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- Principal's Report
- Religious Education News
- Congratulations to our Award Winners
- Class News
- Upcoming Dates
- Pastoral Care News
- St. Clare's Visit - Monday 14th 11am
- Pupil Free Days 2022
- Successful Foundations Letter 4 & 5
- NAPLAN 2022
- Premier's Reading Challenge
- From our School Counsellor
- ASPIRE Junior Theatre Makers
- Community News
This week, Year Six students and myself had the pleasure to attend the launch of the Catholic School Diocese of Maitland/Newcastle new Wellbeing and Pastoral Care Framework and policy at St. Joseph's Primary Wingham, along with other schools in our Manning Region. The Wellbeing Framework builds on many things we are already doing at St. Joseph's Gloucester but particularly focuses on the importance of Student Voice. At the foundation of the Wellbeing Framework is the student voice; 'I Feel', 'I Am' and 'I Can'. We will use this framework to support student voice in wellbeing conversations at St. Joseph's Gloucester.
Thank you to all parents who were able to touch base with teachers for parent teacher interviews. The beginning of each school year is such an important time and one where teachers work hard to formulate positive relationships with their students. A learning environment based on trust, where students feel safe to share their ideas and comfortable to make mistakes can set the scene for a successful school year, for each child. Teachers have been forming positive relationships over the last few weeks by getting to know your child; finding out their strengths as learners, their passions, hobbies, challenges and goals they have for the year ahead.
Research has shown that students achieve more in school when their parents are actively involved in their education. Parental involvement not only enhances academic performance, but also has a positive influence on a child’s attitude and behaviour. A parent’s interest and encouragement in a child’s education can influence the child’s attitude towards school, classroom conduct, selfesteem, absenteeism, and motivation in a positive manner. We look forward to continuning this partnership throughout the year.
It is exciting that we are able to start to hold some events at a school level. The first of these will be on Monday as we hold our Opening School Mass in the Church. All parents and carers are invited to the Mass at 9:30am, as we officially welcome our new Kindergarten students and Year 6 receive their leader badges for 2022.
Peace and best wishes
Amy Maslen
Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Tuesday)
Last Tuesday we celebrated Pancake Tuesday which is know as Shrove Tuesday. Traditionally, Catholics would use all the ingredients that would not be used in the fasting period of Lent and make them into pancakes. We celebrate Shrove Tuesday each year at our school with a pancake breakfast which is organised by our Mini Vinnies group. We would like to thank Mrs Jensen and the Mini Vinnies for organising the pancakes and spreads for our breakfast. Thankyou also to the Miss Gooch, Miss Jordan, Mrs Webeck and Mrs Moore who came in early to set up and make some delicious pancakes.
Also thanks to all the students who brought in a donation to start off our Project Compassion appeal for this year.
Project Compassion
Ash Wednesday
As mentioned above Ash Wednesday was celebrate last week to start the Church season of Lent. Years 5 and 6 did a tremendous job in leading the school in our Ash Wednesday Liturgy. The Liturgy incorporated the significance of Ash Wednesday within the Church and how we can participate in our own lives by helping others in need through Project Compassion. Thanks to Miss Jordan and 5/6 in preparing and delivering the Liturgy to the rest of the school. Thanks also to Father Terry who came to participate in the Liturgy and distribute the ashes.
All the students received a Project Compassion money box which they can collect any spare change over the Lenten period. At the end of the term we will have a special day for the students to bring in the money boxes for us to pool all the donations together for Caritas Australia.
Year 2/3/4
Year 2/3/4 have been working very hard in all areas of their work over the past few weeks. It has been quite disruptive with floods and sickness so we have not had our full class for a couple of weeks now. However, all the students have been trying hard in class and are becoming more indepedent when completing class activities. Our focus in Religion has been on Lent and we have been having a close look at the story of Jesus going into the Desert and how this story relates to our own lives. In English, we have begun to read the classic story Charlotte's Web. In Maths, our main focus has been on whole numbers, patterns and this week fractions.The goal is for all students having a solid knowledge of place value and being able to read and write numbers of varying sizes.
