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Saturday, 11th November - Remembrance Day
Tuesday, 21st November - Year 6 Rite of Passage - from 5:30pm
Thursday, 23rd November - Christmas Concert - from 5:30pm
Friday, 24th November - Final Swimming Lesson for 2023
Friday, 24th November - Instrumental Music enrolments close
Monday, 27th November - Step Up Day to 2024 Classrooms
Tuesday, 28th November - Prep Nativity at 9am followed by installation of 150years Time Capsule
Thursday, 30th November - End of Year Mass at 8:45am
Friday, 1st December - School finishes at 12pm
Dear Parents and Carers
At this time of year, we often expect staffing changes as people move on from our community to different adventures. This year is no different and while there may be some other minor changes, two long-serving staff members will be retiring at the end of the school year.
Lorelle Webley (School Secretary) and Belinda Walker (librarian) have decided to retire at the end of the year. Lorelle has been a part of the St Joseph's school community for 25 years and Belinda for 15 years.
Lorelle has worked in many areas across the school as a school officer and then as Secretary. She has been for many families the first point of contact and the first port of call for so many enquiries, supporting students and families when they have needed something simple or in some cases when circumstances are dire. Twenty-five years is an incredible achievement and we will miss her knowledge and support in the office and across our community. Her role has gone far beyond what could be normally expected and she has fulfilled this myriad of tasks professionally and capably. Thank you Lorelle for your deep commitment to our school community.
Belinda has been a driving force to develop a passion for reading and literacy at St Joseph's. Her unwavering commitment to this work has been essential to the development of student literacy at our school. She has developed programs within the library that have fostered leadership and resilience, a genuine love of reading, digital literacy and research skills to name a few. She has been a source of knowledge for our teaching staff and ensured that our library has remained an essential part of our educational goals at St Joseph's. Congratulations on such a successful career Belinda.
Both Lorelle and Belinda will be greatly missed and I want to take this chance to thank them on behalf of our school community and on behalf of the many students, families and teachers whose lives they have touched during their time at St Joseph's. We will have an opportunity to acknowledge and farewell them both later in the term.
Have a great week
Tim
REMEMBRANCE DAY
Today each class commemorated Remembrance Day with a special prayer service in their classrooms. It is a time to thank God for the wonderful land in which we live and to remember those who have fought in wars around the world to defend our freedom.
Students from our Defence Force Families, together with our school captains will attend the TCC Remembrance Day Service tomorrow at ANZAC Gardens. The students will lay a wreath in remembrance of those who have served.
Loving God,
who embraces those who suffer from war,
teach us your ways so that we may walk in your path, cultivating peace and compassion for those whom we encounter,
inspired always by the loving model of your Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen
VINNIES CHRISTMAS APPEAL
Last week we welcomed Bishop Tim Harris, Collette Brickhill - Townsville Diocesan President of St Vincent de Paul conferences and other special guests to launch the Christmas Appeal. At the launch, Bishop Tim and representatives from Vinnies spoke of the increasing demand for assistance for Townsville families.
Each year, SVDP Christmas Appeal helps to provide families with much-needed food and gift hampers at Christmas time.
Families of St Joseph's are invited to donate to the Christmas Appeal by placing a non-perishable food item in the blue Vinnies box in classrooms around the school. These donations will be gifted to our local parish SVDP charter at the Christmas Giving Mass on November 30th.
Below is a suggested list of possible food donations. Thank you for your support.
JOEY'S KIDS CAN
This term, Alex, Isabelle, Harper and Faith have shown that Joey's Kids can make a difference. Together, they created a raffle hamper and guess the lolly competition to raise funds for the Mater Hospital - Renal Unit.
On Wednesday, the girls presented a cheque for $200 to Mrs Alanna Jacoby - Chief of Mission - Mater Queensland. Mrs Jacoby happily announced the winners of the lolly guess and raffle.
Congratulations to Hugo C from Year 1 and Harrison from Prep for taking home the prizes.
