Term 1 Week 2, 2023

From our Leadership

Welcome

Dear St Joseph's  Community,

We are grateful that our holiday break was peaceful and safe for our families and community. We pray that 2023 is joyful, safe, and healthy for us all.

Gracious God, we come to you at the beginning of this academic year

with our many feelings, expectations, and hopes.

Help us to remember, we have the comforting

assurance from you as you told us: "I will always be with you."

Give us a new perspective to see persons, events, and academic work as an

invitation to develop the many gifts you have given us to be used in service for others.

                                            Grant us peace, joy, safety, and great learning opportunities                                              as we journey together through the 2023 school year.

Amen.

Special Welcome

We warmly welcome our new students Noeletta, Jaxon, Maverick, Jagger, Alice, Tyler, Lachlan and their families to our school community.                                                                                                             

Road Safety Message

The bus companies and local council have informed the school that children are being dropped off and walking across the bus bay. This is extremely dangerous. Please ensure students only use the 'Children's Crossing' that is well signed. 

Here are some safety tips:

• Be alert and aware by travelling distraction-free. Ask children to take off their headphones when walking.
• Keep safe getting in and out of the car. Always use the door closest to the kerb.
• Keep safe getting on and off the bus.
• Wait at the bus stop and stand at least one step back from the edge of the road.
• Always meet your child at the bus stop. Never meet them on the opposite side of the road and call them across. 
• Wait until the bus has gone, before you cross the road. 
• Wear a helmet. Children must wear a helmet when riding a bike in any public place – it’s the law.  Foot scooter, skateboard and rollerblade riders should wear helmets and protective gear such as knee and elbow pads. 

 Hold a grown-up’s hand (Kinder to Year 2) when:

• you cross the road
• you’re on the footpath
• you’re in a car park
• Use a safe place to cross the road. The fastest way, may not be the safest way.
• Stop! Look! Listen! Think! Every time you cross the road and keep checking until you are safely across

Cross the road safely by enacting stop, look, listen and think:

• STOP!  one step back from the kerb
• LOOK!  continuously both ways
• LISTEN!  for the sounds of approaching traffic
• THINK!  whether it is safe to cross and keep checking until safely across

If your child travels independently to school, please talk to them about the route they take to ensure they are making safe decisions. 

Be a positive role model when you are a pedestrian, passenger and driver. Children learn from what they see, as well as what we say.  Never sacrifice safety for convenience.

Uniform 

Thanks to all families for your support on this issue. It is great to see our students looking their best. Due to health reasons some students have an exemption from wearing certain parts of the school uniform. This is given rarely and ONLY after discussions. At this stage only 1 student has this exemption! 

Zone Swimming Trials 

Our zone swimming trial took place on Wednesday. It was our largest try out in some years. Thanks to families and our teachers for organising this opportunity.

Swimming Carnival Term 4

We have been able to secure a date and time during Term 4 for our school swimming carnival. It will be at the Maclean Olympic Pool. The school will cover the extra bus costs.

Homework

During the end of 2022 our school community reviewed our homework procedures and guidelines. Staff as well as families provided input during our parent forum gathering and as a result our standard operating procedures are below. Homework will begin for all students at the beginning of week 4. As we do not wish for homework to cause any disruption for families please make contact with your child’s teacher if you do not wish for homework to be sent home.   

St Joseph's Primary School South Grafton

Homework Standard Operating Procedure

Endorsed 8.11.22

Belief

At St Joseph’s we acknowledge the importance of family time in an increasingly complex and busy world. Our homework guide aims to support equitable practices whilst recognising the diversity of families in our school community.

Homework time is designed to support each child in developing the attributes of a lifelong learner.

For the purpose of this document, reading is not considered to be an optional homework task. It is included in the time guide. Regular reading is strongly encouraged for all students and is considered an essential home activity.

Practice

Homework tasks are offered on a weekly or fortnightly basis for children in all stages.  Completion of homework is optional and a family decision. If completed the teacher will mark it.  Homework tasks will not be used for assessment or reporting purposes. NO new learning will be given as homework.

