Term 1 l Week 9 Newsletter

Key Information

• Parent Teacher Interviews - Tuesday 22nd March & Wednesday 23rd March. 
• Year 7 Immunisations - Tuesday 22nd March. 
• NAPLAN Practice Test (Year 3, 5, 7 & 9) - Thursday 24th March  10.30 - 11.30am
• National Ride to School Day - Friday 25th March.
• Children's Mass - Sunday 27th March - 8.30am. All Welcome. 
• Last Day of Term - Thursday 31st March
• School Holiday Period - Friday 1st April to Monday 18th April
• Term 2 Commences - Tuesday 19th April 

Tuckshop Menu:

Thank you to all volunteers who help each week! If you wish to volunteer or contribute to Tuckshop in any way, please contact the office or see Miss Jamie-Lea. All volunteers must complete a volunteer induction package. 

Uniform Shop

As advertised, all uniform items with the old logo are being sold at 50% off normal price. There are limited sizes as shown. If ordering online your discount will be applied when you collect your order from the Uniform Shop or office.

Uniform Shop Days:

• Monday 2.30-3pm
• Thursday: 8:10am-8:30am

Any requests for uniforms outside these days MUST be done via the link below. 

Principal News

Welcome to Week 9, 

It is hard to believe that our first term of 2022 is drawing to a close. 

Thank you to our friends and family members that joined us at our Opening Mass and St Joseph’s Feast Day last week. It was an amazing opportunity to come together as a schooling community and celebrate the beginning of a new school year and the work of St Joseph. I would like to thank Mrs Therese Curley (Assistant Principal of Religious Education) for the work that she put into the day. It was fantastic. 

Harmony Day:
This week we celebrate Harmony Day (official day was yesterday - Monday 21st March). On Harmony Day we focus on fostering inclusiveness and respect. The theme for 2022 is ‘everyone belongs’, which is certainly true at St Joseph’s Catholic School. At St Joseph’s we are proud of our foundations. It is clear that we remain committed to Mary MacKillop’s vision for Catholic education instituted many years ago. We are a place of welcome, open to all. 

Parent Teacher Interviews:
Our first round of Parent Teacher Interviews start this afternoon (Tuesday 22nd March) from 3 to 6pm and again tomorrow evening. In my speech on Friday morning I spoke about the importance of us all coming together to make our school the best possible place for our students and families, and this is only achieved through partnership. Research demonstrates that effective schools with high engagement and academic outcomes also have high levels of parent engagement and community involvement. This involvement is strongly related to improved learning, attendance and behaviour.

As parents and carers you are the first and most influential teacher in your child’s life. Parent Teacher Interviews are a perfect way for us to join together in unity for the benefit of both your own child/children but also for all children at St Joseph’s Catholic School. Please know that this partnership and involvement extends far beyond Parent Teacher Interviews. If you would like to come into the school to join in on reading groups, literacy or numeracy rotations, or lunch time activities we would love to hear from you - please contact your child’s classroom teacher or the office. 

COVID-19 & Illness:
As mentioned via email and the previous newsletter we will be communicating COVID-19 cases each week in the newsletter. This will replace the emails that were previously sent home as an alert. This week we have had 9 close contacts and 6 positive cases of COVID-19 in the schooling community. 

Enjoy the week ahead and I look forward to seeing you all in the Mary MacKillop Shed on Friday morning at 8.40am for our weekly assembly. 

God Bless, 

Samantha Kelley
Principal

APRE News

Welcome to week 9! Last Friday we celebrated our Beginning of Year Mass and St Joseph's Feast day. Thank you to the families who joined with us to share in our gathering. Fr Mick and Fr Emene delivered a lovely mass that was followed by rotations centered around St Joseph. I have included photos below.. 

This week I am preparing Holy Week activities for the whole school to engage in during week 10. Students will participate in 4 rotations over the week to gain a deeper perspective and understanding of the events that led up to Jesus' dying on the cross and the whole reason why we celebrate Easter… The resurrection of Jesus.

What is Holy Week? 
Holy Week is an important time for Christians throughout the world. Holy Week, the final week of Lent, begins on Palm Sunday, the Sunday before Easter. Holy Week is a time when Catholics gather to remember and participate in the Passion of Jesus Christ. The Passion was the final period of Christ’s life in Jerusalem. It spans from when He arrived in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday to when He was crucified on Good Friday. Holy week is celebrated over the last week of our holidays this year. 

