Term 1 Week 3 2023

Key Information

Term 1 Important Dates

• Tuesday 7th Feb - Safe Internet Day
• Friday 10th February - Beginning of Year Mass - 8.30am
• Monday 13th February - Lock Down Drill - 10.30am
• Tuesday 21st February - Shrove Tuesday - Pancake Breakfast
• Wednesday 22nd February - Ash Wednesday Liturgy - 2pm - Church
• Tuesday 28th February - Fire Drill - 10.30am
• Friday 3rd March - School Photo Day
• Monday 13th March and Tuesday 14th March - Parent Teacher Interview Prep - 2
• Monday 27th March and Tuesday 28th March - Parent Teacher Interview Year 3 to Year 9
• Thursday 30th March - Good Friday Liturgy & Easter Hat Parade - 8.30am 
• Friday 31st March - IPRASS Day - No School 

Tuckshop Menu:

Special: Mexican Chicken Salad and Passionfruit Slice with a Popper

Orders are to be in by 8.30am each Wednesday morning! Click the link to order!

https://myschoolconnect.com.au/

A little note for all Parents & Friends -
If you are needing to contact Miss Jamie-Lea, please call the office on (07)47421633 Wednesday/Thursday, or alternatively on her email jmcconachy@sjctsv.catholic.com.au

Uniform Shop

Open Days:

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

Any requests for uniforms outside of these days MUST be done via the link below. Please click the link to access the Uniform shop! https://myschoolconnect.com.au/

Principal News

Welcome to Week 3, 

It is great to be back on deck to start week 3. How wonderful is this weather? It has however meant that inside play had to occur for morning tea today. If the rain continues throughout the week this may need to continue.  

Each morning to begin my day I join both year 5 and year 6 for their writing time on the Writer's Toolbox Platform. Each morning all students within the school commence their day with 10 to 20 minutes of writing. This morning the students had to start each and every sentence with a W. It was interesting to see how challenging this was, however, I was quite impressed with the determination of our students. All students in year 5 and 6 engaged with this task and wrote a short story. Year 6 focused on how they could include a short sentence of 5 words or less to engage their audience. At the end of the writing session I was lucky enough to join year 5 in prayer. The year 5’s shared something that they are grateful for - what a wonderful way to begin my day! 

Staffing Update:
I would like to virtually introduce you to two staff members that have joined our team. 

Shara Humes - Shara has relocated to Cloncurry from Tasmania. We are very excited to have Shara join our team. Shara will be teaching Prep to Year 6 Physical Education, Year 7 to 9 Art, Year 8 History and Year 7 Science. 

This week we also welcomed Amanda Corbett to our team as a School Officer. Amanda was previously a School Officer in Mount Isa prior to relocating to Cloncurry. We are very excited to welcome Amanda to our team. 

Arriving at School:
A friendly reminder that the school grounds will not be supervised until 8.10am each morning. Over the last 2 weeks we have noticed an increase in students arriving well before this time, we kindly ask that students arrive after 8.10am each morning. There is an exception for Tuesday and Thursday when the Chaplaincy Breakfast is running. This means that for Monday, Wednesday and Friday students should not be onsite before 8.10am. 

Mid West Rugby & North West Swimming:
I would like to congratulate the following students that were nominated to compete at the Mid West Rugby League in Julie Creek this Friday, being,  Mac Schneekloth, Tom Schneekloth, Kale McKenzie, Zaine Morris and Samuel Drake. 

I would like to congratulate the following students that were nominated to compete at the North West Swimming Carnival in Mount Isa next week, being, Olivia Curry, Michael Curley, James Barker, Wyatt Mara-Skellern, Daniel Carstairs, Chelsea Saunders, Tom Schneekloth, Heidi Barker, Mac Schneekloth, Kali Poch, Bronzon Mara-Skellern and Charles Carstairs. What a fantastic achievement. Although not all students could travel to compete, you should be so proud of your nomination. 

School Bell Times
Our school day begins at 8.20am with prayer / notices and concludes at 2.50pm each day. We have a writing session that commences after prayer and a reading session after morning tea. It is important that students arrive at school by 8.15am to ensure they are ready to enter prayer/notices at 8.20am. 

We have had a number of students remaining in the office of an afternoon until 3pm. We understand that parents and carers can be delayed here and there or something unforeseeable can pop up - please always call our office on 4742 1633 to let us know if this is the case. A reminder that the school bell goes at 2.50pm and students are released into your care from this time. 

