St Joseph's, Tara - Term 2 Week 10 2024 Newsletter!

Our Vision & Mission Statements

From the Principal

Welcome to the Term 2 Week 10 Newsletter!

CAMP

Well, what a great 3 days we had in Toowoomba on the Year 4-6 Josephite Experience Camp. The students presented themselves with upmost respect and were the best versions of a St Joey’s student that they could possibly be.

The staff and students at St Joseph’s College and Mary MacKillop College had nothing but praise for the way our students conducted themselves.

All the students enjoyed participating in all the activities we had planned. I believe word on the street is that the best activities were tenpin bowling, movies and activities with the St Joseph’s College students.

The staff who attend camp, me, Miss Fisher, Miss Mon and Mr Aylott sincerely thank the students for a wonderful time, and it was a great opportunity for us to get to know this cohort of students a little better away from school and the classroom environment.

We are already starting to plan the 2025 camp.

ATHLETICS CARNIVAL

Today was the school’s Inter-house Athletics Carnival and it was wonderful to see so many parents here supporting and cheering on their children.

The students participated so well, and it was a great opportunity for them to show the skills they had learned during PE this term and also a good chance for some to practice certain events ready for the Small Schools Athletics Carnival which is in week 2 of next term.

Thank you to the PEN (Parent Engagement Network) for supporting this event as well and providing much needed food and drinks for all those who were here.

A huge thank you to Mr Aylott for all the work prior to the carnival marking the lines and helping during PE lessons to set up equipment. We couldn’t have done it without you.

Please keep an eye on the Parent Portal on the first day of next term for the notification regarding students attending the Small Schools Carnival.

REPORT CARDS AND PARENT TEACHER INTERVIEWS

Semester One report cards were sent out to all families yesterday through the Parent Portal. It is important for a student’s learning and progress that parents discuss the report cards with their children. Please contact the office if you have not received your child’s report card.

Scheduled for Week 2 of Term 3 is the next round of Parent Teacher Interviews. I cannot encourage you all enough to ensure that you book a time with your child’s teacher/s during this block of interviews to discuss their learning, progress and/or needs they may have and their Semester One report cards.

Interview times will be sent out through the Parent Portal on the first day of Term 3. Bookings are to be made through this platform.

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

PRAYERS FOR FR JACK

The school has had word that Fr Jack has been in hospital after suffering a minor stroke. He underwent surgery in Brisbane on Wednesday and from all accounts has come through successfully. He still has a long road to recovery and hopefully will be transferred back to Toowoomba in the not-too-distant future.

Please keep Fr Jack in your prayers over these coming weeks and I will continue to keep you updated when we hear more.

Next term’s religious events and dates:-

Monday 22 July to Friday 26 July – Catholic Education Week (mass will be through the week once it is confirmed by Fr Rod from Chinchilla)

Friday 26 July – Bishop’s Inservice Day for staff (pupil free day for students)

Thursday 8 August – Mary MacKillop Feast Day – mass and activities

Learning at St Joeys

From the Counsellor

This term, many students have been involved in different programs.

The Under the Sea Friendship Program (Grade 2-3), saw the students introduced to starfish friends, conversation crab and listening lobster. These characters helped the students learn about friendship and positive relationships, how to take turns speaking in a group and listening to others when they are speaking while accepting different point of views.  We still have more sea creatures to meet next term.

Body Awareness and Protective Behaviours Program (Prep and grade 1). The students are identifying how emotions can be felt in different parts of the body to increase the ability to understand their bodies better, early warning signs, dealing with emotions and safety. We will continue this group work next term when we will discuss behaviours and personal care. We will be having more craft activities next term, as all the students are very crafty. 

Rock and Water Program (Grade 4-6). Rock and Water decreases bullying and depressive feelings, and increases self-esteem, self-regulation and social acceptance. We are particularly focus on increasing self-esteem. The program involves a series of exercises and games are practised to develop confidence and self-reflection. The games are diverse, and many have a martial arts origin. The program has a strong appeal to students who enjoy the active nature of the many games and drills. Students learn to stand strong, negotiate using “rock” or “water” verbal approaches, walk away from trouble, consider alternatives to aggression, and develop understandings about who they are, their intuitive feelings and their personal direction.  It has been delightful working with the students this term and their personal growth is already evident.

I have enjoyed getting to know the students this term during program times. The students at St Josephs are wonderful.

Have a safe and happy holiday 😊

Mrs J (School Counsellor).

From the Parish

St Mary Of The Angels - Tara

Mass Times

Tara: Sunday: 9am

on the 1st & 3rd Sunday of the month

Meandarra: Sunday: 11am

on the 3rd Sunday of the month

St Joseph's Awards

Bronze Awards

Xander Welldon-Taylor, Frankie Nystrom, Allie McArthur, Rory Taylor, Isabella French, Rhys Warwick, Jason French and Amanii Saunders

Students Of The Week

Week 9 - Lorenzo Welldon-Taylor, Thomas McArthur, Braxton McGill and Amanii Saunders.

Week 10 - No Awards due to - 4-6 and staff on camp. 

From the Administration Officers

Monthly Statements will be going out today, please check your junk folder. Thank you everyone for being persistent with your customer accounts. We wish you all a very warm and safe holidays and cannot wait to see everyone for Term 3!

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 

*Direct Debit: COMING SOON!!

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.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT