Term 4 Week 7

What's on at St Joey's

Principal's Messages

Dear Parents and Carers,

Congratulations to our students who received their First Holy Communion yesterday at St Paul’s Gateshead. As Catholics our sacramental journey begins at baptism and culminates with the receiving of communion. Although baptism only happens once in our lives, we can continue to receive communion each time we celebrate mass. It is in this way and through prayer that we can stay connected with our God. It was lovely to see the church filled with families and children! We pray that Lochlan, Gus, Rose, Ruby and Bede continue to journey in faith as they grow. Huge thanks to Mrs Clare Paff for her assistance with the parish sacramental program and for helping prepare these young people.

This coming weekend will be a special community and parish event with the prayer vigil for Flo and Emma. Please sign up for some prayer time by using the QR code on the flyer below and try to attend the masses and walk from St Mary Immaculate to St Paul’s on the Sunday if you can. Michelle and Cam have expressed their sincere gratitude for this thoughtful event and have said prayers are definitely needed at this time.

We have been keeping the Wade family in our prayers too, as Matt has been unwell. Despite this they have sent their utmost gratitude to the school community for the fundraising support for Olive’s attendance at the PSSA National Athletics championships later this week. The day held last week was a great success with nearly $900 raised to help fund the trip. We wish Olive all the very best wishes in her competition this week.

Congratulations to Bede, Rocco and Bruno who will be trialling at the Diocesan Basketball trials.

Some more staffing changes can be shared, with congratulations to Heather Wozniak being appointed to a permanent teaching position next year at St Aloysius Chisholm. We will miss Heather and her expertise and commitment to St Joseph’s but know that she will be an asset to her new school. We will also farewell Kat Arthur-Smith who has also obtained a full time teaching position at Belmont PS. Kat has only been with us a short time but has been a wonderful addition to our team We will farewell these teachers at the end of the year.

Recruitment processes are still underway and need to be finalised before we can complete our classes for 2024. We have appointed Mrs Frances Courtney to our permanent Primary Coordinator position, replacing Kathryn Hill who will be moving to the position of Assistant Principal. Frances comes to us from Holy Family Merewether and has extensive teaching experience and recent leadership experience. We look forward to welcoming Frances later in the term to meet the staff and students.

At St Joseph’s our students are given many opportunities to trial new experiences. Congratulations to the students involved in the ASPIRE Young Scriptwriters and Vivace Band Concert. The Scriptwriters had their works performed last Thursday night at the Warners Bay theatre. Well done to Imogen, Evie, Luca, Alice and Miliana. We are so proud of your creative writing skills! Our band performers have been preparing for the combined student band concert to be performed this Friday night at the Newcastle City Hall. Best wishes to Heath, Lauren, Lillian, Eli, Julian, Elise, Charlotte and Harper. Also gratitude to our music teacher Mrs Karyn Savage and our Band teacher Mr Bryn Wilson-Kellaway for their support of these students and preparations.

More good news with Will and Luca presenting their projects as part of the Gifted Virtual Academy program last week. Will and Luca have been working diligently on their presentations which were shared with students and educators across the diocese. Well done!

Great effort also to our debating team, Kipp, Urban, Will and Olive who won the competition against students from St Mary's Warners Bay, to earn their place at the Diocesan competiton in a few weeks. Good luck team!

We also say huge congratulations to the following students who successfully auditioned for the ASPIRE 2024 production to be performed next year at the Civic Theatre:

Bede and Imogen for vocals

Sam for the drama ensemble

Lauren for the band

We come to the pointy end of the term with many events and activities both at school and in our home lives. We know the children can become tired and unsettled at this time of year, but we want to maintain our routines as much as possible and finish the term well with many positive experiences. I have been speaking with the children about their behaviour in classes for casual teachers, on buses and on the playground. I have reminded them of our school values of Striving High, Living Like Jesus and Caring for our Environment. As your weeks become busier too with the end of year events, please try to encourage good sleep habits, healthy eating and balance so that they can cope with the demands of all that takes place at this time of year.

Thank you for your continued support.

God Bless,

Kate Drake

News from the Assistant Principal

Dear Parents,

As we approach the final weeks of the school year, let us continue to celebrate this years achievements and foster the spirit of unity that defines our community.

As a thriving learning community we continue to focus on upholding our SJC values.

We as teachers know the students are tired – they've worked hard! We acknowledge that the end of the year is near, and they are excited for holidays and Christmas celebrations. We realise this is also a busy social time at weekends. In class we will focus on how to foster and maintain positive relationships with peers and teachers and what that looks like. We ask that as parents you also reinforce the need for good manners, kind words and respectful language.

Together we can ensure our children will always know what is expected of them around respecting others at home or school or in the wider community.

This weekend we come together as a catholic community to pray for Flo and Emma.

I thank you deeply for the support, love and kindness you have shown towards Flo and Emma and their families.