I look forward to seeing all of our families and friends at our Beginning of Year Mass on Friday. I am crossing my fingers that our sound system cooperates this time. If you joined us for our assembly in Week 1 you would have witnessed our current sound system failing (apologies for this). MMG have saved our mass this Friday by dropping a portable sound system off for us to use. I would like to formally thank MMG, they have supported our small school on a number of occasions and often at short notice like this - we are so grateful for your support!

May God Bless you for the week ahead, 

Samantha Kelley
Principal 

APRE News

Welcome to Week 3! Over the next couple of weeks classes will start to discuss what Lent is and why we make lenten promises. 

What is Lent?
Lent is the six week period leading up to Easter. It’s one of the most important times in our church calendar. Lent is the preparation for the celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus at Easter. From its start on Ash Wednesday until its conclusion on Easter Sunday, Lent has been a traditional time for fasting or giving something up or abstinence. Just as we carefully prepare for events in our personal lives, such as a wedding, or birthday; Lent invites us to make our minds and hearts ready for remembering Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.

What should you give up for Lent? 
The phrase “giving something up for Lent” is a little misleading because it’s not just about giving something up, it’s also about doing extra things. We are challenged during Lent to add more prayer, fasting, and giving into our lives.  

Over the next two weeks we will be asking students to think about something they can either … “give up” or “take up”. At home please discuss this with your child/children what promise they will be making and encourage them to keep their promise.Classes will share in an Ash Wednesday Liturgy (March 22nd) to celebrate the start of Lent.

Notices:

• Beginning of Year Mass: This week Friday 8:40 am in our St Mary MacKillop shed
• Sacramental Program: First Session will begin this Sunday (12th Feb)  at 8:30 am in the church.
• Want to have your child baptised? If you are interested in having your child/children baptised this year let me know. I will put you in contact with our priests Fr Mick and Fr Ememe

Have a blessed week!

Mrs Therese Curley
APRE

Pastoral Care

Welcome back to the 2023 school year!  I hope you have all had a fabulous holiday break, making memories and resetting ready for the busy school year ahead.

Today is Safer Internet Day.  Safer Internet Day is a global campaign dedicated to creating a safer online world for everyone. 

• As a school community, we are supporting Safer Internet Day 2023 and showing the world that online abuse has no place in our society. 
• By using eSafety resources, our school is helping our students have safer, more positive experiences online.
• Our school implements policies and processes to protect our staff and students and we encourage them to report online abuse.
• Our school is committed to raising online safety awareness in our community and helping young people build positive online relationships.

St. Joseph’s is currently in the process of undergoing certification to become an e-Smart school. e-Smart is an initiative of the Alannah & Madeline Foundation, helping schools maintain a supported and connected community to reduce online and offline bullying and increase wellbeing. Through the process of certification, e-Smart allows our school to evaluate our systems, policies and practices in online safety and wellbeing, whilst building stronger supportive partnerships across the school community.

Check out the SchoolTV edition on Cyberbullying for further https://sjctsv.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/cyber-bullying

Pastoral Care Leader

Mrs Toni Schneekloth

Prep

Welcome to Week 3a! We had quite a few tired "little people" towards the end of last week. The first few weeks at school are exhausting.  

We will continue to explore the histories of our Preps as well as their families in HASS this week. We have guessed who each baby photo is and found where each child was born and has lived, on our world globe. Thank you to those of you who have sent this information in and a baby photo. We have learnt the terms "past" and "future" and have our baby photos (past) and our aging App photos of each child as an old person  (future) to help us with these words. Make sure you have a look at our photo displays. These photos also link to our "growing and changing" learning for Health.

The class are exploring number to 10 and beyond and learning how to identify and write the numerals for each number to 10. Our InitialLit lessons have involved identifying that sentences are made up of individual words which have a space between them and that words are made up of letters. We have also been exploring syllables, rhyming words and opposites during InitialLit lessons and with the help of books such as "Where is the Green Sheep" and  "Oi Dog." During religion the class has been involved in christian meditation and discussions around the words in the sign of the cross - the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 

We begin Literacy and also Math small group work this week. Thank you to those of you that have offered to help with our Literacy Groups. At the start of the year it is often difficult for students to stay on task without some adult direction and it is very helpful to have an adult with each group.  

Reminders:

• Tuesday - Sport
• Wednesday - tuckshop orders by 8.30am
• Thursday - Library and tuckshop
• Friday - Beginning of Year Mass in the Mary Mackillop Shed at 8.30am. Students to wear formal uniform for this (not House Colours Shirts)

Yours in fun and learning,

Mrs Sharon McLauchlan and Miss Tamara Williams

Year 1

Hello parents and carers,

Welcome to week 3. This week in Year 1 we have started our literacy rotations every morning at 9am-9:25am. If you are able to help at any time please let me know. 

