Term 4, Week 8 Newsletter, 2022

Acknowledgement of Country

We respectfully acknowledge the past and present traditional owners of this land on which we stand, the Wulgurukaba and neighbouring Bindal people who are the custodians. We pray that we can walk together to a better future.

From the Principal

Dear Parents and Carers, Staff and Students

The events which traditionally occur at this time of year have moved into full gear this week. It really is lovely to witness the coming together of staff, students and families to support a variety of events, and celebrate the successes of not only our students but also our entire school community.
 
On Monday, a special Thank You Liturgy was held to celebrate all volunteers who contribute so generously to our school. During the Liturgy our volunteers were invited to come up and receive a gift and were also given a blessing by the school community. Following the Liturgy, they enjoyed morning tea and a chat. There is much research relating student success to parental engagement, and it is hoped that St Joseph’s culture of volunteering and serving others continues in 2023.
 
Last night was the Year 1 Space Night which saw our students and staff dressed as astronauts, planets and creatures from outer space. These young students were a credit to the staff who prepared them, performing confidently for a large audience. They paraded, danced, recited poetry and sang two songs in Italian. The most wonderful thing about these types of events is seeing the enthusiasm, pride and confidence exhibited by the students when performing. They look like they are enjoying themselves which makes it an enjoyable performance for all present. 
 
Tonight our musicians will take the stage and perform at the Music Showcase evening. An important part of students learning an instrument is being able to perform in front of an audience. Tonight they will have that opportunity and I have no doubt they will rise to the occasion.Thursday evening will see our Prep students on stage performing their Prep Nativity Play. Like our Prep families and friends, I am looking forward to being an audience member at this annual event which reminds us of the true reason for Christmas. Thank you to the staff members who have played an integral part in ensuring these performances come to fruition.
 
On Friday it is our Drama students’ turn to impress. Mrs Murrell has organised a drama extravaganza which involves each of our students having a role in a play called ‘The Crystal Tear of the Dragon’. It is with much sadness and regret that we farewell Ann Murrell this year. Ann has contributed significantly to developing a love of speech and drama amongst a number of our Joey’s students who are well represented at the Townsville Eisteddfod each year, and who have gone on to star in a number of high school productions. We sincerely thank Ann for her dedication, and for putting her heart and soul into instilling a love of drama and performance in our students. Ann will be greatly missed in 2023, and we wish her all the best for her move to Hervey Bay and the new opportunities which will no doubt come her way.  Negotiations are underway to secure another speech and drama teacher for 2023.
 
Coming up next Tuesday evening is one of our most important celebrations of the year, our Year 6 Rite of Passage. During this celebration we will give thanks to God for the journey of our 2022 senior leaders, most of whom began at St Joseph’s in 2016 as Prep students and along the way have welcomed many and said goodbye to others. Not only will we be farewelling our senior students, but also saying goodbye to some of our longstanding families. These families have made significant contributions to our community and their absence will leave a large ‘hole’. I thank them for their positive influence and dedication to St Joey’s. We will also sadly say goodbye to Mrs Jacinta Hutchison, Mrs Ann Murrell (as mentioned above) and Mrs Barbara Salisbury. Mrs Hutchison is starting a family, Mrs Murrell is moving to Hervey Bay and Mrs Salisbury is taking up a full time Guidance Counsellor role at St Benedict’s. While we are sad to see them go, we wish these staff members all the best in their new roles and future endeavours.
 
Next Wednesday students will have the opportunity to meet their 2023 teacher and classmates. This practice assists students and teachers to prepare for the year ahead. Class teachers have spent many hours reflecting on class lists. Creating class lists involves a balance of gender and needs of the learners. On many occasions, parents have commented that their child's teacher was not the teacher that they believed was the best 'fit' for their child, however, they were happy to admit that the teacher selected was indeed the 'best fit'.
 
Our annual Carols by Torchlight will take place Sunday evening from 5 pm in the school’s undercover area. This year the food component is ‘Build a Burger’ and ‘Sausage Sizzle’. While the orders for food have closed, we welcome all to come along with some snacks and enjoy listening to our students sing Christmas carols and catch up with friends before the school year is out . Kombi Keg will be providing a complimentary drink per food order with any additional drinks BYO, but please ensure no glass is brought into the school grounds. Don’t forget chairs and/or a picnic rug. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our P & F for organising this annual event, and for the work they will do prior to and during the event to ensure it runs smoothly and is an enjoyable evening.

Christmas time is fast approaching, and with it our eagerly anticipated holiday break. The promise of peace, goodwill and a growing sense of excitement and expectation, makes this time of year very special indeed. It is certainly a time for celebration with those that we love and hold most dear. The challenge presented by Pope Francis is whether we welcome into our hearts those who are not immediately considered a part of our own story, those on the periphery. 

