Week 10- Term 3 Newsletter 2024

Principal's Message

Dear Parents & Carers,

Thank you for a lovely last week of Term 3, I trust that everyone will be able to have a restful break with their families.

Term 4 Pupil Free Day

Just a reminder that next term, on Monday 14th October, it will be as Pupil Free Day with staff taking part in a follow up day from our School Review Process (this was meant to occur tomorrow but our Review Report will not be ready after the School Review being postponed). This day is an opportunity for staff to reflect on the learning obtained in this school review and to begin to set out our 2025-27 School Improvement Plan. Whilst I acknowledge the disruption Professional Learning Days can place on families, I do appreciate your understanding to allow to navigate these changes to the classroom learning.

Students return to school on TUESDAY 15TH OCTOBER. 

School Fees
Please note that all outstanding school fees for Term 3 must be finalised by Wednesday, 16th October (Week 1, Term 4). Thank you to those families who continue to pay their school fees on time. It is greatly appreciated. Whilst I acknowledge fees can sometimes place financial stress on families, school fees are our main source of income and necessary for our school to be a sustainable organisation.

If any family requires an extension on their term fees, please contact me to discuss a suitable payment arrangement or an approved payment plan that acknowledges your circumstances. To assist with the payment of school fees and other costs (i.e excursions/sporting events), the school accepts payment via Compass Pay, and Direct Debit. The School Office has an Eftpos Merchant Facility available, allowing families the opportunity to pay using a Credit/Debit Card.

School Spelling Bee

Congratulations to all the students who competed in our School Spelling Bee; it was wonderful to see the immense talent in our students regarding spelling. The finals were held last Thursday in front of parents and the whole school, with the following students being crowned our Spelling Bee Champions for 2024:

• Kindy Champion: Oscar Smith-Butcher
• Stage 1 Champion: Claire George
• Stage 2 Champion: Zee Coulson
• Stage 3 Champion: Flynn Crowley

Well done to all our finalists who competed on the day: Cooper Berridge, Evie Upston, Alby Anderson, Sylvie Donaldson, Elyse Upston, Callie Wright, Sam Kirkland, Sophia Wright, Oli Ward, Owen Moss, Avah Anderson & Zoe Brett.

Tournament of Minds

I would also like to congratulate our Tournament of the Minds team who travelled up to Tweed Heads earlier in the term to represent our School at the North Coast Regional Finals. I am pleased to let our school community know that our team were the eventual winners within the Arts Division.

Despite being crowned Regional Champions, due to the short turn around and the logistics involved, the team were unable to take part in the State Finals which occurred last weekend. The team consisted of: Grace Bell, Zali Nichols, Flynn Crowley, Lila Salter, Poppie Weedon, Roo Coulson and Tully White, who all did an amazing job with their performance that involved a mixture of poetry, drawings, dance and drama and all based around one of our Parish School wonders - Sr Anne Gallagher.

SRC Talent Quest

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us for the 2024 St Joey’s Talent Show. It was a fantastic afternoon filled with joy, laughter, and awe-inspiring performances! Congratulations to all of our students who took to the stage. A special thank you to Miss Juana and our SRC Captains for their hard work in organising such a memorable event. Finally, a huge congratulations to our Talent Quest Winners:

• 1st - Cooper & Oliver Want
• 2nd -  Grace Bell, Zoe Brett, Zali Nichols & Georgia Salter
• 3rd - Roxy Bailey

Again, thank you for a lovely term. I trust you will have a safe and rewarding break with your families, and look forward to seeing you again in Term 4.

Kind regards

Dale

Upcoming School Dates

• Staff Development Day (Monday 14th October)
• First day of term 4 for students (Tuesday 15th October)
  
• Year 5 Exuro Retreat (Tuesday 22nd October) 
• Grandparents Day (Thursday 31st October)
• Yr 7 McAuley Orientation Day and Parent Information Evening (Tuesday 12th November)
• Kindy Orientation & Dinner (Tuesday 26th November)
• Christmas Concert (Tuesday 3rd December)
• EOY Mass & Awards Assembly (Thursday 12th December)
• Yr 6 Graduation Night (Thursday 12th December)
  

Leaders of Learning

The Five Critical Questions: Exploring "Where Do You Go for Help?"

As we conclude our exploration of Lyn Sharratt's 'Five Critical Questions,' this week we focus on the final and important question: "Where do you go for help?" This question encourages students to reflect on the various resources and strategies available when they face challenges in their learning.

Before seeking help from their teacher, students are encouraged to turn to their learning environment, often referred to as the "third teacher." This includes resources such as co-constructed anchor charts, Bump-it-Up Walls, visual aids, student examples, models and exemplars. By engaging with these tools, students are empowered to take the first steps in overcoming challenges on their own.