Weekly Overview:

• Literacy: This week we will continue to revise letters and sounds and practice our new tricky words (Was, you and very.) We have started to revise digraphs (where two letters make one sound) in particular ll, ff, ss, zz.
• Math: We have identified numbers to 100 and located missing numbers in a sequence. 
• Religion: We are learning to identify our gifts from God and what God’s plan for creation is.
• HASS: We are learning to identify how families can change over time.
• Visual Art: We are learning about the elements of art with a particular focus this week on colour and line. 

Reminders

• Library: Monday (week 1,3,5,7,9)
• Resilience Project: Monday (week 2,4,6,8,10)
• Sport: Wednesday (every week) please have your child wear sports uniform
• Technology: Thursday (every week)
• Homework will be sent home this Friday afternoon and is expected back next Thursday morning.
• Remember Friday is our Beginning of Year Mass which will be held down at the Mary MacKillop Shed. Please ensure your child is dressed in their Formal uniform.

Have a wonderful week,

Miss Mae-Louise Brock, Miss Erin Haley and the always fun Year 1’s!

Year 2

Week 3 already!

During InitiaLit this week we are looking at Imaginative texts and at when to use the igh/y, ue/ew digraphs and reviewing digraphs we have learnt over the past couple of weeks. We are learning how to write character preferences in writing. In Maths, we are completing our skip counting assessment and will begin working on counting to 1000. Along with this, we are looking at keeping ourselves healthy and safe in Health, God’s nature and relationship with his people in Religion, Mixtures in Science,  where and why there is Drama as well as now and then during HASS.

A few reminders:

• Please remember formal uniforms on Friday for the Beginning of Year mass. The class will be performing the closing song.

• Technologies is on Tuesday each week.
• Sport is on Friday each week. Students will wear our Sport shirt on Wednesday so we get to use all of our uniforms.
• Library and Resilience Project will be on a fortnightly rotation on Mondays. Monday Week A (week 1, 3, 5, 7, 9) will be Resilience Project. Monday Week B (week 2, 4, 6, 8, 10) will be Library.
• Homework is due on Tuesday and will go out on Tuesday. We will start this week. Reading is the most important part of homework!

Have a fantastic week,

Miss Leonie Ansell

Year 3

Welcome to Week 3.

It has been great to see how the children have been working this week and how much pride they take in their work. Homework is now in its second week and I would ask that all children complete their homework and return it on Friday. Homework is an important part of your child’s learning. If you have any concerns about homework please pop to see me. 

Maths The children have continued their work on place value, in particular writing numbers to 10000 in various ways.

English The children have really impressed me with their Persuasive Writing. They were putting forward their views on whether we should have a 3 day weekend. They gave their points of view  and evidence to back up their views.

Reminders:

Monday: Homework will be set and given out with Home Readers

Tuesday: Year 3 have PE the children can wear their sports shirt 

                As this is Week A the children have  Resilience lessons  

Wednesday: Tuckshop orders must be in by 8.30am

Thursday: Tuckshop

                   Children have Technology with Miss Laffey  

Friday: Children are asked to wear their formal uniform this Friday for our End of Year Mass. 

             Homework to be  returned.

Hope to see you at the Beginning of Year mass on Friday 10th at 8.30am in MMS.

Have a great week,

Mrs Nicola Cullen

Year 4

Hi everyone,

Maths - We began the term with a focus on place value and odd/even numbers. The children have shown they have a sound understanding of both of these concepts which means we can jump straight into addition and subtraction strategies this week. We are also learning about how we can collect and display statistical data, and how this can be interpreted. 

Reading - Our reading has got off to a flying start this term. We are working on improving our reading comprehension skills with a weekly focus skill. Last week we focused on predicting. We used the front cover of the book, the title and the first page to try and predict what our stories were about. This week we are practising our visualising (Miss B’s favourite skill). Good readers can create images in their minds as they’re reading. Everyone visualises things differently, even if we read the exact same text, and that’s what makes reading so exciting!

Reminders:

• Homework - Homework was given out this Monday and it is to be returned on Friday. 
• Tuckshop - Tuckshop is on this week. Orders are due on Wednesday.
• Library - Our library visit is this Thursday. Please make sure your child has their library folder at school.
• PE - PE will be this Thursday. Please have your child wear their sports uniform.
• Beginning of Year Mass - BOY is this Friday, beginning at 8:30. Please ensure your child is wearing their formal school uniform. 

