Term 4 Week 4

Weather Event - Friday 25.10.24

On behalf of the St Joseph's community, I would like to extend heartfelt thanks to our parents and carers for the support we received today as we implemented a supervision-only protocol at school. We recognise the inconvenience this may have caused and appreciate your understanding. Allowing us to operate with a smaller number of students enabled a quicker and more efficient evacuation plan, should it have been required. The coordination among our staff, along with our ongoing communication with both The Council and Mrs Victoria Menkins, Principal of Cloncurry State School, was outstanding.

The messages of support from local residents—even as they faced similar evacuation concerns—highlight the strength of our community. I offer prayers for our frontline workers and volunteers who are working tirelessly to keep us safe, and extend our thoughts to those affected by the fires. Please reach out if there is any way we can support you.

Please also note that on Monday morning, an update will be sent to all parents and carers regarding the potential for the Prep to Year 2 excursion to The Cloncurry Shire Precinct (A Bee's Story) and the Founders Day Colour Run at 2 pm. We will confirm these events based on air quality assessments. Students should plan to wear a white shirt on Monday in case the Colour Run goes ahead.

As the fires continue to burn, the Queensland Fire Department has provided current warnings, updates, and mapping, accessible at https://www.fire.qld.gov.au/Current-Incidents. May God bless and protect you, your family, and our entire community.

If school is disrupted on Monday communication will be sent in the same manner that it was today. An email will be sent to all parents with a text message to alert you of this. 

Finally, please note that this week’s staff newsletter articles were submitted yesterday and will not reference the disruptions to learning experienced today, Friday, 25 October.

Mrs Samantha Kelley
Principal

Key Information

Term 4 Important Dates

Week 5

• Monday 28^th October: Free Dress (Old White Shirt); P-2 Excursion, 11.30am; Founders Day Fun Run, 2pm
• Tuesday 29^th October: Chaplaincy Breakfast, 7:45am; First Reconciliation Meeting 1, 3-4pm
• Thursday 31^st October – Chaplaincy Breakfast, 7:45am
• Friday 1^st November – Assembly (Year 3), 8:30am

Week 6

• Tuesday 5^th November – Chaplaincy Breakfast, 7:45am; FNEAC Meeting, 3-4pm
• Wednesday 6^th November – Buildings & Art Showcase Evening, 5pm
• Thursday 7^th November – Chaplaincy Breakfast, 7:45am
• Friday 8^th November – 2024 Swimming Carnival

Week 7

• Monday 11^th November – Remembrance Day – Whole School Prayer, 10:20am; Kick for Kids (Starlight – Year 6)
• Tuesday 12^th November – Chaplaincy Breakfast, 7:45am; 2025 Prep Transition Day, 8:30-10:30am; First Reconciliation Meeting 2, 3-4pm
• Thursday 14^th November – Chaplaincy Breakfast, 7:45am
• Friday 15^th November – Assembly (Year 2), 8:30am; 2025 Prep Transition Day & Move Up Morning, 8:30-10:30am; Parents Morning Tea (Library) – Speech Pathologist, OT and GO Presentation

Week 8

• Tuesday 19^th November – Chaplaincy Breakfast, 7:45am
• Wednesday 20^th November – Year 5/6 Treasure Island Afternoon Performance
• Thursday 21^st November – Chaplaincy Breakfast, 7:45am; Year 5/6 Treasure Island Afternoon Performance

Week 9

• Monday 25^th November – UMY End of Year Trip to Mount Isa
• Tuesday 26^th November – Chaplaincy Breakfast, 7:45am; Rehearsals for Christmas Concert, P-Year 4 8:40am, Years 5-9 9:40am
• Wednesday 27^th November – Awards Evening & Christmas Concert
• Thursday 28^th November – SRC Christmas Free Dress; Chaplaincy Breakfast, 7:45am; Year 9 Reflecting on the Journey Retreat, 8:30-11:30am; Year 9 Graduation Dinner, 6pm
• Friday 29^th November – End of Year Mass; Last Day for Secondary Students

Week 10

• Tuesday 3^rd December – Chaplaincy Breakfast, 7:45am; Year 6 Graduation Ceremony & Silent Disco
• Thursday 4^th December – Chaplaincy Breakfast, 7:45am
• Friday 6^th December – Last Day for Primary Students

Tuckshop News

Please have your orders in by WEDNESDAY 8:30 am.

REMINDER:
Please remember to pack a healthy snack for Brain Break.

