18 July 2023 (Term 3 Week 1)
Principal's News
WELCOME BACK
A warm welcome back to students and their families for Term 3. We hope our families had a restful and relaxing winter break. The Church reminds us that these times are important to rejuvenate our spirits and to re-create ourselves through recreation - spending time with our families is an important part of this process. We are looking forward to another wonderful semester of learning and growing in a spirit of community at St Joseph’s.
Sunday's Gospel reminds us of the vital roles parents, carers, and teachers play as sharers of the gospel message. In Matthew 13:1-23, Jesus tells the Parable of the Sower. Like all of Jesus’ parables, there are hard teachings to interpret. This parabel may be one of the hardest, because when, after telling it, Jesus’ disciples confess their struggle to understand, Jesus does what he had never done before—he explained the parable to them. Clearly this was a message that he felt was incredibly important for his followers to understand.
We, as parents, carers and teachers, are like the sower described in the parable, entrusted with sowing the seeds of our faith. Just as different types of ground receive the seeds differently, our children respond to the Word of God in various ways. Our duty is to nurture their faith, helping them overcome challenges, distractions, and temptations. Together, let us cultivate fertile hearts that bear abundant fruit for God.
STAFF CHANGES
This semester sees a few small staffing changes. This is to ensure our two Assistant Principals have the time available to engage in the capacity building aspect of their roles. We welcome Mrs Tammy Bakeberg, who has joined us full time in Stage 1. Tammy has recently joined our community after moving to Australia from South Africa. We also welcome Tammy’s daughter Charlotte who will be joining the Kindergarten class. She will work alongside Mrs Ros McElligott to support students in Years 1 and 2 for the rest of the year. We also welcome back Ms Charlotte White after her extended break last term.
Mrs Liana Daley, who has been working two days per week in Stage 1 and needs to remain part-time, will move to Stage 3 for the rest of the year. Mrs Daley has made a significant contribution to the students in Stage 1 this year, supporting their learning and building strong relationships. I know she will be sorely missed by her students and their families; however, our Stage 3 learners will greatly benefit from Mrs Daley’s care, compassion and depth of experience. Mrs Daley’s move to Stage 3 allows Mrs Emma Keough, who has been supporting Stage 3 and Stage 2 two days per week each, to move to four days per week with Stage 2. Mr Crosby will support the key morning instructional sessions in both Stages 2 and 3 one day per week.
The change necessitates a swap of the Stage 2 and 3 STEM days. Stage 2’s STEM day will now be Wednesday and Stage 3’s STEM day will be Thursday of the even weeks of term.
We thank our parents and carers for their understanding of the need to make this change and for their ongoing support.
Learning & Teaching News
GIFT OF THE GAB
This term we will be running our ‘Gift of the Gab’ public speaking competition. Students are invited to take part in the competition that will take place during lunch times in week 5, with the winners showcasing their talent at our school assembly.
Finalists from each stage will have the opportunity to represent our school by competing against other schools in the area at St Carthages, Lismore. Further information and criteria will be given to students and parents soon.
It is important to note that students wishing to enter the competition will work on their poetry recital or speech in their own time. We look forward to listening to our students' ideas.
Mission News
ACCENDERE
Next Tuesday, 25th July, our Year 4 students will be participating in a retreat day called ‘Accendere’. This retreat day is part of our Diocesan retreat schedule and supports our students to understand how they can grow in friendship with one another. The retreat deepens student understanding of what Jesus teaches us about the loving ways in which we can reach out to one another in friendship, showing care and compassion for those around us.
Year 4 parents have been sent a google form to complete to indicate that their child is allowed to enjoy the sausage sizzle provided on the day.
Students may wear casual clothes for this retreat. Please ensure all clothing and footwear is appropriate for school and team-building games. This includes covered shoes, school hats for play time, t-shirts with sleeves and knee-length shorts/skirts/dresses.
MINI VINNIES WINTER APPEAL - CAKE STALL
The last of our Mini Vinnies Winter Appeal fundraisers is next Monday 24th July at lunchtime. Students are invited to purchase a treat from our Stage 3 Social Justice leaders at the canteen. All money raised goes directly towards the purchase of Nakie Outdoor Blankets for those sleeping rough this winter.
If your child is keen to bake on Sunday afternoon, we would love any donations for the cake stall. These can be delivered to the canteen before school. Baking with your child for this stall is a wonderful opportunity to engage in social justice as a family and engage in conversation about caring for those in need. Gluten and lactose free cake options are available.
