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- PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
- LEADERSHIP NEWS
- ASSISTANT TO THE PRINCIPAL PRIMARY
- ASSISTANT TO THE PRINCIPAL FORMATION & IDENTITY
- SCHOOL NEWS
- THE IMPORTANCE OF WATER
- BEING WATERWISE
- YEAR 7 GEOGRAPHY EXCURSION
- AUSTRALIA'S BIGGEST MORNING TEA
- NATIONAL RECONCILIATION WEEK
- RED SHIELD APPEAL
- NEW STAFF
- WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
- SPORT
- ATHLETICS CARNIVAL
- WOOLWORTHS EARN N LEARN
- UPCOMING EVENTS
Last weekend, I was very pleased to see many of our students putting one of those values, service, into action.
Red Shield Appeal
On Sunday a number of our Secondary students, with support from staff and parents, gave their time to collect for the Red Shield Appeal on behalf of the Salvation Army. The Red Shield Appeal is The Salvation Army's signature fundraising drive which helps fund their vast network of social and community services including:
- Family welfare assistance
- Refuge for women and children in crisis
- Homeless shelters
- Youth drop-in centres and support programs
- Emergency and disaster relief
- Drug and alcohol rehabilitation
- Disability programs
- Employment services and training programs
Participation in service opportunities like the Red Shield Appeal also provide an opportunity for our Year 10 and 11 students to gain community service hours for the Praxis program. The Praxis program gives students early academic credit for Year 11 & 12 Religion and Ethics which effectively means they are freed up in Year 12 to focus on their other subjects.
Australian Navy Cadets
On Saturday night I attended a dinner hosted by the Stanthorpe Branch of the Naval Association. The dinner was attended by many dignitaries including the Chief of the Royal Australian Navy, Vice-Admiral Michael Noonan, and a senior representative of the US Consulate in Sydney. The Naval Association recognises and celebrates the efforts of the Royal Australian Navy and those who have served. It also supports the Australian Navy Cadet unit, TS Kookaburra, here in Stanthorpe. I was very proud of two of our Year 8 students, Jack Bell and David Nemeth, both Naval Cadets, who took part in the service of remembrance and presentations on the night. Jack and David (pictured here with the Chief of Navy and on Anzac Day) have shown great maturity and growth since they joined the cadets and this was on display on Saturday and during the Anzac Day Services early this year. Both young men are serving our community well and are role-models for our students.
God bless
DEPUTY PRINCIPAL (ACTING)
The recent school athletics carnival was a resounding success, with students from Prep-12 participating in the annual track and field events both at school and culminating in a wonderful day at CF White on Friday 24 May. It was a superb day and fantastic to see the amazing support from the parents, families and fellow students for all those participating across the day.
As we head into the second half of the term, it is important for all students to prepare for the assessment workload ahead. Planning and time management around draft and assessment completion is vital and staff are always available to work collaboratively with students in refining and improving the quality of responses to assessment instruments. I encourage all students to have on-going conversations with their teachers to ensure they are on track and working towards achieving success in all their subjects.
Matthew Brown
Deputy Principal (Acting)
ASSISTANT TO THE PRINCIPAL PRIMARY
With the ‘catch-up tests’ now completed, congratulations to all the students who recently completed NAPLAN tests in the areas of reading, writing, language conventions (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy. They took the experience in their stride and worked confidently to complete the tests to the best of their ability. As a school, we did encounter a few technical problems caused by the new online platform introduced by ACARA, but the students did not let this phase them. We will receive the data shortly and when we do, this will be shared with parents and the school community at large.
The last few weeks have been very busy in terms of sport with the Darling Downs Cross Country trials taking place as well as our athletics field events and then the School Athletics Carnival. Congratulations to all those students who participated in these events and persisted until the end. The atmosphere at the carnival last week was very good, with everyone enjoying a great day. The results can be found elsewhere in this newsletter. Next Monday, 3 June, a large number of our students will participate in the Granite Belt Athletics competitions and we wish everyone the best of luck for this event.
