Term 1 Week 6 2024
Celebrating International Women’s Day
Today, we honour International Women's Day, a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. This special day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity.
At St Joseph’s, we recognise the vital role that women have played in shaping our world and the importance of educating our students on gender equality. We are committed to fostering an environment where every individual is empowered to reach their full potential, regardless of gender.
Let us all pledge to uphold the values of equality and inclusivity, not just today, but every day. Together, we can create a brighter, more equitable future for all.
Hastings Zone Swimming Championships
Last Friday, we had 8 students represent not only our school but our Hastings region of schools to compete in the Hastings Zone Swimming Championships at Macksville pool. It was a great day of high level competition as our swimming athletes competed against all the best swimmers in our Diocese. Everyone swam very well with a huge congratulations for Gypsy Sams making it to the next level for freestyle and Isabella Fede for Multiclass. These girls will be going on to compete in Homebush next month. Another highlight of the day was our boys relay team (Ignacy Patrzala, Thomas Haywards, Aidan Koenig and Oliver Davis) who came in an extremely close third place overall being only 1.2 seconds behind the winning team. I’m sure the cheers from Joey's parents and kids were certainly the overall winners of the day!
Family Pool Night
It was wonderful to see so many families coming together to celebrate the school year ahead in fun and friendship at the Family Pool Night. The pool was warm and buzzing with excitement, the pontoon was a fun challenge for most and the yummy BBQ was much appreciated by all.
A huge thank you to our School Community Group for funding the pontoon, BBQ and parents entry. Thanks also to the staff and parent volunteers who supported the event, especially Emma Hockham for your coordination of the BBQ on the night. We look forward to many more social events organised through our Class Parent network throughout the year as well as other planned School Community events as well. We love developing strong social and supportive networks in our school community!
NAPLAN
Next week we will commence our NAPLAN testing in years 3 and 5 on Wednesday to Friday along with all students right across Australia. These tests give some valuable feedback to schools and parents on student’s skills in Reading, Writing, Language Conventions and Numeracy. They are one source of data among many other assessments we use to understand student's learning needs. Please ensure your child arrives at school on time on these days having had a healthy breakfast and water bottle. If your child is away from school due to sickness or other approved leave, catch up sessions will be made available the following week. Please see the schedule below:
| Wednesday 13th March | Thursday 14th March | Friday 15th March |
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9:15 Writing Yr 3 and 5 11:30 Reading Yr 3 and 5 |
9:15 Conventions of language yr 5 AND Conventions of language yr 3 |
9:15 Numeracy Yr 3 and 5 |
Theatre Shows
At St Joseph’s we are committed to providing our students with an experience of quality professional Theatre each year. This supports our learning of arts appreciation in Creative Arts, language and literature development in English and a sense of inspiration and enjoyment of the cultural Arts. This year we have been able to fund the entire costs of these performances to ensure all students have access to this experience. We are excited to take each of our students to one of the following shows:
Yrs 3 and 4: Dogman The Musical; The Glasshouse Port Macquarie (Term 1, 4th April)
Years 5&6: The Peasant Prince; Manning Entertainment Centre (24th September)
K-2 The Gruffalo; The Glasshouse Port Macquarie (30th October )
Details of the Year 3 and 4 Theatre Excursion will be out on Compass shortly.
Best wishes from the leadership team
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Mr Rick Galvin Principal |
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Mrs Maria Wilson Assistant Principal Mission |
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Mrs Jessica Koenig Assistant Principal Learning and Teaching |
Term 1 Week 7 2024 |
School Events |
Monday 11th March |
Guitar Lessons Year 5/6 Library Day Canteen |
Tuesday 12th March |
Yr 1/2 Library Day |
Wednesday 13th March |
Kindergarten Library Day NAPLAN - Yr 3&5 |
Thursday 14th March |
Sports Uniform |
Friday 15th March |
Year 3 visit / singing at Whiddon Nursing Home Whole School Assembly 2.20 pm - Everyone Welcome |
Up Coming Events |
Term 1 Week 8 NAPLAN 13th - 25th March Term 1 Week 10 Kinder & Year 1 Catch Up - 7th April Year 2 Picnic Kendall Pool - 7th April
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Stewardship Leaders
Stage 2 Science & Technology
Stage 2 students have been learning about the amazing food journey from paddock to plate. Today students explored how technology can be used in the kitchen to enhance food preparation. Students followed the automotive steps to make delicious mango & mixed berry sorbet and represented these steps in a flow chart algorithm.
