Dear parents and carers

Welcome to the 2021 school year!  We are hoping for a new beginning after a restricted 2020 and to getting back to the things that make our school such a wonderful community.

There are many new faces in our school and I would like to welcome all our new families.  We hope that your time with us will be enjoyable and rewarding.  Thank you for choosing to be a part of our amazing school community.  It was terrific to visit classrooms yesterday and see our new students happy faces.  They were certainly welcomed with gusto and we know that this sense of welcome and belonging will continue.  

There were a few tears in some classes yesterday but these were short lived. There were a few tears from parents and carers as well but it was difficult to tell if these were tears of joy! All jokes aside, it was a very calm and comfortable return to school and classes had a positive feel to them.

Last year covid curtailed many of our regular functions and opportunities for parents and carers to feel connected and participate in the day to day life of the school.  We are hoping that this will not be the case again this year.  While there are still some restrictions in place, we are looking forward to reengaging with our community throughout the year.  

As well as our new families we also welcome some new staff.  Ms Trina Neilson joined our school as Assistant to the Principal Religious Education, Ms Julie Wallace as Learning and Teaching Adviser and Ms Judy Scherrenberg as Guidance Counsellor.  All three are highly experienced teachers and professional in their field and will bring this experience, enthusiasm and professionalism to their new roles.  I am very excited to be working alongside them this year.

With the first week almost complete, the three days has been a nice way for our students to return to school.  I continue to see many happy faces and am sure this will continue as classes delve deeper into their learning throughout the term.  I look forward to catching up will all our families over the coming weeks.

Have a great week.

Tim

Thanks to everyone for the wonderful welcome and start to the New Year. I am excited to be at St Joseph's and am looking forward to getting to know all in our school. 

As a school, we will begin our year discussing our Mercy Values of love, community and excellence. Last week, all the staff learnt more about Catherine McAuley and the Sisters of Mercy. The Sisters of Mercy, founders of St Joseph's are affectionely know as 'The Walking Sisters' as they went out into the community to serve and care for the poor and distressed. 

This year, we as a school will try to emulate the values of the Sisters of Mercy and be of service in our classrooms, our playground and our community. As a symbol of service, staff decorated shoes. You may see these wonderfully, decorated shoes in your child's classroom. 

Over the next few weeks, all classes will be spending time learning more about our Mercy Values and the Sisters of Mercy. 

'We can never say 'it is enough". Catherine McAuley

Hope all have a wonderful week,

Trina

The expert teaching team at St Joseph's accompanied by the enthusiastic learners ensure that 2021 will be a year of great learning opportunities and growth.  

Being new to the school, it is clear the staff at St Joseph's strive to know each child, know the curriculum and actively seek new ways to engage students.  

Students at St Joseph's engage with 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.  Religious Education forms the ninth learning area and is based on the Brisbane Archdiocese curriculum.

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

Tuesday 9th February 5:45 pm is our Parent Information Evening. Class teachers will outline curriculum matters in more detail. 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. 

Have a wonderful week.

Julie Wallace

Learning and Teacher Adviser

Swimming@Joey’s - Years 4-6 Lessons (Term 1)

As part of our schools HPE program, the students in Years 4-6 will begin swimming lessons this term (beginning next week). Lessons will be conducted with qualified instructors at Tobruk Pool every Friday, commencing next Friday 5/2 (week 2) and concluding Friday 26/3 (week 9). There will be no swimming lessons on Friday 19/3 (Week 8) due to St. Joseph’s Day celebrations. Our St Joey's Swimming Carnival will be held on Friday 26 February (week 5). Classes will walk 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.

Term 1 Fees

Could all families that have a Health Care or Pensioner Concession Card please present the card to the office as soon as possible.  The card must be current until at least the end of Term 1.  Concessions will not be given without a current copy. Any families that have siblings at another of the Catholic Schools in our Diocese may be entitled to a discount.  Please email the office; enquiries@sjnwtsv.catholic.edu.au if you think you are eligible or if you have any other questions regarding the fee process.  Most information regarding fees can also be found on our website; sjnwtsv.catholic.edu.au