20 September 2018

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

Well-Being of Our Students

Last week we held the RUOK? Day here at St Joseph’s School. The day is a national day of action dedicated to reminding people to ask family, friends and colleagues the question, "R U OK?", in a meaningful way, because connecting regularly and meaningfully is one thing everyone can do to make a difference to anyone who might be struggling.

With one in seven young Australians (aged 4-17) experiencing a mental health condition, RUOK? Day is one of many initiatives we have introduced to develop the pastoral care here at St Joseph’s School. We are committed to our students’ wellbeing and considerable resources and planning have gone into the program.

A significant investment has been our subscription to the online SchoolTV site, a wonderful resource to support parents with their children’s wellbeing. SchoolTV aggregates relevant, fact-based content from leading specialists and organisations into a single, easy to understand stream of facts and strategies. If you have not accessed the resource yet, please do so by going to:

Another pastoral initiative this year has been the introduction of the School’s Mobile Phone Policy which prohibits the use of mobiles by students during school hours unless there is an educational purpose. The reasoning behind this policy is to:

• Encourage greater social interaction and activity amongst students
• Minimise the use of social media and devices for bullying
• Minimise the risk of students accessing and sharing inappropriate content such as pornography (Note that the school does not have ability to prevent/block access to content on mobile phones).

I find it astonishing to see in recent reports that Education Queensland is changing its policy to allow student to use their phones during lunch breaks.

More Excellent NAPLAN Results

Recently I congratulated our Year 9’s on their success during this year’s NAPLAN test. They were ranked 105 out of 496 schools across Queensland (top 21%). This week we received the data for the Year 7’s and I am pleased to say the Year 7’s have performed even better. They ranked 95 out of 496 schools (top 20%). Significantly, both cohorts have outperformed their peers in all schools across the Toowoomba region, except for a handful of big Toowoomba City schools.

This success has occurred consistently for a number of years and is due to our talented students and dedicated staff from Primary through to Secondary.

Finally, I would like to thank all students, staff, parents and caregivers for a great term and wish you all a safe and relaxing school break.

God Bless

Andrew Kendall
PRINCIPAL

LEADERSHIP NEWS

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL ADMINISTRATION-SECONDARY

As our Year 12’s move towards their last term of their senior schooling years, Year 10 students are considering their upcoming two final years of education. Year 10, 11 and 12 engaged in exam blocks last week, with this being the first block of this type for Year 10. With a new senior schooling model approaching it is important that we,as a school begin to implement internal assessment to reflect the changes. Creating a Senior Education Training Plan will continue to be a key part of the steps towards senior schooling.

The Set Plan helps Year 10 students by:

• Structuring the learning in Year 11 and 12 around their abilities, interests and ambitions
• Providing relevant information about education and career options after Year 12
• Setting learning goals for Year 11 and 12
• Including flexible and coordinated pathway options for senior study
• Create a communication between students, parents, teachers and leaders of the school that is valuable and supportive of all students

Set Plan interviews will begin on Monday 14th October and be completed by 19th October. I look forward to meeting with all Year 10 parents and students to create Set Plans.

God’s blessings

Linda Perrett
Assistant Principal Administration-Secondary

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL ADMINISTRATION-PRIMARY

The previous two weeks on the Primary Campus have been very busy for students with many opportunities for them to involve themselves in a variety of activities. One example was the netball team who competed in a Primary Schools competition in Bundaberg with much success last weekend. The competition was tough and the weather hot but they were great ambassadors for our school in the way they played and also the way they conducted themselves off the court. It was a great experience for the girls from Years 4 - 6 and they have returned stronger netball players as a result. Thank you to Mrs O’Dea and Mrs Brunckhorst who coached the team and also to Mrs Page and Mrs Kendall who accompanied the team to Bundaberg.

Year 2 students last week visited the Art Gallery to see the Crisps Art Show entries. They photographed their own art piece and then choose their favourite from the 751 pieces. They were very reflective in describing their chosen pieces and were also congratulated by the gallery director for their enthusiasm and the way they conducted themselves. Well done also to those students who received prizes at the presentation evening last week.

Recently we received the NAPLAN results for St Joseph’s School. Congratulations to all who took part this year and parents should soon receive their child’s individual results in the mail. Particular successes to highlight are the fact that 100% of students in Years 3 and 5 achieved at or above the minimum standard in Numeracy and every student in Year 5 showed growth from Year 3 in Spelling. St Joseph’s also outperformed comparative schools in the locality. There were many personal achievements by students and this is testament to the quality of teaching and learning in each of the classrooms. This data as well as our own school data indicates that initiatives we have put in place over the last 18 months – namely the Reading Improvement Strategy and Visible Learning – are having a very positive effect on our students. As a ‘data-informed’ school, we are well placed to build on our successes to ensure future academic growth for all students.

