St Joseph's Primary School South Grafton eNewsletter

From our Leadership

Welcome

As Father’s Day approaches, we want to take a moment to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the fathers and father figures in our school community. Your unwavering support, dedication and love, shape the lives of your children in countless ways. From early morning drop-offs to helping with homework, attending school events, and being there for all the highs and lows, your presence makes a world of difference.

Thank you for the sacrifices you make, the lessons you teach, and the example you set. On this special day, we celebrate you and all that you do.

May your day be filled with love, joy, and the appreciation you so greatly deserve.

Happy Father’s Day!

Please join us 10:15 am -10:45 am to celebrate Father's Day with prayer and entertainment!

Stage 3 Camp

The students spent three exciting days amongst a naturally regenerating rainforest in the Tweed Valley. Despite the rain all activities went ahead and the students worked in teams to complete challenges. One of their favourites being the Leap of Faith where students faced vertical climbing challenges varying from rope ladders, climbing panels, obstacles, logs and tyres to reach levels of 4m up to 12m. With adrenaline rushing our students pushed themselves beyond their comfort zone. It was great to see them cheering and encouraging each other through new experiences.

In the evening the students participated in board games, karaoke, table tennis and on the last night it was time for a movie!

Congratulations to the Stage 3 students who represented our school with pride, were well mannered and participated fully in the camp experience.

Our school was visited by a panel of three reviewers to ascertain how we do things here at Joeys. The panel interviews every staff member and many, many students. They also spoke with 35 parents/grandparents. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their thoughts about Joeys. More will be shared over time.

Tell Them From Me Survey

In a previous Newsletter our overall survey results were shared. Below is a snapshot of a set of questions regarding the topic of Welcome.

Celebrating Visual Arts
In Semester 1, eight student artworks were selected to be displayed throughout the Diocese of Lismore. The students have been waiting patiently for their copy of the 2024 Semester 1 Art booklet to arrive and today was the day!

The students were so proud of themselves and their artworks. Congratulations to Tristan, Sarah, Dakota, Heston, Alice, Bonnie, Myla and Kendall.

ACER STEM Video Game Challenge

A team of dedicated coders have been working hard in Code Club during lunch time, most of last term, to enter the ACER STEM Video Game Challenge. Our team called themselves "Joey's Stars" and they really are stars!

They were successful in making it through to the 2nd round of judging. Whilst the team of Phoenix, Heidi W, Dakota and Ruby G did not make it through to the finals this year, they enjoyed the experience of building a video game and found the judge's feedback to be valuable.

Here is a snippet of the judges feedback:

Really blown away by this game.
Firstly it fit the theme really well, and stands out with a focus on Indigenous Astronomy.
I certainly learnt from it, which is great!
I think the team have done an amazing job, there is certainly a lot of talent.
I really hope you are able to participate in the competition again, and I have no doubt that the team will do well again in the futurure!

Here is a link to the game that they made: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1023103796

Congratulations to team Joey's Stars!

Book Week

On Thursday, 26 September we are celebrating Book Week. This year's theme is 'Reading is Magic'.

The dress up parade will commence at 2.15pm and conclude at 2.45pm.

Colour Fun Run

Thank you to those families who have kindly volunteered to help on September 11 with our Colour Fun Run. More helpers are needed, if you are able to assist please leave your name with the Office. Remember to send in your sponsorship forms and money.

Mathematics Learning Intentions and Success Criteria

Below, you’ll find the Learning Intentions and Success Criteria for each group.

Writing Learning Intentions and Success Criteria

As we continue to advance in our efforts to achieve the 2024 School Action Improvement Plan Goal for Teaching and Learning, ensuring that "All students meet the expected learning progressions for their grade in 'Grammar' and 'Punctuation'," teachers will implement explicit and tailored teaching strategies in the upcoming learning cycle.

The learning will be based on the clearly defined Learning Intentions and Success Criteria for each group shown below. These goals will guide both teachers and students in the achievement of specific writing goals for their group, as well as their own personalised goal, fostering a focused and structured learning environment. Additionally, teachers and students will utilise these criteria for teacher feedback, self-assessment and provide constructive feedback to their peers, promoting a collaborative and reflective approach to learning.

Principal-Danny Rankin

Assistant Principal-Anne Forwell

Leader of Learning - Brooke Donoghue

Leader of Evangelisation - Matthew Green

Sport Coordinator - Caitlin Crispin

The Diocesen Athletics Carnival was held on Tuesday, 21 August at the Coffs Harbour Stadium. Well done to Aaliyah and Isla who participated in the day.

