Term 3, Week 8 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

With Father’s Day fast approaching, I would like to take this opportunity to wish our St Joey’s fathers and father figures a Happy Father’s Day for Sunday. We all have memories of our own fathers and it gives us an opportunity to reflect on how important fathers are to our growth and development. Fathers are special and we celebrate their uniqueness. A father is a father, not because of himself, but because of the special relationship he has with some very important people- his children. 

As a Josephite school, I thought this prayer from Pope Francis was very apt for the  fathers and father figures of St Joseph’s Mundingburra.

St Joseph is the model of the educator and the dad, the father.

I, therefore, entrust to his protection those who are fathers.

Best wishes to you on your day!

I ask for you the grace to be ever closer to your children, allow them to grow, but be close, close!

They need you, your presence, your closeness, your love.

May you be for them as St Joseph was: guardians of their growth in age, wisdom and grace.

May you guard them on their journey: be educators and walk with them.

Thank you for all you do for your children: thank you.

May St Joseph bless you and accompany you.

Pope Francis

Today and tomorrow, students will be paying a visit to the Father’s Day stall which has been set up in the school library. It is a wonderful opportunity for students to purchase that special something for their dads / father figures, and it is something students eagerly look forward to each year and enjoy doing. Opportunities like this can only happen due to the generosity of our P & F and parent/carer volunteers. Thank you to facilitators Jodie Bedford and Di Harper,  and to all who assist in any way with our Mother’s and Father’s Day Stalls. I saw Kerin Boyes this morning with a whole lot of delicious baking to keep the energy levels high in our volunteers. ‘Blessed to Serve’ is our theme for this year, and we are certainly very blessed at this school.

Have a wonderful week.

God bless

Tracy

2023 School Renewal

This year, St Joseph’s Mundingburra commences the process of School Renewal which occurs every five years. Some of you may remember the last time it happened. Catholic School Renewal is a process that enables school communities to examine the way in which they work so that they can continue to develop and adapt their practice to better meet the needs of the students and community they serve. In turn, the implementation of changes which emanate from such a process of renewal is formulated by each school community into its School Renewal Strategic Plan and then subsequently, to Annual School Development Plans. Ongoing review must be part of the cycle of growth embedded in any such plan.

Within each five year cycle, the Townsville Catholic Education Office will help the school community verify their progress towards becoming an effective, flourishing school. Verification is part of the School Renewal process, and will examine the school’s implementation of the Diocesan Education Council’s School Renewal Policy. Through the implementation of this policy, a school engages in continuous school improvement. 

The Verification for St Joseph’s Mundingburra is taking place over two days next week, Monday 4th and Tuesday 5th September. Another Townsville Catholic Education School Service Team (not our own) will be present at the school for these two days. They will visit classes and interview teachers, school officers and parents/carers. They will also be part of discussions with the school leadership team about school improvement and how the goals of the previous             2020 -2024 Strategic Plan have been enacted. 

Our current Strategic Plan can be accessed by clicking on the link below. The plan is also on our website: School Renewal Strategic Plan 2020 - 2024

Below are the 2023 Annual School Improvement Plan goals which were shared with the community earlier this year:

Important Information for 2024

APRE News

Blessed to Serve

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

Sacramental Program

Our last Sacramental lesson will take place this Sunday. I would like to thank parents and families for their support over the past weeks. Your engagement with the children throughout the lessons has been wonderful. Also a big thank you to all of our staff, Mrs Plant, Mrs Cornish, Mrs Bortignon, Mrs Franklin and Mrs Stockham who have helped out with facilitating the program. 

As part of the Sacramental Program, there is an opportunity for students to participate in an optional retreat. It will be held on Thursday 7th September 3:30 - 6:00 pm. The retreat is an opportunity for students to consolidate their understanding of the Sacraments of Confirmation and Holy Communion through prayer, creative experiences and a shared meal.

The retreat will begin in the Library at 3:30pm and conclude in the School’s main Covered Area at 6:00pm. The retreat will be run by Peta and Clare and supported by teachers from the School. A note with more details will be sent to families.

Here is a list of the key dates coming up to complete the program. Further information will be emailed out to families about these dates.

Over the past six weeks Mrs Cornish and I have been fortunate to work with a number of students who completed the Opti Minds Challenge on the weekend. The students were given challenges to choose from then in small groups they had to come up with a solution and a performance script that they presented to judges. Our student worked diligently to complete these challenges. A big thank you to Mrs Cornish who worked tirelessly with the students to make sure they were ready. We were all very proud of their achievements.

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 assembly will be: 

Week 9:   Father's Day hosted by 4B

Week 10:  Eisteddfod Showcase following Open Classrooms

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!  

