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- Prayer Focus
- The Principal's Report
- Celebrating Our Faith
- Learning Together
- Road Safety
- Wellbeing Team
- Safer Internet Day
- Changes to Student Details
- After School Speech and Drama
- P&F
- Sport Spotlight
- Sunshine Cafe
- Student Awards
- What's On Next Week ...
- Advance Dates for Your Diary
- This Week's Notes
- Billboard
Welcome all students and families
What a wonderful start to the year we have had! Thank you for preparing your children so well to be back at school, independently coming into the gate in the mornings (Years 1-6), being dressed in their uniforms with pride, having their belongings organised and engaging in learning.
Kindergarten
Our hearts were bursting with happiness as we welcomed our new Kindergarten students and their families on Thursday morning. We were delighted to be able to have parents and carers walk their children into the school, have some priceless photo opportunities, see their new learning spaces set up and welcoming, and brave grownups saying goodbye to even braver students. What a wonderful first day we had and we know that this year will be so much fun. We will have a welcoming afternoon event in the coming weeks for our Kindergarten families to begin this beautiful educational journey with us. We thank you for entrusting your children to the care of our extraordinary Kindergarten educators.
Swimming Carnival
While we welcomed our Kindergarten students, our students in Years 3-6 (and some eligible Year 2), travelled to the Wauchope Memorial Olympic Pool for our combined inclusive Carnival and trials for competitive Zone swimmers. The setting and weather could not have been better, with a wonderfully celebratory vibe from our students and teachers. We thank especially Mrs Leah Toole and her team of helpers both at school and at the pool for the organisation, setup, packup and everything in between to give our swimmers this opportunity for fun and competition. The hours spent behind the scenes and on the day meant that we completed the task of selection for Zone and provided a fun day for all involved. We look forward to sharing with you the results and seeing our swimmers head on to the next level. Thank you to parents and carers who followed the COVID-19 instructions which enabled them to spectate at this event. We hope to continue providing ways for families to engage in school events within our allowed guidelines this year.
COVID-19 Guidelines
Parents of Kindergarten children will continue to be able to walk their child into the school each morning. We will update you on guidelines as they evolve around how long this can continue and how we will support students to gain independence in morning routines to make the drop offs practical and trouble free. We know that many other parents would love the chance to come in and resettle their children, but the numbers of parents and carers coming in and out would exceed our allowances. Kindergarten parents will not be able to stay for a length of time within the school due to the numbers of adults at any one time, and staff will assist in supporting students to allow you to leave. We will have supportive staff at the gate each morning to assist all children and families.
Our afternoon pickup remains the same, we thank you for your support in this ongoing process.
Uniform Review
Next week you will receive a letter from the Parish regarding the Uniform Review I mentioned in our previous communication. We will continue to work with you on this process as we seek feedback and input.
Band Program Changes
All families with students in Years 3-6 received a note via email this week regarding the changes to the Band Program. If you are interested in finding out more, please come along to our information evening next Wednsday 10th February at 6:00pm. There is no commitment to join by coming, but this will give you more detailed information and a sense of how this will be coordinated. Students can join even if they are unable to come to the meeting.
Principal
Mass for Beginning of Year
The school will celebrate the beginning of the new year with Mass on Wednesday 10th February. We will focus on the Year of Saint Joseph. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 restrictions, we are unable to open this event to all parents. Please pray for a happy and successful year for our school.
Prayer at St Joseph's
Prayer is an integral part of our day at St Joseph's. Morning prayer, Christian meditation, Grace before meals, and prayer to conclude our day are current practise. Prayer builds our relationship with God, self and others. Our school prayer is prayed each week as a whole school. This prayer has been a part of our school tradition for many years.
This is our school,
Let peace be found here,
May the rooms be full of happiness,
Let love abide here,
Love for one another,
Love of life itself
and love of God.
Let us remember,
As many hands build a house,
So many hearts make a school,
O Lord, we ask your blessing as we live and work today in your name.
Amen
Nathan Porter
Assistant Principal Mission
MAI’s - Where to from here?
Now that all students have been assessed using the MAI, this data has been entered into the database and analysed by each teacher to determine which of the four domains should be the focus for daily Number Fluency sessions. All students from K-6 will participate in daily Number Fluency sessions to help further develop their understanding of number concepts. This regular practice will support their learning of new skills and concepts across all strands of Mathematics such as Measurement and Geometry.
