Latest Newsletter Term 3 | Week 5

Key Information

Term 3 - Important Dates

Week 6

• UMY School Camp - (returning 24th August)
• Friday -Year 2 on Assembly
• Premier Reading Challenge Concludes

Week 7

• Book Week
• Tuesday 26th August - Book Week Dress Up Parade - 8.40 am - Primary Quad ** a reminder, no animals as part of Book Week costumes.
• Tuesday 26th August -  Spirit In Action - Vinnies Visit 3pm-4.30pm
• Wednesday 27th August - Year 3 Retreat
• Thursday 28th August - Tennis Australia (P-Year 6)
• Friday 29th August - Year 6 Bike Excursion to the Dam

Week 8

• Monday - Thursday 1st - 4th September Father's Day Stall
• Thursday 4th September - Learning Breakfast//Father's Day Breakfast 7.45am-8.20am
• Thursday 4th September - Odd Socks Day/Assembly 8.30am
• Friday 5th September - Reflective Practice Day - No School
• Sunday 7th September - Children's Liturgy

Week 9

• National Child Protection Week
• Thursday 11th September - Prep Enrolment Interviews
• Friday 12th September - Staff Appreciation Day
• Newsletter distributed

Week 10

• Monday & Tuesday, 15th/16th September - Prep Enrolment Interviews
• Monday 15th September - Board Meeting 5.15pm
• Tuesday 16th September - Spirit In Action - Vinnies Visit 3pm-4.30pm
• Wednesday 17th September - Year 2 Retreat
• Wednesday & Thursday  17th/18th September - Vinnies Clothes Sale
• Friday 19 September - Dress By Vinnies Day/Jump Off Day (Jump Rope for Heart) 

Tuckshop News

Please ensure all orders are placed in the My School Connect App by 8:30am on Wednesdays. 

Upcoming Specials

Week 6 - Mexican Burritos and Vanilla Cupcakes 

Week 7 - Spaghetti Bolognese and Custard Tarts 

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. A friendly reminder that a tuckshop volunteer induction must be completed prior to volunteering. 

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 the Week 5 newsletter, 

What an exciting day for us at St Joseph’s with our annual School and Parish fete kicking off at 6pm tonight. The amount of work, creativity, and energy that goes into making this event a reality is truly inspiring. I want to give a special and heartfelt thank you to our wonderful volunteers: Jill Smith, Tegan Barker, Bec Lance, and Morgan Bennett who have dedicated a considerable amount of time this week in preparation for tonight. Your support and guidance have been invaluable.

A very special acknowledgement also goes to Laura Hall and Mia Dickson, who have been absolutely integral in planning and bringing this fete to life. The preparations began months ago, and I can confidently say our fete would not be possible without their dedication and expertise. Thank you, Laura and Mia, for your hard work and vision. We couldn't have done it without you. 

Bullying No Way Week:
This week, as part of Bullying No Way Week, St Joseph’s students and staff focused on building a culture of kindness and respect through both our special activities and the ongoing UR Strong program. UR Strong is a school-wide initiative that helps students learn how to develop healthy friendships, express themselves confidently, and resolve conflicts in positive ways. By teaching practical skills like communication, empathy, and boundary-setting, UR Strong empowers our students to support one another and tackle issues like bullying before they escalate. These critical lessons, combined with the week’s theme of “Be bold. Be kind. Speak up”, reinforce our commitment to not just stopping bullying, but to equipping every child with the tools they need for safe, respectful relationships at school and beyond.

Canberra and Snow Trip: 
Next week, our Upper Middle Years (Years 7 to 9) students set off on their Canberra and Snow Trip. These experiences help shape lifelong memories and skills for our students. Thank you to Miss Hannah McCall, Mr Dean Kelley, Miss Sigrid Turner, and Miss Mairin Borlase, who are generously giving their time to accompany our students and ensure a safe, enriching experience.

This camp would not be possible without the ongoing efforts of our amazing families, who have dedicated time and energy to fundraising over the past few years. Your collective commitment has helped bring camp costs down, ensuring that this opportunity remains accessible to all. Thank you for your unwavering community spirit and support!

Premier’s Reading Challenge — Final Week, Next Week!
Next Friday marks the conclusion of the Premier’s Reading Challenge. It has been wonderful to see so many students diving into books and broadening their horizons. Reading is a cornerstone of literacy and personal growth—it enhances imagination, supports academic success, and builds empathy and critical thinking. Developing a strong reading habit in childhood opens doors to lifelong learning and confidence.

