Term Four, Week Five

November 10, 2020

Message & Notifications From The Principal

Dear Families and Friends

As we are now over half way through Term 4, teachers have been discussing behavioural expectations that will ensure a great finish to our school year. Whilst we will be presented with some obstacles over the coming weeks (such as the humid weather), it is important that we maintain high expectations for children's behaviour inside and outside the classroom. In addition to our BOABS positive behaviour guide, the following three rules will be reiterated to children:

1. Promptly respond to reasonable requests made by adults.

2. Keep hands, feet and objects to yourself.

3. No swearing, teasing or calling others names.

If parents and carers reinforce these expectations at home, this will go a long way towards ensuring all members of our school community are treated in a courteous and respectful manner.

NAIDOC Week

Many thanks to Sr Julianne for organising a memorable opening ceremony for NAIDOC Week at our assembly on Monday. Children previously participated in a variety of NAIDOC-inspired activities at the end of Term 2, when NAIDOC week was supposed to be celebrated before being disrupted by COVID-19. This ceremony provided our school community with a great opportunity to reflect on the theme 'Always Was, Always Will Be.'

Swimming

Our swimming sessions commenced this week with great success. Thanks to Mrs Laura Christopher, Mr Jamie Short and Miss Marion Gehrmann for guiding the students through their first session at the Leisure Centre on Monday. These sessions will continue for students in Years 2-6 over the next 4 weeks. Please make sure that your child/ren are prepared by having their bathers, goggles, drink bottle and a towel.

Remembrance Day

Thank you to all classes who observed a minute's silence at 11:00am this morning to honour Remembrance Day. Lest we forget.

Advent Liturgies

Our Advent Liturgies will commence on Monday 16th November with Year 5/6 leading our Week 1 liturgy in the library at 8:00am. Families and friends are most welcome to attend

Family Movie Night

A family movie night will be held in our library on Friday 20th November from 5:30pm-7:30pm. The movie will be 'Sing.' If you are interested in attending this event, please give your name to Di at the office, or call/message Brock Burston on: 0439 968 108 by Monday 16th November.

Christmas Concert

We look forward to our Christmas Concert at the Leisure Centre on Wednesday 9th December. Doors open at 5:00pm. We will be observing COVID-19 hygiene requirements during this event. Students will have the opportunity to practise at the Leisure Centre in the lead up to this exciting event.

Kindergarten Orientation Morning

On Thursday 19th November we welcome our Kindergarten students for 2021 to St Joseph's. Whilst children meet their new classmates, parents and carers will be invited to attend an information session in the Library, followed by morning tea.

Mini Vinnies

In the lead-up to Christmas we are calling for donations of non-perishable goods for Christmas hampers for those less fortunate in our community. Many thanks to Ms Deb, Ruby, Lacey and Bethany for their wonderful organising. We would be most grateful if families could purchase one or more of the following items during their next grocery shop: Long life milk, cereal, tea, coffee, milo, biscuits, canned food, toiletries. Thank you in anticipation of your support.

New Assistant Principal beginning 2021

I am delighted to announce that Mr Shaun Joseph will be taking on the role as our new Assistant Principal commencing next year. Please read below for a short statement provided by Shaun:

It is with great enthusiasm that I take up the position of Assistant Principal at St Joseph’s Primary School. I have worked in education for 25 years, beginning in music performance, with the last 6 years working in over 12 Catholic and State schools across remote and regional WA, intensively working with teachers to improve teaching and learning. Having always had a passion for helping children to be their best, I consider it a privilege to lead educators in diverse school environments to make this a reality for all students. Asked to be Deputy Principal at East Kimberley College two years ago, I have been supporting curriculum development and working heavily with students at educational risk. Now calling Kununurra and the parish of St Pallotti home, my family and I are thrilled to extend that home to St Joseph's. Being an active Christian my whole life I love contributing to the parishes and communities I belong to with the gift of music. I feel blessed to have the opportunity to join St Joseph’s wonderful school community and look forward to meeting each and every one of you soon.

Enjoy the rest of your week.

Tim Hogan

Principal

Term Dates 2020

Term 4: 12 Oct—11 Dec

Other Important Dates

19 November: Kindy Orientation, 8am
19 November: Year 6 Transition session at EKC
26 November: Year 6 Transition Day at EKC
3 December: Year 6 Breakfast, EKC
4 December: Moving Forward Day
9 December: Christmas Concert, Leisure Centre, 5pm
10 December: End of Year Awards, Library, 1.20pm
11 December: End of Year/Yr 6 Grad Mass, 8.30am

“I am not a saint, unless you think of a saint as a sinner who keeps on trying.”

Nelson Mandela

Reminders

Friday of every even week beginning 1:20pm

Assemblies, Fridays, 1.20pm

20 November, Week 6: Yr 3

4 December, Week 8: Yr 2

Description Title

Enrolments are now open for VacSwim swimming lessons during the summer school holidays.

VacSwim in January offers fun lessons at beach or pool locations during the long break. Not only are they a great school holiday activity, they teach valuable safety skills to help keep your child safe in the water.

Your children can start as young as five years old.

Don’t wait! Enrol your children in VacSwim now at

Click to find out more

At St Joseph’s School we take great pride in our appearance. The school uniform is also an important aspect of child health and safety. It is a requirement that all students wear a St Joseph’s uniform (including a hat with our logo) that is purchased from our uniform shop. Similar items bought elsewhere may not be worn to school.

Please note that our “no hat, no play” policy is enforced.

See our website for a full range of uniform items.

Uniforms may be purchased at any time from our office.

Sr Julianne is collecting used stamps for the Sisters of St Joseph Peruvian mission. These are put with collections from many other schools and parishes, and sold at auctions. Over $20,000 gets raised each year. Please leave in the box at the front office.

To read more, see: https://www.marymackilloptoday.org.au/how-you-can-help/pray/stamps/

We are also seeking donations of material and scarfs that could be used for classroom prayer tables.

Apply for KidSport funding and help your children experience the benefits of club sport.

Eligible children in Western Australia can receive up to $150 per calendar year to cover the costs of joining any approved KidSport club.

Vouchers can also be used across multiple KidSport clubs, helping more children to get active and connect with community sport.

To be eligible for KidSport applicants must be:

Aged 5 to 18 years

A resident in Western Australia

Named on a valid Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card

Registering with a KidSport approved club.

Click to learn more

Miss Lee-Lee (Kindergarten)

The Kindergarten has started well this term with children focussing on their fine motor skills, developing their hand – eye co-ordination in preparation for learning to write. We continue to enjoy Fun Fridays with activities focussing on measurements of ingredients to make playdough and pikelets.

The Kindy Kids have begun to write letters to Santa and making their wish list! We have started preparation for our Christmas crafts in readiness for many exciting and fun activities ahead. Myself, Mrs Hill and Miss Fitt are looking forward to getting into the spirit of Christmas, especially with our Kindy friends. It has been a great pleasure sharing their learning journey this year, watching them grow in confidence and accomplishing all that they have. We wish the children and their families a joyous and holy Christmas and all the best for the coming year in Pre-Primary.

Miss Ros (Pre-Primary)

This term is flying by and Week 5 is already here. We have been doing lots of practise for our Christmas concert and it is coming along well. I can’t wait to see our students perform in their outfits for their families and friends. In the classroom we have been doing a lot of great work, ready for Year 1 next year.

Having been a TA with them in Kindy last year, it has been amazing working with this group again and to see them grow and learn so much has been rewarding. They have come a long way and now I will follow them into Year 1, so more adventures to come with this beautiful class. I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas break ready for 2021 and what ever it brings our way.

Mr Jamie (Year 2)

Throughout this term I have mainly been assisting the Year 2 class. Students have benefitted from his role in improving their literacy, mathematic and social skills. I also continue driving the school bus, coordinating sporting activities and offering Chaplaincy programs such as Seasons for Growth. For the remainder of this term I will be busily involved in swimming classes and preparations for the Christmas Concert.

Miss Marcia (Year 5/6)

In class we are looking at our end of year activities, firstly our Christmas concert items and organising the graduation ceremony and lunch.

We are also looking towards next year and where the students will attend high school. The students that are moving on to East Kimberley College next year will begin to slowly transition over through information sessions and spending a day at high school.

I have recently been given the opportunity to complete my MacqLit training. MacqLit is a literacy intervention program administered to small groups. Currently there are four of us running a group each for an hour of the literacy block each day.

Miss Deb (Year 4/5)

In Year 4/5 this term we have been very busy. We believe we should “make the days count, not count the days”. Every day students get the opportunity to read, including when they arrive at school. We are still recording great achievements in class reading and from those students attending Macqlit. Mr A and myself were so proud of the students in the way they presented their assembly, and it was great to see many families and friends present. The students enjoyed painting the backdrop of Uluru, “the giant pebble”.

Kindy News

Kindy is our place where we develop in our time and are responsible for everyone's learning. The kindness and compassion shown to all children is testament to our love and connection to learning.

In literacy groups we have been learning to segment and blend consonant vowel consonant (CVC) words using a multisensory approach of sound, manipulatives and acting out using funny voices. We continue to play with our understanding of concepts about print and are having fun making collaborative stories.

In maths groups we have been learning to apply our knowledge of numbers before, after and in between 0-10.

We welcome our friend Nithu and his family to our Kindy Community. Nithu has settled into his new school with comfort and ease. Thank you to all for making Nithu feel so welcome.

Miss Melinda