21 February 2020

Newsletter Articles

News

Principal’s Report

Congratulations to all students that represented St. Joseph’s in the Manning Regional Swimming Carnival on Wednesday 12th February; Charlotte Marchant, Mia Tressider, Stuart Turner, Kamryn Beard, Xanthe Fenning and Rory Ashby. Not only did these students represent St. Joseph’s in a wonderful manner, but also competed at their best level and achieved great results. Charlotte, Mia, Stuart and Kamryn competed in the PP5, or small schools relay, placing 1st . Charlotte Marchant placed 2nd in 12 Yrs 50 Metre Freestyle and 2nd in 12 Yrs 50 Metre Breaststroke and Xanthe Fenning placed 3rd in the Junior 50 Metre Breaststroke. These students will represent our school and the Manning Region at the Diocesan Swimming Carnival on Thursday 27th February.

This year our school is in a review year or COSI (Continuum of School Improvement). The purpose of the review is for the school to reflect on its practice and identify areas for improvement and to stimulate action to ensure this happens. As part of the review process our school is seeking feedback from our community – parents/carers, staff and students. An online parent/carer survey will be sent to you shortly via email. We would be most grateful if you could complete this survey (it only takes about 10 mins!). The online survey is administered by an independent organisation, the University of Newcastle’s Faculty of Education. Your responses will be treated confidentially and your privacy respected. The more surveys completed, the greater the feedback received which will inform our future journey towards school improvement. We thank you for your time and consideration. Surveys will be emailed to parents in upcoming weeks. The window for the completion of surveys is on or about Monday 4th March for a period to Wednesday 16th March.

This week Kindergarten completed their Best Start assessment with Miss Rowsell. Best Start is an assessment used to help support our teaching and learning for our Kindergarten students. A report regarding Best Start will be available during our Parent Teacher Interviews in Week 6 – Wednesday 4th March.

Next week we farewell Mrs Relf from St. Joseph’s. We thank Mrs Relf for many wonderful years of service to the St. Joseph’s community. Jo has been a huge support to students, families, and staff and has contributed to the fabric of St. Joseph’s she will be missed immensely. Thank you to Mrs Middlebrook and Mrs Shultz, our current support staff will be assisting in Jo’s role until further notice.

Next week marks the beginning of Lent. Parents are invited to our Ash Wednesday Mass we will celebrate on Wednesday 26th March in the St. Joseph’s Church. Our Mini Vinnies team have also been involved in preparing for Shrove Tuesday on Tuesday morning. Swimming lessons continue each Thursday this term, along with our School Cross Country which will be held Friday 28th February – a note with more information regarding Cross Country will be sent home Monday.

Have a wonderful week ahead.

Peace & Best Wishes

Amy Maslen

Religious Education Coordinator Report

This week saw the Kinder and Year 1 students attend their first Parish Mass for the year. The students were wonderful during the mass and put great smiles on the attending parishioners' faces. For a number of the students, it was one of their first experiences of attending mass and hopefully it was an enjoyable experience for them.

Next week will see the start of Lent with Ash Wednesday. As a school we will attend the Ash Wednesday Parish Mass to celebrate the start of Lent. As a lead up to Lent, we will also be celebrating Shrove Tuesday with our annual Pancake Day hosted by our Mini Vinnies team. Mini Vinnies is for students in years 5 and 6, who get together to help those in need within the school community. Mini Vinnies introduces children to social justice issues, to the St Vincent de Paul Society and to living faith through action. The morning will start at 8.30am parents/carers are more than welcome to join us.

Lent also sees the start of the Catholic Schools Project Compassion launch. Project Compassion raises money for Caritas Australia to help end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity to some of the poorest countries around our world. All money raised on Tuesday will go towards this campaign.

Students will receive a Project Compassion money box to collect any loose change that they may have during this Lenten season. These money boxes can be returned to the school before the Easter break and we will send the money to Caritas Australia.

Adam McCann

Sport Report

On Wednesday 12th of February, we had 6 students represent St. Joseph’s Gloucester at the Regional Swimming Carnival. A big thank you to Charlotte Marchant, Kamryn Beard, Mia Tressider, Stuart Turner, Rory Ashby and Xanthe Fenning who competed in a sportsman like manner and represented our school with grace.

A further congratulations to Charlotte Marchant who made it to the Diocesan level in 50m freestyle, breastroke and backstroke, Stuart Turner who made it to the Diocesan level in the 50m breastroke, Xanthe Fenning who made it to the Diosean level in the 50m Breastroke and the School Relay Team – Charlotte, Mia, Kamryn and Stuart. These students will go on to represent the Manning at the Lambton on Thursday 27th February.

The School Cross Country will be held next Friday 28th February at Gloucester Park. A note will be sent home on Monday 24th February regarding further details of the event.

Teegan Rowsell

Pastoral Care

I wish to thank the school community for all your love and support of the 7 years of my employment at St Joseph’s. I have made many fond memories and friendships, ones that I will treasure for a life- time. You are all so lucky to be involved in such a beautiful little school, take care of one another and enjoy this stage of your child’s life.

Warmest regards

Joanne Relf

Cause for Celebration

Awards

P & F News

P&F AGM will be held Monday 2nd March in the School Library @ 6:30pm. A nomination form is attached to this newsletter to nominate yourself or others or another parent. Please return to the school office by Monday 2nd March. New parents to the committee and meetings are always welcome.

P & F

Reminders and Notes

All volunteers in Maitland-Newcastle Diocesan Schools are required to complete a Working With Children Check. These checks are free for volunteers. You can apply online and then must attend the RMS to have your identification validated. Once you obtain your Working With Children Clearance number this must then be provided to Lisa in the front office who will pass the information on to Zimmerman House and the Catholic Schools Office for further processing. We love having volunteers in our school but me must comply with this requirement. If you have any queries regarding this please contact Lisa who is only too willing to assist you.

Staff at Joeys