Term 2 Week 3

What's on at St Joey's

Principal's Messages

Dear Parents and Carers, 

As we move into week 3 of the term, I write to ask you for your prayerful support of a number of our families who are experiencing great sadness and challenges. Kinder teacher Mrs Schumacher and her family grieve the sudden loss of her youngest son Liam. Liam is the uncle of Bella and a well known member of our community and ex student of St Joseph’s. We pray that the Schumacher family can draw comfort from the loving memories of Liam in their lives. 

Deepest sympathy to the Evans family on the passing of Jacob’s grandmother and the Matthews family on the passing of Oscar’s grandfather. It is such a sad time when we lose loved ones, as the loss causes a hole in our lives. But in faith we know they have entered eternal life with God and are still with us in our hearts, love and memories. 

We also pray for Kim Biddleston, mum of Summer who is very ill at this time. We continue to keep Michelle Turner's daughter Flo in our prayers as she receives ongoing treatment for brain cancer. I am grateful to those in our community who are supporting these families. 

Congratulations to the Evans family on the birth of baby sister, for Aurora and Lillian. We wish you all much love and happiness with your new family member.

Following on with some more happy news, my family will be celebrating our son, Lachlan’s wedding next week. The first of our 5 to get married! I will be taking one weeks long service leave to enjoy this special time with our family. My eldest, Jack and partner Sari will also be home from Japan which is also exciting! 

In other news, Mrs Nikki Norley has been seconded to St Peter’s Stockton as acting Principal for 2 weeks and will return to St Joseph’s when I am on leave. If you have any concerns please contact Nikki in my absence. I also thank Mrs Kathyrn Hill who is acting Assistant Principal in Nikki’s absence. This movement all happened very quickly as we were called upon to assist our diocesan school. We are blessed at St Joseph’s to have experienced and expert staff to step up into these positions ensuring support at our school and minimal disruption, making it possible for us to assist others. 

Huge congratulations to Sophie, Harry and Flynn who trialled at the Polding Football trials in Tamworth in Week 1. We are very proud of you all! Harry was selected into the Polding team which is an amazing achievement. He will compete at the NSWPSSA Boys Football Championships, in Griffith later this year. Well done to Harry!

There is a lot of sickness around at the moment with flu season starting. Please continue to follow health guidelines and keep children home if they are unwell. Continue to encourage good hand hygiene to minimise the spread of illness. 

School Fee statements have been sent home and I thank those who have finalised fees already or who have set up regular payments to ensure this commitment is met. Amale will be calling families this week to assist with payment arrangements if no payments have been received as yet. If you are experiencing financial difficulty, please contact me to discuss ways to support you.  

Last week and this week I am conducting Kinder 2024 interviews and tours. It is so lovely to meet our prospective new students and their families as well as siblings of current students. What a privilege to be able to offer a quality education in a caring and supportive community to a new group of students. We have great interest for 2024 with 20 sibilings on the list and another 25 new families. If you know of someone wanting Kinder placement for 2024 please tell them to contact our office. Letters of Offer will be sent at the end of the month.

This week you can meet more members of our staff with our new Leanring Support Teacher, Heidi Routley, working Mon/Tues/Wed in collaboration with Mrs Christie on Thurs/Fri. Heidi's profile is below.

Happy Mother’s Day to all our mothers and grandmothers. I hope you all enjoy a special day on Sunday with your loved ones.  May God bless you and your families too!

Kate Drake

News from the Assistant Principal

Leading Learning Collaborate (LLC) - Dr Lyn Sharratt Visiting

 Last week the St Joseph’s leadership team recently had the opportunity to attend the Leading Learning Collaborative Lynne Sharratt Professional Learning Day.

 Collaborative inquiry is a process where educators work together to examine and improve their practice. Lynne Sharratt is a renowned educator and author who advocates for this approach. She emphasises the importance of building trust, establishing clear goals, and using data to guide decision-making. Collaborative inquiry can lead to meaningful and sustainable improvements in teaching and learning.

The St Joseph’s leadership team was excited to participate in this event, as it allowed us to network with other leaders from across the region, and engage in meaningful discussions about how to enhance the learning experiences for students.

As educators we look forward to putting our new learning into practice to foster meaningful change and further improve our great school.