To order: https://myschoolconnect.com.au/

Our special for Week 5 is: McJoey's Day: Quarter Pounder & Chocolate Donut

Our special for Week 6 is: Cajun Chicken Pasta & Neapolitan Cake

OUR TUCKSHOP CREW NEEDS YOU

Miss Jamie-Lea is looking for some wonderful volunteers to help her in Tuckshop on Thursdays. You do not have to be a parent to volunteer. We have had grandparents, aunties, uncles, friends and cousins, as well as mums and dads. If you are interested in volunteering, please join Miss Jamie-Lea's tuckshop volunteer group. 

https://m.facebook.com/groups/1525237497502563/?ref=share&mibextid=NSMWBT

Tuckshop Menu Change

The tuckshop menu changed in Week 3. This decision was important as it is becoming increasingly difficult to secure volunteers for tuckshop we had to alter  the menu to ensure it is sustainable on the days volunteers are ot possible. We know our wonderful community love to volunteer in our tuckshop, however, we acknowledge that this is not always possible.

Please familiarise yourself with the changes and provide any feedback that you may have to the front office. If the changes will impact your child/children and any dietary requirements that they may have please phone our front office to discuss the best option moving forward. 

Uniform Shop

Our Uniform Shop is open to orders being placed via the app: https://myschoolconnect.com.au/

Please give us 24 hours to organise collection for your order; we generally contact you when your order is ready to collect.

If you are needing students to try on sizes, we are available:

Monday from 2:30-3pm and Wednesday from 8:10-8:30am.

Miss Heather 

General News

Principal's News

Welcome to our Week 4 newsletter. 

Please note that a message above details the incredible support we received today, Friday, 25th October, in response to the current fire-related risks. Although the end of Week 4 didn’t go as planned and some risks remain, I still want to provide an update on the busy fortnight we’ve had.  

Staff Development - URStrong - Friendology:
This week, our dedicated teachers gathered for our weekly staff meeting on Wednesday afternoon. We delved into the URStrong Program, focusing on Friendology. It was inspiring to hear the diverse ways this program is being implemented across our school, helping our students build strong, positive relationships.

Friendology, a key component of the URStrong program, focuses on teaching students essential social-emotional skills to build healthy friendships, helping them navigate social interactions more effectively. This program fosters a positive school culture, reduces bullying, and encourages inclusivity, empowering students to support one another. 

Your child may mention key terms from the program - two of these being ‘friendship fires’ and ‘mean on purpose’. In the URStrong program, "friendship fire" represents the positive, uplifting energy in healthy friendships, while "mean on purpose" refers to intentional hurtful actions aimed at others. These concepts help students differentiate between supportive relationships and negative behaviours, promoting kindness and empathy within their school community. 

We love to tap into the knowledge, skills, and approaches of other staff at our skill for ongoing professional development opportunities. A big thank you to Miss Borlase and Miss Cook that shared how they've implemented this program in their classrooms. 

Grandparents Breakfast:
I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the grandparents and family members who joined us for our Grandparents Breakfast yesterday morning. Your presence brought joy to our students and enriched our community spirit. Our students loved taking their grandparents through their classrooms and sharing their world. This provided our students with the opportunity to showcase their achievements and demonstrate what they’ve learned this year. 

Day for Daniel:
Students onsite today represented Day for Daniel by wearing red to raise awareness for Child Safety. It was wonderful to see everyone come together for such an important cause.

Day for Daniel is aimed at raising awareness about child safety and promoting protective behaviours. This day serves as a platform for educators, students, and families to engage in discussions about safety, empowerment, and vigilance in safeguarding children. By participating in activities and wearing red, students learn about important topics such as bullying prevention, online safety, and personal boundaries. The day fosters a supportive environment where children feel empowered to speak up and seek help, ultimately contributing to a culture of safety and awareness in the school community. 

It can sometimes be challenging to know what to say on days like this or how to bring awareness to child safety and protective behaviours in the right way. This link will take you to the Day for Daniel website. This website has resources for students - including activities, talking cards, lessons and fact sheets, as well as resources for parents and carers like  webinars and podcasts. 

Staffing Update:
Mrs. Toni Schneekloth, Pastoral Leader and First Nations Leader at St Joseph’s will be departing St Joseph's this coming Wednesday. We’re so grateful for the service Mrs Schneekloth has provided to our Joey’s Community over her 11 years with us. Mrs Scheenkloth we thank you for all that you do and have done for our students each and every day. 

I would like to also take this opportunity to congratulate Miss Hannah McCall who will be our Acting Pastoral Leader for the remainder of the term and Miss Leonie Ansell who will be our Acting First Nations Leader for the remainder of the term. 

