Dear Parents and Carers

It has been an amazing week for our school as we celebrated our 150th Anniversary opening mass and our Year 6 leaders received their senior badges.  They will be a very busy group this year in what is a milestone for our school community.  Thank you to everyone who could join with us for the celebration.  Thanks to Fr Rod for celebrating the mass with us.  Thanks also to Jesse Zappala from TCE IT services for live streaming our event.  It was the first of many special events this year to mark such a special time in the life of our school community.  

As we celebrate this year we also keep in mind St Mary's Bowen who are also celebrating their 150th Anniversary and Townsville Catholic Education.  We wish both all the very best for their celebrations throughout the year.  

This year Naplan testing will take place in Term 1 as opposed to mid-Term 2.  This is a significant change and will have implications for our teachers and students.  First term is always busy and this adds an additional layer of complexity to our term.  I know our Year 3 and Year 5 teachers with the support of our Learning Enrichment team are working to ensure our students are ready for this event.  The preparation over the coming weeks is to assist our students to be 'test environment' ready, not focussed on test content.  

Information will be included in the newsletter today regarding our next 150th event.  All students over the coming weeks will receive a shirt to commemorate our anniversary.  Details around when students should wear this shirt are included in the newsletter so please take time to read through.  

Finally this week, thank you for supporting our parent teacher information night this week.  If you were unable to attend please contact your class teacher for the information presented on the night.

Have a great week.

Tim

Opening Year Mass

On Wednesday morning, we gathered as a school community to celebrate the 150th Year of St Joseph's and acknowledge our Year 6 leaders for 2023 with the Beginning of Year Mass. 

With a spirit of thanksgiving and prayer, we recongised the founders of St Joseph's and refelected upon ways we walk in their footsteps. 

We thank Fr Rod for celebrating the Mass with us, together with Mr David McNeale, Mrs Kathleen McCarthy and Mrs Judy Bell from Townsville Catholic Education. 

Thank you to parents and family members who were able to join us for a wonderful celebration. 

Year Six Leaders

Our Year Six 2023 student leaders recieved their senior badges this week. At Joey's, we have a tradition that all our Year Six students play a vital leadership role throughout the year. 

As part of this ceremony, the students made a pledge to lead the school with intergity, honesty and enthusiasm.

Congratulations to all our Year 6 students!

Project Compassion

The theme of Project Compassion for 2023 is 'For All Future Generations.' 

Each year, Project Compassion comes a timely reminder of the importance of solidarity and how a single act of kindness, big or small, can make a life-changing impact in the lives who most need it. 

Spanning across the six weeks of Lent, Project Compassion brings thousands of Australian Catholic schools, parishes and supporters to raise funds for the world's most vulnerable people. 

On Ash Wednesday, 22nd Feb each child will bring home their Project Compassion donation box, please give generously as you can. 

The Year 6 Faith and Service Group will be raising funds throughout Term One, including the infamous Joey's Icy Cup!

150th Shirts and Photo

As a special way to mark the 150 Years of St Joseph's The Strand, each child will be gifted with a 150th shirt.

All shirts will be sent home on Thursday 23rd February or Friday 24th February. Shirts are to be worn, for the first time, on Monday, 27th February.

(For families who are new to St Joseph's in 2023, your child will receive a shirt). 

On Monday 27th February, all students and staff will be photographed with Bishop Tim Harris and Jacqui Francis; Executive Director of Townsville Catholic Education. The photoshoot will begin at 8:40am with a 150th liturgy to follow. 

For the duration of 2023, students will wear their 150th shirt each Wednesday beginning 8th March.  

If you have any questions, please contact the school office. 

Hope all have a wonderful few weeks, 

Trina

PARENT INFORMATION EVENING

Thank you to all parents/carers who attended Parent Information Evening on Tuesday. It was great to see the large number of parents able to attend these sessions. 

If you were unable to attend, information from the evening will be sent by your child's teacher via Compass.  Check your junk/spam if you are unable to locate the email. 

