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Lord,
Send forth your Spirit, touching the hearts of your children and renewing our trust in You.
Amen
COVID-19 Update
This afternoon families received an email which refers to the current lockdowns that you will no doubt have heard about in media in the past day in the Hunter regions. Please carefully read this letter from our Director, Sally Towns, as there may be references to the situation that affect some of our families and community. If you are unclear of any of your circumstances, please contact the school.
As always, we won’t send through any communication around COVID-19 that has not been processed through CSNSW or Lismore Diocese CSO. All directions that refer to schools are carefully checked and advised and we follow these in our practices.
Thank you so much for the way in which you adapt to each new advice sent out. These continue to be challenging times and I pray that all of our families, community and extended families remain safe and well.
We ask that you continue to follow our drop off and pick up practices and support our staff in keeping your children safe.
Sacrament of Confirmation
We congratulate all students who received the Sacrament of Confirmation in the past week. It was a privilege to be part of these ceremonies and I pray that the gifts of the Holy Spirit continue to be part of our children’s lives and assist them each day to live with faith, hope and love.
Coming Events
Last week we published a range of forward planning events that are in our calendar. We will continue to plan and prepare for these to take place in a COVID-19 safe way. Depending on how the restrictions remain or change, there may be some variations to these. Please continue to check your emails and read our newsletters to make sure you know of these.
Tess Koning
Principal
Term 3 Prayer Dates
Prayer Service for Mary MacKillop - Monday 9th August, 9:05am (Hall).
Prayer Service for the Assumption of Mary - Monday 16th August 9:05am (Hall).
Prayer Service for Father's Day - Friday 3rd September, 10:15am (MPA).
At this time we are unable to invite families to these.
Sacrament Confirmation
Congratulations to our children who completed the Sacrament of Confirmation this week. May the Holy Spirit be sealed in them as they journey towards a life of deep faith.
Noah Alchin | Gemma Cooper | Lucas Fernando | Lily Francis |
Jade Hanks | Archie Holloway | Chayse Jones | Zoe Lawrence |
Jason Loumeau | Lucas Lynch | Ollie McCormick | Chelsea Meehan |
Emily Meehan | Chase Mulligan | Charlotte Pascua | Jack Armitage |
Blayde Redding | Isabella Russell | Lucas Single | Lily Skinner |
Lilly Smith | Emily Smith | Bronte Sprague | Sunny Stapleton |
Lucy Styles | Hannah Tony |
YMO Visit- Conor Hudson
We were lucky enough to have a special visitor this week. Conor Hudson is a Youth Ministry Officer (YMO) at Newman College and he spent some time with the students in various classes. Conor works alongside students to nurture, encourage and develop a Catholic perspective to life. Connor’s ability to engage with students is his strength.
St Joseph’s Winter Appeal
The Mini Vinnies Team are running our St Joey’s Winter Appeal. We are collecting warm clothes and blankets for those in need. Students can donate scarfs, beanies, jumpers or blankets by bringing them to school. This appeal will run until the end of Winter (August). We hope we can help our local charities such as St Vincent De Paul who take our donations to the people who need it. Many thanks in advance for your support.
More information can be found: https://catholicoutlook.org/vinnies-launches-2021-winter-appeal-to-support-homelessness/
Mary MacKillop Feast Day
This Sunday, 8th August is Mary of the Cross MacKillop’s Feast Day. As a Catholic school that was founded by four Sisters of St Joseph back in 1913, Mary MacKillop is close to our hearts as a part of our own history. Students will be attending a prayer service to acknowledge Saint Mary MacKillop who advocated for the poor and marginalised, and brought education and the compassion of St Joseph to many children.
Journey into the Faith
Nathan Porter
Assistant Principal Mission
Year 4 Explore ‘Little Lion’
At the end of last year Sarah Blundell and I were awarded a learning and teaching innovation grant to complete a project focused on using quality literature and virtual reality to improve students' writing.
This week Year 4 participated in a day of immersion as the culmination of their exploration of the book ‘Little Lion’. Throughout Term 2 Year 4 had the opportunity to connect with the true story of Saroo Brierley. The students travelled to India via virtual reality, walking the streets and riding crowded trains. They were able to experience what life would have been like for a young boy lost and alone. Students worked through a number of writing experiences using a variety of digital technologies to develop their ability to connect to a world they have not physically experienced themselves. Through this experience students connected emotionally with Saroo’s story.
On Thursday, Year 4 wrote about his life through their own eyes and what they had experienced through virtual reality. The day involved listening to Saroo’s 60 Minutes interview, eating butter chicken, using Co spaces and merge cubes, virtually visiting Hobart and flying over India one more time. Every student was engaged in the writing process with many students expressing their delight in being able to write.
“I can never write more than half a page. I never have any ideas. Today I have written two pages. I have so much to write.” Rocco
“It was such a great day. I felt so much emotion and could use this in my writing.” Blake
“Doing Virtual Reality really helped my writing, it helped me picture what I was going to write about.” Xavier
Jeannine Ucdereli
Assistant Principal Learning and Teaching
Basketball Gala Day
Students in Years 3-6 are invited to represent St Joseph’s Primary School at the Mid-North Coast Primary School Basketball Challenge. The Gala Day will be held at Port Macquarie Indoor Sports Stadium and will held on two separate days for the following divisions:
- Years 3/4 Boys and Years 3/4 Girls – Thursday 28th October
- Years 5/6 Boys and Years 5/6 Girls – Thursday 4th November
If your child would like to participate please complete the online nomination form via this link https://forms.gle/owPv2szN4xNVwFuy6 by Monday 9th August. Full details of the event can be found in the note that was emailed on 4th August.
