17 March 2017

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s News

Dear Parents and Caregivers

Week 8 of term 1 is almost over. How has this term flying by…….

Over the course of this coming weekend we celebrate two special Feast Days that of St Patrick and then the School’s Patron St Joseph. As a second generation Irishman, St Patrick’s Day is a special day in the life of my family. Both of my grandfathers set sail to Australia as part of the Irish diaspora in the early 1900s risking a new life beyond the poverty of Ireland at the time. The contribution of Irish culture to modern Australia is very significant not only in commerce and politics. It would be right to say that the majority of Catholic Education in Australia has been founded by Irish priests, nuns and brothers. Our very own Mercy tradition here at St Joseph’s being founded by Catherine MacAuley.

On Sunday we celebrate St Joseph’s Day. Over the years I continue to have a growing appreciation of him as a key figure in the Catholic tradition. Though we do not have extensive scriptural background to St Joseph it is evident that he was a traveller, at one point a refugee, he was protective, giving and discerned the call and role that God had in mind for him. During the week you have received notification via Parent Paperwork that this weekend in the parish church we will have a number of displays about St Joseph that have been prepared by our students and teachers. So I invite you to come along to see the fine work produced by our school community and join other parishioners in the celebration of Eucharist especially at 8.30am Mass.Last Tuesday and Wednesday albeit under heavy skies, our year 11 and 12 Geography students went on a field trip to the Gold Coast as of part their coursework. Highlights included working with Griffith University and visiting Q1 observation deck.

Our Year 10s travelled on Wednesday to Toowoomba TAFE to a ‘Try a Trade Day’. Such days will assist our students to start thinking about their pathways here at St Joseph’s in 2018 and 2019.

Our Year 5s and 6s head off to their Camp at Noosa North Shore next Monday and I look to catching up with them on Tuesday.

I would like to thank all staff who have organised and prepared these activities. St Joseph’s really is a great place to grow and learn as a young person. You wouldn’t go anywhere else!

Phillip McGreevy
Principal

School News

APRE NEWS

Article Primary News

Teachers often talk about creating ‘rich learning experiences’. By this we do not mean filling in pages in a text book - although such activities do have their place and a role to play in consolidating facts and skills. A rich learning experience would be one where there is a tangible outcome or product, where skills such as problem solving, negotiating and creative thinking have played a part and where many curriculum areas have come together. As adults, we recognise that such experiences happen frequently in our lives from completing renovation projects around the home, to planning an overseas holiday to buying a new car.

Over the past few weeks the Prep students have been researching different designs of cubby houses and having done this, they then drew their ‘ideal’ cubby house. The imagination and creativity they used in their designs was incredible, whilst keeping in mind that the cubby had to be suitable for the Prep garden area. They discussed suitable materials for strength, design features for stability and of course, the entertainment features – a chimney, a rock wall and a bridge to name few. These students have, since then, presented their designs to four Year 11 and 12 students who, as part of their curriculum, are going to build a cubby house for the garden utilising the design ideas. The Prep students will play an ongoing part as building commences in Term 2 by visiting the workshop on the Secondary Campus, journaling the developments of the cubby and through their ‘Chef of the Week’ program, cooking some yummy treats to sustain the builders!

What a wonderful opportunity for students across the school to work together. My thanks go to Mr Brown, Mr Way, Mrs Armstrong and all the students involved. I look forward to being able to update you throughout next term as the project gets underway.

Next week Year 5/6 students will be attending camp and Noosa North Shore. For many, this will be a time of great excitement whilst for others, the thought of being away from home for two nights can lead to some anxiety. In the Primary Newsletter last week I reflected on the need for students to become increasingly independent and resilient. These are two characteristics of successful learners and key factors in being able to deal with life situations in general. As adults, we have our part to play in helping them to develop these skills through modelling with our own actions, using appropriately positive language and allowing them to make mistakes and experience the consequences. I have no doubt that the students will have a very rewarding time at camp. They may on occasions be challenged to step outside that with which they are comfortable (as I was at camp last year!) but the camaraderie and support provided by their peers will motivate them. They will be expected to show leadership skills, to work together as teams, to solve problems and treat those around them with care, tolerance and respect. I am confident that they will return very tired but with many stories and I look forward to hearing them.

Mrs Sarah Yates
APA Primary

Secondary News

STUDY, STUDY, STUDY!!!

Next week Year 11 and 12 students will engage in the first exam block for 2017. The block consists of three days, Tuesday 21st March – study day and Wednesday 22nd and Thursday 23rd March – exams. Students are expected to be at school when their exams are scheduled, ensuring that they are in the relevant school uniform and have the required equipment to complete these exams. Students when not in exam are under the supervision of parents and guardians and are not expected to be at school. The study day provides an opportunity for students to further prepare for exams, or for some to do some very serious last minute study crunching!! A reminder that if a student isn’t able to sit an exam (during a block period) they will be required to present a medical certificate.

A few tips can help students be prepared for exams:

• Keep consistent note taking in classes so that your revision is ready to go when you need it!
• Manage your time to ensure that you complete assignments when exams are looming. This may mean that at times you need to be organized in relation to time management. .
• Have a space that you know that you can successful study at. This may be a desk or an area of the house that is simple and without distraction. In this area you may have visual cues to help recall key concepts and ideas or a mathematical formula and essay structure.
• Remember to have a good night’s sleep before your exams. This will help you focus. It is always good to have eaten as well so that you come to the exam with a ‘fueled up’ brain and body.
• Talk to others out aloud about your exams. It may help to explain a concept to a family member or a friend, this can help you understand the concept and embed it in your mind.

