16 June 2017

Newsletter Articles

Message From The Principal

When does size matter?

As Semester 1 comes to an end our Year 12’s are becoming enlivened by the prospect of their final months of senior schooling. At the same time Year 10’s start to consider the subjects that they may study in their senior years. In the past seven years St Joseph’s School have offered over 25 senior subjects to Year 12 groups ranging in number from 18 to 30 students. This year there are 18 subjects being offered to our Year 12 cohort.

The question continues to arise each year, ‘when does size matter?’ and ‘will a small class disadvantage my child?’ The answer to this is supported by research that clearly indicates that small schools can and do outperform larger schools.

“Smaller schools are generally better for most purposes in education. Many studies conducted (during the past 20 years) have found that small schools, have a positive effect upon student achievement, extra-curricular participation, student satisfaction, student behaviour and attendance”.

Small Schools and Education Outcomes, Trevor Cobbold July 2011

Dr Judy Smeed, Professor at Queensland University of Technology, has worked in past years to generate a TAMI (Tracking and Academic Measurement Index), which scores schools out of 400 based on the percentage of students who were: OP eligible between 1-15, gained a Queensland Certificate of Education, earned qualifications (including traineeships and vocational education and training) and Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre offers.

St Joseph’s School Year 12’s outcomes from 2015 gave us a TAMI of 392, one of the highest in our region. Each school (public, independent and private) is also given a rating in relation to the number of students obtaining a 1 – 15 for their Overall Position (OP). Last year’s group of Year 12 obtained a ranking of 1. St Joseph’s School was the only Catholic school with a ranking of 1 in Queensland and the only school from the Toowoomba area with this ranking.

When we consider ‘does size matter?’ for our school, size is no hurdle when it comes to students obtaining their best outcomes. Our staff are committed to the education of students with Jesus Christ at the centre of our core business. While curriculum breadth is espoused as an advantage of larger secondary schools, depth in learning is seen as more important at St Joseph’s and we truly prove that this is achievable in small schools. There is no evidence that supports more subjects on offer equates to increases in student achievement.

So next time it is suggested that our school is too small for a child to have success in Year 12, remind yourself that no other schools in our regional area has performed as well as us over the years. Well done students of 2015, you have confirmed that our school is the place to be for your senior years of schooling.

God’s richest blessings
Linda Perrett
Acting Principal

Mathematics, Science & Technology Department

Science:

Year 11&12 Chemistry – Our senior chemists, with the expert guidance of Mr. Barker, are conducting self-designed Extended Experimental Investigations focused on water purification. Following a field trip to the Water Treatment Plant earlier in the term, the students have been collecting data on a selected purification technique designed to improve water quality (to produce drinking or pool quality water).

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 designing & building a cubby house for the Prep students. After initial consultation with the Prep students, the ITS class has commenced production, with the hope for installation of the cubby house to occur outside the prep room in term 3. This will form part of a landscaping re-development project these students with undertake across semester 2. The senior ITS students have been treated to some exceptional afternoon teas, with the prep’s visiting to feed the hungry workers.

Agricultural Science:

Year 8 Agricultural Science – This term students are investigating germination on plants, and different factors that affect germination rates and growth. With Ms. Melton leading the way, the students have been prepping the newly constructed garden beds and have planted radishes to enable them to investigate aspects of agricultural practice.

Home Economics:

Year 9 Home Economics – Masterchefs!!! This was the mantra taken on by the Year 9 Home Economics students when they designed, cooked and served their culinary creations to a group of judges as part of their unit examining “Tastes of the World.” The judges were suitably impressed by the quality of the food prepared and this has been just reward for the hard work these students put into their food design.

Year 8 Home Economics – These students have engaged in textiles this term and have busily honed their skills to create bags using stitching techniques learned in class.

Mr. Matthew Brown
Head of Mathematics, Science & Technology

Primary Campus Academic Reports

At the end of Week 10 you will receive your child’s academic report for Semester One, reflecting their performance against the Australian Curriculum Achievement Standard for each subject. (Achievement standards can be found here Prep , Year 1 , Year 2 , Year 3 , Year 4 , Year 5 , Year 6). For your information, the grades awarded for each subject are can be interpreted in the following way:

The effort rating, learning habits and general comment offer information as to the skills and dispositions your child has demonstrated throughout Semester One. These may provide a starting point for a discussion relating to ‘the more you put in, the more you get out’. As teachers, we encourage the students to become more active participants in their learning rather than passive recipients, and to understand that having a growth mindset can allow you to reach for and attain goals….if you are prepared to put in the effort.

