Latest Newsletter Term 2 | Week 5

Key Information

Term 2 - Important Dates

Week 6 - National Reconciliation Week 

• Monday 26th May - National Sorry Day
• Monday 26th May - ALPHA Session 1 - 5.30pm
• Tuesday 27th May - Spirit in Action Session - 3 to 4.30pm
• Wednesday 28th May - Year 6 Retreat (Periods 3 to 5)
• Thursday 29th May - Deadly Dancers - 2.30pm - Cloncurry State School
• Friday 30th May - Assembly 8.30am - MMS
  

Week 7

• Monday 2nd June - ALPHA Session 2 - 5.30pm

• Tuesday 3rd June - Shake & Stir Performance & Workshop - George’s Marvellous Medicine - 9am
  

• Friday 6th June - 2025 Athletics Carnival - volunteers wanted
• Saturday 7th June - Youth Mass - St Colman's Parish

Week 8 

• Monday 9th June - ALPHA Session 3 - 5.30pm
• Tuesday 10th June - FACE Meeting - 3pm - Library
• Tuesday 10th June - Spirit in Action - 3 to 4.30pm
  
• Thursday 12th June - Assembly 8.30 - MMS - ATHLETICS AWARDS & Deadly Dancers - Cloncurry State School - 2.30pm
  
• Friday 13th June - Show Public Holiday - NO SCHOOL

Week 9

• Monday 16th June - ALPHA Session 4 - 5.30pm & Board Meeting - 5.15pm 
• Thursday 19th June - Bush Dance - 5.30pm - MMS

Week 10

• Monday 23rd June - Mid-West Athletics Trials - Hughenden & ALPHA Session 5 - 5.30pm
• Tuesday 24th June - Spirit in Action - 3 to 4.30pm
• Wednesday 25th June - Year 5 Retreat (periods 3 to 5)
• Thursday 26th June - Deadly Dancers - Cloncurry State School - 2.30pm
• Friday 27th June - Assembly - 8.30 - MMS & Dress Like Your Teacher Day & LAST DAY OF TERM 2
  

Entering & Exiting - Friendly Reminder

We kindly ask all parents and carers to ensure that the gates are securely closed when entering or exiting the school, especially the gate closest to the Prep classroom, which is on Ham St. This gate is in close proximity to our younger classrooms, and keeping it closed helps ensure the safety of all our students.

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our school community safe!

Opening & Blessing Painting - Please Contribute

To celebrate the opening of our new school buildings and to honour the stories, laughter, memories, and learning that occurred in our old school buildings we have created a special artwork. You’ll notice from the photos that the tree in our courtyard has been painted, made up of fingerprints from students, staff and invited guests present at the Opening and Blessing. 

We invite our community members, past staff and students to come into the school office throughout the term and add your fingerprint to the tree. In doing so, you honour your connection to our wonderful school – your memories, your impact, your story.

A big thank you to Mrs Jill Smith and Miss Shara Humes for bringing this vision to life! 

Tuckshop News

Staffing Update:
Miss Samie will be finishing up in the tuckshop at the end of the term. We're thankful for Miss Samie jumping onboard in Term 2 to get our tuckshop up and running. Please keep your eyes peeled for an advertisement for the role of Tuckshop Convenor for the remainder of the 2025 school year. Your help in sharing this post would be greatly appreciated.  

Tuckshop Orders:
Please ensure orders are placed on https://myschoolconnect.com.au/ by Wednesday at 8.30am. 

Volunteering:
Our tuckshop relies on the generosity of volunteers each week. If you would like to volunteer in our tuckshop please join the school's tuckshop facebook group - St Joseph's Tuckshop Crew. 

Please see the office if you need any help with ordering through the app or website. 

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 of your order; we usually contact you when your order is ready to collect.

If you would like to try on sizes, the Uniform Shop will be open on Wednesday mornings from 8.10-8.30 and Wednesday afternoons from 2.30-3.00.

Miss Heather 

Principal's News

Welcome to Week 5, 

It's hard to believe that we're already halfway through the term. The shorter weeks to begin the term haven't helped with how quickly this term is flying by. The weather has also been a refreshing change, particularly for the Ride to School day this morning - what a wonderful turn out for this event. 

Communication:
Although our newsletter is our one-stop-shop for communication, I am mindful that outside of this newsletter we communicate mainly by facebook which may not be accessible to all parents/carers and can become confusing when trying to stay informed. In an attempt to provide a clearer communication method our staff will be making every effort to include any notifications or reminders that they post on facebook to your child’s compass newsfeed as well. This way you can open the compass app each day and look through the notices/reminders/events. 

