20 August 2024 (Week 5 Term 3 2024)
Dear St Joseph’s Community
It is honestly hard to believe that we are approaching the mid-point of the term, with Family Day fast approaching this Friday! More on this below!
As you would know, we have had a fair amount of sickness in the school community. We thank parents for their flexibility when students have needed to be sent home and for keeping your children at home when they are too unwell for school. Fingers crossed that with the warmer weather, we might be a healthier community going forward!
We are still seeking entrants for the Gift of the Gab poetry and public speaking competition. Please see below for more details. This is a great tradition in our school, and we look forward to hearing the amazing performances of students starting next week!
Can I recommend to all parents the Parenting in the Age of Distraction event below on Monday 9th of September? It will be a terrific presentation with practical ways for us parents to support our children in the new age we are in.
Looking forward to sharing Friday with you at Family Day!
FAMILY DAY
Family Day is nearly here! Thank you to all the families for RSVPing for the meal. We encourage parents and siblings to join in the fun and to dress up as something magical or from a book. A reminder that there will be a coffee cart (like at the Athletics Carnival) on the oval for parents to purchase coffee and tea. We know parents cannot always be there for the whole day, so please feel free to stay for whatever time you are able. Thanks to those who volunteered to help with the BBQ and cake stall. A picnic rug for lunch might be a good idea to bring too! Looking forward to sharing the day with you!
FAMILY DAY REMINDERS
The canteen will be selling softdrinks (for adults only), cold drinks, lollies and iceblocks - cash only.
The coffee cart will be selling hot drinks from the lower part of the playground.
The book fair is open all day and will be accepting cash and EFTPOS payments.
Bring some coins to purchase a treat from the cake stall.
Bring your morning tea, a picnic blanket and drink bottles.
If students are leaving before 3:20 they MUST be signed out at administration.
FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION
Last Thursday, our students from Years 3-6 had the privilege of attending Mass to celebrate the Feast of the Assumption, a significant day in the Catholic calendar, with Fr Max. This feast reminds us of the deep love and respect we hold for Mary, the Mother of Jesus, who was assumed body and soul into heaven. Mary is not only the mother of Jesus but also our good mother. She shows us the way to live a life of faith, humility, and obedience to God. In her role as our heavenly mother, Mary constantly intercedes for us, guiding us closer to her Son, Jesus. Through her example, we learn the importance of saying "yes" to God's call in our lives, just as she did. As we reflect on the Feast of the Assumption, may we all strive to follow Mary’s example of faithfulness and trust in God, and may we always feel her loving presence guiding and protecting us.
FIRST EUCHARIST AND PANCAKE SUNDAY - 25th AUGUST
We have a number of our students receiving the sacrament of the First Communion at Masses this weekend and next weekend. Receiving the Eucharist marks a complete entry into the mysteries of the Catholic faith for these young people. The Eucharist is the ‘source and summit’ of our faith. It is both the sustainer and the pinnacle of our Catholic life, giving us the grace to love one another. Please pray for our students as they receive this beautiful sacrament. The parish has a long tradition of the Parish Pastoral Council hosting a pancake Sunday Morning Tea after Mass. This will be held this coming Sunday in the school hall after the 8:30 am Mass. The pancakes are always terrific, and I hope to see you there!
SCRIPTURE REFLECTION
In John 6:51-58, Jesus says, "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world." This powerful statement calls us to recognise the deep spiritual nourishment Jesus offers through the Eucharist. As parents, our role extends beyond caring for our children's physical and emotional needs; we are also entrusted with nurturing their spiritual growth. The Eucharist is not just a symbol but a real encounter with Jesus, the "living bread," who sustains us. To effectively guide our children on their faith journey, we must first nourish our own spiritual lives. Just as we ensure our children are fed and cared for, we must also ensure our souls are filled with the grace that comes from receiving the Eucharist. By doing so, we can lead our families with the wisdom, strength, and love that only Jesus can provide, helping our children grow strong in their faith and secure in their relationship with God.
You are invited to listen to Bishop Greg’s Homily from Sunday’s Mass.
RIGHT TO DISCONNECT LEGISLATION
Dear Parents and Carers
You may be aware that a recent change in workplace legislation has introduced the right for employees to disconnect outside of their working hours. This new law will come into effect on 26 August 2024.
Our teachers are committed to providing the best education and support for your children. To ensure they can maintain a healthy work-life balance and deliver their best during working hours, the new legislation allows them to refrain from monitoring, reading, or responding to work-related communications outside of their scheduled hours.
We kindly ask for your understanding and cooperation in regard to this new legislation.
Here are a few points to keep in mind:
- Response Time: You are, of course, welcome to send emails and messages at a time convenient to you, however, please understand that if sent to a teacher outside of their working hours, they may not respond until they are back on duty.
- Urgent Matters: If you have an urgent concern, please consider whether it can be addressed during working hours. If immediate attention is required, please email the school email address, alstp@lism.catholic.edu.au , which is regularly monitored.
- Ongoing communication: We will continue to communicate important updates and information in a timely manner. However, non-urgent inquiries will be addressed during the teachers' working hours.
Thank you for your support and understanding as we implement this important change.
BIRTHDAY PARTY INVITATIONS
We kindly ask that birthday party invitations not be passed on to teachers or administration staff to be distributed to recipients. Instead, we encourage students to distribute their invitations personally. This approach helps us maintain a fair and inclusive environment for all our students. Thank you for your understanding and support in this matter.
SCHOOL COMMUNITY GROUP MEETING TUESDAY 3RD SEPTEMBER
Our next School Community Group Meeting will be held in the staffroom at 6:30 pm on Tuesday, 3rd September.
Here is a link to RSVP and to propose any items for feedback. The draft agenda, based on feedback from last term’s meeting, is below.
PARENTING IN THE AGE OF DISTRACTION
Our Parent Assembly Team, collaborating with the Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools, has organised an excellent parent learning event, hosted here at St Joseph’s. We have invited Angela Lockwood, Occupational therapist, author, podcaster and parenting guru, to present a session titled Parenting in the Age of Distraction: Raise Resilient, focused and connected kids.
The session will be held in the hall on Monday 9th of September. Refreshments will be available from 6:00 pm and Angela will speak from 6.30 pm - 8:00 pm. This promises to be an excellent session, and I encourage families to come along if you are able.
About the Workshop
In our fast-paced world filled with screens and endless distractions, parenting has become a delicate balancing act. Parenting in the Age of Distraction is a practical and engaging workshop designed specifically for parents of school-aged children. Although the digital space has impacted our children’s ability to focus and connect, there are many other distractions vying for our children’s attention.Parenting in the Age Of Distraction provides a supportive space for parents to gain insights, share experiences, and develop a personalised toolkit for raising resilient, focused, and emotionally connected children in today's digital and distracting age.
Themes Covered
- Technology and its impact on childhood development.
- Cultivating focus in kids.
- Nurturing healthy habits.
- Parental distraction and behaviour modelling.
- Practical parenting strategies to raise resilient, confident and connected kids.
A flyer is attached below but you can register for the event via this Google Form.
BELL TIME REMINDER
Our new bell times can be found on page 7 of the parent handbook. Here is the link. They are also summarised below:
- 8:30 am Supervision begins
- 8:57 am Bell to move to lines
- 9:00 am Morning organisation and fruit break
- 9:05 am Morning Block - English
- 10:55 am Lunch - Play Time
- 11:15 am Lunch - Mealtime
- 11:30 am Middle Block - Maths and Religion
- 1:20 pm Recess - Mealtime
- 1:30 pm Recess - Play Time
- 1:50 pm Afternoon Block - Other KLAs
- 3:13 pm Pack up and prepare for home
- 3:17 pm Final Bell and Dismissal
GOLD AWARD AFTERNOON TEAS
In the last two weeks, I’ve enjoyed an afternoon tea with our Gold Award Recipients. This is a lovely recognition of how consistently they have met the school expectations and demonstrated our school values of safety, effort, respect and self-responsibility. I was also impressed by how politely they shared food and engaged in conversation with one another while we shared our meal.
SCHOOL FEES LETTER FROM ADAM SPENCER, DIRECTOR OF DIOCESE OF LISMORE CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
Please read this important announcement from Adam Spencer the Direct of Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools, in relation to school fees for the 2025 school year. Please note that with the change to the company governance model for schools in our diocese, school fees are no longer set by our school but centrally by Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.
FIRST COMMUNION & PANCAKE SUNDAY
Congratulations to all our First Communicants this weekend! Don’t forget that this Sunday is Pancake Sunday after the 8.30am Mass. Everyone is welcome to come along and enjoy a pancake and catch up with our beautiful parish community.
MULTIPLICATION AND DIVISION
Multiplication and division can often seem challenging for students, but they can become much easier to grasp with the right approach. As students build up their number facts and develop effective strategies, they'll start making meaningful connections that enhance their mathematical understanding. To support this, here are a few engaging games designed to reinforce these concepts in a fun and interactive way.
DICE MULTIPLICATION GAME
- Players roll two different coloured dice (eg red and white).
- The red dice indicates the number of groups to make, and the white dice indicates the number in each group.
- Use objects to make groups or draw an array to model the situation.
- Each player predicts and then proves the total number in their collection.
- The other players agree or challenge the solution.
QUESTION PROMPTS
- How many groups?
- How many in each group?
- Is there a quicker way to find the total?
- How many would there be if you had another group or row?
EVEN GROUPS GAME
- Each player grabs a handful of counters/pasta shells/lego blocks etc.
- Work out if you can organise your objects into equal groups
- Score a point for how many different ways you can organise them into even groups
- Repeat until one player reaches 10 points
FACTOR TRIANGLES
Concepts covered: Multiplication, division
Equipment: a deck of cards
Good questions to ask while playing: “Why did you set your triangle up like that?”; “What card are you hoping for?”; “What about if you rearranged your cards/triangle?”; “Do you have to have the __ cards at the top? What are your other options?”; “Can you check if I have won?”
GIFT OF THE GAB 2024
Click the link below to view the Zone Public Speaking Competition Guidelines. You will find:
- Schools and schedule
- Outline and processes
- Choosing a topic
- Judging criteria
2024 Zone Public Speaking Guidelines
DIOCESAN ATHLETICS
We wish the following students the best of luck as they compete at the Dio Athletics carnival today:
- Spencer Birkwood - JNR boys 4x100m relay
- Jack Kubils - JNR boys shot put and discus
- Layla Vu - 9yr girls 100m
- Rory Quinlan - JNR boys 4x100m relay and 100m
- Orlando Speidel - JNR boys 4x100m relay
- Jordy Thompson - 10yr girls 100m and long jump
- Jonty Allen - 11yrs Multi 100m and long jump
- Henry Buchanan - 11yrs long jump
- Maeve Crook - 12 yrs 100m
- Zeke Kubils - SNR Boys shot-put and discus
- Griffin Roberts - JNR boys 4x100m relay
PSSA FOOTBALL TRIALS
Next week, Sully Mitchell (Year 6) will be travelling to Tamworth to compete in the PSSA Football (Soccer) Trials. This competition sees Sully competing against other skilled football players in NSW. We wish him luck and look forward to hearing how he goes.
STAGE 3 SPORTS GALA DAY
Next Friday our Stage 3 children will participate in the Stage 3 Gala Day with other children from our Zone. The Compass events for the Gala day have been shared with Stage 3 families. Children will be spread across 3 different venues on Friday, 30th August; competitive football, netball and multisport. All additional information including clothing, lunch and timetables will be available in the Events.
NO LIBRARY CLASSES THIS WEEK
Due to our Family Day celebrations and our book fair there will be no library classes this week. Students can return and borrow in week 6. Looking forward to seeing you all at the book fair!
