3 March 2017

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s News

Dear Parents and Caregivers

As a Catholic Community we have started the season the Lent. It is the forty day preparation for the Celebration of Easter. It is the time when we as Christians concentrate on three things – prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

Last Sunday the School Student Leaders accompanied by Mrs Mahoney, Mrs Perrett and myself represented the school at the launch of this year’s Caritas Project Compassion Appeal. Our student leaders as well as representatives from other Catholic Schools in the Diocese were commissioned by Bishop Robert to undertake leading their communities in this most worthy cause of almsgiving.

I have seen first-hand the wonderful work that Caritas does in building the capacity of communities especially in places like Vietnam, the Philippines and Sri Lanka to break the poverty cycle. This year the theme of Project Compassion is ‘Love thy Neighbour’.

Below is a link to the summary of the six projects that are part of this year’s focus. As a community let us challenge ourselves to not only supporting this worthy cause financially but also pray for our brothers and sisters around the world. The adage that ‘the earth has become a global village’ places even more importance on the Gospel of Matthew where Jesus invites us to Love thy Neighbour as ourselves.

Last week, the school had a visit our Federal Member David Littleproud. David took time to speak with our year 12s sharing insight into our country’s democratic record, Federal Parliament and the workings of Canberra. He also responded to questions from the floor and was impressed by the level of discussion by our seniors. One of David’s key messages was to remind our students that we do live in a peaceful country who do use democratic processes to run our country. Many people around the world don’t get that option.

On Monday evening three of our students competed in the Lions Youth of the Year contest. We congratulate Justin Carter, BJ Perrett and Emily Thomas for their efforts. Emily was awarded best prepared speech on the evening. Thanks also goes to Mr Joe Shorter who coordinated and supported these students.

Last week Parents and Caregivers were issued with term fees via email or letter. If you did not receive your invoice please notify the office asap. At St Joseph’s we aim to offer the best available teaching and learning experiences, resources and facilities for our students. So that we meet our loan commitments and general running costs, the paying of fees and levies is essential by all families associated with the school. If you have any concerns in this regard please contact the School Bursar.

In this week’s newsletter you will read of the wonderful activities around the school like Mini Vinnies, Mercy awards and Awareness raising. A reminder that our Facebook page has we have regularly posts of the happenings around the school.

God’s Blessings

Phillip McGreevy
Principal

School News

Prep News

The Prep class of 2017 has already made itself very much at home. The children have settled in quickly to their new routine embracing the opportunities to work and play, both indoors and out, to explore their environments and to engage collaboratively with their peers. They are working on early literacy and numeracy skills, developing a love of reading and a great wonder of the world around them. Our days are very busy with so many new routines…library visits, phys ed, music, Italian, All About Me and so much more! We have even begun to garden and expect to be able to provide the tuckshop with some fresh produce. Congratulations and thanks to parents for all the early support we have been shown and your attention to requirements. A terrific start all round.

Project Compassion

On Sunday, 26th February, the six school leaders travelled to Toowoomba with Mrs Mahoney, Mr McGreevy, and Mrs Perrett to participate in the Project Compassion Launch at St Patrick’s Cathedral. Bishop McGuckin shared a message of living virtuously and living for ‘one master’, being fully concentrated on God. Caritas Representative, Lynda Mussell, highlighted the importance of ‘loving our neighbour.’ Two leaders from each Diocesan school were commissioned as Project Compassion leaders for 2017. They were gifted a candle to symbolise the light of Christ as a reminder of the mission to be light for others.

Megan Kay

Mini Vinnies Induction

This year sees one of the largest groups of students inducted into the Primary Mini Vinnies Committee. The students have already held their first fundraiser of the year last Friday with the quarterly held Hamburger Day.

MINI VINNIES COMMITTEE 2017

Taylah Organ (President)
Eloise Knight (Vice President)
Taryn McCosker (Secretary)
Eliza Telfer (A/Secretary)
Hannah Widderick (Treasurer)
Jack Spencer (A/Treasurer)

YEAR 6

Amelie Gesch, Bindi McIntyre, Jessica Thomas, Chelsea Debnam, Billy Webb, Hayley Danzey.

YEAR 5

Rylee Vedelago, Molly Koek, Annie McCosker, Clancy Moncada, Brigid O’Dea, Claire Williamson, Callan Grace.