This Sunday we will host a Children’s Mass. An email was sent out today gaining interest from parents for the students who are able to attend and participate. Everyone is welcome to join us for this special gathering. We will have a morning tea after mass so please bring a plate to share.

Notices:

• Children’s Mass: This Sunday 27th March. All children are welcome. Morning tea to follow - please bring a plate to share.
• Alpha Program: will not be on this week, we will share in a morning tea after the children mass and then Fr Mick will meet with our RCIA candidates.

Therese Curley
APRE

Pastoral Care

Student Representative Council (SRC)

Last Tuesday was the first SRC meeting for our newly elected class representatives. The meeting was full of great discussion on improvements to school life. Congratulations to the following students on being elected by their peers to the SRC:

• Prep: Clare Ballard and Gideon Laffey
• Year 1: Adeline Campbell and Kruz Swalling
• Year 2: Gemma Pratt and Max Battle 
• Year 3: Indi Daniels and Mia Walden
• Year 4:Peggie Hansen and Ryan Harrison
• Year 5:Hannah Lawlor and Reese Logan
• Year 6: Kate Macnamara and Kayden Sala
• Year 7: Kimberlee Davis and Ruby King
• Year 8: Harry Douglas and Jack McIntyre
• Year 9: Breanna Harrison and Latarnia Sollitt
• Chairpersons: Faith Douglas and Chloe Savage

SchoolTV Edition: Physical Activity and Exercise 
In the last decade, children’s participation in physical activity and exercise has been in decline. In this digital age, children are using computers and mobile devices, not only for learning, but for relaxation and recreation purposes. This sedentary lifestyle is having a detrimental effect on today’s youth. The key is finding the balance.

Research shows that regular physical activity and exercise leads to changes in the brain. It improves cognitive function, elevates mood, enhances learning and improves academic outcomes. Playing sport helps kids develop fundamental movement skills impacting positively on their confidence, self-esteem and ability to develop social skills. Parents play an important role in helping children establish positive habits that will benefit their children in the long-term.

In this edition of SchoolTV, parents will discover practical advice relating to the benefits of regular physical activity and exercise, as well as tips on how to get their kids motivated and moving more.

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 Pastoral Care Leader, Toni Schneekloth, or Guidance Counsellor, Bec Greaves, for further information or seek medical or professional help.

Here is the link to the Physical Activity & Exercise edition of SchoolTV

https://sjctsv.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/physical-activity-exercise

National Ride2School Day - Friday 25th March 2022

Join us this Friday by 7.50am to ride, skate, scoot or walk to school! We will meet at Florence Clark Park on Scarr Street, travelling down Sheaffe St to St Joseph’s. National Ride2School Day is Australia’s biggest celebration of active travel, where students, teachers and parents discover the joy of riding and can kick-start healthy habits for the future.

Toni Schneekloth
Pastoral Leader

Prep

I cannot believe that it is almost school holidays!

I am looking forward to seeing some of you at parent teacher interviews this week.  

For those of you who have students who are unable to attend school next week, our focus will continue to be on the letter sounds, "m", "s", "t", "a", and "p". We will be doing activities on Sunshine Online for these letters during Literacy Groups this week. If your child is not going to be at school they could login to Sunshine online and complete the activities. The login details were emailed at the start of the year. In math we will continue focusing on numbers to 20. 

Literacy groups will start up again next week and any help will be appreciated. 

In science we will complete the sausage sizzle experiment which we did not do last week due to low numbers. During HASS the class will be exploring celebrations and identifying their favourite celebration.

Thank you to those of you who have brought boxes in for us to use at the craft table. We cannot keep up with the amount being used!

Reminders:

• Wednesday: Tuckshop orders are due in.
• Thursday: Library and tuckshop
• Friday: Sport
• Last Day of School ( Thursday the 31st March): Easter Bonnet parade. 

Get creative and send your child in with their Easter Bonnets/Hats.  

Yours in fun and learning,

Mrs McLauchlan and Miss Tamara

Year 1

Hello Year 1 parents and caregivers,

Welcome to Week 9!

It is so lovely to see so many of our class members back. This term  seems to have flown by!