I acknowledge that effective communication is important and I am grateful for the ongoing feedback and support from our families in providing this. Thank you for your time in our renewal sessions in Term 1 as your feedback is a very valuable improvement tool. 

Letters / Notices:
A friendly reminder that compass is the best tool to send notices to your child’s classroom teachers. There is a function in compass that allows parents/carers to email all of your child’s classroom teachers at once in the one email. 

If you’re unable to do so, please direct notices to the front office each day. As your child can be taught by several different teachers this will ensure all staff are informed. This will also alleviate the pressure on classroom teachers each morning as they receive a number of notices. 

School Board - EOI:
The St Joseph’s Catholic School Board is currently seeking Expression of Interest (EOI) from a Parent or Carer and St Colman's Parish representative.

Being a member of our advisory board is a wonderful opportunity to contribute to the direction and future of our school. Board members work collaboratively helping to shape policies and initiatives that benefit all students.

If you are interested, please email your EOI to skelley2@sjctsv.catholic.edu.au by Friday of Week 8, 13th June 2025. In your email, please include a brief introduction of why you’re interested in joining the St Joseph’s Catholic School Board and what you believe you would bring to this position. 

Aspirant Leaders onsite - Monday 2nd of June 
We're excited to be hosting 23 teachers and leaders from across our Diocese at St Joseph's on Monday 2nd of June. Our invited guests will be undertaking a day of professional development before embarking on a tour of Cloncurry. We're excited for the opportunity to welcome a number of our colleagues from other schools. 

School Renewal - Parent/Carer Feedback:
Thank you to all parents and carers who took the time to provide feedback in Term 1. Your insights help us celebrate our strengths and identify opportunities to further support our students. Key themes from the recent feedback include positive comments about staff dedication and communication, as well as suggestions for improving certain aspects of the school experience. We are committed to listening and continuously improving, and we encourage you to keep sharing your thoughts. If you have additional feedback, please send it through—we value your input as we work together to create the best possible environment for our children. Please see a summary of feedback received so far. Please note this feedback is solely a summary from our parents/carers - we also collected feedback from our board members, TCE specialists, staff, and students. 

Thank you to all parents and carers who contributed feedback—your input is invaluable in helping us celebrate our strengths and identify areas for ongoing growth. Below is a summary of the key themes from the recent feedback:

What’s Working Well

• Our welcoming, values-driven culture and the support for each student’s personal growth are highly valued.
• Improvements in learning programs (such as Writers Toolbox, Accelerated Reader, and IXL) and inclusive community events have been positively received.
• Staff are described as approachable, and clear expectations around uniforms and behaviour foster a sense of belonging.
• Individualised support for students and regular communication about progress are appreciated.
• Parents value positive reinforcement through awards and behaviour charts, as well as opportunities to meet with teachers.

Areas for Development

• Strengthen communication about how the school’s values are enacted daily, especially for new families.
• Ensure more timely intervention and communication regarding student support needs and how your child is tracking in class.
• Consistently enforce academic and behavioural expectations across all year levels and consistently clarify guidelines around grooming and uniforms.
• Ensure inclusive practices and differentiated support for all students, including those needing extension work.

Opportunities for Further Investigation

• Explore ways to better engage families in the school’s mission and values at home.
• Review the availability and clarity of support programs and resources, including how screen time is used and communicated, particularly for homework.
• Improve handover processes between teachers and ensure early communication of student concerns.
• Share data about student progress more regularly and consistently celebrate learning goals across all year levels. 

This data will be reviewed in accordance with the other data received to create goals for the next four years. 

2026 Enrolments:
We are pleased to announce that enrolments for 2026 are now officially open. We warmly invite prospective families to join us at our Open Day on Saturday, 19th July. While 2025 enrolments will still be processed using paper forms (available at the Open Day), from 2026 we will transition to an online enrolment system to simplify the process for families.

School Attendance & Extended Absence:
A friendly reminder about the importance of regular and punctual school attendance. Arriving on time each day ensures students are present for all core learning, helping them to settle into their day smoothly, whilst supporting their academic and social wellbeing. If your child will be taking leave during term time, especially for extended absences such as holidays, it is essential that you notify the school. In some cases, a leave form will be required. We ask all families to plan holidays and leisurely trips during school holiday periods wherever possible.

Drop Off / Pick Up / Visiting
It is important that all carers, parents, family members and friends are abiding by the signs when stopping their vehicle to collect a student or visiting the school. The parking spaces along Ham Street are a stop and go zone. A car should not be parked in this zone if the parent or carer gets out of the vehicle and leaves it to enter the school or collect a child. If you would like to stop and come into the school grounds please park along George Street or Sheaffe Street. 