As we conclude Term 3, I would like to thank the teachers and the students for their continued hard work and commitment to St Joseph’s. I would also like to wish all our families a safe and happy holiday.

Sarah Yates
Assistant Principal Administration-Primary

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (APRE)

Plenary Council 2020

“Speak boldly and with passion, listen with an open and humble heart. With faith and guided by God’s Holy Spirit, we journey together, toward the future.”

Last Wednesday, I attended a meeting in Toowoomba where one of the sessions focussed on the 2020 Plenary Council. The last Plenary Council was held in Australia in 1937, so the time has well and truly come. The intention of the Plenary Council is to allow the entire Catholic Church in Australia the opportunity to have a say in determining the structures and strategies of the Church into the future. Pope Francis has emphasised that we need to find ways in which to “evangalise in a culture rapidly moving away from the Christian world view”.

The timeline for the Plenary Council is as follows:

2018 – Year of Listening – Parishes and communities will participate in dialogue and listening sessions.
2019 – Year of Discerning and Re-Listening – summary notes from dialogue and listening sessions will form the agenda for the Plenary Council meeting.
2020 – Year of Proposing – two meetings will be held with Australian Bishops. The second meeting will involve Australian Bishops voting on proposed legislation.

Discussions in the lead up to the Plenary Council will allow everyone to have a voice in making decisions about the future of the Catholic Church in Australia.

(Catherine Sheehan, May 2018).

For more information visit the link below.

Megan Mahoney
Assistant Principal Religious Education

SCHOOL NEWS

SIGNS AND CROSSES

Recently, a new St Joseph’s School LED sign was installed in front of the Convent on the Secondary Campus. A large Mercy Cross was also installed on the Frayne Building facing Corundum Street to supplement the Mercy Cross now positioned in the front of the Mercy Centre (Admin). The sign and crosses will help promote the great things our students do and highlight our Mercy tradition and values.

The Mercy Crosses and new sign help promote the Mercy tradition and values of St Joseph’s School.

STREET STALL

On Saturday 8th September, a Street Stall was held in aid of Rural Aid to assist drought-stricken farmers and their families. We thank all our families who donated baked goodies, produce and items to sell at the stall, to ensure the success of this fundraiser, and to those who volunteered to assist on the day.

The Street Stall was jam-packed with goodies, raising money for Rural Aid.

RUOK? DAY

On Thursday 13th September, the St Joseph’s Student Council were thrilled to host the RUOK? Day.

This important day is about staying connected and having meaningful conversations which is something we can all do. No need for an expert, just a good friend and a great listener. It’s about noticing if someone is struggling and starting a conversation. Conversations need to happen every day. Encourage more people to ask RUOK? in your workplace, school, or community.

A sea of yellow illuminated St Joseph’s School as students and staff banded together in support of RUOK? Day. A number of activities were planned with a Conversation Corner and Teachers running age-appropriate lessons during their classes for this day. A whole School Assembly was held with special guests, Mayor Tracy Dobie, Simon Goddard from Headspace, and guest speaker Kath Ives who is a community volunteer at “Happy Chat”.

Students were able to visit the Headspace stall during their lunch break where Simon Goddard gave them information, was available to chat and answer questions. A highlight of the RUOK? Day was the basketball match held during lunch between Secondary School staff and the Years 9 and 10 students.

A free sausage sizzle was available to everyone.

PROJECT BASED LEARNING COMES TO AN END

Year 10 students, Danielle Musumeci, Bridgette Kay, Lindsey Swan and Lara Beckett have been keeping busy during their lunch breaks this term, to finalise the Hygiene Survival Packs for women in Fiji.

To date, eighty-nine packs have been wrapped which include a bar of soap, hand sanitiser, toothbrush, toothpaste, moisturiser, shampoo, deodorant, travel tissues, lip balm, face washers and sanitary items. The girls said that they will get 100 packs by the end of the term.

“It’s been a very time consuming project, but very rewarding and worth the time and effort to complete these packs,” the girls said.

Whilst Primary students had donated various things, the P&F Association had donated funds to assist with the purchase of further items. The girls stated that this project had been a group effort and they were grateful to the teachers and Mrs Judy Lee who had assisted.

“We would like to thank Kim Thiess from Micky Mae for donating the material to wrap these items in.” The girls then hemmed the material to add the finishing touch.

The girls stated that the packs will be picked up at the end of this term, with distribution to the women in Fiji by Rotary at the end of the year.

Thank you to all the families for their donation and support of this project.

The Hygiene Survival Packs filled with essential items will be sent to impoverished women in Fiji later this year.

ST JOSEPH’S SCHOOL-BASED TRAINEESHIP PROGRAM

National Skills Week was celebrated from 27th August until 2nd September.