A huge thank you to Miss Jamie-Lea, our dedicated school librarian, for curating an inviting and engaging library space and championing reading initiatives like the Premier's Reading Challenge. Your creativity and enthusiasm help make reading a joyful adventure for all our students.

Book Week Parade — Mark Your Calendar!
Book Week Parade is coming up on Tuesday, August 26 (Week 7). We look forward to the parade of creativity as students showcase their favourite storybook characters—start preparing those costumes if you haven’t already! It’s always a highlight seeing our love of stories come to life in such a colourful and shared way.

Thank you, everyone, for making our school a place of learning, joy, and connection. I look forward to celebrating with you all at the fete tonight and at these wonderful events over the coming weeks.

Congratulations Miss Mia:
Congratulations to our very own showgirl winner Miss Mia Dickson, who represented the North West Sub Chamber at the Queensland Country Life Showgirl State Finals at the Ekka in Brisbane last week. We are incredibly proud of your accomplishments Miss Mia. 

School Feedback Survey - LAST CHANCE TO SUBMIT:
School Satisfaction Surveys' have been sent to all parents/carers a few weeks ago. These surveys are a vital tool that helps us as a school reflect on growth and areas of improvement from year to year to directly shape future planning, guide school improvement efforts, and foster environments where both students and staff can flourish.

We kindly ask that you complete the survey by Monday, 18 August. Thank you in advance for taking the time to share your thoughts and help us build a stronger and more responsive school communities.

Pupil Free Days:
● Friday 5th September - Reflective Practice Day - All staff completing PD - Pupil free day for students
● Tuesday 7th October - Professional Development Day - Pupil free day for students

Media Consent:
At the time of enrolment, parents are asked to consent to the use of their child’s name and image in various forms of media to promote the school and Catholic Education. If you DO NOT wish to consent to your child's photograph/video appearing as stated in the below, and you wish to withdraw this authorisation and consent, you must notify the school by phone or email, clncry@tsv.catholic.edu.au. 
 
If we do not hear from you to make any changes, your original consent provided will remain in effect.
 
PHOTOGRAPHY/VIDEO/MEDIA CONSENT - snippet from enrolment agreement:
Photos, video footage and work samples of students are used regularly by the school for the purpose of acknowledging the efforts of the student, or for promotion, marketing or advertising the school or Catholic Education.
 
I consent to the student being photographed or filmed for school/College, Catholic Education or Townsville Catholic Diocese related communication or for education purposes. 

I understand this may include media (e.g. television, radio, publications), school/College publications (e.g. newsletters, year books), online media (e.g. websites) and social media (e.g. Facebook, Instagram). 
 
I understand it is my responsibility to notify the school/College if I do not wish to consent to the student’s photograph/video appearing in any or all of the above, or if I wish to withdraw this authorisation and consent. Please note the student’s name and voice may be included with the photograph/video.
 
I understand the copyright of such images will be retained by the school/College, Townsville Catholic Education, the Diocese of Townsville or their contractors, and there will be no remuneration or compensation for the images.

May God Bless you and your families for the week ahead. 

Mrs Samantha Kelley,
Principal 

Deputy's News/Curriculum

Years 7–9 Canberra & Snow Trip – Learning in Action
Next week, our Year 7, 8 and 9 students are heading off to Canberra and the snow. From Monday 18 to Sunday 24 August, they’ll be visiting some of our nation’s most important institutions, exploring museums and galleries, and spending a day on the slopes at Selwyn Snow Resort.

This trip offers plenty of opportunities for students to connect what they’ve been learning in class to real-life experiences. In Canberra, they’ll step inside Parliament House, meet with our local Member (if available), take part in programs at the High Court of Australia, the Museum of Australian Democracy, and the National Electoral Education Centre. These visits will give them a firsthand look at how our democracy works and the role each of us plays in shaping it.

Our time at the National Gallery of Australia, National Museum of Australia, Australian National Botanic Gardens and Geoscience Australia will bring art, culture, science, and history to life. Students will also have the chance to explore the Australian Institute of Sport, Questacon, and the Australian War Memorial, building on their learning across STEM, health, and humanities.