A proud moment for our Joey's community, congratulations to Isabelle, Alex, Harper and Faith for stepping up and making a difference.
Hope all have a wonderful few weeks,
Trina
ICY CUPS
Thank you for your ongoing support of our Faith and Services Icy Cup stall.
There will be no icy cups on Tuesday, 21st November as students will be getting ready for thier Rite of Passage.
The last icy cup stall will be on Tuesday, 28th November.
This week, we recognised students in our school community who espouse the Mercy Values of Love, Community and Excellence.
Congratulations to all!
Love |
Sienna Kerrigan |
Sienna is a quiet achiever who radiates love and positivity within our school community. Sienna's genuine affection for her fellow students and teachers fosters a warm and harmonious environment. Her loyal friendship and adherence to our school's rules reflect her deep commitment to our values. Sienna's actions embody love, kindness, and loyalty, enriching life at St Joseph’s. Congratulations, Sienna, on this well-deserved recognition! |
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Evie Clair |
Evie shows love at Joey's every day. She is kind to all of her classmates, patient, and always ready to lend a hand to anyone in need. Evie has been a ray of sunshine in 5A all year, her inclusive nature means everyone in our class has a friend to lean on when they need! Thanks for being you, Evie! |
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Jonah Smith |
Jonah shows good manners and respect to all his classmates and teachers. He must be commended on demonstrating our Joey's 5Rs of Respect and Right Relationships. He consistently shows kindness and politeness, which helps make our classroom a great place to be. Well done, Jonah. |
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Luca Esposito |
Luca displays the Mercy Value of Love through his kind and caring actions towards his peers. He strives to create a class environment where his peers feel valued and supported. Luca will celebrate his peers' success and display a genuine concern when his friends are hurt or upset. Recently, Luca encouraged one of his classmates when they were feeling a bit anxious about starting a swimming lesson. He reassured them they would be safe and cheered them on. Thanks for being a great friend to many Luca! |
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Evelyn Le |
Evelyn is a student who quietly goes about her business and lets her light shine through both in words and actions. She is quick to have a smile each day as she greets friends and staff members. Evelyn is a courteous and polite student who leads by example. She is a pleasure to have as a classmate, always looking out for others in need. Evelyn is a true Joey’s kid and we are grateful to have her in our school community. |
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Charlie Knapton |
Charlie has shown the Mercy Value of Love in so many ways this year. He goes about his day quietly but is always there if someone is upset or needs a helping hand. Charlie is always a friendly face for others in our school and will always include others in lunchtime activities. Thank you for being such a wonderful and caring member of our class, Charlie! |
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Ryan Dobbins |
Ryan is the true definition of someone who demonstrates love every day. He is always comforting people who are upset or hurt and finds a way to make them feel better. He genuinely cares about all the people around him. Thank you for making our classroom such a lovely place to be, Ryan. |
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Maci Beetham |
Maci shows love every day at Joey’s. She goes out of her way to make people feel better if they are sick, hurt or upset. Maci comes to school every day with a big smile and is genuinely happy to be around her peers. Not only does she show love in our classroom but she extends her kindness and caring nature around the whole school community. Thank you for being you, Maci! |
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Hope Manser |
Hope displays the Mercy Value of Love in so many ways. She is a kind friend to others when she uses encouraging and comforting words. Hope has a gentle nature which is appreciated by our whole class. She will often share funny stories with her close friends just to cheer them up and can be trusted to show care and respect always. We are very grateful you are a Joey’s kid Hope, keep being you! |
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Alexandra Hunter |
Alexandra displays the Mercy Value of Love every day. She regularly encourages and supports her friends in class and shows care and consideration for others. Alexandra starts the day with a smile and happily shares stories of her adventures with her friends. She has been a particular support for a friend recently and has listened carefully and helped them settle into learning each day. Thank you for being a great friend! |
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Community |
Juliette Mahon |
Juliette has consistently demonstrated the Mercy Value of Community this year. She is a genuine peacemaker who has shown wonderful school spirit in everything she has done. She shows the school values, uses excellent manners and participates in her work with enthusiasm, continually striving to better herself. Juliette's contribution to our 4B makes it a lovely community to be part of. Thank you, Juliette. |
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Henry Boucher |
Henry is a diligent and respectful student who greatly contributes to our school community. Henry's dedication to his studies is complemented by his consistent respect and consideration for others. His good manners and respectful interactions with both teachers and peers set a positive example for all. We appreciate his humble contributions and proudly recognise his role in strengthening our school's sense of community. Congratulations, Henry! |
