St Joseph's Primary School South Grafton eNewsletter

From our Leadership

Welcome

Dear St Joseph’s Families,

School Improvement Reviews

As you are aware, our school engaged in two review processes that involved outside professionals coming into our school and interviewing all staff and some families. We are so pleased to share the commendations [this is outstanding], affirmations [keep doing them], and recommendations [the big building block for the next 3 years] with you all.

The complete report, which has significantly more detail, can be requested from the Office or myself via email. This was shared at last week's Parent Group gathering.

Both the ACER and Mission reviews were a lovely affirmation for all of the great things that are happening at our school.

School_Improvement_Report_2024_Commendations_Affirmations_Recommendations.pdf

Photography guidelines for parents

We recognise that parents and carers enjoy photographing and recording the progress of their child at school and on school activities. We recognise that many of you like to share these personal memories online and on social media.

We ask for your cooperation and care concerning the use and distribution of photographs of other children at our school. Some families have very real legal and safety issues which could put a child at risk if an image is made public online.

More generally, it is respectful of the privacy of other members of the school community to ask permission before posting an image online. Even if your social media settings are private, it is easy for images to become public, particularly if they are tagged or shared by others.

When we run activities and hold events here at school, that families are invited to, we often take photos to share with our community through the school newsletter and our social media platforms.

Please note that for adults attending public events there is assumed permission for their image to be able to be published on our platforms.

Primary Sport

Tenpin Bowling

Golf

PCYC

Netball

SEESAW

In Term 4 we are introducing the use of Seesaw to communicate individual student learning to families. Your family's individual code has been sent home to join this platform so that your child can communicate samples of their classroom work with you.

What is Seesaw?

Seesaw digital portfolio; a simple way for students to record and share what's happening in the classroom. It gives students a place to document their learning, be creative and learn how to use technology. Each student gets their own journal and will add things to it, like photos, videos, drawings, or notes. Student work is then shared with the teacher and families.

Socktober

On Friday, 24 October we celebrated our Socktober event at St Joseph’s. Through the generosity of friends, family and members of our school community, we were able to raise over $1300. This money will go towards providing nutritious meals, access to education and a safe home to children at the Caring Center in Mongolia.

A big thank you to everyone who participated. The students cherished the opportunity to make an impact for those less fortunate, as well as having the chance to kick a ball at some of their teachers.

Prior to our Socktober event on this day, the whole school gathered in the hall to pray a rosary for October, the month of the Rosary. The students displayed great reverence and respect during this peaceful time.

Learning Intentions and Success Criteria (Writing)

As we work towards our 2024 School Action Improvement Plan goal, "All students will meet the expected learning progressions for their grade in Grammar and Punctuation," teachers will implement targeted teaching strategies in the upcoming learning cycle. Each group will have clearly defined Learning Intentions and Success Criteria, which you can see below. These objectives will help both teachers and students stay focused on achieving specific writing goals and personal targets, fostering a structured, goal-driven learning environment. They will also guide teacher feedback, self-assessment, and peer reviews, promoting a collaborative and reflective learning process.

Below is the Math Learning Intentions and Success Criteria our students will work towards during the first 2-3 weeks of this term.

Principal-Danny Rankin

Assistant Principal-Anne Forwell

Leader of Learning - Brooke Donoghue

Leader of Evangelisation - Matthew Green

Sport Coordinator - Caitlin Crispin

Swimming Carnival

The Swimming Carnival will be held on Friday, 15 November at Maclean Olympic Pool for students aged 8-12 years old. The carnival will begin at 9:30am and conclude by 1.00pm. Please provide consent for your child on Compass if you wish for them to attend.

Swimming Carnival Program 2024

9:00am : Buses depart for Maclean Olympic Pool

9.50am: Students assemble in the grandstand. Welcome to Country, prayer and carnival format overview.

10.00am - 1.00pm: Swimming events

1.50pm: Arrival back at school

Pool Events	Other Events

10am Start: 100m Freestyle ( Jr, 11yrs, Snr) Junior 50m Freestyle (8,9,10’s) 11 Years 50m Freestyle Senior 50m Freestyle (12s, 13s)	10am: Non-swimmers at Novelty events
Junior 50m Backstroke (8,9,10’s) 11 Years 50m Backstroke Senior 50m Backstroke (12s, 13s)	Non-swimmers at Novelty events
Junior 50m Breaststroke (8,9,10’s) 11 Years 50m Breaststroke Senior 50m Breaststroke (12s, 13s)	Non-swimmers and students on competing on slide
Junior 50m Butterfly (8,9,10’s) 11 Years 50m butterfly Senior 50m butterfly (12s, 13s)	Non-swimmers and students on competing on slide
Novelty events for primary students
Junior Mixed House 4x50m Relay Senior Mixed House 4x50m Relay (Depending on numbers)

Year 6 Rowing

A group Year 6 students have elected to partake in a 6 week Rowing program with Grafton Rowing Club. The program will begin this Friday, 8 November between 9.00am-10:30am. Students will need to bring their swimmers, sunscreen, a hat and a drink bottle.

School Notes

Coulouring Competition

Allie Miller from Dougherty Property is running an in school colouring in competition.

Every 2 weeks a new group of year levels will get a colouring in page to enter the competition if they wish to participate. All they need to do is colour in the picture how ever they like and have it returned back to class by the end of the 2-week period to go into the draw to win a prize!

There will be a chance for someone in each year level to win a prize! Once the winner has been chosen Allie will present the prizes to the winners at a School Assembly.

All the colouring in pages will also be displayed in the Dougherty Property window for all to see.

SCHOOL FEES

BPay is the preferred payment method for school fees.

Scheduled payments can 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.

Whooping Cough

A case of whooping cough has been reported to our school. Please see the Factsheet below.

Whooping_Cough_Fact_Sheet.pdf