Latest Newsletter Term 1 | Week 9

Key Information

Term 1 - Important Dates

Week 10

• Monday 31st March - Books in Homes - 2pm. 
  
• Monday 31st March - Spirit in Action - 3 to 4pm. 
• Monday 31st March - Board Meeting - 5.15pm. 
• Tuesday 1st April - FACE Meeting  - School Fete - Library - 3pm. 
• Thursday 3rd April - QMEA Workshop - Year 7 - 12 to 12.50pm.
• Thursday  3rd April - Easter Liturgy and Last Day of Term 1
• Thursday 3rd April - Easter Bonnet Parade

Reminder Friday 4th April is a pupil free day. Term 1 ends on Thursday 3rd April, returning for Term 2 on Tuesday 22nd April.

Easter Bonnet Parade

Please join us in Week 10 for our Easter Bonnet Parade following our last Assembly for Term 1. We look forward to seeing all the wonderful creations. 

Entering & Exiting - Friendly Reminder

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

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

Opening & Blessing - Save the Date

Please save the date and help spread the word for our Opening and Blessing on Wednesday 23rd of April at 9.30am.

Tuckshop News

 The tuckshop will be up and running next week with Miss Samie, our 2025 Tuckshop Convenor. Please note that there will be a limited menu this week, including toasties, nuggets, sausage rolls, pies and drink. All orders will continue to be placed on: https://myschoolconnect.com.au/ by Wednesday at 8.30am. 

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

Please keep an eye out on our Facebook page and future Newsletters for the Menu and any upcoming specials for Term 2. 

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

 Dear Parents and Caregivers,

What a wonderful term! Next week marks the end of the first term, with school concluding on Thursday, 3rd of April 2025 at 2.50pm. It has been a term filled with growth, engagement, and shared learning, and we are excited to continue this momentum in the months to come.

Year of Renewal: Stage 1 Complete:
This term, we have been actively gathering feedback from a wide range of stakeholders to support our school’s Year of Renewal. Input from staff, students, parents, the school board, our First Nations Advisory Committee, and TCE staff has been invaluable in helping us shape our future direction. We are now moving into the second stage of this renewal process, where we will identify key themes from the feedback and begin mapping the years ahead. Thank you to everyone who has participated so far – your voices are shaping the future of our school!

Parent-Teacher Interviews:
Earlier this week, we held our Parent-Teacher Interviews on Monday and Tuesday. These meetings are vital in fostering a strong partnership between school and home, and in supporting our students’ achievement and growth. We appreciate the time parents and caregivers took to engage in these important conversations and encourage continued collaboration as we work together to support each child’s learning journey.

Lockdown Drill:
On Tuesday, we conducted a successful lockdown drill to ensure the safety and preparedness of our students and staff in the event of an emergency. We are pleased to report that the drill went smoothly, and we are grateful for the calm and cooperative attitude displayed by our students. Safety is always our top priority, and drills like this are an important part of our ongoing commitment to providing a secure learning environment.

St. Joseph Feast Day Celebrations:
Today, we celebrate the Feast Day of St. Joseph, one of our beloved school saints. The activities for the day highlight the significance of St. Joseph’s impact on our school community. His example of humility, service, and faith continues to inspire us all. It’s a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the values that shape our school and the way we care for one another.

Exciting Initiatives for Connecting with Families:
Next week, we will have a special guest on campus: a marketing manager from Townsville Catholic Education, Karolien Kern. Karolien will be filming videos that will showcase the achievements and initiatives at St. Joseph’s throughout the year. We are excited about this new way of connecting with our families and sharing the wonderful things happening in our school community. Keep an eye out for these videos in the coming months – we can’t wait to share them with you!

FACE Meeting and Fete Planning:
We’re also gearing up for our final FACE (Families and Community Engagement) meeting of the term next week, Tuesday 1st April at 3pm in the library. During this meeting, we will finalize the date for our annual Fete and lock in the entertainment for the evening. If you’re interested in helping with grant applications for the Fete or would like to volunteer as the Fete Coordinator, we’d love to hear from you! Please reach out to me at skelley2@sjctsv.catholic.edu.au. Your support helps make our events a success and strengthens our school community.

Easter Celebrations Next Thursday:
Next Thursday will be a special day as we conclude Term 1 with our Easter Liturgy, followed by our Easter Hat Parade and end-of-term assembly - 8.30am in the MMS. This will be a wonderful way for us to come together as a school community to celebrate the Easter season and reflect on the journey of the term.

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

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

Please ensure you take note of the What's on Document published on Sunday to Facebook and Compass Newsfeed to stay up to date. 

Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to seeing you at these upcoming events. Wishing you a safe and restful break ahead.

