12 March 2024 (Week 7 Term 1 2024)
Principal's News
Dear St Joseph’s Community
Last week, we held our first opportunity for parent-teacher conferences for the 2024 year. The decision to schedule these meetings earlier in the year was to allow parents, carers and teachers to meet to discuss how students were settling into the new academic year, to discuss the Mathematics (MAI) data gathered at the beginning of the year, and the recently gathered Reading data (DIBELS). We hope these meetings provided a good opportunity to come together around your child’s learning. We look forward to our next opportunity to meet after the distribution of our Semester 1 Reports. We sincerely thank parents and carers for their engagement in these meetings; working in partnership to support children in their learning is so important. I would also like to acknowledge our teachers for their hard work in preparing for and hosting these meetings.
This evening, we have a number of students receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This is an important Sacrament of Healing, leading our young people into full communion with the church. We look forward to sharing some photographs in next week’s newsletter. Please keep these young people in your prayers.
MANAGING SCREEN TIME
The eSafety Commissioner has some very good resources available to support parents with managing their children’s screen time. I’ve added below 7 tips to support parents with setting clear boundaries for their child’s engagement with technology.
I can also recommend the free resource, Real Talk. It has information for parents on online behaviours and safety, among many other relevant topics. Please see the flyer below to access this.
SCRIPTURE REFLECTION
This Sunday’s Gospel reading for the fourth Sunday of Lent, John 3:14-21, highlights a universal theme: the power of light over darkness. This idea transcends religious boundaries, reminding us that kindness and understanding can illuminate the darkest of times.
In his Sunday homily, Bishop Greg speaks of how Jesus demands much of us - to love others and to serve and to build a friendship with Him. This is hard, especially in a modern world, where we don’t like to have any demands placed upon us. But Jesus calls us to do more - to live a life in service of others. Every small act of kindness contributes to a brighter place for everyone.
You are invited to listen to Bishop Greg’s Homily from Sunday’s Mass.
RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS COLLECTION
The Australian Government Department of Education will be undertaking a residential address collection in March 2024. The Catholic Schools Office will centrally collect, collate and furnish this data from the schools’ Compass system. Please ensure your school data is accurate and up to date before the collection takes place in the week beginning 11 March, 2024. For more information please read the memo below.
PARENT CONSENT AND STUDENT DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES USERS AGREEMENT
At St Joseph’s Primary Alstonville, we use a variety of digital technologies to promote engagement and creativity across the learning areas. The attached Parental Consent and Student Digital Technology User Agreement 2024 provides our families and students with the processes in place to build responsible digital citizens and also helps create an understanding of the expectations when using digital technology throughout the school year. This is a new process initiated by the Catholic Schools Office. The Parent Consent and User Agreement will now become an annual form we ask parents to complete.
Please take the time to read through the attached Digital Technologies User Agreement with your child. You can locate the agreement by clicking on this link.
If you have more than one child at St Joseph’s Alstonville, you will be required to complete this with each of your children.
A PDF copy of the signed agreement will be emailed to your nominated email address for your records and also to our school to be kept on file.
If a parent or carer could please complete this form within the next two weeks, we would be very appreciative.
Thank you for your continued support of your child and for promoting the responsible use of Digital Technology at St Joseph's. If you have any questions, please reach out via the school email.
Learning & Teaching News
NAPLAN FOR YEARS 3 AND 5 2024
The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is a point-in-time assessment of literacy and numeracy skills. Each year, students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9 participate in tests for writing, reading, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy.
NAPLAN will take place on the following days:
- Wednesday 13 March : Yr 3 and 5 Writing
- Thursday 14 March : Yr 3 and 5 Reading
- Friday 15 March : Yr 3 and 5 Conventions of Language
- Monday 18 March : Yr 3 and 5 Numeracy
Students MUST have working headphones for the NAPLAN tests (no wireless or bluetooth headphones).
If you have any questions about NAPLAN, please contact your child’s teacher.
SUPPORTING YOUR CHILD’S SPELLING
This spelling glossary describes the terminology we use in our classroom to teach spelling. Below are some useful tips for helping your child spell at home
- Some words just need a lot of practice before they are remembered easily. Choose just a couple of these ‘problem’ words to practise daily in a fun way until they are learned, then move on to new words.