The message Jesus Christ brings to the world is one of unconditional love and acceptance. He welcomes all human beings in all their great variety as ‘Children of God’. He believes in their essential goodness and loves them all. This love is not held back or reluctant, it is spontaneous, unquestioning and all embracing. It is my hope those in our school community are abundantly blessed with this type of love in their lives, and if they are, it is shared generously with all whom they come into contact with.

In closing, I would like to wish each and every member of our school community the peace, happiness and joy that is so much part of this Advent and Christmas season. May it be for each of us a time of rest, reflection and joy. May you have the gift of faith, the blessing of hope and the peace of God’s love this Christmas and always.

Enjoy the rest of your week.
 
God bless
Tracy

School TV

This month on SchoolTV - Bullying

Bullying is an ongoing or repeated misuse of power in relationships, with the intention to cause deliberate psychological harm. Bullying behaviours can be verbal, physical or social. It can happen in person or online, via various digital platforms and devices and it can be obvious or hidden. Bullying in any form or for any reason can have immediate, medium and long-term effects on those involved, including bystanders.

Despite the efforts made to reduce bullying behaviours, the research tells us that one in four students still report being bullied every few weeks. However, not all negative behaviour should be considered bullying. The key difference is that bullying does not stop on its own. It’s important young people learn how to identify behaviours that are rude, behaviours that are mean, and behaviours that are related to bullying.

Often the reasons for bullying can be complex. Some young people do it to get approval from others, some do it to regain control, whilst others may do it because it makes them feel safe. Supporting young people as they work through their emotions will help them unpack the motivation and reason behind the behaviour.

In this edition of SchoolTV, caregivers can better understand why some young people engage in bullying behaviours and what to do to support a child experiencing it. We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this month’s edition, and we always welcome your feedback.

If you do have any concerns about the wellbeing of your child, please contact the school for further information or seek medical or professional help.

Here is the link to this month's edition https://sjmbtsv.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/bullying

APRE News

Open Your Heart

Be a Gift of Love and Compassion for

One Another Mary MacKillop

St Vincent De Paul Christmas Appeal
Thank you for your generous support of the St Vincent De Paul Christmas Appeal this year, our baskets are overflowing with donations. We will be presenting our baskets to members of the St Vincent De Paul Society this Friday during our Advent Liturgy. 

Advent
In the coming weeks the Church will begin to prepare for the season of Advent. This is the beginning of the Catholic Church’s liturgical year and is celebrated during the four weeks leading up to Christmas. It is a time where we prepare and wait in excitement for the birth of Jesus Chris

Celebrating Advent as a Family
There are many ways that you can celebrate Advent as a family. The most commonly known way of celebrating Advent is through the use of an Advent calendar. Here are some ideas on how you can enrich the season of Advent with your family:
*  Use an Advent calendar to pray and learn how we can focus on the true meaning of Christmas.
* Make an advent chain with a link of the chain and an activity for each day of Advent. See more information here https://goo.gl/Wmvcni
* Create an Advent wreath
* Schedule  times of silence and stillness in this very busy time of the school year.  Advent is a time of preparing where children can identify gifts that they can be for others e.g. kindness, courageous.  Families could create an Advent Tree of Kindness. Read more here https://goo.gl/XBwC4I
* Attend Mass to celebrate the four Sundays of Advent in the lead up to Christmas. Mary MacKillop Parish has Mass on Saturday at 5:00 pm and Sunday at 7:30 am.  

End of Term Prayer:

We thank you Lord, for this term. For the challenges, the successes, and the mistakes from which we have learnt. Be with us as we spend our time with family and friends. Give us strength and courage to do what is right: to be witnesses of our faith. Help us to be a practical Christian these holidays, to appreciate what others do for us, to give time and effort to help others. To be peacemakers in our family. Keep us safe in our activities; give us good rest and good fun. Bring us back refreshed and ready for a new term. We thank you for our classmates, teachers, parents and a community that cares for us. May we always be conscious of you in our lives. 

Amen 

Thank you for all of your support throughout the year. I hope you and your families enjoy a Happy and Holy Christmas.  May God’s blessing be with you all.

Peta

The Joey's Way

School Policy Reviews - Important changes

While it is important to have school policies and procedures, it is equally important that these are regularly reviewed, and amendments made to cater for changes in legislation and 'researched' best practice. Part of the role of the School Board is to assist the school's administration to review school policies, and over the past year the St Joseph's School Board members have been engaged in reviewing a number of school policies. The policies which have been reviewed are:

- Dealing with Bullying Policy
- SunSmart Policy
- Uniform Policy 

Changes to the Uniform Policy to note include:
Hair - not permitted:
-       Hairstyles which draw attention to the student, including ‘afro’ hairstyles,       dreadlocks, mullets, rats’ tails, undercuts and shaving patterns of any form.

