Week 4 - Term 2 Newsletter 2021

Principals Message

Dear Families and Friends,
What a busy start to the year it has been. Thank you to Fr Nicolas for leading us in our Commencement Prayer Service on Friday, it was a beautiful Service in which we were able to welcome our new Kindergarten students into the school community and officially acknowledge our School Captains, Year 6 Leaders and SRC Leaders for the 2021 School Year. 

2021 SRC Leaders
Congratulations to the following students who were selected by their peers to represent them on our 2020 Student Representative Council:
Year 2 - Jack Kirkland & Lily Hancock
Year 3 - Reece Bennett & Sahara Cook
Year 4 - Thomas Hourigan & Dayla Chapman
Year 5 - Jack Robinson & Tasmyn Norris
I look forward to working alongside these students and the Year 6 SRC Captains to ensure that 'Student Voice' is priority in our school. Their assistance in driving students events, student service and student connection to our local community will be invaluable.

Parent Information Night

Thank you to all parents who were able to attend our 'Meet the Teacher' Sessions this week. This was an opportune time for you to meet with your child's class teachers and gain a clearer understanding of how their learning spaces will operate this year, the routines and also the expectations around their learning.

If you were unable to attend, all materials handed out on the night will be sent home via email/hard copy this week. Please don't hesitate to make individual contact with your classroom teacher if you wish to seek further clarity around your child's learning this year.

Student Absences & Extended Leave 

A reminder that student absences are to be notified by a phone call to the school, email to maclp@lism.catholic.edu.au or by responding to the SMS sent to you after 9:30am.  

When explaining an absence please give details like sick, family holiday, medical appointment, etc. As previously requested, parents are now asked to provide a more detailed explanation /reason for their child's absence other than 'Sick' or 'Unwell'.

Some examples of a clearer explanation could be:

• Sick with flu-like symptoms and being COVID tested** OR
• Sick with stomach pains OR
• Unwell with earache, OR
• Injured with sprained ankle etc. OR
• Feeling tired didn't sleep well

**Being absent due to Covid testing also changes the way the absence is marked on the Roll.

If you are intending for your child to be absent from school for more than 3 days, it is important that a 'Notification of Extended Leave Travel' Form is filled in and provided to the Front Office prior to the leave occurring. Whilst family holidays and travel are no longer considered under the 'Exemption from School' Procedures, it is a legal requirement that the school is appropriately notified of this Leave and recorded on the roll. Please note that unless there are extenuating circumstances around the 'Extended Leave', that school work will not be provided by the classroom teachers during this period. Please find attached Form A4 (Extended leave Travel) for future use.

Parent Forum AGM

Next Tuesday 23rd February (5:30-7:00 pm) in the School Staffroom, we will be holding our first Parent Forum gathering for 2021. Whilst I acknowledge 2020 & Covid-19 restrictions did not allow this group to meet regularly or be involved in any School community events last year, I am hopeful that this will improve as the year unfolds.

It would be wonderful to start the year with a good group of families sharing their voice and expectations for the year ahead. Whilst the majority of our Executive Positions are filled we are always looking for new parents who would like to be involved in 'Parent Voice & Parent Community' which is the main focus of our Parent Forum. 

Parent Pick-up & Drop Off

Whilst I acknowledge the difficulties at the moment with Parents unable to come onto school site before or after school,  I need to remind parents that when dropping off or picking students that there should be NO CARS IN THE ALLOCATED BUS ZONE. Our Bus Zone is clearly marked on the 'school-side' of Stanley Street & it is important for the safety of all students & families, that when parking for the collection or dopping off of students that this is done outside of this zone.  Each morning & afternoon, parents are able to either park on the opposite side of Stanley Street, in the parent carpark adjacent to the church, or on the school-side of Stanley street but further down the hill (adjacent to Stage 3 classrooms). I would appreciate it if all families could please follow this request.

Thanking you,

Dale

Leaders of Learning

In our last newsletter, we introduced all our staff including our classroom teachers. This week, we would like to introduce the THIRD teacher, which is the classroom environment. The learning space in which your child/ren learn is a strategic tool which is used to promote creativity, originality, perseverance, risk-taking, learning from mistakes, problem-solving, resolving conflict, collaboration and critical thinking.  In other words, it plays a crucial role in the education and growth of our students.  

