Term 4 Week 6 - November 19th, 2024
From The Principals Desk
Dear Parents and Carers,
Welcome to Week 6!
St Joseph’s School Community Group Launch
We held the launch of our new parent representative group the ‘St Joseph’s School Community Group’ last Monday evening. I would like to express my appreciation to the family members and staff members who attended. This new model is focussed on partnership between the school and home, so it was great to see even numbers of staff and family participants sharing ideas on what we want this group to achieve. The notes from the group work session will be shared with all families in the coming weeks. We will re-launch again early next year to plan for the realisation of the ideas presented.
Bike song launch
The bike safety song that was composed with a video clip with our students being the stars alongside CJ and Mattrix will be formally launched on Thursday 28th November at 2pm. All are invited to view this exciting initiative and product!
Christmas Carnival and Tableau
The Sacred Heart Parish Christmas Carnival and Tableau is fast approaching. We are still seeking helpers for the BBQ stall that our school has traditionally run over the years. Please complete the form in the newsletter if you can avail some time to assist with cooking, serving and packing up on the day. Our tableau dancers are eagerly practising for their part in the tableau on the night. Please, one and all, join us for this annual celebration.
Peace and blessings,
Jason Clarke
Principal
Good attendance in primary school will be a skill that will help them succeed in high school.
Good attendance in primary school is a fundamental building block for academic success and overall wellbeing, and it sets the stage for success in high school and beyond. Primary school is the foundational stage of a child's education. Regular attendance ensures that children build a solid understanding of fundamental concepts and skills that serve as the basis for more advanced learning in high school.
By recognising the long-term benefits and reinforcing the importance of regular school attendance in primary years, students are better equipped to succeed in high school and beyond. Attending school regularly instils a sense of responsibility and work ethic in students and participating actively in class are essential components of success.
"You Can Do It!" Awards
WEEK 4 - Term 4
Kinder
Grace Duffy for Persistence and Working Tough.
Clara Higgins for Confidence and Taking a Risk.
Year 1
Jayli Walsh for Confidence and showing "I Can Be Independent."
Hyde Jenkins for Getting Along and being Socially Responsible.
Year 2
Tate Bannister for Organisation and Planning My Time.
Poppy Cudmore for Confidence and taking a risk
Year 3
Sierra Casagrande for Confidence and "I Can Do It" Thinking.
Koen Jandura for Resilience and Bouncing Back with a Growth Mindset.
Year 4
Peggy Wilkinson for Persistence, Giving Effort & for having a Growth Mindset.
Amelia Bedser for Persistence, Giving Effort & for having a Growth Mindset.
Year 5
Indigo Cleak for Organisation and for Setting Goals.
Levi Campbell for Organisation and Planning your Time.
Year 6
Indi Asanuma for Confidence and Taking Risks and "I Can Do It" Thinking.
Eadie Workman for Persistence and Giving Effort.
WEEK 5 - Term 4
Kinder
Tao Heterick for Organisation and Planning My Time.
Winnie Reed for Confidence and Taking a Risk.
Year 1
Bronson Roe for Organisation and Planning My Time.
Jacob Hoffman for Confidence and Taking a Risk.
Year 2
Revie Cambridge for Resilience and showing Tolerance of Others.
Luca Campbell for Persistence and Giving Effort.
Year 3
Luca Anderson for Confidence and "I Can Do It" Thinking.
Eli Casey for Organisation and Planning my time.
Year 4
Oscar Skennar for Persistence, Giving Effort and Working Tough.
Pippa Bourke for Resilience, Bouncing Back and having a Growth Mindset.
Year 5
Imogen Rudman for displaying Getting Along skills and being Socially Responsible.
Archer Twyford for displaying Organisation and Planning His Time.
Year 6
Caleb Bourke for Getting Along, Thinking First and Being Socially Responsible.
Pearl Wilkinson for Persistence and Giving Effort.
Sharing the Gospel
CHRISTMAS CARNIVAL & TABLEAU BBQ HELPERS NEEDED!
