Term 2 Week 9

Principal's Message

Dear Parents and Carers,

 You would be aware that Mrs Larissa Deleiuen is having a baby. Larissa will be finishing up at the end of Term 2 so June 25 will be her last day.

Mrs Carole Reinhard will be taking on Larissa’s role as Instructional Leader K-2 for the remainder of the year.

Mrs Tegan Filewood has accepted a contract for Term 3 in Stage 2. Tegan comes highly recommended and we look forward to her joining our Stage 2 team each Monday, Wednesday and Friday for Term 3. Hannah Gorman and Katherine Davies will of course be with the children as always.

We wish Larissa all the very best, thank her for her many years of service and pray for the safe delivery of a beautiful, healthy baby.  We also look forward to her returning to St Joseph’s in the future.

With every good wish

Lee Denton

Principal

Masters of Education (Leadership) 

Assistant Principal - Anne Forwell

Clarity

Thank you to all of our wonderful families for supporting our staff development on Thursday of this week. We continued our CLARITY journey where we are forever improving teaching and learning. 

Through the support of the Catholic Schools Office we have been working 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. In the coming weeks we will be working on the creation of school wide data walls which will ensure a focus on the learning needs of every student.

Leader of Evangelisation - Donna Bancroft

Journey

Shortly after his installation, Pope Francis addressed students of Jesuit schools in Italy and Albania. In the general audience hall, looking out at 9,000 students, alumni, parents and teachers, Francis held up his prepared speech and said: “I've prepared a text but it's five pages and that's a little long. Let's do this: I'll give it to the Provincial Father and Fr Federico Lombardi so that you all can have it written and then some of you will ask me questions and I'll answer them. That way we can talk.”

Accounts of the encounter report that the event's presenters seemed hesitant about the Pope's request, saying that no questions had been prepared in advance. Francis waved them away and took 10 unscripted questions from students in the hall.

A teenage boy told the pope that he was trying hard to believe in God and be faithful, but that he often struggled with doubt. "What can you say to help me and others like me?" he asked the Pope.

The life of faith is a journey, Francis answered.

Think of a time when you “fell” on your life’s journey.

• What happened?
• What/who helped you up and kept you going?
• Did you reach your “goal” or are you still on your journey?

Leader of Catechesis - Joe Stewart

Staff Professional Learning

Last Tuesday afternoon at our Staff Meeting, Gemma Ballantine from the Catholic Schools Office further developed with our staff the process of story telling. Gemma retold the parable of the Good Samaritan. She then worked with us deepening our understanding of how we can unpack and explore the gospel stories to better engage our students in their learning. Gemma will also be working with the teachers over the next week ensuring that our Religious Education programs continue to be engaging and inspiring for our students.

Drum Band

How wonderful it is to have people like Graeme McLennan volunteering his time to teach our students the skills to play the drums. At the Athletics Carnival, our Drum Band led the march-past. It was a moment in time where you could not only see but feel the pride of our students as they marched with their sport houses.

Thank you Graeme for inspiring our students.

K-2 Instructional Leader - Larissa Deleiuen

Writing and Walker Learning in Stage 1

Stage 1 students have been learning about Informative Texts. They have been investigating, listening to, watching and creating their own informational texts. During Walker Learning Investigation time, students have been able to read and utilise a variety of informative texts such as brochures, “how to” posters, flyers and books. That give information about certain topics the students have been learning about like the phases of the moon, how to construct cubby houses, insects and animals. One of the tasks of the photographer this week was to take photographs of an informational text and explain to the class, as the expert, what made it an informative text. Students then used this information to plan their own informative text on an animal of their choice. I cannot wait to read them and learn some amazing facts about their animals. If you are a family member of a student in Stage 1, why not ask them about the text they have been working on.

Leader of Curriculum - Hannah Gorman

Semester 1 Student Reports

As previously communicated all student reports will now be accessed by parents/caregivers online via our Schoolworx system. Reports will not be printed and sent home. Your child’s report will be ready to view this Friday 18 June via the parent portal at  http://parent.lism.catholic.edu.au. For a reminder of how to access the portal please see the link below.

Parent Teacher Meetings Semester 1  

Formal parent teacher meeting opportunities will be provided during Term 2 week 10 as well as Term 3 week 1. All parents/ carers are encouraged to take up the opportunity to meet with their child's teacher/s. A note will come home this week detailing how to arrange a meeting with the teacher/s and also some tips for getting the most out of your interview.  

Library/Book Club Coordinator - Anna Smidt

Book Club

Book Club issue 4 has been ordered and is due to be delivered to the school this week. Thank you to all those who order through Book Club as it enables us to earn reward points that we can then use to purchase new books for our library.

With this issue, we were able to use reward points to order some more of the very popular Babysitters Club graphic novels. Look out for Book Club Issue 5 early next term.

Overdue library books

As the end of the term draws near, it's time to check for any overdue library books which may be lurking around your house. Any student with a book outstanding will be given a note this week  with the title of the overdue books so please hunt around and send these books back in as soon as possible. 

Disaster Zone 

Stage 3 has been studying natural disasters. Investigating ways that advances in science and technology have assisted people to plan for and manage natural disasters to minimise their effect.  

This week they received a special visit from Sue Chapel who is the Clarence Valley SES local Commander. Sue spoke to the group about the early warning systems that the SES use to prepare for a disaster. The way they help those in need as well as the recovery phase in the wake of a disaster.

Stage 3 were extremely appreciative of the visit as it gave them a better understanding of the importance of early warning systems as a way to minimise the effect of a disaster. Stage 3 is now in the process of designing their own early warning system. These  will be on display in the library when complete so come in and check them out, you’ll be impressed.

Gumbaynggirr Language - Liz Hegedus

Giinagay Ngujawiny -Hello You Mob,

We are so lucky to be able to have a 'Dreamtime' corner in our school library.  The whole idea of the 'Dreamtime' corner is to invite the students to come and relax on a beautiful Indigenous mat, with comfortable cushions and pillows to chat and read books.  It is also a space to display Indigenous history and resources such as Indigenous dreamtime stories, songlines, art and students work.

It is such a wonderful and inviting space that is well utilised every day.

Darrundang Ngiinda -Thankyou

Miss Liz Hegedus

Indigenous Educational Worker (IEW)

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 

School Photos - Thursday, 24 June 2021

Order Envelopes have been sent home with students. If you would like to order sibling photos please see the School Office. 

Drama and Voice Tuition

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

School Events & Dates

TERM 2

WEEK 10

• Monday 21 June -  School Assembly 2.15pm - 2.45pm
• Friday 25 June - Last Day of Term 2

TERM 3

Week 1

• Monday 12 July - Students return for first day of Term 3
• Tuesday 14 July - Zone Athletics Carnival 

WEEK 2

• Monday 19 July - School Assembly 2.15pm - 2.45pm
• Friday 23 July - Sacrament of Confirmation - St Mary's Church, Grafton 6.00pm

WEEK 3

• Monday 26 July - School Assembly 2.15pm - 2.45pm
• Tuesday 27 July - Parent Partnership Evening  5.00pm - 6.30pm

Uniform Shop

The uniform shop is located in  the  BrewHouse Village                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Opening hours: 

Monday - Thursday 10.00am to 4.30pm 

Friday by appointment only

Email: fytexptyltd@bigpond.com  or  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.