Mrs Chaplain has asked to have library books in on Wednesday so they can be checked in and ready for the holidays.

This week we are learning:

• Mathematics: We are revising counting to and from 100 and are locating numbers on a number line.
• HASS: We are completing our assessment task and are looking at how people and places change over time.
• English: We are learning how to write sentences using the colourful semantics structure of who?, doing?, what?, where?

Reminders:

This week is Week A!

• Parent Teacher Interviews: Parent teacher interviews are Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon.
• Sport: Friday with Mr Murray.
• Library: Thursday, please send your child’s library bag into school.
• Homework: Please bring back on Wednesday to be sent out thursday.
• Life Education: Healthy Harold will be coming to visit Year 1 on Monday next week. Please sign and return the note sent home this afternoon by Friday.

Have lovely week, 

Miss Mae-Louise Brock

Year 2

Hi all,

We have Healthy Harold coming to pay us a visit next week!! We will be working with him to explore what health messages mean, identify safety signs, recognise how physical activity and nutrition contribute to a healthy lifestyle and look at how positive relationships benefit our health and wellbeing.

This week we are learning:

• English: Character comparisons. Our tricky words are: caught, who, people
• Maths: Count to 1000
• Religion: God’s nature, Lent
• Science: Mixtures
• HASS: Then and Now
• Health: Keeping ourselves healthy and safe

Reminders:

Week A

• Monday: Sport
• Thursday: Library
• Homework due Friday

Week B

• Tuesday: Sport
• Wednesday: Library
• Homework due Friday

Have a great week!

Miss Ansell

Year 3

Hi everyone,

The learning highlights for Year 3 this week are:

• English: in our reading and writing lessons we are exploring a book called ‘I’m Australian Too’ by Mem Fox. We will revise our colourful sentences (who + doing + what + where) and the different sentence types (statement, command, question and exclamation) in preparation for our assessment task next week. In spelling we are looking at the sound i (as in igloo).
• Maths: we will look at the way three numbers can make two addition and two subtraction facts and how these are called ‘fact families’.
• Science: we will learn about what a ‘prediction’ is and practice making predictions about scientific investigations. 
• HASS: we will learn about the importance of Harmony Day and look at how it is celebrated and commemorated in Australia.
• Religion: we will learn the prayer ‘The Breastplate of St Patrick’ and discuss the ways in which it expresses important messages about God’s relationship with his people.

Have a great week ahead!

Miss Suzannah Coombs

Year 4

Hi Everyone,

I am really looking forward to seeing you all at our parent-teacher interviews this afternoon and tomorrow afternoon. This is a valuable time to discuss your child’s progress and how we can work together to ensure the best learning and social outcomes.

MATHS- This week we are focussing on multiplication and division and when to apply each in word problems. I am really encouraging students to think logically about the number story and whether the answer will be a bigger number than the numbers given or a smaller number. We will also be learning how to relate our multiplication facts to the corresponding division facts.

ENGLISH- We are working on our narrative assessment piece this week which is to write a new chapter for the novel, ‘The Twits’. Students have decided on their nasty trick that one of the characters will be planning and will also be expected to illustrate their chapter to add to the humour.

EXCITING NEWS- Next week, and for the first four weeks of next term, we will be welcoming a student teacher who is doing her final placement. Miss Susie Brodie currently works at St Patrick’s Winton as a school officer, so she has plenty of experience working in the classroom. This will be a wonderful opportunity for us to provide more targeted assistance to our Year 4 students.

Have a lovely week!

Lesley Wall

Year 5

Week 9 is here already!

• English: Students will publish their narratives for submission on Wednesday. Adequate time will be given for students that have missed days. We will continue to work through our regular literacy activities.
• Math: This week we will continue to revise topics from this term. Students will complete a summative assessment task on Friday.
• HASS:  This week students will take a trip back in time to Ballarat in the 1850’s and imagine what life on the goldfields would have been like.
• Health: Students will continue our ‘Healthy Habits’ unit and prepare for our visit from Healthy Harold next week.

Homework: Week 9 is our last week of homework this term. Well done to everyone who keeps handing their homework in. 

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy week!

Alastair Fraser

Year 6

Welcome to Week 9!

I am so impressed with the students’ enthusiasm and willingness to jump right into their assessment tasks!