Our teachers here at St Joseph's give careful consideration to the classroom environment and understand that co-construction of the Third Teacher with students is extraordinarily important.  What is created to put on the walls, who creates it, and where it is placed allows the walls to become interactive learning spaces which is why it is referred to as the Third Teacher. When students are involved in being the co-creators of work samples, anchor charts, instructions, success criteria and learning intentions, the walls immediately go from being a display to being a work tool, or rather, from wallpaper to working documents and scaffolds.

Our photos this week showcase the Third Teacher in each classroom. The classroom walls are an ever-growing and changing space which shows student thinking, student voice and student learning.  They can help students identify their next steps to improve their learning in order to reach their learning goals.

Mrs Bailey & Mrs Mullins

Mission & Values

 Fasting reminds us of Jesus’ passion and suffering and in a small way reminds us of our need to be in solidarity with, and to share our resources with, the poor of our world. We also know that such fasting can be good for our health. Pope Francis invites us to expand our understanding of fasting to also include fasting from those behaviours that take us away from God and from others. Those behaviours we know which are not life-giving for ourselves and for others.  Here is what he shares. 

This week we celebrated the commencement of Lent with an Ash Wednesday liturgy by our very capable Year Six students.   Lent is a liturgical season of reflection and preparation before the celebrations of Easter. Preparation in Lent involves fasting, almsgiving and prayer. Children often focus on the 'fasting' part of this season and choose to give up something, for example, desserts, chocolates, or some other form of food or treat. The very practice of letting go, of forgoing something, can draw us closer to God and remind us of creating space for God to come to us.

"Fast from hurting words and say kind words.
Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude.
Fast from anger and be filled with patience.
Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope.
Fast from worries and have trust in God.
Fast from complaints and contemplate simplicity.
Fast from pressures and be prayerful.
Fast from bitterness and fill your hearts with joy.
Fast from selfishness and be compassionate to others.
Fast from grudges and be reconciled.
Fast from words and be silent so you can listen."

Mrs Mullins

Class Awards

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

Principal Awards:  Kyah Horan, Sophia Wright,  Recce Bennett & Jai Adamson

Class Awards:

Class News - Stage 1

Stage 1 have all returned to school ready, settled and eager to learn. And boy what a start we have had! 

This term in Stage 1, we have been very lucky to be learning STEM from Miss Ayres. We learnt how to use Bee Bots and Ozobots. We have been incorporating learning our spelling sounds along with the new technology. It has been so much fun merging play with learning!

We have also had some very special visitors to our room… chickens! As they grow we have been observing the changes that take place, measuring and recording their growth. This is all to help us learn that all living things grow, change and reproduce, and that they all have individual features. To see the excitement and wonder on the kids faces as they witnessed the chicks hatching was priceless.

Miss Moore & Mrs Senz

Pastoral Care - School Counsellor

Exploring Character Strengths – GENEROSITY

When it comes to improving our happiness and wellbeing,generosity is a good choice because it has a ripple effect. If someone else sees us do something kind or generous, it actually makes them more likely to be generous too. Generosity creates a ripple effect, helping us feel happier and less lonely.

Generosity means we are able to put others before ourselves. We give and share freely because we want to, not because we expect anything in return.  It means we are kind with our words and actions. If we are growing generosity, we start to be aware that there is plenty for everyone. When we are generous we give for the joy of it and happily share what we can with others.

What does it look in practice?  

• We notice someone does not have a pencil or pen and we let them have our extra one  
• We tell someone why we like them or appreciate them without expecting anything back  
• We see that someone has forgotten their lunch so we offer them our apple to eat or if we aren’t allowed to share food we find a teacher to make sure our friend is ok  
• We notice that someone hits a ball well or runs super-fast  and we tell them so without wanting anything back from them  

Mrs Kate Naylor – School Counsellor & Art Therapist

Pastoral Care - School Chaplain

Student Representative Council

Congratulations to all students who were elected to form our Student Representative Council. The Student Representative Council (SRC) provides equal opportunities for students to voice their ideas and concerns about St Joseph's Primary School. The SRC endeavours to enable all students to feel valued, to be involved in school life, and to contribute to the school community.

SRC meetings will be held every fortnight on a Thursday, lunchtime in our library.

St Joseph's Breakfast Club

SRC launched our first St Joseph's Breakfast Club on Friday. Our menu consisted of; wholemeal toast with cheese, vegemite or honey, assorted yogurt, fresh fruit cups, and cups of milk. This breakfast club is only possible through the generous donations of St Vincent De Paul. The free  Breakfast Club is open Friday mornings 8:30 am-8:50 am to all students. Thank you Maclean St Vinnies for such a generous and thoughtful donation.

Shrove Tuesday Fundraiser

Pancake Day, On Tuesday the 16th of February, students at St Joseph’s School, were licking their lips in anticipation...awaiting the luscious pancakes and toppings to be served to mark Shrove Tuesday.

With the help of the wonderful Nicky Venn and the SRC, the school community raised money to go towards Project Compassion.  Project Compassion is Caritas Australia's annual Lenten fundraising and awareness-raising appeal. It represents an extraordinary, ongoing demonstration of the faith, love and generosity of the Catholic congregation and caring supporters throughout Australia to help end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity. Thank you to all our families for supporting this day. We will be canoeing to raise money for Caritas Project Compassion over the Lent journey.

Seasons for Growth

Season for Growth for Stage 1 will start over the coming weeks. Seasons for Growth offers children and young people a safe space to come together, and share their experiences of change and loss. Please watch this short video for more information on the program.

School Playgroup

Our playgroup is still in the planning process and is hoping to start towards the end of the term. We've already had some interest from families. If you would like any more information about our playgroup or are interested in being part of it, please contact me at juana.mead@lism.catholic.edu.au or call our school office. 

Last Friday we had two very familiar faces in our canteen. It was so lovely to see Sharon Barrington and Louise Ekersly, along with our regular canteen volunteer Lauren. Melissa and her team do such healthy delicious meals for our school; thank you ladies.

Mrs Juana Mead

School Sport

Polding Tennis Trials

On Friday 5th of February Mahala Hitchings represented the Lismore Diocese at the Polding Tennis Trials in Newcastle. The Polding Trials included students from the Diocese of Armidale, Bathurst, Broken Bay, Lismore, Maitland/Newcastle and Wilcannia/Forbes. 

Mahala was undefeated during the group stage of the trial and won her first playoff match which placed her in the top 3. This was enough to earn her a position in the Polding Tennis Team who will travel to Newcastle to contest NSWPSSA Tennis Trials.

Congratulations to Mahala and we pray that she has a safe, successful and enjoyable experience in Newcastle.

Clarence Zone Swimming Carnival

Training 3 days a week at the Maclean Pool throughout the holidays has paid off for Tasmyn Norris at the Clarence Zone Swimming Carnival. Tasmyn finished 3rd in the 11yrs Girls 50m Breaststroke which has earnt her a spot in the Clarence Zone Swimming Team which will compete at the Lismore Diocesan Swimming Carnival at the Tweed Regional Aquatic Centre 6-8 Tumbulgum Rd, Murwillumbah NSW on Friday, 26th February 2021.

It is great to see Tasmyn being rewarded for all of her hard work and we pray that her success continues when she travels to Murwillumbah. 

Mr Hitchings

School Events & Dates

WEEK 5

• Tuesday 23rd February - PP Meetings
• Friday 26th February - Stage 2 & 3 Excursion to Archibald Prize Exhibition
• Friday 26th February - Diocesan Swimming Carnival

WEEK 6

• Thursday 4th March - Wizard of Oz Performance (Stage 2 & 3)
• Friday 5th March - Incitare Excursion (Year 6)
  

WEEK 7

• Friday 12th March - Dioocesan Winter Sports Trials
  

Please also be aware that as part of culminating our Whole School Visual Arts Program for Term 1, we are hoping to hold our very own Archibald Prize Night on Tuesday 30th March in Week 10.

This event will have COVID Guidelines & restrictions but we look forward  having our families attend. More details to follow...

Notes Sent Home

Please find below links to the following School Notes that were sent home in the last fortnight:

Community News