17 February 2017

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s News

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

As we settle into the school year here at St Joseph’s I am amazed by the range and depth of experiences that are available to students across the school. For a school of just 400 students St Joseph’s not only provides excellent educational opportunities but also many and varied extra-curricular activities.

Over the past two weeks students have had success in Border District trials, the Stanthorpe Show and we started our primary sports afternoons. Our Year 10 and 12s have had the opportunity to depth their sense of spirituality and share in reflections days, Our German club started last Monday available after school classes in conversational German. Our intra-school Fustal competition is in full swing and Homework club started on Tuesday and we had good roll up of students and staff eager to share in their learning. I sincerely would like to thank the staff and students who have led and coordinated these activities and congratulate the students involved and wish them good luck in future competitions and activities.

The School continues to provide excellence in Teaching and Learning. Staff have been engaging in a number of in-service opportunities over the past and coming weeks especially in both literacy and numeracy. A number of secondary staff have also been involved in District Monitoring Panels of Yr 11 work from last year. The provision of quality in-service enables staff to provide excellent up to date teaching and assessment methods for our students.

Prior to school commencing, all staff undertook mandatory training in Code of Conduct and Student Protection. Last week a number of staff undertook annual training a specific Student Protection Officers. The following staff are our designated Student Protection Officers for 2017:-

Mrs Sarah Yates - Assistant Principal (Primary)
Mrs Cathy Mills –Counsellor
Mrs Sandra Ellis – Head of Pastoral Care (Secondary)
Mr Phillip McGreevy - Principal

God’s Blessings

Phillip McGreevy
Principal

Leader’s News

Opening Mass

“You are the salt of the Earth and light for the world”

Our opening school mass was the foundation for introducing our theme for 2017 – “You are the salt of the Earth and light for the world”. Throughout 2017 our words, interactions and deeds will provide the catalyst to enable our students to understand that charity and solidarity are keys to restoring balance in our world; that no matter how small we may consider an action to be, we are a witness to continue Christ’s teachings; that together we can make a difference.

Our opening mass also saw the induction of our sports captains and school leaders who pledged to commit themselves to their duties, carrying these out with a spirit of competence, conscience, compassion and service.

Strategic Plan

At the end of 2016 the Executive Leadership Team worked on the school’s Strategic Plan for the next five years. Within Catholic Identity one of the goals is to establish a shared understanding of Catholic life in the context of Catholic education enabling our students from Prep to 12 to recognise the Catholic identity of the school and its positive aspects. Our aim is to ensure that, through liturgy, retreats, pastoral care, religious education and community and parish activities, students will come to understand that we are a Catholic School and their role in belonging to a Catholic community.

Az Hamilton – Just Motivation

Our Year 10 and 12 cohorts had the opportunity to participate in a retreat day with Just Motivation speaker and founder Az Hamilton. Az’s mission is simple; “to challenge the hearts and attitudes of young people across the country” and develop within them a sense of thankfulness, vision and purpose, encouraging them to follow their passions and make a real difference in the world.

School News

Year 8’s Selling Hotdogs

On the 8th of February, the Davadi Year 8 Pastoral Care class sold hotdogs in order to raise funds for a cover on the child's pool at the Stanthorpe Pool. The sales were very successful. During the colder months, the heater can't function due to the cooler weather as the cold temperature wafts into the pool. This cover will prevent this. It is important for younger children in the community to learn to be confident and water safe throughout their childhood and the rest of their life. The Year 8 McAuley Pastoral Care Class will continue selling hotdogs to continue achieving our goal of being able to buy this amazing feature for the pool. They will be sold on the 15th of February for $4 each.

The following letter was received from our Bishop Robert McGuckin concerning the final three weeks for the Catholic Church which began on last Monday 6th February, at the Royal Commission into Institutional Response to Child Sexual Abuse.

Year One and Two News

Year 1M is starting to settle into the routine of school quickly.

We have been working hard and making new friends. We have been learning lots of maths, science and religion.

Students have commented on what they like about Year 1 –

Lawrence Carmichael – I have enjoyed learning about the life cycle of a plant.
Eva Day – What I like about Year One is that we have reading groups and do activities.
Alex Stefanon – I love Year One because I get to do really hard work.
Ruby Danzey – It’s fun when we get to go to music lessons.