Week 5 Reminder - Founders Day & P-2 Excursion:
Looking ahead, I’m excited about our Founders Day celebration next Monday! We’ll be hosting a colour run and a Socktober shootout. Our P-2 students will also attend a performance at The Cloncurry Shire Council in the morning. Please remember that students can come to school dressed in a white shirt ready for the colour run and review the communication that was sent home regarding participation and any updated medical information we should be aware of. Please note if there is still concern regarding the air quality from the fires communication will be sent home if these events are cancelled or rescheduled. 

Relocation to the new building:
The new buildings are coming along really well and we’re happy with the progress that has been made. We can’t wait to show you through and for our children and staff to flourish in these spaces. To ensure the relocation goes smoothly we need your help! If you can help on the below dates please email me on skelley2@sjctsv.catholic.edu.au so we can get an idea of the amount of support that is available. 

Please note that there has been a date change to the Buildings and Art Showcase Evening. This will now be in Week 8 on Tuesday 19th of November. Please note that this change is unavoidable due to a delay in landscaping. 

To begin the showcase our choir will perform our school song, this will be followed by a showcase of our artwork and a tour of our new buildings. 

Important Reminders:

• Before school supervision times:
  A friendly reminder that students should not be on school grounds until 8:10am on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings, as this is when supervision begins. Students that are onsite before this are not supervised. We kindly ask students to delay their walk / ride / trip to school each morning to arrive at approx. 8.10am. There are exceptions for this on Tuesdays and Thursdays, due to our Chaplaincy Breakfast in the Mary MacKillop Shed.
• Gymnastics at Break Times:
  I’d like to remind our community that students should refrain from practicing gymnastics skills, such as front flips, back flips, and cartwheels, on the oval during break times. These activities are not included in our HPE curriculum, and proper supervision and safety mats are required. To ensure the safety of our children we kindly ask for parents/carers to talk with their child/children about the importance of this.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership in nurturing our students’ growth.

Lastly, mark your calendars for our swimming carnival on Friday, November 8th. We hope to see you there!

May God Bless you and keep your families safe, particularly this weekend. 

Mrs Samantha Kelley
Principal

Deputy's News

Welcome to Week 4, 

Accelerated Reader is Coming to St Joseph's
At St Joseph’s, we are always striving to provide the best opportunities for our students’ academic growth. We’ve seen incredible success with our writing focus in recent years, and now we’re turning our attention to reading with the introduction of the Accelerated Reader program. This new initiative is designed to help students take ownership of their reading progress while being guided and supported by their teachers. We are thrilled to begin rolling this out later in the term, with the goal of giving students some exposure to the program before the end of the year.

What is Accelerated Reader?
Accelerated Reader is a powerful tool designed to promote reading growth through a student-driven and teacher-guided approach. It allows students to engage in reading practice tailored to their individual levels, providing them with personalised reading recommendations and comprehension questions from a collection of over 200,000 books. Students can select titles that match their interests and abilities, helping to make reading more enjoyable and accessible for everyone.

How Does it Work?

1. Guide: Teachers work with students to set personalised reading goals based on their levels and interests. These goals keep students focused on key factors that contribute to reading growth.
2. Engage: Accelerated Reader uses each student’s reading level and interests to recommend "just-right" books. 
3. Practice: Once students finish reading a book, they take a short quiz to check their comprehension. These quizzes ensure high-quality reading practice and help build essential literacy skills.
4. Grow: Detailed reports offer real-time insights into student progress, allowing teachers to track mastery of focus skills aligned with curriculum standards. This data helps guide future instruction and supports continuous improvement.

Building a Reading Culture
In addition to supporting in-class reading growth, Accelerated Reader also helps extend learning beyond the classroom. Families can access up-to-date information on their child’s reading progress and get notified when their child completes a quiz.

Why We’re Excited
We’ve seen the impact targeted focus areas, like our writing initiative, can have on student achievement, and we’re confident that Accelerated Reader will help us reach new heights in literacy development. By integrating this program into our school, we aim to nurture a love for reading while building essential comprehension and vocabulary skills that will serve our students across all subject areas.

Stay tuned as we begin the rollout of Accelerated Reader over the coming weeks.

Mr Dean Kelley
Deputy Principal - Teaching and Learning

APRE

New School Song - Guided By God’s Spirit
Here it is - a beautiful song that captures our school so well. Congratulations to our student writer who assisted in the creation of our new school song. Please join us for our Week 5 assembly as the students showcase the song for our Founders Day Assembly Prayer.