I look forward to seeing you on the weekend, either in prayer, or at mass and the BBQ gathering afterwards.

with every best wish,

Nikki Norley

Assistant Principal

From the Office of Safeguarding

News from the Religious Coordinator

Holy Communion

Yesterday, 5 students from our school finalised their sacraments of initiation to become a full member of the Catholic Church with the sacrament of Holy Communion. Holy communion nourishes us spiritually and prepares us to go out into the world and live like Jesus. We wish these students well as they continue their faith journey.

Flo and Emma Vigil

Our colleague, Michelle Turner’s daughter Flo and teacher, Alex Walsh’s (a teacher at St Paul’s) daughter currently have cancer. As a Parish and School community, we are coming together on the weekend of the 25^th and 26^th of November to pray for these beautiful girls and their families. We ask that you please consider how you can be involved during this prayer vigil. You may be able to stay for a short time to offer your prayers and support, come along to one of the Masses and join us at the BBQ at the end of the vigil. Please consider the details below.  If you have any questions, feel free to email clare.paff@mn.catholic.edu.au.

St. Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal

As Christmas draws closer, we know that budgets will be tight for many families this year with the increased cost of living. We are requesting each year to make a small donation of a food or pantry item if they can, to assist those in need.  Items requested are:

Kinder- Lollies

Yr. 1- chips, pretzels, nuts, popcorn

Yr. 2- Tinned ham/fish

Yr. 3 cordial soft drink

Yr. 4 rice, pasta, pasta sauce

Yr. 5- milo, long life milk, tea, coffee

Year 6- chocolate, shortbread, biscuits.

These items will be used by the local St Vincent de Paul Centre to make hampers for those in our community. We are requesting items come in by the 6^th of December. On the 6^th of December students may wear Christmas clothes to mark the day. Thank you for your support.

End of Year Mass and Awards

We are celebrating our end of year awards and final Mass at St. Mary Immaculate Church Charlestown on the 8^th of December this year. The Mass will commence at 9:30am. It will be a wonderful time to prayerfully reflect on the year, farewell our year 6 students and celebrate successful learning. Parents and families are welcome to attend.

Prayer Vigil

News from the Primary Coordinator

Debating

Congratulations to our school debating team who participated in the Lake’s regional Debating Competition last Thursday. We are so proud of Kipp, Urban, Will and Olive who represented our school against St Mary’s Warners Bay on the topic: “Children and teenagers have never had it more tough than they do today!” We were on the affirmative team. We are pleased to say that we won and will now compete in the Diocesan debating competition at Singleton. Well Done!

The debating program provided the students with an opportunity to develop their skills in critical thinking, reasoning, and public speaking. The students on the debating team learn to articulate in a clear manner, address an audience and present a strong argument. They learn about important issues affecting our world and engage in friendly competitions with students from other schools.

Why debate?

• Teamwork
• Public speaking
• Clear speaking skills
• Clear listening skills
• Research skills
• Development and communication of personality
• It’s fun!

Debating promotes these skills:

• Organisation of ideas
• Clear and effective expression of ideas
• Ability to argue convincingly.
• Development of self-confidence and teamwork

Happy Birthday to the following students

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

Sports News

What a wonderful school community we have! Thank you for getting behind Olive today. We were able to raise $855!! This will help Olive and her family travel to Tasmania to participate in the PSSA National Athletics competition for high jump. We are grateful for all the support! The children enjoyed the sports rotations and Olive felt very supported.

Hub News

Garden Group.

What Happening in Garden Group!

This week in garden group we have had some great opportunities to learn where our vegetables come from, what they look like as they grow, and how delicious they taste straight from the garden!

Students have been able to extend their knowledge of plant parts by touching, tasting and smelling common fruits, vegetables and herbs as we harvest them from the garden beds at school. We have discussed and seen how zucchini's start as giant yellow blooms, that carrots are edible roots, and that all parts of a beetroot can be eaten including the root, stems and leaves!

Some students have shown bravery tasting vegetables they have never tried before such as silverbeet and parsley.

Annabel and Ari have been diligently tending to their beetroot and carrots since we planted them as seeds in term 3. They were rewarded with some giant specimens to take home to share with their families for dinner!

We will continue to harvest our crops which also include cucumber and strawberries for a few more weeks, then plant out the space with sunflowers as an expression of love and support for Michelle Turner, little Flo and the rest of the family, to grow over summer and return to enjoy in term 1 next year.

My New Gallery

Christmas Concert

Let There Be Peace 

Thursday 14th December, St Joseph’s Christmas Concert  

12.30 pm on tar  

Students and staff have been working hard to deliver another fabulous Christmas Concert this year! 

Classes have begun preparations, and it is set to be lots of fun. We hope you can come and join us and bring along family and friends on Thursday 14th December at 12.30 pm. 

Below is some information about costume/dress requirements for each class. We are not expecting families to spend a great deal on outfits but rather, get creative, borrow and reuse. 

Children will come to school on the 14th in the suitable colour mufti clothes from their list (see below) and bring accessories in a bag to put on at concert time.  

Please remember to label all clothing items and accessories. 

If you have any costume questions, please contact you class teacher.  

Costume Information 

Story Dogs

Story Dogs News

The students in Year two have loved reading to ‘Ted’ and Leonie from Story Dogs each week and we are excited to confirm that we are continuing our partnership with the program next year.

‘Ted’ and Leonie have been coming to St Joseph’s for two hours every Tuesday, since the beginning of term 3, and will continue next year hopefully for two days a week.

The Story Dogs program works with the classroom teachers to help students with their reading. ‘Ted’ and Leonie help the same 8 students each week. The students come out of their classroom and sit one-on-one with ‘Ted’ and Leonie and read to ‘Ted’. ‘Ted’ loves to listen and does not mind if the student makes a few mistakes, he just wants to have a fun time so that books and reading become a joyful experience.

If you are interested in volunteering or know of any school who would be interested in participating in this rewarding program, please contact Leonie McGlynn- Story Dogs Newcastle Coordinator on leoniem@storydogs.org.au.

P&F News

Thank you to our wonderful P&F and their work this year. Please join us for our final 2023 P&F meeting Christmas celebration at Charlestown Bowling Club on Monday 11th December @ 6:30pm.

All volunteers are welcome to join us for our annual thank you morning tea on Thursday 14th December @11:15am-12:15pm.

Canteen News

Please note the canteen will be closed the last week of school.

(11th -15th December inclusive)

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 

I recently had the pleasure of working with kindergarten. We explored the book, ‘Tom Tom’ by Rosemary Sullivan and Dee Huxley which is a beautiful story about a small boy living in a remote Aboriginal community in Australia’s Top End.

Children loved exploring the differences between their own families, physical environment, and way of life to that of Tom Tom’s. 

To really connect with the land, our local environment, and the story- students loved going outside into our beautiful new Native Resource Garden, ‘Ka-u-ma Ngarra’ to channel their inner black cockatoo.

Children then reflected on artworks by Mpartnwe artist, Sam Jupurrurla Wickman and looked at the colours, images and patterns in his artwork. Students were very clever at considering the artwork then making connections with the ‘story’ of the artwork as well as the Aboriginal Country Sam Jupurrurla grew up on which has influenced his art. For instance, students noticed that a lot of the patterns and colours in the artworks reminded them of the Australian desert where Sam grew up near Alice Springs.

Taking inspiration from the black cockatoos featured within the book, ‘Tom Tom’ as well as the artworks by Sam Jupurrurla Wickman, students created their own beautiful and unique black cockatoo artworks.

I also recently had the pleasure of working with Year 1 and Year 2 for a very special art activity. Students loved looking at the artworks by Timoth Cook who is from the Tiwi Islands. It was fascinating to use Google Earth to compare the landscape of the Tiwi Islands with that of Awabakal Country here on Lake Macquarie.

We also listened to a Tiwi Island story, ‘No Way Yirrikipayi’ read by a Tiwi Island local. Students enjoyed listening to words said in the native Aboriginal language of the Tiwi Islands. Children loved getting outside around Kauma-Ngarra (our native resource garden) to re-enact parts of the story and the animals we met within it.

We learnt that Timothy Cook often paints about the ‘Kulama Ceremony’ which is performed in the late wet season (March-April) in the Tiwi Islands when a ring appears around the moon. Kulama is a traditional initiation for young men which coincides with the harvest of a certain wild yam species.

We also made connections to where we live on Awabakal country and how the moon is also celebrated here with the Dreaming of Belmont Lagoon.

Check out our awesome learning and artworks!!

Keeping in the art theme, 5/6 Red and 5/6 Blue also created fantastic ‘Totem’ artworks. Students loved learning more about Aboriginal totems which can be a natural object, plant or animal that is inherited by members of a group or family as their spiritual emblem. Aboriginal peoples, families and tribes have caretaking responsibilities for their totems and each person may have up to 3 different totems.

We explored various native animals and plants that may be totems for First Nations Australians. Students then reflected on which of these plants and animals they have a connection with. Students loved sharing stories with their classmates about why they feel a connection with this plant or animal. Often a special memory involving it can build a connection. For instance, I chose the kangaroo as an animal I feel a connection with as they are often present when I go camping with my family.

We then created artworks to represent our chosen plant or animal. Students added symbols to their artworks that had meaning to their own families and lives.

Check out how awesome they look!!

‘Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes’ in Awabakal language:

To mark the recent Aboriginal Languages Week, we sang a whole school rendition of ‘Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes’ in Awabakal language. Students loved seeing all their teachers on stage performing the song along with them. It was crazy fun!!!

Danielle Shaw

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Teacher

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  

Ronald McDonald Fundraiser.