A special congratulations to Isla who won the Senior Girls Shot Put. Isla is now off to Newcastle for Polding Athletics on 13 September. We wish her the best of luck.

Touch Football

Last Wednesday, a group of Stage 3 students participated in a Touch Gala day held at Rushforth Park. The students had a great time showing fantastic sportsmanship. Well done students.

Gumbaynggirr Language - Liz Hegedus

Ginnagay Ngujawiny -Hello You Mob,

This term in our Indigenous lessons, Kindergarten and Stage 1 are learning about Australia and its Aboriginal way of life, in relation to the different seasons. In Aboriginal life we have 6 seasons. Each season explains how Aboriginals have always lived on the land. How they lived and survived on the land depended on the area in regards to the availability of food and environment resources.

The weather also played an important role. The weather changes indicate what is happening around us, like the flowering of many different plants, the hibernation of animals, cooler mornings and nights, the water height of rivers and creeks, trees abundance (leaves, fruit, animals, insects) etc, all of these determine how the Aboriginal people should live, hunt and survive.

In different areas or tribes the names of the seasons are different. For example in the Northern Territory area, the top end is known as Kakadu seasons.

First Summer: Birak season of the young December to January.
Second Summer : Bunuru season of adolescence February to March
Autumn: Djeran April to May
Winter: Makuru June to July
First Spring: Djilba August to September
Second Spring: Kambarang October to November

Kindergarten and Stage 1 are learning about Arnhem land seasons. If you head east towards Arnhem land from Kakadu, their 6 seasons have different names. So far, we have learnt about the first season Kudjewk which is Monsoon season. We also listened to the story "Ernie Dances To The Didgeridoo.' The story tells how Ernie is going to live in Arnhem Land for a year. He flies above the desert, travels over the floodplains, crosses the East Alligator River and arrives at his new home. Ernie sends letters home to his friends in the city Clive, Nicky, Rosie, Frank, Tessa and Celeste, describing the life he discovers with his new friends in their wild and beautiful land.

https://youtu.be/PbEjwdXrc98?si=JWZH3vYeM2ARCWNh Ernie dances to the didgeridoo

Kudjewk Monsoon season is December to January, during December to March the temperature ranges between 24°C – 34°C. This is the true tropical summer, which brings thunderstorms, heavy rain and flooding.

Kudjewk’s heat and humidity cause an explosion of plant and animal life. Speargrass grows to over two metres tall and gives the woodlands a silvery-green hue.

Magpie geese nest in the wetlands while widespread flooding drives goannas, snakes and rats to seek refuge in the trees. Eggs and stranded animals are a good source of food for local Aboriginal people during this time.

Speargrass gets its name from its sharp pointed seeds. The seeds are harvested by ants and provide an important food source for birds such as finches. In Bangkerreng time (around April each year), the ‘knock ‘em down storms’ arrive and flatten the speargrass ahead of the dry season.

https://vimeo.com/448446737 (Seed grass)

Magpie Geese The Yindjibarndi people of the Pilbara in the northwest of the country used the bird as a signal for sunrise, awakening them with its call. They are large, boldly coloured and noisy, and they can gather in enormous flocks. Aboriginal people hunt Magpie Geese and their eggs. The Parks and Wildlife Service manage this hunt to ensure the survival of Magpie Geese. They usually breed late in the wet season and can live up to 32 years of age.

These are the names of the other seasons, which we will learn about in the coming weeks.

Bangkerreng Harvest time.
Yekke Cool weather time.
Wurrkeng Early dry season.
Kurrung Hot dry season.
Kuruuneleng Pre-monsoon season.

Kindergarten and Stage 1 made animal masks like the children in the story book.

Darrundang Ngiinda - Thankyou

Miss Liz Hegedus

Aboriginal Education Worker

School Notes

Book Club

Book Club Issue 6 is out now! If you would like to order through the school, please return your orders to school by Wednesday, 11 September.

Remember you may also order online through the link below.

https://mybookclubs.scholastic.com.au/parent.aspx

SCHOOL FEES

BPay is the preferred payment method for school fees.

Scheduled payments can also be set up using BPay, the Biller Code and your personal reference number can be found on your Fee Statement.

Paying through BPay ensures that your payment goes directly to your account. Any enquireies please contact the School Office.

ABSENCES

Please notify the School Office if your child will be absent for an extended period of time, Principal approval may be required.

Only full day absences are to be entered into Compass, for partial absences - arriving late or leaving early please phone the School Office to notify.

Change to afternoon travel arrangements may be emailed to the school if before 12.00pm sjpgraf@lism.catholic.edu.au

After 12.00pm please phone the School Office on 6642 2899 with any changes.