Term 3 Week 3
- Principal's Message
- Assistant Principal - Anne Forwell
- Leader of Evangelisation - Donna Bancroft
- Leader of Catechesis - Joe Stewart
- K-2 Instructional Leader - Carole Reinhard
- Sport Coordinator - Emma Davis
- Gumbaynggirr Language - Liz Hegedus
- School Notes
- School Events & Dates
- Weekly Merit Awards
- Uniform Shop
- Canteen
Principal's Message
Dear Parents and Carers,
There have been many good news stories this week!
I have been very impressed with the great work that Stage 3 have been doing in Mrs Hughes' absence. Their work on information writing for me and mathematics work with Mr Stewart has been most impressive. Please continue to keep Mrs Hughes in your thoughts and prayers as her father is very sick.
Kindergarten have been most impressive in their writing which has shown a great improvement (to Ms Davis' delight). Stage 2 have shown a welcoming spirit to the new children in their room, which is most pleasing. Stage 1 have shown a marked improvement in their playground listening skills, responding well to our bells.
Two students in particular have shown great leadership - and they are not even in Stage 3! Miranda and Sheba have created, and are the leaders of our Litter Committee. The girls spoke about the importance of looking after our school and their speech is printed below. This is the speech they gave at assembly on Monday. I am so proud of their initiative. Let's see how many children join their Litter Committee.
Building Update
Great news . . . I met with the architect last week and shared some ideas about improvements to the classrooms. The children have been giving me ideas as well. The Year 6 Stage Leaders will be visiting rooms this week to ensure all children's suggestions are heard.
With every good wish
Lee Denton
Principal
Master of Education (Leadership)
Litter Committee
Hi my name is Miranda and this is Sheba. I am the leader of the Litter Committee. You may have noticed some girls picking up rubbish during lunch and recess. I didn't realise how much people litter until I started the committee. The way I started picking up rubbish was when I saw a piece of rubbish on the floor, I said to Sheba do you want to pick up rubbish at lunch. To be honest I used to litter a little bit. We only have one earth so time to make a difference in the world. It doesn't have to be a big difference it could maybe just be put your rubbish in the bin or picking up rubbish. If you would like to be a part of the litter committee come and see me or Sheba. It would be appreciated if you would be a part of it. You might just want to do it for a day. So go out there and save our planet and our animals!
Assistant Principal - Anne Forwell
On our facebook page you will find photos of our weekly award winners, the link to the weekly newsletter as well as updates on school events and celebrations of student learning.
https://www.facebook.com/StJosephsSouthGrafton
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Walker Learning
What is the role of the focus child?
At St Joseph's Primary School we have now implemented the focus child and tuning in components of the Walker Learning Approach (WLA) from Kindergarten to Year 6. You may have heard your child talk excitedly about being the focus child. Every child is rostered to be the focus child for a whole day once a fortnight. The focus children stand or sit at the front of the class during the tuning in and reflection components and the teacher discusses their interests and learning. The focus child spends additional time with the teacher throughout the day to enhance their learning.
Leader of Evangelisation - Donna Bancroft
Class Masses return to St Patrick's Church
The term is well under way with each class rostered throughout the term to attend the Parish Mass each Wednesday commencing at 9.15am at St Patrick's Church, South Grafton.
The staff and students would like to sincerly thank Father Joe and Father Emmanuel for this most wonderful experience each week.
This week sees Year 4 travelling to the Church with Miss Davies. The students are reminded to arrive at school on time for a quick departure in the Parish bus to attend Mass.
Parents and families are warmly invited to attend Mass and support their child's faith journey.
Week 1- Years 5 & 6
Week 2- Year 3
Week 3- Year 4
Week 4-Kindergarten
Week 5- Year 2
Week 6-Year 1
Week 7- Years 5 & 6
Week 8- Year 3
Week 9-Year 4
Week 10-Kindergarten
Leader of Catechesis - Joe Stewart
Celebration of Confirmation
Last Friday our parish community celebrated with Bishop Gregory Homeming the Sacrament of Confirmation. Congratulations Hugh Brotherson, Lara Forwell, Rachael Savins and Miranda Scully. At school on Monday, the children continued their celebration by cutting a cake surrounded by their friends who all congratulated them and wished them well. We are extremely proud of you all.
K-2 Instructional Leader - Carole Reinhard
Early Stage One and Stage One are enjoying their new Walker Learning investigations that align with this term's unit of work. There have been many conversations and discussions during these investigations. Next week Year 1 will be doing a Phonics Screening check which will help us to identify areas that they need to work on as a good phonic knowledge is needed to make improvements in reading. It has been an exciting time as the school has decided to purchase some decodable readers for those students who need to build on their phonic knowledge. After all students’ have been assessed we will use the decodable readers with students who need them.
