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Welcome to our new school year and first newsletter of 2021! I hope everyone enjoyed their Christmas and New Year break. It has been a very positive start to the year and the staff welcome and value the positive energy and support from our families at this time.
In 2021 we welcome Mrs Kylie Clare to St Josephs Gloucester. Kylie will be teaching K1 this year and is experienced teacher who comes to us after a number of years at St. Joseph's Taree. Welcome Kylie! Mr McCann is our Year 2/3 Teacher & Miss Prosser will be teaching 4/5/6. Miss Gooch will work in each classroom this term as teachers focus on learning and assessment in K-2 student, Gifted Education and Teacher Release. Miss Gooch is a wonderful teacher who is looking forward to her time at St. Joseph's. She will be in Years 2/3 on Monday & Tuesday, Year 4/5/6 Wednesday and Thursday and Kindergarten on Friday.
Our new Kindergarten students have made a great start and are settling in really well. Welcome to Breanna McIlroy, Harrison Morton and Willow Goldsmith and their families. We trust their time at St. Joseph's will be one of wonderful learning, frienship and support.
This year Miss Prosser will cooordinate our new Gifted Education initative. This is an exciting initiative which will allow opportunities for our students. We look forward to hearing more about this soon.
We have came back to school in 2021 with many of the same COVID-19 guidelines in place from Catholic Schools NSW. Thank you for your continued support and we will keep updated as the term progresses.
Thank you to the P&F who have donated many items including monster trucks, insect homes, farm animals, bug catchers, large connect five play item and many more items. They have been a big hit. Also, congratulations to Pam Coote, who was nominated for an Award during Australia Day Celebrations. Pam contributes much time and support to our students and school community. Well done Pam!
We look forward to a positive and productive partnership with parents and carers this year. Together we can ensure a wonderful, safe and successful learning environment and achievements for our students!
Amy Maslen
Principal
Each class has settled in very well. Teachers will be sending home letters for parents outlining class learning, homework and other important information next week.
Our first Sports Carnival for the year was a huge success! All of the students had a fantastic time participating in a variety of races and novelty activities. The students of St Joseph's represented our school with pride and demonstrated excellent sportmanship both when competing in their own races and cheering on their fellow students.
I would like to thank the parents who so kindly volunteered their time to assist with the timekeeping. You were such a wonderful help and we are all truly grateful. Volunteers are always a key component to the successful running of these events.
Congratulations to all students who demonstrated such determination and courage when participating in their events. Your positive attitude and willingness to have a go is what being a part of St Joseph's is all about.
Congratulations to the following age champions for the 2021 Swimming Carnival:
Junior Girls: Xanthe Fenning
Junior Boys: Rory Ashby
11 Year Boys: Nick Maslen
11 Year Girls: Mia Barnes
Senior Boys: Aiden Blanchard
Aiden Blanchard is our School Leader for 2021. Aiden will be assisted at times by Year Five students. Aiden has already shown excpetional leadership skills in leading morning asssemby, welcoming younger students and assisting teachers where needed. Well done Aiden!
PASTORAL CARE
It has been so nice to see all our students back at school. I can honestly say that I missed their smiling faces and all their special personalities. Everyone seemed to settle into the 2021 school year very quickly, especially the new Kindergarten students. It is very reassuring to see the way in which our older students care for the younger students. There are so many examples of patience and ways in which the older students care for and “look after” and it is all done so willingly without being asked to do so. We are lucky to be in such a caring school.
“Give Thanks every day for all the wonder that surrounds you”
MINI VINNIES
We have had our first Mini Vinnies meeting and are already planning some great activities for this term. The main goal of Mini Vinnies is to help others in need and the new Mini Vinnies are enthusiastically looking forward to the year ahead.
On Monday, each of the Mini Vinnies will be presented with their Badge as a symbol of the important role they have within our school community.
Our first activity will be Pancake Day to be held on Shrove Tuesday (February 16th)
CANTEEN
The Year 5 and 6 students started Canteen today and are already doing a great job of running the canteen. You may have noticed that chocolates and lollies have now been removed from the Menu, however we will still be selling ice-blocks and ice-creams. If you have suggestions about other items that you would like to see at the canteen, please let us know.
SECOND-HAND UNIFORMS
Lots of second-hand uniforms have been donated from past students and these are now available. They are in good condition and we have quite a range of sizes in tunics, jackets, shirts, trousers, shorts and tights as well as shoes and joggers.
“Wishing God’s sweet blessings
not in droplets, but a shower,
To fall on you every day”
Library will be on Wednesday this term. Please remind students that Library books and bags are needed every Wednesday for borrowing. Mrs Webeck will be in the Library for this term.
