Term , Week 6 Newsletter, 2023

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

Welcome to Week 6 and the beautiful North Queensland winter weather. I have returned to school today after a short period of Long Service Leave during which my youngest daughter was married. Family events such as these give us pause to acknowledge how grateful we are to have family, extended family and friends in our lives. It is also wonderful to be able to widen this circle to include the new family members which a union in marriage blesses us with.

In my absence, life at St Joseph’s Mundingburra has continued in its normal busy manner. By all accounts the Mother’s Day breakfast and Liturgy was a lovely celebration of our Joey’s mothers, the Joey’s Snap Championship commenced and both the school Cross Country and interschool Cross Country have taken place. There have also been a number of Environmental/Reef Guardian initiatives which have been promoted, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank our Environmental Committee for the considerable work which is happening in this space. We are certainly heading in the right direction when it comes to our sustainability practices at St Joseph’s Mundingburra. The focus of this week’s Assembly was Laudato Si, with the Assembly being led by our Reef Guardian students.

Inspired by the wisdom of Laudato Si, Pope Francis's encyclical on the environment and human ecology, St Joseph’s Mundingburra firmly believes in the importance of sustainable environmental practices and their profound connection to our faith. Laudato Si reminds us of our responsibility as stewards of God's creation, calling us to care for our common home. Our commitment to sustainable living aligns with the encyclical's teachings, encouraging us to make mindful choices that safeguard the environment for future generations.

In our classrooms, we integrate environmental education into the curriculum, nurturing an ecological consciousness in our students. Through various initiatives, such as recycling programs and community gardening, we empower our students to become change agents for a greener and more sustainable world. By instilling in our students the values of respect, gratitude, and compassion, we strive to create a generation that understands the interconnectedness of all living beings and actively seeks to preserve and protect our planet. Together, as a school community, we can make a difference.

This morning we gathered as a whole school to celebrate the feast day of Our Lady Mary Help of Christians. Together we participated in Christian Meditation led by Mrs Bortignon who is our leading teacher in Christian Meditation. On Friday we are participating in Cystic Fibrosis Day as a way of supporting a student in our own community who has been living with CF. Students are encouraged to wear ‘Red’ to school and are welcome to bring in a gold coin donation. All funds raised will go to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

God bless

Tracy

APRE News

Blessed to Serve

Bear with one another, help one another, and ever strive to serve God in a generous spirit. ~Mary MacKillop

Ascension

Last Sunday, 21st May was the feast of the Ascension of Jesus. This day is the day of the ascent of Jesus Christ into heaven, it occurs on the 40th day after his Resurrection  Before Jesus returned to his Father, he gave his apostles the task of building the Kingdom of God by taking his message to people everywhere. As followers of Jesus, we are challenged to rise up and do the same in our families, our schools and in our world.

Today our school came together for Chistian meditation to acknowledge and celebrate  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. 

Pentecost

This coming Sunday is Pentecost Sunday. Pentecost marks the end of the Easter season and is often called the Birthday of the Church, as it was from this event that the disciples went forth and spread the Good News and established the church. Within the church church, we learn how to forgive and how to accept forgiveness. The gift of the Holy Spirit enables us to do both. Pentecost presents us with the opportunity to consider how we are living each day. Are the fruits of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, gentleness and self-control - growing in our lives?

National Reconciliation week.

Next week is National Reconciliation Week 2023, the theme, Be a Voice for Generations, encourages all Australians to be a voice for reconciliation in tangible ways in our everyday lives – where we live, work and socialise.

Assemblies

Our assembly is held on Monday morning at 8:45am in our Shelter Shed. Parents, families and friends are all welcome to join us.  Our next two assemblies will be: 

Week 7: National Reconciliation Week hosted by 6A

Week 8: Holy Trinity hosted by 6B

Christian Meditation will take place each Thursday morning at 8:00am in the Library.  Meditation is a form of sacred and silent prayer, known as prayer of the heart.  It is  a lovely way to start the day!  

Sacramental Program 2023

We will be running the Sacramental Program again this year. The program will be run throughout Term 3 with the Confirmation and Eucharist being held at the start of Term 4. If your child is in Years 3-6 and would like to participate notes can be collected from the school office. All notes must be returned to the school office by Friday 23rd June.

May God’s blessing be with you, have a wonderful fortnight. 
Peta.