God Bless you and your families, 

Mrs Samantha Kelley,
Principal 

Deputy's News/Curriculum

Welcome to Week 9

End of Term 1 Newsletter
As we approach the end of Term 1, we take a moment to reflect on a busy and productive start to the school year. From professional development sessions to exciting new literacy initiatives and community-building events, Term 1 has set a strong foundation for the rest of 2025.

Thank You for Attending Parent-Teacher Interviews
A big thank you to all the parents and carers who attended our Parent-Teacher Interviews this week. These sessions are a valuable opportunity to discuss student progress, set future goals, and ensure we are working together to support each child's learning journey. If you were unable to attend but would still like to discuss your child’s progress, please reach out to their classroom teacher to arrange a time.

A Brief Reflection of Term 1: Teaching and Learning
We started the term with staff returning one week before students for a series of professional development sessions focused on best practices to enhance student outcomes. Key areas of focus included inclusive education, strategies for differentiated instruction, and cultural competency training to embed First Nations perspectives into our classrooms. Teachers also engaged in data analysis to tailor their teaching strategies and ensure all students receive the support they need to thrive.

The school year officially began with a Welcome Back BBQ, bringing the St Joseph’s community together after the holiday break. Students eagerly shared their holiday stories, with many excitedly recounting what Santa brought them. Change was a key theme for the first week, with classroom shifts, new routines, and high expectations set for the year ahead.

As students and teachers settled into the new school year, they also adjusted to new learning spaces. Our youngest learners were thrilled to move into our newest teaching areas, equipped with the latest technology and teaching resources. Across all year levels, we continued striving for excellence in literacy, with dedicated time for developing foundational reading and writing skills. It has been incredibly rewarding to see students engage enthusiastically in our literacy focus and show remarkable progress in their learning.

Throughout the term, students participated in a variety of learning experiences both inside and outside the classroom. Incursions, interactive workshops, and engaging classroom experiences provided opportunities for hands-on learning and meaningful real-world connections. Sporting events encouraged teamwork and resilience, while whole-school assemblies celebrated student achievements and reinforced our core values of Love, Lead, Strive, and Serve.

Many classes welcomed new classmates, while we also bid farewell to some wonderful students and families who moved on from our St Joseph’s community. 

Our Year 3, 5, 7, and 9 students completed NAPLAN testing—although I’m still not entirely sure what they were most excited about: finishing their assessments for 2025 or the giant slab of cake awaiting them after the final test.

As we wrap up Term 1, students should be looking forward to a well-earned break and the opportunities that Term 2 will bring. Thank you for your ongoing support, and we wish all families a happy, safe, and restful holiday.

Mr Dean Kelley
Deputy Principal - Teaching and Learning

Assistant Principal Religious Education

Listening to God through Service
The last two Sunday scripture readings, we have heard about different encounters experienced with God. So where is your encounter with God? When does this happen in your life? Life can often be filled with ups and downs, a rhythm that reminds us to pause, reflect, and listen to God’s voice in our lives. It sounds easy enough but, we know that life is busy. It can be easy to overlook those quiet moments when God is calling us to encounter Him. But when do we truly feel His presence? Is it in prayer, in nature, or in the kindness of our interactions with others? 

Perhaps one of the most powerful ways we can listen to God is through service—by showing compassion and giving our time to those around us.  Just as Jesus lived a life of love and sacrifice, we too are called to follow His example. One way to do this is by volunteering. When we serve others, we reflect God’s love and deepen our connection with Him.

There are many ways to give our time. Could you volunteer at our local Vinnies store, helping those in need? Could you lend a hand with our school Face group, supporting our school community? Even small acts of kindness—helping a friend, assisting a teacher, or checking in on someone who may be struggling—can be a way of listening to God’s call.

Volunteering not only helps others but also brings a sense of accomplishment and joy, knowing that we are working towards God’s greater plan. As we continue through Lent, let us open our hearts, give our time, and listen for God’s voice in the ways we serve.

St Joseph’s Feast Day Liturgy
Today, we gathered as a school community in St. Colman's Church to celebrate and reflect on the life of St. Joseph, a model of kindness, humility, and hard work. Fr. Will led us in a meaningful liturgy, guiding us through a time of prayer and reflection on St. Joseph’s virtues. His quiet strength and deep faith remind us of the importance of caring for others, staying true to our school values of love, serve, lead and strive. As we remember St. Joseph, we are encouraged to embrace these qualities in our daily lives, supporting one another and growing together as a compassionate and dedicated community.

Project Compassion
This week, Project Compassion brings us the story of Lam, a young man from rural Vietnam. Lam is 27 years old from a small village in rural Vietnam who faced significant challenges due to his short stature. Through the I-SHINE program Lam completed a six-month course developing his graphic design skills. He now runs a successful freelance graphic design business from home, serving clients worldwide and earning a steady income.

To support Project Compassion a donation can be made using the QR Code: 

or online at: caritas.org.au/project-compassion  Or by calling: 1800 024 413.