Time Guides 

Homework can be completed daily or over a weekly or fortnightly period.  The table below provides suggested time to be allocated to homework. Reading is included in the daily time allocation.

Homework options in Kindergarten to Year 2 may include the following:

•         Phonics [handwriting, spelling and high frequency words]
•         Oral language
•         Basic number skills and facts

Homework options in Year 3 to Year 6 may include the following:

•         Phonics [handwriting, spelling and tricky words]
•         Word study
•         Mathematics fluency and problem solving
•         Research
•         Novel Studies
•         Oral language reports
•         Subject / Key Learning Area Tasks

MAI and Letters 

Through the Mathematics Assessment Interview (MAI), your child was observed individually completing a range of specially designed tasks to determine their current mathematical understanding. The MAI provides valuable information to class teachers that informs and guides their teaching of Mathematics to progress learning for every student. 

On Friday, 17 February your child will bring home a letter that summarises the information that your child's teacher has learned about their current mathematical understanding. The letter also indicates how families can assist at home. 

Beginning School Mass and Student Leadership Induction 

This Friday, 10 February our School Captains Rose and Callum will receive their badges at our beginning of year mass. We will also induct our year 6 students into their leadership roles. We congratulate the following students who have earned the following responsibilities;

Mission Leaders: Eva, Charlotte

Building/Environment Leaders: Izac, Hugh, Bradley, Robert

Library Leaders: Sheba, Skye

Sport Leaders: Jackson, Matthew, Jacob, Pippa, Caroline, Darcy, Tyler, Thomas, Maverick, Jaxon

We welcome all families and friends to celebrate with us on Friday, 10 February at 9:30 am St Patrick’s Church South Grafton.  

School Improvement Plan 

School improvement is an important part of our work with the aim to enhance school practices in order to create better student outcomes.

In 2023 our focus will be on the following 2 goals; 

In the area of Mission our overarching goal is to have our Patron Saint - St Joseph evident in the life of our school community. 

In the Learning and teaching domain our school goal is to ensure that all students are achieving at their expected grade level in writing. We have narrowed this goal further to the area of text forms and features which includes elements such as, punctuation and sentence structure. 

We will continue to unpack these goals and provide updates to our families over the course of 2023. 

Learning Intention and Success Criteria 

Learning intentions describe what students should know, understand and be able to demonstrate by the end of a lesson, a series of lessons or a unit of work. Learning intentions are informed by curriculum documents and focus on knowledge, understanding or skills.

Success criteria states what students have to do to show they have achieved the learning intention. It can be used for students to self assess their learning in order to improve achievement. The criteria should be co-constructed with students and have a sufficient level of challenge.

In our fortnightly newsletter, we will communicate each stage's learning intentions and success criteria for English (reading and/or writing) as well as Mathematics. By communicating these learning intentions and success criteria with you, we hope to provide families with some information and clarity around what their child/ren are learning, why they are learning it and assist in conversations at home in regards to their learning. 

We will also be sharing our learning intentions and success criteria on our Facebook page with photos of student learning. 

InitiaLit

The new K-2 English syllabus for NSW recommends a Systematic Synthetic Phonics (SSP) approach as the backbone of K-2 instruction for reading and spelling. Our school has selected to implement ‘InitiaLit’, an evidence based SSP approach, that is supported by our Lismore Diocese, to assist ES1 and S1 teachers with the teaching of reading and spelling as they implement the new K-2 English syllabus.

InitiaLit is an evidence-based whole-class literacy program providing all children with the essential core knowledge and strong foundations to become successful readers and writers. 

You will find more information about the program at each year level:

Principal-Danny Rankin       

Assistant Principal-Anne Forwell   

Leader of Learning - Brooke Donoghue 

Sport Coordinator - Caitlin Crispin

Congratulations to everyone who participated in the Zone Swimming Trials. It was wonderful to see all students trying their hardest and cheering on their fellow peers. The Clarence Zone Swimming Carnival will be held on Monday, 27 February at Maclean Olympic Pool. Goodluck to all students who are competing on the day. Earlier this week information for the Winter Sports Trials was sent home to any interested students. 