Our learning focuses for this week:

• Religion: We are learning about the first book of Samuel and key messages from the prophets. 
• English: By the end of this week the students will have a draft version of their diary entry from the point of view of a chosen Holes character written.
• Mathematics: We will be concluding our learning of integers with some revision before assessing. We move into solving problems involving angles for the remainder of the term and even early next term.
• HaSS: We have learnt about the factors that cause poverty and the geographical diversity of Asia and the students are making some final adjustments to their proposal slideshows. We are now moving into one of the effects of poverty - migration!
• Science: Students will be coming home this week with their Science Assignment.   Students will have the hard copy and will have two lessons allocated to begin researching information to include in their posters. It is due next Thursday, 31st March. Parents and caregivers are more than welcome to participate and help with design, sourcing information and fact checking.

A reminder that Physical Education is Week A Tuesday & Week B Monday. Library is Week A Wednesday & Week B Thursday. 

Keep checking in with students to see if they have homework and to sign their diaries - great practice for high school!

Have a blessed week!

Mr. Delaney & The Year 6 Legends

Year 9 Food Technology

Foods from around the Globe - what a delicious unit to be studying! 

Our Year 9’s have been on a culinary tour of some of the cuisine on offer around the world - learning techniques and flavour combinations that make that cuisine unique.  Their designed solution has been to create a modern Australian food item with a ‘hot’ twist to be sold at our school fete!

To arrive at a suitable creation, the Year 9s have had to undergo the design process to ensure that they meet all the requirements of the design brief from the given scenario.  Stay tuned for next week’s newsletter to see photos of the masterpieces!  

Mrs Toni Schneekloth

Year 9 History

This Term in History students have learnt all about WWI. Our Year 9 cohort have looked at patterns of change and continuity over time, referring to:

• key events of WWI and
• the actions of individuals and groups

Students have worked on sequencing of events and development of different kinds of questions to frame a historical inquiry when researching. Students looked at the reasons (both long and short term) for the beginning of WWI.

The term will finish with an exam, students will be given the opportunity to show everything they have learnt throughout the year so far. 

Mr Dean Kelley

Year 7/8 Physical Education

In Health & Physical Education, students have engaged in a variety of learning experiences about food and healthy eating. Students have investigated the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating and used the guide to analyse food products and promote the health and wellbeing of individuals and others. 

Students have been applying personal and social skills to establish and maintain respectful relationships that promote fair play and inclusivity. They have participated in a variety of modified sports, including European Handball and Netball. They apply and refine movement concepts and strategies to suit different movement situations in the games.

Mr Scott Murray

NAPLAN

Hi Parents and Carers, 

The practice test for NAPLAN is coming up this Thursday the 24th of March. 

The test will not record students' names or their results. It’s sole purpose is to familiarise students with the software. This is also a great way to not only test the school’s domain and compatibility with student’s devices, but will minimise the uncertainty or stress for students in May when they sit the NAPLAN tests.

The practice test will take place at 10:30am and finish at 11:30am. Students' lunch breaks will be adjusted accordingly on the day of the practice test. 

Kind Regards, 

Mr Dean Kelley

Parent-Teacher Interviews

Thank you to the parents and carers that have joined us for Parent Teacher Interviews. Please note that the portal is now closed. If you haven't been able to make a booking, but would like to meet with your child's teacher please contact them directly to arrange this. 

Library

Hello to Everyone,

I can’t believe we are in week 9 already.

We have had rather a crazy term this term but hopefully, everyone will be over COVID and we can back into our normal routine.

Library has gone well this term. If you could remind your children that they must have a library bag to be able to borrow books as a book protection strategy.

Prep students can borrow 2 books a week and the rest of the school can borrow up to 4 books.

I also received this information about Story Box: 
This could be good news for the holidays.
Drum roll please…the first ever StoryBox app is here!
Free to download (with an active subscription) onto Apple and Android devices, a world
of stories is now even easier to access.

Download the StoryBox app now, featuring:

 Over 400 diverse stories, with new stories added regularly
 Quick and easy search filters and playlist functions
 Language learning and audio-visual support, including closed-captioning
 Individual profile settings for parents and children for family subscribers

Mrs Chris Chaplain 

Teacher Librarian 

Student Wellbeing

As we get closer to the school holidays it is important to take some time to consider how the change in daily routine may affect our young people.