Healthy Harold (and Jane!) has been a visitor on our campus this week, speaking with each of the classes on a topic related to healthy living. Prep students learned about hygiene, nutrition and safe behaviours, Year 1 students consolidated their understanding of these areas as well as looking at how our bodies react in different situations and for Year 2 students, the focus on was on positive relationships. Year 3/4 students also learned more about developing and nurturing friendships whilst the focus for Year 5/6 was on the social, legal and physical consequences of alcohol consumption. We always enjoy having Harold visit us and the messages that he imparts are reflective of our own school message of ‘Be Respectful, Be Responsible and Be Safe’.
You will be aware that we are part of a diocesan-wide Reading Improvement Strategy and as part of this, the teachers are currently collecting data in terms of reading levels to share with the Education Officers in Toowoomba. The initial analysis of this data is that students are generally making expected or greater than expected growth across the campus. Before the end of term we should be able to share a full analysis of this data with parents. In the meantime, my thanks are extended to the teachers who continue to implement strategies to assist indvidual students to reach – and go beyond – expectations with their reading, as well as to the students who persist with the skill of learning to read and reading to learn.
Sarah Yates
Assistant to the Principal Primary
ASSISTANT TO THE PRINCIPAL FORMATION & IDENTITY
Mental Health and Wellness through Prayer and Meditation
Despite our children living in a world that is far greater connected than we ever dreamed possible, there is an increasing number who feel isolated, alone and anxious. Throughout His life Jesus took time to pray and be still. And it is important that the children we teach are also able to experience the beauty of silence and stillness; of listening to their inner self and the voice of God.
Part of the Religious Education program fosters this through meditation, contemplation and prayer, immersing children of all ages in diverse and meaningful experiences. Through these practices, children develop important skills of stillness and listening, connecting to oneself through an awareness of the body and all that surrounds them. These practices allow our children to foster a personal and living relationship with themselves and God, and to find solace and peace in a busy world.
“We must encourage them to listen to their inner voices, finding that intimacy with self that builds insight and affirmation. We must model the interior life through prayer, meditation, time out to daydream and think new thoughts, time to simply be still; time to simply be”
(Writer and teacher Ann Rennie, Australian Catholics, Winter, 2019 p. 6).
Assistant to the Principal Formation & Identity
FROM THE VOICE OF CATHERINE MCAULEY-FOUNDER OF THE SISTERS OF MERCY
Coming editions of our newsletter will feature inspiring quotes from Catherine McAuley, founder of the Sisters of Mercy. As a Mercy School, we are inspired by the passion and commitment of the Mercy sisters in their work at St Joseph’s School from 1875. Below is a brief description of the life of Catherine.
“Catherine McAuley was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1778. In 1824 she used her inheritance from an Irish couple she had served for twenty years to build a large House of Mercy where she and other lay women would shelter homeless women, reach out to the sick and dying and educate poor girls. The House on Baggot Street opened in 1827. To give these efforts greater stability, Catherine and her co-workers founded a new religious congregation. On 12 December 1831, she and two others professed their vows as the first Sisters of Mercy. Before her death on 11 November 1841, Catherine founded convents and works of mercy throughout Ireland and England” (from Mercy International Association, 2019, https://www.mercyworld.org/catherine/ ).
"Prayer will do more ... than all the money in the Bank of Ireland"
The Year 2 students have been learning about water and how important it is to us all, especially during times of drought. The students have been making predictions about what happens when rain falls. Being very careful not to use too much precious water, they tested what happens when water falls and lands on different surfaces .
Now, the students are praying for actual rain in our district so they can further record what happens when rain falls.
