8 March 2023

Newsletter Articles

FROM THE ACTING PRINCIPAL

ST JOSEPH'S LEARNING SPACES
We often have people ask us how our rooms operate and why we do what we do. Over the term, I will share with you the reasons why we love our teaching and learning spaces and philosophy.

Reason Number One: Small group workshops allowing for target teaching according to need.
Reason Number Two: Our rooms enable students to move regularly.
Reason Number Three: Our learning spaces enable regular collaboration opportunities.
Reason Number Four: Our learning spaces help build positive relationships. Due to students not having to sit in the same desk next to the same person all day, opportunities to get to know other students and work together occur on a daily basis.

Clean Up Australia Day

Last Sunday morning a group of St Joseph’s students and parents took to the streets around our school to pick up rubbish. I’m so proud of the students for giving up some of their Sunday morning to answer the call from Pope Francis to care for our common home. Thanks also to Mrs Mooney and our P & F members who organised the event and gave up their Sunday morning to provide our students with this important opportunity to make our world a better place.

Community Library

The Rotary Club of Rockhampton has generously donated a ‘Little Community Library’ to St Joseph’s along with a variety of books. The idea of this is for it to be located on a school fence and accessible to all families in the community. There will be children’s books as well as adult books available to borrow. Keep your eyes out for it in the coming weeks.

NAPLAN

NAPLAN will be occurring this year for all of our Year 3 and 5 students. All tests except for the Year 3 writing test will be conducted online.

Please see below for our school’s official NAPLAN testing schedule:

Second Hand Uniform Shop

The school second hand uniform shop is located at the top of the ramp of the stage area and is open Wednesday and Friday mornings from 8:00am – 8:45am.

Upcoming Events:

• Principal’s Conference: 7th – 9th March
• St Joseph’s Feast Day: Mass at 9am followed by Grandparent’s Day morning tea in the MPA. Drawing of the Year 6 Easter Raffle. 17th March.
• NAPLAN: 15th March – 24th March
• Year 6 Camp: 27th March – 30th March
• Last Day of Term 1 – 31st March

Regards,
Deanne Senini
Acting Principal

St Joseph’s 2022 School Improvement Priorities:

• Prayer
• Family Partnerships
• Increased Learning Gain & Achievement

RELIGIOUS MATTERS
2nd Sunday of Lent

His face shone like the sun.

Matthew 17:1-9

Living the Gospel – ‘Listen to him!’

God’s voice from the cloud claims Jesus as his Son, the Chosen One, and then goes on to instruct those present – and we, the readers – to ‘Listen to him!’ For the disciples, this was a message not to get carried away with their own ideas about the Messiah but to listen to what Jesus was saying about the suffering he must endure and to what he was saying about true discipleship. Jesus tells us that to be a follower of his involves sacrifice, hardship and often unpopularity. It is this message we must listen to as much as the promise of salvation.

@Liturgy Help – Greg Sunter

Sacramental Program

Please refer to the notice that went out on our SkoolBag app calling for expressions of interest for our 2023 Sacramental Program. This program is open to children who will be 9 years of age (or older) in 2023.

Your family's journey through the Sacraments allows you and your children to develop a deep sense of belonging to our Catholic faith community and a richer relationship with one another and with our God.

We would love to have you join us. If your family would like more information, please use the QR Code below:

Please note that enrolments for this year’s programme need to be finalised before the 19th of March 2023.

Catholic Social Teaching

Catholic Social Teaching draws on Scripture, tradition, reason and experience to address issues of social, economic and ecological justice. It provides principles for reflection, criteria for judgement and guidelines for action that help us to build up the Reign of God in the world. These teachings develop in dialogue with the people, places, and events of history as the Church discerns and responds to the signs of the times.

In the modern period, this teaching is often communicated through encyclicals issued by Popes and Pastoral Letters by Bishops or groups of Bishops. Hence the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference teaches about social, economic and ecological issues in communion with the Pope. Their teachings address the Australian context more specifically and concretely than the international teachings could hope to do. For example the Social Justice Statements available on this website show how the Australian Bishops have responded to homelessness and economic exclusion in Australia, the need for just relationships with First Nations’ people and communities, and our country’s response to asylum seekers, refugees and migrants.

*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)

PARISH NEWSLETTER

Elizabeth Carter
Assistant Principal Religious Education

CURRICULUM NEWS

IEU Literary Competition

The Independent Education Union of Queensland and the Northern Territory invites students and teachers to share their literary talents by submitting either poetry, short stories or prose. It is Queensland’s longest-running competition.