Assembly and Easter Liturgy Thursday next week
On our last day of school, Thursday, 3rd April, we will come together for a special Easter celebration. Our Year 6 students will lead us through the Stations of the Cross during the Easter Liturgy, helping us reflect on the journey of Jesus. Following this, we will begin our assembly, which will be followed by our much-anticipated Easter Bonnet Parade. We invite all students to join in the fun by wearing their creative Easter bonnets for the parade! It’s a wonderful way to celebrate this meaningful time of the year as a school community.

Easter Mass Times
The following times, Mass will be celebrated over Easter:-

• Thursday   17th April Mass of the Lord’s Supper    7.00 pm
• Friday         18th April Passion of the Lord Mass      8.30 am
• Saturday    19th April Easter Vigil Mass                      7.00 pm
• Sunday     20th April Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord 8.30 am

All are welcome to attend.

Term 2 week 1 events 

Wednesday, 23rd April

• 9:30 AM: Bishop Tim will join us to celebrate the opening of our new buildings. Everyone is welcome to attend.
  
• 5:30 PM: Candidates will take the next step in their Sacraments of Initiation, as Bishop Tim confirms them and they receive their First Holy Communion. All are welcome to join this joyous Mass.

Thursday, 24th April – ANZAC Remembrance

• 10:00 AM: Our school community will gather in the courtyard to honor the sacrifice of the ANZACs. Everyone is welcome to join us in remembrance.

God Bless,

Ms Lei Nelson
Assistant Principal - Religious Education

Pastoral Care

Disco Success!

A massive thank you to our school community for making our disco such a fantastic event! Our students had an amazing time, and we’re thrilled to share that we raised $1,100 towards our UMY School Camp.

These events wouldn’t be possible without the incredible support of our students, staff, and families—so thank you all for making it a night to remember!

In this edition of SchoolTV - Respectful Relationships
Fostering a nurturing environment of respectful relationships within your family holds the key to not only harmonious living, but also improved academic outcomes for your children. As parents and caregivers, embracing the art of teaching children about respect at a young age sets the stage for a lifetime of healthy interactions and empathetic understanding. It will help cultivate a positive environment where communication flourishes, conflicts are resolved constructively, and bonds are fortified.

Teaching children to respect themselves and others will open up avenues for both personal growth and academic achievement. Fostering an environment where respect is not just a word, but a practiced behaviour, will empower young people with essential life skills. Effective communication, active listening, and the art of compromise, will provide your child with a solid foundation that will transcend family interactions and help them collaborate effectively with peers, teachers and the broader community.

Equipping children with an understanding of healthy versus unhealthy relationships is an important aspect of their development. It will guide them to make informed choices, foster positive connections, and set boundaries that contribute to their emotional wellbeing. Understanding the nuances between healthy and unhealthy relationships provides children with the essential tools to navigate their social world, build self-esteem, and cultivate meaningful relationships.

In this edition of SchoolTV, learn how to empower young people in healthy interactions to embrace differences and forge connections that honour their self-worth.

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

Here is the link to the Respectful Relationships edition of SchoolTV

https://sjctsv.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/respectful-relationships

As the Easter holidays approach, we wish you and your families a joyful and refreshing break. May this be a time to relax, connect with loved ones, and embrace the spirit of the season. Thank you for your ongoing support—we truly appreciate it. Wishing you all a wonderful Easter filled with peace and happiness!

Best regards,

Miss Hannah McCall
Pastoral Leader

Inclusive Education

Reading with your child at home
Parents hear all the time that it’s important to read to children. But why exactly is that? The benefits of reading together go far beyond learning to read.

Reading to young children is an important way to help them build language skills. It exposes them to new words and ways of using language. It also helps them learn general information about the world, which makes it easier for them to learn about new subjects once they get to school.

Books also help children build empathy and learn how to handle challenging feelings. Parents can use reading time as a chance to talk about emotions and how to cope with them. For example, you might say: “Have you ever felt as angry as the girl in this book? What would you do if you did?”

Even a few minutes of reading together gives you and your child a chance to slow down and connect with each other. And the sensory experience of sitting with you and hearing your voice also engages their brain in a way that makes learning easier.

There’s no one right way to read to your child. You can read to them in any language, or in multiple languages. You can do it at the same time every day or change up the routine. Your child doesn’t even need to be sitting with you — just sitting nearby with a book while they play can be a way to connect.

The important thing is for your child to hear words and language and to have books be part of their daily life. Any steps you’re able to take can make a big difference.