- Put the ‘problem’ words in short sentences to dictate to your child.
- Explain the meaning of the words that your child is spelling.
- Refer to the glossary. What could help us spell the words correctly? Is it clapping the syllables, identifying the base word or choosing the correct grapheme?
- Keep positive when correcting any spelling mistakes.
GARDINER CHESS COMPETITION
The Gardiner Chess Tournament will be held on Thursday 4th April, hosted by Emmanuel Anglican College, Ballina. Registration is from 8.30 am to 9.15 am. Start at 9.30 am and finish around 2.30 pm.
This Tournament is open to students in Stages 1-3. To be eligible to attend, students should know the rules of chess and be able to play confidently. We will likely need parent volunteers to drive students to and from this event.
The cost of the Tournament is $24.00.
Expressions of interest are due by Friday 22nd March.
Please complete this form to indicate your child's interest in this event.
Mission News
FIRST RECONCILIATION THIS TUESDAY
Many students in Year 4 and above will be making their First Reconciliation this Tuesday at 6pm in the Church. All members of our parish-school community are warmly invited to join us for this special sacrament.
CONFIRMATION INFORMATION EVENING
A friendly reminder the information evening for Confirmation is Wednesday, 20th March at 6pm in the school staff room. Baptised students in Year 3 (and above) are invited to enrol in this special sacrament. Bishop Greg will Confirm our students on Tuesday, 21st May.
If you haven’t already returned your enrolment form, you are invited to do so before or on the night. Enrolment forms will be available on the night if you need one.
ST JOSEPH’S DAY MASS
You are warmly invited to join us in celebrating St Joseph’s Feast Day with Mass in McCarthy Hall at 10am on Tuesday 19th March.
PARISH SCHOOL MASS
On Saturday, 23rd March, we have a Parish-School Family Mass at 6pm. We warmly invite all our families to come and join us for this special Mass. Our Stage 3 students will have many special roles throughout the Mass and they look forward to seeing the many younger students in our school family there.
PROJECT COMPASSION ART COMPETITION
We are delighted to have an art competition to raise awareness and funds for Project Compassion during the Lent. Please drop your entries off to the front office with a gold coin donation. There will be a K-2 prize and 3-6 prize which will be announced after our Holy Week Liturgy on Wednesday, 27th March. We can’t wait to see the work our students create!
You can also donate to our Project Compassion campaign using this QR code.
Sport News
WINTER SPORTS TRIALS
Last week 9 of our children represented our Zone at the Diocesan Winter Sports Trials in Grafton. All of our children showed great skills and sportsmanship on the day. We will celebrate all of the children that attended during our next school assembly.
We congratulate the following students who will compete at Polding Trials in Tamworth:
- Rugby League: Zeke Kubils.
- Netball: Lulu Barnes
- Football (Soccer): Sully Mitchell
- Hockey: Emma Quinlan, Harry Hosking and Tyler Webster.
Wellbeing News
POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR SUPPORT - PARENT FEEDBACK SOUGHT
As part of our school improvement plan, our staff have been working on a consistent, whole-school approach to positive behaviour support.
Over the past 12 months, our staff have been refining effective strategies to support positive student behaviour. Every Monday morning, we introduce our whole school value focus for the week and learn about the positive behaviours related to it. To further develop these positive behaviours in the classroom, each class co-constructed positively-framed expected behaviours for learning aligned to our four school values; safety, effort, respect and self-responsibility. We celebrate our students demonstrating these values through the class awards at our fortnightly assembly.
To further improve our processes for supporting positive behaviour, supported by the experts of the Catholic Schools Office, our staff have drafted an evidence-informed process to follow for minor and major student behaviours. This process is designed to help remind, redirect and support students to stay or return to on-task, positive behaviour. This process includes how behaviour requiring reflection will be communicated with parents and caregivers. It will replace the previously used Behaviour Benchmarks.
We warmly encourage all parents and caregivers to come and hear about our draft process and offer feedback on it on Thursday, 4th April at one of two sessions: 2pm or 7pm. If you are able to attend please complete this form. We appreciate your partnership as we improve our whole school approach to pastoral care and learning through positive behaviour support processes.
We look forward to hearing your feedback and refining this new flowchart before we begin to plan to implement this process.
Library News
OUR LIBRARY IN ACTION
Our library is a hive of activity here at Joeys. Students love to come in and enjoy all we have on offer.
Did you know the library is open before school, lunch time and recess every day?
Mornings in the library are for quiet reading only. Students can use this time to relax and have a gentle start to their day. Many students also use this time to borrow and return their books. Students can come in to relax and enjoy a quiet space.
Lunchtime in the library is LOUD! It is definitely not a quiet space at lunch. Mrs Graveson and I regularly have over 50 students in the space at lunchtime to join in a myriad of activities. Students can read, draw, play chess and other board games, create in the maker space, construct in Legoland, and gather to spend time with their friends. Currently we have loom bands in action. Students are teaching each other how to make these and the results are stunning! We have some really keen stage 2 boys who are leading the process and showing great support to their fellow students. We are also supporting students to create their recycled art for Project Compassion. Students are using recycled books to make beautiful art works which we are displaying in the library.
Recess time is a calm and creative space. Students are encouraged to draw and read during this time. It isn’t a quiet time but it is relaxed, the perfect location for students wanting some time out from the hubbub of outside play.
The library is also a learning space. The library is regularly used for literacy small group work. This breakout space is an extension of the classroom where students can work on developing their literacy skills under the guidance of our Enrichment Tutors and Mr Challinor.
Here at Joeys we are committed to providing our students with spaces during breaks to meet their needs. Our library is not only a hub for reading, it is a place of wellbeing and togetherness. We focus on building strong relationships through play, in a welcoming, supportive environment.
SCHOLASTIC BOOK CLUB ISSUE 2
Issue 2 orders are now open, brochures have been distributed to students.
Please place your orders online through LOOP. You can also place orders through the school office if you prefer to use cash. Orders close at 9am on Wednesday 27 March. Our library benefits from every sale through bookclub and there are a great variety of books to choose from.
Attendance Matters
EXPECT YOUR CHILD TO BE AT SCHOOL EVERY DAY
Setting the expectation for your child to be at school every day is a fundamental aspect of fostering a positive attitude toward education and establishing good attendance habits.
Clearly communicate to your child that attending school regularly is a top priority. If your child faces challenges related to attendance, such as reluctance or anxiety about going to school, address these issues promptly. Open communication with the school can help identify and resolve any underlying concerns.
You can seek advice free from NSW ParentLine 1300 1300 52.
For Your Information
SCHOOL PHOTOS
Our 2024 School Photo Day is scheduled for Tuesday March 26. Order envelopes (cash orders) have been sent home with the eldest child in each family, and if missed or lost can be collected from the office. Sibling order envelopes are also available from the office. Online orders are preferable using the information below, code is FVN BRY PY4.
Celebrations
TEACHER AWARDS
Congratulations to the following students who received awards at our Friday assembly.
Kindy: Victoria Willacy, Toby Colnan
Stage 1: Marcellus Dewhurst, Corey Commens,Ocean Appelkamp, Henry Brady, Juliet Young, Archie Cormack, Addison Bambrook
Stage 2: Oliver Adams, Leo Nolan, Layla Vu, Noah Moss, Poppy Elmsly, Damon Szeto
Stage 3: Aya Bennett, Henry Buchanan, Lachlan Thorpe, Nate Towns, Finlay Baker, Amala Chee
GOLD AWARDS
Congratulations to the following children who received Gold Awards.
Marlon Aitken, Griffin Roberts, Archie Cormick, Lucy Van Eck, Kassian Ronczka
Coming Events
ANZAC DAY 2024
Please mark your calendars for ther ANZAC Day March and Main Service at Alstonville on 25th April 2024. The March will start from the Paddy Bugden VC Memorial in Bugden Avenue at 9.40 am (Form-up at 9.15am) and then proceed to Elizabeth Ann Brown Park for the Main Service which will begin at 10am.
There will also be a Dawn Service at Elizabeth Ann Brown Park commencing at 5.30am.
Our school commenoration service will be held on Monday 29 April starting at 2:20 in McCarthy Hall.
Parish News
Community News
