Term 2 Week 6

Principal's Message

Celebrating 200 years of Catholic Education 

Dear Parents and Carers,
Last Monday, it was with pride that I took our school captains, Isabelle and Jason to St Carthage’s Cathedral in Lismore to celebrate two centuries of Catholic schools in Australia. We travelled in the McAuley bus with the captains and principals fro St Mary’s Grafton, St James’ Yamba, St Joseph’s Maclean and McAuley College. 
Our captains represented the school so well and carried our banner into the Cathedral in the opening procession.

St Joseph’s had a very special role in the Mass as we sat in the centre front row of seats. This honour was given to us as we were acknowledged as the oldest school in the Diocese of Lismore. 

“Australian Catholic schools have a long and proud tradition of delivering high-quality, faith-based education. Our graduates have made, and continue to make, a significant contribution in business, civic and public life, sport, performing and creative arts, community services, and all facets of society.

“The bicentenary is an opportunity to celebrate those who have served in Catholic education since its earliest days; the contribution of religious institutes, clergy and lay people in the foundation of schools in cities, rural and remote parts of Australia; and the continuity of this mission with the leaders, staff, families and the wider Church community today. We look forward with great hope and faith in the future of Catholic schools by continuing to respond to our mission of meeting the educational and spiritual needs of young people and our communities.”

“As we celebrate 200 years of Catholic education in Australia, we recognise and pay respect to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the First Australians and first educators of this land. They have educated their children for tens of thousands of years and make a significant and valued contribution to our school communities and the cultural and spiritual heritage of Australia

With every good wish,                                                                                                                                                                Lee Denton                                                                                                                                                                                      Principal                                                                                                                                                                                        Masters of Education (Leadership)

Assistant Principal - Anne Forwell

Staff Development Day (pupil free)

Thank you to our amazing families for supporting the professional learning of our staff. These days inprove our skills and knowledge so that we can increase outcomes for every student. 

Our next staff development day will be held this term in week 9 on Thursday 17 June. 

The learning for staff on this day continues our work with CLARITY where we are working towards continuous improvement in learning and teaching. Through the support of the Catholic Schools Office we have embarked on an exciting Journey with Dr. Lyn Sharratt. Lyn is a highly accomplished practitioner, researcher, author, and presenter based in Ontario. She has a track-record of substantially increasing school performance. Staff members have participated in a zoom with Lyn and she will be working alongside us as we focus our efforts on increasing each student’s growth and achievement. On the staff development day we will be working on student data walls and agreed practices which will ensure a focus on the learning needs of every student. 

Every child, every day!

Leader of Catechesis - Joe Stewart

National Sorry Day Mass

On Wednesday Stage 2 and 3 celebrated Mass with the theme of, "In our sorrow we turn towards God, acknowledging that we need his mercy." We began with a Welcome to Country and at the end of the Mass, Fr Joe Holloway blessed the Aboriginal Prayer Resources which the school has just received. The children then sang the Aboriginal Lord's Prayer before the Final Blessing. Thank you Miss Liz for preparing the art work with the children and setting up the Aboriginal sacred space which was a key focus for our National Sorry Day Mass.

MJR at St Joseph's : GTS

At the assembly on Monday, Year 6 presented the new Making Jesus Real theme: Greet Treat and Speak. 

The way that we choose to greet, treat and speak to others has a big impact on how we are received as people.  

When we greet, treat and speak with care we are Making Jesus Real and are living the “Spirit of Jesus” in our lives.  

Year 6 set the children a challenge!  Let’s see how many new people we can greet politely, treat courteously and speak respectfully to this week.

Sacrament of Confirmation 

Please keep the following children in your prayers as they continue their preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation which will be held on Friday, 23 July.

Miranda Scully, Lara Forwell, Rowan Lloyd, Rachael Savins, Hugh Brotherson and Ivy Lloyd.

May the Holy Spirit continure to bless and guide you on your faith journey.