While most people consider words such as relaxing, quiet, enjoyable and fun as synonymous with school holidays, for some people they may think of them as chaotic, scary, lonely or overwhelming. 

Planning some self-care with your young person may assist them in maintaining their wellbeing during this time. Below are some ideas that they may like to try but you will likely find that, if you ask them, they will have ideas about things they like to do and that help them to feel good. Self-care activities do not have to cost money or take significant amounts of time and effort to implement but they will have a positive impact on your child. 

More ideas are available in the “Wellbeing Activities” booklet available at https://education.qld.gov.au/students/student-health-safety-wellbeing/student-wellbeing

Mulkadee 2022

Registrations for Mulkadee 2022 open! This will be open to students from Year 6 - 9.

The Mulkadee Youth Arts Festival is the only event of its kind in Australia, and offers students from across the Townsville Diocese the opportunity to participate in a week-long program of artistic workshops in choir, dance, drama, band, guitar and strings

Mulkadee is in its 17th year and has become an integral part of the Townsville Arts calendar with industry experts sharing their talents with over 750 students.

This year Mulkadee will be a variety show format and will also have an added element of audio-visual allowing Townsville Catholic Education to showcase the incredible talent in our diocese.

Held from Monday 18 to Friday 22 July, 2022, Mulkadee provides a unique experience for students to learn from industry experts and culminates in a performance to a sell-out crowd of family and friends at the Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre on Friday 22 July.

If you are interested or have any questions, please send Miss Ansell an email: lansell5@sjctsv.catholic.edu.au

Registrations close on the 1st of April.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTi6b_VFGLg

Sacramental Program

Project Compassion Fundraiser

Alpha Program

Chaplaincy Breakfast Club

Please note there will be no Chaplaincy Breakfast in Week 10!

Employment Opportunties - Teachers & School Officers

We are currently recruiting a teacher to join our team in Term 2 - teaching The Arts, 3 days a week. Please apply by clicking the following link: https://applynow.net.au/jobs/ni/TCE1549-teacher

We are seeking two school officers to join our team in Term 2. For more information please contact our office, alternatively please apply by clicking the following link: https://applynow.net.au/jobs/ni/TCE1561

We are seeking casual School Officers and qualified Teachers to cover sick and leave days.  For more information please contact our office.
Teaching staff will need to apply here > https://tceo-portal.applynow.net.au/jobs/TCE679-supply-teacher-registration-2021

Community Notices - Guitar Lessons

Jill Fisher will be holding guitar lessons for any children interested! These will be occuring at St Joseph's Catholic School. Please contact Jill directly if you would like more information.  

Cloncurry Poetry Competition

The Cloncurry Prize – Junior Poetry Competition is back for another year! The competition is open to all Queensland school aged individuals.

The theme of the 2022 Cloncurry Prize Poetry Competition is “Spirit of the Outback”. Attached is a flyer.

 Key Dates:

• Entries open: Now!
• Entries close: Friday 13 May 2022 at 11:59 AEST

Prizes:

• First prize - $250
• Second prize - $150
• Third prize - $100

How to enter
Email your poem to cloncurryprize@cloncurry.qld.gov.au clearly stating the entry is for the junior competition.

The file name should include the Title followed by the Poets Name e.g. The Cameleers Saddle – Bob Down.

Should you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us or visit our website. www.cloncurry.qld.gov.au/cloncurry-prize

Looking forward to reading some great poetry!

Cloncurry Prize Team

Opportunities for Youth

Dear Parents,

Please see some of the fantasic upcoming opportunities for students with disabilities that are occurring in Townsville.

Footy Tipping

It is that time of the year again, although cutting it nice and fine (better late than never). Today is Team List Tuesday and that means that Round 1 of the NRL kicks off this Thursday!

The inaugural SJC Tipping Competition will be running again in 2022!!I am sure we can all agree that after the beginning of the year that we have all endured it is only right and deserved to participate in some healthy competition to bring our SJC community together. Hopefully, we see the return of some famous names such as 'The Big Tipper', 'TSneek', and the cunning, committed, competitive parents that are seasoned veterans to the competition. There can be only one winner! Who will claim the ultimate bragging rights? Who can knock Miss Lovett from her perch?

See the competition link below. Absolutely no entry fee required.https://www.footytips.com.au/comps/sjc_nrl_tips_2022