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Tuesday 31st March - 1st April - Parent Teacher Interviews
Friday 3rd April - End of 1st Term
Monday 20th April - Beginning of 2nd Term
Dear Parents and Carers
Another busy week as we adapt to the changes to our communities due to Covid 19. We are at saturation point with information surrounding the current situation. This week I have included a link to an article from Dr Michael Carr Gregg on how parents can discuss the current situation with children. It is an interesting and worthwhile video to consider. Students will talk about Covid 19 to one another. We, as adults, are the filters of that information and need to ensure that the information they receive is both accurate and at a level that they understand. What you say to them, or what they hear or interpret will be repeated at some point and we need to be very aware of this moving forward.
Our response to the situation has not changed. We continue to be guided by the relevant authorities and will disseminate information to parents and the wider community as it comes to hand. This information will come home via email to ensure all families are notified in a timely manner.
In speaking with teachers this week our focus remains on teaching and learning. We have very clear plans designed by our dedicated teachers to implement the Australian Curriculum. Amid many changes to events and gatherings, it is increasingly important for our students and teachers to remain focussed and engaged. While there will be times where our teachers need to discuss elements of the current situation with students, our focus remains on quality teaching and learning.
https://schooltv.me/wellbeing_
Have a great week.
Tim
Project Compassion
We have icy cups left that we will sell until we run out. However, we won't be making any more icy cups this Lent. Thank you for your support of our icy cup fundraiser which helps support Project Compassion. If you have Project Compassion boxes at home, please ensure that these are returned by Wednesday 1st April.
Wednesday 25th March is The Annunciation of the Lord. The encounter between Mary and the Angel also opens up the meaning of our own lives, as well as shedding light on our call to participate in God's loving plan.
Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with you
Blessed are thou amongst women and blessed if the fruit of thy womb, Jesus
Holy Mary mother of God
Prayer for us now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
https://www.catholic.org/prayers/prayer.php?p=217
Image: The Annunciation - ttps://www.catholic.org/news/national/story.php?id=54667
Have a great week.
Take care and God Bless
Amanda
Parent Teacher Interviews
Parent Teacher Interviews are scheduled for Week 10- Tuesday, March 31st and Wednesday, 1st April.
In considering current restrictions and advice regarding Coronavirus, the following format for Term 1 interviews has been decided.
- Interviews will proceed on a voluntary basis.
- They will be conducted in your child’s classroom.
- Appropriate social distancing protocols will be observed. (remaining 1.5m apart, no handshaking/ unnecessary physical contact, appropriate personal hygiene conventions). If you or a family member are already unwell, please consider not attending.
- Bookings are available through Compass from Monday, March 23rd. Here is a link to a booking guide in Compass.
If class teachers are concerned regarding your child’s progress, they will contact you directly to discuss future plans.
Formal written reports are provided at the end of Term 2.
NAPLAN Online Practice Test. Year 3 and 5 Monday, 23rd March.
In 2020, St Joseph’s will transition to NAPLAN Online. Our students have been developing the skills required for this test environment for some time. On Monday, our Year 3 and Year 5 students will sit a Practice test to give them experience in testing formats and to ensure technical readiness across Australia.
Here is a link to further information regarding NAPLAN Online.
In 2020, NAPLAN is scheduled for a 10 day window from May 12th to May 22nd.
St Joseph’s will share our schedule with our school community over the coming weeks.
http://readiscover1.blogspot.com.au/ Click this link to see articles on reading and other educational literature, photos of library events and any upcoming competitions.
Readers Cup: Students in year 6 will be doing an inhouse readers cup competition March 26th to select 4 students for our ‘Reading Knights’ Team. We have been on a winning streak for the past 3 years. So proud that our students love coming to the library to borrow and read for pleasure.
How do we foster daily reading at home? This is a question I get asked on several levels. Here are some ideas which can be adapted for all ages.
Are your children finding it difficult to sit and read a whole book? We need to train our young readers to increase the time they are able to sit and read or listen to a story. We are used to being busy. We are always doing or being entertained by something. To actually stop and read is hard for some of us.
Try this method. Ask your busy bees to sit and take 3 slow deep breaths. Just before bed is a good time to calm the mind. Read a short story maybe 3-5 minutes long. Make it an enjoyable special time for both of you. After a few days extend that sitting time by 5 mins and so on until your children can sit for 20- 30 mins just reading. We actually need some training to be able to sit in our own space without any outside stimulus. Being able to escape into reading a book has been considered a meditative experience which is great for wellbeing.
Routine and consistency are very important for this to work. It may take up to 2 weeks to establish this routine but the rewards and benefits are worthwhile. Children in P-3 will benefit greatly from parental reading of at least one story or one chapter per night. As they become independent readers you can alternate reading with you and then reading independently. You’ll be surprised at the transformation.
Prep students Tomas & Ben enjoyed reading in our teepee this week.
Year 2 students were very excited to receive their own special diaries after reading and looking at the many diaries available in our library. It is a popular genre, Diary of a wimpy kid being the most well-known.
Children were so eager to create their own diary that they gathered at lunch time to keep adding to it. It is definitely a special memento of their time at primary school which they take home at the end of year 5.
Happy Reading
Belinda Walker (Teacher Librarian)
MULKADEE
Mulkadee runs from 20th - 24th July, with the big concert on the night of Friday 24th.
Registrations are now open for students in Years 4,5 and 6.
Please click on the link below. Applications close 27th March.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSftO82ElOf6aQA7IXDK6JKbaPVOOUOopMFxw5mxpvpqcwtbqA/viewform
20% off your Membership sale goes directly to St Joseph's Catholic School The Strand
Central School Dental Clinic is currently treating St Josephs School. If your child/children are in Prep to Year 6 and you would like to access this FREE service could you please phone the clinic on 0436915759 to make an appointment to bring your child in. If we are unable to come to the phone please leave a message and we will return your call. (This clinic is currently open every Monday and the occasional Friday)
School Dental Staff
