Term 3 Week 5

What's on at St Joey's

Principal's Messages

Dear Parents and Carers,

Last week we celebrated the Feast of Saint Mary MacKillop of the Cross, Australia’s first Saint and founder of the religious order, Sisters of St. Joseph. These wonderful sisters founded our own school here at Charlestown in 1927 in the original buildings near the church in Milsons St. We celebrated in classes with lessons and a liturgy and our Stage 3 students joined students from St Paul’s and St Mary’s with mass, a BBQ and an afternoon of games at Gateshead. We are very grateful for the privilege we continue today in sharing Catholic education and passing on our faith and traditions with our students and families. I am sure that St Mary MacKillop would be very proud of her legacy.

We have had many other events and celebrations these past few weeks including netball and touch football gala days, NAIDOC activities, public speaking competition, Diocesan Athletics carnival and stage masses. This week we celebrate National Science Week and the National Day of Action Against Bullying with special activities across the school. We also have Stage 3 attending the touch football gala day and Stage 2 attending the Todd Woodbridge Tennis Cup. All these events offer our students a range of opportunities and experiences to compliment the curriculum and to foster team spirit, a have a go attitude and enjoyment of a range of activities. They give some students an opportunity to try something new and for some to experience the fun of the game outside of their competitive weekend comps, plus the fun of being out of the classroom with their peers.

These events are only made possible by the time and effort of our staff to ensure our participation, including registration processes, risk assessments, devising teams and draws, timetable changes, permission notes and communication, equipment, selectors, staffing, organising volunteers and transport, and of course supervision on the day. I take this opportunity to express my gratitude to my wonderful staff and also to the amazing parent and highschool volunteers who assisted at the events. We cannot do these events without your help!

Huge congratulations to our Dio Athletics team who competed successfully and with a great sense of team spirit at the recent carnival. Further congratulations to the following students who have advanced to the Polding carnival where they will compete against athletes from other Diocese for selection to the Polding team. 

Lochlan O , Harrison S, Eli S, Tanner T, Jake S, Billie E ,Olive W, Frankie G   

We wish all the very best for the competition on the 13th of October, at Sydney Olympic Park.

Last week I had the privilege of being a panel member for the External Review of St Joseph’s, Gloucester, as a colleague principal. As we at Charlestown had only just participated in our External Review last term, it was very interesting to be on ‘the other side’ of the process. Gloucester shares the same charism of the Josephites as we do and it was lovely to see the way in which the staff, students and parents could express their appreciation and understanding of their history and their commitment to carrying it forward today. The qualities of hospitality, resilience and compassion for those in need were evident as was the academic rigour and wellbeing initiatives across their school. It was a valuable experience to hear of another school’s journey and to share knowledge and experiences together as we work to always improve and grow our schools as places of academic excellence and faith.

As a community we would like to support the RUN DIPG annual Run Event on 24th September. Please see the information at the end of the newsletter. Let's try to see as many people there as possible.

WINTER UNIFORM

The weather has been lovely and has been unseasonally warm, however students are still to be wearing their full winter uniform at this time. The weather will continue to fluctuate over the coming weeks. The children keep asking me when they can get back into their summer uniforms and out of the long pants and ties. I appreciate the favour of the summer uniform but we will have more cold weather I am sure. So we will have a transition period of moving into summer uniform from Week 9, 11^th Sept. Thank you for supporting the school in promoting the wearing of the correct uniform items including correct footwear. This ensures home and school are on the same page and encourages pride in our uniform and a sense of belonging to our community.

In support of the Matilda’s on Wednesday, students may wear Matilda or Aussie accessories (scarf, hat, beanie, socks etc) with their normal school uniform. We are so excited and will be cheering on our team.

GO MATILDA’S!

God Bless,

Kate Drake

News from the Assistant Principal

PUBLIC SPEAKING COMPETITION

On Friday weeks St Joseph’s held our Annual Public Speaking competition, with students from across Year 1-6 delivering fabulous speeches on topics ranging from, ‘Birthdays’, ‘Rules’ and ‘Water’.

After being successful in their classroom competitions, these students delivered their impromptu speeches in front of our school audience and adjudicator. The students spoke confidently and assertively and should be very proud of themselves! 

