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CARING FOR OUR COMMUNITY
As we reach the end of Week 8 of Term 1, it is very clear that since we started school, our world has changed significantly. We are continually hearing in the local and national media about the major event impacting our daily lives; we know the name so well now, Corona virus or COVID-19. For all of us, this unprecedented time creates uncertainty, leading to worry for us and our families. As we continue to communicate to you through our school avenues, there is one thing that guides all of what we do and say; caring for our community.
What can’t be underestimated, is the effect that this is having on our community of St Joseph’s and beyond. As a school and Parish, our first priority is for our students, families and staff. We have become used to adapting practical strategies through each new piece of advice that comes to us from governments, health departments, Catholic Schools Office and St Agnes' Parish, which are quickly evolving.
As we continue through this event, I would like to very clearly say that there is always support available for our families to ensure that our community will be able to face what is ahead and come through it together. I ask that if you have any concerns for your children and family or know of another family who is struggling as part of our community, please let us know so that we can work out a way to assist. At the core of our Catholic Mission, is service, modelled on the person of Jesus. Our Parish is an immensely comforting support for us at this time as we work together in faith and hope.
This is a time for our school to remain a safe, stable, calm and nurturing place. Our staff are working as always, to ensure each child is able to learn and grow. This now includes providing continued educational support for families who are keeping their children at home through necessity or choice. We have been supported by our Catholic Schools Office with programmed learning that can be sent home for children to use. This will not be a replica of the classroom, as lessons in Primary schools are not driven by text books or worksheets, but covers the most important learning areas. These are available to you if needed, please ask for them through an email, phone call or visit to our office. In addition, teachers can support in ensuring students have log in information to online resources that students use at school that can also be accessed at home.
Currently, our direction is that schools will not close during Term 1 and students will officially finish on Wednesday 8th April. As we have discovered, this can change, so we will keep you up-to-date with any advice we are given around this. Our staff are preparing for the event of schools closing, so that we can move into a style of learning that all students can access. This is new territory for us as well, so we ask for your patience in what that will look like. Teachers are guiding students through the use of technology at school that will assist in connecting with us when that time comes. We will be guiding you through some information gathering in the coming week so we can understand your accessibility and use of technology at home in developing this school plan.
In a practical sense, we are continuing with some current strategies and making some extra changes this week, which I would like to outline to you.
We will continue to:
- Have hand sanitiser in the office and every classroom.
- Have hand soap in every toilet and classroom.
- Have staff teaching hygiene practices with students (also encouraged at home):
- Washing hands several times each day with soap and water.
- Sanitiser use at regular intervals.
- Sneezing and coughing into elbows.
- Not sharing any food items (always a practice at school).
- Display posters reminding of our hygiene practices.
- Clean more regularly and target particular areas such as benches, tables, handrails, handles and toilets.
- Keep groups of children gathered in the school below the numbers specified (currently 100):
- No assemblies of the whole school.
- No events with community members coming in to our school.
- Engage in social distancing wherever possible.
Added today to our recent practice:
- Staggered lunch times for K-2 and 3-6, allowing for:
- more space between students at eating times;
- more space at play times; and
- better use of toilets and handwashing
- Changes to the organisation of bus lines to create more space for children.
- Changes to the pick up area for K-2 to create more space for children outside of an enclosed area.
- Cancellation of volunteers in the school
Events added to the postponed/cancellation list at least until the end of Term 1:
- Kindergarten 2021 Information Night - information will be sent to families in digital form as soon as is practical.
- ANZAC Day March.
- After school sport training groups.
- All Church related services; Masses on weekdays and weekends, Sacramental preparation and celebrations.
As always, if you have any concerns, please contact us. It is a very busy time but we will try to reach out to you as soon as we can.
Thank you for your support of our school community.
GOOD NEWS STORY
We are proud to announce that Year 3 student Freya Praveen attende her Citizenship ceremony on Thursday 12th March. Not only is Freya and her family a valued member of our Joey's community, but now also a proud Australian.Congratulations Freya!
Tess Koning
Principal
SAINT JOSEPH'S DAY 19TH MARCH
Despite restrictions to our gatherings, students still participated in lessons about Saint Joseph to help celebrate our school feast day. Saint Joseph was a master of humility, serving the needs of Mary and Jesus before his own. He boasts little attention from the Gospels, however, it is as he would have wanted it. A humble man serving the will of God, and following our Lord, Jesus.
Thank you 5H for sharing with us one of the slideshows you created on the day -
CANCELLATION OF CONFIRMATION
YEAR 5 AND 6 RECONCILIATION
Year 5 and 6 students will be offered an opportunity to experience the Sacrament of Reconciliation during Week 10. The Sacrament is an opportunity to strengthen our Lenten promise in time for Easter.
Nathan Porter
Assistant Principal Mission
FIND A WAY - TO BE IS TO DO!