The snow day at Selwyn will be a highlight – with ski and snowboard lessons, time on the slopes, and a chance to challenge themselves in a completely new environment.

Of course, there’s also room for fun – bowling, mini-golf, a trip to the zoo and aquarium, and some time for shopping. These moments help build friendships, teamwork, and resilience.

It’s a big week ahead, and we’re looking forward to seeing our students come back with new knowledge, new skills, and plenty of stories to tell.

Upcoming Pupil Free Days (Professional Development Days for Staff)
Please note the following dates for upcoming Pupil Free Days, which are designated as Professional Development Days for staff:

• Friday, 5th September
• Tuesday, 7th October

These days allow our staff to continue their professional learning, particularly around curriculum planning and best-practice teaching.

We thank you for your support and understanding.

Mr Dean Kelley
Deputy Principal - Teaching and Learning

Assistant Principal Religious Education

Dear Families,

School Fete tonight!
Being in a new school (and area!) I am so fortunate to be able to experience many firsts. This has been especially true this term with all the community events, and tonight will be no exception! Everyone here at school has been buzzing with excitement in preparation of our Fete tonight. It has been wonderful hearing the ‘fete talk’ and activities or stalls that students (and some teachers) can’t wait to dive into such as mine cart and lip syncing challenges, laser tag or the putt putt stall.  I hope I get the chance to see as much of this as possible as I float around, helping where I’m needed.

Events like our school fete are such a great way of bringing people together. In our Catholic tradition, we believe we are called to share our gifts and be part of something bigger than ourselves. Tonight will be a chance to do just that, living out our call to community and participation, one of the key principles of Catholic Social Teaching. I’m so grateful for the many hands and big hearts that have been working quietly since January to make this happen. You are the reason our school and parish family is so alive with joy. Thank you.

Alpha program
St Colman's Parish Alpha sessions are continuing on Monday nights from 5.30 - 7.30 pm in our staffroom.  The program’s purpose is to help people to understand the ways of Jesus. 

Each Alpha session includes:

• A shared meal
• A short talk on a different aspect of the Christian faith
• Time for open discussion in small groups

There’s no cost to participate, and everyone is welcome. If you are interested in joining a session, feel free to RSVP me at lnelson5@sjctsv.catholic.edu.au .

The Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady 
The Feast of the Assumption, sometimes called the Dormition of Mary, is observed on August 15, and is one of the Church’s Holy Days of Obligation.  

This celebration is founded in the belief that Mary, because of her special bond with Jesus, was spared the usual process of death and was instead taken body and soul into the presence of God in heaven.

The Assumption was officially proclaimed as a dogma of faith by Pope Pius XII in 1950. In earlier times, many communities marked the day with processions, carrying images or statues of Mary, followed by joyful celebrations of the Eucharist.  This feast draws our attention to Mary’s vital place in God’s plan of salvation and reminds us of the promise that we, too, are called to eternal life with God.

Mary holds a treasured place in our faith tradition, and we honour her through countless prayers and hymns offered in her name.

Sacramental Program - First Reconciliation commencing Term 4
St Joseph’s School and St Colman’s Parish will hold a First Reconciliation program next term. The program will include 2–3 consecutive preparation sessions to help students deepen their understanding of this special sacrament. Families who are interested are invited to email me at lnelson5@sjctsv.catholic.edu.au to express their interest. An information session for families will be held in the church at a date and time to be advised.

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

Date                  Mass             Time           Presider

 August 17, 2025     Sunday Mass       8.30 am           Fr Mick Lowcock 

                             Children’s Liturgy this Sunday!

August 24, 2025      Sunday Mass       8.30 am           Fr Nnaemeka Njezi 

August 31,2025       Sunday Mass        8.30 am           Fr Mick Lowcock

Sept.  7, 2025            Sunday Mass        8.30 am           Fr Mick Lowcock

Sep. 13, 2025             Youth Mass         5.30 pm           Fr Will Brennan

Sept 14, 2025            Sunday Mass        8.30 am          Fr Will Brennan

God Bless, 

Ms Lei Nelson
Assistant Principal - Religious Education 

Pastoral Care

Bullying No Way
This week, St Joseph’s joined schools nationwide in celebrating Bullying No Way Week (11–15 August), focusing on the theme “Be bold. Be kind. Speak up.” The week began with the whole school gathering in the Mary MacKillop Shed to explore what the theme means in our daily lives, encouraging small, positive actions like including others, showing kindness, and speaking up against unkind behaviour. The students watched a video on what bullying is and continued the learning throughout the week in their classrooms. Students engaged in activities that promoted empathy, celebrated diversity, challenged stereotypes, and built positive relationships, while also learning how to seek help and support one another. Families are encouraged to continue these conversations at home as part of our shared commitment to ensuring every child feels safe, respected, and included every day.