Unfortunately, there could only be one winner from each stage and the adjudicator really found it hard to pick from all the wonderful speakers. Our winners are: 

Stage 1: Leni E

Stage 2: Daniel B

Stage 3: Harper L

Good luck to these students as they advance to the Regional Public Speaking Competition on Thursday 17 August at St Joseph’s Kilaben Bay. 

Feedback

At St. Joseph’s, our dedicated teachers are committed to fostering a dynamic learning environment by providing explicit feedback to our students. This personalised feedback serves as a compass for improvement, guiding students towards their academic goals. With clarity and insight, our teachers highlight strengths and areas for growth in each student’s work, empowering them to take ownership of their learning journey. By addressing specific aspects of their work, our St Joseph’s teacher ensure every student comprehends the path forward. This constructive approach not only nurtures a growth mindset but also nurtures a culture of continuous improvement, where each student is encouraged to flourish and thrive academically.

Kind Regards

Kathryn Hill

From the Office of Safeguarding

EVERY DAY IN SCHOOL MEANS SO MUCH MORE 

Regular attendance at school is essential for students to achieve quality life outcomes.  Everyday counts, as regular attendance helps students: 

• Develop a sense of belonging
• Develop and maintain friendships
• Be more engaged at school
• Progress with their learning
• Be more aware of career and life options.

Supporting positive school attendance is a shared responsibility - everyone has a role to play in promoting the regular attendance of students. 

News from the Primary Coordinator.

Want to give your children a major learning advantage? (Of course! Who doesn’t?!) 

Here’s how…..Help them build their vocabulary! 

Try these classroom-tested vocabulary building tips with your kids at home: 

1. Notice new words when you’re reading or listening. Talk about the importance of a large vocabulary and make an effort to learn new words.
2. Talk about what to do when we discover unknown words. (Hint: Don’t just skip them.) Try using context clues or use another resource to find the meaning. 
3. But focus on kid-friendly definitions and examples of new words rather than complicated dictionary-style definitions. (Note to parents and teachers: Please don’t make kids look up long lists of words in the dictionary and copy long definitions. I remember doing that monotonous task as a kid, and it did NOT inspire a love of vocabulary.)
4. Keep track of the words you know. List them. Categorise them. Play games with them. Revisit them. Kids often need multiple exposures to words in order to really learn them.
5. Focus on learning the right kinds of words. Pick words that are more complex or descriptive versions of common words that kids already know. (For example, descriptive adjectives and verbs.) Also, focus on technical words kids need in order to understand a concept or a task that they are currently learning about.
6. Learn common roots, prefixes and suffixes to SUPER SIZE vocabulary knowledge. When you learn one word part, you’ll begin to easily recognise many more words with the same word parts.
7. Interact with the words in some way. Draw their meaning. Act them out. Make them come alive so you’ll remember them.
8. Try to find concrete examples of new words whenever possible to make meaning clearer.
9. Relate words to real life experiences. Make them meaningful and make connections with new vocabulary.

Read. A lot! Read all sorts of books, signs on the wall, directions, recipes… A wide variety of reading material will expose kids to a wide variety of new words. 

News from the Religious Coordinator

Feast of the Assumption, 15^th August

Tomorrow is the Feast of the Assumption. when we remember how at the end of her life Mary, the mother of Jesus, was taken up to heaven to be with God. Mary is Important because she was chosen by God to be the mother of God's son, Jesus. And Mary says yes to all that God asks of her.

Blessed Mother Mary, Mother of all,

You have been there for us always.

Thank you for guiding us on life’s journey. You have been our guide and taught us to trust.

 Keep us in your loving care.

Help us to know your Son Jesus better and walk in His way.

 Amen.

PARISH MASS

Our classes are again attending the Parish Mass on a Wednesday one day per term. This Wednesday 16^th August Students in stage 2 are attending Mass at St. Mary Immaculate Church at 9:30am. Family members are welcome to attend. Stage 3 and Early Stage 1 will be attending on the 13^th of September.

