Term 4 Week 3

What's on at St Joey's in October / November

Principal's Messages

Dear Parents and Carers,

Today our Year 5 & 6 students excitedly left for their overnight camp at CRU Balcolyn. I am sure they are going to have a wonderful time together participating in the many planned activities. I thank our staff who give up their time and need to organise their own family’s activities around this to make this camp possible for our students. I will be joining them later this afternoon for tonight and tomorrow.

Last week I visited St Joseph’s Wingham with several other principals to see the learning happening in their school. It was inspiring to hear of this community’s rise to the recent challenges of bushfires, floods and of course COVID. Many of their families remain displaced and struggling due to losing their homes in the extreme weather events of the last 2 years. But it was wonderful to hear of their resilience, community spirit and faith which sustains them. The students were welcoming and engaged in their learning, and I was impressed with their ability to articulate the learning intentions and success criteria for their tasks.

This week our executive team will be visiting St Patrick’s at Cessnock to participate in a Learning Walk & Talk, followed by our Diocesan Learning Expo at the Hunter Valley. All schools in the Diocese will be participating in this event. St Joseph’s will be presenting a video presentation showcasing our work in the Leading Learning Collaborative project. I thank my team for their efforts and commitment to our learning goals. We are seeing growth in student writing and are looking forward to increased student success and improved practice in the areas of teaching spelling and mathematics, our new learning goals moving forward.

This Friday we celebrate World Teacher’s Day, and the theme is “Hat’s off to Teachers!” I take my hat off to our teachers say a huge THANK YOU to our wonderful teachers at St Joseph’s and to all teachers everywhere. Teaching is a wonderful profession, and it is a privilege to be able to help educate and form our young people. It is a work of the heart!                                   

Our classroom and playground renovations are continuing. The kindergarten internal fit out is moving along smoothly and our shade cloth poles were installed on the weekend for the new playground. The installation of perimeter security fencing has begun today. Have a look at the video below of our Kinder, Year 1 and Year 2 students sharing what they love about their new classrooms.

P & F FUNDRAISING

Thank you to those who are able to support the Crazy Camel fundraiser. Seems like a few grandparents will be getting colourful new tea towels for Christmas! See below for details if you are still wishing to place orders. Ordering will close on MONDAY 31/10.

We will be launching the GR8 Race on Friday and children will be bringing home their “boarding passes’ to start the sponsorship collection. All details will be shared with the boarding passes.

We are hoping to raise enough money to install a Ninja circuit in our new middle play space.

SCHOOL FEES

Thank you to those who have paid their school fees in full or are on payment plans. Families with children attending Highschool in 2023 need to have all outstanding fees paid up before moving on. If you are experiencing financial hardship, please contact me to discuss a payment plan.

Congratulations to the Hewitt family on the birth of a little brother for Ava (KR) and Evie (1B). Theodore is just gorgeous and will bring much love and joy to the family.

Deepest sympathy to the Duane family, Maisie (5/6W) and the Ryman family, Tia (5/6W) and Lani (1B) who both lost their paternal grandfathers in recent weeks. We keep them in our thoughts and pray that loving memories will bring them comfort at this sad time.

Building update

God Bless,

Kate Drake   (Principal)

News from the Assistant Principal

Welcome to the final term of 2022. This year has certainly flown by.

PAT assessments

In weeks 3-6 students will be completing standardized tests in Reading and Maths.  Triangulating our data is important.  Teachers mark their own students’ work.  At designated dates in the term, we moderate across the school to ensure consistency and to improve our assessment pedagogy.  Additionally, at various points of the year, according to the Diocesan Assessment Schedule we utilize standardized assessments, such as SENA, PAT, NAPLAN and Acadience to reference students against the curriculum and Australian norms.  Analysis of these assessments allows us to more fully understand where each child is at and what is required to help progress their learning.  I bring this to your attention so that when your child comes home and tells you that they did a PAT assessment today, you will be aware of its purpose.  