Students will continue to be tracked throughout the year and the data will be updated regularly by their classroom teachers to reflect their new learning. The focus of the daily sessions will change throughout the year depending on the area of need for each class/grade.
The MAI data highlights students who are mathematically ‘vulnerable’ and these students will receive extra assistance to help accelerate their learning. The EMU (Extending Mathematical Understanding) Specialist Teachers (Jeannine Ucdereli and Leah Toole) will support teachers in planning learning experiences to cater for these needs.
EMU (Extending Mathematical Understanding) Intervention Group
In Year 1, the three most ‘mathematically vulnerable’ students across the grade will take part in an intensive 10 to 20 week program which consists of 5 x 30 minute sessions per week to help accelerate their learning.
Jeannine Ucdereli
Assistant Principal Learning and Teaching
Welcome back to school!!
Today we wanted to re-introduce you to the Wellbeing Team here at St Joseph's Primary School.
The Wellbeing Team reviews all referrals for support that are made. The team meets weekly to discuss the referrals and then decides on the appropriate support to be offered to the student. Support options include engagement with a member of the team for support or external support.
Where it is deemed appropriate for an external support to be engaged, a member of the team will talk with you about ways to access this information that the school can provide to support your referral.
The Wellbeing Team:
Nathan Porter - Assistant Principal (Mission)
My role is to work with staff and students in various groups such as Positive Behaviour Support (PBS Team) and Student Representative Council to develop positive wellbeing across the school. We coordinate student rewards for positive behaviours, set social skills and values as topics for classes to learn and teach and manage the discipline policy.
I have attained a Masters of Student Wellbeing and am passionate about having a safe, fun and positive environment for our entire school community.
Lyn Kelly - Additional Needs Teacher (Kindergarten to Year 3)
My role is to work with students who need adjustments and support to learn and function happily in our school environment. I collaborate with class teachers, parents, various therapists and doctors and the preschools to implement adjustments to ensure success. I also liaise with personnel from the Catholic Schools Office to make sure we are accessing the best support we can for our students.
Robyn McDougall - Additional Needs Teacher (Year 4 to Year 6)
My role is to work with teachers to support students who need adjustments in their social, emotional or academic learning. We meet with parents to discuss these adjustments and to set up tools that will assist students throughout the day. I am a member of the PBS Team and work with a group of teachers to encourage a positive and reflective attitude in the way we respect ourselves and others.
Kelly Russell - School Counsellor
I’ve been part of the Joeys team for 3 years and am a registered Psychologist.
This year I will be available to provide support to students on an individual as well as a group basis.
Individual support:
Referrals for individual support are available for students in consultation with their teacher.
The impact of the concern needs to be seen in the school setting such as in school work, friendships and/or attendance.
Individual counselling support is limited to 5 sessions and any further support that may be needed for your child will be discussed with you in the course of the sessions.
Group support:
Group support will also be available with a number of new groups being introduced this year.
Seasons for Growth is a psychoeducation program with a grief and loss focus. It provides students with a safe space to come together to talk about their experiences with loss and change. This is offered to children in set age groups and runs for 8 weeks. A limited number of students will be in the group.
Cool Kids is a program that supports children who may be worried or anxious. This program will be run for the first time this year and again has limited numbers per group.
Cool Kids assists children and parents in:
- Learning about feelings and anxiety.
- Learning to think realistically.
- Parenting an anxious child.
- Fighting fear by facing fear (stepladders).
- Learning coping skills such as building confidence or problem solving.
As dates for these programs are finalised more information will be provided in the newsletter.
Cate Hearle - Student Support Worker
I have been a member of the team at St Joseph’s Primary for the last 25 years.
My role is to offer emotional support and pastoral care to students when they are experiencing some difficulties.
I liaise with teachers in conjunction with the Wellbeing Team to deliver quality care and support for our students.
Our school will start the chat about online safety to celebrate Safer Internet Day on Tuesday 9 February 2021.
Safer Internet Day is an opportunity to raise awareness about the safe and positive use of digital technology. It’s also a good time to explore the role we can all play in creating a better online community. This global campaign is celebrated by millions of people in 170 countries across the world.
As a school our K-2 students will be reading the new eSafety Early Years picture book Swoosh, Glide and Rule Number 5, learning My Family Rules Song by Lah-Lah and playing Swoosh and Glide story puzzles.
Years 3-6 will be participating in a lesson about e-safety and joining a Webinar during the week titled Be an e-Safe Kid: Fake News, Real Harms.
For further information we encourage you to explore Australia’s online safety hub. Check out e-Safety’s great range of advice and resources. Get started by visiting the parents and carers pages and reading the practical tips for kicking off an online safety conversation. Join the parent webinar eSafety’s guide to cyberbullying and online drama.
- Visit https://www.esafety.gov.au/about-us/events/safer-internet-day-2021 for tips to start the chat at home.
Help us make every day a Safer Internet Day!
Sarah Blundell
Leader of Digital Pedagogies/STEM
MEDICATIONS
Please be mindful of informing the school of any diagnosis or change in medical conidition for your child so that school plans and records are current and accurate. This is especially important for those students with Asthma, Anaphylaxis, Diabetes, and other medical illness.
CONTACT DETAILS
Please also let the school know if any contact details including phone numbers, address and emergency contacts have changed for your child. Parish Administration will also need to know a change of address.
Saints Youth Drama with Mrs Sandra Thompson has resumed this term in the Hall.
Kindergarten-Year 2 classes are Tuesdays (3:15pm - 5:00pm)
Year 3-6 classes are Wednesdays
(3:15pm - 5:00pm)
Cost: $10 per class
There are limited vacancies in both groups, as well as freedom to move within groups for family convenience. Please call Sandra on 0408 810 705 for any queries.
P&F Community Connect
We wish to welcome our School Community back for 2021 and we would also like to share a special welcome to our new Parents and Friends (P&F) Committee beginning the transition to St Joseph’s Primary School! We hope that the flow of School routine and those extra commitments are kind to you as we know all too well how quickly the family calendar can fill up. We hope this platform of communication will assist in keeping our School Community informed and connected.
While we all find our feet over the next few weeks, we thought it might be useful to share some Parent resources to help with organising the term ahead…We hope you find them useful!
School Term Planner: A free printable [NSW Government]
School Calendar: Great for planning ahead
https://sjpport.schoolzineplus.com/calendar
Easy Dinners: Simply, tasty meals & snacks to choose from! [NSW Government]
Healthy Eating Active Living - Healthy recipes
Upcoming P&F Meeting dates for your Diary: All welcome
Annual General Meeting (AGM):
Wednesday 10th February at 5:00pm in the school staffroom
P&F Meeting: Wednesday 24th February at 5:30pm in the school staffroom
Should you be interested in any further information please leave your name and contact number with the School Aunties and a representative from our P&F Committee will be in contact with you.
Swimming Carnival
Yesterday, students in Years 2-6 participated in our Swimming Carnival. Whether they were swimming in competitive races, just for fun or cheering on others from the grandstand, the spirit of the day and the teamwork in our Houses was wonderful. Congratulations to all students and staff on a fun filled day. We will share the results and more photos next week.
Zone Swimming Carnival
Our swimming champions will head to the Zone Swimming Carnival in Macksville on 15th February. We wish them the best of luck! Qualifying students will receive an email on Monday with full details and online permission link.
Polding Basketball
Today our superstar Basketball players travelled to Tamworth to play Basketball in the Lismore Diocesan team, hoping to score a place in the Polding team. We wish Oliver Mat, Ysaac Nieva, Peyton Berry, Keely Newton, Hudson Bell and Laiken Richardson the very best of luck. We look forward to hearing their results.
Winter Sports Trials
Students in Years 5 and 6, who have the ability and have played competitively in the below sports, are invited to trial for the Hastings Zone Winter Sport teams. The selection trials will be held on Monday 22nd February from 9:00am at Stuarts Park for Rugby League, Union and Soccer; the Basketball Stadium for Netball and the Hockey Fields for Hockey. Please see the note emailed home today for further details.
