Week 8 - Term 4 Newsletter 2021

Principal's Message

End of Year Events

Due to current restrictions regarding adult attendance on the school site, we are forced to hold a number of our End of Year Events virtually this year. Please see below the current plans in place for these events:

Year 5 Leadership Speeches - Tuesday 30th November

These speeches will be live-streamed on Facebook at 9:30 am for our Year 5 Parents and other interested community members. Due to current restrictions, only Stage 2 & 3 students and staff will be present. Our Infants students will watch these speeches virtually in their classrooms.

School Christmas Concert - Wednesday 1st December

Whilst we won't be holding our usual after-hours Christmas Concert, classes have been practising and rehearsing their items this term. As a result, classes will be individually filming their items in the morning, and these will be shared onto our Social Media platforms on Wednesday night to view and watch as a family. Following our lunchtime break, all classes will be performing their items in front of the students and staff to ensure that they have the opportunity to perform in front of an audience.

End of Year Prize Giving - Thursday 9th December

This event is a wonderful time as a school parish community to acknowledge our school leaders and ensure we are centred on Christ. Following our End of Year Liturgy, we will be presenting our End of Year Awards that recognise students in all classes under the following categories: Academic Achievement, Faith in Action, and Learning Begins with Me.  

Again, due to current restrictions concerning adults on-site as an audience, this event will be live-streamed on Facebook at 12:00 pm. We will organise a link to access social media to access the video following the event for those unable to access social media. Due to these current restrictions and acknowledging the significance of this milestone, we will be presenting our Year 6 Graduation Certificates at their dinner, so family members are present for this important milestone. 

Year 6 Graduation - Thursday 9th December

Due to our Year 6 Graduation Dinner being held off-site at Maclean Bowling Club, we are able to come together with our Year 6 families, pending adults and those over 16 are double-vaccinated, which is in line with current restrictions regarding hospitality venues. The number of attendees per family has been capped due to social distancing requirements; however, we look forward to recognising and celebrating our Year 6 cohort before they transition into High School.

Compass- School Communication APP

As part of a restructure across the Diocese, St Joey’s Maclean shall be moving to a new communication & school management platform called - COMPASS School Manager. I understand that this may cause angst for some families as we only shifted to the SchoolsZine App at the start of 2021. However, I was only informed earlier in the year (Term 2) that all schools in the Diocese would be shifting to a uniformed communication platform throughout 2021-2024, had I known of this, and that we would be part of the 2022 cohort of schools, I would not have instigated the use of SchoolsZine. 

That being said, after staff training this Term, I can confirm Compass to be far more effective and useful as a school management platform  with additional functions when compared to SchoolsZine, and the Compass platform will become our school community communication tool from the 1st January 2022.  

The Compass platform is a web-based system that is accessible on any modern web browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome & Safari) or by using the Compass School Manager iOS or Android App.  Every family receives a separate login to Compass which we will provide to you. 

The Compass platform includes many different features, you’ll have the ability to:

• Receive notifications about school events, news and information
• Enter an explanation for absence Communicate with your child’s teachers,
• Update your family contact details (mobile phone & email)
• View your child’s timetable and the school calendar
• Monitor your child’s homework and assessment tasks 
• Download and view your child’s academic reports
• Book parent-teacher conferences (parent/teacher interviews)
• Pay and provide digital consent for events (No more permission slips)
• Order lunches from the Canteen 
• Pay  school fees

Over the course of the next two weeks, we’re encouraging families to become connected to Compass.  Support will be offered for those parents who require help, a member of staff from the Catholic School Office will be onsite on Tuesday 30th of November to assist parents from 8am.  

Each parent will receive a username and login this afternoon provided that we have a valid email or your correct email address. Please see below further instructions regarding installing Compass. 

School Safety Grant - Kiss & Drop Zone

For those that are unaware I am pleased to announce that our school has been successful in being allocated $336,576 to be spent in improving and upgrading exisiting bus facilities, formalising a 'Kiss & Drop' Zone and installing & improving pedestrian pathways for the school and Stanley Street.

I , & other school community members, have spent the last 3 years raising these issues with the council and thankfully despite the current Covid restrictions placing further strain on our end of day procedures, moving forward we should have smoother and safer procdures in place for our families.  It is my understanding this will occur in early 2022, although I am yet to be given a definitive timeline or start date. This School Zone Infrastructure Program is jointly funded by the State and Federal Government Road Safety Program and the School Zone Infrastructure Sub Program.

Little Joeys 2022

I am pleased to announce that Mrs Bec Bennett will continue as Little Joey's Coordinator in 2022. Due to current guidelines that came out in 2021, our Little Joey's Program for next year will operate in a similar format to this year, in that it will be occurring in Semester 2 only and is held on Fridays.