Homework Club
This term, while RockPop rehearsals are running, Homework Club will operate a little differently.

A large number of our Upper Middle Years (UMY) students are involved in Rock Pop, so once a fortnight during Pastoral Care time, students will be given an opportunity to work on any homework they have. Students not participating in RockPop are still welcome to stay for Homework Club. However, depending on the supervising staff member, it may be held in the shed.

Best regards,

Miss Hannah McCall
Pastoral Leader

Youth Ministry

It’s a privilege to share with you the life and spirit of our Youth Ministry over the past fortnight– moments of prayer, learning, service, and community that continue to strengthen our faith and connection as a school family.

Year 4 Retreat – My Community and Me
Last week, our Year 4 students took part in their retreat, exploring the theme My Community and Me. Through games, Scripture, and reflective activities, students discovered more about the gifts they bring to their communities and how they can help build the Body of Christ. Their energy, enthusiasm, and willingness to engage with a new experience made the day a great success.

School and Community Prayer
We were delighted to recommence our school and community prayer gatherings this week. A wonderful number of participants joined us in the library before school to pause, reflect, and begin the day in prayer. It was a simple but uplifting way to connect with one another and prepare for the day ahead. We look forward to continuing these prayer opportunities across the term.

Children’s Liturgy – This Sunday, 17 August
A warm reminder that our next Children’s Liturgy will be held during the 8:30am Parish Mass this Sunday. Children are invited to join in a special session where we will hear the Gospel, explore its meaning in an interactive way, and share in prayer together. This week’s Gospel challenges us to live courageously for what is right, even when it’s not easy — a great theme for our young people to reflect on.

Dressed by Vinnies Day – Clothing Drive & Stall
We are excited to launch our Dressed by Vinnies Day appeal over the coming weeks! From now until Week 9, each classroom will have a donation tub where families can drop off suitable clothing items for all ages.

Our Mini Vinnies and S.I.A. students will work together to sort through the clothing, organise it into categories, and prepare it for our special Dressed by Vinnies Stall in Week 9. The stall will run at first lunch on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, with all individual items priced under $5

The final day of term will be our official Dressed by Vinnies Day, where students are encouraged to wear something they’ve purchased from the stall — proudly showing their support for the great work of St Vincent de Paul.

All money raised will go directly to supporting the work of Vinnies in our community. Thank you for your generosity!

Year 3 Retreat – Week 7
Looking ahead, our Year 3 students will gather for their retreat in Week 7, exploring the theme Our Human Dignity. Together, they will reflect on how we are all created in God’s image and called to love one another. Using Scripture, students will consider Jesus’ call to care for the poor and disadvantaged, and how respect for the dignity of every person is central to our lives as Christians.

Yours in faith, hope and service.

Mrs Rachel Delaney-Lovett
Acting Youth Ministry Middle Leader

Library News

📚 Premier’s Reading Challenge 📚

There's still time to join the 2025 Premier’s Reading Challenge! Students have until Friday, 22 August 2025 to complete their reading record.

The Challenge is all about fostering a love for reading, whether it's for learning or pleasure. Students can record a variety of books they've read, including:

• 📖 Books borrowed from the library
• 🏠 Home readers
• 🎧 Audiobooks
• 📚 Books read during lunch breaks or library lessons
• 📖 Books read to them (Prep – Year 2)
• 📘 Books read on Accelerated Reader

Even if a student hasn't finished the Challenge but has read and recorded some books, they are encouraged to still submit their reader record form. Every bit of reading counts!

Let's keep reading and make the most of the remaining weeks!

Book Week 2025
Please join us for our Book Week Parade on Tuesday 26 August at 8:40am in the primary quad! We can't wait to see all your amazing costumes. The possibilities are endless. 

Miss Jamie-Lea McConachy
Librarian

Prep

Dear Families,

I cannot believe we are halfway through the term again!

