Week 4 - Term 4 Newsletter 2021

Principal's Message

World Teachers' Day

This week we took time to stop & celebrate our wonderful teaching staff here at St Joseph's. Today, Friday 29th October marks "World Teacher's Day" and we are very blessed to have such a wonderful, talented and passionate group of teachers here at St Joey's. Our teachers are amazing individuals who work day in and day out to provide our students with a safe and nurturing learning environment in which all students may 'achieve the fullness of life'. I have no doubt you will join me in thanking our teachers for all that they do, to ensure our school community has a 'sense of pride and a sense of belonging'.  As part of acknowledging all their hard efforts and feel valued, our teachers were able to have lunch off-site together, which was a wonderful opporuntity for them as a team.

BOOK WEEK & BOOK FAIR

A big thank you to the amazing efforts of Mrs Waghorn who transformed our School Library into a place of colour and life and led a number of initiatives throughout this week including the Book Fair, lunchtime competitions and clubs as well. She ensured all students received an individualised bookmark as part of celebrating National Book Week. I thank Bobbie for her energy & commitment to our school & the wonderful work she does each week in ensuring we foster a love of reading in all our children. Despite COVID-19 causing Book Week to be initially postponed, I am very grateful to Mrs Waghorn for the flexibility in adapting to these restrictions & for doing a wonderful job during her first year in the role of our School Librarian.

NAPLAN Results

NAPLAN data is used by schools to understand student strengths and to plan for effective teaching and learning. It is also used to track student and school growth over time and to assess whole-school literacy and numeracy priorities. Whilst acknowledging NAPLAN is only one form of ascertaining how our strudents are tracking in their learning, I would like to highlight a number of aspects  that I felt celebrating with our School Community  when we analysed our data for this year:

• St Joey's was highlighted to other schools in our Diocese for our growth in NAPLAN Numeracy in both Year 3 and Year 5 over the last few years.
• Year 3 average scores were above both the state average and statistically similar schools (SSSG) in Reading, Writing, Grammar and Punctuation and Numeracy.
• Year 3 Spelling average scores were above SSSG schools.
  
• Over 60% of Year 5 students achieved at or above expected growth in Reading, Spelling, Grammar and Punctuation and Numeracy.

2022 School Starting Dates

Please note our starting date for students (Year 1 - Year 6) next year will be Tuesday 1st February, 2022. The preferred and suggested model from Catholic Schools Office is for schools to have a staggered start for 2022 school year, with students to come in for a scheduled Maths Assessment Interview, and for students not to begin back until Friday  3rd February. However we are conscious of the stress & complications this model places on our families (particularly after a lengthy summer holiday).
Similar to this year, during Week 2, students will be withdrawn from classroom learning to participate in a Maths Assessment Interview. Teaching staff will schedule these interviews during normal school hours. Please note that for this to occur, students may not have their regular classroom teacher for the full day.

Please note the the starting date for all Kindergarten students will Monday be 7th February. 

Kind regards,

Dale

Leaders of Learning

Learning in the Early Years - English

Kindergarten has been revising and practising their independent reading skills.  They are learning to:                              Use cross-checking strategies

• Does it look right?
• Does it sound right?
• Does it make sense?
• Use fix it up strategies when it doesn’t make sense.
• Look at the picture for clues,
• Get our mouths ready to make the first sounds,
• Read-on to the end of the sentence for clues,
• Re-read for meaning.

In Kindy, children learn how to use phonemic awareness, phonic knowledge and comprehension to read. Research shows this type of “systematic and intensive” approach is best for supporting beginning readers. Kindy has individualised goals that highlight the strategies they need to work on to get better. This immediate, personalised feedback is invaluable in helping them improve.

Stage 1 are learning about persuasive texts.  They are learning to:

• use features of a poster,
• and persuasive forms and features.

Persuasive texts seek to convince the audience of an argument or point of view using persuasive devices. Students in Stage 1 need to use language features that help a text serve its purpose. This skill comes naturally to young children (ask any parent) and translates into some excellent writing as they ask for a new pet, toy or bedroom! Students use criteria to check that they are meeting the task requirements and decide how to improve their work. 

