4 March 2016

Newsletter Articles

Principal's News

Dear Parents and Caregivers

As you know, parents who are invested in their child's education positively influence their child's academic outcomes. The research indicates that it's not just a matter of knowing what is happening in the classroom and reinforcing this at home, but it extends into an engagement with the broader aspects of school life. This sends the right messages to your child: that school is important; that (as parents) "we are interested in your school because it so important for your future."

Schools everywhere adopt a variety of strategies to encourage parent involvement at school. At St Joseph's School, we offer a range of opportunities including volunteering as classroom assistants, conducting reading groups, and assisting in the tuckshop or other fundraising ventures. Our school is enriched by every parent's contribution.

At our School, the Parents & Friends Association (P&F) is a group where parents/carers can engage with the school. I know we try to persuade attendance at monthly meetings by stating (almost mantra-like) "you won't get a job" – which is true. The P&F is not only an opportunity for parents/carers to contribute to the resourcing and strategic directions of the school; it is also a forum through which important information about the school's development (across P-12) is shared and discussed. Those who attend these meetings generally leave knowing something new about the school, whether it be around what teachers and support staff are focussing on in the classroom, the acquisition of new resources to support student learning, or something in relation to school improvement.

P&F Meetings are an opportunity for parents to question and enquire about areas of school life which impact on their child/ren. It is also a meeting where I (the Principal) regularly seek advice and feedback.

Prior to each meeting, the P&F Executive make an effort to publish the agenda in advance so parents/carers know what is going to be discussed. We know in the midst of busy family life it is hard to find the time, but if you know something of interest to you is going to be discussed at the meeting, you are more likely to be motivated to attend.

If you want to be convinced how your involvement in school life –including regular attendance at the P&F Meetings – can impact on your child's achievement, have a read of Hara & Burke's (1998) study or take a look at the Australian Parents' Council summary for more information.

See you at the next P&F Meeting, 22 March at 7pm in the Library.

Dr Michael McCarthy
Principal

Leader's News

Much has been happening on the Secondary Campus in these past five weeks. It seems that there has been a hive of activity as Pastoral Care classes commit to fundraising for various causes, with Project Compassion a key focus in the liturgical season of Lent. Year 8 students have been selling ice blocks and Year 11 students' ham/salad rolls on a Wednesday lunch to raise funds for their selected causes. The role of the Pastoral Care classes in connecting with the local and wider community is an important part what we do and who we are at St Joseph's School.

On Friday last week Year 12 students and Mrs Judy Lee were able to pick Isabella grapes from the vine on the Secondary Campus. The five students, Matthew Green, Regan Sullivan, Lachlan Hendry, Natalie Cannavo and Julian Muirhead, with Mrs Lee did a fabulous job at picking and preparing the grapes to make beautiful jam.

The Queensland Independent Secondary School Netball team for 2016 was selected and we congratulate the players on their selection. The team, coached this year by Mrs Bernadette Brunkhorst has been refining their skills in the local YMCA competition, already having two draws in very closely contested matches. Fundraising has been hectic already with Giant Freddos being sold. The team thanks those who support their fundraising efforts as it assists with reducing the expense of the week long carnival. The QISSN titles will be held in Rockhampton during the first week of the June school holidays, along with the Confraternity Rugby League Titles.

INSERT QISSN Photo a –

The 2016 QISSN team: Left to Right
Caitlin Debnam, Lara-Jane Biggin, Alesha Westerhout, Maddison Murphy, Eve Perrett, Riley Harris, Georgia Harris, Riannon Fox and Jessica Westerhout.

Yesterday our junior netball team attended the Laura Geitz Cup at Downlands College. The team made up of enthusiastic Year 7, 8 and 9 players had a great day and had success, winning three games, drawing one and losing four. This was a great effort by the team. Thank you to Ms Taylor for preparing the team and coaching them in this carnival. The girls will continue to prepare for the Vicki Wilson Junior Cup to be held in Term 4.

