13 October 2017

Newsletter Articles

Message from the Principal

My word of the week is “leadership”.

On Wednesday I asked the secondary students to put their hands up if they considered themselves a leader. After much encouragement from myself, six students put their hands up – our current captains and prefects. To me that was a big surprise. Only six out of 160 students considered themselves a student leader!

What is leadership? Leadership is a collective, not singular, activity – everyone acting together for the common good. Leadership is not one person directing others or doing something to others so they do what he or she wants them to do. Leadership is about doing influential acts of encouragement, empowerment, support, facilitation and service. At the heart of leadership is service of others. It is not about “I”, it is about “we”.

As the Dali Lama has said, “If you seek enlightenment for yourself simply to enhance yourself and your position, you miss the purpose; if you seek enlightenment for yourself to enable you to serve others, you are with purpose.”

Jesus is the ideal example of a servant leader.

In my view, all students are leaders. Every student in his or her own way IS a leader in our school community. Every student has a responsibility to their peers and, in particular, those younger than them. Every student has the responsibility to serve others.

As the year comes quickly to an end, I thank the Year 12s for their strong, caring and positive leadership throughout the year. I look forward to our Year 11s stepping up as our Senior Leaders and showing their true leadership potential in 2018. The school looks forward to their servant leadership.

This week we started the process to appoint our elected student leaders for 2018. A number of Year 11 students have nominated and been interviewed for the positions of captain and prefect. Next week they will deliver a five-minute speech to the secondary school on what leadership means to them. The staff and students will then have the opportunity to vote on who they would prefer as their student leaders. I thank all those who have nominated for a position and those who are facilitating the process.

The key message, however, is that we encourage all students to be leaders across the school. Act together, support each other, serve those around you and your community.

Andrew Kendall
Acting Principal

School News

Primary News

Samsung Netball

On the first weekend of the holidays, a group of Year 4-6 students travelled to the Sunshine Coast to compete in the Samsung Primary School’s Cup. The competition consisted of 130 teams from across Queensland. The girls played extremely well to win two games from five on Saturday. This put them into Division 4 for the second half of the carnival. The girls played four games against some strong competition and finished with one draw. The team consisted of Hannah Widderick, Felicity Dachs, Taryn McCosker, Eliza Telfer, Eloise Knight, Kristy Bell, Brigid O’Dea, Rylee Vedelago, Claire Williamson and Sophie Brunckhorst. The girls demonstrated determination, teamwork and good sportsmanship throughout the weekend and developed their knowledge and skills of netball.

Thank you to Mrs Brunckhorst and Mrs O’Dea who coached the girls in the lead up to the competition and also to the parents who also travelled with the girls.

Year 6 Transition

This coming term will be filled with excitement – and perhaps a little apprehension – for our Year 6 students as they begin the more formal aspects of the transition process to their secondary schooling. This has already started with students from 5/6B working with Year 7 for one day this week. The feedback was extremely positive from the students, as they enjoyed the experience and the opportunity to work with different teachers and in different classrooms. The time spent in the Manual Arts area was a particular highlight for many. The other Year 6 students will have their Secondary School experience in the next two weeks.

Whilst many of them feel that they are more than ready to move, the change of routines and practices may prove to be a little overwhelming. By providing further opportunities for them to be involved with life on the Secondary Campus this term, we aim to facilitate a seamless transition that will enable them to ‘hit the ground running’ in 2018 and continue to grow as learners as citizens of the world, without the inevitable ‘lag’ that researchers believe exists when students move to a different school. This is one of the many benefits to the students of being in a Prep – Year 12 school and a relatively small school like St Joseph’s.

Special Congratulations

This week Katie-Lee Jansink from 3/4C competed with the Darling Downs team in an Athletics event held in Brisbane. She did extremely well in her first competition at this level, coming in 14th position. Congratulations to Katie and we look forward to seeing her compete again next year.

A Reminder

On Monday 16th October, the teachers across the Diocese will be involved in a professional development event and for Primary staff this will involve continuing to work on the Reading Improvement Strategy that will be fully implemented in 2018. Please be aware that this is a pupil-free day.

Teen Vinnies Lends a Hand

Last weekend saw several opportunities for Teen Vinnies to offer service to members of our parish and wider community. On Friday evening, members of the Teen Vinnies group assisted with badge making and lantern assembling at the annual Light the Night Leukaemia Fundraiser held on Quart Pot Creek. Students assisted the children in making badges to wear, as well as participating in the walk later that evening along the banks of Quart Pot Creek. With lanterns lit and a rising moon, students were able to appreciate the significance of this event for many in our community.

On Sunday morning members of the Teen Vinnies group were again able to offer their time and service to assist with the 90th Anniversary of the Knights of the Southern Cross, a group of Catholic laymen who serve the wider community and those in need. Students were responsible for setting the tables, preparing and serving meals, clearing and washing up, as well as packing up. It provided a wonderful opportunity for our members to provide assistance to members of our parish, and they received many compliments and gratitude for their participation and contribution to this event.

Our Teen Vinnies group continues to seek opportunities to serve and support the school and wider community. The next major event will be the annual Christmas Appeal. We look forward to once again, receiving a wonderful response as we help the needy during the festive season.