Our school community is running the BBQ stall at the Parish Christmas Carnival & Tableau. We need plenty of helpers for this. If you are available for an hour on Saturday 30 November between 3pm and 8pm your assistance is very welcomed. Please complete our Google form below, or contact the school office, or return the paper form sent home to families last week.
GOD MOMENTS
- When Amelia in Year 6 picked up a squished apple from the stairway helping clean up St Joey’s.
- When Macy joyfully saw a God moment and wanted to tell everyone.
- When Dustin encouraged Harlin to speak with confidence in front of the class.
PARENT ASSEMBLY
The Parent Assembly is our diocesan parent organisation that represents and supports all
parents in the 45 schools in our diocese. The work of the Parent Assembly is about supporting
family school partnerships and each other as parents as our children journey through school.
Parent Assembly does this is by supporting parents in:
● Family faith formation
● Connecting home and school learning
● Providing parents with education opportunities
All parents of children in the Diocese of Lismore Catholic schools are members of the Parent
Assembly, giving you access to a wide range of activities and resources such as:
● Parent Information nights
● Family Faith Retreats
● The Parent Resource Centre - which is on the Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools
website
● Family Events to explore faith and learning and teaching topics like Maths and Reading
● And the Diocesan wide Parent Assembly Conference
Each school has volunteer Parent Assembly Reps who liaise with the parents and carers, the
school leadership team and our regional Parent Assembly Coordinator to support family school
partnerships. Our new Parent Assembly Rep here at St Joseph’s is Bronwyn Parry. We thank
Bronwyn for taking on this role. If you'd like to learn more about the Parent Assembly or you
have a suggestion about a parenting topic or speaker, feel free to contact Bronwyn. Keep an
eye out for Parent Assembly events and resources via our newsletter and Compass.
Remembrance Day
Curriculum News
Last week Kinder finished their last InitiaLit lesson for the year! That means we have finished learning ALL of our single sounds and digraphs that we are expected to learn in Kinder. This doesn't mean that we put our feet up for the remainder of year...the hard work will continue! There will be lots of reading, spelling and writing to consolidate all that we know. Check out their happy and proud faces! Well done Kinder! You have successfully constructed a solid foundation in learning sounds and skills that you will use for the rest of your lives, all in a year...as 4, 5 and 6 year olds!
Junior Joey's - Day 2
Junior Joey's - Day 3
We're going on a bear hunt!
Sports News
SUMMER SPORTS TRIALS:
Over the past two weeks the Tweed Zone Summer trials have taken place with the exception of Basketball (which is this Tuesday). It is great to see so many students attending these trials and representing our school! Well done to the following students for giving it their best and representing our school with great sportsmanship and skill in their chosen sport:
Touch Football:
Isla Alley, Shelby Walsh, Ella Hunt, Tahan Heterick, Ester Cambridge, Alayah Burns and Allira Smith.
Tennis
Levi Campbell.
Congratulations to the following students for their successful selection into the Tweed Zone team:
Touch Football: Isla Alley and Shelby Walsh.
A fantastic result getting Isla and Shelby through to the Diocesan trials! We wish you both the best of luck at the upcoming Diocesan trials in Lismore (week 7)!
Basketball trials are taking place this Tuesday, 19th November at the Mt St Patrick College courts 3.30pm – 4.30pm for the girls and 4.30pm – 5.30pm for the boys. Wishing the following students the best of luck at these trials:
Frank Ahrens, Nate Linkins, Xavier Workman, Nakoha Heterick and Ella Hunt.
MT ST PATRICK COLLEGE – BASKETBALL ACADEMY for Year 6- Year 12
Students who have registered for the Mt St Patrick College Basketball Academy have been contacted and asked to add to their registration with further information such as playing history and a detailed training plan has been laid out. The coaches have made contact to let these students know that the academy will begin in the new year, not the last four weeks of Term 4 like previously advertised. There has been such an overwhelming response from students in Years 6 -12 that the coaches are going to focus on the College team before taking on the primary squad. For students in year 6 2025, stay tuned – the academy will be inviting you to train early next year!
