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- Student Awards
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WELCOME TO OUR NEW STUDENTS
We were fortunate this week to welcome three new students to St Joseph’s. Evie Johnson has joined Year 3, Taylor Ashcroft in Year 1 and Miley Ashcroft in Year 4. We wish their families the best and offer our support as they settle into St Joseph’s.
P&F - FATHERS DAY
Our P&F had a meeting last week, the first for a while! We spoke about where we are up to with the year that has been guided by COVID-19. We acknowledged that we are unable to do any of the regular events that we had planned at the start of the year, which now sadly includes our Fathers Day Stall, as we were informed we couldn’t even have a few parents into the school for this. Our caring P&F group discussed how else we could do something special for our Dads, Grandads and other special male role models. It was decided that the P&F will work with the school and teachers to prepare a small gift from the children to their special loved ones, so that every child will have something to bring home, at no cost to families at this time when we know things are a struggle. Expect a lovely unique surprise in the days leading to Fathers Day, with thanks to the thinking and generosity of our P&F.
SOCIAL DISTANCING
We remind parents and carers of the need to social distance around the school during drop off, pick up and office attendance. You may have noticed the signs at the entrance to our office, where only 2 adults at a time can attend the foyer of the office, due to the ratio of space to adults. We also ask parents to maintain the 1.5m space when dropping off and picking up. Adults in our school are not required to wear masks at this time, but with the coverage in the media, we ask that everyone consider the impact of reducing the risk of any infections spreading in the hope that we will remain a very fortunate and safe community.
DOLSIS PARENT SURVEY
Thank you to the families who completed the Insight SRC – Diocese Of Lismore School Improvement Survey (DOLSIS). The purpose of DOLSIS is to receive feedback from parents, students and staff on the different facets of school so that we can continue to improve our school setting.
POLICE LIASION OFFICER VISIT
CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations to Aryan Vishanth (3D) who has a new baby sister named Jhanvi. What a lovely addition to his family.
Tess Koning
Principal
See below our video of 3D doing a beautiful job leading us in prayer and in song this week.
Click on the below image to hear a lovely rendition of Gary Pinto’s song titled ‘Mary Mackillop’.
YEAR 4 ACCENDERE
Our Year 4 children will be participating in ‘Accendere’, a whole day spiritual retreat next Thursday, 13th August at school. Accendere means to ‘switch on’ or to ‘light a spark’, aiming to have children immerse themselves in faith formation activities. We look forward to spending the day with our Year 4 children.
Nathan Porter
Assistant Principal Mission
WHY IS PLAY IMPORTANT?
In our current climate where so many things are uncertain and changing daily, one thing we do know is the importance of play. Play allows children to use their creativity while developing their imagination, dexterity, and physical, cognitive, and emotional strength. It helps children develop new competencies that lead to enhanced confidence and the resiliency they will need to face future challenges.
You will often hear educators use the terms ‘play-based learning’ or discussing the importance of play in the early years of school. Play creates opportunities for adventure, growth and learning. It supports and inspires natural curiosity, eagerness to learn and a love of communication with others.
Here are five reasons why play is important in the early years:
- Developing secure attachments: Through play children begin to foster secure attachments to their peers, families and educators. Strong relationships are the key to children feeling safe, secure and supported, which impacts their learning, happiness and self-esteem. Parents are a child’s first teacher and much of that teaching happens through play.
- The effect of play on brain development: Play has intellectual and cognitive benefits for the brain and it is believed that play can in fact shape the structural development of the brain.
- Development of learning skills: Through play children develop important learning and life skills such as exploring, identifying, negotiating, risk-taking and imagining.
- Speech and language development through play: During play children are watching, listening, exploring and imitating. Even when your child is playing silently, they are learning important information and exposed to new vocabulary that they will carry with them and use later.
- The ability to regulate their behaviour: As children play they are learning skills such as how to concentrate on a task, how to take turns and how to share. In turn these will aid them in regulating their behaviour and emotions.
Play leads to enhanced school adjustment and, most importantly, a love of learning. When children play and learn new things they discover that learning can be fun and go on to view learning as something enjoyable. It is through play that children at a very early age engage and interact in the world around them. Above all, play is a simple joy that is a cherished part of childhood.
