St Joseph's, Tara - Term 4 Week 8 2022 Newsletter!

Our Vision & Mission Statements

From the Principal

Dear Parents and Carers,

The end of a wonderful 2022 school year has arrived. Thank you to everyone for collaborating to support our amazing students in 2022. With our collective belief that all students can succeed in learning and by setting intentional next step goals that support all students from where they are, this belief has been realised.

Together we make great learning possible for all students!

Awards Night led by Year 6 leaders

It was wonderful to catch up with parents and grandparents on Awards night. The Year 6 leaders did a masterful job of running the Awards night and this is a true reflection of their leadership throughout the year. We thank the Year sixes for making a positive contribution to our St. Joseph's community and wish them the very best for the future. We look forward to 2023 visits from Keira, Ella, Jasmine and John. We will  miss you.

Like you, the St. Joseph's staff were so very proud of all that each and every student has achieved throughout the year. In partnership with  you, your child's learning and wellbeing will continue to flourish in the 2023 year! 

Photoshoot

The images and videos from the WonderKarma photoshoot team are looking great. Every student with a signed WonderKarma media release form was photograped or videoed. Students were patient and followed the photoshoot directions very well. I can't wait to see the finished Toowoomba Catholic Schools advertisement!

Staffing

Teacher and School Officer interviews will be conducted over the next two weeks. The applicants chosen will be the ones best able to support the needs of the students. You will receive an email notifying you of the successful applicants and  it will also be posted on the school Facebook page.

In 2023, we will have the following the class structure: A Prep class on its own, Year 1 and 2  together and Year 3-6 as usual.  I have carefully budgeted so that each class will have a school officer assisting student learning. In the budget, student learning and wellbeing is always prioritised.    

School Renewal and Improvement (SRI)

The Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office has a school renewal and improvement (SRI) framework which has, as a key element, a school renewal and improvement (SRI) review every four years. These reviews occur in all TCS schools. The aim is to assist schools to strategically plan to continue to improve teaching and learning. 

St. Joseph's Tara is keen to participate in a SRI review from Tuesday 31 January to Thursday 2 February. At St. Joseph's Tara, we know that school renewal and improvement is a vital process that guides our community to develop an effective strategic plan that intentionally improves teaching and learning and continues the wonderful work of improvement for all students that is happening in our school today.

A review team consisting of Senior Education Leader, Paul Murphy and a peer principal, Mr Lawson Short, from St. Joseph's Millmerran, will visit the school for three days.

Using a process of appreciative inquiry, review team members will ask staff, parents/carers, students and community members the following questions, 'In your opinion, what is going well at St. Joseph's Tara?' and 'What could be done better?'

As a result of the interviews and analysis of data, a report is then provided to the school community and the review team share in this report their findings and suggested improvement strategies. These findings and strategies inform the development of the school’s strategic and annual action plans.

We would like to hear from representative of our school community and I encourage anyone who is interested to have their say. Your feedback is important and valued.

Feedback can be provided to the review team in person or by telephone. All feedback remains confidential. Please contact the school office if you are interested in speaking to a member of the review team. You may also register your interest by emailing tara@twb.catholic.edu.au.

Community Uniform Vouchers

What a compassionate and generous Tara community we have! Belinda Gay, on behalf of Tara Community Christmas Tree Group, recently purchased four uniform vouchers. Each voucher entitles four lucky St. Joseph's recipients to receive a shirt, a skort/shorts & a bucket hat from St. Joseph's School. These vouchers will be given to four students in need of a new uniform and will be available from the Tara Neighbourhood Centre. 

Audiology

Twenty-two students participated in the free audiometric hearing and hearing health check with Audiologist Dendra Cole on Tuesday 22 November. 

Swimming

Excited students caught the bus to Chinchilla today to participate in a block of three swimming lessons provided by qualified Swimfit coaches. I received a photo of session one and everyone seemed very relaxed floating about in the pool. Students should sleep well tonight.

The Small School Swimming Carnival at Moonie is this Friday 25 November. Students, travelling  by car with another family, need to be at school by  7:15 a.m.  A text message has been sent to  parents informing them of the adult driving their child to and from Moonie.

There will be normal school for students not attending the swimming carnival.

Wellbeing Week

The last week of term is wellbeing week. Class teachers will conduct lessons on personal development throughout the week. There will some  additional activities during the week

Monday- Marshmallow tower fun

Tuesday- Coloured clothes day $2

Wednesday-Sun smart relay

Thursday-Year 6 Graduation

Season's Greetings

I wish all families a safe, happy and relaxing holiday. Don't forget to enjoy time for reading each day. I look forward to seeing you all next year on the first day for students, Tuesday 24 January. 

Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

Regards

Mary Porter

"Be full of forgiveness, hope and love." Mary MacKillop (1873)

"May your unfailing love be with us...as we put our hope in you." Psalm 33:22

From the APRE

The theme for our 2022 year has been 'Make Room in your Heart for All.' The staff and year 6 leaders and each student at St. Joseph's school have listened to God's call to make everyone feel supported and welcome. When you come to St. Joseph's school, you belong. All visitors comment on the feel and the  welcome of St. Joseph's Tara. While being distinctly Catholic, we value and learn from and with diversity. We include, not exclude. All are welcome. All belong. Jesus  demonstrated this in his every day life. Mary MacKillop followed Jesus' example and we, the St. Joseph's community are doing our bit today and tomorrow to make the world a better place for all.

As we farewell Mr Greg Smith (relief teacher in 2023) and Mrs Susan Rodd (retiring from counselling), the year sixes and the school year, we pause to give thanks for these wonderful human beings, their labour of love that was their work at St. Joseph's Tara and for all our blessings.

O God of all beginnings and endings,

We praise and thank you for the gift of this school year.

It has been a time filled with grace and blessings,

With challenges and opportunities,

joys and sorrows.

Give us the rest and refreshment we need this summer.

Watch over us in the weeks of rest ahead,

And guide each day as you have done this past year.

Help us return to school with a new spirit and energy in 2023.

May we continue to grow in age, wisdom, knowledge and grace.

May we have a wonderful Christmas with family and friends remembering that a happy Christmas begins with JESUS.

 And may we make precious memories to treasure for a lifetime. Amen.

As the season of Advent begins this Sunday, we prepare ourselves for the gift of love and hope that is Jesus, who is the reason for the Christmas season. Be kind to each other and be a gift of love (and patience) to your family as well. 

Take care and be well.

In the Love of God

Mary L Porter                         

APRE

Learning at St Joseph's

This term, the students have been conducting a geography comparison study, comparing our continent of Australia, with the continent of South America. Students have discovered the vast differences between the two land masses, and some surprising similarities. We have been researching deeply into the physical landform of the continents, their fauna, flora and fascinating places of interest.

In our You Can Do It studies we have been focused on being resilient.  Being able to set reasonable goals, work towards those goals and having the courage to continue if things sometimes  do not go to plan. Counsellor Mrs Rodd has complimented the YCDI program this term, by supporting students to 'Bounce Back,' by participating in this resilience program.

In Maths we have continued our work with the metric system in all forms of Measurement.

Next week seven students will join in on our St Joseph’s Award, Gold Award winners trip away.

The students have planned a packed itinerary which will include a feeding frenzy, playground adventure trail and water park fun. Well done to all the students this year for “being their best”.

Greg Smith

2022 Awards Night

Photo Time

P & F News

Thank you to all whom have supported the P&F through out 2022. Whether it was purchasing items at our stalls and/or fundraisers, volunteering personal time to help work at events and cooking for various events. 

Special mention to Joan Christensen and The Tara Futures Group for allowing us to cater for and raise money at their events.

As mentioned at the Awards Night last Wednesday night we have a possible paid postion for the 2023 Tuckshop Convenor.

Tuckshop - It has been wonderful to have some more helpers in the canteen for 2023.

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

Gold Award Recipients

John Chottu & Havoc McLuckie

Silver Award Recipients

Aldrich Imperial

Students Of The Week

Week 7 - Jaxson DeBoeck, Evelyn Allen, Keira Furniss and Jasmine Wood

Week 8 - Alaura Latimer, Deakin Cole, Zak Phillips and Leon Riddiford.

Term Dates

2022

Term 4 2022 – Tue 4 Oct - Thurs 1 Dec

2023

*Term 1 2023 – Tue 24 Jan (Public Hol 26 Jan) - Fri 31 Mar

*Term 2 2023 – Tues 18 Apr - Fri 23 Jun

*Term 3 2023 – Mon 10 Jul - Friday 15 Sep

*Term 4 2023 – Tue 3 Oct - Friday 1 Dec

Wellbeing Matters

Student Safety

                                                     THE 2022 STUDENT PROTECTION CONTACTS:                                                                                                                                     Sue Whelan                                                                                                                                                                                      Mary Porter                                                                                                                                                                        Susan Rodd (Counsellor)

STUDENT SAFETY INFORMATION

EVERY CHILD HAS THE RIGHT TO FEEL SAFE

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT