Dear Parents and Carers

What a terrific start to the year it has been.  With the nerves of the first week over and classes settling into learning the feeling in classrooms is a very positive one.  This week you may have noticed a very large delivery truck in our pickup zone at pickup time.  Not the greatest timing, however, the delivery was for our Year One classrooms. The new furniture was part of the move toward flexible learning environments and funded by our Beachathon in 2019.  This now means our Prep, Year 1 and Year 5 classes are now working in these new environments.  Other classes in the school have begun their planning for replacement furniture and this will arrive throughout the year.   Our Year 1's were very excited. 

We are well underway in preparation for our annual swimming carnival.  This year due to renovations at Tobruk pool our carnival will be held at Kokoda.  While this is a change to our normal routine I am very confident that the day will be another great one for our students. I hope you are able to join us.

Finally this week, I have been made aware of some year levels creating a Facebook page for parents.  These have existed in the past and I have no concerns over these being used in a way that conveys information and helps to build our community.  What I would remind all families of is the open-door policy that has been a hallmark of our school community for the last four years.  Throughout the year it is only natural that parents and carers will have questions and concerns.  I would ask that these are brought firstly to your class teacher and to either Amanda or myself.  We are very happy to discuss anything with you.  While the Facebook groups are a great tool to build community they are not a forum for negative or derogatory sentiments or criticism.  Our school has a wonderful community atmosphere and I am sure that this will continue.  

Have a great week

Tim

Beginning of Year Mass

School Prayer

Please find below our school prayer.  It is important that the students know this prayer as it is part of the Religious Life of our school.  The prayer is said in classrooms and this year we will be praying it at some of our Assemblies. This would be a great prayer for you to pray as a family before bedtime.

We pray Lord Jesus.

We are one.

We are your people.

Bless St Joseph's School and our homes with your presence.

Bless our hearts with your love.

Bless our hopes and dreams and joys.

Bless our families with good health and happiness.

We pray for peace throughout the world.

Amen 

Sunday’s Gospel

Presentation of the Lord - Luke 2:22-40 

On Sunday the Church celebrated the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the temple. The Presentation, which is celebrated 40 days after Christmas, is not mentioned in the other Gospels. Only Luke tells the story, most likely because he writes for Gentile Christians who are not familiar with the Jewish rite of presentation and purification. In addition, the intent of Luke’s Gospel is to show that God’s promise to Israel, fulfilled in Jesus, extends to Gentiles.

Luke recognizes Joseph and Mary as faithful Jews who bring Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem. Here they present their firstborn son to the Lord. Jesus is thus consecrated as required by the Law of Moses. Present in the temple at this time are Simeon and Anna. Both are awaiting the restoration of God’s rule in Israel.

Simeon had been promised by the Holy Spirit that he would see Christ the Lord, the Messiah before he died. The holy man immediately recognized the infant Jesus as the promised Savior, a “light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.” Anna also recognized Jesus as the fulfilment of the promise of redemption and spoke about him to all.

We too are called to recognise Jesus as Lord. Together as a family discuss ways to recognise Jesus as Lord by praying and attending Mass and serving others. As a family, decide on one specific action you can make in order to alleviate the suffering or need of someone you know.

https://www.loyolapress.com/our-catholic-faith/liturgical-year/sunday-connection/presentation-of-the-lord-sunday-connection

Have a great week.

Take care and God Bless

Amanda

Enquiries and enrolments are now open regarding the Sacramental Journey for 2020.

The first meeting will be held Monday 2nd March 2020.

  To obtain your information Booklet and Enrolment Form please email St Joseph's Parish Office, stjoeys@tsv.catholic.org.au

Over the past couple of years, our teaching staff have worked to develop and implement a Pedagogical Framework which includes a shared vision of what teaching and learning looks like at our school. As we settle back into a new school year, it is timely to review and  share some information for all our current families. 

At St Joseph’s Catholic School: The Strand, we believe

• Children are a gift from the Lord.  They are a real blessing.(Psalm 127:3)
• Our learners are individuals with varying learning styles and interests.
• High expectations are essential for success.
• Learning must be engaging, future oriented and connected to the real world.
• Our environment is helping to develop independent, 21st century learners who are creative and innovative.

Every child has the ability to learn and succeed

As teachers at St Joseph’s : The Strand, we work to 

• Know our students
• Know our curriculum
• Know how to differentiate our teaching for each child

Apart from Religious Education which is based on the Brisbane Archdiocese curriculum, our students have eight learning areas informed by the Australian Curriculum. They are - English, Mathematics, Science, HASS ( Humanities and Social Science), Technologies ( Digital and Design), The Arts, HPE and Languages (Japanese Year 3-6). Embedded in these learning areas are the General Capabilities and Cross Curriculum Priorities , aimed at equipping young Australians to live and work successfully in the twenty-first century. 

Under guidance from Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority and Townsville Catholic Education Office, our teachers plan learning experiences and assessment based on the achievement standard for each learning area.

Parent Information Evening

Next Tuesday evening, February 11th, is our Parent Information Evening where class teachers will outline curriculum matters in more detail. Please check newsletter and Facebook for a more detailed program. We value the role that parents play as first educators of their children and welcome the support offered to teachers to ensure the best educational outcomes for our students. 

Each term, class teachers send home curriculum outlines to keep you informed of the main aspects of your child’s learning. We encourage you to use these to initiate discussion and to encourage our students to take ownership of their learning. 

If you have any questions regarding our whole school curriculum, please feel welcome to contact me. 

Jan Oram

Learning and Teaching Advisor

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:

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

Guitar, Keyboard and Vocals have commenced lessons for 2020.  There are still vacancies for the Woodwind and Recorder program, enrolments can be entered through our website

Any further interest in guitar and keyboard will be considered for Term 2.

Please contact the Office for any queries.

Single School Family Fee Discount

Families with more than one child in the same systemic* Catholic school in the Townsville Diocese receive fee discounts for the second, third and subsequent children. (*Does not include St Patrick's College or Ignatius Park College)

Multi-School Family Fee Discount

As of 2015, a new fee structure gives families discounted fees for the second, third and subsequent children across both secondary and primary systemic* Catholic schools in the Townsville Diocese. (* Does not include St Patrick's College or Ignatius Park College)
 
To take advantage of these extended fee discounts, parents/carers should contact the school, informing them of older siblings attending a systemic Catholic secondary school. Diocesan tuition fee discounts will be applied accordingly.

Health care/Pensioner Concession Card Fee Assistance

In addition to the family fee discounts, parents/carers with a means-tested Australian government health care or pensioner concession card may be eligible to receive a 70% discount to tuition fees.