Jeannine Ucdereli
Assistant Principal Learning and Teaching
INTERSCHOOL NETBALL AND SOCCER COMPETITION
Next week we will hold trials for any students in Years 5 and 6 who are keen netballers and soccer players. We will take a team of each to play in an Interschool competition between the other Catholic schools. It will be held at St Peter's Primary School on Friday 11th September. If your child would like to trial for a team, please refer to the note sent home this week and complete the online permission form by 3:00pm Wednesday 12th August.
800M AND 1500M ATHLETICS
To complete our Athletics selections, we will hold the 800m and 1500m events next week on Friday 14th August, beginning at 9:00am here at school. Students aged 8 years and over have nominated to their class teacher if they would like to run in these races.
Due to the guidelines around social distancing and current restrictions in place, we will not be able to have our wonderful parent volunteers or visitors join us for these events.
Once the results are in, we will award a winning House and our Athletics Age Champions for 2020.
REBEL SPORT EQUIPMENT
A big thank you to Rebel for their Community Kickback program, and all of our wonderful parents who have shopped at Rebel. This has given us credit towards purchasing sport equipment for our school. We have been fortunate enough to purchase new Basketballs and NRL balls for both Primary and Infants students, Cones, Hula Hoops and a self-standing Basketball ring appropriate for our Infants play area. Playtime has never been so much fun!
GRADE SPORT UNIFORM DAYS
Yours in Sport
Leah Toole
An important update for SZapp has been released to accomodate for iPhones which have been intermittently receiving push notifications.
SZapp version 3.6.0 is available from the App Store now and we advise all iPhone users to install this version to ensure notifications are received correctly.
Users with automatic updates enabled on their device will receive this update automatically.
CANTEEN MENU
The new menu for Term 3 has been updated and can be found on the school website under Sunshine Cafe or in the link below.
There are a couple of new additions to the menu including new Pizza Pockets, available in Hawaiian or BBQ Chicken, and Snack Packs which are made up of dip/hommus, cheese, crackers and vegetable sticks. I have also added a section on Flexischools for morning Fruit Break so that the students can come and pick up their fruit before the morning bell.
The children have been making some great healthy choices at the canteen lately and each day I have a variety of healthy options available for 50c or $1, as well as all of the usual offerings.
There are currently some issues with supplies but I am updating Flexischools daily. If children order something that is not available, I will offer a suitable alternative or can give them a credit or refund.
COVID-19 AWARENESS FOR FOOD
As Joey's canteen coordinator, I have recently completed a COVID-19 awareness for food service course. The training has been developed for anyone working in NSW food retail and food service businesses and covers key measures recommended for COVID-19 control. Key topics addressed:
- COVID-19 Introduction and background
- Infection, signs and symptoms
- Self-protective measures
- Protective measures for premises and personal hygiene
- Cleaning and sanitation practices
- Social distancing measures
- Record keeping
VOLUNTEER NOTICE
We are still unable to have volunteers in the canteen at this stage until further notice.
LUNCH ORDERS
The canteen is operating as usual and lunch orders can be placed via Flexischools or by dropping them in the basket on the counter each morning.
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
Types of friends is the focus in Peer Support next week. Children will explore what encourages them to form friendships with different people (common interests, admirable qualities etc). Through various activities children will identify that their friends can fall into the categories of ‘best friends’, ‘friends’ and ‘people we know’. Children will also discuss the fact that friendships can change over time for various reasons.
Discuss with your child the different friends they have in their lives and how friendships may change. Some friends may be more important at different times in their lives.
National Science Week is Australia’s annual celebration of Science and Technology and runs from 15th to 23rd August.
It provides an opportunity to acknowledge the contributions of scientists, use of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, (STEM) professionals, innovators, designers and entrepreneurs in the world of science.
The aim of this year's theme ‘Deep Blue’ is to encourage young people to become fascinated by our planet's oceans, which cover two-thirds of its surface and help control its weather systems and the make-up of the atmosphere.
This year our students will be celebrating National Science Week with a trip to our very own St Joseph’s Maker Space where they will be participating in a unique experience connected to this year's theme.
