Term 4 Week 8 - December 3rd, 2024
From The Principals Desk
Dear Parents and Carers,
Parish Christmas Carnival and Tableau - Thank you!
I would like to firstly send a huge thank you to those family members and staff who volunteered their time on Saturday supporting the BBQ at the Parish Christmas Carnival. Your time and effort during what is always a busy evening preparing and serving food to the masses is greatly appreciated! Despite the weather it was another successful Christmas Carnival, the last surviving of its kind in our whole diocese.
The tableau dancers and narrators from our stage 3 cohort did wonderfully in their roles during the nativity presentation to a full house in the Gilbey centre. A beautiful way to round out the evening with the true meaning of Christmas appreciated and celebrated by all in attendance. A massive thanks and congratulations to the students and staff involved in the hours of preparation and performance of the tableau. Well done!
Thanksgiving Mass - Wednesday 4th December, 9am in the Church
Our annual Thanksgiving mass takes place tomorrow morning. The mass will be held in the church (Our Lady of Perpetual Succour).
Our Thanksgiving Mass is where we celebrate the extraordinary year we have had at St Joseph's. The mass will be led by our Year 5 class. We will also be acknowledging staff members not returning in a contractual capacity next year; Mrs Toni Larkin, Mrs Kate Keogh, Miss Sarah Condon and Mr Steve Spurlock. We are grateful for the wonderful service they have provided our school over the years and hope to see them throughout next year. All are invited and welcome to join us.
Swimming Carnival - Thursday 5th December
We have our School Swimming Carnival this Thursday. I know there is plenty of excitement building for our competitors. I will unfortunately miss this enjoyable day due to a clash with an end of year principal meeting, so I wish the students well in their events! Parents are welcome to join in for the day, don’t forget your swimmers for the final fun race of the day - Parents/Teachers vs Students! Have a great day.
Student Leadership - Well done Year 5 Nominees!
We were so proud of our year 5 students yesterday as they took on the challenge of persuading the school audience to vote them in as School Captains and Sport Captains! It’s been so wonderful to see so many of our year 5 class nominate themselves for leadership roles next year. Such confidence and resilience! Well done boys and girls, the votes are rolling in…all will be revealed at next Wednesday’s Presentation Day. Good luck!
Music Showcase and Nativity Play - Monday 9th December at 2pm in the undercroft
Our school musicians will present Christmas carols and our talented kindergarten actors will present the Nativity. All welcome!
Year 6 Graduation - Tuesday 10th December 5.30pm
Our graduating class of 2024 will celebrate their Graduation with mass and formalities next Tuesday evening in the church. They have been preparing for this special occasion for weeks, I’m sure it will be a memorable and enjoyable evening for our graduates and their families.
We traditionally send our Year 6 class off as a school community with a ‘Compass Ceremony’ in the undercroft. This will take place on Monday 16th December at 2.30pm
K-6 Presentation Day (Certificates and Awards) - Wednesday 11th December, 9am in the church.
Our special day of acknowledgement of all students. All classes will be presented and awarded their grade completion certificates, with special award winners from each class announced.
Our 2025 Student Leaders will also be announced at this ceremony. Please join us!
End of Year Rewards Day Colour Run (11.30am) - Friday 13th December
There is a full outline of this day in today’s newsletter. A fun day for all; students, staff and families - join us one and all!
MAI Bookings are live!
We will be holding Best Start assessments for kindergarten and Maths Assessment Interviews for years 1-6 again at the beginning of next year. A staggered start to the year as per previous years. Best Start Interviews for kindergarten will take place through Monday 3rd - Thursday 6th February. MAI’s will take place through Monday 3rd - Wednesday 5th February 2025. Please ensure that you book your time slot soon and place it in your calendar for the beginning of next year.
First day for formal classes 2025 (following the Best Start Interviews and MAI’s):
- Years 1-6 - Thursday 5th February
- Kindergarten - Friday 6th February
Families leaving? Please let us know.
As we near the end of the year, it is important that we know if all our families are definitely returning to our school in 2025. If you know that your family or students will not be returning to St Joseph’s please let us know as soon as possible.
