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NAPLAN
On Monday this week we sent home the Year 3 and 5 NAPLAN result letters to families. While NAPLAN is a source of data for giving feedback to families and teachers on how students are progressing at age appropriate skills in Literacy and Numeracy, it is one test on a particular day. Remember to see what the results help you to understand about your child’s progress in general, as it doesn’t show all of the facets of students or capture their individual strengths and qualities. As a school, we use NAPLAN data as one of the sources of information to see trends in student cohorts and to make goals as a school and for individual students.
PARISH MASTER PLAN
Our school Design Team gathered with Design Teams from the other education sites in our Parish on Monday. The team consists of four students from Year 5 and 6, eight members of staff from various parts of the school and one parent. We worked with Jeremy and Chantelle from NOTOSH, to understand the ways in which we can work with our school communities to seek information about our school currently through the eyes of the different stakeholders. From the start of Term 4 when we are all back from holidays, until 11th November when NOTOSH work directly with our school, we will be seeking information from our community in a variety of ways. We understand that all families and members of our community have different needs and like to engage with the school in different ways, so we are aiming to provide opportunities to hear from everyone.
Our “Project Nest” will be located in our school Hall (at the end of the Year 4 and 5 classroom block) where ideas collected from families, students and staff will be literally all over the walls! From the start of Term 4 we will be inviting you at varying times to wander in and take a look, have a cuppa or refreshments, chat with some of the Design Team and add your ideas to our display. Knowing that not everyone would like to or can come in physically, there will be other options for engaging in the thinking. We will kick this off in Week 1 Term 4, by sending home an activity where students can interview their families around a small number of questions and bring your thoughts back to place in the Project Nest. Each week in the newsletter, we will highlight an aspect of the work in the Project Nest so you can be there in virtual form.
We would like this to be an authentic and collaborative process, so we value all contributions. Please don’t think that any idea is too big or too small to be included. Jeremy and Chantelle will then return to our school in November to assist us in collating the responses and draw out the themes to work with.
We would really love to hear from a few parents who would like to assist in this process by sitting with some of our Design Team early in Term 4, and then be available at some key times during October and November to help other families share their ideas with us. This is not a big investment of time, just some conversations with our Design Team members in the Project Nest to help other parents and community members know what we are seeking to understand. Please contact our office if you are interested.
On Wednesday, Kellie from Paynters (our other project partner) visited our site to see what physical facilities we have and seek what can improve our future planning and development. The outcome of all of this work will be the culmination for the Parish, and all of our educational settings, of how we can strategically plan for the future.
DANCE EISTEDDFOD
It has been a big term for the Creative Arts, with our students in the Dance Eisteddfod working hard right to the end of term. We are so proud of all of our students who participated not only in the Glasshouse concert, but the Eisteddfod this afternoon and evening. A very big thank you to Mrs Toole for the organisation behind the scenes, Miss Elisa for the creativity and organisation of the items, the teachers who worked with her each week in Term 3 to prepare for their events and all those ensuring costumes and props were ready.
TERM 4 - PEER SUPPORT AND LEARNING JOURNEYS
During Term 4 we will be working in vertical groups for our Peer Support program, led by our wonderful Year 6 leaders. Each Tuesday from Week 2 to 8 in the afternoon session, our students will move into groups that have students from all grades in the school mixed to create Peer Support groups. This will be a wonderful opportunity for students to be with other age groups and work together to build community and learn about how we work together. We will publish in our newsletter the areas we are working on so you can talk about these at home and support the work of the groups.
In addition to Peer Support and our regular weekly learning structure, we are making an effort for parents, carers and special people in our lives to learn more about what we do at school. We have successfully held open classroom sessions in individual grades to showcase a particular project, which parents and carers have told us they enjoyed. There is no pressure, just an invitation to come in and let children explain what they have been learning about.
We will be holding an Open Classroom session in Week 2 for all grades at the same time, to coincide with Grandparents Day and our Book Parade. We will send home more information about this in the first week of Term 4, but remind you to mark your calendars for Friday 25th October to join us for a day of sharing. Don’t forget to get those dress up clothes ready for the Book Week parade.
This Open Classroom experience will replace our individual Learning Journey sessions that have previously been shared in the MPA for Term 4 on Friday afternoons, so that it is a “one-stop shop” for parents, especially if they need to visit more than one classroom during the day. There will be other opportunities for sharing learning throughout Term 4 too, look out for more ways to come in and enjoy learning with us!
CHANGE TO SUMMER UNIFORM
Students are required to wear the full summer uniform from Week 1 of Term 4. Please ensure that the items your child/ren are wearing are correct, paying particular attention to shoes and accessories. We will send reminder notes home next term for any items that need adjusting and ask for your support to follow these up. I have included the link to our uniform requirements.