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

Mary MacKillop Parish News

Parish Scripture Group

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.

Diary Dates

The Joey's Way

Star Students

Uniform Information for Parents

Uniform Shop Times

From the Office

Term 3 school fees have been issued.

Payment was due 19th August. Prompt settlement of your account is now required.

Please contact the office if you have not received your fees (sometimes they can go to junk/spam).

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
  
• Students arriving after 8.30am must come through the office for a late pass.

Inclusive Education Matters

Dyslexia

Dyslexia is a learning disorder that presents challenges in acquiring reading skills.  Children with dyslexia encounter difficulties in sounding out words or segmenting them into smaller units to then sound them out. They may reverse letters (eg. reading ‘map’ as ‘pam’) and struggle to identify unfamiliar words and seem to have difficulty recalling even familiar words.  To compensate, affected children may resort to memorising words.  Consequently, this leads to complications in reading, writing, and spelling.  

Children who are diagnosed with dyslexia may experience feelings of frustration or embarrassment, therefore it is crucial to provide them with ample emotional support.  It is essential to acknowledge and commend their efforts, highlight their talents in other domains, and consistently remind them that dyslexia does not reflect their level of intelligence.

Signs of dyslexia

A young person with dyslexia may:

• Struggle with learning even simple rhymes
• Have a speech delay
• Have trouble following directions
• Repeat or omit short words such as and, the, but
• Find it difficult to tell left from right

In school, children with dyslexia are likely to:

• Have difficulty sounding out new words
• Lack fluency compared to other children their age
• Reverse letters and numbers when reading (read saw as was, for example)
• Find it difficult to take notes and copy down words from the board
• Struggle with rhyming, associating sounds with letters, and sequencing and ordering sounds
• Stumble and have difficulty spelling even common words; frequently they will spell them phonetically (hrbr instead of harbor)
• Avoid being called on to read out loud in front of classmates
• Become tired or frustrated from reading

Dyslexia affects children outside of school as well. Kids with dyslexia may also:

• Find it difficult to decode logos and signs
• Struggle when trying to learn the rules to games
• Have difficulty keeping track of multi-step directions
• Struggle with getting the hang of telling time
• Find it especially challenging to learn another language
• Become incredibly frustrated, which can effect their mood and emotional stability

From Child Mind Institute ‘Understanding Dyslexia’  link

IEP Meetings  - start next week on Thursday the 7th September.  If you are unsure of your meeting time please contact the school office.  IEP meetings are an important time for you to share your goals for your child and together with the teacher determine their future goals and direction.  Your input is extremely valuable through this process, however due to the timetabling of staff, the meeting will go ahead even if you are not present.   

Inclusive Education Committee - our next meeting will be Thursday the 14th September at 3.00pm.

Guidance Counsellor

This month on SchoolTV - Respectful Relationships

Fostering a nurturing environment of respectful relationships within your family holds the key to not only harmonious living, but also improved academic outcomes for your children. As parents and caregivers, embracing the art of teaching children about respect at a young age sets the stage for a lifetime of healthy interactions and empathetic understanding. It will help cultivate a positive environment where communication flourishes, conflicts are resolved constructively, and bonds are fortified.

Teaching children to respect themselves and others will open up avenues for both personal growth and academic achievement. Fostering an environment where respect is not just a word, but a practiced behaviour, will empower young people with essential life skills. Effective communication, active listening, and the art of compromise, will provide your child with a solid foundation that will transcend family interactions and help them collaborate effectively with peers, teachers and the broader community.

Equipping children with an understanding of healthy versus unhealthy relationships is an important aspect of their development. It will guide them to make informed choices, foster positive connections, and set boundaries that contribute to their emotional wellbeing. Understanding the nuances between healthy and unhealthy relationships provides children with the essential tools to navigate their social world, build self-esteem, and cultivate meaningful relationships.

In this edition of SchoolTV, learn how to empower young people in healthy interactions to embrace differences and forge connections that honour their self-worth. 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/respectful-relationships

Julie and Lena

Japanese

On Friday August 18th, 11 students represented St Joey's at the Japanese Speech Competition. They had to learn and memorize a Japanese speech and gave up their break time once a week to practice with me. They presented their speeches to a panel of judges and I was extremely proud of their efforts. 

A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to these students:

Year 3:Olivia, Jacob and Archie Year 4:Adelaide, Layne and Isabella W Year 5:Kobi, Daniela and Edie Year 6:Benji and Summer An extra shout out to Adelaide who placed 1st in her category and Olivia who placed 2nd in her category.            Sensei

Bimbi Wadja

Dear Parents/Carers
I would like to let you know that, sadly, Miss Cindy will be finishing up with us at the end of Term 3. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Cindy for her significant contributions to Indigenous Education at St Joseph's Mundingburra. Her vision, enthusiasm and determinedness has resulted in improvements to Indigenous Education programs (Bimbi Wadja), inclusive cultural activities, renewed connections to our First Nations families and the establishment of a new and improved Yarning Circle. She has also supported a growing number of First Nations students in all classes across the school, and contributed to the creation of a new format for Personal Learning Plans and goals for our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). 
Cindy's resignation is a big loss to our school community, and I know she will be sorely missed. Please join me in wishing Cindy the best in whatever endeavour she chooses to pursue in the future.
Kind Regards

Tracy Nuttall

The Bimbi Wadjas will be coming together this week to plant natives in the Yarning Circle garden.  They will also be doing some outdoor activities, rock art, puzzles, stories and weaving.  We also welcome Alaska and Ryker to the group.    Miss Cindy

Reef Guardians

Containers for change

Do you know which drink containers you can recycle and donate to our Containers for Change scheme ID?
Most aluminium, glass, plastic, steel, poppers and liquid paperboard drink containers between 150ml and 3L are eligible. Check for the 10c mark on the container to see if it’s eligible.
Our school earns 10 cents for every container you recycle by donating our scheme ID C10021941.
Every one of us can lend a helping hand to clean up the planet by recycling right.
Find out more https://www.containersforchange.com.au/qld/

Library News

Congratulations to our wonderful St Joseph’s Community for making our recent Book Week Parade 2023, another memorable and happy celebration of books.  Students came to school on the Monday wearing their favourite book character, and looked amazing.  The excitement and enthusiasm of our students was INSPIRING! Thank you to all the staff and parents who also immersed themselves in the love of books and some dressing up as their favourite characters or helping to celebrate our great day. It was wonderful to see our visiting Kindy kids from Miniversity too. They looked so cute in their Dalmatian shirts.  The jovial commentator ‘Witchie’ and her friend ‘Juliet Nearly a Vet’, kept the students entertained as they paraded around the assembly.

Book Week is the culmination of the judging of the Best Book of the Year Awards, rewarding the amazing Australian Authors and Illustrators we have in this country and highlighting some fabulous literacy reads! READ GROW INSPIRE

Book Week gives children the opportunity to focus on the enjoyment of READING as well as the importance of language, problem solving and comprehension, which are essential for developing children’s minds. The theme this year, ‘READ GROW INSPIRE’ was Mrs. Luton our lovely Library Teacher’s focus for her lessons, delving into the best literature from the Shortlisted Books, concentrating on student reading comprehension and helping students to appreciate the excitement that reading delivers.

The library was action packed last week with Book Week events, with visits by our wonderful Adopt a Cowboy, Mr Jason Taumalolo, who read captivating books to students from 3B in the library and talked to students from classes 5A and 5B.  Thank you again Jason, for your kindness in reading to the students.  They were so excited and awed by your visit! Also, we welcomed Mr. Conway from Landcare Wet Tropics, who read inspiring tree stories, to students in the library at Book Week lunchtime, about conserving our environment!

Lunchtime library also held many Book Week activities e.g., Bev the giraffe, a favourite, from the book ‘Bev and Kev’, as well as readings by our talented teachers. Our students voted for their most favourite books, by GROWING a tree full of voting leaves and a picture graph in the library, tells the story of their classes’ favourite winners.    

Our library competition, ‘Design your favourite front cover book’, finished last week, with the winning students and runners up receiving a prize at Assembly this week.  All entries can be seen displayed, for students and parents to view! Congratulations, awesome work everyone! 

CLOSING SOON - BOOK CLUB ISSUE 6

Issue 6 has been sent out to classes and books can be ordered through our usual LOOP Scholastic link.  The 30th August 2023 is the cut of date for orders.

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Tuckshop - Father's Day Breakfast

Fathers or significant father -figures are invited to our 2023 Father's Day Breakfast. Please RSVP via the link below.

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.

Zarate Fundraising - Amanda Brown

Magnetic Island to Townsville 8km and Ship to Shore 3km open water swims have now been completed. It was great to see Ramona Lazzaroni and Michael Feaver on the finish line last Sunday in support with my children. This was very much a team effort, so thank you to everyone who offered encouragement and also who have donated. The biggest challenge has just begun in reaching my target of $10,000 raised in support for the Zarate family. I will be going out to the broader community and contacting local businesses in support of donations. If you know of a business that maybe interested or have a contact, please let us know as every little bit counts. If you haven’t donated and would still like to, it is not too late. You can contact the school or click on the gofund me link.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/supporting-the-zarate-family

Zooper Doopers

P & F News and Events

Community Notices