Despite the program no longer running for the entire school year, we are still seeking expressions of interest from parents in enrolling their child in this program before the 2022 School Year beginning.  Little Joey's Enrolment forms will not be distributed until mid Term 1. However, we have already had several inquiries and would like to ensure our current school community can secure a placement.

Additionally, I am also asking families to help promote the program. If you know a family within the community with a child that is school-age in 2022, please encourage them to seek an enrollment form from the school or make a time to have a school tour with me. This program is crucial to supporting our future Kindy enrollments, and we would appreciate as much support as possible from our families despite its later start in the school year.

I trust you will have a safe & relaxing weekend. As always, please don't hesitate in contacting me if you wish to discuss any of the above matters or anything further.
Thanking you,

Kind regards,

Dale

Leaders of Learning

Learning in the Early Years

This fortnight Kindy and Stage 1 have been busy practising reciting poems and chants to build their memory and vocabulary. Their writing tasks have provided opportunities to put all they have learned this year into practice. 

Kindy have been consolidating their understanding of time by writing journals. They have focused on using the language of time (yesterday, today, this evening, midday, etc.) and time connectives (after, before, next, etc.) and descriptive language to engage their audience. This kind of cross-curricula work helps build deep understanding by allowing students to apply what they have learnt in one area to another. They are learning to:

• use time words in our writing
• use our knowledge of letters, simple sound blends and high-frequency words to spell
• confidently identify and use medial short vowel sounds in both reading and writing
  

This week Stage 1 had to choose a side in the debate "Should animals be kept in cages?" and write a persuasive text to convince an audience they are right! They have been working through the writing process, which includes plan, draft, revise, edit and conference to consolidate their understanding of how authors work. They are learning to write a persuasive text and to:

• include high modality words and description
• use paragraphs
• give three reasons and identify their effect
• revise and edit
• use feedback to improve our work

Kindy and Stage 1 have made amazing progress with their writing this year and can use all the skills they have learned across a variety of text types and for a range of purposes, demonstrating a thorough knowledge of the writing process. 

Mrs Bailey

Prev

Showing images 1 - 8 of 15

Next

Learning in Primary

Stage 2 and 3 are learning different ways to use rhyme and rhythm when composing poetry. Both techniques make a poem fun to read aloud and listen to, making learning to recite a poem easier. 
This week S2 have continued creating limericks whilst S3 have composed ballad style poems.  Ballads have a set of 'features' which include:

• It tells a story
• Structure (4 lines to a stanza)
• Rhyming Pattern (ABCB)
• Rhythm (iambic rhythm)

The students have had heaps of fun creating their poems.  In S2, some limericks are being composed that features a certain teacher whose first name rhymes with whale...or snail...or frail!  I wonder who they could be writing about???  We will just have to wait and see what will be revealed next week!

Another exciting event that is quickly creeping up are the Leadership Speeches for our Year 5 students. They have been rehearsing and getting feedback from their teachers and their peers. They truly are amazing and well prepared to present them to their audience.

Mrs Mullins

Mission & Values

Mercy in Action - Kindness

This week recognition goes out to Lily Hancock, who showed a simple act of kindness when she returned a ball to Emma during morning play. Often, children get involved in their games and are not really aware of those around them, but Lily stopped playing and picked up Emma's ball to give it back.  Thank you, Lily, for being a kind person.

Sacramental Program - First Holy Communion (Year 4)

After much deliberation, we have decided to postpone the sacrament of First Holy Communion until Term 1, 2022.  The communicants will complete their sacrament at our first School Parish Mass, and families and staff are invited to celebrate this special occasion.  

Young Mary - Starr Productions

Yesterday our S2 and S3 students attended a performance at school called 'Young Mary' presented by Starr Productions. They told the story of Mary MacKillop, our first Australian Saint who was an educator, a pioneer and a leader, someone who had compassion for others regardless of their situation or race. Mary wanted to serve the poor, particularly educating the children who lived in the bush.  Mary began the Sisters of St. Joseph, who dedicated themselves to meeting the material and spiritual needs of struggling people.

The Season of Advent

Next week we commence the season of Advent, which marks the beginning of a new liturgical year, Year C (Luke).  All around the school, there are signs of preparation for Christmas, when we celebrate the birth of Jesus.  In a Catholic school, we have signs and symbols to reflect this season. They include advent wreaths, nativity models of the holy family, purple cloth, Jesse trees, advent calendars and stars.  This week in our photo gallery, I have included the prayer space from each classroom and the decorations in the school office.   I also have chosen to share some Advent Promises made by our Stage 3 students.

All the classes are busily preparing their items for our virtual Christmas Concert next week, and we can't wait for our liturgical celebrations in 2022 to be shared on site with all our St Joey's families.