Megan Mahoney

Reporting Absentees and Late Arrivals

Absentee Procedures

As part of the schools duty of care, it is important for us to keep a clear record of student absentees.

If your child is absent from school for reasons of illness or other, parents are asked to contact administration via the absentee line on 07 4681 5900 or via email stanthorpe@twb.catholic.edu.au.

If no notification has been received, the school is required to send an SMS asking you to contact us. Under the circumstances that we do not receive a response to the SMS, administration will be contact you.

If you know in advance that your child will be absent please notify administration as well as classroom teachers.

Late Arrival and Early Departure

Under the circumstances your child is late for school, please have them sign in at administration. Here they will be given a late slip to deliver to their classroom teacher.

• If your child is leaving early or needs to leave school for an appointment, please:
• Supply your child with a signed and dated note.
• Have your child bring that note to administration to receive an early departure slip.
• Pick your child up from the administration building. N/B – Due to duty of care students from Prep to Year 11 will not be allowed to leave school grounds without a parent or guardian to pick them up.
• Upon returning to school, please have them sign back in at administration.

Holiday Prize Draw

The St Joseph’s P&F Association are running a Holiday Prize Draw!

Prize is your choice of either a:

2 NIGHT SYDNEY GETAWAY PACKAGE FOR 2 ADULTS
OR
5 NIGHTS GOLD COAST GETAWAY FOR 2 ADULTS AND 2 CHILDREN
TO THE VALUE OF $1500.00

The raffle will be drawn at the Trivia Night on the 28th October. Tickets are $2.00 and can be purchased in Administration.

Fun Run

Year 7’s at St Joseph’s School Stanthorpe recently held their Pastoral Care fundraising event, which went from bland to GRAND this year by adding a splash of colour.

The last day of any term always emanates excitement and enthusiasm, from teachers and students alike. But when the day also promises coloured paint, water fights and an inflatable obstacle course the day is guaranteed to be a winner.

The Year 7 Students, with support of PC Teachers Ms Tracey Cullinan and Andrew Barker, coordinated the CUA Colour Fun Run to raise much needed funds for Granite Belt Support Services, QISSN/Confraternity 2018 and resourcing for both campuses.

Students obtained donations from family and friends and created online profile pages, to earn exciting reward prizes, according to the amount of money. Students from both Primary and Secondary received sponsorship from friends and family to earn exciting reward prizes from sporting equipment to laptops.

The course made up of a giant slide, water pistol fights, climbing ropes, colour bombs and 100’s of litres of coloured paints and powders were the highlights of the afternoon. The addition of a 400 metre inflatable obstacle course from ‘Big Fun’ in Brisbane certainly kept the students’ adrenaline pumping. Year 7 students ran a range of mini activities, including teacher knock ems, egg and spoon races and dodgeball, to keep the school spirit racing.

Massive thanks for the Community assistance given by Stanthorpe Police, with James Ellis playing Disc Jockey for the afternoon and Chris and Jen Wren, keeping the students wet, with the Ballandean Rural Firefighting Truck.

An impressive fundraising total of over $15 000 has been collected by the students.

This is the first time that St Joseph’s School has taken part in the CUA Fun Run, but judging from the tremendous fundraising efforts made by students, and the wide smiles on the faces of those who took part, this will not be the last.

Information session for Autism

Soctober

A reminder to all families and students that Tuesday 17th October is SOCKTOBER! On Tuesday, all students are asked to wear their craziest socks to support this important fundraiser for Catholic Missions.

As well as wearing crazy socks students are asked to bring a gold coin donation to support this fundraiser.

Prizes will be presented for the students in each class voted to have the best crazy socks, as well as prizes for the P-7 Socktober colouring- in competition. These prizes will be presented at a whole school assembly on Wednesday 18th October.

Thank you in advance for your support of my mercy project.

Megan Kay (Prefect - Compassion)

Uniforms

2018 uniforms can now be ordered at Gleesons. Please note that orders taken AFTER the 16th October are not guaranteed to be delivered before start of term 2018.

Click below to download order forms.

Primary Uniform Order Form

Blazer Order Form

High School Uniform Order Form

Sport News

St Joseph’s Students Attend National Futsal Championships

Between the 25th and 27th September a number of St Joseph’s students represented Queensland West Futsal attending the National School Futsal Championships.

The following students represented Queensland West Futsal:

Under 14 Years Boys: Matthew Biddulph, Rory McDonagh and Jack McMeniman (Eric Richards injured prior to the event)
Under 15 Years Girls: Amelia McMeniman
Under 16 Years Girls: Brody Pearce

Mr. Peter Biddulph also stepped up to manage the Under 14 team demonstrating the commitment that St Joseph’s parents have to facilitating the success of not only their own child but the success of all students.

St Joseph’s School Stanthorpe Representatives
(L – R): Matthew Biddulph, Rory McDonagh, Jack McMeniman

These students all trained prior to the competition which required considerable commitment including travel for all involved. Congratulations to all involved representing St Joseph’s School and Stanthorpe at this high level of competition.

from Manager Peter Biddulph

P & F News

P & F Meeting: 31st October.

Trivia Night

To download a Team Registration Form please follow this link