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Tuesday 11 Feb - Safer Internet Day - Parent Information Evening in the Hall @ 5pm
Wednesday 12 Feb - Beginning of Year Mass and Commissioning of Student Leaders in the Hall @ 9am
Friday 14 Feb - Swimming Lessons Begin Years 4-6
Monday 24th Feb - Sporting School Program begins (Yrs 3-6)
Friday 28th Feb - St Joey's Swimming Carnival at Kokoda Pool
- P-2 Wet Play Day at the Waterpark
Wednesday 18th March - "A" Schools Interschool Swimming Carnival at Long Tan Pool
Dear Parents and Carers
Happy New Year and welcome to the 2020 school year. It has been a great few days (wet ones, but great) with many very happy faces around our school. I would like to take this chance to welcome all our new families to St. Joseph's. Walking around classes on Tuesday I don't think there are any classes that do not have a new face or two in them. Welcome also to our new staff members many of whom you have already met. We have an amazing staff again this year and I know that they are looking forward to another great year at St. Joseph's. Of course, we can't possibly forget our largest group of new faces in our school, our wonderful Preps who have already featured as television stars earlier this week. To all who have joined our school in 2020, on behalf of our school community, welcome.
While the rain has been a welcome relief from the dry summer it also has brought with it mixed emotions from 12 months ago. I realise that many people have moved on from the events of last year, but as unbelievable as it may seem there are still many families still dealing with issues from the floods in 2019. Summer has seen many parts of Australia devastated by bushfires. I know that our school leaders and some of our other students have already started thinking of ways in which we can support these communities. I am sure that there will be opportunities for our community to assist where possible. As always, we offer our prayers for those in need.
You may have noticed some work that has taken place around the school over the break. I am very grateful Reldas Constructions, Fichera Electrical and Supreme Paintworks for once again preparing our school for the coming year. As many of you would be aware the school has been in discussions for some time around making the most of our physical footprint at St Joseph's. One of the outcomes of the school renewal process was to review the school masterplan. This plan, once developed in consultation, will hopefully involve the provision of some new facilities and opportunities to open up new spaces for our students to enjoy. It has been a significant process in preparing for these possibilities. While there is still some way to go, I am very hopeful that this year will see significant progress in this area.
With another busy term ahead, it is important for all our families to stay connected to what is happening in our school community. Last week you would have received a Term Calendar with all the significant dates currently available for this term listed. It is hoped that this will assist families in planning for upcoming events. The newsletter is also another important link between home and school and I would encourage all families to use these resources, so as not miss out on what is happening throughout the term.
I am looking forward to another wonderful year and to working with our school community to provide our students with every opportunity to succeed.
Have a great week
Tim
Welcome Back!
Welcome back to school! I hope that everyone has had a wonderful first week. It has been great to see all the smiling faces and to hear about all the adventures that happened throughout the holidays.
This year we will be working on developing our Mercy Charism and story and making it a visible part of our school that forms that basis of our daily lives. Part of this development includes acknowledging the past and having an understanding of the story that came before us. We need to also recognise the role we play today in order to prepare for the future. Keep an eye out in the newsletter for snippets that explain our history and what it means here at Joey’s to be a Mercy school.
Beginning of Year Mass
Our Beginning of Year Mass will be held on Wednesday 12th February at 9am in the School Hall. During this Mass, our Year 6 leaders will be presented with their leadership badges. We would love to have you join us.
Bushfires
Over the holidays we witnessed the terrible fires that have ravaged our country. We are going to be having a free dress day on Friday 7th February to raise money for the Bushfire relief. We ask that you bring in a gold coin donation. Students need to be wearing sun-safe clothing with closed in shoes on this day.
God, author of creation, You breathed life into each person and the beautiful world that surrounds us. Be with your creation during this time of unspeakable devastation; sustain our spirits during these bushfires, as we reach out in sorrow to all those affected in their wake. As these fires rage, so too may our desire to bring order to your world, keeping all from harm. We make this prayer in the name of Jesus, your Son.