Have a great week,

Miss Mairin Borlase

Year 5

Hi Everyone,

It was lovely to meet so many of you last week at our Welcome BBQ. Remember to check out our digital newsletter using the photo/QR Code magnet on your fridge - fortnightly learner news and links to homework - especially maths. Tomorrow we are in the Home Ec Room to commence our first baking task - which has been posted for you to try at home (if you have time).

Homework - paper copies have been distributed this week - Must Do tasks are to be completed every week while May Do activities can be chosen throughout the term. Homework can be things that they already do at home - practice for a musical instrument, footy training etc

English - we have continued to complete a daily challenge while working on our em-dash sentence structure. This has improved and will continue to be a focus this week. Reading comprehension continues as a weekly task. 

Our Sound Waves Spelling programme has online resources added to our explicitly taught structure. Initially there is some revision work to remind learners about investigating sounds they hear (phonemes), using syllables and recognition of the letter representations (graphemes) to help them to confidently read, write and spell. The programme discusses homophones (words which sound the same -  e.g. hear and here), synonyms (words with similar meaning) and antonyms (words meaning the opposite). There is also work on understanding the words and how they are formed using prefixes and suffixes. 

Playing Wordle and Scrabble games are excellent to enable learners to apply their learning, while observing crosswords being completed allow them to see the often complex process with definitions to solve clues.

Mathematics - we have continued to develop our confidence when adding numbers. Using our understanding of place value and manipulation of digits mentally to solve quickly. We are at the stage where some learners use a whiteboard to support their thinking (this is absolutely fine). The strategy is taught to eventually solve 152 + 38 mentally. Moving the 8 to the 152 to make 160 and then adding on three tens. Friendly numbers is the term used. To support decimal addition, we have discussed using money as a guide - 1.2 + 1.6 would be altered to 1.20 + 1.60 making it more connected to the real world. Many learners are already dropping the extra zero place holder and developing their understanding of decimal addition - which is awesome!

Science - We investigated substances this week to identify the properties common to liquids. We behaved like real scientists - safety goggles and lab coats! We were lucky to get to use the microscopes to look at the substances - check out our photos on our Y5 News!

Reminders:

• Library - Wednesday 8th February
• Baking in Home Ec Room - Wednesday 8th February
• Full school uniform on Friday for Beginning of Year Mass. 

Have a great week,

Mr Mike Tarleton

Year 6

Week three already… Time flies when you're having fun (AND LEARNING)!

This week in Year 6 we have started to look closely at Diary Entries. The students have used the story of The Three Little Pigs to write a diary entry from the perspective of The Sad Wolf who is being picked on by The Three Little Pigs. It is a great opportunity for them to write from someone else's perspective.

In Maths- we continue to look at different ways we can solve problems involving our 4 operations. We have looked at a number of strategies that can help us solve problems and we will continue to work on these throughout the year!

In Science, we have started looking at Energy- observing how a circuit can generate power to a light bulb! Later this week we will create a number of circuits as a class to generate power and see how it all works!

In Health, students have been looking at Cyber safety- how they can be safe online and who they should talk to if they have any concerns or problems!

It has been a great start to the term in Year 6!

Mr Dom Purcell.

UMY - Year 8 & Year 9 Science

Yr 8 Science with Ms Gardiner
According to the Australian Curriculum, this term in Year 8 Science ‘students are introduced to cells as microscopic structures that explain macroscopic properties of living systems. To do this, they link form and function at a cellular level and then explore the organisation of body systems in terms of flows of matter between interdependent organs’. In plain English, this means they study the parts of animal, plant and fungal cells and the functions of these parts before moving onto how cells form tissues, tissue combinations form organs and organs form body systems. Students are already having fun looking at various cell types and organisms through microscopes! They do have to learn a vital foundational  array of cellular and physiological terminology, so please check student diaries and workbooks to ensure they are keeping up with compiling their glossaries’ definitions in particular for homework.

Yr 9 Science with Mrs Laffey
Students this term will be investigating what the universe is made of - atoms! We will look at the structure of atoms, and how this structure informs the way an atom bonds to other atoms. There are a lot of new words, so if you want to help them out, ask your students what they are doing in Science and get them to use and explain their new vocabulary. Later we will look at chemical reactions and how to write down what reaction has occurred. Students will be getting regular written homework tasks this term to help them practise using this vocabulary, and tasks should be recorded in diaries each week - check and see if they have any ‘incomplete’ notes from me!

UMY - Year 8 Maths

Yr 8 Maths with Mr Kelley

This term students are solving everyday problems involving rates, ratios and percentages. They will be describing the difference between rational and irrational numbers as well as looking at profit and loss. 

