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Term 2 Week 5

What's on at St Joey's

Winter Uniform from 27/5	Reconciliation Liturgy 9am 28/5
Stage 1 Mass 9:30am 29/5	AFL Gala Day Stage 3 29/5
Athletics Carnival 30/5	Confirmation 7pm 30/5
State Rugby 7s Gala Day 31/5	Subway Day 3/6
Kings Birthday Long Weekend 10/6	PUPIL FREE DAY 28/6
Band Monday and Tuesday every week	Guitar Wednesday every week
Story Dogs Tuesday and Wednesday every week	LAST DAY OF TERM 5/7

Principal's Messages

Dear Parents and Carers,

Last week we celebrated Catholic Schools Week across the Diocese. As I said at our school liturgy, we are privileged to be able to choose the education we want for our children and in choosing Catholic education we are making a choice to commit to an education founded in faith. As witnesses to the Gospel and as followers of Jesus Christ we are called to live lives founded in the example of Jesus himself. Not only are we a school of academic responsibility but a school with commitment to teaching our students to act with kindness, compassion, forgiveness and to stand for justice for all.

It was lovely to see the many visitors at our school liturgy celebrated by Fr Tony and to be able to show case our classrooms and learning. Our school leaders also attended the Diocesan CSW liturgy at the Sacred Heart Cathedral where our students and St Pius students opened the liturgy with the Acknowledgement of Country in language. We were so proud of our students and thank Mrs Shaw for her assistance in preparing this for the celebration.

Last week we participated in National Simultaneous Storytime, and I thank you for the donations to our Hub. Money raised will assist in new book purchases to keep our collection fresh. Thank you to Mrs Tranter and Mrs Gleeson for organising a fun day with activities based on the book, Bowerbird Blues by Aura Parker.

Thank you to staff who met students and families on Walk Safely to School Day. It was wonderful to see so many of our students walking to school and remembering the safety rules. Thanks also to Mrs Brands for organising the fruit cup breakfast on arrival.

Huge thanks to our community for the support of the RUNDIPG school fundraiser, which raised just over $1700. Our school Mini Vinnies and Yr 5 & 6 students and families were very generous with their donations for the treat stalls. This money will assist with research into this terrible childhood cancer. The Binnie and Turner families expressed their sincere gratitude to our community.

In sport, I congratulate all our athletes who competed at the Diocesan Cross Country event. We are very proud of you all and especially congratulate the 6 athletes who have advanced to the NSWCPS Polding Cross Country Selections on Wednesday 5^th June. Best Wishes to Darcy M, Spencer N, Flynn L, Aria L, Cora P and Eli S.

I also wish Stage 3 a fun and engaging day at the AFL Gala day on Wednesday and wish the Rugby 7s team all the very best for the State Cup on Friday. Thank you to Mr Chris Hill for coaching the rugby team on the day and to Mr Brent Dale for his coaching over the last few weeks. I will be in attendance to cheer them on!

Our school disco on Friday night was a great success with 90% of students in K-2 turning up and 85% of students in 3-6. Thank you to our P & F for funding the event and to Mrs Hill for her organisation of the venue, DJ and supplies. The children had a wonderful time and learnt very quickly that discos are loud and hot! But this did not stop most of our students from enjoying themselves immensely. Special thanks to all the staff who gave up their Friday night to assist with the set up, supervision and clean up. We are certainly blessed at St Jospeh’s with a dedicated team who go above and beyond for their students.

Tomorrow we will celebrate Reconciliation week with a liturgy at 9am followed by a variety of in class activities focused on understanding, respect, and connection with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. All are welcome to join us for the liturgy.

We are looking forward to our athletics carnival on Thursday at the Fearnley Dawes Track. This is a great facility with outstanding equipment for us to utilise ensuring a smooth running of our events. Thank you to our parent volunteers and to our sport team, led by Mrs Davis for the organising of this day. Please see your Compass dashboard for event reminders.

Your voice matters.
We are grateful for your decision to entrust your child/children to be educated at our school and we want to hear your thoughts on how we are doing. As such, we ask that you complete the ‘Tell Them From Me’ survey. Please note, your response will be anonymous. http://tellthemfromme.com/sjc24

Finally, I congratulate our students who are receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation on Thursday night. May the gifts of the Holy Spirit give you strength in your faith as you grow.