School Fees - please pay by the end of the year.
All families have been invoiced for their school fees throughout the year. We thank those families who have met this obligation to support our resourcing and the education of your children. Every fee paid has a direct impact on the opportunities available to your child’s experience at our school, including class resources, staffing, equipment, furniture and even site maintenance. It is important that we have all fees finalised prior to the end of the year.
It certainly is that busy time of year! A time for reflection, gratitude and celebration. All are invited and welcome to join us at our end of year events.
The final day for students and staff for 2024 will be Wednesday 18th December.
Have a great couple of weeks!
Peace and blessings,
Jason Clarke
Principal
St Joseph’s Staffing Structure 2025
Principal - Mr Jason Clarke
Assistant Principal - Learning and Teaching - Mr Tony Davis
Assistant Principal - Mission - Mrs Vanessa Hughes
Leader of Student Engagement - Mrs Barb Quinn
Leader of PDHPE/Sport - Ms Samantha Daly
Inclusion Teacher - Mrs Deborah Walker
Kindergarten - Mrs Sandra Traise
Kindergarten Support Teacher - Mrs Vanessa Hughes
Kindergarten Support Teacher Aide - Mrs Cheree Sharp
Year 1 - Mrs Cassie Gale
Year 2 - Miss Chloe Quinn
Stage 1 Support Teacher - Mrs Deborah Walker (Inclusion)
Stage 1 Support Teacher Aide - Ms Elise Walker
Year 3 - Mr Ben Jeffree
Year 4 - Miss Annabelle Nance
Stage 2 Support Teacher - Mr Michael Sandall
Stage 2 Support Teacher Aides - Mr Ray Nihill & Mrs Carolyn Heterick
Year 5 - Mrs Rachel Martin
Year 6 - Mrs Barb Quinn, Mrs Samantha Huxley
Stage 3 Support Teacher - Mr Tony Davis
Stage 3 Support Teacher Aides - Mrs Georgia Walker
Creative Arts Teacher - Mrs Sarah Glasby
Science & Technology - Mr Michael Sandall
Aboriginal Education Worker - Mrs Carolyn Heterick
Student Wellbeing Officer - Miss Bronwyn Parry
School Counsellor - Mrs Dannielle Salmon
Family Connect/Social Futures - TBC
Library Coordinator - Mrs Melissa Fraser
Administration / Reception - Ms Jacinda Kleidon / Mrs Melissa Fraser
Cleaners - Ms Lee-Ann McInnes / Miss Amber McAndrew
"You Can Do It!" Awards
WEEK 6 - Term 4
Kinder
Halle Berry for Organisation and Planning My Time.
Harlin Macdonald for Confidence and “I Can Do It” Thinking.
Year 1
Leon Varghese Vipin for Persistence and Giving Effort.
Lincoln John for Getting Along and Being Socially Responsible.
Year 2
Nate Jarman for Persistence and Giving Effort
Elsie McLeod for Getting Along and being Socially Responsible.
Year 3
Corey Bray for Confidence and showing “I Can Be Independent” with a Growth Mindset.
Eli Reed for Organisation and Planning My Time.
Year 4
Esther Cambridge for Persistence and Giving effort
Sam Stovold for Persistence, Giving Effort and having a Growth Mindset.
Year 5
Isla Alley for displaying Confidence Giving Effort and “I Can Do It” Thinking.
Nakoha Heterick for displaying Confidence and “I Can Do It“ Thinking.
Year 6
Holly Dorahy for Persistence and Giving Effort.
Brock Sasse for Confidence and Taking Risks.
WEEK 7 - Term 4
Kinder
Henry Conroy for Organisation and Planning My Time.
Jett Everton for Getting Along and Being Socially Responsible.
Year 1
Clara Polson for Resilience, Being Independent and Working Tough.
Archie Ahern for Persistence and Working Tough.
Year 2
Olivia Skarpona for Persistence and Giving Effort.
Mia McMahon or Resilience and Bouncing Back.
Year 3
Amelia Keevers for Persistence and Working Tough.
Zander Gale for Confidence and Taking A Risk.
Year 4
Aria Dunning for Persistence, Giving Effort and having a Growth Mindset.