We have also had several cars stopping past the no stopping zone on Sheaffe Street. This has meant that these cars are close to the crossing. It is important that these zone’s are left clear to ensure that oncoming traffic can see students who are about to walk out onto the road. The safety of our students, families and staff is our number one priority and we would appreciate your cooperation with this.

May God Bless you and your families for the weeks ahead, 

Mrs Samantha Kelley,
Principal 

Deputy's News/Curriculum

Reporting Changes This Semester

This semester, you’ll notice some changes to your child’s report card. These updates are part of a diocese-wide shift, following feedback from families and staff across Townsville Catholic Education.

At St Joseph’s Cloncurry, we’ve started using the updated Reporting Guidelines this semester. Here’s what you can expect to see:

• Learning Area Comments Removed – Instead of comments for each subject, reports will now include a short statement outlining the key learning that took place.
• Application to Learning – This replaces effort grades. It reflects how students approach their learning, complete tasks, and respond to feedback. This is rated on a four-point scale: Needs Attention, Satisfactory, Very Good, Excellent.
• Achievement Standards – Reports now make it clearer that a “C” or “Working With” grade is the expected level by the end of the year.
• Prep Reports – Prep students will receive results for English, Mathematics, Health and Physical Education, and Religion. Other learning areas are taught but not reported on.
• General Comment – Teachers will continue to include a brief comment at the end of the report to give an overall picture of your child’s progress and engagement.

Reports will be released in Week 10 through the Compass App.

If you have any questions after receiving your child’s report, please feel free to get in touch with their teacher.

Mr Dean Kelley
Deputy Principal - Teaching and Learning

Assistant Principal Religious Education

National Volunteer Week 
Every year, National Volunteers Week (May 19th - May 25) is a chance to shine a light on the incredible contributions made by volunteers and to encourage others to consider lending a hand.   

The theme this year is “Connecting Communities,” and we see that happening every day. Thanks to our parents, staff, students, and local community members who step up to help in so many ways. Volunteering isn’t just about ticking off a task, it is about showing up for each other and building relationships, to help make our school a place where everyone feels they belong.  We are truly grateful for all you do. Thank you for being part of what makes our community so special.

Feast Day of Mary, Help of Christians  
This Saturday, May 24th, we celebrate the Feast of Mary, Help of Christians, the patron saint of Australia and our Townsville Diocese. This special day is a time to reflect on Mary’s guidance, care, and deep connection to our faith.

To mark the occasion, our Prep to Year 6 students took part in a beautiful liturgy at St Colman's Church last Monday. It was a meaningful opportunity for our students to come together in prayer, song, and reflection, honouring Mary and seeking her continued support in our lives.

Mary Help of Christians, Patroness of Australia and of the Military Ordinariate 

Almighty God, 

Deepen in our hearts our love of Mary Help of Christians. 

Through her prayers and under her protection, may the light of Christ shine over our land. 

May Australia be granted harmony, justice and peace. 

Grant wisdom to our leaders and integrity to our citizens. 

Bless especially the men and women of the Australian Defence Force and their families. 

We ask this through Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

National Sorry Day Liturgy 
Next Monday, May 26, is National Sorry Day. This day honours and acknowledges the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who were unjustly removed from their families and communities. It serves as a solemn reminder of the hardship endured by the Stolen Generations and the enduring impact this history has had on individuals, families, and communities across Australia.

During their Call to Action time, students will gather at St Colman's Church for a special liturgy. Together, we will join in prayer and reflection, focusing on the themes of love and unity. 

Let us continue to walk together in a spirit of truth and understanding, committed to shaping a future where respect and harmony light the way forward.

St Colman’s Mass - Upcoming Schedule
Join us in celebrating the Eucharist. Below is the presider schedule for upcoming Masses:

Date                                    Mass                   Time                      Presider

 May 25th, 2025          Sunday Mass       8.30 am          Fr. Will Brennan

 June 1, 2025                 Sunday Mass       8.30 am             Fr. Nnaemeka Njezi

 June 7, 2025                  Youth Mass        5.30 pm               Fr. Mick Lowcock

 June 8, 2025                 Sunday Mass       8.30 am              Fr Mick Lowcock 

 June 15, 2025                Sunday Mass       8.30 am             Fr Mick Lowcock       

God Bless,

Ms Lei Nelson
Assistant Principal - Religious Education

First Nations

Dear Families,

Last week, four of our students—Samuel, Amilee, Laylah, and Mayrah—had the exciting opportunity to attend Deadly Dancers at Cloncurry State School. 

Our students had a fantastic time at the first session, learning new routines and building friendships. They will continue to rehearse throughout the term and will take part in special performances at upcoming community events, such as NAIDOC Week.

We’re proud of their involvement and can’t wait to see them shine at their next rehearsal!

