Term 1 Week 6 - March 5th, 2024
From The Principals Desk
Dear Parents and Carers,
It’s hard to believe that we are in Week 6 of term already. Our kindergarten students have settled in and are firmly entrenched in the daily life of a ‘big school’. We are so proud of their resilience and confidence! In saying that, we are very proud of all our students for the way they have settled into their new classes, each of which comes with its own set of new challenges and expectations.
The calendar for the remainder of term is looking busy with activities and events involving all grades. We have students preparing for the sacrament of Reconciliation, Years 3 and 5 preparing for NAPLAN in weeks 7 and 8, Stage 3 students heading to the Primary Regional Choir day at Pottsville this Friday, Kinder have an upcoming ‘Wild Rangers’ incursion, Stage 1 have an upcoming Science excursion, selected students are heading off to Diocesan sport trials, Year 6 have a visit from Mr Dykes, Principal of MSPC, Stage 2 are participating in activities developing awareness of Social Justice, and then we have our St Joseph’s Day liturgy and celebration on the 19th March. That’s just the next two weeks!
During this time (this week) Fr Peter, Mrs Hughes and myself are also heading to Coffs Harbour for the annual diocesan Priest Principal gathering.
Please keep a close eye on our calendar events so that you can support your children to be prepared and informed of events and activities they may be participating in.
Make getting students to school on time every day a top priority.
Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school and themselves. Ensuring that students arrive at school on time every day is crucial for their academic success and wellbeing. Parents play a crucial role in instilling the importance of punctuality in their children. Here are some strategies for parents to make getting students to school on time every day a top priority:
- Establish a Consistent Routine. Set a daily routine that includes specific times for waking up, getting ready, having breakfast, and leaving for school. Consistency helps children develop good habits.
- Model Punctuality. Children often learn by example. Demonstrate the importance of punctuality by being on time for family events, appointments, and other commitments.
- Limit or Have No Screen Time in the Morning. Minimise distractions such as excessive screen time in the morning. This helps your child stay focused on getting ready for school without unnecessary delays.
Assembly - ‘You Can Do It’ Awards
It is always a pleasure to witness these awards each week at assembly and to hear the wonderful progress that students are making with such a growth mindset!
It has been great to have so many of our family members present at assemblies each week. Thank you for making the time in your busy schedules to join us on a Friday afternoon. I know how hard the teachers and student leaders are working to enliven our assemblies and make the messages presented more engaging and meaningful for all.
In saying this, our weekly assembly has been cancelled for this week due to most of our Stage 3 students and leaders being off campus at the choir day. Assembly will resume in week 7.
We will be holding a School Open Day on Wednesday 10th April for new and existing families as part of our enrolment drive for 2025. Please spread the word! While our Open Days are traditionally attended by families looking for kindergarten enrolment the following year, we will have vacancies in most grades across the school. The day includes meet and greet with the Principal and Year 6 led tours of the school.
Have a great week!
Peace and blessings,
Jason Clarke
Principal
St Joseph now has a new Facebook page. Just scan the QR code below to follow us.
Please notify the school if you do not want your children's photo or information to be posted on our new Facebook social media page. During enrolment, parents/carers provide consent for us to do so (or not), but it is your right to change this at any time. Please inform us at your earliest convenience if you do not wish them to be involved in future posts.
"You Can Do It!" Awards
WEEK 4
Kinder
Kayley Bray for Confidence and Taking a Risk.
Halle Berry for Organisation and Planning My Time.
James Polson for Persistence and Giving Effort.
Year 1
Jaxson Dunning for Confidence, Taking a Risk and "I Can Do It" thinking.
Archie Ahern for Organisation and Planning My Time.
Year 2
Tate Bannister Confidence, Taking a Risk and "I Can Do I" thinking.
Fynn Holliday for Organisation and Planning My Time.
Year 3
Eli Folkers for Confidence, Setting Goals and having a Growth Mindset.
Hamish Walsh for Confidence, Setting Goals and having a Growth Mindset.
Year 4
Tahan Heterick for Confidence, Taking a Risk and having a Growth Mindset.