All the students in Year 1, 1/2 and 2 have settled into the 2017 school year. The year is already shaping up to be a busy but rewarding one. Some highlights so far –

Nathaniel Christopher (Grade 2) – I like doing art so much. I really like painting on a canvas.
Isaak Brown (Grade 1) – In science we are learning about life cycles. We have done bees, butterflies, lizards and the Tasmanian devil.
Sophia Mills (Grade 2) – I like reading because it will help me learn how to read bigger books. I want to learn to read Harry Potter like my sister.
Kirrili Chin (Grade 1) – I like to do handwriting because I enjoy writing things.

Mrs Glenda McNichol

Our days are full and busy in Year 2. We start our day with Brain Gym and sometimes Go Noodle to make sure we are ready to learn. We are enjoying using the interactive whiteboard with our iMaths and Matific programs. They make learning fun and everyone can practice on the whiteboard. We use these as a whole class and during rotations. We have started our reading groups to help us become confident and fluent readers. Journal writing is popular, as is sharing our show and tell from the rostered topics. Science is investigating mixtures and in Religion we are looking at Jesus.

Mrs Nardia Stanford

SCHOOL DRIVE SUSBSIDY NSW

If you live a long way from public transport and need to drive a student to a public transport pickup point or to school, you may be able to get financial assistance.

The School Drive Subsidy provides eligible parents and guardians twice-yearly payments to help cover some of the expenses of getting children to school.

To find out if you’re eligible, and to apply online, visit

Stanthorpe Show Winners

With great pride St Joseph’s would like to congratulate our Stanthorpe Show entrants and winners. Students from Prep to Year 6 took time last week both in school and out to complete artworks and home crafts to enter into the show, with many students bringing home prizes in both categories. A special mention to Siena Zanatta who took home Show Champion and the Most Unique Artwork award; and to Charlie McCormick and Shania Politch who placed First, and Imogen Rossow who placed second in their age groups for their creative efforts.

German Club

The St Joseph’s German Language Club held its first after-school meeting last Monday with great success due to a larger than predicted turnout. St Joseph’s students, staff and parents, both experts and beginners, met on campus to banter, laugh and hold conversations in the German Language. Spearheaded by Teacher Mrs Donna Gerster the club is just one of many extra-curricular clubs that will be taking place at St Joseph’s this year. Learning a second language has many benefits such as boosting brainpower; including multitasking, memory and decision-making, improving English and general ability across all subjects. “Living in a multicultural town like Stanthorpe, it’s useful to have a few foreign words on hand” said Mrs Gerster.

Congratulations Last Weeks Mercy Awards

Sports News

Border District Team

OPEN TOUCH

BOYS

Jacob Adams
Lachlan Swan

U15 TOUCH

BOYS

Nathan
Webb

GIRLS

15 Years

Natasha Brierly
Amelia McMeniman

CRICKET

14 Years

Neil
Perrett

St Joseph’s Secondary Border District Reps

Congratulations to Jordan Waterworth and Luke Gasparin who at the Granite Belt trials for Basketball made Darling Downs regional Trials that will be held in March.

SWIMMING CARNIVAL RESULTS

Records 2017

Champion House: McAuley
Spirit Trophy: Davadi

Swimming Results – Granite Belt 10 to 12 Years

Last Wednesday 8th February, St Joseph’s Students joined those in the surrounding district to compete for qualification into the Darling Downs Swimming Competition. Students from Primary and Year 7 did extremely well with seven students qualifying.

Darling Downs Qualifiers

Billy Webb. Jacob Hennoste, William Kay, Isaac Kay, Darcy Daddow, Caitlyn Hennoste and Ashley O’Brien

Other spectacular results:

Hannah Widderick 2nd Breastroke
Eliza Telfer 3rd Breastroke
Jordan Waterworth 2nd Backstroke and Freestyle, 3rd Butterfly
Billy Webb 1st all strokes
Brigid O’Dea 3rd Backstroke
Lachie McNichol 3rd Freestyle
Jack O’Brien 2nd Backstroke
Felicity Dachs 2nd Freestyle and Backstroke, 3rd Breastroke
Alex Waterworth – 1st Backstroke and Breastroke and 2nd Freestyle
Heidi Favaro – 2nd Backstroke
Eliza Bonner 1st Breastroke and Freestyle
Jack Brown 1st Butterfly and Freestyle 2nd Backstroke and Breastroke
Dakota Burton 3rd Backstroke
Imogen Rossow 2nd Backstroke
William Kay 1st all strokes
Isaac Kay 2nd all strokes
Darcy Daddow 3rd Freestyle
Jacob Hennoste 3rd Freestyle
Caitlyn Hennoste 3rd Freestyle and Butterfly 2nd Backstroke
Ashley O’Brien 2nd Freestyle and Butterfly 3rd Backstroke

Reminders and Updates