Mrs Bailey

My New Gallery

Learning In Primary - English

This week Stage 2 are continuing their work on poetry and are producing amazing, creative poems. Composing texts with rules and conventions such as those which pertain to poetry, has resulted in the students making thoughtful, creative word choices and their vocabulary repertoire has expanded to include words which they would not normally utilise. 

Learning Intention - We are learning to:

• Read, explore and compose imaginative pieces of writing; paying particular attention to connotation, imagery and symbol
• Identify language forms and features of poetry texts

Success Criteria - I can identify language forms and elements (devices) of poetry, such as structure, rhythm, rhyme, sound play (repetition, alliteration & onomatopoeia), wordplay (spoonerisms, nonsense words & puns) and imagery (5 senses, simile, metaphor and symbols).

Miss Zietsch and Miss Pooley have shared that the students are highly motivated to write and are really enjoying their lessons.  It is wonderful to see the high quality and wide range of poems that the children are composing. 

This week Stage 3 have been finalising their work on their speeches; Year 5 students are putting the final touches on their Leadership Speeches whilst Year 6 are wrapping up and rehearsing their Graduation Speeches.  All students are creating a digital background to be displayed when they present their speeches to their audiences.

Learning intention: To present a speech that holds the interest of our audience using appropriate visuals, pauses, gesture, props, and varying pitch and pace. 

Success Criteria:  I can create a digital background for my speech on Canva. I can include pictures, words and symbols that relate to my speech. I can confidently deliver our speech in front of our classmates (practice) and also take on feedback from my peers.

Over the course of the past four weeks, the students have grown in confidence, and there is a sense of excitement and anticipation about presenting their speeches. It has been great to see the writing process in action - planning, drafting, receiving feedback and making improvements to compose the best speech possible.  Our students are well prepared!   Next week, the class will be moving on to the poetry component of their English unit.

Mrs Mullins

English in Stage 2 and Stage 3

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Mission & Values

Mercy In Action - Service

This week I have noticed several students holding the bin lids up for other students at lunchtime.  This simple act of SERVICE has been done voluntarily by various students, and today it was Ziggy and Grace.  Mary of the Cross (Mary McKillop) said, 'Never see a need without doing something about it.'  

Thank you to all our students who see a need and do something about it.  You are Mercy in action.

Exuro Retreat for Year 5 Students: Set the World on Fire

Next Friday on Nov 5, our Year 5 students will participate in a school-based retreat called Exuro. 

Exuro (Latin for “on fire”) is a student discipleship formation program for Year 5 students that will strengthen the Catholic lives of students and keep the fire and passion of Proclaim Lismore Students alive in parish primary schools. 

Theme: Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but be an example for the believers in your speech, your conduct, your love, faith and purity. – 1 Timothy 4:12

The full-day retreat will be led by Miss Ayres, Mrs Mclennan and Mrs Mullins. A note with further details was sent home with your child today.

Liturgical Calendar 

November 1: All Saints Day / November 2: All Souls Day

As Catholics, we begin November by remembering those who have died. We call the first two days of November All Saints Day and All Souls Day. Originally, All Saints Day, was called All Hallow’s Day in England because hallow is another word for holy. The night before was called All Hallow’s Eve, which was eventually shortened to Halloween.  Christians remember all of the saints who have died and the wonderful things they have done.

A reading from the Gospel of John 11:1–44.

When Jesus heard that his friend Lazarus had died, he travelled to Bethany, the home of Lazarus. Martha, the sister of Lazarus, greeted Jesus. She said she was sorry Jesus had not come sooner, but she believed Lazarus would be raised on the last day and live with God forever. Jesus told Martha that he himself was the resurrection and the life and that those who believed in him would live forever. Then he called out to Lazarus, who walked out of the tomb, alive.

The story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead is about the promise of eternal life. We pray for those who have died because we have hope that they will live with God forever and that we will be reunited with them.  

Mrs Mullins

Class News - Stage One

There has definitely been a hum in the Stage 1 classroom since the start of the new term. The kids have been super busy and focused in each KLA….

In English, we are learning to convince our audience.