Students are currently working on using both metal strategies and algorithms to solve equations increasing in complexity. I have added a couple of questions below so you can see the types of questions students are currently working on. Try these for yourself and then test the year 8 student (sorry no calculators aloud)

234, 563, 265 -

154, 285, 184

750, 658-

972, 348

Chaplaincy Breakfast

Come for toast, cereal or fruit! Miss Pete would love to see you! Held in the Mary Mackillop Shed (MMS).

Student Wellbeing

At the start of school years, parents often ask their child about the new friends they are forming with their peers. Questions such as “who did you play with today?” and “what are your friends’ names?” are commonly heard. 

While it is important that we are showing that these relationships are important and valued, it is often more important that we are our children “how were you a good friend today?” and “what is something nice that you did for someone else today?”

Teaching our children social skills is vital and something that all adults need to be helping them with. Social skills include sharing, listening, following directions, collaborating/cooperating, patience, empathy, respecting boundaries and positivity. Check out this link for ideas on how to teach your children these skills: https://www.learnwithhomer.com/homer-blog/4190/social-skills-for-kids/

More information can also be found on our School TV page: https://sjctsv.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/friendship-belonging

Beginning of Year Mass Invitation

Uniform Expectations

The wearing of the school uniform promotes our school’s image in the community as well as school spirit and pride in our school. It is a requirement that all students wear the full correct school uniform on all school occasions, including excursions.
Please be aware, St Joseph’s Catholic School, Cloncurry operates an alternating timetable. Therefore, days where your child/children may wear a particular uniform may alter the following week. 

• Academic Uniform
  The St Joseph’s Cloncurry Academic uniform is to be worn all days of the school week except when students have Physical Education days.
• Sports Uniform
  The St Joseph’s Cloncurry Sports Uniform is to be worn only on days that students are scheduled to have Physical Education lessons.
• House Uniform
  The St Joseph’s Cloncurry House Uniform is only to be worn on Fridays and at Sports Carnivals. These uniforms are not in place of the Sports Shirts and should not be worn for Physical Education lessons, unless the students' lessons fall on a Friday.
• Representative Uniform
  The St Joseph’s Cloncurry Representative Sports Uniforms are to be worn at the discretion and direction of the Senior Leadership Team, and Sports & Extra Curricular Coordinator.
  Please view the uniform requirements in the following links. These are also available on our website. 

Academic Uniform Guidelines
Prep to Year 4 Shoe Guidelines
Year 5 to Year 9 Show Guidelines
Sport Uniform Guidelines

Quick Go To's

Our website: www.sjctsv.catholic.edu.au

Our Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/StJosephsCatholicSchoolCloncurry

Uniform Shop & Tuckshop app/website: www.myschoolconnect.com.au

Book Club

Sight & Hearing Screeners

Fete Information

Mulkadee

For more information:

https://www.tsv.catholic.edu.au/newsandevents/mulkadee-qr54nh-wxy54b/

https://www.facebook.com/Mulkadee

Community Notices

Cloncurry Eagles Junior Rugby League is seeking coaches and sports trainers for the 2023 Season. Website links below.Eligible persons must have or be able to obtain a Working with Children Check. Proof of your WWC will be required.An online coaching course as well as face-to-face will be required for new volunteers, a refresher course may be required for existing volunteers that have previously completed a course. For more information please contact our Club via email at cloncurryeagles@gmail.com

Coach/Trainer Registration - playrugbyleague.com

Working with Children application - my.bluecard.qld.gov.au/login

PCYC Blast Cricket & Netball

Cricket Blast commences on Friday 3rd of February (2 weeks time). Six weeks starting at 3:30pm at the Activities Hall on Daintree Street. Open to all boys and girls between 5 - 12 years. Below is the link to register and follow the prompts to 'Create an Account'. www.playhq.com/cricket-australia/register/da9a1c

Ronald McDonald Learning Program

Welcome to the 2023 school year! 

The Ronald McDonald Learning Program (RMLP) team would like to take this opportunity to remind you of the student services we offer, that are fully funded by Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Students whose education has been impacted by their serious illness or injury, including mental health diagnoses, may be eligible for:

• Individual tutoring for 12 months (minimum 40 hours).
• Educational/cognitive assessment, if necessary.
• Occupational, speech, and/or other therapy, if recommended.

Please feel comfortable to refer your students to me using the attached form, or to pass my details directly on to families.

I would also appreciate it if you would kindly add our poster into your school newsletter, to share with families if possible.

If you have any questions or would like further information, please reach out. I am here to help!

Kind regards,

Belinda O'Neill

Respectful Realtionship Webinar