National Skills Week recognises, celebrates and informs students and the wider public of the diversity, benefits and achievements associated with Vocational Education and Training (VET).

This year’s theme for National Skills Week was “Real Skills for Real Careers”, highlighting the diverse range of VET qualifications on offer for people of all ages.

At St Joseph’s School twenty-eight students in Years 10, 11 and 12 are undertaking an Apprenticeship or Traineeship whilst studying. SBATs (School-based Apprenticeships & Traineeships) provide our students with work experience, skills and access to an industry recognised qualification, whilst still at school.

A traineeship takes 2 years to complete and students graduate school with two years of work experience, as well as a possible Certificate Level Qualification in a particular industry. Apprenticeships take longer and can often continue into a full-time position after Year 12.

Students usually spend one day at work, which is paid, and another day completing studies through a registered training organisation, whilst working on a modified school timetable for the remainder of the week.

Year 12 student Brody Pearce is completing her SBA with CutsnCurls. “It is so lovely having Brody work with us. Brody works each Wednesday and it’s great having her here through the working week,” Salon Manager, Mrs Kaylah Leahy said. “Brody is an absolute pleasure to work with. We have had at least six students on traineeship in the past years and they have all been a success.”

Brody will continue with CutsnCurls next year after she graduates and will be a qualified hairdresser in eighteen months’ time.

St Joseph’s School would like to thank all the employers who have and are working with our students.

St Joseph’s School has twenty-eight students undertaking an Apprenticeship or Traineeship.

SHARYN ROWEN MEMORIAL WALK

The Year 3/4 students, the St Joseph’s Student Council, along with Josh and Mack Rowen, participated in the Sharyn Rowen Memorial Walk for Disability Action week.

Sharyn was a great advocate for people with disabilities and did a lot of work in the community. The walk is to remember Sharyn for her good work.

The Student Council were invited by Alan Jones from the Salvation Army, and The Lion’s Club to enjoy morning tea with those who participated in the walk.

MUSIC: COUNT US IN DAY (MCUI)

Count Us In is Australia’s largest school music participation program. It is the education program of Music Australia, working with partners around the country to support music in schools. This year, the 2018’s music mentor is Justine Clarke-a face well known from Play School and as the host of The Justine Clarke Show.

On being the 2018 MCUI mentor, Justine says, “I’m thrilled to be part of this program that promotes music education, creativity and community in one loud and joyful song that’s heard right across the country.”

Earlier this year, Justine joined five talented student songwriters from around the country, who came together to write this year’s MCUI song, “One Song”. A song for students, written by students.

MCUI is Australia’s largest school music advocacy and participation initiative, growing steadily since 2007. Every year, students take part, for free, learning the song in the lead up to Celebrations Day which sees students all around the country sing the same song, on the same day, at the same time.

Last year, more than 3,000 schools and over 660,000 students took part in the program, providing students and teachers with the opportunity to develop their music skills and simultaneously perform with schools around the country in a celebration of music.

St Joseph’s Primary students are excited to be part of this amazing initiative this year. Celebration Day is on Thursday 1st November.

CRISP’S ART SHOW

There were 750 entries in this year’s Crisp’s Art Show competition, with 219 from St Joseph’s students. Thank you to all the students for contributing their work and congratulations to those who were awarded a prize. Students received their prizes during the presentation night held at the Art Gallery last Thursday evening.

The Crisp’s Art work will remain on display at the Art Gallery, until the beginning of October.

END OF ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL TERM

Term 3 has come and gone, with the end of the year fast approaching. This term has been filled with various activities, excursions, fundraisers, and the everyday school routine. Several events that have occurred during the final week of school, including the Colour Run which will feature in the first newsletter of Term 4.

We would like to thank all those who have assisted and volunteered in Tuckshop, Reading Groups, working bees, or any other activity. Your ongoing support of St Joseph’s School is very much appreciated.

We wish all our students, families and staff, a safe and restful two week break and look forward to seeing you all on Monday 8th October for Term 4.

INTRODUCING STAFF

In the first newsletter of the School year, the new teachers were introduced as well as a reintroduction of the Leadership. Every fortnight, a staff member from both campuses will provide a profile of themselves to allow the school and wider community to familiarise themselves with the staff at St Joseph’s School. The school operates with approximately 50 staff members who all have a special role to play in the effective functioning of the school.

My name is Leigh-Ann Cusack and I have had the pleasure to have worked at St Joseph’s for the last 5 years in various guises on each campus.

Currently I am the LOTE Italian teacher for Years 1 to 6 on the Primary Campus. And a lot of fun it is too! With my students, we explore Italy, looking at people and culture through singing, dancing, speaking and listening, reading and writing, and tasting great Italian foods. Of course, this helps maintain our community’s ties to its Italian heritage, but also provides a means for students to learn another language, which has lots of great spin-offs: a better understanding & use of English; strengthened study skills; a stronger and more flexible brain; and a willingness to explore.