Sacramental Group

We are close to the end of our preparation for Confirmation. On the 24^{th of} August candidates will be confirmed at St Mary Immaculate Church, at 6:30pm. Confirmation strengthens the baptismal promises previously made and further releases the gifts of the Holy Spirit to support candidates in the lives

Father’s Day

Father’s Day is fast approaching. We would like to invite our fathers, grandfathers and father figures to an afternoon of fun.

1^st September,

12:30:  1:30 BBQ lunch ($6 place order via QKR - for students and adults)

1:30-2:30- Activities

2:30 song and prayer on the tar performed by stage 1

We hope you can make it for this special event.

RE Literacy test

On the 4^th of September, students in year 6 will complete a Diocesan wide assessment of their knowledge of religious content taught during their primary years. Data from this assessment is used to inform further teaching and programming across the Diocese.

Sports News

Congratulations to the following children who made the Maitland/Newcastle Athletics team to attend the Polding Athletics Carnival on the 13th of October at Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre. 

 Lochlan O           Junior Discus ,  Junior 200m,  Junior 800m 

Harrison S           12 yr. 100m 

Senior 200m 

Eli S Junior 1500m 

Tanner Junior Shot put 

Jake S Senior Long Jump 

Billie E Junior Shot put 

Olive W Senior Long Jump, Senior High Jump 

Frankie G   Junior Girls Discus 

A note has been sent home with these children. Please follow instructions on note to register on CSNSW Sport website by August 18th, 2023. 

Happy Birthday to the following students

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

News from the Classrooms

Hub News

P&F News

We have an active and positive P & F committee at St Joseph's. We support the school in many ways including providing the Uniform shop, supporting the  Canteen and help fundraise for school goals. We would love to see new members and we meet twice per term. Our next meeting is tonight Mon 14/8, 6:30pm in the staffroom. All welcome!

Canteen News

To celebrate Father's Day we will be having a sausage sizzle lunch on Friday 1st Sept 12:30-1:30pm. This will be for the students and visitors and will be followed by an afternoon of games. All fathers, step dads, father figures and grandfathers are welcome!  If you would like to order a sausage and drink meal deal for $6, please place your order on QKR by Monday 28th August.

Kelly our 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

Aboriginal Education News

Aboriginal Education 

Wow….. what a dynamic and culturally enriching day students and teachers had at our school’s recent NAIDOC Day celebration.

Our day commenced with a beautifully meaningful Morning Ceremony. We were privlidged to watch a traditional dance display by Worimi woman- Hilary McEntyre. Our Stage 2 students then led us in our Acknowledgement of Country, with components said in Awabakal language. Proud Gringai woman, Stephanie Callaghan then cleansed our surroundings and brought positive energy to our day with a smoking ceremony and chant in Gathang language

Following our Morning Ceremony, students had an action packed day filled with hands-on activities that paid homage to our NAIDOC day theme, ‘For Our Elders’ as well as the Country we are on – Awabakal.

Our workshops included;

Making Johnny Cakes: Lead by Stephanie Callaghan from Numa Ngarra Bush and Coastal Foods.  Infants’ students were given their own dough to knead. Making these johnny cakes extra special was the native bush herbs students kneaded into their dough. Primary students also kneaded native bush herbs into their johnny cakes but they made their own dough from scratch!

Once the dough was ready- the johnny cakes were cooked on the BBQ by parent volunteers. Students then choose a selection of native jams and honey to enjoy with their johnny cakes. All washed down with a cup of

Stephanie’s own Rainforest Punch drink

This workshop would not have been possible without the help of some of our schools amazing volunteers! Sending a big thank you to Melinda Gatt and Cassandra McCarthy for cooking our johnny cakes on the BBQ.

Dance Workshop: Lead by proud Worimi woman- Hilary McEntyre from ‘Dreamtime Dance Co’. Students loved learning various traditional dance moves and thoroughly enjoyed performing a series of moves within a  choreographed dance with Hilary.  Traditional Tools: Lead by proud Worimi man Maurice Perry. Students were able to touch and hold various Aboriginal tools and weapons- many of which were made by Maurice and his family members. Students loved learning about these traditional tools and weapons and how Maurice learnt how to make and use these from his Elders. Maurice’s extensive knowledge is now passed on to his son as well as many other younger generations in our community.

NAIDOC Poster: Students enjoyed  a ‘chill’ workshop where they got the opportunity to colour and decorate one of various NAIDOC posters which were designed by Aboriginal artists. 