Pippa Bourke for Persistence, Giving Effort & having a Growth Mindset.
Year 5
Nate Linkins for displaying Confidence and Taking a Risk.
Frank Ahrens for displaying Persistence and Giving Effort.
Year 6
Ava Bray for displaying Persistence and having a Growth Mindset.
Archie Anderson for displaying Confidence and "I Can Do It" thinking.
WEEK 5
Kinder
Winnie Reed for Confidence and Taking a Risk.
Daisy Skennar for Organisation and Planning my Time.
Tao Heterick for Getting Along and being Socially Responsible.
Year 1
Joseph Hunt for Getting Along and Playing by the Rules.
Arlo Carter for Persistence and Giving Effort.
Year 2
Frank Wilkinson Confidence and Taking a Risk.
Lillian Dryhurst-Evans Getting Along and Being Socially Responsible.
Year 3
Milania Jandura for confidence and showing "I Can Be Independent."
Eli Casey for Resilience and Bouncing Back.
Year 4
Xavier Workman for Persistence, Giving Effort and having a Growth Mindset.
Ella Hunt for Organisation, Using my Time Wisely and having a Growth Mindset,
Year 5
Michaella Rempis for Confidence and “I Can Do It" thinking.
Amira Folkers for Persistence and "I Can Do It" thinking.
Year 6
Ebony Burton for Resilience, showing Tolerance of Others and Working Independently.
Indi Asanuma for Persistence, "I Can Do It" thinking and having a Growth Mindset.
Sharing the Gospel
Project Compassion Iceblock Days
Over the last 2 weeks, Stage 2 and some of our student disciples have been selling iceblocks to raise money for Project Compassion. We would like to thank all those who supported our days. We have raised an amazing $445.55!
Our last fundraiser will be a whole school mufti day on Wednesday 6th March.
Iceblock fundraising
MUFTI DAY
St. Joseph's Primary School Community,
We are thrilled to announce an upcoming whole school Free Dress day, organised by our Stage 2 children, in support of Project Compassion!
The theme for this special event is "For All Future Generations."
Date: Wednesday, 6th March 2024
What: Free Dress Day
Dress code: Closed in shoes, hat, sun safe shirts/tops/ dresses (No midriff shirts)
A gold coin donation is kindly requested from each participant, with all proceeds contributing directly to Project Compassion's efforts in creating a better tomorrow for generations to come.
Your support and involvement are invaluable in making a positive impact on the lives of others. Let's unite as a school community and show our commitment to building a brighter future for all.
Thank you for your enthusiasm and generosity.
GOD MOMENT
* This week we saw Jesus in the way the Zone Swimming team competed on Monday. We saw it in their fantastic sportsmanship and pride in being a St Joseph’s representative.
* The way Brock greets teachers with a smile and respect.
Curriculum News
Kinder had a fun Art lesson learning how to basket weave with their Year 6 buddies.
Basket Weaving
NAPLAN News
Sports News
ZONE SWIMMING CARNIVAL: The Tweed Zone Swimming Carnival took place in week 4, Monday 19th February with 24 talented swimmers representing our school. Congratulations to all competitors for their fantastic efforts in their events: Pippa Bourke, Shelby Walsh, Bonnie Lindsay, Ava Hunt, Layla Walsh, Millie Anderson, Meadow Chapman, Ayla Bourke, Amelia Bedser, Ella Hunt, Holly Dorahy, Lyla McMahon, Indigo Cleak, Carter Alexander, Caleb Bourke, Max Bourke, Lorenzo Pahlow, Archie Anderson, Harry Lindsay, Luca Anderson, Levi Campbell, Xavier Workman, Jaxon Mann, Nakoha Heterick.