G U I D E D   B Y   G O D ‘S   S P I R I T
By Paul Jarman
With the writers class of 2024

On Mitakoodi Land where the red dirt meets the sky
We are guided by God’s spirit to love, serve, lead and strive
All here for each other, we are Flinders and Kennedy
The friendly heart of the great north-west, here in Cloncurry

A school that feels like home where the gates of dreams, they never close
They guide us to our values in a place where every face is known
And like our sky of diamonds, we all shine in different ways
The wisdom of Saint Mary, it guides us every day

Guided by God’s spirit, St Joseph’s, lead the way
Never see a need without being the voice of change
Guided by God’s spirit through all of our life
We belong together strong, to love, serve, lead and strive

Like the mighty wedge tailed eagle, we spread our wings to fly
Like the Sisters of St Joseph, God’s truth is on our side

Guided by God’s spirit, St Joseph’s, lead the way
Never see a need without being the voice of change
Guided by God’s spirit through all of our life
We belong together strong, to love, serve, lead and strive

Founders Day Colour Fun Run - Monday 28th October
On 28th October 1909- St Joseph's began its first day of educating the children of Cloncurry. This making this day our “Founder’s Day”

It all started with a conversion between Bishop Duhig, Father O’Keefe (who was the Cloncurry parish priest at the time) and Mother Mary of the Cross in early 1909. O'Keefe and Duhig asked Mother Mary for her assistance to open a school in Cloncurry. At the time no sisters were available. However, Mother Mary interposed with “The sisters will be found. Our Lord will see to it.” 

A short time later Mother Mary died, but not before she had established that her nursing sisters would travel to Cloncurry and open St Joseph’s. So it was on October 28th, 1909, at midnight Mother Mary's nurses, Srs: Berchmans, Cecilia, Rosarii and Audrey arrived by train into Cloncurry. And it was on that same day that they opened St Joseph’s School to 75 students who were taught in a bough shed.

As a fun way to remember this significant date we are hosting a St Joseph’s Founders Day Colour Fun Run. All students are able to come to school dressed for the Colour Run. The Colour run will take place after 2nd lunch at 1:50 pm till the end of school. Students are encouraged to bring a towel as they may need to dry off before traveling home. 

Mission Month
This October, we are celebrating World Mission Month, a month dedicated to the life-giving work of missionaries around the world.

In 2024, students and their families across Australia will team up to support families in Mongolia facing health and wellness challenges. Catholic Mission’s goal is to offer generational care for vulnerable children in Mongolia.

Pope Francis', World Mission message, invites us to extend the invitation to the banquet far and wide, building bridges of solidarity and unity.

Socktober Shootout
In Week 5 we will celebrate Catholic Mission Month and host a Socktober Shoot Out Competition with our Founders Day Fun Run. On Monday 28th October Students will be encouraged to bring in a Gold Coin to help raise funds to support Catholic Mission. These funds will assist with the projects on the ground, helping sustain and enrich the lives of vulnerable children who are in need of our support.

Have a Blessed week!

Therese Curley
APRE

Pastoral Care

URSTRONG - Two Words to Say to Kids When They Mess up

Kids make mistakes – we all do. Here are two words to say to a child to give them a second chance.

Time and time again, the little people in our lives say and do the wrong thing. That’s because they’re still learning and they’re human. Just like us adults, they make mistakes. And just like us adults, sometimes their impulsive, knee-jerk reaction is the opposite of what they meant in their heart-of-hearts. However, the amazing thing about having a conscience is that we know when we’ve made a bad choice. Children are actually very good at knowing the difference between right and wrong.

We want to teach our children to self-regulate and strengthen their internal filter, so that they can take a moment, move past their poor choice, and act on the appropriate reaction. And, one of the easiest ways we can begin to teach this is by calmly saying two simple words when they’ve messed up: “Try again.” Giving kids a second chance is an easy way to help them learn to make good choices, to slow down and think before they act.

Rather than carrying out our knee-jerk reaction when they’ve made a mistake, we can help by allowing them to rewind and rewrite the story. “Try again, buddy!” Eventually, with time and patience, you won’t need to give them a second chance because they’ll make better choices in the first place.

Written by Dana Kerford - Friendship Expert and Founder, URSTRONG

The Resilience Project  

Every time you do something kind for someone else, your brain releases oxytocin.

Oxytocin leads to:

• Increased self-esteem / confidence
• Increased energy
• Increased levels of happiness
• Increased levels of positivity

Feed and Succeed

I encourage all senior students to attend weekly tutoring available on Thursdays from 3-4pm!

Upcoming Events

Term 4 is always a busy one! Note these in your diary or calendar!

Best Regards

Mrs Schneekloth
Pastoral Care Leader

Prep

Hello Everyone, Wow I cannot believe how fast this term is flying!

Over the last two weeks Prep has hit the ground running in our Literacy unit identifying the characters and setting, and sequencing the events of Jack and the BeanStalk. We have also learnt our final digraphs of the year ‘ng’ as in swing and ‘ay’ as in play.