Mary MacKillop Parish News

Indigenous Encounter Day 

Feast of Mary Help of Christians 

The Diocesan Mass for the Feast of Mary Help of Christians will be held on Wednesday, 24 May at 6pm in the Sacred Heart Cathedral. You are invited to join Bishop Tim and Priests of the Diocese in celebrating this Feast day of our Patron. A light supper will be served afterwards in Oliver's Cloister. There will also be some religious books available for a gold coin donation, or for the taking. Bishop Tim looks forward to greeting you on this special day in our Diocese. 

Parish Lunch

Parish lunches are held at the Rising Sun Hotel at 12 pm on the last Friday of each month. Next lunch: 26/05/2023. Bookings can be made with the parish office.

Parish Scripture Group

Every Tuesday morning, a group of parishioners meet in the Parish Office to study and discuss the scripture for the following weekend’s mass. This is a wonderful way to enrich their understanding of the message of Jesus and the implications for daily living in a worshipping community. You are most welcome to join this band of dedicated people who experience much enjoyment amid the solemnity of their study. Meetings commence on Tuesdays at 10.00 am. You will be most welcome.  

Children’s Liturgy
Children's liturgy takes place every Sunday mass at 7:30 am (during the school term) Members of our parish take the children out and complete activities related to the weekly gospel. This is a wonderful opportunity for children to engage with and understand the meaning of the gospel. All children are welcome.

Parish Mass Times

Tuesday 7.00am

Friday 7.00am

Saturday 5.00pm

Sunday 7.30am

Diary Dates

Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Day

The Joey's Way

Information for Parents

Winter uniform

With the cooler days here, parents are reminded of our school uniform policy for jumpers.

As per our school website:

• Winter
  Bottle green cardigan, sloppy joe or windcheater

A zip up cardigan can be purchased from the School Locker at Domain Central or alternatively a PLAIN BOTTLE GREEN CARDIGAN, SLOPPY JOE OR WINDCHEATER CAN ALSO BE WORN.  PLEASE REMEMBER THERE ARE TO BE NO OTHER COLOURS OR LOGOS ON THEM.

Second hand uniforms are also available at our Pre-Loved Uniform shop.  Please contact the ladies

If your child is coming in tights under their uniform, please ensure that these are also PLAIN BOTTLE GREEN and to send socks to change into once the day warms up.

From the Office

Hand washing for hygiene

Germs are everywhere. We collect them, inhale them and share them, all day and every day.

The flu, E. coli, and measles are just some of the numerous debilitating diseases that are caused by germs that are spread through contact with surfaces and people—and it's our hands that can help spread these germs to ourselves and others. Poor hand hygiene contributes to the spread of germs, which can cause many health issues including gastrointestinal and respiratory infections.

A regular 20 second hand washing routine using soap and water could help make us all healthier.

IMPORTANT - ILLNESSES - Please keep your child at home

Please keep your child at home if they are sick.  This includes increase in temperature, coughing and sneezing frequently or upset tummies.  Our office staff have been inundated with children presenting with these symptoms resulting in them being sent home.  If your child is sick, the best place for them is at home. 

Please be vigilant to break the cycle.  Thank you.

The following link also has some helpful information.

https://www.health.qld.gov.au/public-health/schools/prevention

Term 2 school fees are now overdue.  Your prompt payment is most appreciated.

Offers for Prep for 2024 were sent out on 16th May to all new and existing families.

Acceptance or inability to accept were due back to the office Tuesday 23 May (please check junk/spam folders)

Please let the office know if you would like to accept your offer so that we can offer to families on our waitlist if you no longer require your position.

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.

National eSmart Week

Guidance Counsellor

A SPECIAL REPORT
Because parenting doesn't come with instructions, SchoolTV is a wellbeing resource implemented at our school to help support you in the challenges of modern-day parenting. Parenting is a learning journey and it's easy to feel stressed and overwhelmed when faced with raising happy, well and resilient young people today.
Every family has experienced some sort of difficulty or adversity in recent times, some more than others. As mental health concerns continue to rise, there have been some alarming statistics reported in relation to the mental health and wellbeing of young people. Unfortunately, the blueprint for parenting is often based on our own experiences, but this is no longer fit for purpose in raising children as citizens of tomorrow. Parents and caregivers play a vital role in providing the guidance needed to support children and adolescents as they reframe their worries and focus more on the things they can control in their life.
In this Special Report, we are seeking parent participation through a short survey. The survey is designed to provide a barometer to help gauge the state of student wellbeing within our community. We encourage you to take a few moments to complete the survey as this will help our school know the nature and extent of your concerns and determine how best we can support families in the months ahead. Responses remain anonymous and will only be reported on an aggregated basis. You are asked to base your responses on observations made in the last 12 months.
By working together we can continue to build relationships, foster connections, enable understanding and break down barriers as we navigate a pathway towards better mental health and wellbeing for all students. Please reflect on the information offered in this Special Report, and as always, we welcome your feedback. If this raises any concerns for you or your child, please reach out to the school or seek professional medical advice.
We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this Special Report, and as always, we welcome your feedback.