Students have also read to their teachers to find their current reading level. It is lovely to see students making good progress with their reading and that most students are taking part in the Home Reading Program. I cannot recommend this program too highly as it is your chance to make a difference in your child’s reading journey and to work alongside your child’s teacher.
Some students have also commenced the Star Reading Program which is aimed at improving reading results. We are looking forward to seeing their improvements from this program.
Sport Coordinator - Emma Davis
Olympics Fun Day
To celebrate the Tokyo Olympics, the school will be holding an Olympics Fun Day this Friday 30 July. Ealier in the week students were given the name of the country which they will be representing at the event. Students can either dress up in their country's colours or an outfit that represents that country. Students will participate in an 'Opening Ceremony' and some tabloid activities. Students will be spending time in class creating a flag to hold during the Opening Ceremony.
Clarence Zone Athletics Carnival
The scheduled Clarence Zone Athletics Carnival that was scheduled for Tuesday 3 August has been postponed due to the continued restrictions. A new date for this event has not yet been set. Parents will be notified once a new date has been set.
Gumbaynggirr Language - Liz Hegedus
Giinagay Ngujawiny -Hello You Mob,
This term stage 2 are learning about 'Gumbaynggirr Language.' At the time when 'Aboriginals' were the first Indigenous culture to live on Australian lands, there were over 600 larger Aboriginal groups that shared customs, languages and territory in Australia, and there were about 250 languages. Of that original 250 about 90 still survive, though around 70 are under threat of extinction. Twenty languages are considered to be in a healthy state (that is they are still spoken by children); all of these are from northern and central Australia.
Here in Gumbaynggirr country we are working very hard to bring back our language. There is a language centre situated at Nambucca Heads and is known as 'Murraby Language Centre.' The centre trains Gumbaynggirr descandants to learn the language and become teachers, so they can go out and teach the language to adults and children to help bring the language back to life.
Gumbaynggirr language is traditionally spoken between the Nambucca River in the South (Southern dialect), the Clarence River in the north (Northern dialect) and west past Guyra (Tablelands region).
The Gumbaynggirr language is very important to our area as it gives us our own language and identity; which helps explain our way of life with how we speak and tell stories. The language belongs to us.
Stage 2 have learnt some 'Gumbaynggirr' words and have discovered the best way to learn the language is to listen to the way the language teacher pronounces the words, as the spelling does not always match how they sound.
Some words learnt by students were: mother-miimi, father-baaba, younger sister-gambirrgan, potato-budidang, dolphin-yugirr and turtle-ngarlaa.
Darrundang Ngiinda -Thankyou
Miss Liz
IEW (Indigenous Educational Worker)
School Notes
Drama and Voice Tuition
If your child would like tuition in drama or voice please cotact Maree Hickson on 0421 656 019.
Fees
Fee Statements were sent home with students on Tuesday 27 July, they have also been emailed. Please note Term 4 statements will only be emailed.
School Events & Dates
TERM 3
WEEK 3
- Friday, 30 July - Olympics Fun Day
WEEK 5
- Sunday 15 August - Commitment Mass for First Holy Communion
Weekly Merit Awards
Congratulations to the following students who received a Merit Award this week.
Kindergarten
Heston Tribe for recording the sounds that he can hear in words correctly when writing.
Stage 1
Tyler Colby for using a range of mental strategies to solve addition problems.
Braxton Metcalfe for his wonderful writing of the reasons Jesus cares for him.
Maddison Hayes for creating a fantastic story from the point of view of Red the kangaroo.
Ned Scully for locking his eyes in and showing improvement in his reading.
Pippa Bennett for showing growth in her reading during guided reading.
Stage 2
Jackson Grieve for accurately telling time to the minute in mathematics.
Sheba Bowman for being a steward of God's reation and taking initative in caring for our environment.
Miranda Scully for being a steward of God's reation and taking initative in caring for our environment.
Sophie Hewitt for retelling the story through well structered sentences and drawings.
Stage 3
Zylan Dobra Garrett for an excellent research presentation on children of the goldfields.
Emily Hyde for an excellent research presentation on children of the goldfields.
Eve pullen for making a great effort with reading.
Brendan Rielly for making a great effort with reading.
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 closed on Thursday's in Term 3
Our canteen will be closed on Thursday's in Term 3. This is due to not having enough volunteers to operate three days.
If you are able to assist us between 9.00 am and 12.00 pm on any canteen 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.