I am always proud of the achievements that all the students make in their academic progress. I congratulate all the students on how well they work in class every day. It makes my job so much easier.
Year 5/6
In our 5/6 class we have been busy learning all about Australia in the early years including Federation, Government policies and laws as well as influential people in the 1800's and early 1900's. We have become experts in this field and have started writing Information Reports about The Federation, The White Australia Policy and Sir Edmund Barton - Just ask us about it, we are pros!
In Creative Arts we drew a picture of Parliament House to decorate our classroom.
March | |
Monday 14th | Shared Table - Chicken Burgers |
Opening School Mass 9:30am Church | |
St. Clare's Visit 11am | |
Wednesday 16th | Sport day |
Year 3/4 Soccer Gala Day | |
Thursday 17th | Library |
Monday 21st | Shared Table - Pizza |
Wednesday 23rd | Sport |
Thursday 24th | Library |
Monday 28th | Shared Table - Hamburgers |
Wednesday 29th | Sport |
Thursday 30th | Library |
April | |
Friday 8th | Final day Term 1 |
PASTORAL CARE
Recently the “Well-Being” program was launched in all schools within our Diocese. There are so many great things that are already happening at our school and the opportunity for many more. Our small school really cultivates a sense of well-being in the way that everyone supports and encourages everyone else. In effect, we are like a family, where each person is nurtured, cared for and enabled to develop as their own unique self. This culture does so much to build everyone’s sense of healthy well-being in all aspects of their life.
MINI VINNIES
The Pancake Day held on Shrove Tuesday was a great success. The Mini Vinnies served up a delicious range of pancakes. Students and staff gave the Mini Vinnies top marks for the feast. Miss Jordan and Mrs Moore really excelled as the “Master Chefs” of the culinary world of pancake making.
Traditionally, Shrove Tuesday was a time to eat and enjoy foods before the season of Lent began and people “gave up” eating special foods during Lent.
The gold coin donations made on the day will be put towards a Min Vinnies project to assist the community through “good works”.
CANTEEN
The Year 5 and 6 students are continuing to do a great job of running the Canteen. Everything runs smoothly and efficiently and COV-ID Safe. A special “Thank You” to parents for the efforts that you go to ensure that you have correct change with your child’s canteen order. We also sell ice-blocks and ice-creams (We still have Ice-cream Drumsticks which are a real bargain and well enjoyed by many students .. and teachers)
“G.J.’s Club”:
This year we have started a new club called G.J.’s (“Gloucester Joeys”) on Mondays and Fridays at Recess time. For any students who wish to join in each time, we have a different activity on offer each time. So far this year, students have enjoyed Bangle Making, Fruit Decorating, Card Games, Relaxation classes, Biscuit Faces. There is no charge for students to be involved.
“Always keep your chin up, because if your head is down, you won’t be able to see all the blessings that have been placed in your life.”
Every year each school receives an allocation of Pupil Free Days for Professional Learning. This year the Pupil Free Days during the school term will be;
Term 2 | |
Friday 6th May (Week 2) | Pupil Free day |
Friday 1st July (Week 10) | Pupil Free day |
Term 3 | |
Friday August 12th | Pupil Free Day |
Term 4 | |
Monday 19th December | Pupil Free Day |
Tuesday 20th December | Pupil Free Day |
This Year, Year's 3 & 5 students will participate in NAPLAN during the month of May. Please see the flyer below for more information regarding NAPLAN.
During Library lessons, Miss Gooch and Mrs Shultz have been running the Premier's Reading Challenge. The Challenge aims to encourage a love of reading for leisure and pleasure in students, and to enable them to experience quality literature. It is not a competition but a challenge to each student to read, to read more and to read more widely. Thanks Miss Gooch and Mrs Shultz.