 Wishing you a lovely Mother’s day weekend ahead.

with every best wish,

Nikki Norley

Assistant Principal

From the Office of Safeguarding

News from the Religious Coordinator

Mothers Day

On Friday the 12^th May we will celebrate Mother’s Day at SJC.  Mother’s Grandmothers and mother like figures are invited to join us on the tar for breakfast followed by a liturgy led by year 2. We hope you can join us.

Catholic Schools Week

During the week of the 15-19 May 2023, we celebrate Catholic Schools Week. An annual event that recognises and acknowledges the sacred work of our schools and how they seek to journey with every student. Each moment of that journey presents opportunities to encounter the Mystery and all-embracing love of God: through our relationships, our learnings, our liturgical celebrations. As our Church engages in a process of synodality, which literally translates to ‘journeying together,’ we accompany our young people in a process that listens, discerns, and responds. By walking together in faith and love, we are inspired by the Holy Spirit to live more fully and resonantly in the freedom of God.

This year our Catholic Schools Week theme is “Encounter: Journeying Together,” which reminds us that we are called to be Easter people – those who are committed to building joy-filled communities who are constantly seeking unity and belonging. Such times call for us to accompany others along the road, meeting them where they are at, hearing the things that set their hearts on fire, and those that express their disappointments and anger. Like the two disciples heading towards Emmaus (Lk 24:13:35), Jesus does not tell them to turn back, rather He walks alongside them and listens deeply. He doesn’t just talk to them at a distance, He meets them and encounters them.

Our mission is to live within the tension between the convictions of the Church and the questions of the world. As we accompany one another, we become Christ for one another, opening up together the mysteries of life and faith. This is at the heart of our theme this year.

During this significant week, may we strive to live in active service of Jesus and His mission as we celebrate together during Catholic Schools Week and always.

We will celebrate Catholic School’s Week on the 17^th May starting at 10am with a liturgy at school, led by Fr Tony and the year 3 students. We will then have open classrooms until 11:30am. We hope you can join us.

Sacramental News

The sacramental program has just commenced for students who are preparing for reconciliation. This sacrament is a celebration of God’s love and mercy. It celebrates the call to turn back to God and away from the mistakes in life which we all make which can weigh us down. Please keep our sacramental participants in your prayers.

News from the Primary Coordinator

On the last day of Term 1 our staff participated in a Maths PD with Dr Angela Rogers and Dr Bernadette Long from Simply Maths who presented our teachers with the latest research-based evidence to assist them to better identify and overcome common student place value misconceptions. Throughout these two sessions staff covered various aspects of teaching Numeracy as well as developing their understanding of the importance of Place Value and Problem Solving. Our staff have enjoyed implementing these knew learnings, strategies, and games in the classroom with their students. We look forward to sharing more about our School Improvement Goal around Place Value in the coming weeks.

Happy Birthday to the following students

We wish the following students are very happy birthday for the month of May.

Sports News

Last Saturday Aston and Frederick from kindergarten had the opportunity to play Auskick at halftime of the Sydney Swans vs the GWS Giants AFL game at the SCG. They both played in front of about 38,000 people and loved it. 

News from the Classrooms

This year, we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War. During week one, our Stage 3 students gained a deeper understanding of the complex historical and political context surrounding the war, as well as the personal experiences of those who lived through it. 

We are thrilled to share with you the incredible creative responses that our Stage 3 our students produced while learning about the Vietnam War. 

Conscription

The water splashes behind the boat. 

It is barely staying afloat. 

Mothers and fathers are crying back at the dock . 

The flock of birds are together . 

With the wind brushing the feather. 

Out of Australia is a war torn land. 

This was not the vacation I had planned. 

I was forced to come to war. 

I was shoved out the door. 

With no family that loved me at all.  

The first team with over 60,000 as well as me. 

We're fighting to set the world free. 

My close friends eyes faded to white. 

As he began his flight. 

Up to heaven, 

Leaving his weapon. 

Up in the clouds 523 soldiers wait. 

As he and I met our fate.  

As I start to bawl. 

Bombs fall. 

My friends kneeling at my grave. 

And I think of the life I gave. 

In Vietnam it was war torn. 