Mrs Nicola Cullen
Inclusive Practices Middle Leader

Youth Ministry

Welcome to this week’s youth ministry update. The Spirit continues to work in wonderful ways at SJC

Important dates/reminders:

• Little Joey’s - lunchtime Scripture: every Monday, first playtime in the library (P-3 students)
• Chaplaincy Breakfast: every Tuesday & Thursday from 7:45 to 8:10. Due to our assembly next Thursday there will be no chaplaincy breakfast, being Thursday 3rd of April. Please ensure your child eats breakfast at home and doesn't arrive onsite until 8.10am.
• Spirit in Action: Week 10 Monday (31/03) - 3:00 to 4:30 PM
• Mini Vinnies: Week 10 Wednesday (2/04) First Lunch (playtime)

Year 9 Retreat
On Thursday, the Year 9 students gathered together in the Church from 8:30 to 12:00 participating in a retreat experience centred around leadership - true leadership. 

Some of the key learnings were around our God-given gifts, everyday leadership, integrity & influence, humility, leading on the margins, and servant leadership. The Scripture that underpinned our learning experiences were St Paul’s letters to early Church communities about Christ’s body (the Church) - one body, many parts; the parable of the Good Samaritan; and Jesus washing the feet of the disciples. 

We played some games, connected with each other, laughed, prayed, and ate together. It is my hope that these experiences are formative to the people that they become. I am very proud of our Year 9 class!

Project Compassion
Our fundraising has almost come to an end - I am extremely proud of the Mini Vinnies and SIA students that led these efforts. 

Chocolate toss has been an absolute bit! I look forward to seeing how much money we have raised. 

FInally, you have ONE more week to pay $2 for a guess at the Easter egg jar - the winner will be announced next week!

A big thank you to Foodworks for helping us out with some choccy for these fundraisers ❤️‍🔥

Yours in faith, hope & love!

Mr James Delaney ❤️‍🔥
Youth Ministry Middle Leader

First Nations Education

On Monday last week, our first First Nations Advisory Committee meeting was held. We had a great turn out at this meeting. It was great to discuss items such as our Sacred Space, upcoming events, and the goals for the committee in 2025. The next meeting date will be advised soon.

Last Monday evening, our Emerging Leaders Parent Information Night was also held. We were joined by Lauren Newman from the Emerging Leaders Team and our First Nations Education Adviser, Krista Hobbs. We were also joined by our program mentors Mairin Borlase, Mike Tarleton, and Lesley Wall. During this event, changes to the program were delivered to families, and we were able to sign up prospective Emerging Leaders. We are excited for the 2025 program to begin and look forward to seeing our Emerging Leaders grow as they work toward the goals they have set for themselves.

On Thursday last week, it was National Close the Gap Day. I had the pleasure of visiting classes throughout the week to conduct short Close the Gap Day lessons on staying healthy. Prep - 2 students learned how to Blow, Breathe, Cough. Year 3 and 4 students investigated behaviors that contribute to the well-being of themselves and others. Year 5-9 also explored behaviors that support well-being, with a particular focus on emotional health. It was wonderful to see students engaging with these discussions and gaining a deeper understanding of how their choices impact their own wellbeing and that of those around them.

Upcoming events:

• National Reconciliation Week - May 27th to June 3rd

Miss Leonie Ansell
First Nations Teacher and Emerging Leaders Coordinator

Prep

Wow, I cannot believe Term 1 is nearly complete! 

During our literacy block, we will finish off our InitialLit lessons for the term. In week 10 we will explore the letter and sound of “r”. Over the term our Little Learners have learnt;  m, s, t, a, p, i, f. Please practice identifying these sounds in words over the holidays. The students who practice their letter sounds at home definitely find it easier to identify the sounds that are needed to make words.

Over the past week our Little Leaders have been learning all about The Story of Easter and the events leading up to Easter. In Week 10, Prep will join with their Year 6 Buddies to participate in Holy Week Easter. 

In maths over the past two weeks our Preps have been learning all about recognising, creating and repeating patterns. We will spend Week 10 consolidating their knowledge of Patterns and counting to and from 10. 

During our Science unit, we have been exploring the features of plants and animals. In Week 10 we will revisit these features. In Term 2 Prep will begin to grow some plants, identifying their features and needs to survive. As part of  lour Science learning we will be hatching chickens in an incubator. We hope to incubate about 10 eggs. I would like to put these in the incubator in the first week after the holidays. Please let me know if you have any suitable eggs.

Reminders:

• Stop and Go Zone: Please ensure when picking up your child that you are not parking in the Stop and Go Zone. It is also important that the gate closest to the prep room is closed each time you come in or out of the school grounds. 
• Monday: Mrs Jill Smith will take our little learners for Art in Period 5. This coming Monday your child will come home with some new books, they can keep these due to the generosity of Glencore who sponsor a program called Books in Homes. 
• Tuesday: Miss Pucciarmati will take our Prep students for Technology in Period 5
• Wednesday: Miss Borlase will take our students for Sport in Period 5. If you have any library books, can these please be brought back to the Prep Classroom in preparation for the Holidays. 
• Thursday: Miss Pucciarmati will be the classroom teacher. The day will begin with an Easter Liturgy, Assembly and Easter Hat Parade! We hope you have fun getting creative at home for this exciting event. 
  
• Friday: There will be no school next Friday as it is a pupil free day.

Yours in fun and learning,

Miss Mae-Louise Brock, Miss Lisa Pucciarmati, Miss Josie, and Miss Rachel.

Year 1

Hello parents and carers,

How crazy to think that the first term is nearly done! 

In Math the students have been busy practicing skip counting in 10’s, 5’s and 2’s. The students have been looking at the pattern the numbers create when we colour in a hundreds chart. They have also been using their knowledge of patterns to create some AB, ABC and ABB patterns using things around the classroom. 

In literacy the students have been busy revising and learning new digraphs. We have been focusing on the sounds ai (rain), ay (play), ee (tree), ea (leaf) and two new ones oa (boat) and ow (snow). The students have been writing words that contain the digraphs in some creative crafts that are up on our walls. Come in and check them out in the afternoons. 

Here are some photos of their amazing patterns: 

Reminders:

• NO Homework for the remainder of the term!  
• Can you please make sure all home readers and library books are returned before Thursday.  It is important to make sure we scan them all back in ready for next term. Thank you in advance for your cooperation! 
• Monday: Library Books returned. This coming Monday your child will come home with some new books, they can keep these due to the generosity of Glencore who sponsor a program called Books in Homes. 
• Tuesday: Technology and Art
• Wednesday: House Shirt
• Thursday: Sport (Sport uniform) and Last day of Term! The day will begin with an Easter Liturgy, Assembly and Easter Hat Parade! We hope you have fun getting creative at home for this exciting event. 
• Friday: Pupil Free Day.

Have a wonderful week,

Miss Erin Haley and the always fun Year 1’s!

Year 2

Dear Parents and Carers, 

We are nearly at the end of Term 1! Students have been learning rhyme, repetition and rhythm in English through their Poetry writing. Students have written poems about different colours using 5 senses and now are writing poetry about characters from different books such as Noodle the Cavoodle, Wombat Stew and The Lizard Gang.

In Maths we have been looking at the collection of data. Students have really enjoyed collecting data and creating questions to collect data on.

In HASS we have continued to look at significant places and we are zooming our focus into significant places in Cloncurry and why they might be a significant place in our community. It has been a busy term of learning and settling into the new routines of Year 2. 

Reminders:

• Please bring all borrowed Library books back in Week 10.
• Monday: Art. This coming Monday your child will come home with some new books, they can keep these due to the generosity of Glencore who sponsor a program called Books in Homes. 
• Tuesday: Technologies and Library
• Wednesday: House Shirts
• Thursday: Sport and the last day of the Term! The day will begin with an Easter Liturgy, Assembly and Easter Hat Parade! We hope you have fun getting creative at home for this exciting event. 
• Friday: Pupil Free Day.
  

Miss Tess Motti

Year 3

Time has certainly not been standing still, it is nearly the end of term. 

Year 3 has been busy with catching up on assessments, and other tasks in all the subjects after we have completed our NAPLAN tests. 

In Math we will be continuing with revision of addition and subtraction to ensure that learners all have a good understanding of the fundamentals.

In English we are busy with presentation skills, and the learners all had to act out an introduction of their class mascot Bingo. This was met with great excitement and lots of laughter. We will still be focussing on the writing of persuasive texts in the coming week.

Several students have been awarded the “Student of the day” awards. This is a system which I implemented to encourage students who are putting in additional effort on that specific day, and not necessarily a student who has performed the best. I am hoping that this will encourage learners to strive in achieving their personal best.

The class has also been awarded their first reward for achieving 7 days in a row of good behaviour. Last week Friday we had our ice-cream party as a reward, and the children all enjoyed that. I am hoping to make this a regular feature in the following term.

Reminders:

• Please bring all borrowed Library books back in Week 10.
• Monday: This coming Monday your child will come home with some new books, they can keep these due to the generosity of Glencore who sponsor a program called Books in Homes. 
• Thursday: The last day of the Term! The day will begin with an Easter Liturgy, Assembly and Easter Hat Parade! We hope you have fun getting creative at home for this exciting event. 
• Friday: Pupil Free Day.

Mrs Deirdre Koekemoer

Year 4

Hi Everyone,

I cannot believe that we are coming up to the end of Term 1, however, when I see the progress the students have made it’s not too hard to believe. Over the last week we have been busily finishing off units with assessment tasks which the students are really working hard to complete.

Health
Our healthy shared brain break was a big success. Thanks to all the parents who sent food in and a big thank you to Courtney Hartley who joined us to supervise the cutting and preparation of the feast.

The students were really excited to try different foods and were imaginative in their presentation. It would be fair to say their stomachs were all very satisfied with the fill.

Library
Our Library days have been all over the place this term and I apologise for that. Our Library day is now Thursday. Only students who have library books to swap over will go to the library and they will need a bag if they want to take books home.