The students began by having to convince us which item they wanted to perform at our Christmas Concert. They had to state their opinion, back it up with three convincing reasons, then finish by restating their opinion.

They have since learnt another way to convince their audience ... POSTERS! They have been busy composing posters to convince our school community to donate to our Mini Vinnies Christmas Appeal. They have used different fonts and font sizes, different colours, and pictures to grab the audience's attention. Here are a few awesome samples.

Poor Santa will have no hope when Stage 1 composes their letters to convince him to bring our chosen gifts later in the term!

In Maths, we have been learning to estimate, measure and compare volume and capacity. The kids had a particularly fun time using water to measure capacity under the shelter last week. We learnt:

• Cooper - Volume is when you measure how much space a 3D object takes up.
• Jesse - Capacity is when you measure how much a container can hold. We usually use water to measure capacity.
• Emily - You can’t have any gaps when you measure volume or capacity.

In Science, we have been learning how to record instructions for others to read and follow. Together we decided we wanted to investigate how the incline of a slippery slide would affect how far a marble would travel from the end of the slide. Students then had to make a hypothesis, design their investigation and record instructions for others to follow. Next, we will conduct the investigation and record the data. 

In Creative Arts, we have been learning dance!

We have been learning some different styles of dance, been dancing along to Just Dance and putting together a dance for our Christmas Concert. We are very hopeful that we will get to show you!

Mrs Senz & Miss Moore

Class Awards

Congratulations to the following students recognised at this fortnight's Awards Assembly:

Principal Awards:  Noa Chapman, Bailey Smidt, Ziggy Venn, Reuben Lewis

Class Awards:

Pastoral Care - School Counsellor

Exploring Character Strengths – HONESTY

What is HONESTY?

Honesty means you tell the truth even when it is difficult to do so. If you are growing honesty, it may mean that you try being your real self and do not pretend to be somebody different to fit in with others.

What does it look like in practice? 

• We can rely on each other not to cheat, lie or steal
• When we do the wrong thing, we can own up and take responsibility
• If we say we are going to do something, then we do it
• We don’t exaggerate our successes just to impress others

How can we encourage honesty in our children?  To help children develop honesty this is a great resource.

To learn more about character strengths and to access the resource that these “Exploring Character Strengths” Newsletter articles have come from visit https://growyourmind.life/

Kate Naylor – School Counsellor & Art Therapist

Pastoral Care - School Chaplain

World Teachers' Day, 29th October, is an opportunity to celebrate and thank St Joseph’s teachers for their important role in our communities and for the positive impact they have on the lives of students. Thanks to Mr Layland, our wonderful teachers enjoyed lunch at Botero on Thursday. There was such excitement in the air from both teachers and students. We all hope the teachers felt very loved and appreciated. 

Crazy Socks Day Together we raised $90! This will help Catholic Mission find people in need. 

Thank you everyone for your generous donations and getting crazy with your socks.

Juana Mead - School Chaplain

Library -Book Week Celebrations

What a wonderful Book Week it was! I’m happy to report that many fantastic books marched off the Book Fair shelves and have found new homes. Thank you to everyone who sent in money or bought online, along with the students who saved up their pocket money to purchase a book. We hope these books will be enjoyed for many years to come. I’m excited because, as well as the marvellous stories the children have yet to discover in their new books, commissions from the sales have purchased more books for our school library. So thank you all again!

The highlight of the week was definitely the Book Character dress up on Friday. Unfortunately, it looked a little different this year as we have restrictions regarding whole school gatherings, but we were still able to enjoy each others costumes and have a lot of fun! Check out the school's social media sites for lots of great Book Week pics if you haven't already.  

Finally, a big thank you to those who helped in the library with the Book Fair and activities during Book Week. As well as our wonderful staff, I had a first-class team of students willing and able to lend a hand at every opportunity. It was a great team effort. 

I’m already looking forward to next year!   

A book is a gift you can open again and again. 

Mrs Waghourn 

School Banking

Due to our current COVID situation School Banking will be suspended until further notice.

Thank you for your understanding.

Kathy Johnson - School Banking Coordinator

Notes Sent Home

Community Notices