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WHO IS THE BEST TEACHER AT ST JOSEPH'S?
No, we are not having a popularity competition to see who the kids like the best ….. this was Fr Paul’s opening question for our students to ponder and respond to in his Homily at our school Mass last week. There was a buzz among the children as they shared with their classmates their favourite teachers and why. We are used to Fr Paul linking a question to a message that can be unexpected. There was an audible reaction when he gave us his own answer.
The message is simple but essential, as it challenges us all to look to the role model who so authentically lived to serve and lift up others, just as we are called to do. This role model lives in each one of us, created in his image; to continue building a community committed to being united in compassion, service, love, forgiveness, prayer, gentleness, patience, self-control and humility. We pray to put aside the barriers we place in our view so that we can see him in each other and grow more like him each day. I share here Fr Paul's answer to the question -
Jesus is the best teacher at St Joseph’s because:
- Jesus was compassionate - always taking the time to notice how other people were feeling, which drove him to help others.
- Jesus liked to help others - he never turned away anybody that needed help.
- Jesus was loving - he loved everyone. He loved us so much that he died for us; just look at the cross. That’s how much he loved us.
- Jesus was forgiving - he forgave others when they hurt him. When anyone had done the wrong thing, Jesus always encouraged them to seek forgiveness.
- Jesus was totally committed to others.
- Jesus was prayerful - no matter how busy he was, he always found time to pray.
- Jesus was gentle - when he was with people and helping them, he was always kind and gentle.
- Jesus was patient - even though many people did not understand what he was saying, he patiently taught them and made sure they understood what he was teaching.
- Jesus had self-control - he didn’t get distracted. He knew what he had to do and made sure he did it to the best of his ability.
- Jesus was humble - he did not want to show off. He just wanted to help others in whatever way he could.
TOILET BLOCK REFURBISHMENT
I am pleased to be able to announce the start of our Year 3-6 toilet block refurbishment project. After much planning and organising in collaboration with our wonderful support in the Parish, the commencement of our project is fast approaching. This was made possible through a successful grant application through the CSO in 2019.
The project will take approximately 8 weeks to complete, commencing on the weekend of 7th and 8th March. The expected completion will be just after the Term 1 school holidays. As you can imagine, this is a major project and we will be preparing the students for how this will be managed. We will have temporary toilets delivered to our school prior to the fencing off of the block, which students will use during the project. While this will be inconvenient for the time of the work, we need to remember what the benefits of this will be for our school. Students will need to exercise patience and self-control during this time so that we are able to see the realisation of a wonderful and long-awaited facility.
PUPIL FREE DAY - TERM 1
As published in our dates to plan ahead in our newsletters this term, the Pupil Free Day for Term 1 is on Thursday 9th April. On this day our staff will be engaged in their Spirituality Retreat off site. Due to being away from school, there will be no child minding for this day. The final day of school for Term 1 for students will be Wednesday 8th April.
LEUKAEMIA FOUNDATION - WORLD'S GREATEST SHAVE
A reminder that Year 6 student Grace Chuwen will be participating in the World’s Greatest Shave on Friday 13th March at school. If you would like to donate, please click below and the link will take you to Grace’s page, or visit our office where there is a box to place money into.
2020 STUDENT RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS AND OTHER INFORMATION COLLECTION
The Australian Government Department of Education and Training will be undertaking a residential address collection in 2020. As part of this project we are required to send out to all parents and carers a 2020 Student Residential Address and Other Information collection notice, advising parents that the Australian Government Department of Education and Training is requesting that schools provide a statement of address.
A statement of addresses contains the following information about each student at the school:
- Student residential address (not student names).
- Student level of education (i.e. whether the student is a primary or secondary student).
- Student boarding school status (i.e. whether the student is boarding or a day student).
- Names and residential addresses of the student’s parent(s) and/or guardian(s).
Please find click on the link below to view the 2020 Student Residential Address and Other Information collection notice.
If you require any further information regarding this please do not hesitate to contact me.
Tess Koning
Principal
MASS FOR BEGINNING THE YEAR
A big thank you to all families, children and staff who helped, read, sang and attended our Mass to celebrate the beginning of a great year for 2020. The Mass was a beautiful event that centres our community in our Catholic faith, with Christ being our cornerstone and our school being a place that embodies the Gospel values.
