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Giving thanks for Term 2
One of the ways in which we pray is to give thanks, which in non-denominational terms is also known as mindfulness. Being thankful or grateful is a powerful way to see the positive work of God in our lives and the way in which life is enjoyed by noticing and acknowledging even the smallest things. We would like to take this opportunity to give thanks for the term that is now ended, bringing us to the middle of this school year.
We give thanks for:
- Our staff who work tirelessly throughout each week to bring exceptional learning experiences and opportunities to the children in our care and show that we will do whatever it takes to help them achieve the fullness of life. We thank and appreciate you all.
- Our students, who are the reason we are here doing the work. We thank you for the way in which you work with us to make learning meaningful and show us the sparks that are why we do it.
- Our parents and carers, who entrust their children to us. We thank you for the support that you show and ask that you continue to work with us this year, as it is this collaboration and community that ensure success is possible.
- Our Parish community, who support the work we do and remind us that Jesus is at the centre of all we do. We thank you for your commitment to our school and give you in return our commitment to connecting in faith.
We hope that the holiday period we enter for two weeks is also a time for students and staff to rejuvenate so that we can return and work together for Term 3.
Leadership in Term 3
All parents and carers will have received an email today regarding some changes to the leadership of the school during Term 3. The reason for this is that Mrs Tess Koning is taking personal leave. During this time:
- Mrs Jeannine Ucdereli will be in the role of Acting Principal.
- Mrs Sarah Blundell will be in the role of Acting Assistant Principal Learning and Teaching.
- Mrs Holly Hough will be in the role of Acting Assistant Principal Mission (Weeks 1 - 4) while Ms Laura Hatherly is also away. She will return to her position in Week 5.
These wonderful leaders will work to ensure continuity of care and learning for students and support for families.
Celebrating Our Faith
Our Leader of Pastoral Care, Holly Hough, shared this inspiring prayer with our staff this term. It has been a focus for us, in the lead up to the end of the term.
St Catherine of Siena - Set the World on Fire
The Oxford Dictionary defines possibility as a thing that may happen or be true; the fact that something might happen or be true, but is not certain. It is the uncertainty, the ‘may’ and the ‘might’, the element of doubt, the ‘this way’ or ‘that’ and the choices that are presented to us, that have the power to light a fire or to extinguish a spark within each of us. St Catherine of Siena, a doctor of the church once wrote, “Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.” Here was a woman who understood possibility. The potential each of us has when we open ourselves to the power of possibility, given to us by God the Creator.
Imagine a world without possibility: inventors wouldn’t have invented, dreamers wouldn’t have dreamt and artists wouldn’t have created. If Benjamin Franklin didn’t believe in the power of possibility we would not have electricity. If Alexander Fleming didn’t wonder at the possibilities science could offer, we would be without penicillin and if Michelangelo didn’t see possibility in a block of marble, we wouldn’t have the statue of David. Here, we have three famous examples of people who set the world on fire, who dared to imagine that something was possible and proved it to be so.
Jesus dwelt in possibility. He shows us that all things are possible with God. When Jesus challenged the people of his time, he was also challenging us to think beyond the scope of who and what we are, to who and what we can become. He challenges us to think about what might happen or what may happen, when we step into a place of uncertainty and fan the spark into a flame.
St Catherine of Siena, pray for us today that as a team, as a school, and as a community, we will be one with burning love to share. Pray that each one of us will be a spark so bright. Together we will be the light that sets the world on fire.
Pray, we’ll always speak the truth. In us, may the Holy Spirit bear its fruit. Being bold but never rude, giving love and mercy as we should.
Pray that we aspire, to serve with our hearts on fire.
Amen
Learning Together
Professional Learning Day - Teachers learning together
Last Friday our Teachers and Educational Assistants spent the day learning more about the new Kinder to Year 2 Mathematics syllabus, which will be implemented in 2023. The new syllabus has a greater emphasis on the development of reasoning for students to support a deep understanding of mathematical concepts. The new outcomes and content are informed by evidence and identify skills needed by all students to develop competence in mathematics.
Our focus was on developing a deeper understanding of the structure and content of the new Mathematics curriculum so we are able to identify the critical elements and concepts in the new syllabus. Staff also spent time deepening their understanding of the Mathematics Block and planned cycles of learning for Term 3.
Keep your child safe
Your primary aged child is still developing an understanding of danger and safety. While they are often keen to do things for themselves, an adult must always be responsible for your child in the traffic environment.
Your child is a vulnerable road user. They are still developing the skills that help them to judge the direction of sound and the speed and distance of vehicles. Your child is physically small, making it harder for drivers to see them. They may be easily distracted and tend to only be able to focus on one thing at a time. This means that they find it difficult to deal with sudden changes in the traffic environment.
Your child may be able to tell you the rules and how to keep safe near in and around vehicles, but in reality, will not always be able to apply them.
You may like to take some time during the holidays to explore and visit the Safety Town website with your child.
We wish you a very happy and safe holiday break, and look forward to hearing about all your holiday adventures on Monday 18th July when we return.
NEWMAN COLLEGE OPEN NIGHT
Baptism for Children
Year 11 Enrolment Information
You are invited to join us for the Year 11 Enrolment Information nights.
These nights allow you to meet teachers and collect information about enrolling your child in Year 11 at St Agnes' Catholic Parish secondary schools in 2023.
Please check the zoning maps before registering to ensure you attend the information session aligned to the zoning for where you live.
For zoning details and to register visit:www.enrolinexcellence.org.au
We look forward to seeing you on the night!
St Joseph's Regional College, Year 11 Enrolment Information Night
Date: Monday 25th July 2022
Time: 6.00pm
Address: St Joseph's Regional College, College Drive, Port Macquarie
Newman Senior Technical College, Year 11 Enrolment Information Night
Date: Tuesday 26th July 2022
Time: 6.00pm
Address: Newman Senior Technical College, Ocean Drive, Port Macquarie
MacKillop College, Year 11 Enrolment Information Night
Date: Wednesday 27th July 2022
Time: 6.00pm
Address: MacKillop College (senior campus), Ocean Drive, Port Macquarie
Mini Vinnies Winter Clothes Appeal
The Year 6 Leadership Faith group is thrilled with the response from our school community for all the warm clothes that were donated over the last two weeks. Thank you for supporting this worthy cause. St Vincent de Paul is in great need of warm clothes this year.
Mini Vinnies Leaders
Mrs Rennes and Mr Lynch
VOLUNTEERS
We are still looking for more volunteers to help in the canteen. Volunteers are only required to come in to help for three hours once a month, or you can come in more often if you like.
You can register to volunteer via this link - Click here for Volunteers Form. You will also need to email or drop in a copy of your Volunteer Working With Children Check and a proof of double vaccination to sjpport@lism.catholic.edu.au. After registering your availability in the above online form and sending in your supporting documents Kim, our Canteen Co-ordinator will be in contact with you to arrange your first day.
Quotes from Camp…
Lismore Diocese eSports Games Competition
In May, students from St Joseph’s represented our school in the Inaugural Lismore Diocese eSport Mario Kart Competition. To qualify, each student faced a knockout style tournament within our school so that there were only two students from Year 5 and two students from Year 6 remaining.
Congratulations to Liam Jones, Sebastian Bennett-Tonkin, Bailey Thompson and Cordelia Fazzolari who made up our team of four. It was an exciting competition facing other schools in the Diocese. After dodging a few red shells, and slipping their way through multiple banana peels, our St Joseph’s team came away with 2nd place on the podium.
A further congratulations to Sebastian who was the St Joseph’s School Mario Kart champion for 2022.
Thank you to the Stage 3 teachers and our St Joseph’s Digital Technology Team for the work they did to support our students. A special thank you to Mr Samuel Taylor for running the competition on the day over Zoom.
Sarah Blundell
Leader of Innovation and Digital Technologies
KBB | Olivia Currall | Lana Crook | Eliyah Fernando |
KHB | Toby Burnham | Sophie Richardson | Jayda Roger-Thomas |
1PS | Savian Sain Karickal | Conor Grieves | Ivy Cutler |
2BT | Lincoln Picton | Wyatt Hough | Jacob Lees |
2DT | Jack Rock | Alexia Lynch | Braxton Beresford |
3MH | Maddison Watson | Winter Stewart | Marcus Cramp |
4MM | Noah Alchin | Ayla Moss | Josie Shipp |
4R | Eden Pope | Emily Smith | Sunny Stapleton |
5BH | Hudson Alexander | Chloe Widdison | |
5T | Lucas Yates | Anabel Shijo | |
Year 5 | All students - for being Lifelong Learners in Semster 1 |
Sensory Smart is an Occupational Therapy service in Port Macquarie and will be offering social skills programs in the July school holidays for primary aged children.