Canteen resumed today and occurs every Friday. Thank you Mrs Jensen and Year 5/6 helpers. Each Friday students put their lunch order in the order box before 9am. Please use a paper bag or lunch order bag with students; Name, Order details and Amount enclosed.
Our Sport days are Thursdays for this term. Please send your child in sports uniform on this day. Sometimes we need to rescedule our sport days due to our sports providers availaibilty but we try and ensure we give as much notice as possible through our Compass system when this happens.
The Maitland-Newcastle Catholic Schools Office have new procedures in place for volunteers at our schools. If you would like to be on our volunteers list there is an Induction Handbook that needs to be completed before volunteering. We very much value the time and support of our volunteers. Please contact Mrs Hollingsworth to obtain a copy of the Volunteers Induction Handbook
The next P&F Meeting will be held on Monday 22nd February at 6pm.
At the last P&F meeting in December, some information about the new Parent Engagement Model was discussed and distributed in the P&F minutes.
Traditionally it is always difficult to get new people to commit and join the P&F Committee. Over the past 12 months our Diocese has developed a new model of P&F called the Parent Engagement Model. A this meeting we will discuss whether we continue with the Traditional P&F Model and elect formal positions, or move to the Parent Engagement Model with no formal elections and a new model of operation. I encourage you to either attend this meeting to discussed. I have outlined below the two models for you to compare.
Traditional P&F Model
Requires school communities to elect members to assume the roles of President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary and up to two Federation Delegates. The Federation Delegates attend two meetings annual as well as an AGM for the Federation of P&F Associations.
Current challenges include:
· Quorum size for the P&F has to be the same regardless of the school size.
· Requires members to nominate for positions.
· Requires attendance at all meetings (for Executive)
· Focus can, at times, be on fundraising – not engagement
· Difficulty achieving a quorum – resulting in inability to transact business.
Parent Engagement Model
This model is aimed at improving parent engagement to support learning outcomes for students and to support well being.
Possible Framework:
· Structured meeting with a published agenda
· Led by the Principal or their delegated Executive member
· Note/minute taking to be managed by school or a volunteer to be identified for this purpose
· The focus of the forum is to be authentic engagement and include an educative component, to build capacity amongst parents and carers
· The group will maintain an ability to fund-raise if desired by the community
· Project groups can be developed based on the need and interests of the school and parent body
Example Agenda Template:
· Opening – Prayer – Acknowledgement
· Apologies
· Principals Report
· Project Group Reports
· Educative component. These could include a presentation from staff members relating to areas of learning where enhancing parent knowledge, language and understanding of the outcomes taught as well as guiding parents in ways they can support their child’s learning at home may result in improved outcomes for the child.
· Next Meeting
· Close
If you have any questions please contact me.
June | |
Friday 25th | Final Day Term 2 |
July | |
Week 1 - Monday 12th | Pupil Free Day |
Tuesday 13th | Students return |
Thursday 15th | Library |
Friday 16th | Sport |
Week 2 - Monday 19th | Shared Table - Chicken Fried Rice |
Thursday 22nd | Library |
Friday 23rd | ASPIRE K-6 Excursion to Newcastle |
Week 3 - Wednesday 28th |
Diocesan Athletics Kindergarten 2022 Social & Emotional Session with School Counsellor - Alison Perry. |
School hours, Absence and Attendance
The first bell rings at 8:55am each morning. After a brief assembly under the COLA, outlining the days activities and any messages, students commence lessons at 9am. Lunch is 11:10pm to 12pm and Recess is 1:30 - 2pm. The final bell rings at 3:00pm.
All absences from school are regarded as full or partial absences. This includes students that arrive after 9am and leave before 3pm.
Partial and full absences need to be explained as soon as possible. This can be through the Compass App, sign-in at the office, emailing the office or class teacher, calling the office or writing a note. Children will be marked absent without explanation until the school is informed otherwise. Unexplained absences will be followed-up by the school. Attendance at school is very important to your child's learning.
Please let the school know if there are any changes to after school arragements for your children. Please ensure that we are notified regarding any changes to bus pickups. This allows us to ensure your child/children get home safely.
Boys Summer Uniform - Grey shorts, White St. Joseph's shirt, black shoes or books (whole shoe must be black and no other colour), school hat.
Girls Summer Uniform - Green check tunic, white socks, black shoes, school hat.
Please label all items clearly.
Hair - Hair should be neat and tidy. Shoulder length hair should be tied back and not in eyes.
Jewellery - Jewellery is not part of the school uniform. Students may wear studs or sleepers. One bangle or signet ring is permitted. Makeup or nail polish is not to be worn at school.
Compass is our main commuication system that will send newsletters, notes, records attendance and contains school reports. Compass is an App or a website you can log into. For any information or assistance on Compass please call the office.