Strategies for Seeking Help

In our classrooms, students use a variety of strategies to find support. These include:

• Reviewing the Learning Intention: Refocusing on what they are meant to learn.
• Checking the Success Criteria: Revisiting the steps they need to follow for success.
• Looking at Their Personal Goals: Reflecting on their individual goals and the steps to achieve them.
• Using Anchor Charts and Exemplars: Consulting classroom resources, such as visual aids and model work.
• Asking a Peer: Collaborating with classmates for additional perspectives.

By employing these strategies, students learn to solve problems independently and build confidence in managing their own learning before turning to the teacher.

Fostering Independence

In addition to utilising the learning environment, students are encouraged to collaborate with their peers, fostering a sense of shared responsibility. When further assistance is needed, teachers are always available to guide and support, while students are encouraged to explore the tools and strategies provided to help them become more self-reliant.

As we wrap up our series on the 'Five Critical Questions,' we hope this exploration has given you valuable insights into how these questions guide classroom practice and foster independent, reflective learners. The questions—What are you learning?, How are you doing?, How do you know?, How can you improve?, and Where do you go for help?—equip students with essential skills for lifelong learning.

These questions are just as powerful at home. By asking them, you encourage your child to reflect, problem-solve, and take charge of their learning. Thank you for joining us on this journey and for your continued support in your child’s learning process. We look forward to further supporting your child’s growth and achievements in Term 4.

Mrs Senz, Mrs Mclennan and Mrs Mullins

Mission & Values

Mercy In Action Award

This fortnights Mercy In Action Award recipient is Elyse Upston, in recognition of displaying the Mercy Value of Compassion. She beautifully exemplifies our school’s mercy value of Compassion, always ready to lend a hand to her classmates or teachers. Elyse shows care and concern for everyone around her, especially if they might be feeling sad. She embodies true kindness and selflessness, making sure everyone in our school feels cared for.

Well done, Elyse!

Sisters of Mercy Feast Day - 24th September, 2024.

 On Tuesday, our students led a beautiful class liturgy in each classroom, reflecting on the core values of mercy to celebrate Sisters of Mercy Feast Day. This is a special day for our school because our school was founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1898 in the building that is now the music rooms and the parish office. Each child created their own unique visual representation of a chosen mercy value, showcasing their creativity and understanding. We were honoured to have our very own Sr. Anne join the staff for afternoon tea, where she shared her memories of our school. The highlight of the day was watching our TOM students present a special item inspired by Sr Anne and dedicated to her, truly capturing her spirit. Thank you, Sr. Anne, for being an incredible inspiration! 

Prev

Showing images 1 - 8 of 14

Next

Mrs Senz

Class Awards

Our Principal's Award winners this week are:

Our Class Award winners this week are: 

Creative Arts

Hello end of Term 3!

You may have noticed that our, now-permanent, St Joeys gallery is fully installed and with some beautiful art from across K-6. Stoked is an understatement that we have created an area that can continually display a revolving amount of creativity; art styles and skills!

This space will be used to feature creations from Visual Arts lessons and also art from other KLAs; like English units, Maths lessons, RE, Science etc.

Pictured we have:

• Kindy paper Rainbow Flowers
• Year 1 Watercolour hot air balloons
• Year 2 Piccasso-inspired paper portraits
• Stage 2 Piet Mondrian-inspired zebras
• Stage 3 Mason Jar Monsters

MELAMINE PLATES

I received an email from Picture Products yesterday saying that our order is processing swimmingly and that the dispatch date is on track for early November! I also got a sneak preview of the plates scanned in; they are unreal!

2025 MUSICAL THEATRE INTERNATIONAL (MTI) SHOW

At the beginning of Term 4, I will be gathering interested students from Years 2-5 to discuss next years musical and gauge which musical the students might like most out of:

• Peter Pan
• Sessical
• Mary Poppins
• Into The Woods
• Or a few other possibilities 

CREATIVE HOLIDAYS

If you’re looking for a few creative things to do during the holidays; have a squiz at the local(ish) things below!

Splash Exhibition at The Old Kirk - (Thursday 19 September 2024 to Sunday 13 October 2024)

• Dive into creativity at Splash, an eclectic art exhibition presented by the Lower Clarence Art Group.

This exciting showcase, featuring works by talented local artists, will be held at The Old Kirk, Yamba Museum. With a theme that invites you to explore the many forms and colours of water, the exhibition promises to be a vibrant and dynamic celebration of local artistic expression.

