Dear Parents and Carers

Welcome back for Term 2!  A great deal is happening this term across our school and I am sure it will be another highly successful one for our community.  As you would have noticed work has commenced on the new junior toilets.  This project has been a highly anticipated one and one that will provide our students with outstanding facilities.  I realise building is always a difficult process within schools and this is amplified by the restrictions of our site.  I am very confident that the work will proceed quickly and where possible with a minimum of disruption.  I thank you for your patience at this time.

The toilets will hopefully not be the only works taking place this term.  Over the holidays other work on our lunch area outside the hall was undertaken and will be completed in the coming weeks.  The hope is to make this area more a functional and comfortable space.  Two other projects are also underconsideration to maximise the school site and increase functionality.  

This week we again recognise ANZAC Day, a time to acknowledge the service and sacrifice of all who served and continue to serve in the armed forces.  While COVID restrictions will minimise our normal representation on ANZAC Day students will participate in the march on Sunday, to show both our respect and thanks for all who serve.  Three years ago I stood in Flander Fields as part of a unit of study.  It was an intense experience and one I will never forget.  Standing in 'No Mans Land' - now green fields, farms and homes, it was difficult to imagine the magnitude of the conflict and of what those who were there, experienced.  It made me realise that lived experience can not be simply understood, we can imagine, but we cannot claim to understand.  This is true of all those who serve, we can imagine but not necessarily understand.  That is why we remember, respect and give thanks to all those who serve on our behalf.  I hope that this ANZAC Day you and your family will take the time to show your appreciation for all those service men and women who served and continue to serve our nation.  Lest we forget.

Have a great week and enjoy the long weekend.

Tim

Welcome to a brand new term!

It was wondeful to see our students and families return on Monday and there were many happy faces as students reunited with their friends and teachers after the holidays. I hope all families enjoyed the holiday break together.

Thank-you to our families who have displayed patience and care with the changes over the last few days with rainy weather and our construction site. Our students, too, have shown great resilience with changes to eating areas and the wet weather. 

Last week, the St Joseph's teaching staff attended the Encounter Gathering in Townsville with teachers from across the Diocese and other invited guests. Over the two days we listened to presenters and participated in workshops. 

ANZAC Day

On Friday, our school commenerated ANZAC Day with a whole school liturgy. We were very honoured to have Sergeant Adam Need, Sergeant Darren Drummond and Petty Officer Nigel Haynes join us. These servicemen spoke of those who have served our nation during war and those who are still serving in peacekeeping teams. They reminded our students that our Joey's 5R's are our way of living out the ANZAC Spirit through respect, reslience, responsibility, right relationships and rigour. 

We thank Sergeant Need, Sergeant Drummond and Petty Officer Haynes for their time to our school. 

On Sunday, our Year 4 to 6 students will march in the Townsville City Council ANZAC Day March, together with children from our defence families. Thank-you to these students who are able to join in the march. 

Hope all have a wonderful week, 

Trina

Welcome back to our action-packed term full of many exciting learning opportunities for your child.

NAPLAN

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is an annual national assessment for all students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9. All students in these year levels are expected to participate in tests in reading, writing, language conventions (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy. 

This year Joey's students will be participating in NAPLAN online for the first time.  The Public Demonstration Site is a great way to explore NAPLAN online along with assisting students to navigate using the online tools.  Our teaching teams have been working with students to ensure they are well prepared.

Authorities provide parents with the opportunity to withdraw their children from the NAPLAN tests. If you do not wish your child to participate or if your child will be absent for the below dates, please contact your child's teacher.

Schedule for NAPLAN 2021 St. Joseph's (Timetable will vary if you have students at other schools).  

NAPLAN Test Administration rules are very strict.  If your child is away for a NAPLAN test, he/she will need to sit the test on the day he/she returns to school.  Your child will sit the test in another room and won't be able to complete the same test as his/her classmates until he/she has caught up with missed tests.  

If your child is late for the NAPLAN test, he/she will need to sit the test in a different room (school starts at 8:30 am).  

PARENT TEACHER INTERVIEWS - Re-book a time

Last term we were unable to run Parent Teacher Interviews due to the COVID outbreak.  You will need to re-book a new time for an interview, as last term's interview times will not carry across.

Parent-Teacher Interviews provide an excellent opportunity to meet your child's teacher and discuss your child's strengths and areas for improvement.   

Interviews will be held in the hall for 15 minutes.

Tuesday, May 4th, 3.15 pm -7:15 pm

Wednesday, May 5th 3:15 pm -7:15 pm

Goal Setting and Student Self-Reflection Years 1 - 6

In Term 1, students embarked on a new journey with formally setting goals in Year 1-6 and reflecting on their behaviour. Each child met with his/her teacher to discuss his/her goals and developed plans to succeed in this area.  Your child's self-reflection will be provided at your parent-teacher interview.  This provided an excellent opportunity for teachers to spend quality time listening to your child's goals (which differ from a teacher's goal) and getting to know your child from his/her perspective.

Students were asked a series of questions to reflect on their own learning and develop plans for improvement.  Each child rated themself on Joey's 5 R's: Responsibility, Respect, Resilience, Rigour and Right Relationships.  

Examples of Goals:

Julie Wallace

Learning and Teacher Adviser

Dear Parents and Carers

Welcome back to term 2 of music at St Joseph's. Lessons have commenced this week in the instrumental areas of piano, woodwind, recorder, drums, singing, guitar, and bass guitar. I know the young musicians that came to my lessons this week all shared the same enthusiasm to learn and an eagerness to create.

I am excited to announce that the Instrumental Music Concert for Semester One will be held on Thursday 17th June - 6pm for a 6.30pm start. Please save this date. More information will be sent out soon regarding the concert.

I have had many conversations with parents about how they see their child benefiting from learning a musical instrument. Certainly, there has been considerable evidence derived from research on how engagement with music impacts the intellectual, social, and personal development of children and young adults. In a primary school setting, when most students are just beginning to learn about music and their instrument, the opportunity presents itself to engage the students so that the experience is enjoyable and rewarding. 

I would like to invite you to watch the below short TED-Ed clip from Anita Collins (running time of 4m 44s). This animated clip reveals some of the significant brain activity that happens whilst playing a musical instrument and examines some of the long-term positive effects of this. It does underscore the importance of music and playing a musical instrument in the educational, social and personal development of your children. Enjoy!

Jason Bennett

Instrumental Music Coordinator

Northern Region School Netball Cup

The annual Northern Region Netball Cup was played on the last day of Term 1 at the Murray Sports Netball Complex. The St Joey’s team included:

Charlotte Brassington, Matisse Reibel, Harper Ryan, Aoife Fitzgerald, Eden Carfoot, Caitlyn Wiltshire, Estella Dobbins, Hannah Mosch, Lynette Njau, Greta Ramsay, Maddie Schell, Phoebe Morris, Mykaela Crowdey, Jorja Hughes and Tahliah Webster.

The girls played a number of games and acquitted themselves with distinction. They played with teamwork, endurance and confidence and everyone had a fair run. The day was enjoyed by all concerned and the girls upheld our reputation for excellent sportspersonship. The team would like to thank Miss Donna, Mrs. Wheeler, Miss Lisa and Mrs. De Jongh for their help with training and for their time on the day.

Congratulations to our St Joey’s 2021 Netball team.

Save the date - Friday 25th June

What is Beachathon?

Beachathon is a walk undertaken by Joey's students on the final day of Term 2.  Parents are welcome to join classes on this picturesque walk along Pallarenda to the Strand.

What happens on the day?

With their classmates and teachers;

• Students in Prep to Year 2 walk from school to the Rock Pool and back to school
• Students in Year 3 walk from school to the top of Jezzine Barracks and back to school
• Students in Years 4-6 are to be dropped off by parents at Robertson Park, Pallarenda and walk along the foreshore, through Jezzine Barracks and along The Strand back to school.

Specific information will be provided to all parents in the newsletter in the week before Beachathon.

What happens when students return to school?

The Beachathon day finishes with celebrtion in the school hall.