Photo 1 : Laura Geitz Cup Team (rear) Charlotte Widderick, Hannah Debnam, Jenna Fox, Mya Perrett (front) Abby Nash, Sonya Perrrett, Geogia Harris, Hannah Thomas, Lara-Jane Biggin and Amelia McMenimen.

As students head towards the end of Term 1 students will be busy with various pieces of assessment that require completion. Students all have a copy of their Year Level's assessment calendar for the term and they are also available via the school website.

God Bless
Linda Perrett

School News

Year 1/2 News

What a fantastic start to the 2016 school year we have had in the Year 1/2 classroom. Everyone has settled in nicely and improvements in the students' work has become very evident During Religion the children have been learning about Jesus and it is wonderful to see so many children excited by the good deeds they are performing or seeing others do. In Science the children are learning about life cycles, we are very fortunate to have had some little creatures on our display table for the children to continually observe. The enthusiasm the children are showing is brilliant! History lessons are allowing us to learn about things from the past. Thank you to everyone who sent in some olden day objects for the children to look at, it is fantastic to have these things in the room. During Mathematics the children are really enjoying incorporating a lot of different learning strategies to improve their mathematical abilities. Whether it be working on the smartboard, hands on manipulatives, book work, small group work, year level groups or whole class activities, everyone is showing that they are capable of enjoying and achieving in Maths. English time has allowed for continual development of all skills. The children are enjoying learning about animals and writing information reports on these animals. Reading groups are going really well and we are so grateful for all the wonderful parents who are able to come in and support our reading groups. The children enjoy working with each of the parents who have kindly been able to volunteer in our classroom. We are also very appreciative to have this support. There were a number of parents who assisted with our swimming lessons, who made our swim and survival lessons so much more beneficial for all children, your help was totally appreciated.

Thank you Kayelene O'Dea and Bernadette Brunckhorst.

Year 9 News

In the first term of 2016, Year 9 has kicked off to a fantastic start. Students have devoted valuable service time to Meals on Wheels in the community of Stanthorpe. Through this service Year 9 students have developed a greater understanding of the need to help and dedicate time to people that are elderly in the community. Developing leadership skills has also been on the agenda through helping the younger students of St Joseph's School in Year 3/4 with swimming lessons. Students have enjoyed the opportunity to strengthen the bonds between Primary and Secondary Campuses. These service activities have been a wonderful opportunity for this Year level and they have proven that there is no activity that is too difficult for them to master. With more great activities being planned in the year ahead Grade Nine will continue to put an incredible effort into their service activities.

By Jessica Carpenter Year Nine

ANNUAL PRIORITIES

Each year, the School devises Annual Priorities which all staff work towards achieving or focusing on in the year ahead. These annual priorities arise out of our Strategic Plan (2012-2016) and focused on goals and targets in relation to improving student outcomes. The 2016 Annual Priorities – presented at the most recent P& Meeting - are detailed below.

PRIORITY 1

By the end of Term 1 2016 Teachers will have developed Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) through the continuation of pedagogical conversations through peer observations, peer collaboration focusing on planning for success and the design of quality, rigorous assessment so that teaching and learning explicitly targets key skills, inquiry processes, and opportunities for critical, creative and insightful thinking.

PRIORITY 2

Primary Campus

• By the end of Term 1, all students in Years 1-6 will be participating in the Spelling Mastery program so that improvement in spelling is discernible in school-based assessment, diagnostic tests and NAPLAN.

Secondary Campus

• By the end of Semester 1 2016 Years 7-10 Mathematics teachers will focus on the development of assessment tasks which allow students to demonstrate complex thinking through problem-solving so that students improve their performance across a variety of assessment instruments.

PRIORITY 3

By the beginning of 2016, teachers will focus on the meaning of being a teacher in the Catholic school so that we can continue to strengthen the Catholic culture and identity of the school.

A review of the School's performance in relation to the Strategic Directions (2012-2016) will be undertaken with a view to devising our strategic directions for the next 5 years (2017-2021). This will be a consultative process involving staff, parents (through the School Board and P&F) and students.