Such a fantastic achievement to have so many featuring in the top 10 for their events:
Caleb Bourke: 1st 50m Back (and a new PB), 1st 50m Free (and a PB), 1st 50m Fly, 1st 50m Breast, 3rd 100m Free and 4th 200IM
Carter Alexander: 1st 50m Back, 1st 50m Free (2 second PB), 2nd 200IM, 4th 50m Breast, 3rd 50m Fly, 8th 100m Free
Layla Walsh: 3rd 100m Free, 3rd 50m Free, 5th 200IM, 6th 50m Fly, 6th 50m Back and 8th 50m Breast
Ava Hunt: 3rd 50m Fly, 4th 50m Back, 4th 100m Free, 4th 200IM, 6th 50m Breast and 9th 50m Free
Shelby Walsh: 3rd 200IM, 4th 50m Breast, 4th 50m Fly, 6th 50m Free and 6th in 50m Back
Bonnie Lindsay: 7th 50m Fly, 7th 50m Breast, 8th 50m Free (9 second PB) and 10th Back
Pippa Bourke: 3rd 50m Free, 5th 200IM, 5th 50m Back and 9th 50m Fly
Max Bourke: 2nd 50m Fly, 4th 50m Free, 5th 50m Back and 10th 50m Breast
Lorenzo Pahlow: 6th 200IM and 10th 50m Back
Meadow Chapman: 7th 50m Free,
Millie Anderson: 10th 50m Free
Levi Campbell: 10th 50m Free
Junior Girls Relay: 3rd
Junior Boys Relay: 4th
Senior Girls Relay: 6th
Senior Boys Relay: 7th
Congratulation to the seven students who progressed on to Diocesan!!
Carter Alexander, Caleb Bourke, Max Bourke, Pippa Bourke, Shelby Walsh, Ava Hunt and Layla Walsh
An extra special congratulations goes to our two Tweed Zone Age Champions:
Carter Alexander and Caleb Bourke
SCHOOL RECORDS BROKEN!!
Congratulations to the following three students for breaking a school record/s:
Shelby Walsh: Broke an 18Yr old record in the 9Yr 50m Breaststroke swimming 54.68 seconds!!
Caleb Bourke: Broke a 7Yr old record in the 11Yr 50m Backstroke swimming 41.57 seconds!!
Carter Alexander: Broke 5 records out of a total 6 possible records!
8Yr 50m Breaststroke (17Yr old record) 55.90 sec, 8Yr 100m Freestyle (10Yr old record) 1.25.94 sec, 8Yr 50m Freestyle (10Yr old record) 37.54 sec, 8Yr 50m Backstroke (10Yr old record) 49.84 sec, 8Yr 50m Butterfly (10Yr old record) 54.67 sec.
** The times that were swum at Zone were used in place of the times students swum at the school carnival late last year. This was done because the school carnival had to be held in a 25m pool and times swum in a 25m pool cannot be used in 50m records (a 25m pool is considered faster than a 50m pool because swimmers are pushing off the wall at the 25m mark).
We are all so proud of our St Joseph’s swim squad. Every single swimmer showed such sportsmanship, team spirit and courage. The way students cheered each other on and stepped up into events that needed filling due to others being away was so inspiring to see. Well done Joeys!!
DIOCESAN SWIMMING CARNIVAL: Last Friday 1st March, five students travelled to Macksville to compete in the Diocesan Swimming Carnival. All swam extremely well with fantastic results:
Layla Walsh: 12th 50m Freestyle
Max Bourke: 10th 50m Butterfly
Pippa Bourke: 6th 50m Freestyle
Caleb Bourke: 3rd 50m Backstroke, 7th 50m Butterfly, 8th 50m Breaststroke and 10th 100m Freestyle
Carter Alexander: 1st 50m Freestyle, 6th 50m Backstroke and 8th 50m Butterfly
Congratulations to Caleb Bourke and Carter Alexander for progressing onto Polding!! We wish you both the best of luck as you prepare for this upcoming event.
TWEED ZONE WINTER TRIALS: Congratulations to all who attended the Tweed Zone Winter Trials for the various sports: Sienna Alexander, Eadie Workman, Holly Dorahy and Bonnie Lindsay (Netball), Will Hoffman, Nate Linkins, Nakoha Heterick, Frank Ahrens, Kobi Buckroyd and Declan Behan (Soccer), Ace Colleton, Jaxon Mann and Misha Reed (NRL).