Camo Free Dress Day

Students from Year 7-12 of St Joseph’s School were encouraged to dress in their finest camo gear to help fundraise for the Veterans Care Association. This Association is a Brisbane based not for profit organisation who help the holistic care of members of the defense force, particularly those suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. To raise funds for this worthy cause students paid a gold coin donation for free dress and after school competed in a water balloon dodgeball competition. Year 12 students also prepared chicken fillet burgers at lunch to help with fundraising efforts. Overall a whopping $500 was raised to assist with the care of veterans. Organiser Jessica Westerhout, said that Respect was her focus as a Mercy value and that the day had surely supported this and been “a great success”. “Even though there were a few bruises from the water balloon dodgeball, especially after girls and boys were faced against each other, all students came off the field with smiles on their faces” said Jessica. The day was a great success as the first project to be completed by one of the Student Leadership tem, Jessica said “an immense thank you to all the students and staff who gave up their time to help and I can confidently say that the veterans will appreciate the hard work as well”. If you would like find out more about the Veteran’s Care Association, see below.

Jess Westerhout – Prefect St Joseph’s School

YEAR 7 – HISTORY IN THE MAKING

Year 7 History students have hurtled headlong into the semester with a hands on approach to the Ancient World. Studying the first evidence of human settlement, they have been busy cave painting by torchlight, à la the Lascaux cave paintings, and writing cuneiform script on clay tablets like the Ancient Mesopotamians.

‘We are making history’ – Josh Carlson

‘We’ve been learning about the Ancient World by doing art experiments with cave painting and script writing’ – Lachlan Bray

‘We made ancient tablets’ – Jack Bell

Humanities report

The Humanities department has made an exciting start to the year, with a number of innovative projects and learning opportunities now underway.

As a new focus this year, the school has expanded its offerings in the area of digital technologies. A Year 8 IT elective has been offered for the first time, and this term students are working to construct and program a small robot, using the Lego Mindstorms system. The students have considered the ways in which robots are used in real-life situations, by responding to the challenge of designing a rescue robot capable of navigating a maze of obstacles in order to retrieve a small object at the end of the trail. The students are finding the task enjoyable, and an engaging means of exploring creative solutions to the programming and design limitations they encounter along the way.

In Year 10, students have also commenced studies in a new course: Project Based Learning (PBL). PBL is an opportunity for students to develop a number of essential skills which will serve them well in their future work and study lives, including project management, research, collaboration and creative thinking. This semester, students are working in groups to develop and manage their own project responses to the question: "How can I enhance the lives of people within my school community?". A number of innovative solutions to this question have already emerged, with groups fashioning a diverse range of ideas that require them to develop skills in everything from programming and coding, to fashion, design and photography. As a semester-long task, the Year 10s are looking forward to producing a substantial response to this question, which they will have the opportunity to share with the school community upon its completion.

In other subject areas, students are continuing to be challenged by the variety and rigour offered by the Humanities curriculum. In the English classroom, St Joseph's has established a strong emphasis on the value of reading. Years 7 and 8 students all undertake a library lesson in addition to their normal English classes, and students produce regular book reviews which provide them with the opportunity to reflect on their reading, and to share their discoveries with their peers and teacher. This emphasis on reading is reinforced in Year 8 by our "My Life in Literature" unit, where the students are asked to consider the stories which have been part of their own lives, and the ways in which books, beyond providing us with a means of entertainment and escape, also allow us to connect with our friends and family members. For many of us, after all, one of our earliest significant memories is sharing a beloved picture book or story with a parent or grandparent, around the precious nightly ritual of being tucked into bed!

Exploring topics as far-ranging as ancient societies and civilisations in History, to considering questions of liveability in Geography, the Humanities department is continuing to challenge students to view the world they live in critically, and exciting them with opportunities to develop and deepen their understanding of their own place as citizens of the twenty-first century.

Reminders and Updates

Medication Procedures

Due to a review by Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office in 2016, amendments have been made to school procedures regarding the administering of Panadol and medications by first aid staff.

In cases where students require prescribed medications issued by a medical practitioner, such as antibiotics, written authorisation from a parent or caregiver must be supplied to Administration as well as the accompanying medications with pharmacy prescription label affixed.

However, due to the nature of Panadol, Nurofen and other pain killers that can be bought over the counter, a directive from the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office states that the school is not permitted to distribute or administer these medications to students, primary or secondary without authorisation from a medical practitioner. If your child should require over the counter medication ie. Panadol, we request parents come to the school to administer this. A discussion at that point would also be undertaken as to whether your child is well enough to remain at school.

If you require further clarification, please contact the School office on 4681 5900 or email stanthorpe@twb.catholic.edu.au.

Sport News

On Sunday the 26th of February a team of girls from Year 7 and 8 travelled to Toowoomba to compete in the Laura Geitz cup netball competition. The girls played 8 games, playing well and hard. Drawing two games: 2-2 and 5-5.

Congratulations to St Joseph’s Granite Belt Swimmers