-       Coloured hair, unless it is a single natural colour (no streaks, tips, bleached hair).

Jewellery - not permitted

               - SMART WATCHES or watches with internet connectivity will not be allowed as part 

                 of the school uniform in 2023.

Reminders regarding Uniform Policy include:
Shoes (Formal Uniform) - All black leather shoes or joggers (no white/coloured trimmings).
Shoes (Sports Uniform) - All black joggers (no white/coloured trimmings).

I have noticed students wearing black shoes with white and other coloured trimmings which are not our school uniform, and have also noticed some in joggers. I understand it is the end of the school year and shoes start to break and be grown out of. I also understand that shoe shopping is best left until early in the new year. If  this is the case, please send in a note to your child's class teacher. When purchasing shoes, please ensure they are completely black, in line with the school Uniform Policy.

Please note that school policies can be found on our school website, along with a link to the Diocesan Education Council policies which provide the overarching policies for Catholic schools in the Townsville Diocese.

Regards

Tracy

Staffing 2023

Diary Dates

Important Notices

Stable Riverway 2022

2022 Stable at Riverway
The Stable will be returning to Riverway this year. They are again partnering with Gelatissimo, Townsville and offering free ice cream to any child, 12 and under, who completes their colouring activity. 
Please find attached the colouring activity, along with information about this year's Stable at Riverway.

From the Office

Please be advised that timely payment of the school fees is mandatory.  If you have outstanding fees, please pay in full as soon as possible.

School fees were due Friday 11th November.  Settlement prior to the end of the school year are most appreciated.

Is your child absent from school?  Please notify the office via

• emailing absent@sjmbtsv.catholic.edu.au
• calling the office and leaving a message at the absent option
• parent/guardian can note the absence through Compass
  

A text message will go out at 9.30am to any parents whose child is marked absent without an explanation.  Please reply to this text using one of the above methods.  If your child arrives after 8.30am, they must pass through the office for a late pass so that if the role has been marked at the classroom, office staff can make the ammendment for the arrival.  We thank parents for assisting with this. Roles are marked promptly at 8.30am on Mondays due to assembly - students are required to collect a late pass before moving to assembly if they are late.

The Arts

Japanese - Year 4 and Year 6

I can’t believe we are almost at the end of the school year. It’s been a fantastic Semester with 4A and 4B and we’ve spent the past few months working through an animal unit. We can read and write animal names in hiragana and ask and answer questions about our pets.Today we had a bit of fun with origami and Harper taught both classes how to make an origami ballon. 

It’s almost time to farewell our wonderful Year 6’s. We’ve had a busy Semester in Japanese learning to read and write in Hiragana and preparing a speech and poster about a family member to present to the class. Today was our favourite lesson, rolling sushi! Students learned the ingredients and method of rolling sushi and created a step by step guide how to do it- all in Japanese of course! Here are a few photos from the day. 

Star Students

Library News

2022 has been another exciting and energetic year in the library. As we conclude another eventful and action-packed year, how can we forget our wonderful Simultaneous Story Time event or the exciting Book Week Parade or most recently the Book Fair 2022 (which gained more scholastic points for purchase of books next year for students).
We also thank Mrs Luton for her amazing library lessons and Reader’s Cup leadership, as our Library Teacher this year. Next year, Mrs Luton will continue on as our specialist library teacher in 2023.

Student borrowing from the library

Borrowing from the school library for this year has concluded…So please continue returning your books to the library.

Parents If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact the library.

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY BORROWING CAN CONTINUE

Your child can still borrow over the holidays by utilizing our library eBook borrowing, available from our exciting SORA eBook library resource! 

Your child can access our Sora eBook app through the Destiny Discover Link on our school library site or the Sora app.

When you open the Sora icon, choose the ACEN Member Collection from the drop-down menu.
Then explore the thousands of eBooks and audio books and read them on your laptop or tablet.
 
Your child will never be without a book to read during the Christmas holidays, using our amazing Sora collection!

Families over the holidays can also enjoy out Story Box Library collection of Christmas stories and other amazing stories by the famous authors who write them.

And don’t forget to visit your local Citilibraries and checkout their Christmas activities and take in the ambience of wonderful books and reading.

Enjoy the wonder of Christmas and may we take this opportunity to wish you all a blessed Christmas with family over the festive season.

Happy Christmas Reading from us all!

P & F News

Tuckshop

eSmart

Information from eSmart regarding healthy gaming habits can be found on the link below along with many other tips for safety on line over the school holidays.

Mass Times

Parish Mass Times

Tuesday 7.00am

Friday 7.00am

Saturday 5.00pm

Sunday 7.30am