St Joseph's, Tara - Term 2 Week 5 2022 Newsletter
Our Vision & Mission Statements
From the Principal
Principal
Dear parents and carers,
St Joseph's students have had another two weeks of learning and they are showing very pleasing learning growth! Students are using a variety of stratgies to comprehend when reading and to solve real life maths problems. P-2s recently surveyed the whole school to answer the question "What is our schools' favourite subject?" P-2 tallied the responses and examined the data. This school data collection and analysis, clearly demonstrated that Maths and English are our students' favourite subjects. Students are certainly using their Learning Super Powers this term and this is wonderful to see!
NAPLAN
Well done to our fabulous Year 3 & 5 students for their calm and mature approach to the NAPLAN tests. We are so very proud of your efforts and attitude. The NAPLAN breakfasts certainly hit the spot. The quote of the day was, "This is heaven!" Your child's report will be shared with you by Mrs Smith, later in the year.
Learning Interviews with Mrs Porter (face to face) and Mrs Yates (online)
The school has been seeking student voice around learning, to better understand what students think and know by asking curious questions e.g. What makes a good learner? The students have demonstrated courage in participating in these interviews and have readily responded to the questions.
Q: Do you like learning? Is it fun?
A: Yes, always. My teacher gives us different ways to learn. This makes learning a good experience for us.
Small Schools and Tara and District Cross Country
Well done to the students who tried their very best at the community Cross Country and thank you to the parents who transported students. The behaviour, sportmanship and school spirit of the students was outstanding.
Congratulations to Karlos Partridge who came first in his age group.
Amazing effort everyone!
St. Joseph's Cross Country
As the St. Joseph's Cross Country has been postponed due to wet weather twice, we thought Fun Friday 27 May would be a great day for it. Please join us for a picnic and fun student and parent ball games at school at 12.45 pm. BYO picnic blanket, food and joggers for the parent ball games!
Tara and District Softball Team
Ella Sinclair and Jorjah Furniss have been selected in the Tara and District Softball team. Team Training will be held on Wednesday afternoon at The Gums. There will be lunchtime softball practice at school with Mrs Porter. These girls will be competing in the Regional trials being held in Taroom on 22 June.
Volunteers Week
This is National Volunteers Week (16-22 May), a time to celebrate our wonderful volunteers in our school and local community. A special thank you to the hard working P & F volunteers and helpers in the school grounds, tuckshop, library and classroom.
Our gratitude to the SES volunteers who help out our community in emergencies.
Transition Day
Our next Transition Day is next Wednesday 25 May from 8.30-11.00 a.m. Please see the Transition Day flyer with this newsletter and encourage families wanting to know about St. Joseph's school or who are interested in their child learning at St. Joseph's in 2023 to come along. There are flyers down town as well.
Wellbeing Week 23-27 May
Students will be able to participate in free wellbeing activities next week.
Monday 23 May: Students are invited to create a decorated mask at home to wear on Monday.
Tuesday 24 May: Lunch time art option
Wednesday 25 May: Transition day
Thursday 26 May: Mindfulness in class
Friday 27 May: Fun Friday lunchtime (12.45 pm) activities and Cross Country
Reconciliation Week
St. Joseph's students will be participating in the community Reconciliation activities being held on 1 June from 10 am-2pm. Mr Craig Riddiford who works at St. Joseph's will share what Reconciliation means to him. Please see the flyer in this newsletter for a list of all the wonderful activities on offer. It is going to be good/Gamba (Barunggam)!
Be well and enjoy a spirit filled week.
Mary Porter
Principal
'I urge you to keep up your courage.' Acts 27:22
'God wants us to take fresh courage.' Mary MacKillop in 1877
From the APRE
Pentecost Sunday marks the last day of the Easter Season.
At Pentecost, our mission begins. We are called out of the darkness of our comfort zones, out of individualism, fear and anxieties, to live our baptismal calling openly in the light - in full view of the world!
At Pentecost, we give voice to our faith, empowered by the Spirit of God!
May Jesus, who breathed forth the Spirit into our hearts,
Enflame our lives so that we shine with God’s pure light.
Amen.
PRAYER FOR UKRAINE
O Lord our God, look down with mercy on the Ukrainian people. Protect and save them from the unjust aggressors who seek to subdue them. Grant them steadfast trust in your mercy and protection.
O Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Grant peace and protection to the people of Ukraine. Give them strength and courage to defend what is good, right, and holy. Keep them safe from harm and provide for all their needs, both temporal and spiritual.
Hear our prayers, O Lord, and deliver us from distress, for You we give glory: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and ever.
Amen.
Photo Time
LEARNING AT ST JOSEPH'S
In P-2 we have been continuing to develop literacy and numeracy concepts. Students have been participating in daily small group reading activities. They have started a writing journal this term and students have been writing in their journals each day. This has had a wonderful impact, helping them to record their thoughts and ideas and has strengthened their handwriting and spelling skills.
In maths we have been busy maintaining earlier taught concepts as well as introducing skip counting, data and time. Students have been wonderful, curious mathematicians and have used a range of strategies to problem solve.
In science P-2 have been investigating force. We have completed hands-on investigations and have explored push and pull forces. The students recorded and compared their push and pull data from their experiments. Soon, we will be using our knowledge and creativity to design a push or pull car. A letter will be sent home next week as we will be constructing our car using recycled materials.
All students are demonstrating learner behaviour! I am looking forward to enjoying the remainder of the term with P-2.
Ashley Stoker
P-2 Teacher
Learning Barunggam Language
What Sports House Are We In?
MacKillop:
Jasmine & Deakin, Keira & Jorjah, John, Ella, Alaura, Gnhevea & Havoc, Tamarah, Jason & Bella, Cooper, Karlos & Kaesha, Damon, Kella, Loretta & Charlotte.
