Leader's Message
Welcome back to Term 3!
It was a pleasure to walk around and listen to the many stories from the students about their holidays. I heard everything from travelling to the Gold Coast, camping, getting a new puppy, going to the movies and as always 'I did nothing’. There was definitely excitement around the school as everyone caught up with their friends and shared holiday experiences.
On Thursday I was very fortunate to spend time with Kindergarten students explaining all the weather symbols and how the weather can change throughout the day. They were very excited about being able to recognise the symbols that tell them what kind of day it is going to be. When visiting Year 4 I listened to students explain what they value in the world and why. The students were so engaged in Louis Armstrong's song ‘What A Wonderful World’, we took a walk outside and explored our surroundings before writing about how much we appreciate the world around us.
We are very fortunate this term to have so many opportunities to invite our parent community to be an integral part of the learning experiences your child will have. Throughout the term we will encounter Science Week, Book Week, our Glasshouse extravaganza, Father’s Day celebrations and of course the very anticipated Colour Run. There will be more detail outlining these opportunities in the coming weeks.
New Staff
This term we welcome:-
- Mrs Elisa Pringle to the Year 5 teaching team and Miss Bianca Jamison as she completes her final internship placement for her Education Degree.
- Miss Lauren Ussher to Kinder and Year 1 as a Collaborative Release teacher.
- Miss Eloise Pepper to the Year 4 teaching team also completing her final internship placement for her Education Degree.
- Ms Ruth Bell to the Year 1 teaching team each Wednesday for the first seven weeks to complete her observation phase of her Education Degree.
- Mr Matt Gourlay to the Year 3 team in a greater capacity.
Congratulations
Please join us in congratulating Kaihlee Patterson (Yr 1 teacher) on her recent engagement. We would also like to acknowledge our Groundsman, Darren Northey, for being invited to play for Britain in the Oztag World Cup in Coffs Harbour in August. Congratulations Kaihlee and Darren!
Upcoming Partners in Learning Survey
This term we will be inviting students, teachers and parents to provide feedback on their experience of our school using an online survey. The surveys are an important part of our whole school evaluation and planning process.
We would like to invite you to complete the Tell Them From Me (TTFM) Partners in Learning survey. As we value the role of parents and carers within our school community we would greatly appreciate your feedback. The information you provide will be used to maintain our commitment to working together in partnership to further improve student learning and wellbeing at St Joseph’s Primary School. Thank you for completing the survey when it is shared with you during August.
Apple Institute
During the school holidays a small team of staff attended a two day workshop in Lismore to learn more about how to effectively and authentically integrate Apple Technology into learning and teaching programs to make selected content meaningful and engage students in their learning. It was a very engaging and rich learning opportunity for the attending staff who look forward to sharing with our staff and students.
When you wish upon a star…..
We are very excited to begin preparing for our Glasshouse Performance on Thursday 8th September. Rehearsals have begun this week and it was wonderful to observe the excitement and amazing ‘dance skills’ our students have. We look forward to sharing with you further information as the term progresses.
THINKING OF OUR COMMUNITY
Our sympathy goes out to Lexie and Noah Lynch and their family for the recent loss of their great grandmother during the school holidays and to Rocco Robinson for the recent loss of his grandfather.
Celebrating Our Faith
As we come back together for Term 3, we are reminded that we are all part of God’s family. Jesus teaches us that there is no barrier to belonging to God’s family, which is why he includes those gathered around him. We are encouraged to spend time with God alone in prayer and adoration, listening to Him and experiencing His love for us in awesome places, such as rainforests, beaches and mountains. We welcome all to gather as a community and worship God, who loves us, saves us and brings meaning to our lives.
Children’s Liturgy of the Word
These special sessions for children held during Sunday Masses at St Agnes’ Catholic Church are recommencing over the upcoming weeks at the following Mass times:
Sunday 24th July at 5:00pm
Sunday 31st July at 9:00am
Sunday 7th, 14th and 21st August at 5:00pm
Sunday 28th August at 9:00am
All children are very welcome to attend.
World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly - Sunday 24th July 2022
We take time to think of our grandparents and elderly members of the community who are so special to us and are grateful for the precious memories shared.
"In old age they will still bear fruit" (Psalm 92:15)
'Grandparents are a treasure in the family. Please, take care of your grandparents: love them!' - Pope Francis
Learning Together
To culminate a fantastic term of learning, Year 5 students challenged themselves to become poets and write a poem to be entered into the Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards late last term.
Children’s poetry is often full of wonder, vivacity and joy. It can help a child become a more sophisticated thinker and show them how to see an everyday experience from a different perspective. It can enable them to make sense of the world and express ideas and feelings in a way that everyday dialogue cannot. It has been said that more meaning can be contained in a few lines of poetry than in an entire novel.
Poetry can have a positive impact on children’s social and emotional learning by offering them new ways to think about the world and themselves. Poetry has the potential to teach children to be not only creative and curious, but also compassionate and courageous. While such characteristics may be instinctive to a point, children’s social and emotional learning (in which poetry can play a major role) offers children new ways to think about the world and themselves.
The poetry competition has grown from 300 entries in 1984 to tens of thousands of entries each year from school students across the nation. The competition also has a dedicated following from teachers whose support is integral to its continued success.
Shared below are two of many wonderfully creative entries.
Emotions - Liam Jones
As you continue with your life you’ll have many ups and downs.
Many highs, many lows, many smiles, many frowns.
But in the lowest of the lows, I always do one thing:
I avoid all of my bullies and carelessly sing.
Wolf - James Reilly
As quick as lightning, its fur blends with the shadows, as it waits for its prey to get closer to strike.
Knife-like teeth and strong and powerful legs.
Leaping out of the shadows, to tear its prey to shreds so the cubs can enjoy dinner.
It returns to the dark and gloomy den to feed its cubs and fall asleep.
To recover energy for the next night only to return to the shadows, to howl in the dull moonlight, growing hungry.
