Term 2 Week 6 Newsletter 2022

Acknowledgement of Country

From the Principal

Dear Parents and Carers, Staff and Students

Welcome to Week 6 of the term and the commencement of some lovely weather. 

Thankfully the rain held off last Thursday for our Cross Country, which had been postponed a couple of times due to rain and the sogginess of the grounds. From all reports the morning was an enjoyable one, with classes having fun participating and students supporting each other throughout the course. A few people walking in Anderson Gardens overheard words of encouragement by students and commented on how lovely it was to our staff supervising in the Gardens. This type of behaviour typifies what it is to be a student at St Joseph’s Mundingburra who follows the Joey’s Way. Congratulations to Gordon House who won the Cross Country by a narrow margin of one point, followed by MacKillop in second and Norris in third. Only four points separated first and third, making it a very close competition.

Yesterday afternoon, a number of our students participated in the Interschool Cross Country at Bicentennial Park. The Park was full of families and excited students who were also somewhat nervous as they anticipated the beginning of their race. Around 150 students were at the starting line for each race, and most of the St Joseph’s students placed in the first 50 for their age level. Congratulations to Harper in Year 5 who placed 1st in her age group, Oscar and Brooke who placed 4th, Chelsea who placed 6th and Jack who placed 7th.  Well done to all other participants who tried their best and made our school proud.  Thank you to Miss Duyvestyn, Mrs Esling and Mrs Taylor for their support and contribution.

Last Friday we hosted a number of children for our Under 8’s Day. It was wonderful to welcome children and their families from Miniversity and Mary MacKillop Early Learning Centres, as well as some of our 2023 Preppies. Students from Prep to Year 2 also joined in, with all who attended having a wonderful time. There were a large variety of stalls and activities which children could take part in, with the Animal Farm and Face Painting proving to be the most popular. The morning ended with Zooper Doopers being handed out and eagerly consumed. A big thank you to Mrs Cantoni for organising the day, and to all our staff who assisted in making it a great success.

Sandi Carter from RIPPLE visited the school last Monday. RIPPLE is an innovative program that tailors trusted and evidence-based programs to a school’s resilience support needs. It aims to strengthen the traits of resilience and self esteem and support the overall wellbeing of students. The program was introduced in early 2021, however was put on hold mid year. Sandi is our school’s RIPPLE Ambassador, and was at the school to support our teachers with the reimplementation of the program in classrooms. 

Our year level Masses are an important event in the Religious life of our school, and recommence this afternoon with the Year 5 Mass. Parents, carers and families are invited to join us at these Masses which take place at the Church at 1:45 pm on the allocated day for each year level (Yrs 4 - 6). The Mass dates can be found in the school calendar.

Please keep in your prayers our students who are enrolled in this year’s Sacramental Program. The workshops for the Sacrament of Reconciliation commenced on Sunday, with 35 students attending 7:30 am Mass, followed by morning tea at the Parish office and a workshop back at school. There is another workshop this Sunday, with the Sacrament of Reconciliation celebration taking place on Wednesday 1st June at 7:00 pm in the Church. Thank you to Mrs Taylor for her efforts in facilitating 2022’s Sacramental Program.

Enjoy the rest of your week.

God bless

Tracy

Interschool Cross Country

APRE News

Open Your Heart

Be a Gift of Love and Compassion for One Another

Mary MacKillop

Mary, Help of Christians
Yesterday 24th May, we celebrated Mary, Help of Christians. 
Mary, Help of Christians in her role of patron of Australia, is there for us, praying with and for us to God for our needs. When things are tough, we need all the help we can get. Mary is a beacon of hope and our “go-to” saint. Being the mother of Jesus and the first disciple is her unique gift to us. We are blessed that she is our Patron. We turn to Mary today for the protection that our nation needs, and we put ourselves into her care.

National Reconciliation week.
Next week is National Reconciliation Week 2022, the theme, “Be Brave. Make Change.” is a challenge to all Australians— individuals, families, communities, organisations and government—to Be Brave and tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation so we can Make Change for the benefit of all Australians.

Year Level Masses
Today Year 5 participated in a Year Level Mass. Thank you to parents and family who were able to join us. 

On Wednesday 8th June we will be holding a Year Level Mass for the Year 4 students. Parents are welcome to attend. The mass will take place at 1:45pm in the Church.

Assembly
Assemblies take place in the Shelter Shed on Monday mornings at 8:40am. All are welcome to attend.  Our next Assembly will be our Reconciliation Week Assembly next Monday hosted by 3B. On Monday 6th June, 2A will host our assembly about Pentecost. 

Christian Meditation 
Christian Meditation will not take place over the next few weeks as Mrs Plant is away.

May God’s blessing be with you all,

Peta

Diary Dates

From the Office

Term 2 School Fees were issued via email last week.  These are due for payment on Friday 3rd June.  Please check your spam/junk mail folders if you have not seen your invoice.  Alternatively, please contact the office.

Parents are reminded to return borrowed uniforms to the office please as soon as possible.

Year 6 camp fees are due for payment by Wednesday                27 May.

The cost of the camp is $358.  Payment can be made via cash or eft at the office or by bank transfer - please contact us for details.