However, it is also important to remember that an academic report is only one way to measure the ‘success’ of a semester and in some respects it may be seen as limited. To name just a few things, each and every child on the Primary Campus this year has experienced academic highs and lows, learned about how to negotiate and renegotiate friendships, has grown in their spiritual understanding of what it means to be a student at a Catholic school, has felt compassion in regards to the plight of others and acted to do something about it, felt frustration when aspects of a subject seemed too complex to understand and demonstrated resilience in order to overcome those problems. Students have overcome fears and apprehension to perform at the Border District Eisteddfod and some have persevered with learning musical instruments. Educating students for life in the 21st century is more than imparting knowledge; it is about being a creative thinker, a problem solver, having good communication skills, being resilient, establishing respectful relationships and having a strength of character to stand up for what they believe to name but a few things.

If, after reflecting on your child’s report, you wish to discuss the contents with the teacher, please contact them to make an appointment.

Prizes on offer at Back to the 80s Musical

School musicals always require dedication, time and effort from all those involved to ensure its success. Many hours of rehearsing and planning go into delivering the best performances for both nights. To add a bit of extra fun and entertainment to “Back to the 80s” musical, patrons are invited to come along dressed in their favourite 1980s outfit. A guest judge will be on the lookout for the best dressed adult and the best dressed child at both performances with a prize being awarded to the lucky winners.

To continue the winning vibe, a raffle will be available for $1 a ticket for both evening performances. On Friday night, one lucky patron attending will take home a $60 Anna’s voucher kindly donated by Don and Tina Pompetti. On Saturday night, another lucky patron will win a $50 QCWT voucher kindly donated by the Wine College.

It must be acknowledged that hosting musicals for St Joseph’s School is not about raising funds for the school. Musicals are a showcase of the student’s talents and recognizing what they can achieve. It is the culmination of the commitment and enthusiasm from staff, students and volunteer parents who band together in supporting such projects.

Save the date and coming along to the St Joseph’s musical, “Back to the 80s” on Friday 21st July and Saturday 22nd July. The musical will be held at the Civic Centre with tickets available from the school office which is open 8am-4pm, Monday to Friday. Please note that the School Office will be closed 26 June until 7 July due to the winter holidays. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for secondary students, $5 for primary students and $10 for concession holders.

Free Music Lessons for Secondary

Do you have a student that is interested in music?

Aaron Buchanan is offering students Year 7 – Year 12 the opportunity to learn an instrument in Semester 2. Instruments will be provided and do not attract a hire fee. Students will be expected to commit to practices, rehearsals, lessons and performances with the Instrumental Ensemble.

Instruments being offered are : Trombone, Tuba, Bass Clarinet, Alto Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone and Euphonium.

Visitor’s Procedures

Please be aware of the schools Visitor and Early Departure Procedures.

• All visitor’s to the school between the hours of 8:40am and 3:00 pm (including reading group and tuckshop volunteers) must sign the visitors register in administration and collect a visitors badge.

Please Note – For Student Protection as well as for the school to adhere to Fire and Evacuation procedures, under no circumstances are parents to be on school grounds during school hours without having signed in at Administration.

Early Departure/Leave Pass

• All students, Prep to Year 12, are required to bring a note signed by a parent to Administration BEFORE the start of school to get a Leave Pass.
• Leave Pass’s should be presented to their classroom teacher or, for Secondary, the classroom teacher of the lesson they will be in when required to leave.
• All students must then sign out at the office.
• Note – Due to the schools Duty of Care, students from Prep to Year 11 will not be allowed to leave school premises without a guardian/parent to pick them up.
• When returning to school students must sign back in at Administration.

LOTE NEWS

Firstly, congratulations go to the ten LOTE students who performed admirably at Eisteddfod. St. Joseph’s received a First for Choral Poem, and a First for an Individual Poem. Once again, Severnlea State School brought a high standard of competition.

The Eisteddfod was a great experience. In addition, we enjoyed seeing and hearing the Stanthorpe State High School Secondary LOTE students perform skits, songs and poems.

My thanks go to Mrs L Andersen and Mrs A Reimers, for once again organising an excellent event, and to Ms. F Fasan, for her professional adjudication.

A special thanks also to parents and students, for all the practice. It means we can attend Eisteddfod and compete well.

Eisteddfod Results

Congratulations to all of our St Joseph’s students who took part in the Border District Eisteddfod. Students showed themselves to be a whirlwind of talent, placing in a number of categories including Dance, Singing, Drama and Individual Recitation as well as winning Aggregate Trophies.

Special mention to Year 5/6 B Highly Commended, Year 5/6 F – Margret Osbourne Encouragement Award, Year 5/6 CG Mary McLucas Choral Speaking and Year 1/2OB Betty Paine Award for Tiny Tots Choral Speaking and the Italian Choral speaking Year 3-6.