Mrs Mullins

Celebrating Advent

Prev

Showing images 1 - 8 of 15

Next

Stage 3 Advent Promises

Prev

Showing images 1 - 8 of 25

Next

Class News - Stage Three

Stage Three has been a hive of activity over the past few weeks!

In Science, students have been working on a 'Float-Off' design challenge where they have been tasked with designing and making a boat/raft that can remain floating (buoyant) when weight is added. Working in teams, they have researched boat design, created a portfolio of prototypes, built and tested various models before tracking and testing their modifications and redesigns. Although there can only be one 'Float-Off' winner (stay tuned for the results), the effort and rigour with which all teams have applied to this task have rendered them all winners.

In English, students have been studying poetry and boldly experimenting with figurative language. Writers and poets use figurative language to build imagery, express ideas and give words more power. We found the poetic form of an 'Ode (a tribute poem celebrating a person, place, thing, or idea), was the perfect vehicle to illustrate our talents, and after reading these examples, I'm sure you'll agree that we have a class of budding poets in our midst. 

Miss Ayres & Mrs Mclennan

Class Awards

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

Principal Awards:  Isabella Camilleri, Oliver Want, Hailen Capp, Jemima Adamson

Class Awards:

Pastoral Care - School Counsellor

Exploring Character Strengths – CREATIVITY

What is CREATIVITY?

Being creative means, you can think of new ways to do things. You can imagine and produce ideas, art, answers and activities that are different. If you are growing creativity when you next face a problem, you try to come up with several solutions.

What does it look like in practice?

• When we face a problem, we can think of multiple solutions
• We don’t write or draw the same as the person next to us; we can think for ourselves 
• When we have a dispute, we can come up with lots of ideas to solve it
• We make up interesting games and explore different ways of playing them

How can we encourage CREATIVITY in our children? 

To help children develop CREATIVITY, 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

Our wonderful SRC have been doing a great job of fundraising by selling ice blocks on Thursday. It’s impressive to see our SRC taking on extra responsibility within their leadership roles. 

All money raised will help purchase items to add to our Christmas hampers. 

Student participation-Stage 3, Stage 1 and Kindy have been informing our school about St Vincent De Paul and spreading the word about our Christmas hampers by making posters. The posters are very

Ms Juana Mead - School Chaplain

Library News

Library Reurns Due

As the end of the school year is quickly approaching, this means we are closing the library for borrowing at the end of week 8 (Today). This will enable students and classrooms to return all outstanding books so we can do a general stocktake and get ready for next year! I ask that all school library books are returned as soon as possible.

I would also like to take the opportunity to thank everyone for a fantastic first year as the librarian at St Joseph's. I’ve had so many wonderful helpers in the library at lunch and recess times, as well as all the wonderful staff. I look forward to seeing everyone in 2022 for more great adventures in the library!

Mrs Waghourn 

School Banking

School Banking update from Commonwealth Bank:

For 90 years, our School Banking program has helped children learn about money, reinforced the importance of regular savings and provided structure for parents to support their children to save. 

Though the program continues to have strong support from schools, parents and teachers, recent decisions by some state and territory governments because of a review by the corporate regulator mean we are unable to continue providing programs in schools. We have had to make a difficult decision to close our School Banking program for all government and non-government schools across the country. 

Our School Banking program was established in 1931 when having a bank account was not commonplace, and since then, we have helped more than 15 million Australians take their first financial steps. This would not have been possible without the wonderful support we have received from schools like yours, including all the parents and volunteers, and for this, we are deeply grateful. Thank you.

Even though this is a sad time, School Banking has taught so many young Australians, past and present, the value of money, and we believe this should be celebrated. We have created a place for you to share your stories, fondest memories and lessons learnt through the program. To share your story and access our financial education resources, please visit commbank.com.au/schoolbanking 

Even though the CommBank School Banking program will not be returning to your school after this year, you can continue to make deposits into your child’s Youthsaver account through online transfers or at any CommBank branch. If you need further information, please phone 132 221 or visit your local CommBank branch.

Dear School Banking Families,

I am in the process of wrapping up the program at St Joseph’s. As a goodwill gesture, every active school banker will receive a reward item regardless of the tokens collected.  In addition, any students who have already earned ten tokens can still redeem them for a reward.  As this is subject to the availability of reward items, I will contact these students shortly. On behalf of St Joseph’s, I would like to acknowledge and thank the School families both past and present for their support and participation in the School Banking program.  I would also like to thank the previous School Banking Co-Ordinators for their time and commitment. If I can assist with any queries, please contact me via the School Office.

Kind regards,

Kathy Johnson - School Banking Coordinator

Notes Sent Home

Community Notices