St Joseph's Primary School South Grafton eNewsletter

From our Leadership

Welcome

At St Joseph’s, we strive to instil in our students the values of sincerity and humility. We teach them to value actions over words and to recognise the quiet strength in serving others. As St Francis of Assisi is said to have once stated, “Preach the gospel at all times, and, when necessary, use words.”

Understanding the New Semester 2 Student Report

Why are there changes to the K-6 Semester 2 Student Report?

The NSW Government is reforming the curriculum to streamline and strengthen what is taught in every classroom in NSW, so every student is prepared and ready for their future. The curriculum reform has been informed by consultation with teachers, parents and education experts, and is underpinned by extensive research. Curriculum reform involves changing teaching, learning, assessment and reporting to parents.

The release of the new syllabuses provides the opportunity to revise aspects of the Student Report to align with current research.

“Parents want to know what was taught and how well their child has learnt it, as well as where improvement is needed……. (NESA, 2023)”

What are the changes to the Student Report Comments for Semester 2?

Student Report Comments reflect the Learning Areas on the Student Report. There will be multiple comments:

English Comment
Mathematics Comment
Key Learning Area Comment
General Comments

The English and Mathematics Comments will reflect:

Areas of achievement and growth
Learning Goals

The Key Learning Areas Comments will reflect:

Areas of achievement and growth
Learning Goals

across key learning areas.

The General Comment will reflect non-academic achievement and could include:

extracurricular activities and/or
additional comments to elaborate on the Learner Profile and/or
demonstration of school values and/or
a student’s social/emotional learning.

Please find below a sample of how the comments will be structured for Semester 2 for English, Mathematics and Key Learning Areas. These will now be in dot form and are separated into achievement areas and learning goals.

Combined Parish/Catholic Schools Christmas Celebration

We are gathering with St Mary’s Primary, McAuley Catholic College, St Patricks and St Mary's Parish on the evening of Thursday, 30 November for a combined Christmas Celebration. St Joseph's students have been singing and acting out very unique Aussie Christmas songs!

All families have been invited via COMPASS. Please respond as it will assist with ordering food and how many buses to order for our dress rehearsal during school time.

Canteen News

Thank you to all families for using the COMPASS portal to order canteen food on Wednesdays and Fridays. This initiative does reduce volunteer time, stress and substantially reduces storing money on site.

We will be employing a canteen supervisor for the 2024 school year. This position is for 8 hours per week. If you are interested please contact the Office for the Roll Description and Duties and the link to the application process.

Country Universities Centre, Clarence Valley and Year 6

The Country Universities Centre and St Joseph's have entered into a partnership to encourage our students to think about post school options.

Students in Year 6 reflect on their dispositions and interests, explore the amazing breadth of possible career choices that reflect their dispositions and interests and learn more about what is on offer without the need to leave Grafton. It is a 4 week initiative and we feel truly blessed to have this opportunity.

Year 6

Year 6 students had a blast at Ten Pin Bowling last week. Thank you to McAuley for sharing their bus, Mr Stewart for driving and especially Year 6 who enjoyed themselves and were so wonderfully behaved.

Colour Fun Run

Sponsorship is now due! The event is on Wednesday, 29 November.

Please note any students who have not returned their sponsor sheet will require a gold coin to participate on the day.

Thank you to the amazing group of volunteers for all your efforts. These events require planning and a generous spirit.

Raffle ticket booklets will be sent home in the coming days, if you require extra booklets they will be available from the Office. Please return sold tickets and any unsold booklets before 4 December.

Our volunteers will also be selling raffle tickets at Grafton Shopping World on Thursday. They would appreciate anyone who may be available to assist selling tickets.

Teaching and Learning

As we continue our work to achieve our School Action Improvement Plan in Writing, Descriptive Feedback will be provided to students from their teachers and students will give peer feedback and self-assess against the following Success Criteria for their respective writing group.

Principal-Danny Rankin

Assistant Principal-Anne Forwell

Leader of Learning - Brooke Donoghue

Thumbs up

In this section of our newsletter we congratulate students of St Joseph's who have represented our local community and beyond the city limits.

Remembrance Day

Thank you to our School Captains Callum & Rose, who represented our school at the Remembrance Day Service.

Laying a wreath, honouring those who gave their lives in service.

Sport Coordinator - Caitlin Crispin

Swimming Carnival Results

Congratulations to our 1st place House Champions CRAIG

Phillips 2nd
Hawthorne 3rd
Wilson 4th

Gumbaynggirr Language - Liz Hegedus

Ginnagay Ngujawiny -Hello You Mob,

During the last 4 weeks, Kindergarten and Stage 1 have been learning about the sun, moon and stars. They have learnt how to pronounce these words in Gumbaynggirr language.

The sun - Ngayan and Barlaagany - Day, daylight, sunshine.

The Sun is the centre point of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures across Australia. The Sun is the source of life and death, bringing life and heat to the Aboriginal people. The sun is a very important resource and our place in the world relys heavily on how the sun supports us. It supports us in our energy, weather, food, human, animal and plant life. The Aboriginals knew the importance of the sun and based their culture and beliefs around it.

The moon - Giidany

The moon is a very important source to the Indigenous people of Australia. The moon plays many roles for the Indigenous people, it is used to understand the weather, tell the time, travel on the land, hunt for food and the telling of Dreamtime stories/beliefs.

The stars - Birraarl

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were, and continue to be, careful observers of the stars. The stars serve as an important source to help the Aboriginals survive. There are 4 ways Aboriginal people have been using the stars as indicators. The stars help them to recognise seasonal change, finding food, learning Aboriginal laws and knowing how to direct yourselves at night time.

The students have enjoyed learning how the Aboriginals use these resources to help with everyday living. Without these resources our lives would not exist, so it comes down to teaching the next generation on how important it is to look after our country for their children.

Darrundang Ngiinda - Thankyou Miss Liz Hegedus IEW Indigenous Educational Worker

School Notes

BOOK CLUB

Book Club Issue 2 is out now! If you would like to order through the school, please return your orders to school by Thursday, 28 March.

Remember you may also order online through the link below.

https://mybookclubs.scholastic.com.au/parent.aspx

Combined_Parish_Celebration.pdf

How_to_talk_about_Big_World_Problems.pdf

SCHOOL FEES

Thank you to those families who have made the change from Direct Debit to BPay for fee payments. BPay is the preferred payment method for school fees. Scheduled payments can also be set up using BPay, the Biller Code and your personal reference number can be found on your Fee Statement.

Paying through BPay ensures that your payment goes directly to your account. Any enquireies please contact the School Office.

ABSENCES

Please notify the School Office if your child will be absent for an extended period of time, Principal approval may be required.

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 on 6642 2899 with any changes.

Transport_for_NSW_School_Student_Travel_2024.pdf

School Calendar

TERM 4 2023

Week 7

Tuesday, 21 November - School Community Group Meeting 6.00pm
Wednesday, 22 November - Junior Joey's
Wednesday, 22 November - Infants Swimming 1.00pm-2.30pm

Week 8

Monday, 27 November - School Assembly 2.15pm
Wednesday, 29 November - Colour Fun Run
Wednesday, 29 November - Junior Joey's Last Day
Thursday, 30 November - Combined Christmas Celebration with St Mary’s Primary & McAuley Catholic College

Week 9