Literacy: Over the coming weeks our Little Leaders will spend time revising these learnt sounds to create CVCC words such as chick and much. They will also learn the new Tricky Words down, out, for and or identifying the parts that are tricky and the parts that we can sound out. 

Numeracy: Our Little Leaders continue to combine numbers to 20. They will represent practical situations involving quantifying, equal sharing, adding and subtracting to 10 using manipulatives. Students will recognise and write numbers from 0-20.

Religion: In Religion this term we will continue to develop their understanding that prayer helps believers follow the teachings of Jesus; to live according to God's plan. They will continue to learn about ways in which believers pray, either alone or with others, including the Sign of the Cross and Amen.

Reminders: 

• Swimming: Just a reminder that swimming is first up on Tuesday mornings. The classroom will be open to drop off your child’s brain break, lunch and school bag before heading to the pool. It is important to ensure that your child has their school hat and closed in school shoes to wear when walking back to school.
• Performance at the Shire Hall: On Monday Prep- Year 2 students will join together at the Shire Hall to watch the performance A Bee Story. The story is about bees on their busy adventures collecting pollen, making honey abilities and super-bee strength. A Bee Story has themes of environmentalism, sustainability, and community spirit, and was directed by performer Robbie Curtis (Circa, Cirque du Soleil, Cicrucs Oz, Australian Ballet), and co-created with musician and performer Lizzie McRae. Students will depart St Joseph's at approx. 11.10am and will arrive back at approx. 12.30pm.
• Colour Run: On Monday afternoon we will participate in the whole-school Founders Day Colour Run. A reminder that students are to wear their regular school uniform, however, instead of their school shirt a white shirt. Parents must contact the front office if your child should sit out of the colour run and/or if there are medical conditions like asthma that we're not aware of. 

Keep up to date with what is happening in Prep by checking out our Little Leaders Website.

Yours in fun and learning,

Miss Brock, Mrs McLauchlan, Miss Rachel, Miss Kylie and Miss Josie

Year 1

Hello Families, 

We can’t believe how fast this term is going!

In English, the students have loved looking at the book ‘The Day the Crayons Quit’. They have been forming their own opinion on which colour shouldn't quit and why. They will be creating a letter to their favourite crayon telling them why they shouldn’t quit. 

In Math, the students have been busy revising all the topics they have learnt throughout the year. Next week we are going to start looking at positional language and direction. 

It has been great to see the students getting into reading. They have been busy reading three books a week focusing on different sounds. It is also great to see the students doing this at home with their home readers. 

• Performance at the Shire Hall: On Monday Prep- Year 2 students will join together at the Shire Hall to watch the performance A Bee Story. The story is about bees on their busy adventures collecting pollen, making honey abilities and super-bee strength. A Bee Story has themes of environmentalism, sustainability, and community spirit, and was directed by performer Robbie Curtis (Circa, Cirque du Soleil, Cicrucs Oz, Australian Ballet), and co-created with musician and performer Lizzie McRae. Students will depart St Joseph's at approx. 11.10am and will arrive back at approx. 12.30pm.
• Colour Run: On Monday afternoon we will participate in the whole-school Founders Day Colour Run. A reminder that students are to wear their regular school uniform, however, instead of their school shirt a white shirt. Parents must contact the front office if your child should sit out of the colour run and/or if there are medical conditions like asthma that we're not aware of. 

Reminders:

Monday: Art
Tuesday: Swimming (sport uniform)
Thursday: Homework due and Library (no more library for the term)
Friday: Technology

Have a wonderful week.

Miss Haley and the always fun Year 1s

Year 2

Hi all,

Welcome back to Term 4 - last one for 2024!

During Writing this term we will be looking at Persuasive texts. The students have begun creating their own persuasive texts based on the text ‘Hey, Little Ant’ and are convincing their audience on whether or not we should be squishing ants. We’ve had a great time coming up with reasons for and against this. 

During HASS, we are looking at important places and caring for sites of significance. In Maths, we have begun looking at shape. The students have learned all about the features of polygons and quadrilaterals. In Science, we are looking into forces, particularly Push and Pull. During Religion, we are looking at prayer and how this strengthens our relationship with God.

• Performance at the Shire Hall: On Monday Prep- Year 2 students will join together at the Shire Hall to watch the performance A Bee Story. The story is about bees on their busy adventures collecting pollen, making honey abilities and super-bee strength. A Bee Story has themes of environmentalism, sustainability, and community spirit, and was directed by performer Robbie Curtis (Circa, Cirque du Soleil, Cicrucs Oz, Australian Ballet), and co-created with musician and performer Lizzie McRae. Students will depart St Joseph's at approx. 11.10am and will arrive back at approx. 12.30pm.
• Colour Run: On Monday afternoon we will participate in the whole-school Founders Day Colour Run. A reminder that students are to wear their regular school uniform, however, instead of their school shirt a white shirt. Parents must contact the front office if your child should sit out of the colour run and/or if there are medical conditions like asthma that we're not aware of. 

