6 February 2015
Newsletter Articles
Principal’s News
Dear Parents and Caregivers
Welcome back to school for 2015. I trust that the Christmas vacation has served you well and you and your children are ready for another busy year at St Joseph’s School.
We welcome over 60 new students to our school this year, with more than half of these children from new families. And, we welcome back all of our continuing students and their parents. There were smiles on the faces of students on their first day as they reconnected with friends and met newcomers to our school. I did observe a degree of happiness among parents as well, as they dropped their children to the classroom. Indeed one mother danced her way out of the school gates – I am sure she was excited for her children and all the intellectual stimulation they were going to receive on returning to school?
We also welcome a number of new teaching staff to our school:
Miss Christina Benson – Year 1
Mrs Nardia Stanford – Year 3
Miss Rebecca Barber – Year 4
Miss Emily Daughtree – Music/Drama
Miss Patricia McManus – Secondary History & English
Mr Luke Warwick – Secondary RE, SOR, History & English
Miss Hayley Grabham –Secondary Mathematics
We pray that they will be fulfilled during their time with us.
In December last year, OP results were released to our Year 12 students, and I am pleased to report these students performed very well. An overview of the results is below:
Highest OP result: OP 2 achieved by two students
Percentage (%) of students achieving an OP 1-5: 30%
Percentage (%) of students receiving an OP 1-15: 76%
These are excellent results, which reflect excellent teaching from Prep through to Year 12. Congratulations to our 2014 Year 12 Graduates.
Looking forward to what lies ahead in 2015 was marked during our Opening Mass on Wednesday. We also took the opportunity to bless and induct our 2015 Student Leaders:
School Captains: Zoe Kay & Alyssa Murphy
Prefects: Eloise Biggin, Ingrid Sibley, Kai Robertson, Thomas Jensen.
These young people, along with their fellow Year 12 students have much in store for them, and we pray that they will achieve all they desire in this final year of school.
Our first P&F fundraiser for the year was completed at the Stanthorpe Show Can Bar. I offer my thanks to all of our volunteers for your generosity. Our first P&F meeting is Tuesday 24 February. This will be an important meeting where I will outline the school’s 2015 Annual Plan, and discuss the major fundraiser for 2015. I strongly encourage you to attend if you have a spare hour on this date.
Dr Michael McCarthy
Principal
Leader’s News
This year our school liturgical celebrations began with our Beginning of Year School Mass on Wednesday 4th February. As well as welcoming our staff, students and families to our new school year, we inducted our school leaders in a special ceremony of commissioning as they embark on their journey as school leaders, serving their school with commitment, generosity and faith.
“Sharing the Light of Jesus” was the focus of our Mass, and this focus will continue to be lived out at St. Joseph’s School through the many interactions we have with others within our community throughout 2015. Ash Wednesday Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday 18th February, highlighting the beginning of our Lenten journey towards Easter. During this time, students will have the opportunity to participate in and reflect upon their own personal journey towards Easter.
“Speak, Lord in the stillness.
Waiting.
Aware of Your Presence,
Listening.
Ready to do your will.
Speak Lord.”
Megan Mahoney
APRE
School News
New Preps
As the school year for 2015 commenced last week, 34 Prep students were welcomed into our school for their very first time.
Both Prep classes transitioned well even though there were a few unsure looks on some of the children’s faces.
Plenty of fun and ‘getting to know each other’ activities were enjoyed during class and play time this week.
Year 7’s on Secondary
The transition from primary school to high school represents a key milestone in a student’s schooling experience. At St Joseph’s, your child has become part of a very special school community. They have joined a busy, vibrant and friendly campus. The students have been very busy adjusting to life in secondary school, learning their timetables, finding rooms, using a locker and being organised with their books. The Year 7’s are enjoying learning the background, skills and confidence required to build strong foundations for an enjoyable and successful secondary schooling experience. 2015 promises to be full of opportunities for learning. As one of their teachers, I am certainly looking forward to the challenge of secondary school and meeting the parents of such a wonderful group of students.
Tracey Cullinan
Here are a few impressions from the Year 7’s on their first week:
‘High School has been exciting, scary and different. I’m getting to know my teachers well. I am enjoying it very much and I look forward to the rest of the year coming’. Tiana Bray
‘I like how we have more independence and a bit more freedom’. Jacob Robertson
I love how you get to spend time with different people in class, not just your best friends’. Alanah Smith
‘My first day was a bit worrying but the lessons are fun’. Aonghus Graham
‘You get to learn new subjects and teachers put more trust in you’. James Humble
In Secondary, I learn to manage my time wisely’. Melissa Petroccitto
‘I love the idea of getting our own Surface tablets and the assignments next term’.
‘I like high school because we get lockers and we are always moving classes’. Ashley Haynes
‘I was a bit nervous for the first week but then things went from nervous to quite fun and new. I am really enjoying Year 7’. Naomi McIntyre
‘High School is awesome because you get to do different things and not stay in the same classroom’. Konrad Winkler
‘School is more challenging because you need to be organised and manage your time better so you’re not late for classes’. Lara Beckett
School Photos
School photos will be taken on Wednesday 11th February at the Bathersby Centre. Each student has been issued an envelope with their name and Year level. Please read and follow the instructions on this envelope. These envelopes need to be returned as soon as possible.
