30 March 2022

Newsletter Articles

FROM THE ACTING PRINCIPAL – DEANNE SENINI

Welcome to the last week of Term 1. Please remember that this Friday is a student free day for all Catholic School students in Rockhampton due to the annual Bishop’s Inservice Day.

Parent Teacher Interviews will be held next term during weeks 2 and 3. To book an interview with your child’s teacher, please log into parent lounge. The option to book an interview will open to parents on 4th April at 8am and will close on 17th April at 5pm. I encourage you to book a time to meet with your child’s teacher to discuss their progress. Students are encouraged to attend the interviews to be an active participant in discussions about their learning.

This week our year 3 and 5 students are participating in NAPLAN practice tests. These tests allow us to check that all our technology works in the NAPLAN environment as well as giving the students a chance to see what the NAPLAN online tests will be like. If your child is in year 3 or 5 you should have received a letter with the official NAPLAN schedule. Please contact your child’s teachers if you have not seen this letter.

Thank you for your cooperation in helping us keep our students and staff safe during this time of COVID. Please remember that if your child is unwell, they shouldn’t be attending school and if your child or a member of your household tests positive to COVID, please inform the school as soon as possible.

Today we had a visit from Ms Leesa Jeffcoat our Diocesan Director. It was lovely to show Ms Jeffcoat all the wonderful things our classes are learning about as well as being able to show off all our new buildings. I thank Ms Jeffcoat for her leadership and the support she provides to St Joseph’s.

We look forward to our National School Improvement Tool audit early next term. We will be visited by three reviewers who over three days will look at our teaching and learning processes and provide us with feedback on the following 9 domains:

1. An explicit improvement agenda
2. Analysis and discussion of data
3. A culture that promotes learning
4. Targeted use of school resources
5. An expert teaching team
6. Systematic curriculum delivery
7. Differentiated teaching and learning
8. Effective pedagogical practices
9. School – community partnerships

We look forward to receiving their feedback on how we can further improve on our teaching and learning procedures and practices.

Finally, I’d like to thank everyone for their support during what has been a very challenging term. I wish everyone a very happy, holy and relaxing holiday break and look forward to welcoming all the students back on Tuesday, 19th April.

Regards
Deanne Senini
Acting Principal

St Joseph’s 2022 School Improvement Priorities:

• Prayer
• Family Partnerships
• Increased Learning Gain & Achievement

Positive COVID Case Notification

St Joseph’s Catholic School Park Avenue wishes to advise you that, during the past week, we have been notified of positive cases of COVID-19 in our school community.

St Joseph’s regularly consults with the Catholic Education Office and relevant authorities, and continues to follow the advice of Queensland Health regarding cleaning requirements.

Queensland Health has advised that no quarantine of students or staff is required.

As COVID-19 remains active in our community we ask you to continue to monitor your child’s/children’s health and if they develop any flu-like symptoms:

• Keep your child/children at home
• Seek a PCR or Rapid Antigen test where it is recommended and notify the school of positive results. Please be aware, a negative COVID test does not change the requirement to be symptom free to attend school.
• Follow the advice of Queensland Health

As we continue to navigate the pandemic, please remind your child/ren to:

• maintain good hand hygiene at all times
• cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or the inside of their elbow and dispose of tissues in the bin immediately.
• practice social distancing from others where possible
• wear masks when required

We will continue to work closely with health authorities to keep our school community informed of any developments and advice. Thank you once again for your ongoing support.

RELIGIOUS MATTERS

4th Sunday of Lent

Jesus heals a blind man.

John 9:1-41

Gospel Focus – None so blind

There’s a very old saying that has its roots in the Bible but is not a direct quote from the Bible: ‘There are none so blind as those who will not see.’ It would be a fitting summary of today’s passage for there are two movements between darkness and light that are evident in the story. Firstly, there is the blind man who can see. He can see physically but can also see the truth of who Jesus is. Secondly, there are the Jewish authorities who have physical sight but are completely blind to the truth of Jesus.

@Liturgy Help – Greg Sunter

It was fantastic to have our first Family Workshop of our Sacramental Program. Our focus on Reconciliation fits in perfectly with our Lenten Season. Lent is a great time to reflect on where we have disappointed people and to make amends; to reconcile.

Keep an eye out for a Google Form. This form will ask you to nominate which Friday morning Mass you would like your child to attend and stay after to make their first Reconciliation.

Last Friday, we gathered in the church for a meaningful Prayer Assembly led by Year 5. As Friday was the Feast of the Annunciation, Year 5 told us the story of the angel visiting Mary to ‘announce’ she would have a child. We heard the words of the Hail Mary which were first proclaimed by the angel at the Annunciation. Thank you to the Year 5 teachers and students.

Liturgical Celebrations Coming Up

*SJPA – St Joseph’s Park Avenue

*OLHC – Our Lady Help of Christians church (next to St Joseph’s, Park Avenue)

*HF – Holy Family Parish Centre (next to Anthony’s School)

*MPA – Multipurpose Area (Basketball court)

*STM – St Mary’s

PARISH BULLETIN

Elizabeth Carter
Assistant Principal Religious Education

YR 6 EASTER RAFFLE

Congratulations to all the winners of the Yr 6 Easter Raffle.

Willow B, Cooper L, Tayla Reed, Portia A, Melinda c/o Izabella D, William Farr, Paityn S, Mrs Brosnan, Jordana C, Kim, Heidi N x 2, Max T, Olivia B, Peter, Kevin Ireland, Finn W, Mrs Hoffman, Jake Baker x 2, Aria S, Connor J, Kaison M, Daphne Powell, Craig Fairbairn c/o William Farr, Danielle Weston c/o Izabella D x 2, Walker C, Craig Spence, Tyler I, Jax Byrnes, Indigo W, Caleb W, Harlem P, Ty Saunders c/o Matari T, Julie Jones, Marg Dowling c/o Halle M, Amanda Williams, Hunter A, Ms Hamilton, Carlo S, Mrs Crosthwaite and Wendy Millan c/o Isla Honeyball.

Once again, your ongoing support is greatly appreciated.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Congratulations to the following students and staff who will celebrate their birthday this week and over the holidays. They are: Jack Burnham (Yr 6), Zaeleigh Hannah (Yr 6), Max Toby (Yr 6), Sophie Louttit (Yr 1), Nate Oliffe (Yr 4), Abby Martin (Yr 2), Matilda Wooler (Yr 2), Matilda Hancock (Yr 1), Imani Cooney (Yr 3), Benson Perkins (Yr 3), Nahla White (Yr 2), Maggie Wooler (Yr 5), Caleb Wells (Prep), Mr Fitzgerald (Principal) and Mrs Mac (OSHC),

Have a great day.

WONDER RECYCLING REWARDS

Calling all students, parents, grandparents, neighbours, and friends!! St Joey’s will be participating in the Wonder Recycling Rewards program! By collecting your BREAD BAGS for school, we can earn points for new sporting equipment.

What kind of bread bags are we collecting?

The rule of thumb is that if it has contained bread of some sort and

is a soft plastic, then it's a bread bag that we can collect (all brands). lf it hasn't contained bread, then it's not a bread bag we can use.

How clean do the bags have to be?

Bread bags should be free from crumbs to ensure no contamination during the recycling process but they do not need to be washed.

Are we collecting bread TAGS too?

No, at this stage we are not collecting bread tags, but you can still recycle them!

When do we start collecting?

NOW!! We can start collecting our bread bags while we wait for our official collection boxes to arrive.

DRAKES SUPA IGA

Drakes Fundraiser for St. Joseph's Cathedral

I thank you for your support of this project which has raised over $40,000, of which the school community has played an important role. Please continue to support the Cathedral by shopping at DRAKES using your key tag and receiving the benefits.

If you have not been part of this fundraiser you are invited to get a key tag from your local School or Church and shop at your local Drakes, one cent in every dollar you spend will go to the Cathedral. No Fuss, only benefits.

Hoping to see you at Drakes

Stay Safe

Shirley Hopkins,
Co-ordinator, Drakes Fundraiser for St Joseph's Cathedral