K-2 Instructional Leader - Larissa Deleiuen

 Writing - Informative Texts in Stage 1

Stage 1 have been learning all about Informative Texts. They have been discussing their purpose and their audience and how they might be able to use them to give information or facts about a topic. Students have been listening to, reading, utilising and creating informative texts during Walker Learning investigations and during their English lessons. Last week, students crafted a procedure about 'How to Make Fairy Bread.' They had to think about each ingredient, material and steps as Miss Cormick and Mrs Bancroft had to follow the procedure step by step to see if they could successfully create fairy bread using the chosen recipe. Students found they needed to carefully choose verbs to describe the exact action they wanted their “chefs” to do. They even added tier 2 words to make the directions even clearer and more precise. It was a deliciously fun writing task!

Leader of Curriculum - Hannah Gorman

NAPLAN 2021

Well done to all of the Year 3 and Year 5 students who truly did their best during the NAPLAN tests this year! Schools generally receive their students’ NAPLAN reports from mid-August to mid-September. The school will notify you when the reports are being sent to your home. The same report format is used for every student in Australia.

#MathsTrainsBrains

The Everyday Maths Hub has been released as part of the NSW Mathematics Strategy. The hub will support parents and carers of children from Kinder to Year 10. It includes games, puzzles and short videos to introduce maths topics so parents can help their children with maths.

Simply follow the link below to access the website or search #MathsTrainsBrains on Instagram or Facebook to find some fun activities to try with your children- Let me know if you try an activity!

Sport Coordinator-Emma Davis

School Athletics Carnival

The St Joseph's Athletics Carnival will be held on Wednesday 16 June. The carnival will be held at Barnier Park in Junction Hill. All students will attend this event. Infants students will participate in a novelty carnival and return to school once their activities are completed. Primary students will compete in the following events: 100m sprint, 200m sprint, shot put and long jump. Students will be able to nominate to compete in the 800m race. Students will also participate in some novelty activities throughout the day. The program of events will be provided before the carnival. 

Students who place in the top 2 in each event will be selected to represent the school at the Clarence Zone Athletics Carnival in Coffs Harbour in Term 3 on Tuesday 13  July . 

Lismore Diocesan Cross Country 

Congratulations to Braxton Metcalfe for representing the school this week at the Lismore Diocesan Cross Country Carnival held at McAuley Catholic College.

Library/Book Club Coordinator - Anna Smidt

Premier's Reading Challenge

Kindergarten have now read 10 of the 30 books required to complete the Premier's Reading Challenge. Keep up the great reading Kindergarten!

Each student in the school has their own PRC username and password so please encourage your child to rise to the challenge, read a book and add it to their online student reading log. If you need more information please contact the school.

Don't forget the challenge ends on Friday 2o August. 

We Had A Blast!

Gumbaynggirr Language - Liz Hegedus

Giinagay Nyu  - Hello You Mob

This week is a very important week for all Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander people of Australia. May 26 marks the beginning of Sorry Day, from May 27 to June 3 is Reconciliation Week.  We also celebrate Mabo Day on June 3. 

National Sorry Day is an Australia wide event held yearly. This day gives the Stolen Generation, their families and communities a chance to come together and share the steps towards healing . The Stolen Generation refers to Indigenous Australians and Torres Strait Islanders who were forcibly removed from their families and communities between 1910 to 1970.

Reconciliation is very important in Australian history. Reconciliation Week is the result of the 1967 referendum where Australians voted to count Aboriginal people in the National Census and allow the Commonwealth Government to make decisions respecting Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders. National Reconciliation Week is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

It was on June 3 1992 that the Australian High Court recognised traditional land ownership. The victory was largely down to one indigenous man called Eddie Mabo. 

This week is so important as it helps us understand the history of what happened to all Indigenous and Torres Strait Islanders in Australia.  We celebrate every year to remember our history and the hope that nothing like this will ever happens again. To achieve reconciliation, we need to develop strong relationships built on trust and respect, and that are free of racism. Most Australians believe the relationship between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other Australians is important, that cultural diversity makes us stronger.  

In 2007 former Prime Minister Mr Kevin Rudd gave a formal apology.

https://youtu.be/xiLnsFyAVqE  (Link of Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's Apology To The Stolen Generation).

