St Joseph's School, Tara eNewsletter

Our Vision & Mission Statements

From the Principal

Welcome to the Term 1 Week 10 Newsletter!

As Term 1 draws to a close, it is wonderful to sit, look back and reflect on what has been a very full yet fulfilling term. We have certainly been busy both in and out of the classroom and some seen some great progress and changes across all areas of the school.

As I always say, we are so very lucky to have such a wonderful school community, students, parents and staff, who all have the best interest of the school at heart.

P&F News

It was a privilege to announce our 2024 P&F Executive this week.

Chair – Krissy Aylott

Vice Chair – Lesley Truebody

Secretary – Chantelle Belford

Treasurer – Stephanie Smitham

I sincerely thank these ladies for taking on these roles for 2024.

The P&F is such a vital part of our school as they support me with ensuring that students can access resources for learning and being able to provide extra services such as camps and tuckshop. A majority of the support provided to the school by the P&F is financial support, which is greatly appreciated. The ability for them to donate financially comes from the many fundraising events they initiate. These events cannot be run solely by the people on the Executive. They rely on volunteers to put their hands up to make each event a success. So, I ask each of you to think about how you can support and help the P&F this year. Here are some ways you can show your support to the P&F and, in turn, the students.

volunteer an hour of your time at an event
volunteer one Friday a term to help in the tuckshop
volunteer to provide homebake for the tuckshop, even if it is just once a term
attend P&F meetings to discuss topics on the agends
bring agenda items and ideas to P&F meetings

This is just a small list. Please ensure you contact one of the P&F Executives if you are able to volunteer or have ideas of how we can keep making St Joseph’s an amazing school.

Parent Teacher Interviews

Week 8 saw us embark on our first round of Parent Teacher Interviews. These designated times for parents and teachers to discuss student learning and social/emotional progress are vital. They provide the opportunity for all parties to collaborate and be informed of necessary information to ensure that we are all of the same understanding to ensure the student’s needs are met in the best way possible.

We, the school, know the importance parents play in the education of their child as they know them best. So please be assured that any information or concerns you have regarding your child’s education needs to be discussed with their classroom teacher so that any necessary measures can be taken on board. Likewise, classroom teachers are active in ensuring they make contact with parents when issues arise, so that decisions can be made on how we are moving forward to support the child with their learning needs.

Please do not think that any information is too trivial to pass onto the school so that we are aware. We look forward to working closely with you all in Term 2.

Swimming Carnival

Monday Week 8 saw the whole school venture to the Tara Aquatic Centre for the annual Interhouse Swimming Carnival. A huge congratulations to all students who participated and swam so well. It was very evident that skills were developed throughout the swimming lesson block. A big thank you to Miss Tara Fisher for all her organising, not only on the day but in the lead up.

Congratulations to Penola House for being the 2024 champion house.

NAPLAN

Naplan for 2024 has now finished. I wish to congratulate all our Year 3 and 5 students for giving it their absolute best. It is never an easy assessment to sit as a student and just as tricky for staff to administer as the limited amount of help and support which is allowed to be provided can be quite stressful.

Results will be posted to the school mid-year and will be distributed to families once they have arrived at the school.

TERM 2 INFORMATION

A few reminders for the start of Term 2. These will also be sent out at the end of the holidays ready to begin a fabulous Term 2.

1. Term 2 begins on Tuesday 16th April (Monday is a Pupil Free Day)

2. A Term 2 calendar of events will be sent out to all families

3. Reminder of uniform requirements as per the 2024 Parent Handbook. Parent Handbook (schoolzineplus.com)

St Joseph’s, Tara has a compulsory uniform that is available for purchase from the school uniform shop.

School uniform items

School hat

School sports shirt

Navy shorts

Navy skorts (for girls only)

White socks

Black shoes

Formal school dress (if preferred)

Navy school jumper/jacket (when necessary)

4. Reminder of the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Parent Engagement Charter, of which St Joseph’s follows. ParentEngagementCharter (twb.catholic.edu.au)

5. Reminder that the school has security cameras which are used for surveillance outside school hours and, at times, used to identify incidents which have come to the attention of the principal. This footage is for use of the principal, or their delegate, for these purposes only. A record of when the footage is accessed is also kept.

God bless,

Kylie Williams

"Always remember to help and be of service to others." ~ Mary MacKillop.

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

From the APRE

This final week of Term 1 was also the final week of Lent and what we like to call Holy Week. This week is the most sacred time in our church’s liturgical calendar. It is now that we will commemorate and remember the last week of Jesus’ life on this earth. We began the week with celebrating Palm Sunday, the day Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey and was hailed a king. The end of Holy Week sees us enter what is known as the Easter Triduum. This is the three days just before Easter - Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. On Holy Thursday Jesus washed his disciples’ feet and shared his last meal with them. We, as Jesus’ disciples, participate in a meal together (Eucharist) each time we attend Mass. Good Friday is the day Jesus was crucified on the cross and died for our sins. He was then taken down and buried in a tomb. Holy Saturday is the last day of Lent and a day of vigil where we are waiting for the resurrection. On Thursday, the Year 4-6 students will lead us through a drama/freeze frame presentation of this Easter Triduum. We will celebrate Easter Sunday with a liturgy on the first day of Term 2.

Project Compassion

A huge thank you to all our St Joseph’s staff, students and parents for their wonderful support in all the fundraising events held for 2024 Project Compassion campaign. The final balance was $399. A mighty fine effort.

Fr Jack’s Retirement

It is with much trepidation that I inform you of Fr Jack’s retirement, after 57 years as a priest with almost 40 of those years at St Mary of the Angel’s Parish, Tara. This is a time for Fr Jack and the community to celebrate the wonderful milestones he has achieved.