Here is the link to your special report:
https://sjmbtsv.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-wellbeing-barometer-2023-au

In this edition of SchoolTV - RESILIENCE
Resilience is one of those skills that all kids need and should have. It refers to their ability to cope and adapt in situations when confronted with challenges such as adversity, trauma, tragedy, or even stress. It is essential to their mental health and wellbeing as part of their journey to adulthood. It is a skill that can be learned from an early age through the support of an adult role model.
However, being resilient does not mean your child won't experience any difficulties, but it will better equip them to manage those situations. Over-protective parenting can be viewed as being unhelpful towards the building of resilience. Although this may be a natural instinct, potentially experiencing failure is all part of the process. Encouraging children to take healthy risks will help them trust their capacity to deal with uncomfortable situations and increase their capacity for courage.
In this edition of SchoolTV, parents will gain an understanding of how to support their child’s brave behaviour to help them adapt and build resilience.
We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this edition of SchoolTV and we always welcome your feedback. If you have any concerns about your child, please contact the school counsellor for further information or seek medical or professional help.

Here is the link to the Resilience edition of SchoolTV
https://sjmbtsv.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/resilience

Julie and Lena

Guidance Counsellors

Inclusive Education Matters

Inclusive Education  means including  and valuing all students.  Inclusive schools take into account the different needs of all students to create a supportive, safe and fun place for all students to learn.  This is done by modifying teaching methods, materials, supports, resources and instructions  to best suit the needs of students.  This created positive and interesting learning experiences where children feel valued and learn. 

The benefits of Inclusive Education are for all students these include:

• Helps All Students Reach Their Full Potential 

• Creates a Culture of Acceptance and Understanding 

• Builds Friendships and Bonds Between Classmates 

• Prepares Students for Life After School

• Benefits the Whole School Community

• Increased Self-Esteem and Confidence Among Students

• Improved Social Skills Among Students

• Welcomes Diversity Within Schools

• Improved Academic Outcomes

• Help to Reduce Bullying and Harassment

For more information please click this link 

Eczema Support Australia has developed an Eczema School Kit for parents, caregivers and educators. The School Kit has been designed to be informative and promote productive conversations for the health, well-being and education of children with eczema.

• The main purpose of the “Kit” is to assist the parent/caregiver to delegate care responsibility of their child with eczema to their educator in an early learning centre or school environment.
• https://www.eczemasupport.org.au/school-kit/ 

Positive Partnerships has three upcoming workshops. Please see flyers attached.  

• Communication Part 1 (June 1 and June 15) 
• Communication Part 2 (June 27) 
• An Introduction to Positive Partnerships (June 1 and June 6) 

………………………………………………….

Inclusive Education Committee

We will have our first Inclusive Education Committee meeting on Thursday Week 8 June 8th at 3:30 pm all are welcome to attend. 

Bimbi Wadja

PB had a beautiful Indigenous Mothers day table set out with a lovely book called Miimi Marraal Mother Earth.
Our year 4 classes came together to speak with students from Our Lady of Sacred Heart school on Thursday Island in the Torres Strait. They were shown traditional dances, taught new words and learnt about life in the Torres Strait.
For Under 8's day we worked on Indigenous puzzles and rain sticks, the children and adults loved this.
Reconciliation week is coming up 27th May- 3rd June. The theme for 2023 is " Be a Voice for Generations ". We will be celebrating with a Reconciliation assembly on Monday the 29th of May and Reconciliation activities on Wednesday the 31st of May. The Bimbi Wadja group will also be attending a Meet and Greet on the 31st May with family members. Please hand in your forms by this Friday.
We will also have a garden of hands at the enterance to our school in the coming weeks. It will show that we have respect, we share this land, we work together, hand in hand.