Categories:

• Years 5-6
• Years 7-8
• Years 9-10
• Years 11-12
• Open (Teachers and School Support Staff)

Entries close: 5 pm Friday, 16 June 2023

NAPLAN

From 2023 NAPLAN is moving to March. NAPLAN is an online national literacy and numeracy assessment that Years 3, 5, 7 & 9 complete each year. Please keep an eye out for more information and notifications. The link below provides information for parents and carers:

DANIEL MORCOMBE CHILD SAFETY CURRICULUM

All classes have begun teaching the mandated child safety curriculum. The Curriculum consists of classroom lessons across three phases of learning: Prep—Year 2, Years 3—6, and Years 7—9. The Curriculum, available to all Queensland schools, aims to develop student knowledge and skills to recognise, react to and report unsafe situations.

Teachers use various materials, including interactive whiteboard activities, worksheets and safety books, to deliver the Recognise, React and Report messages. Developmentally appropriate scenarios are also used to explore and discuss safety situations that children and young people may encounter in their home or school environment.

One of the first lessons involves discussing private body parts. Please be aware that this is an essential and extremely important lesson. Some students can feel uncomfortable during this lesson as correct anatomical terms are used to name private body parts. Reinforcing scientific language at home means that when discussing private parts, there is no confusion.

There are some great safety resources for families on the Daniel Morcombe website:

VOLUNTEERS

In 2023, we look forward to welcoming volunteers back to school. There are various ways you can volunteer at Joey's. If you’d like to volunteer in the tuckshop, please get in touch with the office or catch up with our tuckshop convenor – Mrs Debbie Rooney. If you’d like to volunteer in your child’s classroom or perhaps another classroom, please approach the class teacher to see what activities are available to assist with.

Before beginning your volunteering, you must complete a volunteer induction; this will happen in the office before you start. Even if you have completed an induction before, the induction must be done every year. If you are a grandparent or community member, please pop into the office and see Tracey or Megan to collect a Volunteer Blue Card Application. For this process, you will require a copy of your driver licence certified by a JP or someone similar.

We look forward to welcoming many volunteers to Joey's this year.

MEDICAL DETAILS

With the start of a new school year, please ensure your child/ren’s medical details are up to date. To check this information, log on to parent lounge and check the medical tab. Please update if necessary. If your child has a medical action plan, please ensure it is current. If it is due for renewal, please drop a copy of the updated plan to the office or upload it to the medical section for your child in Parent Lounge. The school needs to have updated medical details on file. Your cooperation with this request is appreciated.

Regards,
Brooke Black
Acting Assistant Principal Curriculum

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Congratulations to the following students who will celebrate their birthday this week. They are: Hudson Street (Yr 2), Charlotte Lambert (Yr 6), Addison Wilson (Yr 3), Hayley Brydon (Yr 1), Marlowe Harris (Yr 2), Alexis Lyons (Yr 3), Kasey Sherriff-Hearn (Yr 2), Ethan Evans (Prep),Koby Goody (Yr 5), Zara Wogand (Yr 4), Lachlan Bragg (Yr 4) and Tyson Arnold (Yr 4).

Have a great day.

YR 6 EASTER RAFFLE

This term the Year Six major fundraiser is an Easter multi-draw raffle that will be drawn on Friday 17th March 2023. Tickets are $1 each and to be sold in Weeks 5, 6, 7 & 8. Students will be selling tickets from just inside the gate each morning so please send your child/ren money to purchase tickets.

If you think you might be able to sell a book of 20 or 50 tickets within your workplace or at your sporting club etc please reach out to the year six teachers and we can arrange to get a book of tickets to you for selling. The contact email address is;

SJPA_Year6Teachers@rok.catholic.edu.au

Thank you for your support, it is always a great fundraiser for our year six students.

JOB OPPORTUNITY

Job Opportunity: Caritas Australia Diocesan Director for Rockhampton

Caritas Australia is seeking a passionate Diocesan Director for the Rockhampton Diocese. This paid role is appointed by Caritas Australia in conjunction with the Bishop of Rockhampton and promotes the work of Caritas Australia through fundraising, advocacy and relationships with schools and parishes.

The role is flexible, working 1 day/7.6 hours per week on average across the year and involves engaging with communities across the Rockhampton Diocese, supporting Caritas Australia appeals and coordinating volunteers.

Duties include:

• Coordinating Project Compassion including the Diocesan Project Compassion Launch
• Providing a communications pathway between Caritas and the Catholic Diocese of Rockhampton parishes and schools
• General administration tasks

For more information, including a copy of the role description and overview, contact the HR Manager on 4887 3090. To apply for the position, submit your resume and cover letter to hr@rok.catholic.net.au . Diocesan employees are encouraged to apply.

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