Sarah Blundell
Leader of Digital Pedagogies/STEM
KM | Zoe Bentley | Yzekiel Nieva | Islah Kingsmith |
KS | Alexia Lynch | Jade McGinley | Hannah Cooper |
1B | Elsie Enriquez | Georgia Bell | Wynter Stewart |
1R | Hardy Lin | Spencer Searle | Izakk Partridge |
2T | Makayla Johnson | Jessica Dennes | Jazmine Taylor |
3BH | Charlotte Pascua | Mayriah Spicer | Lacey Sinclair |
3D | Lilliana Anderson | Misty-Lee Bennett | Oscar Peirce |
4B | Mia Howell | Maddyx Gray | Siya Modi |
4F | Miley Ashcroft | Riley Tattersall | Joseph Hunt |
5G | Chaise Winn | Bonnie Russell | Archie Johnson |
5H | Hunter Vause | Ivy Basanovic | Jasmine Howell |
6H | Lenox Pearce | Evie-May Riske | Koby Atkins |
6MH | Ella Everingham | Sheridan Barker | Jhed Monckton |
UNESAP 2020 ART PRIZE WINNERS ANNOUNCEMENT
Extra enormous congratulations to Leyla-Jane Ahoy (5G) on her runner-up placing in the UNE Student Art Prize!
The online exhibition 'Let's Hang It' featuring the students work has now opened. Student's artworks will be able to be viewed on the site until 16th August 2020. A People’s Choice award will be running in conjunction with the exhibition. You can view the announcement, exhibition and vote for your favourites through the link below.
https://www.neram.com.au/unesap-2020-online-exhibition/
SACRED SPACE MURAL
Our primary students have been busily adding to the whole room mural in our Sacred Space. We have nearly finished one wall and will be adding the finishing touches over the next couple of weeks. We are really impressed with their efforts! As always, everyone is welcome to come and paint at Lunch 1 on Wednesdays.
CREATIVE ARTS LUNCH CLUBS
We are excited that our Creative Arts lunch club timetable is back up and running this term.
Here are the opportunities for our students to get creative:
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Lunch 1 |
Infants and Primary Glee club |
Infants Art Club Primary Art Club |
Infants Drama Club Primary Drama Club |
Lunch 2 |
Primary Dance Group |
Faith Choir |
All students are welcome to attend. While we may not have a final performance, we look forward to sharing our hard work and achievements with you.
Yours in the Performing and Creative Arts
Leah Toole
Positive Behaviour School (PBS)
Our focus for Week 3 and 4 is “I am Respectful”. Respect is the essential ingredient in all relationships. At school, students are learning to show respect to others and treating others the way we would like to be treated. We are working on listening skills, playing fairly, caring for our environment, allowing others to learn and encouraging others. Respect is our focus during learning times and during play times.
Week 4 - Term 3 2020 |
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STAFF DEVELOPMENT DAY (PUPIL FREE) - 2nd SEPTEMBER 2020
A Staff Development Day (Pupil Free) has been planned for Wednesday 2nd September in Week 7 this term.
This is not at the beginning or end of a term as it would most often be, due to the need for the day to fall in line with professional learning that school staff have been engaging in with Catholic Schools Office, Lismore staff during staff meetings this term.
In recognising the need to support parents who work on this day, there will be child-minding provided for those who are unable to organise care outside of school. To ensure we are able to cater for this planning, any parents requiring care for their child/children on this day are asked to please contact the Office Aunties or email us at sjpport@lism.catholic.edu.au to book. We will need to have bookings finalised on Friday 28th August, so the cut off time will be 3:00pm on this day.
Our remaining planned Staff Development Day (pupil free) is:
- Monday 12th October (Term 4, Week 1)
Due to circumstances around COVID-19, this date may change.
Week 5 - Term 3 2020 |
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Week 7 - Term 3 2020 |
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Sunday 6th September |
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Week 9 - Term 3 2020 |
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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.
2020 Census Data Collection Privacy Notice
Inter School Competition in Netball and Soccer - EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
Staff Development Day 2020-09-02
Welcome back to tennis for Term 3. Tennis lessons will commence from Monday 20th July. School pick up will also commence from this date. Due to covid- 19, we are unable to provide the afternoon fruit snack. Children are encouraged to bring their own snack to eat.
If you were receiving bus pick up in Term 2 please confirm that you would like this to continue. If you would like to start bus pick up for this term please text or ring Greg. Please note there will be a charge for bus pick up of $5.00 per student per pick up, which will be added to your term fee if you choose this option.
The Friday junior competition will be starting from Friday 24th of July 4.00 - 5.30 pm. Please let us know if your child is interested in playing.
Please remember that the new active children's voucher is available for the second half of the year and can be used towards any tennis lesson.
For any inquiries about tennis lessons or the competition please text or phone Greg on 0427466760.
We look forward to seeing you back on the court.
Regards
Greg and the team at Port Macquarie Tennis Club.