St Joseph's School, Tara eNewsletter

Our Vision & Mission Statements

From the Acting Principal

Welcome to the Week 2 Newsletter!

Welcome Back! 

It was so wonderful to see all the smiling faces of the students (and staff and parents) last Tuesday as we started the last term for 2023. It will certainly be a busy term with lots on the calendar from swimming block, Book Week Celebrations, 2024 Prep Transition Days and Year 3-6 Camp just to name a few. Please ensure that you keep up-to-date with the happenings of the school by regularly checking the Parent Portal for messages and updates to the calendar. We also have to keep in mind that our main priority amongst all the busyness is teaching and learning. The whole school goal is to have, as much as possible, uninterrupted prime learning time.

Swimming Lessons - Term 4

Term 4 Swimming lessons were conducted over the past two days as part of the PE curriculum. The students were very well supported by the SwimFit Instructors and school staff to learn new skills and develop skils they already have. All students need to be commended for their behaviour and willingness to hop in the water, give it a go and try their best even when they were feeling a little nervous or becoming tired. They certainly all showed the best version of themselves.

2024 Fee Schedule

While we try to keep school fees as affordable as we can, avoiding increases is sometimes unavoidable as the rising costs of resources, ammenities, such as electricity, and insurances, puts pressure on an already tight school budget.

In 2024, school fees will be slightly increasing in alignment with the CPI and the rising costs of providing the services at a school. This increase will be 5%. This small increase will greatly assist the school to continue to provide and upgrade school and classroom resources, maintenance, general running costs and various school initiatives and activities. Your support and understanding is greatly appreciated. A new fee schedule will be sent to all parents before the end of Term 4 ready for the 2024 school year. Please keep an eye out for this.

If anyone has any concerns or questions regarding the new fee structure, please feel free to make an appointment to see me to discuss. It is also a timely reminder that we are always happy to discuss wth individual families how we can provide support for families with their payment of school fees.

Mary Porter's Retirement

Over the school holidays, Mary Porter announced her retirement. This came with great sadness that such an inspiring educator is leaving, but also with great joy for Mary who is now entering the next exciting phase of her life. The school will be organising a farewell for Mary to thank her for her dedication and contribution to St Joseph's and the school community. Please keep an eye out for further details in the coming weeks.

The position of Principal has been advertised by Toowoomba Catholic Schools, with interviews being held in the coming weeks. An announcement will be made once the successful applicant has been determined.

2024 Enrolments - all year levels

We are still taking enrolments for 2024 in all year levels. If you know of anyone who is interested in enroling their child at St Joseph's for 2024 and would like more information please tell them to make contact with the school office or find our enrolment information and forms on the school website. The flyer below has been placed on the school's Facebook page. Please feel free to share to your friends and the wider community and tell them how great St Joseph's is.

God bless,

Kylie Williams

"A little patience will in the end be rewarded." ~ Mary MacKillop.

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

From the APRE

Holy Land Pilgrimage!

As you may be aware from the Term 3 Week 10 newsletter, I was so very lucky to join fellow principals, APREs, members of the Toowoomba Catholic School office and former Bishop of Toowoomba, Robert McGuckin for a 17 day pilgrimage to the Holy Land. The pilgrimage began in Jordan and then we travelled across the Israeli border into Israel and Palestine. The time we spent in these places certainly provided me with a better understanding of the conflict that has always been a part of Palestinian and Israeli lives, with it escalating only a few days after we left.

It also gave me, and my fellow colleagues, time to reflect on our faith and a renewed appreciation for the freedom we have here in Australia, which we often take for granted. Being able to travel to and from work or school or travelling to another town or state without crossing a military check point and being forced to show ID is something we all take for granted; however, for the Palestinians travelling between neighbouring regions it is often a big challenge and sometimes impossible for them to get to work, school or university or see their family.

On my return to Australia and hearing on the news that the conflict in the region had escalated brought tears to my eyes. Tears of of gratitude that we had made it home safely, tears of frustration that people are unable to live their lives in peace and have justice and basic human rights and tears of sadness at the many innocent lives being lost due to the need for ownership and power over a minority race. I am also grateful that we have since heard from our tour guide and bus driver, as well as the children's shcool and the Catholic University we visited in Bethlehem that they, and their families, are all safe at this present time. A comment from our tour guide which I regularly am thinking about was "What is happening here is something like we have never seen before. It is bad and we are scared!"