THINKING OF OUR COMMUNITY
Congratulations to Harmony Amanatidis and family on the safe arrival of identical twin girls named Willow and Wynter. A wonderful addition to their family.
THANK YOU - HOLIDAYS
Thank you to each and every parent, carer and family member who has worked with us in this super busy term to achieve so much. There are the very obvious events that have been supported by you all with such enthusiasm, and the small things that are less obvious but still so very important. There is not often now in schools a time when we have nothing going on, so it can all seem like we just strap in and get ready for the ride! Once we start Term 4, it will be busy again and we will fit it all in, even when it seems impossible. For the two weeks of holidays, we wish you a safe and restful time with your children and we look forward to seeing you again on Monday 14th October. St Joseph’s does not have a Pupil Free Day at the start of Term 4, with our last Professional Learning Day for teachers on 4th November 2019.
Tess Koning
Principal
WE ARE SUPERSTARS
Last week we were all witness to an outstanding performance by our students. The students had been working every week for a whole term on developing their knowledge, skills and understanding of how to create dance and drama routines to culminate in a show stopping show.Learning to perform, compose and appreciate in dance involves a range of skills that use the dancing body and the elements of dance. With ideas for dance drawn from a range of contexts, students engage with the concepts of dance artists (performers and choreographers), dance works, the audience and the world to develop broader and deeper knowledge, understanding, values and attitudes about dance.
Dance provides students a creative outlet for ideas and feelings, especially when words are difficult to come by. A safe place to express themselves, all dancers move differently and this originality in movement allows students to accept and understand one another.
Our performance at The Glasshouse was linked to many Creative Arts outcomes in the curriculum including:-
- Exploring movement and choreographic devices using the elements of dance to communicate meaning
- Expressing ideas in dance, performing and experience being an audience
- Using fundamental movement skills to develop technical skills when practising dance sequences, including body control, accuracy, alignment, strength, balance and coordination
Thank you for an amazing term. Have a wonderful break enjoying your family and friends and we look forward to seeing you all again on Monday 14th October.
SRC, SPORTS CAPTAINS AND SELECTED YEAR 6 - SPECIAL ROTATION SPORTS AFTERNOON WITH KINDERGARTEN AND YEAR 1
On Tuesday afternoon, our Kindergarten and Year 1 were involved in an amazing afternoon of small group sports activities entirely planned and run by different leadership groups in Year 6. These senior students were outstanding in their management and encouragement of their younger peers. We were so terribly proud of each and every one of them.
SERVICE AT ST JOSEPH'S - FOUNDATION VALUE
Over the course of the year the staff have been developing a deeper understanding of Service as part of our role to live out the Mission of Jesus Christ. In our Monday Prayer, the SRC shared with the students of St Joseph’s the many different ways that we serve each other as we continue the Mission of Jesus Christ. This list will be explored by classes next term as they put into practice various ways to serve others.
When we serve others, we serve God.
How do we serve others?
Let us count the ways:
- Clean up after ourselves
- Being a friend
- Caring for younger children
- Donating clothes and goods
- Visiting the sick and elderly
- Be a helping hand for the poor and needy
- Praying for each other
- Supporting those who are sad
- Volunteering your time
- Doing something that needs to be done
- Sharing your talents and gifts
- Being open to the positive influences of others
PBS - MJR AWARDS
This term we have been reinforcing positive expectations of our students through morning messages, a PBS focus at Monday Prayer and the use of MJR tokens. The students of St Josephs’s have responded enthusiastically to all opportunities to gain an MJR token for their School House.
We don’t know who the winning house is yet - but the winning house will celebrate with a reward afternoon at school on Wednesday afternoon of Week 1, Term 4. Stay Tuned.
Ann Thurgate
Assistant Principal Mission
Our Volunteers for Week 1 Term 4
Monday | Sue Quinn |
Tuesday | You are welcome to join us |
Wednesday | You are welcome to join us |
Thursday | You are welcome to join us |
Friday | Robyn Hunt, Wendy Fairhall |
We ask that if you are unable to attend on your rostered day it would be very much appreciated if you could organise your replacement and let me know. This would really assist me enormously. Thank you.
Don't forget you can order online by 8:30am- it's so easy!!
- Go to www.flexischools.com.au
- Click “Register Now” to create account
- Top-up your balance
- Start ordering immediately
Annemaree Tonkin
Canteen Coordinator
I would like to congratulate all of our students who participated in the recent eisteddfod. I was able to see each of you perform and was so proud of you! There were so many competitors from St Joseph's as well as other schools in our area! We also had students from Newcastle and Coffs Harbour, so we were able to see a vast array of competitors.
Some students successfully competed in the Championship for their age group and I would especially like to acknowledge their efforts. Each competitor was required to compete in four sections ie. Dramatic Characterisation, Memorised Prose, Humorous Verse and Championship Verse.