Assembly
Ian Schubert 7’s Rugby League Gala Day
Yesterday some students of our school traveled to Stuarts Park Port Macquarie to participate in a 7 a-side tackle rugby league and girls League Tag gala day.
All teams played three games throughout the day against other local primary schools. Each player represented their school with pride and showed exemplary sportsmanship and respect towards all referees and opposing players. Whilst there were some outstanding individual performances, the team work all players showed was exceptional. There were many clever players who were able to set up tries for their teammates and lots of passing to keep the ball moving in play was fantastic to see. We had some very brave boys running straight up the middle taking on the big forwards and some big tackles were also made where the boys simply put their bodies on the line for their team.
Some fancy footwork was seen by the girls who were very elusive running through the defence and managing to keep their tags attached. The girls also showed lots of skill to be able to chase at full speed and snatch the tag of opposing players with accuracy. Most importantly all players had fun and were exceptional shoppers at the end of the day at the canteen!
A big thank you to all the parents who came along to support and cheer. Special thanks to the teachers who coached on the day but a special thank you must go to Glenn Moore(Oli Davis' pop) and Josh Wright for their before school training sessions during the last few weeks.
Also thank you to Camden Haven Eagles Rugby League club or have donated a set of playing jumpers to our school.
Year 5 & 6 Girls League Tag Team
Charlise, Gypsy, Tanvi, Leah, Jaidah, Sadie, Skylah, AJ, Yasmin, Zarli
Coach: Mrs Hurrell
Year 3 & 4 Boys Tackle Team
Charlie, Iggy, Tom, Jimmy, AJ, Jez, Aidan, Kosti, Jakson, Toby, Dean,
Coaches: Steepy and Bec
Year 5 & 6 Boys Tackle Team
Lincoln, Jack S, Hardy, Heath, Levi, Logan D, Lachie, Braxton,
Coaches: Josh Wright, Mrs Hyland
Please check your Compass Events Module for:
Whiddon Nursing Home visit - Year 3
Thank you to the parents who have volunteered to be Class Parents in 2024. This group of parents come together to form the school friend-raising group, a sub-group of the School Community Group.
This year we have another wonderful group of parents volunteering to support the school.
Some of the main support this class parent ‘friendraising’ group will do is:
- Support our families to make connections and friendships with other Joey’s families.
- Encourage involvement in the life of the school community.
- Promote the great things that happen at St Joseph’s.
- Support the class teachers, staff and school.
- Encourage families to read the newsletter as the main source of information.
- Support each other to create an inclusive environment for all, where no one feels left out.
- Support families in times of need or celebration.
CLASS PARENTS
All Dads: Tony Maher (Artie Year 1)
K: Irene Santi, Taliska Arentsen, Katie Barker
1: Rachel deVries, Emma Hockham. Justine Reedy, Tony Maher
2: Lyndelle Lee, Emily Fogg, Katie Barker
3: Lou Roberts, Emma Hockham, Aaron Jackson, Erin Elliot, Katie Barker, Brooke Hudson
4: Erin Thompson, Lyndelle Lee, Hayley Guffogg
5: Tamara Romer, Rachel deVries, Emily Fogg
6: Brooke Hudson. Michelle Latham, Chaney Boyle
School Leadership Contact: Fiona Hayward
Knowledgeable Others (for support to new class parents): Brooke Hudson and Michelle Latham
If you are not yet connected to your class group, please contact the office so we can put you in touch with one of the group administrators.
If there is an error above r you would like to help organise "Dad"events, please contact the school.
Parents are such important part of the school network. As part of the class parent ‘friendraising’ group, we ask that everyone support the following guidelines.
- FUNDRAISING - All fundraising activities, for the school or on behalf of the school for an individual, must go through the formal school channels.
- SUPPORT FOR WELL-BEING - If someone is in need of financial or other support, please contact the school Principal/Well-being team to discuss options. Steps may already have been put in place and this can be supported by families.
- INCLUSIVITY - Social events and groups should be inclusive of mums and dads and in some cases, grandparents and other carers. Groups should support the students and the families to socialise. Balancing student centred and parent centred activities is recommended.
- INFORMATION: Compass/Newsletter should be the source of all school information. Where it cannot be found on Compass/Newsletter, let the school know as we may have missed it.
- COMMUNICATION: Class/School events should be communicated through the Compass. Share with Crystal Batt (office) and this can be sent to the whole class.