An extra special congratulations to Eadie Workman for being selected into the Tweed Zone Netball team! We wish you the best of luck as you prepare for the Diocesan Trials this Friday!!
DIOCESAN WINTER SPORTS TRIALS: Max Bourke and Archie Anderson attended the Diocesan AFL trials recently in Grafton. It was a very hot day showcasing their ball skills and fitness as they played a full day’s worth of games against students ranging as far south as Port Macquarie and as far north as the QLD border! Well done Max and Archie, you represented yourselves and your school with great skill and sportsmanship!
This Wednesday Violet Williams will be travelling to Grafton for the Diocesan Hockey Trials followed by Eadie Workman’s Netball trials on Friday. We wish both the girls the best of luck at their trials and hope they enjoy the experience!
AFL NSW AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL ALL SCHOOLS GIRLS 12YEARS AND UNDER TRIALS
Pippa Bourke attended the NSW AFL All Schools trials today at Woolgoolga. This trial included students from Catholic Schools, Public Schools and Independent Schools and had a catchment area similar to Diocesan level! Another great representation from our school, looking forward to hearing all about her experience!
SCHOOL RUNNING CLUB: Last Friday morning before school, students participated in the Beep Test as part of our school running club. It was great to see so many students giving it a go! This week we are tracking our laps by getting a texta mark every time you cross the finish line and trying for as many texta marks as possible! I can see our fitness levels growing – keep it up Joeys, Cross Country is not far away!
SATURDAY RUNNING CLUB: Last Saturday we had a fantastic number of keen runners turn up for our first Saturday running session at the Murwillumbah Showgrounds! Thank you to Alistair Gibb’s coffee van for suppling delicious smoothies and coffees, it made the run that little bit more rewarding to finish off with a chat and a drink! We will be meeting again in a fortnight’s time, Saturday 16th March (the last one before our School Cross Country which is on Thursday 28th March 9am!) Saturday Running Club will continue all the way till Zone Cross Country (missing the Saturday that falls on Easter Saturday).
Library News
Issue 2 of Book Club is out now!
Book Club orders for issue 2 are due back by Monday, 25th March (Week 9). Please send orders to the office or order online at scholastic.com.au/LOOP
General News
A BABY BROTHER!
Lyla, Mia and Isobel McMahon now have a beautiful baby brother, Carter Nash Wheatley.
Congratulations to parents Melissa and Koby!
Once again Poppy Wayne has been busy weeding and keeping our school looking lovely. He is always doing odd jobs hanging pictures or repairing and maintaning things for us. He spends many hours here at school helping us.
What would do without you!!
Canteen News
Thank you, to all the family members who have responded to our canteen volunteer callout. We appreciate your contribution to keeping our canteen running smoothly!
For any questions about volunteering please contact Nicky or Jacinda.
Compass
Have you logged onto Compass?
Compass is a school management solution that allows parents and cares to access up-to-date and meaningful information about St Joseph's school and your child's progress.
Compass is a user-friendly app that will allow you to pay school fees, send out sick notes. contact teachers, order from the canteen and give permission to attend and pay for excursions and sporting events.
If you haven't set it up yet, please click on the link below to see what it is all about.
If you need any assistance using your Compass account, please contact the school office. We are here to help with any questions you may have about:
- accessing Compass
- viewing your newsfeed
- fee balance
- canteen ordering
- school events
- permissions & payments
Information is also available in the links below.
To submit ABSENT NOTES, please reply to the SMS received on the morning of the absence by 3pm. Thank you.
Parish News
Wednesday 6 March No Mass today
Thursday 7 March No Mass today
Friday 8 March 9:30 am - Legion of Mary|Parish Meeting Centre
12:00 pm - Mass
12:30 pm - Stations of the Cross
Saturday 9 March 9:00 am - Rosary
5:30 pm - Rosary
6:00 pm - Vigil Mass
Sunday 10 March 8:30 am - Rosary
9:00 am - Mass
Health & Wellbeing
Community News
After School Care
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