Joeys

Lyn Lavender’s smiling face has been a fixture at Joeys in both the classroom and the office for some time now. Currently we find her in Year 2, and this week we chat with her.

Name: Lyn Lavender
How long have you been at Joeys?: 11.5 years
Favourite Food: Thai
What did you want to be when you grew up?: Nurse
Favourite Music: Country
Coffee or Tea: Coffee
Favourite subject at school: Maths
Hobbies outside of Joeys: Gardening, reading, walking, shopping and catching up with friends
Favourite book/movie:
Favourite colour: Green
Best “Dad” joke: Dad can you put my shoes on? "No I don't think they'll fit me!"
Favourite thing about Joeys: Supportive and caring staff. Friendship and being there for the children and their learning journey.

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