Next week, we are celebrating National Reconciliation Week, a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, exploring  to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. We have a range of exciting activities planned throughout the week, including classroom discussions, art and craft, and sport activities to celebrate culture. Our First Nations students will also be leading prayer on assembly on Friday morning. We’re looking forward to a meaningful and memorable week of learning and connection.

Activities taking place to celebrate culture include:

• Monday: Touch during first lunch
• Tuesday/Wednesday: Classroom Reconciliation week activities
• Wednesday: Sand Art during first lunch
• Thursday: Beading with Police Liaison Officer Mitchy during first lunch in the Freestone RoomFriday: First Nations based games during first lunch in Mary MacKillop Shed

Miss Leonie Ansell
Emerging Leaders Coordinator & First Nations Education Leader

Pastoral Care

TradeMutt Shirts

🎉Our TradeMutt Shirts Have Arrived! 🎉

It’s been fantastic to see our Thoughts In Motion TradeMutt shirts already making an impact in our community!

👕 If you pre-ordered a shirt, please contact the office to arrange payment and collection.

🛍️ Shirts will be available for sale and pick-up next week. Men's and women's sizes available. 

📅 Monday & Tuesday

⏰ 8:00–8:20 AM and 2:50–3:00 PM

📍 Outside Joey’s Space

Let’s keep the conversation going and proudly wear our shirts to help make mental health impossible to ignore.

Homework Club for Year 7-9 Students
In the Lowcock Room every Thursday afternoon 3 - 4pm. Students can use this time to receive tutoring for any subject or complete homework. Afternoon Tea is provided.

In this edition of SchoolTV - Internet Addiction

Here is the link to the Internet Addiction edition of SchoolTV
https://sjctsv.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/internet-addiction

In today’s digital environment, the internet can be viewed as a valuable tool for education, research and entertainment. Young people today tend to go from one screen to another, but how much is too much? Time spent in the ‘screen world’ has parents concerned that their kids may be missing out on real life experiences. Therefore, it is vitally important to a child’s wellbeing for parents to regulate a child’s internet use.

Internet addiction can cause significant psychological and social problems for children in years to come. The true effects on future generations is not yet known, but there are strategies that parents can implement now.

In this edition, Dr Michael Carr-Gregg discusses what causes internet addiction, who is most at risk and what parents can do to regulate the amount of time their kids spend online each day.

We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this edition of SchoolTV and we always welcome your feedback. If you have any concerns about your child, please contact the school counsellor for further information or seek medical or professional help.

Parent: “How was school today?”

Kid: “Good.”

Parent: “What did you do?”

Kid: “Nothin.”

How many parents have had this conversation with their kids? When it comes to challenging friendships, the reality is kids do not often tell their parents if they’ve had a Friendship Fire® with a friend, or they’re dealing with an up-and-down friend, or they’re having trouble making friends. Instead, kids & teens often suffer in silence.

So, why do kids keep their friendship issues private? Over the last 14 years, we have worked with tens of thousands of kids in schools around the world. Students have shared all sorts of things with us about what’s really going on in their friendships. While friendships have changed a lot for kids since we first launched our Friendology curriculum in 2009, these 4 reasons that kids aren’t totally honest and forthcoming with their parents has stayed the same:

1. Your child is worried you’re going to freak out. You might call the other kid’s parents,  you might call the school, you might say the wrong things, you might cry, you might say, “I knew that kid was trouble!”  Basically, you might say and do all the wrong things and just make matters worse. Read our most popular blog: 10 Reasons to NOT Call the Other Child’s Parents
2. Your child is embarrassed. They want you to think they’re cool and popular. Your child wants to make you proud! It’s a pretty vulnerable thing to respond to, “How was school today?” with, “Not very good. I feel like I have no friends. Sat by myself at lunch and kids made fun of the bargain shoes you bought me.” Kids and teens will not readily offer that information.
3. Your child knows it sounds silly or trivial. Kids are totally aware that sometimes the things they’re upset or annoyed about aren’t a big deal, but they can’t shake it. When they think about telling an adult, they think parents + teachers won’t get it and will respond with, “Just ignore them! It’s not that big of a deal! Why do you care? Play with someone else then!” These sentiments are obviously not helpful and diminish a child’s feelings.
4. Your child is so tuned in to you. They know if you’re stressed or have a lot on your plate right now and they don’t want to add to your pile by unloading their friendship drama on you. They also know it will upset you – so they protect you from that.

There is, however, a 5th reason that has emerged: Your child is worried you’ll take away their device. If the friendship issue happened online, they’re worried you’re going to make them delete the platform or take their device away. In the past few years especially, this has become a huge concern with children experiencing awful things online that they’re not sharing with grown-ups.

