St Joseph's School, Tara eNewsletter

Our Vision & Mission Statements

From the Acting Principal

Welcome to the Week 10 Newsletter!

Wow! What a term!

We have finally made it to the end of yet another jam-packed and busy term. I would like to thank all the staff for the compassion and commitment they have shown the whole school community over the past 10 weeks. We are certainly very lucky to have these people working with our students so that they can have the quality education they all deserve. There have certainly been many success stories for many of our students this term and this is due to the professionalism and dedication of this wonderful staff.

I know you all would join me in wishing them a relaxing and restful holiday, as we know that they certainly all deserve it.

2024 Prep Enrolments

2024 Prep enrolments are well underway. Transition days have begun with more to come in Terms 3 and 4. These dates will be advertised soon after the holidays. Enrolment interviews will be held in Term 3, so if you have a child who will be of Prep age in 2024 or you know of someone who does, please submit an enrolment application online via the school website as soon as possible so you do not miss out on your spot.

Please note: having a current sibling at the school does not automatically ensure you a spot in the 2024 Prep class. An enrolment application MUST be submitted.

Prime Learning Time

Research in brain development shows that there are certain windows of opportunity, known as sensitive periods, when certain parts of the brain develop most quickly. These windows are prime times for learning certain skills because the brain is ready to build networks of connections in response to what the five senses absorb.

In a school environment, prime learning time is considered to be during the morning period. This is when the brain is most active as we have had a full nights sleep to rejuvenate the brain cells ready for the next day.

As a school, we are going to ensure that students have the every opportunity to utilise this prime learning time. We will do this by establishing a routine of limited interruptions to our morning (8.45am to 10.45am) and middle (11.15am to 1.15pm) sessions.

As parents, you can support the school by:-

1. ensuring your child is reguarly at school

2. ensuring your child is not arriving late to school each day

3. limiting any appointments, such as doctors and specialists etc during prime learning time

A reminder about the importance of regular attendance at school

We are still seeing large numbers of absences across the school, with many students away for consecutive days. Please remember that regular attendance at school is so very important not only for their development in learning but also their social development as well.

It is also policy that if your child is absent from school for 3 consecutive days, a medical certificate needs to be provided to the school on the third day.

As can be seen in the table below, regular attendance at school ensures students have better success with their learning; therefore, in Term 3, we will be closely monitoring absenteeism and will be making contact with parents when students are continually away from school.

God bless,

Kylie Williams

"Find happiness in making other people happy." Mary MacKillop

"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you." John 15:12

From the APRE

Prayer for Holidays

Loving Lord,

Thank You so much for the up-and-coming holidays and the wonder and excitement that they gather in all our hearts. Praise You for all the goodness and grace You generously pour out on us and all people. Especially, I thank You for the many blessings we gain from these important times of holiday fun and time to spend with family and friends.

We pray that our inner soul can be refreshed and rejuvenated in a relaxed atmosphere, when we are surrounded by precious friends and family members, and will provide us with special opportunities of close fellowship and communal fun.

At this holiday season I particularly remember those that may be alone, or ill, or going through times of stress or difficulty, and pray that You will draw very close to each and every one. Let them know Your special peace in their heart and give to each one Your sufficient grace.

Amen.

Source: https://prayer.knowing-jesus.com/Prayers-for-Holidays

Learning at St Joeys

Term 2 has been busy!

Music across the school has been a hit! This term, students moved on to creating structured compositions. They used their knowledge from first term to design a piece of music they can ask a peer to perform. Students have really enjoyed watching their music come to life using body percussion. In Semester 2, we will be moving on to Dance and Drama in the Arts.

Students are really starting to develop their skills in Auslan with many using their skills throughout various lessons when they hear a word they know. They have especially enjoyed being able to learn some familiar songs which we can use in Music lessons also. Term 2 also saw students develop their understanding about deaf culture and community. Their Deaf Awareness helps them to understand that Auslan is a legitimate language with social parameters just like any other language.

The 3-6 class has spent Term 2 learning about the First Fleet during HaSS lessons. The students have shown a real interest in this topic and made some personal connections to their own histories. Students have enjoyed mapping out the journey and discovering the different conditions for the various clientele aboard the ships. We also looked at the different perspectives of the European settlers versus the Indigenous inhabitants. It was really great to see the students respect and listen to each others thoughts and perspectives.

I look forward to more great learning in Term 3.

God Bless,

Mrs Davis 😊

Photo Time

NAIDOC Celebrations @ St Joey's Chinchilla

Tuckshop tomorrow for the Athletic's carnival.

Our P&F team are working on some upcoming fundraisers! If you have any ideas, please contact the office and your brilliant ideas will be passed on! We would love to hear them!

The P&F commitee last week have donated students with decodeables, these decodeable books assist students with their home reading. St Joseph's P&F want to thank our school community and local community for their ongoing supporting with our fundraisers/raffles/stalls! In doing so we are able to support your children with their learning needs.

From the Parish

**Parish Priest**: Fr Jack MacGinley **Presbytery**: 4665 3401 (Tara)

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

St Joseph's Awards

Bronze Award

Violet Ash, Noah Fraser-Parle, Jaxson de Boeck

Students Of The Week

Week 9 - Jaxson de Boeck, Noah Fraser-Parle, Xander Welldon-Taylor and Gnhevea McLuckie

From the Administration Officers

SCHOOL FEES

Term 2 fees, Please, if you do need financial assistance, come in and see myself or Kylie to see how we can help. It is completely confidencial.

We give a big thank you to those who have been making regular payments and to those who have paid in full. We really appreciate it!

Parent Portal

We are now at 100% of our parents being on the Parent Portal! Don't forget to check out are newsfeed, absences, calendar (keep up to date with your childs activity and important dates for Term 2 and Term 3), update family contacts and emergency contacts and updating medical.

Report cards will be distributed through the portal this week, making it easier for Parents to recieve.

HOW TO PAY YOUR SCHOOL FEES:

*Cash / Cheque, at the office.

*Direct Deposit:
Bank: ADF
Name: St Joseph’s School
BSB: 064-786
ACC: 100-025-583
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.

Term Dates

2023

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

Term 2 2023 –(Student Free Day 17 Apr) Tue 18 Apr - Thur 22 Jun

(Travel Day Fri 23 Jun)

Term 3 2023 – (Student Free Day 10 Jul) Tue 11 Jul - Friday 15 Sep

Term 4 2023 –(Public Hol 2 Oct) Tue 3 Oct - Thur 30 Nov

(Travel Day Fri 1 Dec)

Wellbeing Matters

Student Safety

EVERY CHILD HAS THE RIGHT TO FEEL SAFE

It is a legislative requirement that all non-state schools have at least two nominated staff members to whom a student can report the behaviour of another staff member that the student considers inappropriate. We call these specially trained staff members School Student Protection Contacts, or SSPCs. Each SSPC has been nominated by the principal in recognition of their integrity, approachability and knowledge in the area of student protection. Whilst students are encouraged to speak up to any trusted adult in the school community, it is important that they know they can access these specific staff members at any time should they have worries, queries or concerns. You will have noticed posters throughout the school depicting our current SSPCs. The SSPCs are also published on our school website along with information about our student protection processes. In everything we do at St Joseph's Tara student safety is our highest priority, therefore the SSPCs at our school are key personnel in our overall safeguarding processes. Please see the poster below depicting our current SSPC team.

St Joseph's, Tara - Term 2 Week 10 2023 Newsletter!