Maths
In Maths this week we have been covering both mental subtraction and subtraction using a vertical algorithm including regrouping. Many of the students are mastering this and I will continue to work with those who are having trouble.

Parent Teacher Interviews
It was great to see so many of you this week to discuss your child’s progress. This is a valuable time for me to get further insight into your child’s learning as they sometimes bring issues up at home about their learning and areas they are finding difficult that they don’t make known at school. If you did not make it in this week I am available after school most days for a chat.

Reminders:

• Monday: This coming Monday your child will come home with some new books, they can keep these due to the generosity of Glencore who sponsor a program called Books in Homes. 
  
• Thursday: The last day of the Term! The day will begin with an Easter Liturgy, Assembly and Easter Hat Parade! We hope you have fun getting creative at home for this exciting event. 
• Friday: Pupil Free Day.

Have a wonderful weekend and a lovely holiday!

Mrs Lesley Wall

Year 5

Hi Year 5 Parents and Carers

I hope you have all had a great week.

Week 8 and 9

We’ve had a big past fortnight! During Writing, the Year 5s have been planning and creating their Fractured Fairy Tales for their assessment task. I’ve been blown away with their fantastic use of description and range of sentence types in their writing. In Maths, Year 5 have worked at the Friendly and Fix, and Place Value subtraction strategy. They have also been learning how to convert between 12 and 24 hour time.

During Science, the class has continued to investigate states of matter. The Year 5s have looked into the particle model and will begin their assessment task where they will answer a question and use their learning to explain why.

Reminders

• Technologies: Monday
• Sport uniform: Tuesday
  
• Arts: Tuesday
• HASS: Tuesday and Wednesday
• House shirt: Wednesday
• Sport: Wednesday
• Languages: Friday
• Health: Friday

What’s on in Week 10

• Assembly - Thursday 8:30am.
• Easter Hat Parade.
• Thursday is the last day for Term 1.
• Friday: Pupil Free Day.

Have a great rest of your week!

Miss Leonie Ansell

Year 6

Dear Families, 

Thank you all so much for attending our Learning Conferences (Parent-Teacher Interviews) - I was very proud of everyone who presented their learning and know that you all were too. It is always great as a teacher to sit back knowing that your students will step up to the plate and aim high.

We have continued to investigate Renaissance (or Accelerated Reader) to set targets for our reading improvement. The assessment placed them within a Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD); it is important to know that all students were placed at their current stage of understanding and comprehension. Each student has their individual target and quizzes will give them points towards their target. Click the link above to see what the Harry Potter series are worth in AR. e.g. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is worth 32 AR Points. The aim of this application is really to get students reading more, while also demonstrating their comprehension. Next term, we will review our goals and targets for reading - if books are read during the holidays, students can complete quizzes when they return to school - so keep up the reading pace!

In English, we have started our narrative writing assessment. We have spent some time discussing the semicolon, em-dash, preposition start and adverb start sentence styles, while also improving our paragraph with the Hammer Paragraph structure. Using the AI Feedback, we are able to highlight incomplete sentences (missing punctuation, misspelt words, incorrect grammar and tense) and work on editing them to improve our overall Writing Strength. The students have impressed in the way they seek ways to improve their writing - conferencing with their teacher is an excellent way to improve. With access to Writer's Toolbox at home, students should be practising sentence styles regularly for their home learning - keep honing their writing skills! In reading comprehension activities, we read a short text about World War 2, which sparked off excellent discussions wider than the text. For students who were interested in further investigation, we borrowed Anne Frank's Diary (The diary of a Young Girl) and The Silver Sword and added them to our class library. 

In spelling, we have inquired into words which contain the common graphemes for the [o, a, au, ou] phoneme and [g, gg, gue] phoneme. We have investigated the Greek Roots - graph, gram (meaning to draw/write). We continued our work on suffixes with focus on -ly which changes words into adverbs - how something is done e.g. quickly. The main rule is if a word ends with -y, change the y to an i before adding the -ly suffix. Also spending time looking at the prefix anti- (meaning against) and non- (meaning not). 

In our mathematics learning, we continue to investigate addition and subtraction of fractions. We have begun to look into Mixed Number fractions, discussing equivalence and improper fractions (where the numerator is larger than the denominator) and how these can support our calculations. We have spent time working with Place Value of tenths and hundredths to support addition of numbers with 2 decimal places including money calculations. Our work in the next few weeks will focus on decimal representations of fractions.

Reminders:

• Please bring all borrowed Library books back in Week 10.
• Monday: This coming Monday your child will come home with some new books, they can keep these due to the generosity of Glencore who sponsor a program called Books in Homes. 
• Thursday: The last day of the Term! The day will begin with an Easter Liturgy, Assembly and Easter Hat Parade! We hope you have fun getting creative at home for this exciting event. 
• Friday: Pupil Free Day.