So, what can you do to encourage your child to open up and share freely with you?

First, think of yourself as a Friendship Coach. Coaches don’t go out there and play the game for their players. Instead, they give them advice and send them to play. Then, they stand back on the sidelines and watch. When they call their team in, they point out what they saw and give the players some tips and guidance. It should work that way with parents too, coaching your children through their friendships. Avoid jumping in to solve the problem. Instead, ask: “What can you do to make this situation better?” Empower your child with this activity: Keep it Cool!

Second, empathise. Sometimes all your child needs to hear is, “That sounds really hard. Would you like a hug?” Sit with them in the discomfort, remind them their feelings are normal and valid, and show them you’re there. For teens especially, be a Potted Plant Parent.

Lastly, give this tried-and-tested strategy from my Mom a go. Whenever I was experiencing any kind of emotional turmoil, my Mom would find me a book or article and leave it on my pillow. It was her way of saying, “I’m here if you need to talk, but here’s some advice.” With that in mind, print this activity and pop it on your child’s pillow. Who knows – maybe you’ll get invited to go for some ice-cream!?

Written by: Dana Kerford

Founder & Friendship Expert

$1000 Board Fundraiser for UMY School Camp

Best regards,

Miss Hannah McCall
Pastoral Leader

Youth Ministry

Spirit in Action (SIA)
Next Tuesday (27/05), the SIA students will welcome Sr Lyn back for an afternoon of garment cutting and rag creation. This will run from 3:00PM to 4:00PM in the Home Ec room. Information and consent details have been sent via Compass. 

Youth Mass
Our Youth Mass this past weekend was a HUGE success. A massive thank you to the students and their families for contributing to the evening. Whether that be through attendance, participation in the Mass, or even the delicious sides to go with our BBQ - greatly appreciated!!

Our next youth Mass will be on Saturday June 7 (the day after the athletics carnival). The theme of this Mass will be Pentecost - the Birthday of the Church. I will send more information about this next week. 

Year 6 Retreat 
Next week, on Wednesday, the Year 6 students will be participating in a retreat experience. This will happen between Periods 3 & 5. The title of this retreat is Journeying with Jesus and centres around the themes of salvation and mercy, in addition to some deep learning connections from their Year 6 RE curriculum. 

Year 6 parents, you should have received communication about this via Compass!

Alpha
St Colman's Parish is running a course in Christianity called ALPHA. It can help people to understand the ways of Jesus. It is being held on each Monday from 5.30pm to 7.30pm with dinner included. It begins on May 26. The school office has forms and info about it to sign up or to ask questions. Please think about this opportunity to share about our faith and to ask any questions. This exciting opportunity is open to all staff, parents, and community members!

A copy of the flyer is attached. Flyers are available from the office. 

Yours in faith, hope & love!

Mr James Delaney ❤️‍🔥
Youth Ministry Middle Leader

Sport & Extra Curricular

North West Cross Country Trials:
We had 8 students attend the North West Cross Country Trials in Barcaldine last Monday, 12th May,. Congratulations to Levi, Brydee, Michael, Owen, James, Oliver, Clancy and Chelsea.

We also had 4 of these students selected to attend the state trials in Brisbane. A big congratulations to Levi, Brydee, Owen and James.

State Championships for Rugby League:
A big congratulations to Kale who was selected to compete in the State Championships for Rugby League. Kale was absent towards the end of last week as he represented St Joseph's at the State Championships. A wonderful achievement Kale. Congratulations.

Interschool Soccer Competition - Mount Isa:
Last Thursday we had 15 students travel to Mount Isa for the Interschool Soccer Competition. What a wonderful day of success our students had as they won 3 games, drew 2 and lost 1. Congratulations to our Interschool Soccer Team for their sportsmanship and teamwork on the day. 

Library News

2025 Premier's Reading Challenge:
We're excited to announce that St Joseph's Catholic School, Cloncurry, will be participating in the Premier's Reading Challenge again this year. This is a fantastic initiative that encourages children to read and engage with text's at home. Each student who completed this challenge will receive a certificate. The challenge commenced on Tuesday the 6th of May. A letter was sent home with your child. Please let me know if you need another copy. 

Mrs Jamie-Lea McConachy
School Librarian 

Ride to School Day - Term 2

What an amazing turn out for our Term 2 Ride to School Day. Thank you to all the parents who took part this morning. 

Prep

And just like that we are halfway through the Term!

This week in Prep we have excitedly welcomed chickens into our class family. Our little learners have learnt about what an observation is and completed an observation on our chickens, identifying their features. 

We also had the opportunity to attend the Under 8’s Day at Cloncurry State School. We participated in necklace and biscuit making, story time, dancing with our very own Miss Jill, drumming with Uncle Hombre and exploration of the emergency services vehicles. 

In literacy this week, we have learnt the new letter and sound /h/ for Hannah Hippo. We have also continued learning and practicing our new ‘Tricky Words’ I, the, my, a, is, was, you and to. 

During our math lessons, we will continue to learn to sequence the days of the week and times of the day including morning, lunchtime, afternoon and night time, and connect them to familiar events and actions.

In Religion we have started our unit of work all about Jesus! Over the coming weeks we will explore who Jesus was and learn all about his life. 

Little Leaders Website
For photos and regular updates on what is happening in the Prep space please click the link attached for access to the Little Leaders Website. Through this link you will also be able to access two pages, a Semester One Page with general information as well as a Home Learning Page. On Monday in Week 6, we will begin to send readers home to each student as well as letter and number tracing cards, however, for more activities please check out the Home Learning Page.

Reminders:

• Monday: Mrs Jill Smith will take our little learners for Art in Period 5.
• Tuesday: Miss Borlase will take our students for Sport in Period 5
• Wednesday: Miss Pucciarmati will take our Prep students for Technology in Period 5
• Thursday: Mrs McConachy will be the classroom teacher
• Friday: Every second Friday we will have an assembly at the Mary MacKillop Shed (Week 2,4,6,8,10)

Yours in fun and learning,

Miss Mae-Louise Brock, Miss Josie Smith, Miss Rachel Adcock and Mrs Renee McConachy

Year 1

Hello parents and carers,

This term in Literacy, our Year 1 students have been diving into the delightful picture book Rosie’s Walk by Pat Hutchins. Through this story, we’ve been focusing on key foundational skills such as retelling events, developing listening skills, and understanding sequencing.

Students have enjoyed reading the story aloud to each other, practicing expression and active listening. To deepen their comprehension and bring Rosie’s journey to life, the class worked together to create a collaborative map tracing Rosie’s path through the farmyard. This hands-on project sparked thoughtful discussion and teamwork, reinforcing their understanding of story structure and direction.

We also had the special opportunity to join our friends in Year 2 for a Simultaneous Storytime session, where we shared the engaging book The Truck Cat by Deborah Frenkel. The students listened attentively, then discussed and described the main character.

To top off an exciting week, we visited Cloncurry State School for Under 8’s Day! The students engaged in hands-on learning through play, exploring a variety of activities designed to spark curiosity and creativity. A highlight of the day was getting to visit and explore the vehicles of our local first responders, which fascinated and inspired many young minds. 

It’s been a joyful and busy time in Year 1, filled with learning, connection, and fun!

Here are some photos from the past two weeks:

Reminders: 

• Tuesday: Technology and Art
• Wednesday: House Shirt
• Thursday: Sport (Sport uniform) 

Have a wonderful week,

Miss Erin Haley and the always fun Year 1’s  

Year 2

Dear Parents and Carers, 

How are we already halfway through Term 2!

In Science, we've continued our exciting exploration of the Solar System, with a specific focus on the Sun and shadows. Students have been investigating how the Sun appears to move across the sky and how this movement affects the formation and position of shadows. In the next week we will be conducting a hands-on investigation to observe how shadows change in size and direction throughout the day.

In Maths, we've begun exploring addition, focusing on doubling numbers. In English, we are finishing  our Poetry unit, where students have enjoyed writing and creating poems. Next we will be starting our new exciting unit - Narrative writing!

In Year 2 we’ve also been making the most of the beautiful weather by taking our learning both indoors and outdoors creating a rich learning experience while also adding some excitement and variety to our daily activities.  

Reminders: 

• Monday: Art
• Tuesday: Library
• Wednesday: House Shirts
• Thursday: Sport
• Friday: Technologies

Miss Tess Motti

Year 3

Welcome to Week 5! It’s been another busy and exciting time in Year 3 as we continue to explore new topics and grow our learning across all subjects.

Accelerated Reader
We are happy to report that the Year 3 learners are thoroughly enjoying the Accelerated Reader program and have responded very positively. Quite a few students are already well on their way to reaching their reading goals! Please continue to encourage your child to read at home—especially reading out loud—as it helps build fluency and confidence.

English
In English, we have been hard at work learning about informative text structures and how to write our own informative pieces. We’ve also been focusing on identifying different word types such as verbs and adjectives, as well as recognising the subject and nouns in a sentence. The students have been making great progress in building their grammar knowledge!

Mathematics
In Maths, we have moved on from our unit on time and are now exploring the concept of money. This is a great opportunity to involve your child in everyday activities—next time you go shopping, ask them to read the prices, add up totals, and even work out change. Real-life practice is a fantastic way to reinforce what we’re learning in class.

Science
Our Science lessons have taken us into space! We’ve been learning about the Earth’s rotation and its orbit around the Sun, as well as how the Moon rotates and orbits the Earth. We’ve also discovered how these movements affect shadows—making them longer or shorter throughout the day. The students are fascinated by these big ideas!

HASS
In HASS, we’ve been exploring the different states of Australia and investigating some of the amazing landmarks found across the country—both natural and man-made. There’s so much to discover, and we’ll be continuing this unit for a while as we learn more about the wonders of Australia.

Religion
In Religion, the students have begun working on PowerPoint presentations about our Parish and the role players within it. They are conducting research on the structure of the Catholic Church and specifically learning about the founding of our parish. It’s been a wonderful opportunity to connect with our faith community.

Have a great week, and enjoy the weekend!

I hope you all have a wonderful week.

Mrs Deirdre Koekemoer

Year 4

Hello everyone,

This week we farewelled Kate Henning, our placement teacher. Kate really endeared herself to the students and will be greatly missed.

We’re excited to share that a fresh load of nutrient-rich, manure-based soil has arrived and is ready to be added to our garden beds! A huge thank you to Dustin Keyes, who generously donated both his time and his tip truck to deliver the manure from the saleyards. I’m incredibly grateful for the support—especially since it saved me from having to dig it all by hand!

English
This week in English, students have been developing their research and writing skills. They focused on how to effectively take notes from a variety of sources, including texts, websites, and videos. Using these notes, they then learned how to craft clear, well-structured sentences, turning information into their own words. They will be researching their chosen biome over the next week.

Maths
In Maths the students have been introduced to measuring area. They constructed square metres with newspaper and measured the area of the classroom. It was great to see them using the skills they are developing in the PCYC Team Up program to work as a team to attack this investigation.

Science
In Science, we are exploring the fascinating world of the water cycle. Last week, students stepped into the role of a water molecule and embarked on an imaginative journey through the different stages of the cycle—evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection. I was really impressed by the creativity and detail in their recounts, written in character as the molecule. Each student shared a unique and thoughtful perspective on their individual journey, bringing the water cycle to life in a fun way.

Have a fantastic week, and thank you for your continued support!

Mrs Lesley Wall

Year 5

Hi Year 5 Parents and Carers,

This fortnight in Writing, students have been learning how to craft Multipurpose Introductions as part of their preparation for writing persuasive texts. They’ve been exploring how to clearly present a topic, express an opinion, and engage the reader right from the start.

In Maths, we've completed our work on adding and subtracting fractions and are now sharpening our skills in multiplication by practising a range of strategies to solve increasingly complex problems.

In Religion, students have been exploring Communities of Faith in Australia. They particularly enjoyed creating a timeline that highlighted key moments in Australia’s history, and have since added important milestones in the life of St Mary MacKillop.

Our Science unit has sparked curiosity with our exploration of light—where it comes from, how it travels, and the different ways it can be manipulated or changed.

It’s been a bright and busy fortnight of learning in Year 5!

Reminders

• Sport uniform: Tuesday
• Technologies: Tuesday
• Arts: Tuesday
• HASS: Tuesday and Wednesday
• House shirt: Wednesday
• Sport: Wednesday - taught by Miss B
• Health: Thursday - taught by Miss Humes
• Languages: Friday

Have a great rest of your week!

Miss Leonie Ansell

Year 6

Dear Families, 

We hope you had a lovely Mother's Day! During the last few weeks, we have continued to work with our Prep Buddies. We prepared a fun Mother's Day activity with them and spent some time creating flower baskets. Time has been dedicated to students to continue their coding of drones. There is so much maths application involved - decimals, angles, duration, shape and percentages, while also the development of patience, collaboration, perseverance, and problem solving has ensured excellent learning.

English/HASS - students have been investigating Anne Frank, identifying facts from her life that will help us to create a Biographical Recount about her. They will also have opportunities to select a secondary person from a list that they can repeat the process with and enable them to write an independent biographical recount. In spelling, we are focusing on common graphemes [l ll] and for the long [ee] vowel phonemes. Investigating prefixes mono- and multi- meaning one and many respectively, suffixes -ed/-ing, -al (meaning relating to), -ty and -ity which both mean quality or state of. e.g. popular - popularity. If the word ends with -e, we usually drop the e before adding the suffix. We have inquired into the Latin Rootsceed, cede and cess which all have the meaning [go] e.g. proceed would have the meaning forwards go (continue to move forwards). Our reading has focussed on texts about the Ancient Egyptians, which most of the children found fascinating (if a little gross!) Our focus continues to be on investigating unfamiliar vocabulary and clarifying our understanding of the texts we read. 