Amen.
Gospel
Matthew 4:12-23 - Jesus begins to preach in Galilee and calls his first disciples.
Sunday’s Gospel tells us little about the background of these fishermen, their work, and their families. In the Gospel, we are simply told that James and John left their father, Zebedee, in the boat and followed Jesus.
Some details about the families of these first followers of Jesus are found later in Matthew’s Gospel, however. In Matthew 8:14-15 for example, Jesus goes to the home of Peter and heals his mother-in-law of a fever. Matthew 20:20-28 relates how the mother of the sons of Zebedee (James and John) approaches Jesus with the request that her sons be given places of honour in Jesus’ kingdom. These brief references suggest that the first disciples’ separation from their families may not have been as complete as the verses in today’s Gospel might lead us to believe. Matthew points out the separation because he wants to show that Christian discipleship can require a change in our lives and even our family relationships.
Perhaps the message for us today is to balance the radical call to be a follower of Jesus with the challenge to be “fishers of men” even within our own families. Creating this balance may require that we change some of the priorities of our own family life.
As a family, detail the activities of a typical day. Discuss together what priorities are reflected in this daily schedule. How does your family respond when your daily plans are interrupted or must be changed? Together read the Gospel, Matthew 4:12-23. Reflect together on the example of the first disciples who dropped everything to follow Jesus. Ask: Does our family schedule give evidence that we put God first in our family life? What might we do to better reflect that God is our priority? Pray together that your family will always give evidence that God comes first in your family life.
https://www.loyolapress.com/our-catholic-faith/liturgical-year/sunday-connection
https://www.pray.com.au/month/january-2020/page/2/
Have a wonderful week.
Take care and God Bless
Amanda
Awards will be presented at Assembly on the 5th Feb at 2pm
6B is Class in the Spotlight
| 1D | Harrison Chandel | Hannah Campbell | ||
| 1M | Leo Blackmore | Sadie Denmead | ||
| 1C | Moera Takairangi | Eleanor Griffiths | ||
| 2R | Gary Doyle | Ava Fanning | ||
| 2J | Margaret Baker | Connor Fletchett | Matilda Kearns | Nevaiya Winks |
| 3O | Brooke Gordon | Quaid Smith | ||
| 3HF | Cameron Brogan | Ellie Guilfoyle | ||
| 4S | Eva Davis | Oskar Bourne | ||
| 4OH | Hunter Kearns | Daniel O'Brien | ||
| 5M | Cheeno Schmucker | Greta Ramsay | ||
| 5D | Lola Hamilton | Madison Schell | Joseph Smith | |
| 6MK | Rhonan Washbourne | Matilda Weekers | ||
| 6B | Quinn Pascoe | Kate Blackmore |
Welcome to our library to both past and new parents. As Teacher Librarian in your school (3 days a week) I’m here to foster your child’s reading journey. My aim is to connect your children to books and reading for pleasure as a life long journey. Part of my program is to encourage your child to borrow and read regularly. I also teach drama to P-2 students.
The following is your child’s designated borrowing day. Please ensure they have a library bag especially with the wet weather.
Library borrowing days:
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
| Year 6 | Year 5 | Prep, Year 2 & 4 | Year 1,3 |
Library Guidelines
Borrowing: Children are welcome to borrow weekly and at lunch time. They start with borrowing 1 book in prep and increase up to 3 books by grade 3
Overdue books: Once a term you will receive an email to see what books your child has out. If they have books out this is good news. The email subject automatically says ’current and overdue books’. Do not panic as children are allowed to have books for two weeks if they need and are welcome to renew them.
Book Club: 2-3 times a year, children will have the opportunity to buy books for their home library. This can be done online or you can use pocket money and pay with cash. The first time you order books online you will have to set up your child’s details. Please ensure you put your child into the correct class.
Author Visit: During the year, we endeavor to invite an author to our school to talk to children about the craft of writing and publishing books. Children get to talk to the authors and ask questions during the workshops. This is like meeting a famous rock star for kids and they are inspired to read books by the invited author.
Junior Librarians: Each year I give an opportunity for students in years 4- 6 to apply to be a junior librarian. Their role is to assist teachers with looking after books in the classroom, to assist their peers with borrowing and shelving and to run lunch time activities. Each class will have 2 students employed in this position. Applications are open until next week.
Library Levy: Thanks to all parents who have contributed to this levy in the past. These funds keep our library well stocked with the latest books to entice your children into reading. Children are welcome to request books, which, if suitable, will be purchased for our library.
Before school: Children and parents can pop in before school every Friday to read or borrow.
Blogspot: Check out my library blog. Here I put latest books released and articles about reading which may be of interest, competition links, etc.
Search our library: A link can be found on the school home page under students. When they log into the student intranet they will find a library link.
Has your child had their serve of reading aloud today?
Happy Reading
Belinda Walker (Teacher Librarian)
Swimming@Joey’s
We have an exciting time ahead for Swimming. It begins with lessons (Years 4-6) and our annual carnival (8 – 12 Years). With Tobruk Pool under redevelopment, we will be conducting Swimming lessons and our carnival in Term 1 at Kokoda Memorial Pool, Mundingburra.
Lessons (Year 4-6)
As part of our schools HPE program, students in Years 4-6 will begin swimming lessons this term. Lessons will be conducted with qualified instructors at Kokoda Pool every Friday, commencing Friday 14/2 (Week 3) and concluding Friday 20/3 (Week 8). Our St Joey's Swimming Carnival will be held on Friday 28 February (Week 5). Classes will be transported by bus to the lessons each week.
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.
We trust that the lessons will be an enjoyable learning experience for all.
Lesson Timetable:
| Time | Class |
| 9.15 - 10.00 | Year 4 |
| 10.00 - 10.45 | Year 5 |
| 10.45 - 11.30 | Year 6 |
Carnival
Who: Students turning 8 years - 12 years in 2020 (and Year 2’s turning 8 this year are invited and encouraged to attend).
Prep to Year 2’s (not involved in the carnival) will have ‘Wet Day’ activities @ The Water Park. Information to follow.
When: Friday 28 February (9.30am - 12.30 approx)
Where: Kokoda Memorial Pool
What: Annual Swimming Carnival (Freestyle & Relay Events - including parent, staff, student relay).
If any parents are able to assist, it would be greatly appreciated. The success of the carnival is reliant on parental support. Please advise the office or email Anthony Meekin (ameekin@sjnwtsv.catholic.edu.au) if you are able to assist with one of the jobs listed below.
Parents/caregivers do not need to sign a permission note for events where students leave the school grounds, as permission has been granted when signing Section #26 (Student Enrolment Application). Information regarding all events will be communicated to parents/caregivers in advance and if a student is unable to participate the school needs to be notified.
The carnival will conclude by approximately 12.30 pm and children may be collected by parents at Kokoda or return by bus to St Joseph's to be supervised until 2.50pm.
Volunteers Needed:
7.00am - Set Up (Kokoda), Judges, Marshalling, Caps (for each House),
12.30pm - Pack-up
Wet Play Day
Our St Joseph's Wet Play Day for Prep to Year 2 (those not attending the carnival) is Friday 28th February at The Strand, Waterpark.
All students must wear sunsafe swimming clothing and may wear easy to slip on shoes to walk to and from the Waterpark (but must have their closed in shoes for school). Students (Year 2) are to wear their full school uniform to school. Prep and Year 1 students may come to school ready in their swimming gear, then get changed into their uniforms after the excursion. Parents are more than welcome and encouraged to assist in walking to the Waterpark. Please advise your child’s teacher if you can attend.
Times:
Prep - 9.00 - 9.40am
Year 1 - 9.40 - 10.20am
Year 2 - 10.20 - 11.00 am