This week during our explicit literacy block, we learned three new digraphs: ‘qu’ as in queen, ‘sh’ as in shell and ‘ee’ as in tree. Our Little Leaders had a blast identifying these sounds in words, practicing their pronunciation, and even writing them down. We also introduced four new Tricky Words – these are words that don’t always follow regular spelling rules and need to be remembered by sight: call, all, ball, little.

Looking ahead to Week 6 and 7 will learn the letter z and the corresponding sound as well as ch, v, x and y. The Tricky Words focus will be go, so, no, this and then. 

In math we will begin a new unit of work on measurement. Our Little Leaders will begin to identify and compare attributes of objects and events, including length, capacity, mass and duration, using direct comparisons and communicating reasoning. 

Reminders:

Monday: 

• Mrs Jill Smith will take our little learners for music in Period 5.

Tuesday: 

• Miss Borlase will take our students for Sport in Period 5, Sport uniform

Wednesday:

•  Miss Pucciarmati will take our Prep students for Technology in Period 5. 
•  Coloured house shirts
•  Readers and library books are to be returned so they can be re-issued. 

Thursday: 

• Mrs McConachy will be the classroom teacher

Friday: 

• Every second Friday we will have an assembly at the Mary MacKillop Shed (Week 6,8,10)

A gentle reminder for the Children’s Liturgy on Sunday 17 August. It’s a special time where young people can hear the Sunday message in a way that’s easy to understand and fun to be part of. There’ll be stories, activities, and a chance to share together before rejoining the Mass. All children are welcome, we hope to see you there!

Literacy Rotations will continue from Monday to Thursday, 9:00 to 9:30 am. We would love to welcome parent helpers during these sessions. If you're available to support, please let me know. Your help truly makes a difference.

Yours in fun and learning,

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

Year 1

Hello Parents and Carers,

How crazy to think we are halfway through the term already!

This week in English, we’ve begun writing recounts based on the special memories that students brought to share. It has been wonderful to see the children light up as they tell the stories behind their chosen object or photo, and they are now learning how to bring those moments to life in their writing.

In Maths, we’ve been exploring measurement and have now moved into place value, focusing on tens and ones. Each maths session begins with our “Number of the Day” worksheet, which gives students the chance to practise a range of skills. 

Our science projects are going brilliantly! Our plants are thriving thanks to the students’ careful watering and care, and our chicken family has now grown to 15 fluffy members—with the exciting possibility of two ducks joining us soon. Students were thrilled to have the chance to hold the chickens this week, which was definitely a highlight.

In Health, we have been exploring the idea of identity—what makes each of us unique. Students have been reflecting on their own qualities and the positive traits they see in their friends, helping to build both self-awareness and kindness in our classroom community.

Here are some photos from the past 2 weeks:

Reminders 

• Homework is to be returned on Thursdays to go back out on Fridays. 
• Library Monday’s 

Children’s Liturgy – Sunday 17 August
A gentle reminder for the Children’s Liturgy on Sunday 17 August. It’s a special time where young people can hear the Sunday message in a way that’s easy to understand and fun to be part of. There’ll be stories, activities, and a chance to share together before rejoining the Mass. All children are welcome, we hope to see you there!

Have a wonderful week,

Miss Erin Haley and the always fun Year 1’s

Year 2

Dear Parents and Carers, 

Welcome to week 5! 

Over the past two weeks, we have continued our focus on informational texts in English. Students have been working collaboratively to explore topics, gather facts, and complete fact files. Using this information, each group created an engaging informational poster to share their learning.

In Mathematics, our focus has been on addition and subtraction strategies. Over the coming weeks, we will begin exploring multiplication and division, building on the skills students have already developed.

In Science, students have been investigating different materials and their properties. They will soon take part in a range of hands-on investigations and experiments to see how the different materials can be changed in different situations.

In HASS, we have continued exploring the theme of Then and Now, looking closely at how advances in technology have brought about changes in our daily lives.

In Religion, our focus has been on God’s Creation and the sacredness of the world around us, encouraging students to reflect on how we can care for and respect it.

Reminders:

• Homework is given out on Thursday and to be brought back the following Thursday. 
• Children’s Liturgy on Sunday 17 August. It’s a special time where young people can hear the Sunday message in a way that’s easy to understand and fun to be part of. There’ll be stories, activities, and a chance to share together before rejoining the Mass. 