Last Thursday, Southern Downs Regional Council Sustainability Officer, Catherine Travers was a guest speaker at the School Assembly. The focus of Catherine's visit was the current water shortage in the Southern Downs. Topics included:
- How much water there is left in Storm King Dam
- How water is used in the home
- Values that are placed on using water in the community
- Opportunities to save water
- Options for securing water in the future
The key messages Catherine delivered to the students were:
- If current water consumption levels remain in Stanthorpe, water will be able to be drawn from Storm King Dam until December 2019
- If everyone continues to reduce consumption, residents and businesses, that can be extended into the summer storm period
- There are many easy ways for everyone to save water, as every bit counts
"Managing our water resources during times of drought is very challenging," Ms Travers said. "It is encouraging to see the levels of interest and hear the ideas, shared by both the children and the stafff of St Joseph's School, who are committed to conserving our available drinking water supplies."
As part of the Southern Downs Water Security Strategy, Council is seeking feedback on community values and knowledge of our local water resources. The information gathered will provide local data on the actions and behaviours which are most important to our residents as well as providing current information on opportunities to further secure our water supplies for the future.
We want to hear from you! The survey will take just 10-15 minutes and can be completed online. Some questions are a quick tick and flick and others require a more thoughtful response. The survey will guide Council future actions so please grab a cuppa and head to: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SouthernDownsDroughtSolutions
A PDF version is also available to be downloaded, completed and returned to any of the Southern Downs Regional Council’s Community Contact Centres. To make sure your views are incorporated, the survey will need to be submitted by 16 June 2019.
Please encourage your family and friends to complete this survey so their thoughts and ideas can also be included.
Last Thursday, the Year 7 Geography class took part in an investigation of Talc Street and an upper section of Lock Street to evaluate which aspects improve liveability and which make each street less liveable.
The students showed a keen interest in features of the streets and looked at adjacent areas which enhanced recreational, social and environmental potential such as the Soldiers Memorial in Lock Street.
AUSTRALIA'S BIGGEST MORNING TEA
On Tuesday at morning tea, the Student Council provided muffins and cupcakes for students from Prep to Year 12 as part of the Australia's Biggest Morning Tea. Students made a donation when they picked up their sweet treat.
Students were supportive of this important fundraiser for the Cancer Council who raise much needed funds for cancer research. Thank you to everyone involved.
This week is National Reconciliation Week. The theme of this year is "Grounded in Truth".
The Tree of Truth is what happens when the seeds of empathy, solidarity and love are sown. This is a representation of the community that we can grow into if we are able to acknowledged our history, learn from it and move forward together courageously.
BREAKING DOWN THE GRAPHIC
1. THE TREE
The tree stems from what happens when people come together. It illustrates positive growth and is an aspirational view of what the future could be.
- The HEARTS represent empathy, solidarity, goodwill and love. They are the feeling, emotional elements.
- The THOUGHT POINTS represent education, growth and understanding. They are the cognitive elements of the tree.
- The GROWTH BANDS readiate outwards from some of the branches. They represent that we are always learning and growing-pushing outwards and upwards into the future.
2. THE PEOPLE
Members of our diverse community coming together in harmony.
3. THE HEART
This is the connection point of the people in the graphic.When the people's hands join, it creates an energy force which is represented by the love heart. The energy runs upwards and downwards-linking past, present and future.
4. TYPE LOCKUP
The word "Truth" is the bedrock for all of our positive growth. When we understand and accept our truth we have a solid foundation to grow from. The roots represent our history and links to the past. The word "Grounded" quite literally is on the surface of the ground. "Grounded in Truth" is designed to be the base of the tree that all of the positive growth stems from.
Throughout the week, students have participated in prayer and classroom activities around peace and reconciliation. Students were also invited to tie a ribbon to the school fence in acknowledgment of Reconciliation Week.
Thank you to the staff and students who assisted with last Sunday's annual Red Shield Appeal. We had a great response with 21 students giving up their Sunday morning to pound the pavement. About 65% of the Stanthorpe area was covered with a generous response from donors.
Stacey Colthup has joined the Front Office staff this week. Stacey will be working 3 days a week as the Administration and Communications Officer.