Previously, I have worked in Tasmania and Brisbane after leaving the Granite Belt in my teens. I am married to a local teacher and we have 3 soccer-mad children, so Stanthorpe is a good place to be.

The most enjoyable part of my job is sharing a love of Italian culture with the students. It is always great when someone proudly tells me their Nonna/o is Italian. Students realise the greatest racing cars or soccer teams are Italian, or everybody’s favourite food, (pizza/pasta), started out in Italy. It is also wonderful to have students speak to me in Italian when they see me ‘down the street’.

With the school year entering its last term, I feel like I have almost achieved what I had hoped for in 2018. Studying a language can be a bit dry at times, so I have made an effort this year to ‘do’ more, rather than ‘write’ more. Classes have learnt poems and songs, become robots and robot masters, performed skits and created their own interactions to act out. I hope these lessons have been memorable and help students wherever life takes them.

My names is Josie Gangemi. As a first generation Australian of Italian parents, I was born in Stanthorpe (the eldest of five children). When I commenced my schooling at The Summit State school I could not speak English.

Following Primary School, I was a student here at St Joseph’s. Upon completing my Secondary schooling, I worked at The Summit General Store and then began working in our library on the 12th May 1981 with Betty Yap. The following year Betty retired, and I became responsible for the St Joseph’s Secondary School Library, undertaking library studies to become a qualified Library Officer. At this time the Secondary school was Years 8 – 10. We expanded to Years 11 and 12 in 1999. I have seen the library move to three locations across the school and now I work in a busy Prep – 12 Library where I see every student in the school enjoy the many activities in our library.

Libraries are my passion and I enjoy working in them and visiting other libraries when travel opportunities allow me. My work as a Library Officer has been very rewarding over the years. I have seen many students pass through the school. I was the founding Secretary of the Alumni Association that was created on the 19th March, 1992. Through the Alumni Association I know how many of our students have gone on to become successful, with many of them living in other parts of the world and still wanting to keep in touch with our wonderful school.

St Joseph’s School has really grown during my years here and I am proud to be a long-standing staff member, looking forward to the future as I continue in my role in St Joseph’s Library.

2018 YEARBOOKS

If you would like to order a 2018 Yearbook, please order and pay at the School Office. The Yearbook is a wonderful keepsake depicting the year’s activities and achievements. Cost is $27.

Only 100 Yearbooks will be printed.

2019 UNIFORM ORDERS

The 2019 School Uniform Order Forms for Primary and Secondary as well as the Blazer Order Form for the current Year 10 students can be located on the school website. Our new Prep families were also sent the order form last week, with their Enrolment Acknowledgement Parent Paperwork.

Orders are required by 13 October. Call into see Brenden and his staff at Gleeson’s Mercery who are always happy to assist.

SPORT

SENIOR VICKI WILSON

St Joseph’s students attended the Senior Vicki Wilson competition in Toowoomba on Sunday 9th September at St Mary’s College. The team played 7 games throughout the day and had mixed results defeating Wilsonton State High School and drawing with Centenary Heights State High School. Congratulations to these students on representing St Joseph’s through great effort and sportsmanship.

RUGBY LEAGUE TALENT

Shanea Irwin Joined St Joseph’s School in 2017 after experiencing difficulties with bullying elsewhere in the past. She has brought with her an established passion for Rugby League, after identifying a need to channel her frustrations associated with this bullying.

Since joining St Joseph’s, Shanea has been travelling throughout South East Queensland playing with the Redbank Division 1 U/16 Girls Rugby League team. Last month this team was successful in defeating Waterford in their Grand Final.

This is an excellent achievement from a young St Joseph’s student and we congratulate Shanea on her commitment to travel and on the success she has achieved.

MOUNTAIN BIKE SKILLS COACHING

St Joseph’s is now offering mountain bike skills coaching from 3.30-4.30 on Friday afternoons!

We will begin with an 8 week beginner program in Term 4, followed by a 10 week intermediate program in Term 1 2019. Both programs form part of the Mountain Bike Australia (MTBA) Dirt Schools Program and have been prepared by the MTBA specifically for schools.

The beginner program is designed for riders with no mountain biking experience, and covers basic skills, safety checks, bike maintenance and how to ride a variety of trail features. It concludes by riding some of our local Mt Marley trails.

The intermediate program will introduce more advanced skills and is aimed at riders with some mountain biking experience and/or the completion of the beginner program. The intermediate program aims to equip students to ride a “blue” trail and introduces racing skills. There will also be the opportunity to compete in SEQLD club races in 2019.

Stay tuned for more details – but feel free to contact Emma Rhymer on Emma.Rhymer@twb.catholic.edu.au with any questions.

UPCOMING EVENTS