Alayah Burns for Confidence, Taking A Risk and having a Growth Mindset.
Year 5
Zoe Lindsay for displaying Confidence and “I Can Do It” Thinking.
Bonnie Lindsay for displaying Resilience and “I Can Do It” Thinking.
Year 6
Layla Walsh for displaying Persistence and Giving Effort.
Blake Stuart for displaying Resilience and Thinking First.
Sharing the Gospel
Thank you to all for your prayers love and support for the Parish Christmas Carnival and Nativity Tableau. It was wonderful to share the evening with so many families!
WINNERS of the Parish Christmas Carnival Raffle were:
1st - David McLeod
2nd - Matt Thackray
3rd - Rose Turner
Thank you to every who supported this fund raiser!
GOD MOMENTS
- When Ava Bray and Violet picked up Ali’s swimming bag that he had lost. We thank them for this kind gesture.
- The way Elsie greets teachers with confidence and a heart warming smile
Safe-T On The B.I.K.E Launch
You may remember back in Term 2 we held the bike safety song writing and workshops led by ARIA-nominated songwriter and educator CJ Shaw and producer Matthew Storen (Mr Motion).
Well, the excitement hit a high note on Thursday, 28th November, with the unveiling of the music video and soundtrack. Our students were so proud as they watched and listened to their collective creation, celebrating their talents and vital safety message in an unforgettable way.
Student feedback:
“I liked all the rhyming and the echo way CJ sang with us”.
“Everything about it was great!”
“I really liked the library set up with all of the recording equipment, it was really cool!”
“Mr Motion is a really good beatboxer. He taught us how to do it properly.”
The video is currently on Vimeo and will be ready on Youtube in the next few days.
https://vimeo.com/1029859384?
Junior Joey's - Day 4
Thank you Mrs Keogh for teaching the Year 5 students how to code a game on Scratch Jnr. The Junior Joey's LOVED the games!
Awesome work Year 5!
Junior Joey's - Day 5
Merry Christmas from Year 5 and the Junior Joey's!
Sports News
DIOCESAN SUMMER SPORTS TRIALS:
Last week we had 3 students travel to Lismore to attend the Diocesan Summer Trials. Ella Hunt for Basketball on the Tuesday and Shelby Walsh and Isla Alley for Touch Football on the Thursday. They all did extremely well to play so hard all day considering the heat on both days! Diocesan includes schools as far south as Port Macquarie and all the way up to the QLD boarder! Congratulations Ella, Shelby and Isla for representing yourselves and our school with such great sportsmanship at Diocesan level!
Zone Basketball Trials
SCHOOL SWIMMING CARNIVAL:
We are all looking forward to our School Swimming Carnival this Thursday held at TRAC – Murwillumbah pool!!
To assist with the timing of the day (hoping to have enough time for the waterslide at the end of the carnival) and to offer the best program / run of events for competitive students, we are placing the 200IM at 8.30am (before the school arrives). Students who wish to race this event will need to be dropped off by 8.15am for a 8.30am start.
This is ONLY for students wishing to progress to Zone and / or earn Age Champion points. No House points will be awarded for this race. This is a FOUR lap race (Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke, Freestyle). Please only enter if you are a very capable swimmer who trains regularly for this distance!
If your child wishes to race this event, please let me know via email: samantha.daly@lism.catholic.edu.au or by calling the office.
Just a reminder that the canteen will be closed on the day of the carnival so plan to purchase any treats in the days leading up to the carnival! Also, pack plenty of good food to last you a busy / active day, lots of water and sunscreen!
INFANTS NOMINATED SWIMMERS:
Congratulations to the following students in Year 1 and Year 2 who nominated for the Primary / Competitive events and have been given the tick of approval by their Intensive Swimming teachers! Joseph Hunt, Lincoln John, Harriet Stovold, Darcy Ahern, Luca Campbell, Harrison Lindsay, Poppy Cudmore, Millie Anderson and Macy Baker.
Thank you to the students who nominated but did not get the approval from their swimming teacher. I admire your desire to give it a go at such a young age, keep on training and we will hopefully see you next year racing!