Key Sporting Dates for Term 1 

Monday, 20 February - Clarence Zone Winter Sports Trials for Stage 3 students

Monday, 27 February - Clarence Zone Swimming Carnival,  Maclean

Friday, 3 March - Lismore Diocesan Swimming Carnival,  Kempsey

Friday, 10 March - Lismore Diocesan Winter Sports Trials for Stage 3 students

Wednesday, 29 March - School Cross Country Carnival

Key Sporting Dates for Term 2 

Wednesday, 3 May- Clarence Zone Cross Country, McAuley College, Grafton

Tuesday, 23 May- Lismore Diocesan Cross Country, McAuley College, Grafton

Wednesday, 7 June - School Athletics Carnival, Barnier Park Junction Hill

Thursday, 29 June - Clarence Zone Carnival, Coffs Harbour

I look forward to a great year of sporting events in 2023.

Gumbaynggirr Language - Liz Hegedus

Ginnagay Ngujawiny -Hello You Mob,

Welcome back to St Joseph's, 2023. Last year the year 5 students who are now in year 6 had the pleasure of designing their school shirt. I had the pleasure of working with the students and Mr Rankin on the finished product. It gave me great pleasure to know that all students wanted their design to be of an Indigenous influence.  I am so pleased to that through my Indigenous lessons and all of the art work that is around our school this has influenced the students to add the Indigenous design to their year 6 shirt. I thank them immensely and I'm very proud that they acknowledge Indigenous culture within our school. So on that note here’s to a great year of learning more about Indigenous culture. 

Darrundang Ngiinda - Thankyou

Miss Liz Hegedus

IEW  Indigenous Educational Worker 

School Notes

ABSENCES

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 with any changes.

REMINDER

Parents & Caregivers are reminded when dropping off or picking students up, the Staff Carpark is not a designated zone. Exception if you require use of a disabled parking space.

Please note the speed limit coming into this carpark at other times is 10 klms. Please be mindful of the school speed zones.

School Calendar

TERM 1 2023

Week 1

Friday, 3 February - Kindergarten's first day

Week 2

Monday, 6 February 2.15pm- School Assembly

Friday, 10 February 9.30am - Beginning of Year Mass at St Patrick's Church 

Week 3

Tuesday, 14 February 6.00pm - Parent Forum Meeting in the Library

Week 4

Monday, 20 February - School Assembly 2.15pm

Monday, 20 February - Clarence Zone Winter Sports Trials for Stage 3 

Week 5

Monday, 27 February - Clarence Zone Swimming Carnival,  Maclean

Friday, 3 March - Lismore Dioeasan Swimming Carnival,  Kempsey

Week 6

Monday, 6 March - School Assembly 2.15pm

Friday, 10 March - Lismore Dioeasan Winter Sports Trials for Stage 3 

Week 7

Friday, 17 March - St Joseph's Feast Day Celebration

Friday 17 March - St Patrick's Day

Week 8

Monday, 20 March - School Assembly 2.15pm

Week 9

Tuesday, 28 March - Polding Touch Football, Parkes

Wednesday, 29 March - School Cross Country

Week 10

Monday, 3 April - School Assembly 2.15 pm

Wednesday, 4 April - Last day of Term 1 for students

Thursday, 6 April - Staff Development Day (Pupil Free Day)

Friday, 7 April - Good Friday

Sunday, 9 April - Easter Sunday

Merit Awards

Congratulations to the following students who received a Merit Award. 

TERM 1 WEEK 2                             

Stage 1: Esther, Izac, Lachlan

Stage 2: Jhett, Alice, Owen

Stage 3:  Noah, Botshelo, Noeletta, Jackson    

Uniform Shop

The uniform shop is located in  the  Brewhouse Village.                                           

Opening hours: 

Monday - Wednesday 10.00am to 4.30pm

Thursday 10 to 3.30pm 

Email: fytexptyltd@bigpond.com 

Ph: 0434 025 493                                     

Canteen

Canteen

Reopening Wednesday, 15.02.23 

Open every Wednesday and Friday

Volunteers always welcome, please leave your details with the School Office if you're able to assist.

Community Notices