The Fish That Wanted To Fly - Coff Harbour Jetty Theatre  (Tuesday 8 to Wednesday 9 October)

The Fish That Wanted to Fly is about having the courage to pursue something even if it seems likely you will never reach it. In our story we meet a little Fish whose lagoon is drying up. All the other fish have left, and she wants to learn how to fly so she can see them again. Her friend, a hermit crab named Karramoko, sits by a stormwater drain and tells her it will never happen. She meets a Kingfisher who helps her and encourages her to keep trying. It’s not until she meets a Cormorant, who offers to take her up into the sky that she flies for the first time. But will she make it back okay? The tale is set in a mangrove swamp, and is about friendship, resilience and sustainability.

• The Fish That Wanted to Fly- Under the Sea Puppetry Workshop

The Librarian - Coff Harbour Jetty Theatre (Friday 11 October: 11am & 1pm)

At first glance, Paul-Émile Dumoulin seems like just a regular librarian.  He is serious, proud and very orderly.  Every book is in its place on his impeccable shelves.  The only problem?  As soon as Paul-Émile gets his nose in a book, reality disappears, giving way to the slightly crazy worlds he discovers between the pages.  On his adventures, the very sensible librarian metamorphoses.  He suddenly turns into strange and silly character who perform acrobatics, balancing, juggling, break dancing and beatboxing.  Just how far will reading take him?

This show blends clowning, physical theatre and the circus arts.  It invites young audiences to discover the passion of reading and the power of the imagination, which whisks readers away to faraway lands, on an adventure, or into a romance or thriller.

Big creative, artsy & dramatic love

Ms Zietsch

School Sport

Dear Joeys Families,

Our Stage 2 and Stage 3 students recently competed in the Yamba Touch Gala Day, showcasing the skills they’ve honed throughout the term. The Joeys teams put in a valiant effort, with tries and assists evenly shared across the teams. They demonstrated a solid understanding of the game, making us all proud!

Attached is information about the upcoming junior touch competition to be hosted in Yamba. We encourage students to get involved! If your child is interested in playing, please feel free to get in touch, and I’ll do my best to help field some teams.

Jump Rope for Heart

A huge thank you to the wider St. Joseph's community for their incredible support in advocating for the Jump Rope for Heart fundraiser. Whether by raising money or encouraging and helping students to skip and improve their heart health, you’ve all contributed to fostering a deeper understanding of the link between exercise and well-being, while also showing compassion. Special mention to the students pictured, who have been recognised for their outstanding efforts in making JR4H a success.

Student Spotlight

We are always impressed by the fantastic achievements of our Joeys students, and this week, the Patten family has shone brightly! Archie Patten was awarded ‘Most Improved’ for his NRL season with the Maclean Magpies, Albie Patten received ‘Best and Fairest,’ and their sister Millie also earned a trophy for her outstanding season in the Under 7s.

Additionally, Archie and Albie have been training in Muay Thai at the newly relocated ‘Third Eye Muay Thai’ gym in Townsend. Muay Thai is not only a great form of self-defense but also builds agility and functional fitness, with skills like jump rope—which our students practice in Jump Rope for Heart—serving as a foundation for this sport.

Looking Ahead

Next term, students will have the opportunity to participate in either swimming or surfing during sport, continuing to develop lifelong skills and attributes through physical activity. We are excited for another term of growth, learning, and fun in sport!

Mr Gilchrist

Technology/STEM News

Learning Robotics and Coding with Dash Robots

This term, our Kindergarten, Year 1, and Year 2 students have been exploring robotics by programming Dash Robots in class and in STEM club! This hands-on experience introduces them to essential technology skills in a fun way.

Why Learning Robotics and Coding Skills is Important:

1. Building Computational Thinking:
   Programming Dash Robots teaches students to think step-by-step as they give clear instructions for the robot’s movements.

2. Enhancing Creativity:
   Students personalise their robots by adding sounds, coordinating lights, and head movements, encouraging self-expression.

3. Developing Teamwork Skills:
   Collaborating on projects helps students share ideas and solve problems together, fostering communication and teamwork.

4. Fostering Confidence:
   Successful programming boosts their confidence and encourages them to tackle new challenges.

5. Preparing for a Tech-Driven Future:
   Early exposure to coding and robotics equips students with skills that are vital in today’s technology-driven world.

Through their experiences with Dash Robots, our students are developing important skills that will benefit them throughout their lives. We look forward to seeing their continued innovation and growth!

Reporting When Something Goes Wrong Online

If your child experiences something harmful online, such as cyberbullying, image-based abuse, or illegal and restricted content, you can report it directly to the social media service, game, app, or website where the incident occurred.

Often, young people will need the support of an adult to report. The eSafety Commissioner (eSafety.gov.au) advises taking the following steps:

1. Collect Evidence: Before reporting to the platform or taking other action, ensure you collect evidence. If the issue is ongoing, make sure you take screenshots showing what has been happening and for how long.

