St Joseph's Primary School South Grafton eNewsletter

From our Leadership

Welcome

We all pray that the final few weeks of school pass by positively in a spirit of community, joy, and learning so that everyone can experience a strong sense of belonging to the St Joseph’s community.

Combined Parish Christmas Celebration

This evening we will gather at McAuley Catholic College for the Combined Parish Christmas Celebration. Thank you to all involved in making this occasion a joyous one. Please remember that supervision of your children is your responsibility. The students will be sitting with their class teacher at the front of the College Hall and can be collected after the concert finishes.

A BBQ is available at no cost. Tea/Coffee, drinks and ice cream will be available for purchase. Gates open at 5:30pm with a 6:00pm concert start. Photos next newsletter!

Colour Fun Run

This is a highlight in the school calendar and once again provided great fun for the students. This can only happen because of our amazing Parent Group who plan and create the course, fill the canisters, and seek donations for prizes.

We congratulate the following students for their fundraising efforts:

1st Place Charlotte Parry Jones
2nd Place Jack West
3rd Place Alexander Hylton-Cummins

The congratulate the highest fundraising student in each grade:

Kindergarten Leia Buchanan
Year 1 Aylee Purton
Year 2 Heston Tribe
Year 3 Joy Tough
Year 4 Aaliyah Cureton
Year 5 Sophie Hewitt
Year 6 Rose Coelli

Congratulations to our Prize Winners

The total amount raised was an oustanding $5761.20 As mentioned, all money raised goes to purchasing new computers for the students.

Congratulations to our 2024 School Captains. The students recognised Botshelo Mefane and William McCarthy-Copson for their leadership qualities and acts of kindness. We thank the other candidates who put themselves forward.

School Uniforms 2024

We have been informed that our new school uniform will arrive late January. It is also understood that there are lots of cost pressures on families at the moment and into 2024. Therefore I remind everyone that the new school uniform will be phased in over a 12 month period during 2024.

Students will still be able to wear the current school uniform. Parents may purchase the current school uniform at cost price through the School Office, for those wishing to delay purchase of the new uniform.

However it is an expectation that students will wear either the old or new uniform each day to school.

Information regarding details of pricing and how to purchase the new school uniform will be provided in the near future.

Junior Joeys Graduation

We congratulate our Junior Joeys Class of 2023 on their graduation. This is always a highlight. Thank you to everyone who made this afternoon a wonderful and joyous celebration.

Student reports will be published to families via COMPASS on Friday, 8 December. As communicated in our previous newsletter there are changes to reports this semester.

The main changes are that there will be multiple comments in your child’s report. These being:

English Comment
Mathematics Comment
Key Learning Area Comment
General Comments

The English, Mathematics and Key Learning Area comments will outline your child’s areas of achievement and growth and their future learning goals.

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.

If you would like a family teacher meeting after receiving your child’s report please make contact directly with your child’s teachers. This can be either sending an email or by phoning the School Office.

Teaching and Learning

New 3-6 Mathematics Syllabus

Over the past two weeks, teachers have been engaging in Professional Learning on the new 3-6 Mathematics Syllabus with Education Officer, Samantha Lynch from the Catholic Schools Office.

Teachers gained an understanding of the Aim and Rationale and the evidence base underpinning the Mathematics 3–6 syllabus. Teachers developed knowledge of the structure, elements and content of the new 3-6 Mathematics syllabus and revisited their prior understanding of content within the K-2 Mathematics Syllabus to gain a deeper understanding of how the content connects and builds across the stages (outcomes) which is known as, ‘The Connectionist Approach’. Teachers will be using their knowledge of the content connection to make considerations when catering for our diverse needs of learners to ensure student growth and achievement.

Learning Intention and Success Criteria

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.

Thank you to our wonderful voluteers who sold raffle tickets at Grafton Shopping World, including Rose who helped out after school.

The raffle will be drawn on 7 December.

Gumbaynggirr Language - Liz Hegedus

Ginnagay Ngujawiny -Hello You Mob,

Last week I was lucky to attend an event held by Clarence Landcare Inc and South Grafton High School. It was the opening ceremony of ‘The Resilient Bush Tucker Garden in South Grafton at Beresford Park. Clarence Landcare worked with South Grafton High School to create a sustainable Indigenous Bush Tucker Garden. This project was made possible by the NSW Government through the Children and Young People Well-being Initiative.

This initiative was a long term idea by local Gumbaynggirr Aboriginal man Mr Michael Kennedy who was able to apply for funding and incorporate South Grafton High School teachers and students to help create the Indigenous garden and maintain it. South Grafton High School teacher, Donna McCarthy who is part of the HSIE Eco Revitalize program worked together with Michael and the students of South High to build and maintain the garden and learn about bush tucker, nature’s resilience and food security. They have done a magnificent job and I commend them on their efforts.

It is a true celebration of community, sustainability, and the rich Indigenous culture of our region. The Resilient Bush Tucker Garden will serve as a hub for learning, relaxation and connection with the land. The whole idea of the project is to involve the local community and school communities.

With the future in mind Michael, Donna and the students of South Grafton High School would love to invite other schools to tour the gardens and learn about bush tucker, sustainability and the environment.

Planted are the foods of the future, as Indigenous Bush Tucker food is not only for eating but they serve as medicinal as well.

Well done Michael Kennedy and Clarence LandCare, Teacher Donna McCarthy and her students from South Grafton High School. We look forward to our students being a part of your fantastic project.

Darrundang Ngiinda - Thankyou Miss Liz Hegedus IEW Indigenous Educational Worker

School Notes

Combined_Parish_Celebration.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