Reminders:

• Homework due Monday
• Sport (Swimming) - Wednesday
• Library - Monday Week B (Week 4, 6, 8, 10)
• Monday Week  5 (28th of October): Free dress, Founders Day colour fun run, Socktober Shootout
• Friday Week 6 (8th of November): Swimming Carnival (Go Kennedy!)

Have a great week,

Miss Ansell

Year 3

Hi all,

Here are some updates regarding what we’ve been up to this fortnight...

English
The students have been practicing writing narratives using the narrative structure (orientation, complication, sequence of events and resolution) and conventions (like time connectives, past tense, third person, descriptive language, dialogue rules, and figurative language).

Check out this student's use of descriptive and figurative language in their rewrite of Cinderella…

The fairy had blue sparkles all over her with a little blue wand as smooth as tempered glass.

What a great simile!

As per routine, students have been working hard to:

• use comprehension strategies to support their reading understanding 
• enhance their writing skills with Writer’s Toolbox
• learn to write using joined letters in handwriting 
• learn new sounds each week to enhance their spelling skills

Mathematics
The students started to learn about Chance and Data, conducting a variety of surveys to find data, like the different eye colours in Year 3.

The students have also been reviewing their learning in Year 3 maths, practicing key skills like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. 

Religion
With our focus on prayer this term, students have been practicing the Our Father and The Glory Be. They have learnt about how Christians glorify God and how The Glory Be, like the Gloria (said during a Sunday mass), comes from Luke’s scripture (Luke 2:14). 

• Colour Run: On Monday afternoon we will participate in the whole-school Founders Day Colour Run. A reminder that students are to wear their regular school uniform, however, instead of their school shirt a white shirt. Parents must contact the front office if your child should sit out of the colour run and/or if there are medical conditions like asthma that we're not aware of. 

Reminders:

• Homework - Due Thursday
• Swimming Tuesday
• Library every second Thursday (odd weeks - W1,3,5,7,9)
• Chaplain’s Breakfast - Tuesday & Thursday at 7:45am in MMS

Thank you

Miss Cook

Year 4

Hi all,

This term in English, we are focusing on persuasive texts. Students have been reading a variety of texts and identifying persuasive devices such as rhetorical questions, repetition, and addressing the reader. As we move into writing, students are learning how to structure their own persuasive texts, developing strong arguments, and using these techniques to create convincing and engaging pieces. It’s been great to see their confidence grow as they refine their persuasive skills!

In Religion, we are wrapping up our learning about the Sacraments of Penance and Anointing of the Sick. Next, we’ll be focusing on prayers, where students will explore a range of prayers and practise creating their own. In Week 3, we had the exciting opportunity to run the assembly prayer, and the prayers we read were written by the students themselves! How cool is that? Here are some pictures of us reading our prayers during the assembly.

The students also want to start sharing fortnightly messages with you. Let’s see what they have to say:

Please don’t forget:

• Homework is due every Monday. This needs to be in on Monday to then be sent home the same day for the new week. If possible, I would love for this to be completed by Friday, however I understand that with the variety of extracurriculars that the Year 4 children participate in, this can be difficult.
• We will be visiting the Library every Friday. Please make sure your child brings their homework bag and any outstanding books on Fridays.
• Children need to bring their swimmers every Tuesday. 
• Our Founders Day Colour run is Monday Week 5.
• Swimming Carnival is Friday Week 6.

• Colour Run: On Monday afternoon we will participate in the whole-school Founders Day Colour Run. A reminder that students are to wear their regular school uniform, however, instead of their school shirt a white shirt. Parents must contact the front office if your child should sit out of the colour run and/or if there are medical conditions like asthma that we're not aware of. 

Thank you

Miss Borlase

Year 5

I hope you are having a good week. 

Obviously our big news for the last two weeks was our Year 5 camp. This was an extremely successful camp. The children were amazing, they joined in with all the activities with a great spirit of teamwork. They were also so fantastically resilient with not many tears or homesickness (sorry Mums and Dads).  The children were complimented so many times by the staff at Apex Camp and Virginia Station on their manners and helpfulness. 

For camp we had learning outcomes for both Team and Personal Development.

The team development learning outcomes included: appreciating diverse perspectives, understanding relationships with others, developing effective and positive communication. It also included group collaboration, including cooperative behaviours.

The Personal Development Outcomes for each child were developing confidence, resilience, and adaptability. It also included developing self-reliance and independence plus reflecting on individual strengths and achievements.