Penola:
Ruby & Rhys, Marcella & Angel, Jaxon, Josef, Jorge & Jules, Katie, Leon & Anthony, Bentley, Kaileigh, Milly, Zak, Roco & Joey, Eliza & Malia, Meliaceae & Decklin.
From the Parish
St Mary Of The Angels - Tara
Mass Times
Tara: Friday: 9am
Saturday: 6pm
Moonie: Sunday: 9:30am
on the 1st, 2nd & 3rd Sunday of the Month
Meandarra: Sunday: 7:30am
on the 2nd & 4th Sunday of the Month
Glenmorgan: Sunday: 9am
on the 4th Sunday of the Month
Parish Priest: Fr Jack MacGinley
Presbytery: 4665 3401 (Tara)
St Joseph's Awards
Students Of The Week
Week 4 - Deaking Cole and our WDRC ANZAC DAY Colouring in competition winners.
Week 5 - Charlotte Partridge, Bentley Tucker, Alaura Latimer and Jasmine Cole.
From the Administration Officers
SCHOOL FEES
Term 2 Fees.
PLEASE attend to your school fees and thank you to all who pay their fees on time.
HOW TO PAY YOUR SCHOOL FEES:
*Cash
*Direct Deposit:
Bank: ADF
Name: St Joseph’s School
BSB: 064-786
ACC: 100025583
Reference: Your Name.
*Centrelink Centrepay Deduction Payments can be made fortnightly or monthly. The School’s CRN: 555075545A
Not Sure how it’s done? Ask at the office for Assistance.
Bus Notification Reminder: Please notify the school if your child's bus travel arrangements change by 2:30pm each afternoon.
If your child is being picked up instead of catching the bus home or is required to catch the bus instead of being picked up then the school needs to know before 2:30pm. Our staff have a duty of care to ensure your children get home safely, in accordance to the arrangements you have advised.
SCHOOL COMMENCES AT 8:35 EACH DAY AND FINISHES AT 2:50 pm.
Please ensure your child arrives at school by 8:20 to give them time to have their healthy snack, do their laps and socialise with their friends, giving them the best start to their school day.
LATE ARRIVALS: If your child arrives late to school please come to the office and sign them in.
ASSEMBLY: Is held first thing every Monday morning after the roll is taken.
ABSENCES: Please notify the school whenever your child is absent.
Could I please ask those families who received an Unexplained Absences Explanation Request Form and have not returned them or notified the office to do so asap. These forms will now be sent out on a fortnightly basis and are to be returned by the Friday of that week please.
We understand that there are valid reasons for your child not to attend school e.g. They are sick. Please be aware that the following examples are not acceptable reasons for keeping them home from school.
If your child:
- Doesn't feel like coming to school
- Thinks it's too wet, cold, hot or the work is too hard or too easy
- Stays home when another sibling is sick or a family member has an appointment or is going shopping out of town
- Had a disagreement with their best friend
- Got into trouble or thinks they might get into trouble at school
- Is embarrassed about something that happened the day before
- Has an activity or subject on that day they don't like
P & F News
Thank you to the families that have returned their volunteer forms. Our school runs on Volunteers, without your help many of the fun activities and programmes undertaken here at school would be impossible.
Crystal Park Country Music Walk up Festival - St Joseph's P&F have been given the opportunity to run a food stall for the Crystal Park Country Music Festival on the 27th-29th of May. We are kindly asking for volunteers to help, whether it be food prep on the Thursday 26th or serving out at the Music Festival, making cakes and slices or even food items or money donations if you are not available to help. Free admission has been offered to volunteers and a list will be provided to the events coordinator.
Tuckshop - We are still in need of volunteers for tuckshop duty. If you require another form, please contact the office for either the Volunteer or Induction form. They can be emailed to you or sent home with your child.
Term Dates
2022
*Term 1 2022 – Tue 25 Jan (Public Hol 26 Jan) - Fri 1 Apr
*Term 2 2022 – Wed 20 Apr - Fri 24 Jun
*Term 3 2022 – Tue 12 Jul - Thurs 15 Sep
*Term 4 2022 – Tue 4 Oct - Thurs 1 Dec
Wellbeing Matters
Have fun with the daily activities on our Happiness Calendar. See how many you can achieve.
DEAR MIND ... Focus on mental health and wellbeing
Some people call it resilience. Some people call it grit. Whatever you call it, improving your mental wellbeing is one of the best things you can do to unlock a happier life. The Queensland Government has launched a new campaign, Dear Mind, encouraging all Queenslanders to make time for themselves and prioritise their mental wellbeing. Taking some ‘me time’ helps strengthen our mental wellbeing, lifts our mood, improves our relationships and helps us deal with difficult situations.
When we look after our mental wellbeing, we are better able to cope with the everyday stresses of life, realise our abilities, participate in the community and work productively. Evidence has also shown positive mental wellbeing can help prevent behavioural and mental health problems, and act as an important ‘buffer’ to the risk of mental illness.
Dear Mind encourages all Queenslanders to create a healthier relationship with their mind by making small changes to their daily routine to include simple, everyday activities such as spending time with family and friends, learning new things, being active and spending time in nature.
For ideas and inspiration visit qld.gov.au/mentalwellbeing
Student Safety
THE 2021 STUDENT PROTECTION CONTACTS: Sue Whelan Mary Porter Susan Rodd (Counsellor)
STUDENT SAFETY INFORMATION
EVERY CHILD HAS THE RIGHT TO FEEL SAFE
Tuckshop
ROSTER
We are in urgent need of helpers for tuckshop duty on Thursdays. We would love to see everyone joining in. It usually works out that you're rostered on twice a term. But with 'More hands making light work' it would certainly be less. Without your help tuckshop will not be able to continue.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