Budding Ballet Star

Huge congratulations to Year 2 student, Finn McCarthy, who has been invited by The Queensland Ballet to perform with them as a Guest Dancer in their next production, 'A Midsummer Night's Dream.' Finn will dance with the company on the Playhouse Stage at The Queensland Performing Arts Complex in April. We are sure this will be a wonderful learning opportunity - Chookas Finn!

Finn currently studies Ballet, Tap and Jazz dance classes with The Ritz Performing Arts School in the newly refurbished 'Bathersby Centre' drama and dance space. Dr. McCarthy commissioned the space as a drama/dance studio in 2015 and students from both the primary and secondary campuses will have access to the developing Arts Program at St. Joseph's School.

Miss Rhonda Binnie, Principal for The Ritz, will provide dance opportunities for our students over the coming months while many students in Year 7 and 8 are already enjoying the new Drama curriculum introduced in 2016.

The Senior English Program has also been updated to include the unit 'Stage Stories' which will expose students to stage plays, musical theatre and ballet as an alternative medium for story-telling. As part of this unit, the Year 11 English students are accompanying our Year 1 and 2 students and the Year 7 and 8 Drama students to the Empire Theatre's production of 'The 52 Story Treehouse' in Term 2.

SLAVERY FREE CHOCOLATE

In 2015 Pope Francis said that "every person ought to have the awareness that purchasing is always a moral – and not simply an economic – act."

Are you buying Slavery-free Easter Chocolate?

Are you buying and eating, or giving away Easter chocolate this year? Are your Easter eggs ethical?

In West Africa it is estimated that there are 1.5 million children working in the cocoa sector who may have been enslaved and who are working in exploitative conditions. Much of the chocolate we consume in Australia is made with cocoa beans picked by these children.

ACTION: Go the ACRATH website: acrath.org.au to find out more. Spread the word about slavery-free Easter chocolate and enjoy chocolate that is ethical! Slavery-free chocolate carries any of the following labels on the wrapper.

Mrs Megan Mahoney

Library News

BOOK FAIR!

Our first Book Fair for the year will take place in Week Eight, commencing on Monday 14th March and will located in the library.

Students will have an opportunity to browse titles and fill out their wish lists the week before the Fair.

Selling takes place before and after school.

The Fair will provide a wonderful opportunity to grab some quality books for your shelves at home.

All are welcome to come on in, browse and soak up the exciting atmosphere that our Book Fairs always generate. For further information, please contact the school library.

Lesley Grant
Teacher-Librarian

Mini Vinnies

Congratulations to the 2016 Mini Vinnies committee. President: Isabel Kay

Vice President: Cydney McErvale
Secretary: Georgette Forbes
Assistant Secretary: Hamish Alldridge
Treasurer: Kira St John
Assistant Treasurer: Thomas Gleeson

Mini Vinnies Committee: Caitlyn Ellis, Josh Carlson, Alyssa Gasparin, Taylah Organ, Taryn McCosker, Jack Spencer, Bindi McIntyre and Jessica Thomas.

P & F News

Well the P&F have hit the ground running once again this year with our dedicated volunteers running the Can Bar at the Annual Show. A big thank you to Dave Fleming and all of our volunteers that helped out on the weekend, it couldn't be done without all of your support. Next on our very busy agenda is the Apple & Grape Ball bar this weekend. Once again we have a dedicated band of helpers to make it all happen.

Our Annual General meeting was held last Thursday night and we had a change in the Executive Committee, with outgoing Secretary Nat Raccanello and Vice President Jo Fox. I would like to thank them both very much for their support and dedication they have shown while being involved with the P&F.

This year the Committee consists of the following people:

President: Peter Alldridge
Vice President: Dan O'Dea
Treasurer: Jodie Cosmo
Secretary: Deb Wheatley

Congratulations to all selected this year and thank you to all that attended the meeting once again. I look forward to another very successful year with our wonderful school and hope to see you all throughout the year.

Remember, if you want your say with anything to do with the P&F or want to see some of the wonderful projects we are involved in around the school, please feel free to come along to one of our monthly meetings, or contact me at any time.

Thank you

Peter Alldridge