I’ve inserted just a few photos this week but I’m hoping to have a special Year 5 camp night when we can share all the photos that we took during camp. 

From me personally it really was an honour to have shared this week with your children. I was so proud of them all.

It is also important to remember to thank Mrs Kelley, Mrs Curley, Mr Grehan and Mr T along with the office staff - Mia, Talisa  and Heather for all their hard work in making sure this camp was such a success.

My New Gallery

Specialist Subjects:

Monday: Technology and Science
Tuesday: Drama
Wednesday: Swimming and Health  , students are to be dropped off at the pool
Thursday: Science and HASS
Friday: Japanese and HASS, 

Reminders:

• Tuesdays and Thursdays: Chaplaincy breakfast begins at 7:45am.
• Wednesday : Tuck shop orders due by 8.30am 
  
• Colour Run: On Monday afternoon we will participate in the whole-school Founders Day Colour Run. A reminder that students are to wear their regular school uniform, however, instead of their school shirt a white shirt. Parents must contact the front office if your child should sit out of the colour run and/or if there are medical conditions like asthma that we're not aware of. 
  

Hope you have a great weekend,

Miss Cullen

Year 6

Dear Families,

Year 5 Camp was a fun experience for all who attended and it was pleasing to see that Year 6 students maintained their work levels in my absence. Forthcoming events include the Socktober Challenge and Colour Run on Monday afternoon.

In English, the students have been investigating the French Revolution based on one of our reading texts. Developing a personal connection with texts is important in comprehending texts - studying vocabulary, clarifying meaning and asking questions have been used to develop a significantly wider understanding. Students must read, have discussion and debate about word choices and the author's intended meaning to enhance their overall comprehension. It is vital that children at this age continue to read with their parents - discuss vocabulary and the implied meaning within texts. It is great that many are selecting complex books to advance their reading skills - the Skulduggery series has certainly grabbed their attention. In spelling, we have investigated words with the graphemes [ear and eer] and [oi, oy].

In Mathematics, we have continued to develop our understanding of Probability and Data. We have been investigating cards and the chance of drawing a particular card or rolling a particular number, or spinning a particular colour have grabbed their attention. Knowing that fractions/percentages/decimals can be used to explain the chance of an event happening - e.g. the chance of rolling two regular dice and getting two sixes is 1/36 because each unique event has a probability of 1/6 and we multiply denominators. Students have developed simple investigations to collect data and display in tables.

In Religion, students have been investigating the Rosary to further their understanding throughout October. We have commenced an investigation into how we can support the less fortunate in society and live a life under Jesus' Law. Students have begun creating scripts for a podcast about how Matthew’s scripture discusses the Judgement of the Nations and how Jesus will reward the blessed with the Kingdom of God, developing our understanding that Jesus’ Law focuses on rewarding those who support and care for the ‘least’ in society and how we can live our lives by welcoming new people and supporting those in need.

• Colour Run: On Monday afternoon we will participate in the whole-school Founders Day Colour Run. A reminder that students are to wear their regular school uniform, however, instead of their school shirt a white shirt. Parents must contact the front office if your child should sit out of the colour run and/or if there are medical conditions like asthma that we're not aware of. 

Looking forward to our final term together,

Mr Tarleton

UMY Subject Spotlight

UMY English with Miss McCall

Year 7 English
This term, the students are researching people they admire and who they believe to be a hero. This could be a historical figure, a modern icon, a family member or a local community figure. The students will develop research skills, write a biography and create an oral multimodal presentation to show their findings.

Year 8 English
This term, students are exploring the power of storytelling by reimagining well-known fairy tales, fables and short stories from new perspectives or with modern twists. Students will rewrite their own fairy tale and then create a persuasive multimodal presentation designed to convince an audience to ‘buy’ their newly written version of a classic tale. 

Year 9 English
This term, students are immersing themselves in the study of dystopian fiction specifically exploring how authors create compelling worlds that reflect societal fears and critiques. Students are watching The Hunger Games as our lead text and will examine the key themes of survival, power and ethical dilemmas. Students will then create their own district and tribute in Panem and craft a short story that explores the experiences of their tribute. They will then create a Capitol Broadcast announcing the Hunger Games to enhance their multimodal skills. 

UMY Religious Education with Mr Delaney

Year 7 Religion 
The title of the Year 7s unit is Journeys to Faith, which has given them the opportunity to learn about the ways believers participate in individual and communal prayer experiences. This led to ritual actions within the Church such as the sacraments, Scriptural examples of how they are linked to Jesus’ ministry and instituted by Him, and how they bring meaning to the lives of believers and the community — outward/visible signs of God’s inward/invisible grace. 