If you think you would like your child to be part of Social Skills, then you can book in a parent consultation with Sensory Smart (1/2 hour - $97.00) before the school holidays to talk through your concerns, your child's behavioural sensitivities and what you would like your child to achieve during the group. That will help Sensory Smart ensure they understand the dynamics for the group setting.
ZONE ATHLETICS
Congratulations to the following students who have been selected to represent our school at the Zone Athletics Carnival on Thursday 28th July 2022 at St Joseph's Regional College (back up date 4th August 2022).
Online permission and medical consent is required by Wednesday 20th July via this link: https://forms.gle/2XGhmcLNF7X3y9dK9
Please see the email sent on 29th June for full details of the day.
Noah Alchin | Hannah Cooper | Evie Johnson | Isabella Russell |
Hudson Alexander | Rhys Cutler | Liam Jones | Lucas Single |
Cooper Bell | Justin Dennison | Zoe Lawrence | Gene Smith |
Georgia Bell | Cordelia Fazzolari | Keilah Long | Bronte Sprague |
Edvin Benny | Bronte Gawith | Tyler Mat | Billy Stapleton |
Peyton Berry | Lucinda Giurissevich | Xavier Mat | Asia Steinhour |
Tomas Butler | Sonny Hancock | Emily Meehan | Jazmine Taylor |
Dustin Clement | Isabella Hawkins | Ryder Monckton | Macie Taylor |
Matilda Coleman | Blake Herbert | Yzekiel Nieva | Bailey Thompson |
Caden Connor | Charlie Holloway | Freya Praveen | Lailah Watson |
Cjay Coonnor | Ruby Holmes | Blayde Redding | Bronte Wood |
Gemma Cooper | Wyatt Hough | Charli Robinson |
David Lynch
Sports Coordinator
PBS (Positive Behaviour Support)
Congratulations to Billy Stapleton in 6H!
Billy received three bonus MJR crosses for displaying positive behaviour. At our whole school assembly he was awarded a certificate of appreciation.
The Butterfly Foundation
The Butterfly Foundation is the national charity for all Australians impacted by eating disorders and body image issues, and for the families, friends and communities who support them.
Butterfly changes lives by providing innovative, evidence-based support services, treatment and resources, delivering prevention and early intervention programs and advocating for the needs of our community.
Butterfly operates a National Helpline that includes support over the phone, via email and online, reaching 20,000 people each year. The Helpline is staffed by trained counsellors experienced in assisting with eating disorders and body image issues. They also provide a wide range of programs for service providers and recovery groups.
Butterfly currently has 2 free parent webinars scheduled:
Week 1 - Term 3 2022
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Week 2 - Term 3 2022 |
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Week 3 - Term 3 2022 |
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Friday 5th August |
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Please note these dates can change from time to time due to unforeseen circumstances and we will endeavour to advise you of any changes at the earliest possible opportunity. Our school Google calendar can be accessed via this link for additional advanced dates -
For your convenience 2022 school term dates are listed below. They are also located on our website. Click on the words “TERM DATES” on the home page.
TERM 3
Kindergarten to Year 6 commence classes for Term 3 - Monday
18th July 2022
Kindergarten to Year 6 last day of classes Term 3 – Thursday
22nd September 2022
Staff Development Day (Pupil Free) - Friday 23rd September 2022
TERM 4
Kindergarten to Year 6 commence classes for Term 4 - Monday
10th October 2022
Kindergarten to Year 6 last day of classes for Term 4 - Friday
16th December 2022
Staff Development Day (Pupil Free) - Monday 19th December 2022
Staff Development Day (Pupil Free) - Tuesday 20th December 2022
Other Holidays in 2022
Labour Day – 3rd October (Public Holiday)
Christmas Day - 25th December (Public Holiday)
Boxing Day - 26th December (Public Holiday)
Student Semester 1 School Reports Published
2022 Zone Athletics permission and medical details
2022 Zone Athletics - High Jump
Letter to Parents and Carers - Tess taking leave Term 3
MJR House Reward Term 2 - Macquarie
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS SOUL SURFING STYLE
Monday 4th and Tuesday 5th July are the Fab Fun Day Dates for these holidays. Hugely loved and limited spaces. Surfing, games and fun excursion activities. 9:00am-3.30pm. $80 p/child per day.
Contact Corey or Loren at www.soulsurfing.com.au or call 0428480266