- RESPECT FOR SCHOOL AND OTHERS: Please maintain a high standard of respect for the school and each other. Grievances with the school should be directed to the school, not to the group. Grievances with another parent should be dealt with privately, not publicly.
- SOCIAL MEDIA - Everyone has the right to feel part of the group without needing to be on Social Media. Therefore, see point 5.
- PHOTOS - The right not to be on Social Media also applies to photos. Many of our families do not give permission to share photos on social media. As such, it is recommended that all parents should not share photos of any other children on social media except where permission has been sought directly.
- SOCIAL MEDIA GROUPS - Parents may or may not facilitate a social media group. It is not the class parents’ role to have to answer all questions but refer on to the school. There are many personal sub groups in classes and it is understood that people have friends outside of ‘the school’. If parents choose to create a class group, this is not to be an official school group, but if you have one, as a class parent we ask that you support the parent group guidelines in this document. All social media posts/groups (e.g. messenger) should not officially represent St Joseph’s in name or in essence. Any groups with the school name or logo must be created through the school by staff. Social media groups or forums should remain a friendly, inclusive social group. Teachers should not be tagged for information in these groups. In some cases, people will leave the school and may want to stay friends. For privacy reasons and to support all parents in those groups, please delete old families and create a separate friendship group if you wish to stay in contact with these families. It is requested that a member of the school leadership team should be in class groups to support the above guidelines.
- GIFT GIVING - Schools are tightly governed when it comes to asking for money for gifts.(See below) Please don’t request money through the group (or comment that you have sent money). Where a gift is purchased on behalf of the class parents/students, it should come from the whole class. Alternatively, make it an individual gift from the child. Sometimes a handwritten card is just as special as a big gift.
Gift Giving - Class Parent - Based on the Diocesan Standard Operating Procedure
We recognise that parents love the opportunity to treat their class teachers or class assistants when it is their birthday or there is some other special event.
In accordance with clause 2 and 3 of the Lismore Diocese Gift and Benefits Standard Operating Procedure, teachers are not allowed to receive gifts over $50. In short, a gift over $50 needs to be shared with the whole staff or donated to charity.
We are also aware that many families are uncomfortable with being asked for money through the parent chat group. To support all our families, no matter their financial situation, we ask that money not be requested through this channel or collected on behalf of the group.
Options for gift giving:
- A class parent may like to organise a small gift or a shared cake/treat (less than $50) for their class teacher and teacher’s assistant. To do this a note can be communicated to all parents through the office asking for a $1-$2 donation. Donations can be then collected as cash at the office and used for a small gift/treat.
- Class parents may remind the class network of an upcoming birthday or event. The class parent can remind the group that we do not collect money as there is a $50 limit to gifts. Each family can choose to send a personal gift if they choose to. This gift needs to be less than $50.
- The SCG (or parent body) may on occasion purchase all staff a gift/treat on behalf of the parent community. This gift would come out of SCG funds already raised and would not normally be a separate collection of funds. This gift cannot exceed $50 per staff member. Typically, this has been done on World Teacher’s Day and at Christmas.
Easter Raffle
This year we will be holding the Easter raffle on Thursday 28th March.
Once again you can purchase raffle tickets via Flexischools. We will also be sending home 5 paper raffle tickets with each child on Monday . Please return the money to the school office by Tuesday 26th March. Please also return any unsold tickets by this date. Tickets are $1 each.
In addition, donations of Easter eggs for the raffle can be made to the school office or via Flexischools.
Thank you again for all your support.
Please find below the Canteen schedule for term 1.
Thank you to everyone who volunteered to assist; every minute you can help makes a massive difference.
| Monday 11th Mar | Friday 15th Mar | Monday 18th Mar |
Friday 22nd Mar |
| Erin | Justine | Julia | Katie |
| Jenni | Megan | Justine | |
| Sue | Ross | Kerryn | |
| Monday 25th Mar | Friday 29th Mar | Monday 1st Apr | Friday 5 Apr |
| Karina | GOOD FRIDAY | EASTER MONDAY | CROSS COUNTRY |
| Bel | |||
In order for the canteen to run efficiently we need at least one helper on a Monday, and two helpers on a Friday. If you can help at all, please contact Emma Hockham at emma.hockham@lism.catholic.edu.au
Please remember you will need a current working with children's check and sign-in through the office to pick up your name badge.
Thank you
Emma Hockham