Reef Guardians

World Turtle Day

We had a turtley awesome time at our lunch activities to shellabrate World Turtle Day. Thank you to the Year 5 students and staff who came along to help.
Next time you're at the beach, take a bucket and collect any rubbish you see. The turtles will thank you.  
#take3forthesea #lovethereef #reefguardian

Term 2 Showcases

Library News

This week is National Simultaneous Storytime 2023 at St Joseph’s Library and celebrations started on Monday Assembly, with promotions of the new book, ‘The Speedy Sloth’ by Rebecca Young, who is the chosen ambassador for the Australian Library Information Association (ALIA) this year! Last week we visited World Bee Day and Endangered Animals.

St Joseph’s students, as well as our visiting kindies from Mary MacKillop and Miniversity, have been enjoying ‘The Speedy Sloth’ activities, with making sloth masks, learning how to draw sloths, finding facts about sloths, reading stories and enjoying the live stream baby sloth in action. We have been promoting both Rebecca Young and the illustrator Heath McKenzie, who is also a prolific illustrator and author on his own. Some of his illustrations are with various famous Australian authors, just to name a few, Andy Lee, Celeste Barber and Josh Pyke. The facts about sloths and the many narrative stories by the illustrators and authors Rebecca Young and Heath McKenzie were promoted and explored during this week.  Our lovely Mrs Luton also continued teaching students about persuasive writing, as well as the study and examination of waste management, problems and innovations to solve these issues. Upper primary students visited the National eSMART event to keep children safe from bullying, cyber bullying and violence.  Lower primary students visited sloth stories and information about this amazing species. 

 At 11.00 am today students all over our school linked with other students and children all over Australia, New Zealand and the world, to read together ‘The Speedy Sloth’.  Students from Grade 5 gathered in the library with their buddies from PREP to enjoy the successful and exciting streamed reading of ‘The Speedy Sloth’.   This year the National Simultaneous Storytime reading was held at the Singapore Zoo with all the animals.  What an exiting event, with the children enthralled with the sloth story and the environs of the world acclaimed Zoo and the wildlife around them! This story telling event builds connection with students, using enjoyment and literacy to enhance a lifelong love of reading.

National Simultaneous Storytime activities culminate with a library lunchtime visit on Thursday with an Education Officer from the Nth Qld Wildlife Carers Organization which looks after sick and injured native animals in Australia.  Children will have a chance to read a story about a ‘Puggle’, and learn about the jobs carers do to support native animals.  We hope to have a very small visitor as well!

Remember to keep using Sora and Story Box Library for all your extra educational reading needs for students.

Book Club Issue 4 brochures have been sent out to classes and orders will need to be in by the 7th June, 2023.  

Happy Reading St Joseph’s and keep on loving books!

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Tuckshop

Parents are reminded to contact the tuckshop if your child is absent or leaves school due to illnes.  If food hasn't been prepared it can be ordered for a different day.  If food is prepared due to not being notified of absence or if food is prepared and student goes home sick, we are unable to provide food on an alternative day.  Please let the office know if you are collecting a sick child who has tuckshop and if it is prepared, you can collect to take home.  Thank you for your assistance and understanding in this matter.

Flexischools offers a convenient way to order school lunches online. Please update your child's class to their 2023 class so that orders go to the correct place and children are not delayed in receiving their order.

Our Tuckshop list is also available on our school website.

Jeannine is our Tuckshop Convenor and is always appreciative of volunteers.  If you can spare even an hour of your time, please contact her on M:  0407 578 105

Volunteers are required to complete our Induction process.  This includes the Online Modules, Supporting Documents and Quiz.  Please follow the link below and follow the instructions.

Junior Engineers Winter School Holiday Program

Attention all space explorers!Blast off into outer space this Winter School Holidays with Junior Engineers’ new out-of-this-world Coding & Robotics Camps for Kids 5 to 13 years old!Book now to secure your place and learn their new space themed curriculum!https://jnrengineers.com.au/school-holidays/#Codingisfun

Zarate Raffles - fundraising

Thank you to all of our families for your ongoing support for the Zarate family.  If there are any families in a position where they would like to donate prizes for a fundraising raffe, please contact the office.

Uniform Shop

P & F News

Tickets on sale Monday 29 May.  Here is the link for ticket purchases.

Community News