Enjoy your holiday time as a family,

Mr Mike Tarleton and Mr Larry Cullen

Digital Technologies

Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome to Term 1! This year, our primary students have started an exciting journey into the world of Digital Technologies. It’s been wonderful to see them explore the basics of using computers and getting comfortable with the technology that will play an important role in their learning.

Here’s a sneak peek into what we’ve been up to:

Prep:
Our Prep students have begun their introduction to digital technologies by learning what computers are and how they can be used as powerful tools for learning. They’ve explored different parts of a computer, such as the keyboard, mouse, and screen, and have started to understand their roles in helping us interact with the world of technology.

One of the key skills we’ve been focusing on is teaching our students how to log into their computers safely. This involves recognizing their unique usernames and passwords, and understanding the importance of keeping their information private. It’s been wonderful to see them take pride in this achievement as they become more independent in navigating the digital world.

Grade 1 and 2:
This year, our Grade 1 and 2 students have embarked on an exciting exploration of Digital Technology, where they are diving into the world of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and learning how to represent data in meaningful ways. I’ve introduced them to the concept of AI by discussing how computers and machines can learn and make decisions, much like humans! In addition to AI, our students have also begun learning how to represent and organize data.  Whether it’s through simple graphs, charts, or pictograms, they are learning how to collect information and display it in ways that make it easier to understand. For example, they’ve worked on activities like counting different animals and class preferences then represented that data visually using charts and graphs.

Grade 3 and 4:
This term, our Grade 3 and 4 students have been diving into the world of Digital Technology, with a focus on representing data in many different ways with a focus on using Google Slides and Google Sheets. These tools are perfect for helping students develop essential skills in creating presentations and organizing data effectively.

Our students have started exploring Google Slides as a way to create presentations. They’ve learned how to design slides, add text, images, and even simple animations to make their presentations come to life! Whether it’s a class project or a creative story, they’ve been using these skills to organize their ideas visually and share information with others. It’s been exciting to see how confident they’ve become in using this tool to communicate their thoughts!

In addition to Google Slides, our Grade 3 and 4 students have also been introduced to Google Sheets. They’re learning how to input and organize data in spreadsheets, making it easy to track and analyze information. From simple activities like creating charts based on class surveys to exploring how to sort and filter data, students are building strong foundations for working with data in digital environments.

These tools are not only helping our students learn how to work with technology but also developing their problem-solving and organizational skills, which will be valuable in many areas of their learning. For their assessment, they chose a biome, researched it and displayed their data onto Google slides. 

Year 5 and 6:
We have been focusing on binary systems and the creation of pixel art. These activities provide a great opportunity for students to understand the building blocks of digital technology and express their creativity in exciting new ways. Our students have started to learn about binary systems, the foundation of how computers process and store information. They’ve discovered that computers use only two numbers—1 and 0— to represent all kinds of data, including text, images, and even sounds! Through hands-on activities, students have been exploring how binary code works and how it can be used to represent simple information, such as letters and numbers. This understanding of binary systems is key to grasping how computers and other digital devices function at their most basic level.

In addition to learning about binary systems, students have been applying their knowledge creatively by designing their own pixel artwork. Using grid-based designs, students create images where each square represents a "bit" of information, much like how pixels form part of a larger image on a screen. This fun and engaging activity helps students understand the connection between binary code and visual media, while also giving them a chance to express their creativity through digital art.

Through this process, students have been practicing their problem-solving and critical thinking skills, as they plan and create pixel art designs, while also deepening their understanding of how technology represents and processes visual data.

Thank you for supporting your child’s learning in Digital Technology, and we look forward to all the exciting progress they will make this semester!

Enjoy your Easter holidays!
Miss Lisa Pucciarmati
P-6 Technology Teacher

Primary Art Overview - Visual Arts

The visual arts classroom was reinstated this term and all the primary students were delighted to move back into the space. Each class has worked with focus and enthusiasm. It has been a fun, creative and productive term. In term 2, we hope to have an evening of Art to give families an opportunity to view and enjoy the students' artwork from this term.

Prep has explored shape and colour this term. They have practised drawing and painting shapes, using shapes to create animals and other objects using concrete materials and collage. Students have practised mixing colours to create caterpillars and butterflies.

Year 1 has explored shape, line and colour through the theme patterns. Students have been inspired by first nations artwork to create drawings of animals using shape and pattern in their design. They have created flowers, ice-creams and hot air balloons using their knowledge of shape, space and pattern to create interesting art works.

Year 2 has been exploring themselves, inside and out. They have been practising drawing realistic self portraits considering proportions and scale as they draw their facial features white also considering what makes them unique in character. They have also explored the abstract portraits of Picasso and his use of colour to convey emotion. The students were influenced by Picasso to create their own abstract portraits.

Year 3 has explored shape, space, line and colour through the theme of reflections. Their first project was to create a reflective scene in a pair of sunglasses using the medium of coloured pencils. The second project was to create a watercolour landscape painting with reflection.