Family envelopes will be available from the Administration Office and will also need to be returned as soon as possible.
Welcome New Teachers
St Joseph’s School would like to welcome seven new members of staff to our team for 2015. Hailing from many different regions of Queensland they bring even more experience, enthusiasm and ideas to our school.
Patricia McManus is one of our new teachers who will be taking English, History and Pastoral Care classes.
Emily Daughtree is the new St Joseph’s Music and Drama teacher.
Christina Benson has been appointed as the Year 1 teacher. “Being new to the area I am really looking forward to experiencing the fine food and culture that Stanthorpe has to offer,” she said.
Hayley Grabham is a Secondary Maths teacher. Having completed her majors in Mathematics and Drama, students are sure to be thrilled with her dynamic teaching style.
Nardia Stanford is coming to St Joseph’s from Inglewood to teach Year 3. “I aim to encourage my students to try their best and not to be afraid to of taking risks in learning. It is OK to make mistakes as long as you learn for them,” said Mrs Stanford.
Rebecca Barber is our new Year 4 teacher from Currumbin and will be teaching Year 4.
Luke Warwick graduated from the University of Queensland and joins the staff as a History, English and Religious Education teacher. Having walked the pilgrimage route, the El Camino de Santiago, in 2013, Luke has a passion for religion and religious literacy.
There have been a few changes to the roles of existing staff as well. Mr Mick Grew is our Primary Health & Physical Education teacher. Mrs Leigh Cusack is teaching Italian to our Prep-Year 6 students.
With such a positive start it will be exciting to see what the rest of the year will bring for St Joseph’s students, parents and staff. Welcome Back!
Sports News
St. Joseph’s School Netball Program 2015
At St. Joseph’s School we offer a range of opportunities for girls to participate in Netball. The program is designed to build strength and confidence, team camaraderie and school spirit but most of all, the program encourages girls to get in and have a go. You do not need to have played netball before to come along to training and see if it is a sport that you might enjoy.
Training
3:15 – 4:30 Monday in the Bathersby Centre (commencing Monday 2nd February)
Girls can get changed for training which is comprised of warm ups, fitness training, netball drills and matches. The overriding principle of this training program is teaching the girls to control their movements on the court (landing, jumping, driving etc…) to reduce the possibility of injury, build their skill set and responsiveness in the game and increase their overall fitness.
2015 NETBALL Carnivals and Competitions
YMCA Ladies Competition - Season 1
3rd February 2015 – June 2015
YMCA Ladies Competition - Season 2
July 2015 – November 2015
Laura Gietz Cup
Grade 7, 8 & 9 Girls only
Sunday 22nd February Played in Toowoomba
QISSN
Queensland Independent Secondary School Netball Carnival (50 schools participate), is to be held in Brisbane this year. A squad of 10 girls will be selected to represent St. Joseph’s. The carnival is held in the first week of the June/July school holidays.
Junior Vicki Wilson Cup
September (usually around the 15th – on a Sunday)
Played at Nell E Robinson Park in Toowoomba
Vicki Wilson Senior Cup
September (usually the week before the Vicki Wilson Junior Cup)
Sunday at St. Mary’s College in Toowoomba
Broncos Cup
Played during the school term
Grades 7-10
Michelle McCarthy
P & F News
Welcome back to a new school year and a special welcome to those new students and family's beginning the new year at our St Joseph’s school.
I hope to get the opportunity to meet you all throughout the year at one of our school functions or at a P&F meeting which are held monthly throughout the year.
Also a big thank you to all that helped with this year’s Stanthorpe Show can bar, your efforts are greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Peter Alldridge
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Next P & F Meeting – 24 February |
Reminders and Updates
School Banking
School banking will begin again next week and will be collected in class every Monday.
Pauls Bottle Tops
Just a quick reminder to keep bringing in your Pauls Milk bottle tops. This is an easy fundraiser for the school and all funds raised goes back to the school for PE resources.
Yearbook
Did you miss out on the 2014 Yearbook? We are currently taking orders for reprints. If you would like to order a book please come by Administration.
Teacher Contact
Do you need to contact your child’s teacher? St Joseph’s teachers are available via email.
Teacher email : Firstname.Surname@twb.catholic.edu.au
Eg. Michael.McCarthy@twb.catholic.edu.au
Presbytery News
SACRAMENTS OF CONFIRMATION AND FIRST COMMUNION In August last year a group of nineteen children celebrated the Sacrament of Penance for the first time. Those children will now be Confirmed on 14th June by Bishop McGuckin and receive first Holy Communion in August. There is an opportunity for parents of children from Year Four upwards who did not present their child last year for the Sacrament of Penance, to do so now so that they will be able to be Confirmed and receive First Holy Communion this year. Please contact the Parish Office at the Presbytery 4681 2157 or stjosephsparish@halenet.com.au by Friday 13th February if you wish your child to be prepared for the Sacrament of Penance, and then Confirmation and First Communion later in the year. (Fr. Brian)