ASH WEDNESDAY
We held a lovely Ash Wednesday prayer service to mark the beginning of the Lenten season. Children wrote promises on Lenten feet to symbolise the spiritual journey of change and renewal.
CONFIRMATION REGISTRATION NIGHTS
To register your child to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation this year, please register your child at one of the following nights:
Tuesday 3rd March, 6:00pm at St Agnes' Church
Wednesday 11th March, 6:00pm at St Agnes' Church
Candidates will be Confirmed by Bishop Gregory Homeming on one of the Masses on the 4th and 5th of May. Please contact the St Agnes' Parish for further information.
Nathan Porter
Assistant Principal Mission
BUS SAFETY WEEK - BE BUS AWARE
This week was bus safety week an important campaign in conjunction with Transport for NSW to encourage everyone to be more vigilant and aware around buses. Bus Safety Week reminds all road users to ‘Be Bus Aware’
Our school bus operator Busways is reminding all road users to be bus aware as the NSW Government’s Bus Safety Week kicks off for the fifth year. Be part of the ‘Be Bus Aware’ campaign.
Bus Safety Week sees Governments, bus operators, and emergency services raise awareness about the importance of being safe in and around buses and spread the message to ‘Be Bus Aware’.
Busways Managing Director, Byron Rowe, said motorists need to be aware that buses are large and heavy vehicles that can’t stop quickly. “When a bus is forced to brake heavily it can cause passengers to be thrown around inside the bus” he said. “During Bus Safety Week we are educating the community to give buses room and not pull out in front of them. We all have a part to play in bus safety, whether you’re a pedestrian, motorist or bus passenger."
Bus Safety Week provides a timely reminder to parents to have a talk with their children about bus safety; to motorists when giving way to buses, to pedestrians to make sure they’re alert of their surroundings and to cyclists to ensure they can see where buses are. We all have a part to play in bus safety.
The ‘Be Bus Aware’ campaign has been developed with input from Bus NSW, NSW Police and Transport for NSW. For more information on bus safety or to learn about Transport for NSW’s ‘Be Bus Aware’ campaign, visit the Be Bus Aware site or visit the Busways website www.busways.com.au.
Jeannine Ucdereli
Assistant Principal Learning and Teaching
REMINDER - WINTER SPORT TRIALS
Winter Sports Trials backup date 2nd March - all sports (except Hockey) will be held this Monday 2nd March. Hockey students will be straight through to Diocesan because of numbers.
Please note there is a change in departure time and venue:
- Students are now departing school at 8:15am.
- Winter Sport trials will now be held at St Joseph's Regional College. Netball will remain at Port Macquarie Indoor Stadium.
NRL LEAGUE STARTS AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM
Our after school program for League Stars run by Lee Wood from National Rugby League started this week. What fun our League Stars are having, whilst building skills and making friends.
BULLDOGS
Our Year 6’s were visited by the Canterbury Bulldogs this week. The Bulldogs spoke of teamwork, respect for our teammates, opponents and the referee and their love of the game.
DIOCESAN SWIMMING TODAY
Our Diocesan swimmers were at the pool in Kempsey today representing Hastings Zone. Well done to all our competitors.
Results and photos to follow next week.
Yours in Sport
Laura Hatherly
BIG VEGIE CRUNCH
Primary schools across NSW will be joining together to break the record for the most students crunching vegetables simultaneously.
Data suggests that only around 5% of NSW children eat enough vegetables. To encourage an increase in vegetable consumption our school will be taking part in ‘The Big Vegie Crunch’ (part of Vegetable Week) during our Crunch‘n’Sip break on Thursday 5th March.
What can you do to help?
- Pack a container of vegetables (not fruit this time) for your child to eat on Thursday 5th March.
- Have a look through our new Canteen menu and talk about all of the healthy options we have available.
- Keep serving fresh vegetables at home and pack them in your child’s lunch box.
Did you know????
Children are much more likely to try new things (including vegetables) if they are with their friends and peers.
Again, a BIG thank you to Ken Little for his generous donation and support of the school and the Big Vegie Crunch.
Don't forget you can order online by 8:30am- it's so easy!!
- Download the Flexischools app from the App Store or from Google Play.