God Bless,

Kate Drake

Assistant Principal

At St Joseph’s we firmly believe that a strong partnership between parents and the school is essential for the success and well-being of our students. When parents and educators work together, we create a supportive and enriching environment that enhances learning and development. As the Assistant Principal, I would like to share some thoughts on how we can strengthen this vital collaboration.

Open Communication

Effective communication is the cornerstone of a successful parent-school partnership. Here are some ways to ensure clear and open lines of communication:

Regular Updates: Stay informed about school events, policies, and your child’s progress through newsletters, compass and our school Facebook page.
Parent-Teacher Conferences: Attend scheduled conferences to discuss your child’s achievements, challenges, and goals. These will be held in Weeks 9 & 10 this term.
Reach Out: Don’t hesitate to contact your child’s teacher or school staff with any questions or concerns. We are here to support you and your child.
2. Involvement in School Activities
Active participation in school activities fosters a sense of community and demonstrates to your child that their education is a priority. Here’s how you can get involved:
Volunteering: Volunteer for school events, or join the P&F. Your involvement is invaluable.
Attending Events: Participate in school events such as open classrooms, liturgies and sports events.
Supporting Extracurriculars: Encourage and support your child’s involvement in extracurricular activities, which contribute to a well-rounded education.
3. Supporting Learning at Home
Learning doesn’t stop at the school gates. Supporting your child’s education at home is crucial for their academic success. Here are some tips:
- Reading Together: Foster a love of reading by spending time reading together and discussing books.
- Educational Resources: Utilise Studyladder, library books and other tools provided by our school to reinforce learning at home.
- 4. Encouraging Positive Attitudes
- Your attitudes towards education and school life greatly influence your child’s perception and motivation. Here’s how to set a positive example:
  - Positive Reinforcement: Celebrate your child’s efforts and achievements, no matter how small. Positive reinforcement boosts their confidence and motivation.
  - Growth Mindset: Encourage a growth mindset by emphasising the importance of effort and persistence in overcoming challenges.
  At St Joseph’s we are committed to fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment where every child can thrive. Your partnership is crucial in achieving this goal, and we are grateful for your continued support and involvement.
  Together, we can create a nurturing and dynamic educational experience for our children, preparing them for a bright and successful future.
  Thank you for being an integral part of our school community.
  Warm regards,
  Mrs. Kathryn Hill

office of Safeguarding

Primary Coordinator

Maths Bee

Last week 2 representatives from each class participated in a stage Maths Bee. Students had 10-15 seconds to answer mental arithmetic questions on Maths topics of addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, conversions, and problem solving. It was an elimination competition, requiring students to get their question correct to remain in the competition. Congratulation to the following students who represented their class:

Year 1: Wyatt Manning, Henrik Lee, Levi Phillips, Talia Innes

Year 2: Hugo North, Jude Tynan, Rocky Gavin, Leo Cain

Year 3: Billie Umeh-Nicholas, Venice Ryan, Aurora Evans, Liliana Ahmataj

Year 4: Ogni Anondo; Isla Arnott

Year 5: Daniel Boulton, Cora Phillips, Sam Robinson, Lachy Collins

Year 6: Eviee Hanson, Alice Dunkley, Alex Binnie, Cohen Hay

A huge congratulations to the following student winners who will represent our school at the Regional Maths Bee at St Joseph’s, Kilaben Bay in June. The Spelling Bee will be in the next 2 weeks.

Stage 1: Levi Phillips

Stage 2: Billie Umeh-Nicholas

Stage 3: Alice Dunkley

At St Joseph’s we are living like Jesus when we include others in games and experiences. Using kind words and being fair helps us remember that everyone has the right to be included. We will be talking about this concept over the next fortnight and students will be praised for showing opportunities to include others in their learning and play.

Some examples of including others are:

Inviting others to play games and activities.
Not excluding others in games or play
Sharing resources, e.g. PE equipment, toys, or class resources
Being fair with team choices
Being a good sport
Knowing that you don’t have to be friends with everyone, but that you do need to be
Being an upstander if you see others being excluded.

This last point is an important one as being a bystander by watching but not saying anything can indirectly exclude others from joining in. Including others is an important part of feeling we belong to the St. Joseph’s school community.

Kind regards,

Frances Courtney

News from the Religious Coordinator

Reconciliation Liturgy

Tomorrow we will have a reconciliation liturgy at 9m for Reconciliation Week The National Reconciliation Week theme for 2024, Now More Than Ever, is a reminder to all of us that no matter what, the fight for justice and the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people must continue.

National Reconciliation Prayer

Creator Spirit,

All creation once declared your glory,

Your laws were honoured and trusted,

Forgive us our neglect as our country approaches

the most critical moment in its history.

Listen to our prayer as we turn to you,

Hear the cry of our land and its people,

Just as you heard the cry of Jesus,

your Son, on the Cross.

Help us to replace our national shame

With true national pride by restoring the

dignity of our First People whose antiquity is

unsurpassed.

May our faith and trust in you increase.

Only then will our nation grow strong and be

a worthy place for all who wish to make their home in our land.

Amen.

Aboriginal Catholic Ministry, Melbourne.

Confirmation

On Thursday evening the following students will be confirmed at St Mary Immaculate Catholic Church Charlestown at 7pm. The students are Eden J, Oscar M, Boe D, Flynn H, Charlie P, Scarlett T, Vasek Z and Sienna P. Please pray for these students as they fully receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Class News

"Year 4 have been having a wonderful time in Term 2 with Ms Peacock, who is working with them every Tuesday afternoon. Ms Peacock is teaching Science to Year 4, who will be learning about our material world through a variety of hands-on experiments and activities."

Aboriginal Education

Aboriginal Education

Recently, our school leaders did a beautiful job representing St Joseph’s at the Diocesan Catholic Schools Week Liturgy at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Our school wa invited to lead the Acknowledgement of Country along with students from St Pius High School. Performing the Acknowledgement in language in front representatives from dozens of schools was a huge privilege for our students.

We are moving into a very important time within our cultural calendar with numerous events to formally acknowledge and recognise. Please see more information about these events below.

Particularly significant is National Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week. The theme for Reconciliation week this year is ‘Now More Than Ever’ which ‘is a reminder to all of us that no matter what, the fight for justice and the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people will —and must —continue.’

‘Now more than ever, the work continues. In treaty making, in truth-telling, in understanding our history, in education, and in tackling racism. We need connection. We need respect. We need action. And we need change.  

Now more than ever, we need reconciliation.’

Our school is holding a Liturgy tomorrow morning at 9am to recognise National Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week. We hope you can join us!

To recognise Reconciliation Week and National Sorry Day, I have started doing art-based lessons with some classes exploring the Reconciliation theme. Together we read the story book, ‘We are Australians’ by Duncan Smith and Nicole Goodwin. This book led to some really meaningful discussions.

We explored the National Reconciliation artwork by Gubbi Gubbi artist Maggie Douglas which features a chevron- a universal symbol for pointing the way. It signifies advancing as one as we look towards a reconciled future.

Taking inspiration from Maggie Douglas' work, we cut our own chevron into strips and students created designs on their own strip which symbolised a personal experience or story that was meaningful to them. Students then shared the meaning of their design with partners.

Once all the strips had been created using our brand new posca paint pens, all the strips got stuck back together to create a beautiful whole class artwork!

I am looking forward to completing artworks with more classes in the coming weeks.

Significant Cultural Dates

26^th May: National Sorry Day

National Sorry Day acknowledges the Stolen Generations who were forcibly removed from their families and communities. It is an opportunity to learn about and reflect on the experiences of the Stolen Generations and recognising the healing power of saying sorry.

It is held on the anniversary of the tabling of the 1997 Bringing them Home Report in Parliament. This was the national inquiry into the separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families – it is a tribute to those affected by forcible removal policies.

Please click ion the below link or more information

https://healingfoundation.org.au/apology-2/

27t^h May: 1967 Referendum

In the 1967 Referendum, 90.77% of Australians voted yes to change the Constitution to allow the Commonwealth to make laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and for their inclusion in the census.

Prior to this only the states could make laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples – this meant laws could vary significantly from state to state.