Term 4 Week 4

Acting Principal - Anne Forwell

It is wonderful to see all the students happy and learning at school. We are looking forward to another wonderful term with many end of year items and events. Please find below some information on upcoming events. 

Semester 2 Reports

Due to the current COVID situation as well as our previous lockdown, reports this semester will not include a subject grade from A - E. The reports will include comments on your child’s learning and progress in English, Mathematics, Religious Education as well as a general comment. Parent/teacher interview opportunities will also be provided. 

School Captains for 2022

In 2022 the school will again have 2 School Captains, regardless of gender, and there will be no Vice Captain positions. The students will be presenting their speeches for 2022 School Captains on Friday, 19 November.   Due to the current level three restrictions, parents will not be able to attend the speech presentations. We will post photos of all participants on Facebook on the day. A separate note regarding this event will be sent home to Year 5 families. 

Year 6 Graduation  - save the date...... Thursday 2 December 6pm

Preparations are being made for our Year 6 graduation dinner. This will be held at a venue outside of the school. More details will follow for our Year 6 families. We are looking forward to this special event. 

Year 6 Camp

Due to COVID Level 3 school restrictions we are unable to hold an overnight camp for our students and we are currently unable to take students on a day trip away. We will keep the Year 6 families updated if any restrictions are lifted. 

End of Year Awards Ceremony and Thanksgiving Mass

We are hoping that this event will go ahead if level 3 restrictions are lifted. Again we will keep everyone updated. 

Child Safety 

Our children are precious and all of us who live and work with them will find information in the Handbook useful to keep them out of trouble and safe. The Handbook’s emphasis is on prevention and comes from the Child Safety Hub (NSW Police). Please find the handbook in the link below. 

http://nsw.childsafetyhub.com.au/handbook/   

God’s blessings on all of our families this week

Acting Assistant Principal & Leader of Catechesis-Joe Stewart

At this stage, we continue on  level 3 restrictions. Under these restrictions, the wearing of masks is recommended for primary students. Unfortunately, under level 3 restrictions, parents are still unable to be onsite. The canteen will still be open each Wednesday and Friday. The last information received was that level 3 restrictions in schools will continue until 1 December. We will let you know if this changes sooner.

I ask you to keep in your thoughts and prayers those who may be unwell at this time and also all involved in responding to the COVID-19 situation. Thank you for your understanding and continued support as we navigate this evolving situation. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the school.

THE SPIRIT OF JESUS  - MAKING JESUS REAL  (MJR) 

"Live Jesus in our Hearts - FOREVER"

At St Joseph’s we encourage our students to 'Make Jesus Real’ by the way they act in our school community, while at home and out in the wider community.

Jesus' message is just as important today as it was 2000 years ago. The Spirit of Jesus is something that we can feel in our hearts and see through other people. Today, the spirit of Jesus is in the everyday positive things that we see and hear people do and say.

Jesus taught us to care for others who have less than we do. We can do this through prayer and by also helping charities such as Catholic Mission.

We are excited to see how the children are preparing for their "Crazy Sock Day" and making sockballs which they will use during sport this week. It is wonderful to listen to the children explaining why they are doing this in an effort to raise money to support children that are far less fortunate than we are. 

MJR at St Joseph’s encourages our students to be WEST people - that is WELCOMING, ENCOURAGING, SAY SORRY when needed and be THANKFUL. If we have the spirit of Jesus in our hearts, then we are kind, compassionate, welcoming cheerful, giving, forgiving, encouraging, cheerful, friendly and thankful.

Leader of Evangelisation - Donna Bancroft

Minnie Vinnies- Charity begins here

The Mini Vinnies group have been very busy at St Joseph's promoting our Catholic school identity and making a difference in other people's lives. Our group has slowly increased over the winter months and we have since welcomed Jason, Annabella, Archie and Keaira into our knitting group. We all, including Mrs Bancroft, have been learning how to knit while basking in the warm winter sun and exchanging friendly conversations with each other. 

Some wonderfully patient and kind ladies from our Parish community have been sharing their love of knitting and have helped us tremendously towards producing a colourful rug to donate to St Francis Aged Care facility in Grafton. Our most sincere thanks and appreciation go to Mrs Megan Summerell, who is now retired from our school but who continues to give generously of her time helping others and to Mrs Margaret Manahan, Jason Burling’s grandmother, for her kindness and support in helping the knitting group complete their project.

We are all hoping that once our level 3 Covid restrictions are finally lifted, that a representative from St Francis Aged Care can visit our school for a more formal handover of the rug and an opportunity for a memorable photo with the Minnie Vinnies students. 

The St Joseph’s Minnie Vinnies knitting group continue to knit and meet as a group each week and are excited knowing that what they do matters. 