Note: for iPhone and iPad please select ‘Allow’ notification - Click “Register Now” to create account
- Top-up your balance
- Start ordering immediately
- Alternatively Go to www.flexischools.com.au
Our Volunteers for Week 6 Term 1
Monday | Paul Davey |
Tuesday | Chantelle Charnock |
Wednesday | Sally Marsh, Nicole Single |
Thursday | Avril Ferraro |
Friday | Susan Wittenberg |
Kim Goldie
Canteen Coordinator
St Joseph’s has entered into the 2020 Colgate Community Garden Challenge!
The competition will run from 24th February to 2nd October when we will be collecting used oral care products and community votes in order to win a community garden set for our school and cool upcycled products!
There are 2 ways we can earn points for our school:
- Send into school your used oral care waste. This includes any brand of used toothpaste tubes, non-electric toothbrushes, floss containers, interdental brushes, electric toothbrush heads. These will be collected and sent into the competition.
- Votes online for our school.
1 unit of oral care waste = 10 Garden Points
1 online vote = 1 Garden Point
This is a great opportunity for our school community to be involved whilst looking after our planet at the same time.
Please vote for our school by clicking here and remember to share this competition with your families and friends. There is no need to sign in, just scroll down the page and submit your vote.
If you would like more information please click here to be directed to the competition website.
Thank you
Emma Francis
Last week we began the Infants Drama Club and what a laugh we had! It was great to see so many students from Kinder to Year 2 wanting to get involved. We worked on the sounds we can make with our voices, how to use our faces to express different emotions and using our bodies to move in different ways. We even began to look at our first play ‘The Three Little Pigs’. Infants Drama Club is on Thursday at Lunch 1 on the stage in the MPA.
Yours in the Creative and Performing Arts
Leah Toole
Over the last 12 months we have been working hard to eliminate our carbon footprint at St Joseph’s. The funds raised from our weekly Return and Earn continue to support the growing food forest/ outdoor learning centre here at our school.
We are looking for parents to take on the role of returning the cans and bottles to the return and earn stations on a weekly basis on behalf of the school. For more information please leave your name at the office and a member of the Sustainability Team will get in contact with you.
Emma Francis
Sustainability Team
KM | Grace Gluckstern-Hill | Huxon Jones | Anika Suveesh |
KS | Cleo Gawith | Oliver Godwin | Harry Herbert |
1R | Keilah Long | Kingston Shooter | Bronte Wood |
2T | Jade Hanks | Sunny Stapleton | Chase Mulligan |
3BH | Blake Herbert | Charlotte Pascua | Bailey Parker |
3D | Tomas Butler | Bryce Tickle | Laila Thorburn |
4B | Peyton Berry | Bronte Gawith | Ruby Cramp |
4F | Jaxon Smurthwaite | Amelia Thompson | Isabelle Moane |
5G | Ella Hoade | Oliver Mat | Aaron Biju |
5H | Luke Davies | Bailey Elphick | Ella Herbert |
6MH | Airlia Matthews | Amelia Dowd | Ella Carroll |
Week 6 - Term 1 2020 |
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Wednesday 4th March |
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Thursday 5th March |
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Sunday 8th March |
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Week 7 - Term 1 2020 |
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Wednesday 11th March |
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Thursday 12th March |
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Friday 13th March |
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Week 8 - Term 1 2020 |
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Wednesday 18th March |
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Thursday 19th March |
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Friday 20th March |
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Week 9 - Term 1 2020 |
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Wednesday 25th March |
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Thursday 26th March |
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Friday 27th March |
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Week 10 - Term 1 2020 |
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Wednesday 1st April |
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Thursday 2nd April |
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Week 11 - Term 1 2020 |
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Wednesday 8th April |
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Thursday 9th April |
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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 2020
As we are aware that parents and carers need to know about Staff Development Days so they can forward plan work arrangements, our remaining days (pupil free) are:
- Thursday 9th April (Term 1, Week 11)
- Monday 27th April (Term 2, Week 1)
- Monday 20th July (Term 3, Week 1)
- Monday 12th October (Term 4, Week 1)
For each of these days (with the exception of 9th April) we will offer limited child minding places. Closer to each date we will advise on how to register for the child minding if you require it.
2020 Maths Olympiad (selected students)
Mid Coast Futsal Primary School Championships (Year 4 to 6)
Use of Digital Technologies Policy and Agreements