Year 12 students have been in preparation for the Queensland Core Skills Tests in the past two weeks. Students have been put through two practice tests – a Writing Task and a Multiple Choice Exam. Part of this preparation is a full day session on Monday 28th March with Chris and Bill Gilmore, from Gilmore Education Services. Chris and Bill have had a wealth of experience in the area of assessment and curriculum in Queensland for many years. Year 11 and 12 parents are also invited to attend a parent session with Chris and Bill on Monday evening from 6:30 pm. This will provide parents with an insight into the exams and how best to support their son or daughter with these exams.

Mrs Linda Perrett
APA Secondary

Mathematics, Science & Technology Department

The start to 2017 in the Mathematics, Science & Technology Department has been engaging, challenging and at times, chaotic, as students thrust themselves into the new school year. Across the different curriculum areas, students have engaged in a wide variety of innovative learning experiences, as they build the knowledge and skills to produce quality responses to the assessment. What follows is only a snapshot of the exciting projects being undertaken by the students:

Science:

Year 11&12 Biology – Our senior biologists, with the expert guidance of Mr. Carmichael, are conducting self-designed Extended Experimental Investigations focused on developing and proving a hypothesis that explores the connections between osmosis and cell membrane structure.

Design & Technology:

Year 11&12 ITS & Technology Studies – Our senior ITS students, led by Mr. Way, are currently engaging in a practical construction task where they are developing carpentry & cabinet making skills in the production of Dart Board cabinets. In senior Technology Studies, students are focusing on a design project centred around an individual need, and with the use of CAD, are producing 3D printed prototypes of their product designs.

Mathematics:

Year 7 Mathematics – The Year 7 Mathematics students are currently engaging with a Brain Training pilot program, under the eagle eye of our Head of Learning Enrichment Mrs. Muller and their teachers Mr. Barker and Mr Macnamara. The program is designed to build capacity in memory, recall and problem solving ability in numeracy problems.

Physical Education:

Year 10 Physical Education – In Year 10 Physical Education, students are exploring the use of game analysis as a tool to monitor player management in physical performance. With their teacher Mrs. Ellis, students are trialling the use of robotic camera technology to track player movement during touch football. In combination with Polar Data watches, that track GPS movement, Heart Rate intensity and speed, students are analysing the performance of fellow classmates in order to evaluate how different playing positions affects athletic performance and physical demand.

Home Economics:

Year 10 Home Economics– Our Year 10 Home Economics students are busily exploring the concept of “Superfoods” and the role these foods play in developing a healthy, balanced diet and the benefits associated with the complex nutrients provided. With Mrs Muller at the helm, the students have produced exciting “Superfood” recipes using the latest trendy foods, such as kale, chia and blueberries.

As the year progresses, more classes and year levels will be featured to continue to showcase the wonderful activities and engaging learning experiences the students are experiencing.

Mr. Matthew Brown
Head of Mathematics, Science & Technology

School Board

Catholic school boards are a key expression of the importance of partnerships, in particular parent participation within Catholic school communities. They provide invaluable support to principals in administration, policy issues and management of educational change.

Our school boards are voluntarily and have been established as consultative/advisory boards with the encouragement and support of Diocese of Toowoomba Catholic Schools.

The constitution of a local school board is designed to address the particular needs of the school.

At St Joseph’s our school board meets four times a year. The 2017 Board Members are:-

Chris Haynes-Chair
Megan Mahoney-Staff
Damian Grace-Parent
Kylie Wilson-Parent
Julie Kay-Parent
Angelina Sims-Parish
Fr Brian Connolly-Ex-Officio
Phillip McGreevy-Ex-Officio (Principal)

Back to the 80s will rock St Joseph’s School

St Joseph’s school is gearing up to take you on a journey. A journey back to a time when Michael Jackson and Rick Astley were the Kings of Pop. A journey back to a time when bubble skirts and blue eye shadow were super cool.

From the era that brought the world The Rubik's Cube and The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comes this "totally awesome" musical in the style of movies such as Back to the Future, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, The Karate Kid and The Wedding Singer.

Back To The 80's musical is set in America and tells the story of the senior class of William Ocean High School that graduated in the 1980's, as remembered and seen through the eyes of Corey Palmer, who is now 30-something.

Throw in some romance, drama, cassette tapes, Star Wars dream sequence, high-energy dance routines, the obligatory 80’s party scene, copious amounts of blue eye-shadow, twenty cans of hairspray, as well as some of the most popular songs ever written, and the result is a musical that will not only delight and amuse an audience of any age, but will also inspire any young cast.

The St Joseph’s musical will be held on Friday 21st July and Saturday 22nd July at the Bathersby Centre. Claim the date and join the cast who will portray students of William Ocean High School as they live through their final senior year - as they experience the fun, the heartbreak, the loves and the loneliness of growing up.

Sport News

Tuesday 7th March 2017 saw a number of St Joseph's Secondary School students travel to Toowoomba to participate in the Darling Downs Schools Under 19 Football trials (Soccer).

Trials were of a very high standard with approx. 50 plus boys trailing and approx. 30. plus girls.

The day consisted of technical drills and this was followed by a game where a group of possible and probables were decided. From here official teams were selected.

St Joseph's Secondary School students who attended the trails were Brody Pearce, Celeste Buda, Ally McLellan, Anika Spiller, Jared Hitchener and Hunter Murphy.

It is a privilege to play at this level and all students should be proud of the effort they put in to attending these trials as ambassadors for our school.

Anika Spiller was successful in gaining selection for the Under 19 Girls Darling Downs team and she will now attend the State Championships at Meakin Park Logan City from Thursday 25th to Sunday 28th May 2017. She will be representing St Joseph's Stanthorpe and is sure to do the school proud.

Well done to all students who attended and congratulations to Anika Spiller on her selection.