Thank you all for supporting our school and parish community in this worthwhile venture!
KICK-IT GROUPS
This Friday afternoon, students will begin Kick-It groups for Term 3. Our focus for this term is the 2023 NAIDOC theme ‘For Our Elders’. Mr Murgha has developed rich learning experiences for our students and engaged community elders who will speak with our students. These groups will run on the alternate Friday to our school assemblies.
Sport News
NDIS SPORTS ABILITY INCLUSION PROGRAM
This week we will be joined by David ‘DJ” Johnson, a Paralympian wheelchair tennis player, from the NDIS Sports Ability Inclusion Program. DJ will be speaking with our children about disability and inclusion, whilst also teaching them wheelchair sports skills. All children from Kinder to Stage 3 will participate in small workshops. Wednesday - Kinder and Stage 1, Thursday - Stage 3, Friday - Stage 2.
ZONE ATHLETICS
Next Thursday, the Zone Athletics Carnival is going ahead at St John’s College Woodlawn. For your child to attend this event, permission and payment must have been given on the Compass event. It is extremely important that the information in this event is read as we will be departing school before the bell to allow us the appropriate time to get to the venue. Any children in the 1500m Event will require private transport as this event is run early on the day. If your child is unable to attend, please decline the event or let Miss MacDonald know.
ATHLETICS CARNIVAL RESULTS
At the end of last term we presented the Champion House trophy, Age Champion medals and ribbons for place winners. Congratulations to Cawley house our champions on the day, and to McCarthy (2nd place) and Dara (3rd place).
| 8 Years - Tess Jones and Hugo McCall | 9 Years - Jordy Thompson and Rory Quinlan |
| 10 Years - Sophie Gonzales- Yule and Sully Mitchell | 11 Years - Josie Layland and Dannon Pucci-McDermott |
| 12 Years - Penny Hodge and Will Gallagher |
Library News
LIBRARY CLASSES
Library classes resume this week for all students. Any books that were borrowed for holiday reading or were overdue from last term need to be brought back this week.
BOOKCLUB
Bookclub Issue 5 will be going home with students on Tuesday 18 July. In this issue Scholastic are offering free books with purchase, see the website and the brochure for terms and conditions. LOOP is the easiest way to order, please make sure you select your students Stage to make distribution easier. All orders must be placed by 9am Tuesday 1st August.
Wellbeing News
SEASONS FOR GROWTH
Families are invited to nominate their child in the Seasons for Growth program over the coming months. We will run sessions for students from S1-S3 during terms 3 & 4 in small groups. Please contact Nikki Wagner at the school or your child’s teacher to have further information sent home.
Congratulations to our S1 group of participants who celebrate completing their Seasons for Growth journey with a little “party” this Wednesday afternoon.
For Your Information
LOST PROPERTY
At the end of last term we passed many jumpers onto Second Hand Uniforms as they were unnamed and unidentifiable. REMINDER - please clearly mark your child’s name on all their belongings so that in the event of items being misplaced, they can be returned to your child when found.
FEE REMINDER
Term 3 accounts will be invoiced shortly. In preparation for this, could you please ensure that all outstanding fees are paid in full. If you have a fee arrangement in place, please ensure that you are upholding the agreed terms of this arrangement. Thank you for your support in this regard.
Celebrations
We congratulate Harriet Smith and her sister Addison who were both baptised in the Our Lady of the Rosary Parish on Sunday 2nd of June. We will kep you both and your families in our prayers as you continue a life-long journey to become closer to God.
Heavenly Father, In your love you have called us to know you, led us to trust you, and bound our life with yours. Surround these children with your love. Fill them with the Holy Spirit and receive them into the family of your church, that they may walk with us in the way of Christ, and grow in the knowledge of your love.
Amen.
Coming Events
Our school calendar, wih all of the important dates for 2023, is available for everyoine to view. Click on the "St Joseph's School Calendar" link below or in the Compass app click on the "Calendar" button. You will notice we have added Library and STEM days for each stage.
Acknowledgement of Country
Jingi Walla ( Jin-gee-wah-la ) Hello….
As we journey on this land of the Bundjalung Nation on which St Joseph’s stands, we pay our respects to the Elders - the past, present and emerging leaders of the Bundjalung Nation. We acknowledge and respect their culture, their heritage and their beliefs as stewards of the land, sea, the earth and heavens, animals and vegetation.