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Luca Sieben |
Luca has demonstrated increased diligence and a strong commitment to self-improvement recently. His willingness to help others and his consistent respect towards both staff and peers contribute significantly to our school's sense of community. Luca's positive impact on those around him reflects the values we cherish. Congratulations, Luca, for fostering unity and community within our school! |
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Henry Austenberry |
Henry must be commended on showing consistent respect and responsibility in class. He is well-mannered and demonstrates commendable self-control. He contributes to our class by always doing what is expected of him and helping his friends whenever they need it. Well done Henry on showing an excellent sense of responsibility and community for St Joey's. |
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Gabriel Mahon |
Gabrielle is a well-respected school leader who demonstrates everything good about Joey’s. She has a smile for everyone and is an enthusiastic class member. It shows that Gabrielle loves her school and has a wonderful positive attitude. She is a ‘glass half full’ person and easily relates with others. Gabrielle is a true friend and cares about others around her. She is a valuable school leader at St. Joseph’s. |
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Joy Cahill |
Joy is always contributing positively to class discussions. She helps others with their work and has a positive attitude to group work, always. Joy enjoys collaborating with her classmates and is able to listen to others’ ideas. She builds others up by using words of encouragement and contributes to our school community by always being the first to put her hand up to help out. Our Joey’s community is lucky to have you Joy! |
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Zakk Myhill |
Zakk is always considerate of others. He gently listens to people and notices when someone is in need. Zakk is also very caring when it comes to the environment. He has been an awesome Planet Warrior this year and takes his role very seriously. Zakk is wonderful at building a peaceful community. Well done Zakk! |
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Excellence |
Gria Caccioppoli |
Gria must be congratulated for showing the Joey's 5Rs. She consistently tries her best, showing rigour and remarkable resilience. She is also an incredible example of Respect and Right Relationships. She is always eagerly volunteering to help around the classroom showing an energy to help others that is a joy to be around. 5B is lucky to have Gria. |
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Lucy Haslett |
Lucy must be commended for her incredible rigour and responsibility around the classroom. She is always organised and shows an amazing ability to get herself ready for the next lesson. Lucy is respectful and kind every time, without fail. Her kindness and consideration of others around her is a pleasure to be around and appreciated by all her classmates. Well done, Lucy. |
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Max McKinnon |
Max has been a superstar this term so far. He has come to school each day with a smile on his face, ready for the day ahead. Max has shown a positive attitude towards his learning and continues to try his best in everything he does. He loves sharing his work with his peers and is always so proud of his achievements. We are very proud of you Max! |
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Nate de Courcey |
Nate is to be congratulated on the effort and dedication he has put towards his learning and work recently. He has consistently been one of the first students in our class to be ready on time with all the necessary equipment. Nate has particularly shown a positive and engaged approach to our Sounds-Write lesson recently, and this is being reflected throughout his reading. Keep being a shining star Nate! |
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Jagger-Ray Boyd |
This semester, Jagger-Ray has shown some incredible progress in his learning. This is due to his increased effort and diligence in class, and seeking feedback to improve his work. Jagger-Ray actively seeks to improve his understanding and works hard to get things right the first time. It has been amazing to witness Jagger-Ray’s growth as a learner this year. Well done! |
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Ben Fanning |
Ben has shown excellence in his daily learning tasks at school this term. He works hard in all his subjects but has shown particularly hard work with his dedication to reading and writing. I have no doubt that Ben will continue to shine in his learning next year as well. Great work Ben! |
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Dallas Napier |
Dallas has worked hard this year to achieve his learning goals. He demonstrates excellence with his learning and has produced some fantastic pieces of persuasive writing this term! His work definitely reflects his determination and hard work. Well done for an amazing year, Dallas! |
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Allison Marshall |
Allison shows excellence in all she does. She is very particular and presents every piece of work beautifully. Allison always wants to improve and show her best work. She recently smashed a ‘Speed Read’ challenge and even wants to take on Mrs Wallace! Well done on your excellent attitude and work Allison. |
Dear Parents
I am happy to inform you that enrolment in the St Joseph's Instrumental Music program in 2024 is now open. Lessons are available in piano, guitar, drums, recorder, and woodwind (saxophone, clarinet, flute). Please note the singing lessons will not be available until term 3 in 2024. A separate enrolment will be sent out for this in term 2, 2024.