Your prompt payment is most appreciated.

School Uniform

As the winter months are approaching, parents are reminded of our school uniform policy.  Students can wear PLAIN bottle green jumpers - either zip up or pullover.  Zip up jumpers are available with the school logo from The School Locker. (example below)   Also, as per our uniform policy the following requirements are for school shoes and socks:

Black -  leather shoes or  joggers - no coloured trimmings (examples below)

Short, plain white, ankle-length socks - not anklets

School Uniform

Mathematics Project

Last week our Year Two and Year Four Teachers participated in the Townsville Catholic Education Mathematics Project.  Facilitated by Judy Hartnett from Learning Through Doing, the project aims to build teacher capability in the teaching of Mathematics for greater student knowledge, understanding, skill and engagement.  

These teachers worked alongside Judy in their classrooms to implement best practice mathematical pedagogy.  They observed Judy introducing maths concepts to the whole class with hands-on supersized manipulatives.

Maths Project

Then the students were given smaller manipulatives to practise with before performing independent paper work to consolidate. 

Our Year Two and Four teachers are very excited to work with teachers from the other grades and members of the school community (including their principal, curriculum leader and school officers) to lead change and share best practice in the teaching of mathematics for our school.

Star Students

Pre-loved Uniform Shop

Our pre-loved uniform shop will be open on

Tuesday 31st May from 8.15am for any unform requirements.

Please note that the uniform shop is cash only.

Bimbi Wadja

This term we have been looking at different types of Indigenous art. We had a turn at creating our own  Albert Namatjira masterpiece. Albert used  watercolours to paint landscapes, he created over 2000 paintings. They are breathtakingly beautiful. We then had a try with Charcoal ( I think the students loved the mess more than anything). We were inspired by the Nawarla Gabarnmang charcoal drawings which are the oldest in Australia. They can be found in a rock shelter in Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory.This Thursday the 26th May we will be starting some Reconciliation week activities.Reconciliation week is celebrated on the 27th May-3rd June. The theme  is "Be Brave, Make Change". 
Duldhina (Take care)

Cindy

Lunch time activities

Library News

READING MORE IN MAY –

This year is the 22nd successful running of the National Simultaneous Storytime all over the world. This wonderful event builds developing excitement amongst all the community from parents, schools, libraries to the million children who linked into the story today, at the same time together.  Today more of our children built more connections to the excitement of reading and literacy. Our school was a part of this thrilling moment.

Children here at St Joseph’s, loved hearing the talented author and song writer Josh Pyke read his beautiful story, ‘Family Tree’.  This book’s poetical imagery touched areas of family roots, diversity, community and our precious environment with its amazing flora and fauna. Our library has been busy with Guest Readers for the week and supportive activities every lunchtime, which students have been enjoying. Even students joined in as guest readers! 

Simultaneous Storytime

Take advantage of our fabulous literacy tool for reading together with ‘Story Box Library’ which is available anytime for parents and students to utilize. Research shows the more books and reading children are exposed to, the more they will value and love reading now and in the future! 

‘Let’s talk about Books’ and our ‘Ebook hub’ recommenced last week with lots of enthusiasm from students of all grades.  We keep talking about our delightful new books for our library and students and connecting students with the Sora eBooks site, so they are never without a book!

BOOK CLUB

Book Club Issue 4 brochures have been sent out and orders will need to be in by            10 June, 2022. 

Guidance Councellor

 Happiness is a state we often take for granted, except in times when we are not so happy! How can we improve our children’s overall well-being so that they are feeling happier more often?

Research by Marc Chernoff (2008) shows there are  seven habits that highly happy people share, these are as follows:

1. Be a part of something you believe in – engaging in something you strongly believe in brings happiness and meaning into your life and a sense of belonging.
2. Share time with friends and family- a happy life is a life shared with friends and family. The stronger the personal relationships are, the higher the quality of interaction and thus their happiness.
3. Reflection is good – by mindfully reflecting on the good while striving diligently to correct the bad, you are bringing a continuous general awareness of your daily successes in your life.
4. Utilise the resources you do have access to- using the resources we already have that enhances our overall happiness is fundamental.
5. Create happy endings to events wherever possible- the end of any experience has a profound impact on a person’s overall perception of the experience of the whole.
6. Use personal strengths to get things done- everyone possesses unique personal strengths; we all have a different skill set and talents. Emotional happiness comes naturally to those who use their strengths to get things done.
7. Savour the natural joy of simple pleasures- as the saying goes- “The best things in life are free”, they may appear right in front of you, so stop and smell the roses and enjoy this beautiful life God has given us.

So, during these next coming weeks, take time to reflect upon what works well for your family to enhance their well-being and greater sense of belonging, which will naturally flow on to your children feeling happier more often.

For more information on how to enhance your child’s happiness and gratitude please visit out School TV Page, accessible on the school website!

Barbara Salisbury – Guidance Counsellor 

School Disco

Instrumental Showcase - Save the Date

P & F Thank You

Mass Times

Parish Mass Times

Tuesday 7.00am

Friday 7.00am

Saturday 5.00pm

Sunday 7.30am