In the Kindergarten, Year 1 and 2 Championship, Lillianna Anderson won 1st Place, Joel Crook 2nd and Ariannah Beard 3rd.
Imogen Mulligan won 3rd place in the Year 3/4 Championship.
In the Year 5/6 Championship, Tahnee Dimon gained 1st Place, Sophie Pynaert 2nd and Savanna Beard 3rd.
The student with the “Most Potential” was awarded to Jessica Timperley.
So many students won 1st, 2nd, 3rd and Highly Commended prizes and I congratulate them on their achievements.
The most beautiful moments for me were seeing the joy on the faces of the children when their friend or classmate won a prize. Their sportsmanship was commented upon by the audjudicator who announced that it was the friendliest eisteddfod she had encountered!
NB: Trinity College of London Speech and Drama Exams will be held on Friday, 15th November.
Yours in Speech
Sandra Thompson
SUMMER SPORT TRIALS
Thank you for the people who have their nominations and coach letter in for Summer Sports Trials. Summer Sports Trials will take place next term on Monday, 28th October, Week 3 in Kempsey. If your child is attending Basketball they will need to be dropped directly to the Port Macquarie Stadium. We wish all our students the best of luck.
TERM 4 PHYSICAL EDUCATION
In case you missed it last week, Term 4 will see our students experience outside coaches in both futsal for Year 2-6 and netball for K-6.
Sport Uniform will need to be worn on Thursday and Friday for K-6.
Intensive swimming at Port Macquarie Pool for Kinder, Year 1 and 2 will be in Week 7 and 8 of Term 4, finishing with a small carnival in the final Friday lesson on 6th December. The note for intensive swimming will be sent out shortly requesting permission and payment if you would like your child to participate. Please note the intensive swimming program is optional however if you nominate your child for the swimming program the commitment is for the whole two weeks and you will therefore be required to pay the full amount even if your child is away or sick during the program.
The Primary swimming carnival will be held in Week 9 on Thursday 12th December.
We look forward to a wonderful Term 4 of sport and physical education.
Yours in Sport
Laura Hatherly
Big W are giving away free books as part of an in-store promotion. These books have been selected for kids aged between 5 - 8 years who are learning to read and looking for their first chapter book. There are 8 titles by Australian authors and artists to collect with each book about the Australian experience. These would be great to read over the holidays however if you don’t want to keep them we would love to have them as an addition to the Library or our class book shelves. For more information go to https://www.bigw.com.au/free-books-for-kids or check out the promotions in store.
K Gold | Hardy Lin, Emelia Stoner, Ella Roach |
K Green | Sianna Sain Karickal, Ivy-Lea Harris, Cailin Daley |
1 Gold | Lilly Smith, Ruby Gilbert, Layla Porter, Noah Alchin |
1 Green | Jason Loumeau, Marielle Obeid, Ameiley Ervine |
2 Gold | Benji Connor, Mayriah Spicer, Aislinn Suveesh |
2 Green | Olivia Austin, Tomas Butler, Blake Herbert |
3 Gold | Lainey Campbell, Felicity Goldstein, Lara Hardy |
4 Green | Archie Johnson, Jasmine Howell, Savannah Cunneen |
5 Gold | Jack Banks, Jessica Timperley, Jade Bower |
6 Gold | John King, Jason Moore, Lilien Nguyen, Hriday Thakrani |
6 Green | Harvey Sinclair, Memphis McCarthy, Sean Veech |
As the school holidays approach, it is important to remember the following road safety guidelines:
For further information please click on the following link: http://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/downloads/safety-around-schools.pdf
Have a safe holiday break.
Mrs Laura Stapleton
Road Safety Teacher
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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 school term dates are located on our website. Click on the words “TERM DATES” on the home page.
STAFF DEVELOPMENT DAYS 2019
As we are aware that parents and carers need to know about Staff Development Days so they can forward plan work arrangements, our last remaining day (pupil free) is:
- Monday 4th November (Term 4, Week 4)
Closer to Monday 4th November we will advise on how to register for the childminding if you require it.
Confirmation Details Parent Letter 2019
Year 4 - Maryknoll House visit
Indigenous Family Faith Retreat
Year 5 Sensitive Issues - Growth and Development
The tennis camp that will be held at the Port Macquarie Tennis Club in the up coming school holidays will be held on Monday 30th September to Wednesday 2nd of October for ages 4 years and above. For children ages 4 -6 years the camp will be from 8.30-10.00 am and for ages 6 years and above the camp runs from 8.30 am until 11.30am (12.00 on the Wednesday). If you have any questions or would like to book in please email pmtc@bestit.net.au or phone 65849940. Semi-private and private lesson times are also available in the holidays as well as court hire.
We look forward to seeing you. We hope you have an enjoyable and safe holidays.
Port Macquarie Tennis Club