Miss Tess Motti

Year 3

Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome to Week 5! Year 3 has been hard at work and we are making great progress across all learning areas.

In English, we have continued the reading of Nerra. To make the novel study manageable and enjoyable, we have broken the assessment into bite-sized sections and are steadily working through them. We encourage you to chat with your learners about the book—have them retell the story in their own words, share their thoughts about the characters, and explore interesting vocabulary together. Alongside our reading, we are also investigating language features such as onomatopoeia, homophones, and past tense verbs.

In Mathematics, our focus remains on multiplication and division. We are aiming to hold our assessment in Week 6, so please keep supporting your learners by encouraging practice on IXL, revising times tables, and building skip-counting skills wherever possible.

In Science, our exploration of heat and energy is heating up—pun intended! We are currently learning about conductors and insulators, and will soon move into studying convection.

Our HASS studies have deepened our understanding of Indonesia as one of Australia’s neighbouring countries. We are now moving towards the next part of our assessment, which will focus on settlement types and patterns, as well as different types of structures.

In Health, we have been looking at how health information is communicated. Learners have been identifying key words and phrases on food and product packaging, discussing why this information is useful, and considering whether it can be trusted.

In Religion, we are still hard at work exploring the Ten Commandments and reflecting on the guidance they provide in our daily lives. We are also looking closely at how these commandments connect to, and support, the principles of human rights for all people.

It’s been a busy and productive start to the term, and we’re excited for all the learning still to come in the weeks ahead.

Children’s Liturgy – Sunday 17 August
A gentle reminder for the Children’s Liturgy on Sunday 17 August. It’s a special time where young people can hear the Sunday message in a way that’s easy to understand and fun to be part of. There’ll be stories, activities, and a chance to share together before rejoining the Mass. All children are welcome, we hope to see you there!

Warm regards,

Mrs Deirdre Koekemoer, Mrs Sharon McLauchlan, Miss Sonnie, and Miss Abbie.
The Year 3 Teaching Team

Year 4

Good morning everyone and welcome to Fete Week!

I’m looking forward to seeing you at the Fete. Be sure to stop by and test your skills at our mini putt-putt — you might even score a hole in one!

Religion- We have just completed our unit on Christian communities. As part of the unit the students created a class diorama about life in first-century Palestine (the early Christian church). They put a lot of thought into creating this and drew on the ideas we had investigated, considering the important aspects of this Christian community. Here are some snaps of our creation.

English- This week we have been looking at the narrative structure and how to improve on our writing by including figurative language and showing how a character is feeling, rather than just stating their feelings. We have also looked at hooks, ways to start your story to draw your reader in, and have practised writing these.

Science- In Science we used a ball of wool and producer, consumer and decomposer cards to create rather intricate food webs. We also identified apex predators, animals who had no predators and were at the top of the food web.

Children’s Liturgy – Sunday 17 August
A gentle reminder for the Children’s Liturgy on Sunday 17 August. It’s a special time where young people can hear the Sunday message in a way that’s easy to understand and fun to be part of. There’ll be stories, activities, and a chance to share together before rejoining the Mass. All children are welcome, we hope to see you there!

Have a wonderful week!

Mrs Lesley Wall

Year 5

Hi Year 5 Parents and Carers,

This week in Maths, we wrapped up our learning on rounding and estimation. The students showed great persistence and understanding, and we’re now getting ready to dive into financial maths and mathematical modelling. These real-life scenarios are always engaging and help students see how maths is used in everyday decisions.

In Writing, we’ve been focusing on the skill of paraphrasing. The students are learning how to take key information and put it into their own words – a valuable step as we continue working towards creating our own informative texts later in the term.

In Religion, we’ve been learning about the fruits of the Holy Spirit and discussing how we can show these qualities in our everyday lives. In Science, we’ve been fascinated by the many amazing ways plants and animals adapt to survive in their environments.

Reminders

• Tuesday: The Arts with Miss Jill, Technologies with Miss P, and HASS with Mr Grehan
• Wednesday: Sport with Miss B and HASS with Mr Grehan
• Thursday: Health with Miss Humes
• Friday: Instead of Japanese, students will now participate in a Pastoral Care lesson with Miss McCall during Term 3. 