Wishing everyone a wonderful day full of great sportsmanship, colour house pride and fun!
The Program and School Records are attached below for your information.
Colour Run Fun
St Joseph’s Colour Run Celebration
Friday, 13 December 2024
- Our Colour Run will begin after lunchtime at approximately 11:30am.
- A BBQ lunch will be provided to students at lunchtime. Students need to bring their own fruit break, recess and water bottle.
- Students should wear older clothes to school (in case the powder doesn’t wash out perfectly).
- Please pack a change of clothes, a towel to help dry off and a plastic bag to carry wet clothes home in.
- Year 6 will do one lap of the obstacle course to show Kinder how it’s done then collect their buddy and take them on their first lap.
- Once Kinder and Year 6 have started their lap, the other grades will be sent off starting with Yr5 and working down to the younger grades.
- Parents and teachers are needed to help throw the powder!
- Siblings are welcome to join in!
- If you have water guns, please bring them along and a bucket to fill with water.
- When the powder has run out and students have had enough, Zooper Doopers will be handed out and a short break will be had.
- After the break there will be a Dance station / hosing down of powder in the centre of the circuit and time to dry off.
- Students will return to their classroom to change into dry clothes.
- Any helpers would be greatly appreciated!! We are setting up the course starting 8.30am.
Thank you,
Samantha Daly
Sport Coordinator
Library News
~ Gold Certificates ~
4th successful year in the challenge awarded to:
Meadow Chapman Alex Kelly
Zander Gale Kobe Robinson
William Glasby Scarlett Walker
~Platinum Certificates ~
7th successful year in the challenge awarded to:
Sienna Alexander Ava Bray Brock Sasse
Amelia Alley Ebony Burton Blake Stuart
Archie Anderson Zilli Hatton Pearl Wilkinson
Indi Asanuma Ava Hunt Violet Williams
Caleb Bourke Ivy Hunt Eadie Workman
Max Bourke Emily Pham
Library has now finished for the year. Could you please ask your child if they have returned ALL library books and home readers?
Thank you!
Morning Library Relaxing!
~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
2025 School bus pass applications
Students who have never had a bus pass before can apply now for 2025 through Transport NSW. This includes Kinder students enrolled for 2025. Students who already have a pass and have not changed any details do need to apply again for 2025. Students who have changed their home address, or school can update their details with Transport NSW at at any time.
See the flyer below for more information.
LOST PROPERTY
We have had a pink dog lead and a smiggles wallet handed in.
We also have lots of unclaimed drink bottles and comtainers, all without names on. Please check our lost property box if you are missing items.
Canteen News
Last Canteen day is Wednesday, 11th December (Week 9.)
Our school Canteen will be open until Wednesday 11th December (Week 9), as Friday 13th December will be a BBQ for the Colour Run Day. We will then be closed in Week 10 for end of year clean up.
Are you or a family member interested in volunteering at Canteen in 2025? Please contact the office as soon as possible and we will add your name to our volunteer roster. All family and school community members are welcome! If we are not able to staff our canteen 2 days per week, we will offer canteen on Fridays only for 2025.
We are also seeking a volunteer to manage our canteen menu in 2025. This role includes placing fortnightly online orders with our main supplier/s. Visiting the canteen fortnightly to check stock levels would be ideal, or this can be done by liaising with the canteen volunteers. If a volunteer is interested in updating our canteen menu this would be an added bonus!
Compass Help for Parents
Parish News
Tuesday 3 December 10:00 am - Advent Study | Hope Reigns
5:30 pm - Mass
Wednesday 4 December No Mass today
Thursday 5 December No Mass today
Friday 6 December 6:00 am - Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
9:30 am - Legion of Mary | Parish Meeting Centre
No Mass today
Saturday 7 December 9:30 am - Legion of Mary Annual General Reunion
2:00 pm - Wedding | Sacred Heart Church
5:30 pm - Rosary
6:00 pm - Vigil Mass
Sunday 8 December 8:30 am - Rosary
9:00 am - Mass
Health and Wellbeing
School Holiday Events
VACATION CARE PROGRAM
December 2024 to February 2025. Click on link below to view the program.
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