Feedback or suggestions to improve Parent Information Evenings is welcome via: jwallace@sjnwtsv.catholic.edu.au

NAPLAN - Year 3 and Year 5

Please advise your child's teacher if you do not wish your child to participate or if your child will be absent for the below dates.

Schedule for NAPLAN 2023 St Joseph's (Timetable will vary if you have students at other schools).

SWIMMING LESSONS (YEAR 4-6) - TERM 1.

As part of our school HPE program, the students in Years 4-6 have begun swimming
lessons this term. Lessons have been conducted with qualified
instructors at Tobruk Pool every Friday and will conclude Friday 17/3 (week 8). Our St Joey's Swimming Carnival will be held on Friday 17 February (Week 4). Classes are walking to their lessons each week and parents are needed to assist with the supervised walk. If you are able to help, please contact your child's classroom teacher. The cost of the lessons will be added to term 1 school fees. Please note that the lessons are Sunsafe and sun shirts are required. Students are encouraged to bring thongs/crocs to school for the walk to the pool.

ANNUAL SWIMMING CARNIVAL 2023 (YEAR 3 - 6)

Our annual Swimming Carnival will be held on Friday 17th February from 9.00am to 12noon at the Tobruk Pool.  All students in Years 3-6 will be attending.  Year 2's turning 8 this year who can proficiently swim 50m have been invited to attend.  Our Prep to Year 2 students will attend a "Wet Day" at the Water Park.

Students are asked to come to school with their swimmers underneath their clothing, ready to swim.  House colours may be worn.  Thongs/crocs can be worn to the carnival, however, shoes and socks will be needed to be worn after returning to school.  

The success of the carnival is reliant on parental support and volunteers.  Please email Mr Anthony Meekin (ameekin@sjnwtsv.catholic.edu.au) if you can assist.  We would especially appreciate assistance with setting up tents at 7am and taking down tents at 11.50am.

WET PLAY DAY (PREP - YEAR 2)

Our St Joseph's Wet Play Day for Prep to Year 2 (those not attending the carnival) is Friday 17th February at The Strand, Waterpark.  All students must wear sun-safe swimming clothing (including a swim shirt) and may wear easy slip-on shoes to walk to and from the Waterpark (but must have their normal shoes for school). Year 1 and 2 students are able to wear their swimmers underneath their uniforms to school.  Our Prep classes are encouraged to come to school ready with their swimmers on. They bring their uniform to change afterwards.  Parents are welcome to assist in walking students to the Waterpark.

Times:
Prep - 9.00 - 9.40am
Year 1 - 9.40 - 10.20am
Year 2 - 11.00am - 11.40am

PLEASE NOTE THAT OUR TUCKSHOP WILL NOT BE OPERATING ON FRIDAY 17TH FEBRUARY.

QUEENSLAND SCHOOL SPORT

Tuesday, 7th February was Safer Internet Day. 

Safer Internet Day is a global event that brings together communities, families, schools and organisations to help create safer online spaces.

This worldwide initiative is celebrating 20 years in 2023, making it a great time to reflect as well as look forward. 

Technology has evolved dramatically in the past two decades and the benefits have been huge. These developments have also exposed us including children to many risks with real-world impacts, making online safety awareness even more important.  
 
The focus of the day is Connect. Reflect. Protect. 
 
Connect safely and with purpose – by keeping apps and devices secure and using social media in positive ways. 

Reflect before we act – by taking a moment to consider how what we do and say online may affect others. 

Protect ourselves and others by taking action – by telling family, friends or colleagues about eSafety and how we can help. 

On Tuesday, students at St Joseph's engaged in learning experiences to remind them of the importance of internet safety and strategies to protect themselves and family members. 

For more information regarding internet safe practices please see the Esafety site.

We are currently looking to employ an addtional tuckshop convenor for one day a week (preferably Friday) to assist Mrs Curley in the tuckshop.  This is a paid position, so if you or someone you know is interested and you have a current Blue Card, please contact our office.  

We also ask that you keep Mrs Curley and her family in your prayers at this time.

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THE TUCKSHOP WILL NOT BE OPEN ON FRIDAY 17TH FEBRUARY DUE TO THE SWIMMING CARNIVAL.