Children’s Liturgy – Sunday 17 August
A gentle reminder for the Children’s Liturgy on Sunday 17 August. It’s a special time where young people can hear the Sunday message in a way that’s easy to understand and fun to be part of. There’ll be stories, activities, and a chance to share together before rejoining the Mass. All children are welcome, we hope to see you there!

Have a great week,

Miss Leonie Ansell

Year 6

Dear Families,

During our English lessons, we have been investigating evidence to support our arguments. We have watched clips from Bad Guys to identify evidence that proves they were innocent. This leads nicely into our supporting evidence to support why e-scooters may not be a good thing or why animals should not be caged in zoos. Our writing focuses on persuasive arguments written as Lawyer Paragraphs - state your opinion, why it matters, evidence (quotes, facts and specifics to support your opinion) before closing the paragraph with a Power Sentence (sum it up). 

In spelling, we have been investigating the t and tt graphemes for the [t] sound/phoneme - we investigate certain other unusual graphemes like [pt] in the word receipt and [bt] in subtle. Looking at synonyms (words which have the same/similar meaning) and antonyms (opposite meanings) and researching words with the suffix -ment (changing the word meaning to act or result of) and the Latin Roots (origins of words) ject (meaning throw), fact/fect (meaning make/do). Words have developed over time and many have origins from Latin base words - project (meaning to throw forwards) and manufacture (meaning to make goods).

In Mathematics learning, we have continued to investigate perimeter and area; solving problems with measurement of the two dimensions - length and width. Perimeter being calculated by addition of all the side lengths around a shape (brief discussion about circles having a circumference which can be measured with string). For area, our work mainly focuses on rectangles and squares where multiplication strategies are used to calculate length multiplied by width. Completing this work has allowed us to continue to practice multiplication and place value - with multiplication of simple decimals. At home, your child could continue to investigate Unit BB in IXL - which continues their practice of decimal multiplication and problem solving where they may be given the perimeter and need to calculate one of the dimensions or the area.

Our class will be organising the Silent Disco for the Fete tonight. The students have been given time slots to support this activity, we have tried to make sure students have plenty of time to visit all the other events too (some have signed up for two time slots - which is very kind of them).

Looking forward to seeing you all tonight at our Fete, please come over to say hello.

Reminders:
Children’s Liturgy – Sunday 17 August
A gentle reminder for the Children’s Liturgy on Sunday 17 August. It’s a special time where young people can hear the Sunday message in a way that’s easy to understand and fun to be part of. There’ll be stories, activities, and a chance to share together before rejoining the Mass. All children are welcome, we hope to see you there!

Have a great week,

Mr Mike Tarleton and Mr Larry Cullen

UMY Subject Spotlight

HASS with Miss P
Dear Parents and Guardians,

Welcome to Term 3! In HASS (Humanities and Social Sciences), students in Years 7, 8, and 9 will be exploring the fascinating world of Geography. 

Year 7 - Water in the World and Place & Liveability
Students will examine water as a resource, exploring its availability, distribution, uses, and importance. They’ll consider issues of water scarcity, management, and sustainability both in Australia and globally. Later in the term, students will shift focus to liveability, assessing how people’s access to services and environmental quality affects the places where they live.

Year 8 - Landscapes & Landforms and Changing Nations
Year 8 students will begin with an exploration of landscapes and landforms, investigating the processes that shape them and the significance of landforms to people, particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. The second half of the term will focus on urbanisation and population movement, both within Australia and globally.

Year 9 - Biomes & Food Security and Interconnections
Students will start the term studying biomes and their use for food production. They’ll assess challenges to food security including climate, technology, and economic factors. The term continues with a focus on global interconnections, analysing how people, goods, ideas, and information move around the world and how this affects people and places.

Skills Across All Year Levels:
Throughout the term, students will develop important geographical inquiry skills, including:

• Formulating geographical questions
  
  
• Interpreting maps, graphs, and spatial data
  
  
• Evaluating sources and proposing sustainable solutions

How You Can Support Learning at Home:

• Discuss current environmental or geographical issues in the news
  
  
• Encourage your child to explore Google Earth or mapping tools
  
  
• Watch documentaries or news stories related to natural disasters, food production, or global trade
  

We’re looking forward to an engaging term helping students understand the complex and dynamic world they live in. 

Warm regards,

Miss Lisa Pucciarmati
Humanities Teacher

Pastoral Care with Ms McCall

This term, our pastoral care program is all about connection, growth, and practical life skills.