I know that you will join me in keeping these people in our prayers that the innocent stay safe and that a resolution is found quickly before more lives are lost.

Learning at St Joeys

From the Year 3-6 classroom..............

Dear Parents and Carers,

This is an overview of the Curriculum we will be covering this term.

English - Students will explore the fiction narrative text, ‘The Feather’ and compare and make connections to other texts by the same author. They will activate prior knowledge, build vocabulary and explain symbolism and imagery used in the texts. They will examine characterisation, plots and themes as well literary devices, grammar and punctuation. Students will demonstrate their reading strategies, processes and skills to demonstrate comprehension of both literal and inferential questioning. They will create a range of text types including poetry, fiction and non-fiction text types. Students, through a focused and explicit spelling program, will explore rules of spelling, such as consonant and vowel phonograms, word building, dictionary skills, prefixes and suffixes, root words and word origins.

Maths - In Mathematics, students will investigate rules used when working with numbers and operations, including number patterns using input and output and naming terms and rules to reach expected outcomes. They will describe and use addition and subtraction, multiplication and division rules, powers of 10 and BOMDAS. In measurement, students will identify, compare and classify different angles. They will measure angles and use results to find unknown angles. Students will pose questions and collect data by observation and survey. They will record, explain, describe, compare and interpret data which has been gathered in various ways.

Religion - In Term 4, students will use examples from the teachings of Jesus to explore choices of morality while identifying good and bad choices in communities. They will examine moral choice by responding to various scenarios. Students will explore the Ten Commandments and relate them to their relationship with God, with one another and with Creation. They will create their own commandments making connections to their own experiences in the modern world and the ‘common good’. Students will explore Jesus’ healing miracles and examine the Sacraments, with a specific focus on the Anointing of the Sick and how these relate to the communities of today and the student’s own lives. They will explore and compare scripture texts of The Nativity and will continue to participate in meditation practices, liturgies and the reading and creation of prayers.

Science - In Term 4, students will explore the biology unit, ‘Plants in Action’. They will pose questions, investigate and record their knowledge of flowering plants. Students will investigate the process of germination, the stages in a plant’s life cycle and what plants need for growth. They will investigate how plants and animals depend on each other and the environment to survive. Students will conduct an experiment of growing plants from seeds and will make predictions, pose questions, record and compare results and communicate ideas from their observations.

Kind regards,

Mrs Ann Smith

Photo Time

First week back of Term 4!

'Spooky' Trivia - Last Friday, 6 October, the P&F held their very first community event. We would love to thank Krissy Aylott for assisting us in the planning and preparation of this event as well as MC'ing on the night. We would love to thank our sponsors, Origin Energy. Without their kind generosity we would not of been able to hold such an event and we thank you dearly! We would also love to thank Bunnings Dalby, Tara Foodworks and Elders for their kind donation of raffle items and prizes! Lastly, we would love to thank the Tara Community for coming to support our Trivia night! Without the support of the community we would not have been able to raise a total of $2,740!! This will be going towards our total contribute to the Year 3-6 students camp in November.

We look forward to partnering with Orgin in the future.

While the Years 3-6 students are away on camp, the P&F have been working together with the teachers and staff on ideas and activities that we can contribute to our P-2 students.

Our next P&F meeting is going to be Monday, 16 October. All are welcome!

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

Loretta Kerr

Students Of The Week

Week 2 - Craig Kerr, Eliza Adhikary, Lorenzo Welldon-Taylor, Nateesha Laird and Braxton McGill

From the Administration Officers

What a wonderful start back at school it has been for to see everyone again!

SCHOOL FEES

Term 4 fees were distributed via email last friday, 06 OCt. Please check all folders including the junk and spam folders. We say a big thank you to those who have been making regular payments either via direct deposit or Centrepay and to those who have paid in full. We really appreciate it!

If you do need any financial assistance, come in and see myself or Kylie to see how we can help. It is completely confidential!

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

Proud Peacock Workshop Years 3-6

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 4 Week 2 2023 Newsletter!