20 February 2019

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

The year has started well and I am pleased with the positive and industrious tone set the by students and staff across the whole school.

Last week we had our Opening School Liturgy and Student Leadership Induction. The Seniors have a big year ahead of them and I am looking forward to seeing them grow as our Student Leaders this year.

It was pleasing to see an article this month in the Stanthorpe Border Post highlighting the success of the school in the Better Education School rankings for 2018. St Joseph’s ranked the highest Secondary School in not just Stanthorpe but in all of the Southern Downs scoring 92/100.

We are looking forward to working with the Seniors in 2019 who will be the last group of students to receive an OP. The new ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank) comes into effect for those graduating in 2020 and presents new and exciting opportunities and challenges for the school which the staff have fully prepared for.

For those students not on the OP course we are committed to supporting them in the vocational pathways they have chosen. It is heartening to witness their success each year in their School Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships.

It is also pleasing to see that the Prep students have settled in well for the start of their long schooling journey.

God Bless

Andrew Kendall
Principal

LEADERSHIP NEWS

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL ADMINISTRATION-SECONDARY

As a staff, we have reflected in the last week on the whirlwind start to Term 1 and the incredibly busy environment that has become the norm for schools in a modern educational setting. In between swimming carnivals, information nights, open classrooms on the primary, assemblies and our Opening Liturgy and Student Leader Induction, the staff and students have engaged in the teaching and learning process. Overwhelmingly, there is a wonderful sense of positive energy and enthusiasm across classrooms, and this is something, as staff, we wish to capture and build upon in order to work with and drive all students to be the best they can be.

Since the last newsletter, Secondary parents and students would have received assessment calendars and subject overviews for Semester 1. These are valuable tools for you to use, as parents, as not only conversation starters with your child about their schooling, but integral in helping students to manage their assessment workload, particularly in the critical times where anxiety and stress can build when multiple pieces of assessment are due within a short time frame. As parents, I ask you to support and monitor your child’s progress through these times and encourage you to contact me, your child’s teacher or one of the secondary curriculum leaders, if there are ever any concerns about your child’s academic progress.

A huge thank you to all staff and students for their participation in the Secondary Swimming Carnival in Week 2, as well as those parents who were able to drop in and support the students on this day. It was a wonderful way to kickstart the sporting calendar in 2019.

Finally, at a Senior Curriculum Leaders meeting in Toowoomba, we reflected on the parable of the growing seed from Mark’s gospel. The facilitator asked us to reflect on the following:

A seed of hope I have for my school…

A seed of hope I have for my students…

A seed of hope I have for my staff…

A seed of hope I have for myself…

For me, my seed of hope is that as a school community, we can all work collaboratively to ensure the best outcomes for all of the students in our school.

As always, please do not hesitate to contact me if there are any issues, concerns or questions that you may have as parents.

Matthew Brown
Deputy Principal (Acting)

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL ADMINISTRATION-PRIMARY

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.” (Dr. Seuss)

In our first Primary assembly of the school year, we talked about the conditions necessary for growth – both for a plant and for a person. Throughout our lives we all continue to grow and it would be true to say that there are certain actions or expected behaviours that assist us in this – whilst others might hinder this progress. Making the right choices is not always easy. This term we have introduced the new Student Behaviour Support Plan to the students, focusing on three key phrases – Be repectful, Be responsible and Be safe. As they go about their daily interactions with their peers, their teachers, family members and those in the community, the students are encouraged to keep these phrases at the forefront of their mind and make the choice to do what is right.

Term 1 has started well in each of the classes on the Primary Campus. Routines have been established, new friendships made and academic work has begun in earnest. We have already had our first sporting competition – the Granite Belt Swimming Trials – where a number of students qualified for the Darling Downs Trials to be held on 6 March. Congratulations to all those who competed.

We are looking forward to the next few weeks and all the opportunities that will come our way. Hopefully everyone will reflect on the words of Dr Seuss and continue to make choices which are beneficial to themselves and others.

With God’s blessings

Sarah Yates
Assistant Principal Primary (APP)

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (APRE)

Plenary Council 2020

Listening and Dialogue....

Last week both secondary staff and students took part in Listening and Dialogue sessions for the upcoming Plenary Council in 2020. The Plenary Council is a meeting of all “local churches” in Australia, with the primary purpose of looking at the future of the Catholic Church in Australia. The last Plenary Council was held in 1937, and the time has definitely come to look at where the church is headed into the future.

In preparation for the Plenary Council, all people are invited to be part of listening and dialogue sessions. Through the listening and dialogue sessions held at St. Joseph’s School staff and students were asked to focus on three questions:

What are we called to do?

Who are we called to be?

How do we need to change?

These sessions were facilitated by Year 12 students and staff with the secondary body and were lead by School Captains, Hannah Debnam and Jared Hitchener. Each group had the opportunity to reflect on a specific question, dialogue and listen, with the group leader summarising ideas. A similar process was followed for school staff. These responses were collated and submitted to the Plenary Council.

Overall, the process was both interesting and enlightening, and provided great insight into where our youth see us heading and the questions they have as we journey into the 21st century.

If you would like to contribute to the Plenary Council please visit the link below . All contributions are welcome and valued.

Megan Mahoney
Assistant Principal Formation and Identity (APFI)

SCHOOL NEWS

YEAR 7’S GET TO KNOW THEIR SCHOOL LEADERS

Year 7 students spent some time getting to know their school leaders and the Year 12 students during Pastoral Care on Tuesday. They chatted on topics such as how the start of high school was going for them and what they were looking forward to this year. The Year 12s were sure to give the 7s some important tips!’

LITERACY

Year 3/4 PC undertaking a literacy lesson where the students were recounting a picture book to the class.

FAREWELL TO GROUNDSMAN STEVE PACE

Congratulations to Steve Pace who has been appointed a senior groundskeeper position with the Thales Group just across the border. Steve has been the groundskeeper with St Joseph’s for more than eight years and will finish at St Joseph’s on 1 March.

A big thank you to Steve for his work at St Joseph’s and we wish him all the best for the future.

ALCHEMY AND ART

Year 8 students became alchemists in their art lesson last week for their first experimentation with materials that produce reactions. This first unit is tied to their learnings in Science where they are studying physical and chemical changes and reactions.

Decked out in safety glasses, face masks, gloves and aprons, students explored the reactions, marks, mood and beauty that can be made using bleach on drawing ink. This oxidation process was inspired by an unconventional series of work by Andy Warhol, famous Pop artist, who coated canvases in copper metallic pigment and then urinated on them to cause oxidation and an array of blue, green, red and brown copper oxides. Students played with different implements and saturation of bleach solution on the ink to make a range of marks.

PRIMARY TUCKSHOP NEWS

Welcome back to a new school year and some exciting developments in the Primary Tuckshop with the commencement of online ordering!

Online ordering is available through the Mastercard run system called QKR! It is a very easy to use system which can be accessed either on a computer by registering on the website (see link below) and then searching for “St Joseph’s School Stanthorpe”, or by downloading the QKR! App onto a smart phone or tablet.

It requires either a credit card or a Visa/Mastercard debit card to pay. Once registered, student profiles are created with their name and class. Orders will close at 8:30am on the day of Tuckshop.

The online ordering system will simplify the job for the Tuckshop volunteers freeing up time previously spent collating the orders. It will assist in preventing forgotten orders being handed to volunteers in the break when food has already been cooked and distributed.

There are a number of benefits for parents too:

• No more bags to write out and change to find
• Orders can be placed ahead of time
• Students can’t forget to put their order in the box
• Lunch order money can’t be lost

The old bag ordering method will continue to be accepted during Term 1, however it would be appreciated if everyone who is able to could use the new system so that volunteers are using one ordering system.

I think this will be a great system and look forward to improving the delivery of Tuckshop meals with it.

Bec Telfer
Primary Tuckshop Co-ordinator

SCHOOL FEES

School Fees will be issued at the end of the month via email. They can be paid weekly, fortnightly, monthly or by the due date of invoice at the office. You can pay by cash, cheque or card. Direct deposit details are:

For your refence in fees please add your surname and your account number (located on your invoice and statement).

If you prefer to pay your fees annually you will receive a 5% discount on Tuition Fees providing the full amount is paid by 31st March. Please advise Megan via email if you would like to use this option, even if you have used this option in previous years.

Please note extra activities must be paid prior to attending – this includes camps, retreats, excursions, yearbooks, school sports, academic activities, and others.