Year 7 & 8
With two lessons each week, students are exploring social skills, teamwork, study habits, and camp preparation. Activities include group discussions, games, and cooperative challenges that help build communication, empathy, problem-solving, and organisation. Student voice is a big focus—our program will be shaped by their ideas and interests to ensure each lesson is engaging and relevant.

Year 9
Our Year 9 program is centred on identity, values, and preparing for the transition to senior schooling. Students will take part in “real talk” conversations, team-building activities, and problem-solving challenges that encourage reflection and collaboration. We’ll also begin looking ahead to subject choices, responsibilities, and personal goals for next year.

Across all year levels, pastoral time is designed to be positive, practical, and student-led—giving every student the chance to contribute, connect, and grow.

Sport & Extra-Curricular Spotlight Rodeo Achievements

We have had some amazing sporting achievements over the past few weeks. Two weeks ago Michael Curley, Archer Avery, and Noah Courtney travelled to Brisbane to compete in 10-12yrs Soccer State Championships. Over the four days the boys played 8 games. Noah, Archer and Michael not only got to captain some of the games, but all boys received man of the match throughout the tournament. 

Also a big congratulations to Samuel Pavy who has just travelled to Longreach for North West cricket and to Michael Curley who has been away this week competing in Touch Football. 

Mount Isa Rodeo and other Regional Events:
In recent weeks, several of our students have proudly represented St Joseph’s Catholic School at the Cloncurry and Mount Isa Rodeos and other regional events.

We congratulate Chilla, Rowell, Levi, Linkin, Quentin, and Georgia on their fantastic efforts and commitment. These events require skill, preparation, and perseverance, and our students have shown all three in abundance.

Quentin and Georgia both competed strongly in the barrel racing, with Quentin achieving 1st place in the District Barrel Race and 2nd place in the Destiny Downs Barrel Race at the Cloncurry Rodeo – a wonderful result.

Linkin also excelled, placing 2nd in the Mini Bulls at the Cloncurry Rodeo.

A special mention goes to Chilla and Rowell, who were selected to take part in the Mini Bulls – International Youth Challenge, an event bringing together young riders from Australia, New Zealand, and the USA. As part of the tour, Chilla placed 3rd in the Mount Isa Rodeo, and Rowell placed 3rd in the Richmond Rodeo. They will now travel to Townsville to take part in the North Queensland Elite Rodeo – we wish them every success.

We would also like to recognise former student Bronzon Mara-Skellern, who achieved 1st place in the Junior Bull Ride at the Mount Isa Rodeo and 1st place in the Junior Steer Ride at the Cloncurry Rodeo.

We are proud of all our students, both past and present, who continue to challenge themselves, represent our school community with pride, and show persistence in pursuing their goals.

Miss Mairin Borlase
Sport and Extra Curricular Co-ordinator

TONIGHT - Copper & Cattle FETE 2025

🎉 St Joseph’s Cloncurry School & Parish Fete – Friday 15th August! 🎉

At the fete some of the stalls will require a ticket card to purchase items (which are available this week from our front office or can be purchased on the night), while others will accept cash or eftpos. An explanation has been included below to hopefully make this easier on the night. 

Ticket Cards must be used at:

• The Bar
• The Kitchen (serving Spag Bol and Mediterranean CousCous)
• The BBQ (serving Steak Burgers and Sausages on Bread)
• Asian Food Stall (serving spring rolls, sweet and sour chicken, rice and noodles)
• Non-alcoholic drink stand
• Class Stalls (pluck a duck, bottle stall, fairy floss, helium balloons, glow sticks, mini putt putt, silent disco, laser tag, and fossicking)
• Jumping Castle
• Mechanical Bull
• Beat the Goalie
• Ringers Rally 
• Plant Stall 

Cash, Tickets, and Eftpos accepted at:

• Cent Sale
• The Bar
• Trade Mutt Shirts Stall

Cash and Eftpos (if available) accepted at Community Stalls:

• Country Blends
• Hair with Sammie
• Hayleigh's Handmade Creations
• Billie & Me
• Dessert stall
• KA Mobile Cafe
• Curry Spice  
• Watercolour Paintings
• One Stone Crow Creations
• Mt Isa Beehive
• Local beads stall
  

Community Notices