Grade Sport Uniform Days for Term 3
Leah Toole and David Lynch
Sports Coordinator and Assistant Sports Coordinator
At the end of Term 2, students and teachers in Kindergarten, Year 2 and Year 4 were invited to participate in a PhD Research project. Participant Information Statements and consent forms were forwarded to all students. Many thanks are extended to all those who have returned the forms. If you have not returned the forms, you are still more than welcome to do so. Again, if there are any questions about this project, please feel free to contact me directly at elise.howard@uon.edu.au
Many thanks for your support of this project.
Elise Howard
Year 6 Teacher
Leader of Learning Stage 3
This week in Peer Support the children discussed personal skills and how to communicate their feelings and needs to others. They discussed what skills were required when participating in both individual and group activities. Particular attention was given to communication, teamwork, patience and problem solving. When children understand that they already have many of the skills needed to succeed, they can feel more confident when trying something new. We encourage you to discuss with your child the skills they have when trying something new so as to build resilience.
KBC | Scarlett Slater | Noah Rex | Ivy Cutler |
KSC | Ariana Renton | Sequoia McCarthy | Daniel Shijo |
2S | Harrison Slater | Wynter Stewart | Isabel Shijo |
2T | Nevaeh Fletcher | Georgia Bell | Layla Dobson |
3H | Chase Mulligan | Jessica Dennes | Archie Holloway |
4F | Violet Richardson | Aislinn Suveesh | Joseph Jarvis |
4MG | Emmett Van den Boom | Xavier Mat | Charli Robinson |
6B | Sienna Edwards | Hayley Rickard | Ella Herbert |
Fruit for Crunch’n’Sip
Fruit can be ordered in a lunch order for Fruit Break (Crunch’n’Sip) but please remember to let your child know that it is part of their lunch order and that they will need to collect it from the Canteen. Fruit can be ordered with over the counter lunch orders or Flexischool online orders (preferred method).
Term 3 Canteen Menu
CANTEEN REMINDERS
- Flexischools cut off time for daily orders is 8:30am. You can place your orders the day before, or at the beginning of the week, to make sure they are in on time. The cut off time is set to ensure that there is enough time to process, prepare and pack all of the lunch orders each day.
- Please remind your children if they have a hand written lunch order to drop it off first thing in the morning or if they need to pick up their fruit break items from the canteen.
- We do not offer an IOU service. If you don't use Flexischools and do not have cash for lunch orders you can pay in the office using EFTPOS. If there are any issues with providing lunch please call the office to discuss.
lunch orders
Canteen 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!
Kim Goldie
Canteen Coodinator
‘A Ripper Aussie Collective' - Whole School Glasshouse Concert 2021
- Postponed to 2nd November -
As you would know by now, our concerts have been postponed to 2nd November. The concerts will include a daytime matinee performance at 11:45am and an evening performance at 6:45pm. The show is based on the Creative and Performing Arts program this term and is called ‘A Ripper Aussie Collective’.
Tickets are booked through The Glasshouse Box Office and we will inform you of the sale dates as it draws closer.
Watch out for the costume details to come soon.
Dance Eisteddfod
The Dance Eisteddfod is still continuing to go ahead, with the schools night on 16th September at the Glasshouse. More details to come.
Tournament of Minds
Our Year 5 and 6 Tournament of Minds team continue to work on their challenge. They are using after school hours and lunch times to solve and prepare a ten minute performance presentation that will be filmed and submitted to a panel of judges by 27th August. We wish them the best of luck.
Yours in Creative and Performing Arts
Leah Toole
Creative Arts Co-ordinator
Week 5 - Term 3 2021 |
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Monday 9th August |
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Tuesday 10th August |
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Wednesday |
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Thursday 12th August |
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Friday 13th August |
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Week 6 - Term 3 2021
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Monday 16th August |
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Tuesday 17th August |
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Wednesday |
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Thursday 19th August |
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Friday 20th August |
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Week 7 - Term 3 2021
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Monday 23rd August |
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Tuesday 24th August |
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Wednesday |
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Thursday 26th August |
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Friday 27th August |
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Week 8 - Term 3 2021
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Monday 30th August |
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Tuesday 31st August |
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Wednesday |
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Thursday 2nd September |
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Friday 3rd September |
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Sunday 5th September |
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Week 9 - Term 3 2021 |
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Monday 6th September |
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Tuesday 7th September |
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Wednesday |
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Thursday 9th September |
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Friday 10th September |
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Week 10 - Term 3 2021 |
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Monday 13th September |
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Tuesday 14th September |
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Wednesday |
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Thursday 16th September |
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Friday 17th September |
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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 3
Staff Development Day (Pupil Free) – Monday 12th July 2021
NO child minding available
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
NO child minding available
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
Labour Day – Monday 4th October 2021 (Public Holiday)
Christmas Day - Saturday 25th December 2021
Boxing Day - Sunday 26th December 2021
Book Week
Census 2021 - Privacy Notice
COVID update - Letter to Parents_Caregivers & Families (1 August 2021)
EXPRESSION OF INTEREST - Mid North Coast Basketball Challenge
Year 3 School Project Resources Request
COVID_Update_Letter_to_Parents_Caregivers_and_Families_6_August_2021_