Nanna Wilson- ‘For Our Elders’ video: Lead by proud Awabakal woman Kirsty Keelan. The For Our Elder's Workshop provided a unique opportunity for students to hear from a local Aboriginal Elder- Nanna Wilson, immersing themselves in her wisdom and cultural heritage. Nanna Wilson spoke about her experiences of growing up as an Aboriginal child and how this has shaped her into the Elder she is today.

Yolungu Traditional Indigenous Games: Lead by our very own Miss Perkins. Students participated in PE games adapted from traditional practices of the Yolungu people. These games brought joy and camaraderie, showcasing traditional physical skills and promoting cultural exchange.

Torres Strait Islander Music: Lead by proud Torres Strait Islander Artist -Toby Cedar from Toby Cedar Art. Students loved l participating in Torres Strait Islander singing and Warup drumming activities, bridging language barriers and fostering unity through the power of music and communication.

Our day then concluded with an Afternoon Ceremony where, as a school, we reflected on the awesome workshops and experiences we had the privilege of participating in. Toby Cedar then led us in a Torres Strait Islander ‘Song Off’ which was a fabulous way to end our day.

NAIDOC Day at St Joseph’s Charlestown was a meaningful celebration that left a lasting impact on all who participated, fostering a deeper appreciation for and understanding of Australian Indigenous cultures and their importance in our society.

Australian First Nations Cultural Events

4th August: National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day

Children’s Day is a time Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities, and all Australians, celebrate the strengths and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

It is a chance for us to learn about the importance of culture, family and community in the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

This year’s National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day theme ‘Little Voices, Loud Futures’ fires that ambition. It is about raising awareness for the bright futures of Australian First Nation’s children and the potential for their voices to pave a new path for our nation. It also supports the voices of Australian First Nation’s children in calling for a future where they are proud and empowered by their culture to speak their truth and be listened to by all Australians.

The majority of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are thriving and growing up strong in their cultures, with support from their families and communities.

However, this day is important because a significant number of our children continue to face ongoing challenges stemming from colonisation and its effects. This includes discrimination, poverty, systemic removal, intergenerational trauma, dislocation from land and culture, and community disempowerment.

To achieve equality, we must approach these challenges through a holistic approach, considering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children’s wellbeing, safety and development.

Script courtesy of AboriginalChildrensDay.com

9th August: United Nations International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples

First declared by the United Nations in 1994, the International Day of Indigenous Peoples aims to strengthen international awareness and cooperation for solutions to the problems faced by First Nations people in areas such as human rights, development, the environment, education and health. The day marks the first meeting of the United Nations Working Group on Indigenous Populations, held in Geneva in 1982.

There are an estimated 370 million indigenous peoples in some 90 countries around the world. They make up less than 5% of the world’s population, but account for 15% of the poorest. They speak an overwhelming majority of the world’s estimated 7,000 languages and represent 5,000 different cultures.

Danielle Shaw

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Teacher

ASPIRE

RUN DIPG

Run/ Walk/ Support Run DIPG this September.

On September 24^th RunDIPG will be holding its annual fun run. It is held on the closest Sunday to Childhood Brain Cancer Awareness Day in Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. This is a cause very close to our hearts at SJC, so this year, we are hoping as many in our community can sign up, come along, cheer and make a donation.

Liles Oval, Redhead NSW will be our home ground in 2023. RUN for RUN DIPG will have a family-friendly zone where there will be food, coffee, entertainment, markets, and a few surprises. There are a number of events.

Event Start Times

6:00 AM - Marathon

7:00 AM - 1/2 Marathon

8:00 AM - Entertainment Starts

9:30 AM - Family 5km

We hope you can support this important community event.

For more information contact clare.paff@mn.catholic.edu.au   

Register at https://rundipg-org.grassrootz.com/run-for-run-dipg-23 .

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 Michelle for further information.  

MICHELLE BIRCH 
NOMINATED SUPERVISOR | ST NICHOLAS OOSH    
P 0429 435 571     M  0429 435 571   
Email michelle.birch@stnicholasmn.org.au   Visit us online www.stnicholasoosh.org.au  

Tuning with Teens.