For repayment options or if you haven’t received an invoice by March, or for any other issues regarding school fees and payments, please contact the Bursar, Megan Hines via email (Megan.Hines@twb.catholic.edu.au) or phone directly on 4681 5903.

Parents having difficulty with payment of school fees can apply for a concession by contacting Angie Sims 4681 5904 to arrange a meeting with the Principal. Parents who received a concession in 2018 will also need to re-apply for a concession.

LIBRARY NEWS

INTRODUCING STAFF

In the first newsletter of the School year, the new teachers were introduced as well as a reintroduction of the Leadership. Every fortnight, a staff member from both campuses will provide a profile of themselves to allow the school and wider community to familiarise themselves with the staff at St Joseph’s School. The school operates with approximately 50 staff members who all have a special role to play in the effective functioning of the school.

My name is Lisa McPherson. I started at the beginning of this school year. I teach Junior Science and Maths, plus Senior Chemistry.

I have two children, and two dogs; we live on a large cattle property close to Stanthorpe. On the weekends we enjoy ‘farm life’ which basically means being outside all day- both working and playing.

Part of my role as a science teacher is to inspire students to see the awe and wonderment in the sciences. In maths I aim to show students how they can (and will) use the skills I teach in real life.

The most enjoyable part of my role is being in the classroom teaching and interacting with students. I feel privileged to be the one to take them on the maths/science journeys that I do!

SPORT

SECONDARY SWIMMING CARNIVAL

The St Joseph’s Secondary Swimming Carnival was held on Friday last week and students who participated in the swimming events enjoyed a great day in the pool. Those who came along to support their peers, also enjoyed a fun-filled day watching and cheering on.

Coming into the relay events, both houses were extremely close in points. The final difference between the teams to become champions was only 26 points—which is only one race.

Davadi House was declared the Champion House and McAuley House claimed victory for House Spirit with their constant cheering throughout the day.

Congratulations to Isabel Kay who broke the 2011 record for Under 15’s 50m Breaststroke by 0.12 of a second.

The final event before presentations was the Staff vs Student race with the staff edging out the motivated Year 12 students. Congratulations to the Age Champions and Runner-Ups as well as to all the students who participated and gave their best throughout the day.

NETBALL

On Sunday the new St Joseph’s netball dresses were received just in time for the Laura Geitz Netball Tournament in Toowoomba. The girls played well and were undefeated in the pool games with three wins and a draw. They played three more games after lunch when they faced some tougher competition. The team put in 100% effort all day and tied in 4th place out of 10 teams. Thank you to the parents who came along and gave their support to the team.

LOST PROPERTY

There is some swimming attire and towels in the lost property at the front office. These are from recent pool visits as well as from December 2018. If your child has lost anything please contact the front office.

P&F

The P&F would like to thank all those who gave their time to assist in the Can Bar at the Stanthorpe Show earlier this month. We were well supported by parents and caregivers who gave their time unselfishly and willingly to help the school community. Big plans are being formulated which will hopefully make next years Can Bar even better and a little more user friendly. A special thanks to Sarah Yates who spent long hours trying to fit everyone into the roster and ensure coverage for all timeslots.

The P&F AGM and first meeting of the year is on at the School Library at 7.00pm on Tuesday 26th February. All parents, particularly new parents are invited to attend.

Daniel O’Dea
P&F President

REMINDER - TRIVIA NIGHT

Saturday 30th March 2019

Doors opening at 6.30pm for a 7.00pm start. Will continue afterwards for some Aussie Rock with ‘DJ Wrenny’. It will be a fun night of Trivia with friends, family and the school community.

We will also be offering a Child Minding Service which will be organised & run by staff and students as a fundraiser for the QISSN team. (our thanks to Amy Coulson and her band of helpers)

Children need to be signed in & out by a Parent/Guardian and can be dropped off from 6.30pm to be collected at conclusion of Trivia Night - preferably 10pm.

Cost is $10.00 per child or $25.00 per family with 3 or more children.

We will make sure to announce towards the end of the night, a reminder for parents to collect their children as soon as it's finished. See flyer attached for more information.

LIONS YOUTH OF THE YEAR

If you would like to attend the Lions dinner and support Ben Manahan , Lara-Jane Biggin and Hannah Debnam, please contact Angie Sims on 4681 5904 by Friday 22nd Feb for catering purposes. Please advise of any dietary requirements. Cost is $20.

UPCOMING EVENTS