Mathematics - Our work has continued to focus on percentages of money amounts and developing into problem solving with application of fractions, decimals and percentages. Understanding that 50% is half and 25% is a quarter support our problem solving calculations. We have also developed our understanding of 10% and associated multiples when connected to price discounts and increases. We'd love for you to find opportunities to make connections in the real world - that means shopping with your child and expecting them to do some maths as they follow you around!

It is our job to continue to engage students in reading, and to ensure they challenge themselves with texts at their Zone of Proximal Development. Due to the length and challenge of the books being read, some students are yet to register reading growth - two book quizzes may jump their percentage to target achieved!

We know that you have embraced reading development and it was great to see your children promoting good reading habits with our Prep Buddies.

Year 6 Retreat 
Next week, on Wednesday, the Year 6 students will be participating in a retreat experience. This will happen between Periods 3 & 5. The title of this retreat is Journeying with Jesus and centres around the themes of salvation and mercy, in addition to some deep learning connections from their Year 6 RE curriculum. 

Year 6 parents, you should have received communication about this via Compass!

Wishing you all a wonderful Week!

Mr Mike Tarleton & Mr Larry Cullen

UMY Subject Spotlight

HaSS with Miss Pucciarmati
Hello parents and caregivers!

I’m Miss Pucciarmati (or Miss P if that is easier to say). As some of you may or may not know, I’ve taken over Mr Timm’s role in the UMY space teaching Humanities this year. 

This term the students in our Humanities classes have been diving deep into the world of Civics and Citizenship. Over the past few weeks, Grades 7, 8, and 9 have been exploring the essential concepts that shape our society and the roles we play as citizens within it.

In Grade 7, students have been learning about the foundations of democracy, discussing the rights and responsibilities that come with being a citizen, and examining how different types of governments work. They’ve been actively engaged in class debates, which has given them the opportunity to practice their communication skills while also encouraging critical thinking about the role of government in everyday life.

Grade 8 has taken a closer look at the importance of voting and participation in democratic processes. Through interactive discussions and group work, students have been exploring the significance of elections, the media’s role in shaping public opinion, and the importance of informed voting. Students also learned how local government decisions can impact their lives, and some even had the chance to simulate a mock election.

For Grade 9, the focus has been on understanding the broader concept of global citizenship. This includes an examination of international law, human rights, and the responsibilities that come with being a global citizen in a connected world. Students have been analyzing current events and engaging in research projects to better understand how their actions can affect communities both locally and globally.

Across all grades, the students have shown great enthusiasm and engagement, actively participating in group discussions, case studies, and various activities. The goal is not just to teach them the mechanics of civics but to inspire them to think critically and take an active role in shaping the world around them.

I’d just like to end by asking for support from home with ensuring your child hops onto Google Classroom if they have missed any schooling. With students regularly being away for various reasons, I try to put most lessons onto Google Classroom. I tell them if you’re away to catch up on anything they missed. This is a big help to ensure they’re up to date when they join the class again and don’t get left behind. Any homework is also added onto this platform - jump on and have a look!

Thank you in advance for your support with this!

Hope everyone has a great term,

Miss Lisa Pucciarmati

Languages with Mr Delaney
Years 7 & 8
The Years 7 & 8 students have been learning about lunch culture in Japan. Last term we looked at elementary school lunch in our school tour unit, and this term, we turn our focus to a popular choice for high school students - O bentō. 

O bentō is a special kind of Japanese lunch that is not only tasty, but also very healthy and eye-catching. We have learned about the culture of these boxed lunches, the rules, and the popular food choices that can be included. 

The students will be assessed through the creation of their own O bentō and by completing a series of set tasks. Some of these tasks include a plan, a recipe, and an annotated picture. 

I look forward to seeing their food creativity shine!

Year 9
This term, the students have been exploring Japanese humour, and in particular, a traditional style of comedic storytelling known as Rakugo. 

Rakugo is a traditional form of Japanese verbal entertainment that dates back to the 17th century. It is a comedic art form in which a solo performer sits on a cushion and performs a story, often with multiple characters, using only a fan and a hand towel as props. The stories told in rakugo are typically humorous, satirical, or ironic, and often involve a twist ending. The performer is responsible for creating all the voices, movements, and sound effects in the story, and typically speaks in a low, monotone voice, punctuated by moments of high energy and humor. Rakugo has a rich cultural history in Japan and has been passed down through generations of performers, with each adding their own unique style and flair to the tradition. Today, there are still rakugo performers who continue to entertain audiences with their witty and skillful storytelling.

The students will model their assessment on a story called Jugemu. The students will be using Japanese language, and their new knowledge of Japanese humour, to alter their version of the story. 

Regards, 

Mr James Delaney

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