Thorned roses fall onto my grave.  

Everyone was so brave. 

The people who came back never smiled. 

And all the bodies piled. 

People were tortured and abused. 

They were all dazed and confused. 

They had protected their country. 

By treading through the earthly and muddy. 

The public hated. 

As the soldiers waited. 

By Mya Carey

Dear Elizabeth Bradshaw, 

I hate this wretched place, if only conscription wasn't a thing. We would be running around the grassy fields and there would be no talk of the corrupted war. My heart dims when I am without you and brightens when I see your dear face. Most of my friends have fallen, my ego forever gone but I know when I see you It will all be worth it. I do miss you and you must remember me. If I don't make it out, I will forever be in your heart. My devious captain will only let me send one letter seeing as we are at a paper shortage so tell my parents I love them and my sister that she is the greatest sister I could ever have had. I feel like holding your hands just one more time my love, I love you my dearest and I will find a way to see you again. Goodbye... 

From Maximus

By Luca Masters

P&F News

P & F Meeting tonight at 6:30pm in the ataffroom. All welcome!

Thank you to our fundraising committee for organiinsg the upcoming Mother's Day gift stall. 

Canteen News

Kelly our new Canteen Officer would love to see you if you have a spare couple of hours to assist in the canteen. Volunteers need to be registered with our CSO, by following this link: https://www.mn.catholic.org.au/people/volunteer/

Once cleared please sign up for a shift. The children love to see you here!

https://signup.zone/ZYkfNzsbws83p9yHM

Hub News

Uniform Shop

All enquiries to email:

chl.uniformshop@mn.catholic.edu.au

ORDER via the QKR App

Healthy Eating Snippets

OOSH

The before and after school care at St Joseph’s is provided by St Nicholas OOSH, Diocese of Maitland Newcastle.  Open form 7am-8:30am and 3:00pm-6:00pm. 

Please contact Taylor for further information.  

TAYLOR CEFAI  
NOMINATED SUPERVISOR | ST NICHOLAS OOSH    
P 0429 435 571     M  0429 435 571   
Email taylor.cefai@stnicholasoosh.org.au Visit us online www.stnicholasoosh.org.au  

National Walk to School Day

National Walk Safely to School Day 2023 Friday 19^th May

St Joseph’s will once again participate in National Walk Safely to School Day on Friday 19th May.

National Walk Safely to School Day is a community initiative that aims to raise awareness of the health, road safety, transport and environmental benefits that regular walking (especially to and from school) can provide for the long-term well-being of our children. Now in its 24th year, the annual event encourages parents and teachers to teach road safety skills and support the importance of regular walking, not just on 19 May, but every day.

Students, parents and younger siblings of SJC are welcome to either join Ms Nolan at Kahibah Park Playground at 8:00 OR Mrs Davis at the Charlestown Netball courts carpark at 8:00 for a walk to school.

As another way to mark the event our canteen will have a healthy breakfast of fruit and yoghurt available from 8:30 am on the day. Please order and pay on QKR before the day. Everyone is free to order, even if you are not walking.

Reminders will be sent out on Compass prior to the day.

Looking forward to a sunny walk to our great school!

Run DIPG

RUN DIPG AWARENESS DAY

When: Friday 19^th May at 2pm

What: Afternoon of sport obstacles and games

Please donate on QKR. All donations will go to the RUN DIPG Foundation  to support the advancement of DIPG/DMG research.

Free Parenting Program

Learn Guitar

Calling all Rock n’ Rollers!! Learn Guitar at St Joseph’s Charlestown with Ricky’s Music Tuition

Open to years K to 6, students will learn everything from Imagine Dragons to Harry Styles, to Ed Sheeran to Post Malone, to Tones and I, to AC/DC. Student will learn in small groups at school and have the opportunity to perform as part of an ensemble, enjoying the excitement and experience of being a real musician with skills that will last a lifetime. If you are interested in your child being involved, please email enrol@rickysmusictuition.com.au

Thanks so much

Ricky

Ricky Kradolfer (Managing Director)

ricky@rickysmusictuition.com.au  Mobile: 0407 534 944

Please note that I teach during the day so there can be a delay responding to emails. If something is urgent, please SMS me.

Meet SJC Staff