This week I have shared the history of the 'Stolen Generation' with the students.  We discussed how families were separated and Indigenous children never saw their families again. We also spoke how Indigenous people aren't looking for sympathy. 

https://youtu.be/WBMwxhanUeg (Link for 'Stolen Girl')

60 years of children been taken away from their families.

Darrundang -Thankyou                                                                                                                                                  Miss Liz Hegedus                                                                                                                                                                        IEW (Indigenous Educational Worker)

Weekly Merit Awards

Congratulations to the following students who received a Merit Award this week.   

Kindergarten

Rubin French for being a wonderful leader when showing a visitor around our school.                              Emily Clay for using the sound chart when writing to record the sounds she can hear in words.          Amelia Fletcher for listening for and recording the sounds she can hear in words.

Stage 1 

Marley Thrupp for working towards our language domain of speaking in full sentences while using direct eye contact.                                                                                                                                                                        Noah Grainger for showing a growth mindset during his writing task about space day.                            Billy Campbell for displaying a positive attitude towards all tasks and  showing growth in his reading.                                                                                                                                                                                            Vashti Bowman for showing growth in her reading and using her knowledge  of the sound chart to assist in decoding unfamiliar words.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Stage 2 

Tynan Boers for a huge improvement in reading during Term 2, moving from a level 25 to level 28 during his reading assessment.                                                                                                                                            Rahni Hummelstad for her excellent use of tier 2 words when writing a persuasive advertisement.    Nate Finlay for his enthusiasm and sustained on task behaviour during our space activities for National Simultaneous Storytime.                                                                                                                                      Alex Van der Vlist for his improved focus during reading and writing sessions.                                            Phillippa Guest for being ready to learn and helpful to others.                                                                              Hugh Brotherson for his improved focus during reading and writing sessions.                                            Myla Richards for a huge improvement in reading during Term 2, moving from a level 22 to level 26 on her reading assessment.                                                                                                      

Stage 3 

Rachel Surawski  for effectively  using her knowledge of the formal algorithm in our mathematics warm up.                                                                                                                                                                                          Tallon Shoesmith for his thoughtful contribution during our class meeting.                                                Archie Steel  for the confident way he managed and chaired our class meeting.                                            Ivy Lloyd for enthusiasm and positive participation within her library leadership role.                                                                                                                                                                                         

School Events & Dates

TERM 2

WEEK 7

• Monday 31 May 2.15pm - 2.45pm School Assembly
• Wednesday  2 June - Rookie Roller Sport

WEEK 8

• Monday 7 June 2.15pm - 2,45pm School Assembly
• Wednesday 9 June - Rookie Roller Sport

WEEK 9

• Monday 14 June - Public Holiday
  
• Wednesday 16 June - Athletics Carnival, Barnier park
• Thursday 17 June - Staff Development Day (Pupil free)

Drama and Voice Tuition

If your child would like tuition in drama or voice                                              please contact Maree Hickson on 0421 656 019

School Notes

Student Banking

As per Commonwealth Bank guidelines student deposit books are to be brought to school only on the day of banking and returned to students the same day.

Our banking day is Wednesday, therefore students are asked to only bring their deposit book in on that day.  Thank you 

Uniform Shop

U Design Schoowear                                                                                                                                                      BrewHouse Village                                                                                                                                                                      Gate 4

Opening hours from 19 April 2021                                                                                                                          Monday - Friday  10.00am to 4.30pm                                                                                                                        Phone 6643 2989

Canteen

Canteen Volunteers Needed

Our canteen cannot operate without volunteers.  If you are able to assist us between 9.00 am and  12.00 pm on any canteen day, it would be much appreciated. In particular we are looking for volunteers on a Thursday in Term 3 or the canteen will have to close that day.

Babies in prams are very welcome.  Toddlers, however, can find the canteen an unsafe place so we would recommend that they are not present. 

You may find you cannot volunteer every week - that is fine!  We are grateful for any help you can give us. Please contact the School Office if you are able to help.