If you would like more detailed information on the program, I encourage you to look at the school website here.
Should you wish to enrol your child in the program for 2024, you may do so by completing this online enrolment form. If you have a child who is an existing student in the program, you also need to complete the enrolment form. As places are limited, enrolment needs to be completed by Friday the 24th November 2023. No late enrolments will be accepted after this date however, you can be placed on the waiting list. You will receive confirmation of a place in thr prgram in the last week of term 4 this year.
The Instrumental Music program is a vibrant and valued part of life and learning at St Joseph's and I encourage you to consider allowing your child access to this opportunity.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me.
Kind Regards
Jason Bennett
Junior Librarians: Thank you to the students who have filled this role throughout
the year. I love the connection they bring to the library with their fellow peers. I appreciate them recommending books to students who are having trouble. They also do a lot of mentoring with the lunch time activities that they run throughout the year. They are super stars.
Literature for Wellbeing: The students are having some meaningful discussions
about maintaining wellbeing after reading Jory John books. The stories are about
characters dealing with everyday life which students can relate to. These
discussions lead to reflecting possible solutions for the character concerned which
students take away. Stories are often a positive way to look at issues as it is not
personally directed at anyone in particular.
Sora: (Soraapp.com) As the year comes to an end, students will be
able to borrow books using the sora app. They have a choice of ebooks or audio books. Different rules apply to digital books. Sadly, we have to repurchase them after 2 years. In that time, they are allowed to be borrowed 52 times. Please ensure that your child only clicks the borrow button if they are actually going to read it. This will enable the book to last longer.
Instructions on how to use this platform can be found on the above blog- Just search for Sora. Here is the link.
Storybox library: This is another great resource for children and families to tap into
over the holidays to continue building a love of reading.
This is an Australian data base of great picture books being read by authors and celebrities. Check out the
link. The username is Read@joeys The password is read247
The Science backed reasons to read for adults and children:
1. Reading can make you more empathetic such as the above example.
2. Reading boosts your knowledge, especially on the topics you are delving into.
3. Reading can help you relax. It can be a time where you get to escape the daily slog.
4. Reading before bed can help you sleep.
5. Reading may help prevent Alzheimer’s disease
6. Reading is contagious: 75% of parents wish their children would read more for fun, and those who want to encourage their children to become bookworms can start by reading out loud at home. While most parents stop reading out loud after their children learn to do it on their own, a report from Scholastic suggests that reading out loud to kids throughout their elementary school years may inspire them to become frequent readers—meaning kids who read five to seven days per week for fun. More than 40 percent of frequent readers ages six through 11 were read to out loud at home.
Year 4B Enjoying Some Time To Read
Uno tournament: Round 2 of our tournament is happening next week to find the champion card player for each year level. The winners of round 2 will play off to discover the overall school champion.
NQ Aquathlon Trials