As mentioned in the previous newsletter I have included additional tips on ways you too, can engage your child in maths in everyday situations. These opportunities help students recognise the interconnected nature of mathematical knowledge and the wider world and encourage them to use their mathematical skills broadly.

Have a wonderful fortnight.

with every best wish,

Nikki Norley

Assistant Principal

From the Office of Safeguarding

Sign in/out Procedures for Parents & Students

Just a reminder that all visitors and volunteers to the school need to be signed into the Compass kiosk, at the front office. . Please remember to sign out when leaving the school site.
If your child comes to school late or needs to be signed out early, please come into the school office to sign in/out of the Compass kiosk. Children are not to be left at the school gate even if they arrive more than a few minutes late, as the roll would already have been finalised by the classroom teacher.

Omegle Social Media App
Like all social media platforms, parents need to be mindful that Omegle has the very strong potential of placing your child in harms' way.
Here is an esafety link about Omegle.  Later in this bulletin you can read in more detail what Omegle is all about. Basically, Omegle is a free online chat website (optimised for mobile) that pairs two random users together in a text and/or video chat. You can add topics you wish to discuss to find users with common interests. There is an ‘unmoderated section’ for video chat, which may include prominent links to sexualised content on third-party websites.
Omegle does not verify the age of users so anyone can use this.

News from the Religious Coordinator

Socktober

Just a reminder to continue to support our Catholic Mission’s Socktober fundraiser for families in Ethiopia. Catholic Missions support initiatives in developing countries and there is a particular focus during the month of October. This year we are aiming to reduce food insecurity and malnutrition among children in Ethiopia by funding better farming practices and education. On the 31^{st of} October we will hold a Socktober event day where students can wear crazy socks and participate in lunchtime activities.  Your assistance is appreciated.

Joey’s Cares

It is great we have been able to resume our committee with the aim of providing a meal to those who need a little extra help such as when there is a new baby, a loss or many other challenging events. We are still interested in new members to support this need. If you think you may be able to provide a meal from time to time, please email clare.paff@mn.catholic.edu.au.

News from the Primary Coordinator

News from the Primary Co Ordinator 

PBL  

For the next 2 weeks of Term 4 we are focusing on the Learn and let others learn value of our SJC matrix. We will talk about those behaviours that help us learn, and how we also need to be respectful of the possible different ways others may learn. When we acknowledge and respect these differences we are living like Jesus.  

ICAS Tests

Well done to all the students in Years 2 to 6 who completed ICAS tests in English, Maths, Spelling and Science last term. These tests are very challenging and include advanced concepts, skills, and knowledge. Our students completed all tests with a determined and positive attitude. Special mention and congratulations to Eli S (Year 3 Maths) and Will F (Year 5 Science) for achieving a DISTINCTION certificate in these tests.  

All parents have been sent details of how to log on and view their child’s results. Certificates will be given out at our Friday assembly when they sent to the school.

PBL AWARDS TERM 4 Week 3

Congratulations to the following students: 

Have a wonderful fortnight!

Karen Nolan

Happy Birthday to the following students

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

Sports News

Kobe recently played at the National Championships for Oz Tag  in Coffs Harbour. His team is the Hunter Miners Under 9s. Congratulations on making it all the way to the semi finals. 

News from the classrooms

Dance for Diversity

Last week our K-2 students participated in Dance for Diversity. The aim of the lesson was to build awareness about inclusion through dance and movement activities. We experienced dancing with only our arms, only our legs, and only our eyes. It was lots of fun!

Jets Learn-  Stage 2 
Stage 2 have been engaged in an online football program aimed at building fitness and skills for the game and instructed by Jets players. The key competencies taught are: first touch, agility, passing, speed, dribbling and accuracy. Students have enjoyed the lessons and activities so far. 

P&F News

FUNDRAISING TERM 4

Canteen News

If you are able to assist in the school canteen please email Natalie Evans nattthebatevans@gmail.com or 0400413448

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  

NSW Travel Flyer

The GR8 Race