K-2 Instructional Leader - Carole Reinhard

Kindergarten to Year 2 teachers are busy conducting final testing ready for reporting on student achievements for 2021. It is a busy time but a good time for reflecting and planning for the coming year.

It is very exciting to be able to have our Junior Joeys at school for Kindergarten Orientation. The dates are Wednesday, 17 November, Wednesday, 24 November and Wednesday, 1 December from 9:00am to 12:00pm. Ms Emma Davis and I will be running the program from the Junior Joeys room.

Stage 1 are investigating the properties of 3 dimensional shapes in Maths. In Literacy they are investigating reasons and ways people persuade us. 

Sport Coordinator - Emma Davis

Term 4 Sport

This term the school was successful in their application for a Sporting Schools Grant. Due to current restrictions this grant will be used to run teacher led sports programs on site. Each stage have nominated the skills and sports they would like to focus on for the term. The funding will be used to access programs developed by coaches to then be delivered by the stage teachers. The funding will also be used to purchase additional equipment as required to deliver these programs. 

Zone and Diocesan Summer Sports Trials 2021/2022 Season

Due to the ongoing restrictions in relation to school and interschool sport changes have been made to the Year 4 and 5 zone and diocesan summer sports trials for cricket, basketball, touch football, tennis and softball. 

Nominations for Clarence Zone representatives for basketball and tennis will be via a paper entry. There will be no physical competition at Clarence Zone level. Nominations will be assessed on representative history and involvement in regular, strong competition. To be considered to represent the Clarence Zone at the Diocesan level students need to provide a detailed playing history, including coaches name and contact details. These nominations will only be considered for players competing regularly at a high representative level. Diocesan trials will be held in Lismore on Wednesday 1 December for tennis, and Thursday 2 December for basketball. If your child has competed at these levels for either basketball or tennis please contact Ms Davis via email emma.davis@lism.catholic.edu.au for more information. 

Nominations for cricket, softball and touch football will be called for in Term 1, 2022.

Library/Book Club Coordinator - Anna Smidt

Book Club

Book Club Issue 7 has been ordered and is due to arrive at school shortly. Using the Scholastic rewards points, we were able to order all fourteen books in "The Bad Guys" series which is written by Aaron Blabey and currently very popular in Stages 2 and 3. Thank you for your orders, it helps our library to grow!

Gumbaynggirr Language - Liz Hegedus

Giinagay Ngujawiny -Hello You Mob,

This term the school has bought some beautiful Indigenous resources that will benefit the library, students and our school.

As you know we already have some beautiful Indigenous items in the library and we now have a lovely round mat and cushion covers  for our dreamtime corner.  The design of the mat is named 'Djurebil' meaning 'Scared Place.'  The design is created by Holly Sanders who is a Bundjalung woman from the North Coast.  Her design acknowledges the traditional owners of this land, sea and sky. It pays respect to our Elders of the past and present for their strength, knowledge and leadership, and to our jarjum's (children) who are our future elders.

The patterns and meeting place symbols throughout represent gatherings, sandhills and Country, symbolising our ongoing connection to the land and ocean.  We have thrived and lived sustainably with the land we now call Australia for more than 60,000 years. 

The warm natural colours represent the sand, ochre and colours of the Country. We are the ancient people of this land - we respect and listen to the land, our elders and the ancient spirits - our ancestors have walked this sacred country for millennia and continue to live on in the land, water and the sky. This connection and relationship to Country continues to remain strong today.

Darrundang Ngiinda -Thankyou

Miss Liz Hegedus

IEW (Indigenous Educational Worker 

School Notes

Student Absentee Explanations

All Absentee explanations MUST be sent to the School Office to ensure your child's absence is recorded accurately. This information can be phoned through to the School Office on 6642 2899, or emailed  directly to sjpgraf@lism.catholic.edu.au

A hand written note sent in with your child upon their return is also acceptable.

School Events & Dates

TERM 4

WEEK 5

Monday, 1 November - All Saints Day

Tuesday, 2 November - All Souls Day  

WEEK 6

Thursday, 11 November - Remembrance Day

Merit Awards

Congratulations to the following students who received a Merit Award. 

Stage 1- Week 3

Alex Hylton-Cummins for his outstanding efforts in reading.

Owen Trickett for his wonderful explanation about 'stabilisation.'

Chelsea Dentler for her outstanding improvement in reading.

Charlotte Parry-Jones for being a wonderful reading buddy to her peers.

Stage 1 Week 4

Sophie Pole for her engagement in segmenting and blending sounds during guided reading.

Joy Tough for her engagement in segmenting and blending sounds during guided reading.

Baden Ballard for his growth in reading.

Heath Gilmore for his interest and contributions towards Walker Learning investigations.

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