Futsal Expression of Interest
Students in Years 5 and 6 are invited to participate in an U11’s or U12’s Boys / Girls Futsal team to represent St Joseph’s Primary at the 2021 Hastings School Futsal Titles. It is to be held on Thursday 25th March at the Port Macquarie Indoor Stadium. Please see the note emailed home today for further details.
GRADE SPORT UNIFORM DAYS
Please see below update regarding some Years who will be required to wear their sport uniform three days of the week for Term 1.
Leah Toole
Sports Coordinator
TERM 1 CANTEEN MENU
Volunteer Notice
We are unable to have volunteers in the canteen at this stage, however we are hoping this will change very soon.
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.
Flexischools is our preferred method for submitting lunch orders.
Reminder - Cutoff time for online orders is 8.30am.
- 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 or you can find the link on the school website.
Don’t forget you can place your online orders days or even weeks in advance, making the morning rush even easier!
Helpful websites
For help and ideas for getting back into the routine of making school lunches every day, check out these websites:
https://healthylunchbox.com.au/#
https://www.healthyliving.nsw.gov.au/food/healthy-school-lunch-box
Kim Goldie
Canteen Coodinator
1R | Hannah Cooper | Lexie Lynch | Koen Swaysland |
2T | Kingston Shooter | Josephine Yewdell | Taylor Ashcroft |
3D | Harlow Maher | Layla Porter | Jason Loumeau |
3H | Eden Pope | Archie Holloway | Gemma Cooper |
4F | Emily Meehan | James Reilly | Bryce Tickle |
4MG | Chloe Widdison | Charlie Burns | Swapnil Dahal |
6B | Tiarna Flack | Penny Little | Ella-Yindi Jenkin |
Week 3 - Term 1 2021 |
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Monday 8th February |
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Tuesday 9th February |
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Wednesday 10th February |
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Thursday 11th February |
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Friday 12th February |
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Saturday 13th February |
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Week 4 - Term 1 2021 |
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Monday 15th February |
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Tuesday 16th February |
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Wednesday 17th February |
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Thursday 18th February |
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Friday 19th February |
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Week 5 - Term 1 2021 |
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Monday 22nd February |
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Tuesday 23rd February |
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Wednesday 24th February |
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Thursday 25th February |
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Friday 26th February |
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Week 6 - Term 1 2021 |
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Monday 1st March |
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Tuesday 2nd March |
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Wednesday 3rd March |
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Thursday 4th March |
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Friday 5th March |
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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 2021 school term dates are listed below. They are also located on our website. Click on the words “TERM DATES” on the home page.
TERM 1 2021
Kindergarten to Year 6 last day of classes Term 1 - Wednesday 31st March 2021
Staff Development Day (Pupil Free) – Thursday 1st April 2021
TERM 2
Staff Development Day (Pupil Free) – Monday 19th April 2021
Kindergarten to Year 6 commence classes Term 2 - Tuesday 20th April 2021
Proclaim Lismore 2021
Staff Development Day (Pupil Free) - Wednesday 5th May 2021
Kindergarten to Year 6 last day of classes Term 2 – Friday 25th June 2021
TERM 3
Staff Development Day (Pupil Free) – Monday 12th July 2021
Kindergarten to Year 6 commence classes Term 3 – Tuesday 13th July 2021
Kindergarten to Year 6 last day of classes Term 3 – Friday 17th September 2021
TERM 4
Staff Development Day (Pupil Free) – Tuesday 5th October 2021
Kindergarten to Year 6 commence classes Term 4 – Wednesday 6th October 2021
Kindergarten to Year 6 last day of classes form Term 4 - Wednesday 15th December 2021
Other Holidays in 2021
Australia Day – Tuesday 26th January 2021 (Public Holiday)
Good Friday – Friday 2nd April 2021
Easter Monday – Monday 5th April 2021 (Public Holiday)
ANZAC Day – Sunday 25th April 2021
Queen’s Birthday – Monday 14th June 2021 (Public Holiday)
Labour Day – Monday 4th October 2021 (Public Holiday)
Christmas Day - Saturday 25th December 2021
Boxing Day - Sunday 26th December 2021
Band 2021
2021 Year 6 Sport Shirts
2021 Gymnastics
2021 Hastings School Futsal Championships - Expression of Interest (Year 5 and 6)
2021 Zone Winter Sport Trials (Year 5 and 6)