Year 4 enjoyed exploring different modern artists from the last century. They explored the work of Kandinsky, Henri Matisse, Jean DuBuffet, Jasper Johns, Picasso and Vincent Van Gogh. The students were inspired to create artworks that reflected abstract art, cutouts, american pop art and post impressionism using their knowledge of line, shape, space, and colour.

Year 5 has been exploring line, form, shape, value and colour in one point perspective artwork. They started by giving form to 2-D shapes and letters in their names. Then they explored creating pop up, one point perspective streets. In the final weeks, they have practiced painting watercolour landscapes with one point perspective, paying attention to scale, colour, texture as they worked with the watercolour paints.

Year 6 have been using their knowledge of line, shape, texture and space to explore lino printing. The students have worked on three projects to develop their printing skills. The first project was to develop a single print. The second project was a guided lesson to create a 3 layered print. The final project was themed ANZAC day. The students planned and created a three layer print that reflected the theme of ANZAC day. 

I have thoroughly enjoyed teaching the students this term. Next term, we will explore dance and prepare for our biannual bush dance. This year we will be looking at the traditional bush dances from different countries around the world and share them with our families at the Bush Dance.

Miss Jill Smith
Prep to Year 6 The Arts Teacher

UMY - 7/8/9 HASS with Mr Timms

Year 7 History: Exploring the Wonders of Ancient Egypt
This term, our Year 7 students have embarked on an exciting journey back in time to explore the fascinating civilization of Ancient Egypt. Through engaging lessons and hands-on activities, they have developed a deeper understanding of how this ancient society thrived along the Nile River and left behind a legacy that still captivates us today.

Students have explored key aspects of Ancient Egyptian life, including the significance of the Nile, the role of pharaohs, and the intricate process of mummification. They investigated the construction of pyramids, uncovering the engineering marvels behind these iconic structures. Additionally, they examined Ancient Egyptian religious beliefs, including the journey to the afterlife and the importance of gods and goddesses in everyday life.

One of the highlights of the unit was a creative task where students designed their own hieroglyphic messages, learning how the Ancient Egyptians communicated through symbols. They also participated in a group challenge to ‘build’ a pyramid using teamwork and problem-solving skills, gaining an appreciation for the effort and ingenuity required to construct such monumental structures.

Through critical thinking and historical inquiry, students have honed their skills in analyzing primary sources, piecing together evidence from artifacts, and drawing conclusions about daily life in Ancient Egypt. The enthusiasm and curiosity displayed throughout the unit have been fantastic to witness!

As we conclude this topic, we encourage families to ask their students about their favorite discoveries and discuss how Ancient Egypt’s legacy continues to influence our world today. Well done to all our Year 7 historians for their hard work and engagement this term.

Year 8 History: Uncovering the World of Medieval Europe
This term, our Year 8 students have journeyed back in time to explore the fascinating world of Medieval Europe (500 AD – 1500 AD). Through engaging lessons and interactive activities, they have gained valuable insights into the feudal system, the role of the Church, and the daily lives of people in this dynamic period of history.

Students examined how medieval society was structured, learning about the different roles within the feudal hierarchy—from kings and nobles to knights, peasants, and serfs. They explored the importance of castles as both defensive structures and political symbols, investigating their design and the strategies used to protect them from sieges.

One of the most exciting aspects of the unit was our study of medieval warfare and the code of chivalry. Students analyzed the role of knights, their training, and the significance of tournaments and jousting. They also explored the impact of the Crusades on both Europe and the Middle East, considering the perspectives of different historical groups.

This unit has encouraged students to think critically about how the past has shaped the world we live in today. We encourage parents and caregivers to ask their students about their biggest takeaways from this period in history. Well done to all our Year 8 historians for their enthusiasm and dedication throughout the term!

Year 9 History: The Birth of a Nation – Australian Federation (1901-1914)
This term, our Year 9 students have explored one of the most significant chapters in Australia’s history: Federation and the early years of nationhood (1901-1914). Through historical inquiry and engaging activities, students have developed an understanding of how and why the six British colonies united to form the Commonwealth of Australia on January 1, 1901.

Students examined the key figures and events that led to Federation, including the roles of Sir Henry Parkes, Edmund Barton, and Alfred Deakin. They investigated the challenges and debates surrounding unification, such as concerns over state rights, immigration policies, and economic differences between the colonies.

Through critical thinking and source analysis, students have gained a deeper appreciation for the complexities of Federation and how it laid the foundation for modern Australia. We encourage families to ask their students about their key learnings and how Federation continues to influence our society today. Well done to our Year 9 historians for their enthusiasm and hard work throughout the term!

Mr Matthew Timms
UMY Classroom Teacher

St Joseph's Feast Day

Take a look at what we got up to at St Joseph's Feast Day today, Friday 28th March. 

Community Events