Year 8 Religion
The Year 8 unit of study is titled The Church Today and deals with Christian morality, particularly by identifying how the Chruch is present and active in the world. We began by learning about the term “ecumenism” and how Christians, through baptism, live in communion and are called to mission and service. We investigated Jesus’ Sermon on teh Mount and used the Beatitudes as an example of morality, informing the Works of Mercy. The students learned about the Theological and Cardinal Virtues, connected them to their own personal values, and proposed ways to live a virtuous life. 

Year 9 Religion
In Year 9, we learned about the Understandings of God across the three Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam). Based on this learning, they analysed the perspectives of God in each religion, and after establishing the divergent understandings, they examined the three foundational beliefs that Christianity is bulit upon: the Incarnation, the Resurrection, and the Ascension of Jesus Christ. 

A reminder for secondary parents and carers below:

• Colour Run: On Monday afternoon we will participate in the whole-school Founders Day Colour Run. A reminder that students are to wear their regular school uniform, however, instead of their school shirt a white shirt. Parents must contact the front office if your child should sit out of the colour run and/or if there are medical conditions like asthma that we're not aware of. 

Youth Ministry & Chaplaincy

Important dates/reminders!

• Chaplaincy Breakfast: every Tuesday and Thursday before school @ 7:45. Due to morning prayer sessions and homeroom time for classes, we will begin to pack up from 8:10am. 
• First Staff & Student Prayer morning: unfortunately we had to cancel our first combined prayer in the church today (25/10). Hopefully, we can continue this tradition on non-assembly weeks. The next one will be Friday Week 8 (22/11).
• Mini Vinnie’s: Our next Mini Vinnie’s session will be next week on Wednesday (30/10) during First Break. 
• Spirit in Action (SIA): Students in Years 6 to 9 are still encouraged to join our group! Our next session will be next Monday 11/11 from 3:00 to 4:30 PM. 

Our Year 6 Mini Vinnie’s leaders received their long-awaited badges this week. They turned out great! See pictures below. They will be doing their part to guide the Year 5 students as they mentor the Year 4 students during this term. All of these students will be assisting in making a Vinnie’s Christmas Appeal and Toy Drive a reality. More information and communication coming soon!

A massive thank you to the SIA students who helped with the baking for Grandparent’s Day Chaplaincy Breakfast! These students also received badges to acknowledge the role that they play as faith leaders in our school. My hope is that as our students progress into the middle years of schooling, and they develop questions about their identity and faith, that SIA is somewhere that they feel as though they can Belong, Believe and Become.

Yours in faith, hope & love

Mr Delaney

Guidance Counsellor

A Special Report: Healthy Study Habits

In today's world, where distractions are abundant and the pressure to excel is high, guiding children to develop healthy study habits is more important than ever. As students aspire to achieve academic success, the cornerstone of that achievement lies not just in their intelligence or drive, but in the study habits they cultivate.

It's essential for students to recognise that good study habits aren't merely about spending extra hours hitting the books. It's more about quality over quantity and having a more balanced approach. Emphasising the value of a routine is essential. Consistent study times establish a sense of structure and discipline, turning studying into a natural part of their daily routine rather than a burdensome task.

Additionally, how students approach their study sessions is equally important. Taking regular breaks is a crucial part of this process in maintaining focus and preventing burnout.

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle that includes sufficient sleep, a balanced diet, and consistent physical activity are indispensable elements that will significantly impact your child's ability to study effectively. Fostering these healthy habits is one of the most valuable gifts we can offer children, paving the way for a lifetime of learning and achievement.

This Special Report will help you support your young person as they embark on studying for exams.

We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this Special Report, and as always, we welcome your feedback.

If you do have any concerns about the wellbeing of your child, please contact the school for further information or seek medical or professional help.

Here is the link to your special report:
https://sjctsv.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-healthy-study-habits-au

First Nations Education

Community Information

School Student Broadband Initiative

We can support your child’s education with free home internet.

This is an Australian Government program for families and carers with school-age children who are struggling with bills.

Eligible parents and carers have until 31 December 2024 to register for the School Student Broadband Initiative and sign up with a participating internet provider.

Contact our team to see if you qualify and for help getting your house connected Student NBN enquiry form

The goal is for all School Student Broadband Initiative households on Fibre to the Node (FTTN), Fibre to the Basement (FTTB) and Fibre to the Curb (FTTC) technology, to be provided with a broadband service based on nbn’s 50/20 wholesale speed tier. 

For more information contact the initiative provider directly on 1800 954 610 or check out the FAQs

student-internet-faqs

Supported by

School Student Broadband Initiative (SSBI) | Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts