St Joseph's Catholic School - Mundingburra eNewsletter

From the Principal

Wednesday 9th February, 2022

Dear Parents and Carers, Staff and Students

Welcome to the 2022 school year! It is with great pleasure that I welcome all our students, staff and families to St Joseph’s Catholic School Mundingburra, especially our new Prep students and their families, as well as our new/returning staff. We wish them a fabulous year.

Peta Taylor - Assistant Principal Religious Education (Acting)

Cathryn Cornish - Learning and Teaching Adviser

Dani Butler - who has returned from maternity leave is in 5B (Mon, Tues and Wed)

Siobhan Franzmann - 5B (Thurs and Fri)

Emma Perticato - Learning Enrichment

Unfortunately, we have returned to school with COVID-19 still dominating what we do and how we do it. There has been quite a lot of correspondence to families regarding this already, and this will continue into the foreseeable future with communication via normal communication channels including COMPASS and our Newsletter. Despite this, we have had a pleasing and positive start to the year with students settling smoothly into the routine of school even after an extra two weeks of holidays/ informal learning. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our parent/carer community, particularly our Prep and new families, for their patience and understanding with changes which had to be made to our normal return to school.

Staff returned to work on Monday 17th January for a week of professional development, all of which had to be converted to Zoom presentations/meetings. They were also kept busy preparing informal learning activities and engaging in planning and preparation for the coming semester.

The beginning of a school year is an opportune time to reflect on our overall mission which, as stated in our school Mission Statement, is to encourage each child to develop their individual potential through experiences which foster a love of learning and value education as a partnership between home and school. We aim to live out our school motto, ‘Love is Service’, inspired by Mary MacKillop, by striving for inclusiveness, social justice and outreach to others. As stewards of God’s creation, we respect and care for one another and the world in which we live. The Joey’s Way is underpinned by and reflects our school mission and motto. Everything we do is under the guidance of Jesus Christ, who is our model, as demonstrated by Mary MacKillop and the Sisters of St Joseph, whose ethos and charisms form our traditions and history alongside our understanding of the importance of St Joseph, as a guiding figure in the life of Jesus.

Wishing you all a wonderful week.

God bless

Tracy

APRE News

Welcome back to all of our families,

I hope you are all well and enjoyed your holidays. My name is Peta Taylor. I am very excited to have joined everyone here at St Joseph’s Mundingburra in the position of Acting Assistant Principal - Religious Education. I look forward to meeting many of you throughout the term.

Beginning of School Year Prayer

Dear Lord,

Use my eyes to see new friends.

Open my ears to listen to my teacher.

Open my mind to learn new things.

Let my heart remember you are always near when I am upset.

Help me to love others like you do.

I want to shine so bright in all I do.

Amen.

2022 Open Your Heart

Be a Gift of Love and Compassion for One Another

Mary MacKillop

This year at St Joseph's Mundingburra our Prayer theme will be 'Open Your Heart'. We will be encouraging the students to be a gift of love and compassion for one another by opening their hearts to help others. This week the students have participated in class prayers and completed a reflection activity where they were asked to identify and write something they will do to open their hearts this term. Some of these included: helping my friends, helping at home, including others, being kind, caring for my friends, looking after each other, giving to those in need.

Opening Mass

Unfortunately due to COVID restrictions we are unable to hold our opening mass at the moment. We are unsure at this stage if or when this will take place.

Christian Meditation will take place each Thursday morning at 8:00am in the Library. Meditation is a form of sacred and silent prayer, know as prayer of the heart. It is a lovely way to start the day! Unfortunately due to COVID we are only permitted to have students and staff participate. We will let parents know as soon as we can when they can join us.

Have a wonderful week, Peta

COVID Information for families

The Premier announced this week that the Queensland Government Check-in app is now only required for premises that are covered by a vaccine mandate (which includes schools as they are high-risk settings).

This changes the purpose of the app from contact tracing to focus on checking vaccination status.

Schools will still be required to ensure that contractors and volunteers providing services at school sites are using the Check-in app to record their attendance on site (and confirm their vaccination status). Our reception staff will ask to see your proof of vaccination on arrival.

Parents and carers are not required to be vaccinated to bring their children to school. Masks are required for all adults when indoors and outdoors where social distancing is not possible. Due to current COVID directives for schools, we ask parents and carers of students in Years 2-6 to drop off and pick up their children from the Stop, Drop and Go area. Parents and carers of students in Prep and Year 1 are able to bring their child to the door of the classroom. The same applies for parents and carers of students in Years P - 6 who are vulnerable. We thank you for your assistance in keeping our school community safe.

2022 Term Dates

Upcoming Events

The Joey's Way

Prep Parents

Starting from next week Monday 14th, we will be returning to our normal morning routine. If you arrive at school before 8:15am you will need to wait at the big shelter shed. The bell will ring at 8:15am, at this time you may walk your child around to meet their teacher and line up outside their classroom.

Office Hours

Our office is open from 8am to 3.30pm each day.

School Bell Times

Move to classroom	8.15am
First Bell	8.25am
School Day Commences	8.30am
Morning Tea	10.30am to 10.50am
Middle Session	10.50am to 12.50pm
Lunch	12.50pm to 1.30pm
Last Session	1.30pm to 2.50pm
School Day Concludes	2.50pm

Supervision is provided from 8am in the mornings and until 3.15pm in the afternoon. If you are running late to collect your child, please contact the office to advise.

Absent and Unwell Students

If your child is going to be absent from school, please notify us via one of the following options:

via the Compass app
calling the school on 4779 1651, choosing option 1 and leaving a message with the students name, class and reason for absence
emailing the school at absent@sjmbtsv.catholic.edu.au

COVID-19

If students are unwell and cannot attend school, they should attend their local Queensland Health testing clinic where they will be given access to receive a free RAT. If a student develops COVID- 19 symptoms while at school, parents will be notified to collect the student and they will be able to access free RATs provided by the Queensland Government from the school for the parent to administer at home. Staff will NOT be administering RATs at school. If you are provided with a RAT from school, please contact the school with the results.

Students who are not displaying symptoms, who are unable to attend school due to Queensland Health guidelines, are encouraged to connect with the school (class teacher) to discuss alternative learning arrangements.

Regardless of testing positive to COVID-19, students who are unwell or displaying flu like symptoms are to remain at home.

Student Medication

Any students requiring medicine at school are required to have a Consent to Administer Medication at School form completed by the parent and the prescribing doctor. (please note that Ventolin only requires the parent signature. **This form is required to be completed at the beginning of each school year for ongoing medication. A copy of this form has been sent out via Compass as well as a flyer below or you can contact the office.

Consent_to_administer_Medication.pdf

Tuckshop

The school Tuckshop has re-opened for 2022!

Orders can be placed via the Flexischools App. Parents are now able to place a late Tuckshop order if they forget to place their order or if your child forgets or drops their food. You will find a special Late Lunch order tab if you miss the daily 9am cut off.

Jeannine is always looking for volunteers for the Tuckshop. If you are able to help in any way, please give her a call on 0407 578 105. As per Queensland Government mandates, all volunteers must be double vaccinated.

Parents are also asked to change their childrens class at the beginning of each year on Flexischools.

Flexischools Website

Library

Welcome back everyone to Term 1 from the Library, and welcome to our new Library Teacher, Mrs Luton!

With the theme "February is Library Lover's Month" and "Love the Library", this is a great start for students this year to engage and love reading books. Happy Reading!

Book Club Issue 1, 2022

Brochures have been distributed today to students. Orders will need to be finalised by the 21st February. Please remember to place your orders through the "Scholastic LOOP" ordering program. For new parents, follow the easy way to use and pay for Book Club. "Using LOOP" instructions link is below for your assistance. If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact the Library.

Scholastic Loop Instructions

Swimming Programme

Permission notes have been sent to parents via Compass for our Term 1 Swimming programme. Please complete the form and return to school along with payment (credit card or bank deposit) no later than Friday 11th February. Swimming for years 3 - 6 commences on Monday 14 February.

Please ensure that your child has their swimming costume, towel, t-shirt/rashie (very important), sun cream and a plastic/swimming bag for wet items. Long hair should be tied back securely. Please label all items with your childs name and class.

School Uniforms

Our school uniform supplies can be purchased from The School Locker at Domain Central.

Please find the link for The School Locker and for our School Uniform Policy below.

We also have a second hand uniform shop located at the school. Opening days and times will be advised in our newsletters.

Our second hand uniform shop will be open on Tuesday 22 February from 8.10am to 9am for any uniform requirements. Payment is welcome via cash.

Teachers will be sending home information regarding which days students are wearing sports unforms and formal uniforms.

The School Locker

SJMB Uniform Policy

Compass Portal

St Joseph's Catholic School uses the Compass School Manager software and an important component of this software is the Compass Parent Portal. Each parent is issued with an individual login name and password for the Parent Portal.

The Parent Portal allows you to:

view your child's timetable and the school calendar
view up-to-date attendance information for your child
enter details of upcoming absences or explain past absences or late arrivals for your son or daughter
access your child's Semester Reports
view a news feed of school announcements, alerts and updates
communicate by email with your child's teachers
update your contact details (email and mobile phone number)
Additional features will become available in the Parent Portal in the future.

The Parent Portal is a web-based system that can be accessed by going to our website at:

www.sjmbtsv.catholic.edu.au and under parents there is a link in the main body of the letter that you can click on.

An app called Compass School Manager is also available for both iPhones/iPads (via the App Store) and Android phones/tablets (via the Google Play Store). Once installed search for St Joseph’s Catholic School Mundingburra.

The browser version of the Parent Portal contains more features than the app.

Please contact the office if you require your username and password or for a password reset.