2. Report to the Platform: Report the incident to the platform where it happened. Use the eSafety Guide to assist you. After you report, the service may remove the content straight away. They may also block those responsible or delete their account. If the post involves something illegal, such as grooming, they may refer it to law enforcement or another agency for further action.

3. Contact eSafety: If the platform does not take action, you or your child can report it to eSafety. eSafety will ask you to complete an online reporting form and include evidence.

Mrs Mclennan

Pastoral Care - School Chaplain

SRC Funday Talent Show

We recently hosted the SRC Funday Talent Show, which brought a day filled with excitement, talent, and entertainment!

This year’s talent show showcased a diverse range of performances, including: Singing, dancing, rap, whip cracking and lassoing. 

We extend our heartfelt thanks to our esteemed guest judges who made the event memorable, Senorita Sue, Judge Colleen and Father Roland. 

To our families and staff ,thank you for joining us in celebrating the hard work and dedication of our students. It was a fantastic opportunity to come together as a community and enjoy a memorable day.

Seasons for Growth stage 1

Seasons for Growth is a small group program that combines psychology and education with peer support, within a person centred learning approach.

The program is evidence-based and uses the imagery of the seasons to describe and understand the experience of change, loss and grief. Trained adult ‘Companions’ facilitate small groups where participants support and learn from each other in age appropriate and engaging activities. 

Participants learn that change and loss are a natural part of life and that they are not alone in dealing with the effects of these experiences. They also learn communication, decision making and problem-solving skills to support them to adapt to their new circumstances.

Please stay tuned for more updates in term 4 for stage 1. 

Ms Mead - Student Wellbeing Officer/School Chaplain

Pastoral Care - School Counsellor

RAISING RESILIENT KIDS

Over the past two terms we have focused on building the resilience of students and the school community. The five resilience building areas covered in previous newsletters include Thinking, Habits, Relationships, Emotions and Strengths.

Here are some key reminders when it comes to building resilience in your child, your family  and yourself.

 Resilience research findings :

• Not a personality trait or something you are born with or without
• Varied pathways
• Combination of internal characteristics and external factors
• Can be built 
• Needs to be practiced
• Changes over time 
• Varying levels in different areas of life

Remembering that the pathway to resilience is different for everyone can be helpful. 

Using our strengths and the resources available to us is an important part of facing challenges with resilience. This means we don't have to be doing anything new or different to build our resilience. 

“Resilience does not come from rare and special qualities, but from the everyday magic of ordinary human resources in the minds and bodies of children, in their families and relationships, and in their communities”.  Ann Masten - Ordinary Magic

Next term I will be at the school on Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you have any questions or would like to discuss further you can contact me at the school or via jessica.jones@lism.catholic.edu.au

Enjoy the holidays.

Jess Jones - School Counsellor

Bullying & Friendships

Friendships Grow and Change

As we conclude our series on bullying and friendship, it’s important to understand the evolving nature of friendships in children. The five stages of friendships, as described by developmental psychologist Robert Selman, are:

1. Momentary Playmates:
   At this stage, typically observed in early childhood (ages 3-7), children engage in parallel play alongside others but do not actively interact with them. They may notice each other's presence but primarily focus on their own activities.

2. One-Way Assistance:
   In this stage, which typically occurs in middle childhood (ages 4-9), children begin to interact more directly with others but primarily in a one-way manner. One child may take on a more dominant role, providing assistance or guidance to the other, while the other child follows along or seeks help.

3. Two-Way Fair-Weather Cooperation:
   During this stage, which typically occurs in late childhood (ages 6-12), friendships become more reciprocal and cooperative. Children engage in mutual activities and play together, but the friendship is often based on shared interests or convenience. Friendships may dissolve if circumstances change or conflicts arise.

4. Mutually Shared Relationships:
   This stage, which typically occurs in adolescence (ages 9-15), marks the development of deeper friendships. Adolescents form close bonds with peers based on shared values, beliefs, and experiences. They confide in each other, provide emotional support, and value trust and loyalty in their friendships.

Knowledge of these stages allows parents to recognise and appreciate the natural progression of their child's social development. It's important to acknowledge that this journey may unfold at a different pace for some children. Rather than viewing it as a rigid sequence of predetermined milestones, it's about nurturing and facilitating your child's ongoing development.

An important tip for fostering healthy friendships is teaching empathy and perspective-taking. Encourage your child to imagine how others might be feeling in different situations. You can do this by asking questions like, "How do you think your friend feels when you don’t share?" or "Why do you think your friend looks sad today?" By helping your child understand others' emotions and perspectives, you're laying the foundation for meaningful connections and strong friendships. When children can see things from another's perspective, they can be better equipped to resolve conflicts peacefully and find mutually beneficial solutions.

Community Notices