Whilst researching for some information linked to my own professional learning I came across this TED talk by Diana Nyad. It was such an inspiring story about never giving up that I thought I would share it with our community this week. Diana is such a skilled speaker who displays incredible thinking, determination and perseverance to achieve what she sets out to achieve. What I liked the most was her unwavering belief that she could achieve her goals no matter how old she was or how many times she had tried.We ask our students to set goals constantly throughout their education and encourage them to follow their dreams, never give up, and have a growth mindset. What we need to remember is to do the same ourselves, as we are their role models. Diana focuses on the journey to achieving her goal, not the destination. It is what you learn along the way which has the most power.
Jeannine Ucdereli
Assistant Principal Learning and Teaching
CONGRATULATIONS!
Well done to all our Diocesan Winter Sports competitors who competed last Friday in Grafton.
Well done to the following students who were selected for Polding level. We currently can't indicate when this will be however encourage you to check the Diocese of Lismore Sport website for updates.
Hockey | Sophie Holmes |
Rugby League | Koby Atkins |
Soccer | Hudson Bell and Milla Swain |
CROSS COUNTRY ANNOUNCEMENT
Thank you to all the wonderful parent helpers who volunteered their time and can no longer join us for Cross Country on Friday 27th March.
Due to new government guidelines we will still be holding Cross Country races on this day but in a different format.
- Students who wish to compete may nominate on the day and run in their age group. All other students will continue lessons in class.
- There will be no community spectators.
- Students will run inside the school grounds.
Thanks for your understanding as we adapt our physical activity timetable this term.
GYMNASTICS
Due to government guidelines, Gymnastics will be suspended until the end of this Term. The Gymnastics company has agreed to provide make up lessons in Term 4.
DIOCESE UPDATE ON SPORT
To keep up to date in all suspensions of sports activities and competitions, please visit the Diocese of Lismore Sport website which the Catholic Schools Office are updating regularly - https://sport.lism.catholic.edu.au/cancellations?doing_wp_cron=1584485846.8669068813323974609375
Yours in Sport
Laura Hatherly
LUNCH ORDERS
Due to supplier shortages of some items that we currently stock, there may be some items unavailable for lunch orders. I will update Flexischools daily and if we run out of anything before filling lunch orders, a suitable substitute will be offered to the children.
VOLUNTEER NOTICE
Thank you to all of our volunteers that are rostered to help in the canteen. At this stage we are unable to have volunteers in the canteen until further notice.
Thank you for your understanding on both of these matters.
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
Kim Goldie
Canteen Coordinator
Notice from CommBank School Banking
Thank you for your support.
KM | Evie Ervine | Jay Tymerski | Lincoln Picton |
KS | Harvey Porter | Oscar McHugh | Mia Moss |
1B | Isabel Shijo | Hudson Young | Harry Lawrence |
2S | Lilly Chapman | Marielle Obeid | Lucas Fernando |
2T | Jacob Gluckstern-Hill | Poppi-Lee McGeoch | Jessica Dennes |
3BH | Freya Praveen | Emily Meehan | Liam Jones |
3D | Eli Collier | Joel Crook | Marlee Hearne |
4B | Blayde Redding | Murphy Maher | Maddyx Gray |
4F | Cordelia Fazzolari | Chelsea Meehan | Harmony Amanatidis |
5GP | Bonnie Russell | Keely Newton | Chaise Winn |
5H | Hudson Bell | Storm Hardy | John Dal Santo |
6MH | Laura Sturrock | Amelia Queripel | William Naseby |
PLEASE NOTE -
This is currently suspended until we have more information about the health risks of this process.
Emma Francis
Sustainability Team
HOW CAN WE FOSTER OUR CHILDREN'S CREATIVITY AT HOME?
Creativity is not just a talent we are born with, but is a skill that can be learnt and developed. We use our creativity in everything we do and is a key component of health and happiness. It is a core skill that can be practiced with kids.
Creativity is not only artistic and musical expression, it is essential for science, maths, and social and emotional intelligence. Creative people are more flexible and better problem solvers, which allows them to be able to adapt to technological advances and deal with change.
Here are some ideas on how to foster creativity in our kids:
- Allow time for unstructured and imaginative play.
- Allow kids to make mistakes and fail. Kids who are afraid of failure and judgment will struggle with their own creativity. Share your own mistakes and show it’s ok to laugh at yourself.
- Celebrate innovation and creativity. Cover your walls with art. Talk about your favourite artists, musicians, scientists, architecture or photography.
- Limit TV and screen time and encourage children to read for pleasure and participate in the arts like rehearsing a play or learning to draw.
- Allow children to discover there is more than one solution to a problem. When they successfully solve a problem, ask them to come up with more solutions to the same problem.
- Forget about trying to always achieve. Emphasise the process rather than the product. Ask did you have fun? What did you like about that activity?
Enjoy some special creative time with your children.
GLEE CLUB NEWS
Due to recent circumstances, our Glee Club will no longer sing at the Preschool this term. We look forward to rescheduling this for later in the year.
Yours in Creative and Performing Arts
Leah Toole
Week 9 - Term 1 2020 |
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Monday |
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Tuesday |
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Wednesday 25th March |
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Friday |
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Week 10 - Term 1 2020 |
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Tuesday |
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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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Monday |
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Tuesday |
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Wednesday 8th April |
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Thursday 9th April |
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Week 1 - Term 2 2020 |
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Monday |
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Tuesday |
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Wednesday 29th 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.