INFANTS SWIMMING PROGRAM / SWIMMING CARNIVAL:
Our first week of the Infants Swimming Program has begun with lessons running Monday – Thursday for two weeks. A note is going home this week to students in Year 1 and Year 2 explaining the nomination process for the competitive component of the School Swimming Carnival (please see details below).
The School Swimming Carnival is set for Thursday 5th December at TRAC Murwillumbah (50m pool). Our entire school will be attending with Kinder, Year 1 and Year 2 participating in non competitive events / activities and will walk back to school once they have enjoyed enough of the day’s events.
Any students in Year 1 or Year 2 who turns eight or older in 2025 and can confidently swim 50m will have the opportunity to race in the competitive events at the Swimming Carnival. These students / parents will need to complete the nomination form to compete in the competitive events.
Parents will need to indicate what races their child is hoping to compete in and the swimming instructors at Murwillumbah pool will then assess their ability to swim 50m during the infants swimming program which is taking place this week and next week. These instructors will then let me know who has qualified for the competitive events so we know which students to keep at the carnival out of Year 1 and Year 2 and not let them walk back to school with their class. With this information, we will be able to take extra care to ensure these younger students do not miss their races!
It is great to be able to be back at our local pool enjoying a whole school event once again!
Library News
Book Club money can be sent to the office or parents can place an order online via the Book Club LOOP for Parents. (See above)
ORDERS ARE DUE IN BY MONDAY, 2ND DECEMBER (Week 8)
~ABOUT SORA~
Sora is our Lismore Diocesan school digital library. It houses eBooks, magazines and audiobooks suitable for Kinder through to staff (including professional reading).
Sora will work on any platform. You will need internet access to locate and borrow, but you can download to read and listen offline. Sora is available for all staff and students in the Lismore Diocese. The ability to borrow a resource is determined by date of birth to ensure appropriate content. (Juvenile - Kinder - Year 6, Young Adult - Years 7 +, Adult - Year 9 +).
Follow directions on left to access Sora.
General News
NEW SCHEDULED EVENT!
Canteen News
Yummy Drummies have unfortunately been unavailable at our canteen. For some time our suppliers have not had stock. We plan to update our menu to include a similar item such as chicken tenders until we are able to source Yummy Drummies again.
Look out for these on our menu very soon!
Compass Help for Parents
Parish News
Tuesday 19 November 5:30 pm - Mass
Wednesday 20 November 10:00 am - Catholic Men’s Group (see note below)
NO 5:30 pm Mass today
Thursday 21 November NO 8:15 am Mass today
Friday 22 November 9:30 am - Legion of Mary | Parish Meeting Centre
11:00 am - Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
12 noon - Mass
Saturday 23 November 9:00 am - Rosary
5:30 pm - Rosary
6:00 pm - Vigil Mass
Sunday 24 November 8:30 am - Rosary
9:00 am - Mass
10:15 am - Baptism
11:00 am - Baptism
Health and Wellbeing
Parent News
SUPPORTING HEALTHY TECH USE AS YOUR CHILD TRANSITIONS INTO HIGH SCHOOL.
This webinar explores the social pressures, peer influences, and technological challenges young people face as they transition into high school. It also offers practical strategies for navigating online friendships and connections to help minimise negative experiences.
It is suitable for parents and carers of children in upper primary school (ages 11 to 12) and Year 7.
Tuesday, 29 October, 12.30 pm
Thursday, 28 November, 12.30 pm
Click on registration link below:
eSafety 101: how eSafety can help you.
An overview of The eSafety Commissioner and supporting programs and resources for parents and carers, children, and young people.
It is suitable for parents and carers of children and young people in primary and secondary school.
Thursday, 24 October, 12.30pm
Wednesday, 4 December, 12.30pm
Click on registration link below:
For Family Connect & Support and Helplines, click on links below.
Community News
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