All members of the school community are invited to attend his final mass on Sunday 28 April at 10am with a get together at the school afterwards. A reminder of the details will be sent out closer to the day.

Learning at St Joeys

Specialist Learning

Prep/1

This term P/1 developed an understanding of the importance of dance to many different cultures. They used play and their imagination to develop dance sequences and practiced the dances of others to build gross motor function and dance knowledge. Students practiced dance movements safely and used elements of dance to structure their own dance sequences.

This term students were introduced to common digital systems to build an understanding of the role hardware and software play. They explored how to use digital systems for a purpose. Students learnt about how to practise being safe users of digital systems.

Students in P/1 developed their gross motor skills by participating in swimming and PE lessons. PE lessons involved ball skills, ball games and a range games/activities that have strengthened their gross motor skill set. Students used their personal and social skills when working with others in a range of activities. They performed fundamental movement skills and solved movement challenges that they were presented with.

Year 2/3

In Dance this term, Year 2/3 developed their dance knowledge and abilities through the practice of dances both self-choreographed and developed by others. They created dance sequences that conveyed ideas to their audience and learnt to describe where, when and why dance is created. Students engaged in learning about First Nations dances and how they communicate the history of the culture. They practiced dance movements safely and performed their dances in informal settings.

This term in Digital Technologies, students discovered that digital systems have components with basic functions. These basic functions connect to form networks which transmit data. Students explored different software applications that allow them to create and produce different types of games. They used this information to create their own game. Students are beginning to identify their personal data stored online and recognise the risks.

In PE, students in Year 2/3 were given opportunities to develop and apply rules while collaborating with others in a range of movement contexts during ball games presented. They applied fundamental movement skills and demonstrated movement concepts across a range of situations. Through activities such as swimming and ball skills, students adapted movement strategies to enhance movement outcomes. Students demonstrated fair play and inclusion through a range of roles in movement contexts.

Year 4/6

This term in Dance, Year 4-6 engaged in the development of their own dance sequences. They learnt dance moves from others and experimented with combining dance moves to match a beat and to convey meaning. Students learnt about dance from other cultures and time periods and the affect dance has on a culture. They explored dances from several different cultures and described how these dances are part of the culture. Students used elements of dance to communicate ideas and perspectives and were asked to demonstrate safe dance practice. They performed dances informally within their lessons.

Students this term have been required to explain the fundamentals of digital system components (hardware, software, and network) and how digital systems are connected to form networks. They explored information systems with the intent being that they will carry this knowledge into term 2 and will design and implement a digital system that promotes and encourages safe physical activity in undercover areas.

This term in PE, students in Year 4-6 participated in a range of activities to build their gross motor skills including swimming, basic ball skills and games as well as developing skills used in basketball. Students explored various movement contexts and developed personal and social skills such as leadership, communication, collaboration, problem-solving, persistence and decision-making through the games. They were given the opportunity to practise and refine the skills introduced in the early years and transfer these to unfamiliar movement situations. 

Photo Time

Swimming

On the 11th of March, St. Joseph’s P & F held their AGM. All positions were declared vacant and a new committee was elected. The new committee members are Krissy Aylott as President, Lesley Truebody as Vice-President, Steph Smitham as Treasurer and Chantelle Belford as Secretary.

As a new committee, we are still finding our feet, but we are all excited to be given the honor of supporting our students and school community. We are only a small group of people and to be truly successful, we need the support of volunteers and as such we are putting the call out to our school community to raise their hand and give some of their time to help when they can.

Can you spare one Friday next term to help in the tuckshop? Or could you provide homebake one week in Term 2? Please see one of the committee members to put your name on the roster.

Our next meeting will be at the school on the Wednesday the 1st May, Week 3 of Term 2, at 3.15PM. Please join us with your fundraising ideas as we will be putting our heads together to plan the P & F fundraising schedule for the year.

Happy Easter, be safe over the holiday period.

From the Parish

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

St Mary Of The Angels - Tara

Easter Ceremonies:

Holy Thursday - St Mary of the Angels, Tara - 6pm

Good Friday Liturgical Action - St Mary of the Angels, Tara - 6pm

Holy Saturday Vigil - St Mary of the Angels, Tara - 6pm

Easter Sunday - St Margaret Mary, Meandarra - 7:30am

Easter Sunday - Our Lady of the Way, Moonie - 9:30am

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

Malia Adhikary, Eliza Adhikary, Alexia de Boeck, Damon Grose, Bentley Tucker, Nateesha Laird, Braxton McGill and Havoc McLuckie

Students Of The Week

Week 7 - Isa Hawkins, Lorenzo Welldon-Taylor and Havoc McLuckie

Week 8 - No Assembly/SOW due to Swimming Carnival

Week 9 - Kadence McGill, Deakin Cole and Alayah Laird

Week 10 - No Assembly/SOW due to Palm Sunday Liturgy

**Congratulations to all the winners in the Tara Show**

*Penola house wins the 2024 swimming trophy!*

From the Administration Officers

Thank you all of a great Term 1! I hope all students and families have a wonderful and safe Easter holidays and can't wait to see you all at the beginning of term 2 (16 April, 2024).

If you need any financial assistance, be sure to 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.

*BPoint, in person at the office or over the phone.

*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

2024

Term 1 2024 – Tue 23 Jan (Public Hol 26 Jan) - Thur 28 Mar

(Good Friday 29 Mar)

Term 2 2024 –(Student Free Day 15 Apr) Tue 16 Apr - Fri 21 Jun

Term 3 2023 – (Student Free Day 08 Jul) Tue 09 Jul - Fri 13 Sep

Term 4 2023 –(Kings B'day 07 OCT) Mon 30 Sep - Wed 04 Dec

(Travel Day's Thur 5 Dec & Fri 6 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 1 Week 10 2024 Newsletter!