Welcome Stacey.
We'd love to hear from past staff and students and feature their story of what they are doing now in upcoming newsletters.
If you would like to particpate, please email stanthorpe@twb.catholic.edu.au for further information.
St Joseph’s School QISSN team are busily preparing for their trip to Bundaberg for the 2019 QISSN Carnival, which takes place in the June/July school holidays. The team consists of ten girls, ranging from Years 8 – 12.
The girls have been working hard with coaches Mrs Bernadette Brunckhorst and Mrs Mary Roberts to refine their skills in preparation for the carnival, where they will play 10 games across the week. Year 11 student, Lachlan Mahoney, will also be travelling to Bundaberg to take part in the 2019 QISSRL Confraternity Carnival, where he will play in Assumption College team.
There are a range of fundraisers occurring over the remainder of the term, consisting of a Primary and Secondary school disco on the 30th of May. There have been a number of street stalls with the next one being held on 8th of June. A range of home baking will be available for purchase, as well as some local produce and tickets for a multidraw raffle.
The team would kindly like to thank the following local businesses for making donations of products for our fundraising: Beauty on High, Anna’s Restaurant, Lifestyle Footwear, Beckett’s Pest Control, Country Farm Fresh Mushrooms.
Field events for students kicked off on Monday 20th May. Students aged 12 and above participated in different field events to become Age Champion of their respective age group. The participation on this day was outstanding with all students jumping and throwing to the best of their abilities. One record was broken in the 12 years age group in the girls shot put with Katie-Lee Jansink breaking a 17 year old record by shot putting 10.51m beating 7.67m by Miriam Spina.
Last Friday, the whole school participated in the annual Athletics Carnival which was brought forward from August to the end of May. It was superb day with great weather and little wind. Students were kept busy throughout the whole day with the normal athletic events and different novelty events with points towards their house.
The Leadership Team were very pleased with the participation of all students on the day which helped the day run smoothly. The spirit trophies were too hard to split with all students cheering and supporting students from both houses.
A big thank you to Mrs Bec Telfer who invested a lot of time organising and preparing the canteen for the day and to all the parents who volunteered their time. Thank you to all the parents and families who came out to support their children on the day and to the staff who helped the carnival run smoothly all day.
Primary Champion House | Davadi |
Secondary Champion House | McAuley |
Overall Champion House | Davadi |
Age Group | Age Champion | Runner Up |
9 Years Boys | Ted Bonner | Jye Marino |
9 Years Girls | Natalie Gasparin | Maggie O'Dea |
10 Years Boys | Billy Gallaway | Nicholas Gasparin |
10 Years Girls | Addison McCosker | Lillian Kendall |
11 Years Boys | Harry Wren | Alex Waterworth |
11 Years Girls | Eliza Bonner | Akasha Stevens |
12 Years Boys | Darcy Daddow | William Kay |
12 Years Girls | Claire Danzey | Kiana Stone |
13 Years Boys | Tyler Look | Ryan Whiticker |
13 Years Girls | Claire Williamson | Kiara Osborne |
14 Years Boys | Coen Taylor | Will Bonner |
14 Years Girls | Ashley O'Brien | Chelsea Debnam |
15 Years Boys | Jack McMeniman | Hamish Alldridge |
15 Years Girls | Natasha Brierley | Kira St John |
16 Years Boys | Rory McDonagh | Eric Richards |
16 Years Girls | Taylah Whiticker | Gianna Newman |
Open Boys | Jared Hitchener | Lachlan Mahoney |
Open Girls | Indiah Loy | Hannah Debnam |
31 May | Mini Vinnies' Hamburger Day |
4 June | Border District Eisteddfod: Drama & Performance |
5 June | Senior Schooling Year 9 & 10 Parent Information Night |
8 June | QISSN Street Stall-Country Club |
19-21 June | Senior School Exam Block (Years 10-12) |
27 June | End of Term 2 |
28 June | Student Free Day |