25 June 2015
Newsletter Articles
Principal’s News
Dear Parents and Carers
As we draw to the close of another Term, I know that parents and students alike will be eagerly anticipating the Semester One report. These reports are posted to families this week.
Often, the tone of conversation around reports is sometimes one of praise and adulation for good work, or one of disappointment around underachievement for poor work ethic. These are necessary conversations to have with your child, but sometimes it is worth being more reflective about your child’s performance at school prior to having “that conversation”. If your child has worked to the best of their ability, used their time well, and participated positively in the classroom, this should shape your discussion with them. However, there is certainly nothing wrong with a direct conversation about high expectations, aspiration and the desire to do one’s best.
As a parent of a child who is also receiving a report this Semester, I think parents (including me) are sometimes more nervous about what a report holds than the student. Often, parents want to know:
- Is my child where s/he should be at this stage of his/her learning?
- Is my child well behaved?
- Is my child connected with their peers?
- Is my child showing signs of development and improvement?
Your child’s report should answer most of these questions, and where you still have questions, these are best raised at a Parent-Teacher interview. At these interviews, parents and carers receive a more detailed account of their child’s learning than is possible on a written report.
Remember, that from Prep-Year 10 a “C” level of achievement represents the expected level of achievement for a child at that particular Year Level. It does not mean Sound, Satisfactory or Average. A “C” result indicates that a student is demonstrating the required knowledge, skills and capabilities according to the Australian Curriculum. A “C” is cause for “C”elebration.
For your Diary:
Parent-Teacher Interviews (Secondary Campus): Thursday 23 July. Bookings can be made on Monday 13 July.
Parent-Teacher Interviews (Primary Campus): As arranged by individual class teachers.
Our Years 7, 8, 9 and 11 students all attended Camps this week, and I know that these experiences hold something for everyone. Thank you to our teaching staff who make these camps possible through their supervision. Our Year 10 students undertook Work Experience during the week, and we thank all of our trusted employers for working with our young people. Year 12 students focused on QCTS preparation, ahead of the “real thing” on 1-2 September.
Finally, I offer my best wishes to the Confraternity Rugby League and QISSN Netball teams who are travelling to Ipswich and Brisbane respectively next week for carnivals. Again, thank you to the staff and parents for offering their time for this, and to the students for their commitment to these teams.
I wish students a restful and safe vacation. Term 3 resumes on Monday 13 July.
Dr Michael McCarthy
Principal
Leader’s News
Catholic Education Week
As Term 2 draws to a close, preparations are already underway for celebrations for Catholic Education Week to be held in Week 3 of Term 3 (26 July – 1 August). The theme for this year is “Engaging Minds, Igniting Hearts, Serving Others”. This is an important week within our school calendar as we promote and recognise the value and importance of Catholic Education within our school and community. We will begin the week by celebrating Mass on Sunday 26th July in our Parish where students will be involved in the liturgy, to be followed by morning tea. Activities throughout the week will include serving free hot soup in the Piazza, attending the official launch of CEW in Warwick, creating prayer chains, enjoying a whole school lunch with our families and grandparents and holding a “Back to the Future Evening”. Friday 31st July will be a pupil free day while staff attend the Bishop’s In-service Day in Toowoomba. All in all it will be a busy and engaging week for our students, families, staff and community as we celebrate all that is great about Catholic Education.
As Term 2 draws to a close, preparations are already underway for celebrations for Catholic Education Week to be held in Week 3 of Term 3 (26 July – 1 August). The theme for this year is “Engaging Minds, Igniting Hearts, Serving Others”. This is an important week within our school calendar as we promote and recognise the value and importance of Catholic Education within our school and community. We will begin the week by celebrating Mass on Sunday 26th July in our Parish where students will be involved in the liturgy, to be followed by morning tea. Activities throughout the week will include serving free hot soup in the Piazza, attending the official launch of CEW in Warwick, creating prayer chains, enjoying a whole school lunch with our families and grandparents and holding a “Back to the Future Evening”. Friday 31st July will be a pupil free day while staff attend the Bishop’s In-service Day in Toowoomba.
All in all it will be a busy and engaging week for our students, families, staff and community as we celebrate all that is great about Catholic Education.
Megan Mahoney
APRE
School News
End of Semester Mass, Friday 19 June 2015
The theme for the last Mass for Semester 1 was - Living as a Community.
We had some special guests attending the Mass last Friday that are people associated with assisting the School as part of our St Joseph’s Community. The guests included:- Parish members, Road Crossing Supervisors, Tuckshop Convenors, Teachers Aides, Parents and other local Community members involved with the School. They provide Service, Friendship and Guidance.
Year 9 News
Term has been a very busy term for Year 9 as they settle further into their second year of High School. When students were asked to reflect on the Term, they were asked to write down their highlight of the last 9 weeks. The responses were vast and interesting, many students mentioning the Musical which took up much of the term in rehearsals and performances. Students also mentioned playing futsal in HPE, completing Queensland Futsal trials and participating in Broncos Cup. The discussion of careers within PC was another highpoint of the term for students, as it gave their learning more perspective, meaning and understanding of where they were heading and the different paths they could take to get there. Students enjoyed bonding more with their friends, and becoming more connected as a whole group. The second thing students were asked to write down was something interesting they had learnt this term. Within English students had learnt how to format a feature article and how one mode (novel) can be transformed to another mode (movie). Students learnt about the calculating of volume, trigonometry and angles of elevation in Mathematics. Students learnt about the importance of organisation and managing when running ventures, and the recession and its impact on small businesses in Business and Economics. Students learnt the basics of sewing, and used these skills to create laptop cases in Home Economics. Lastly, in History students learnt about the World Wars and conscription. The highlight of the term for the majority of students was finally completing all of their assessment pieces. Year 9 students are very much looking forward to holidays, and are ready to tackle the challenges that Term 3 throws at them.
You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose… Oh, the places you’ll go!
Year 2 OB News
This term, in English the year two class has been studying poetry. We have been reading a variety of different styles of poems and exploring the way in which language is used to create impact and to express emotions. The students have also had a go at writing their own poems including beautiful poems about their mothers which they gave to their mums as a unique and thoughtful present for Mother’s Day. We have also worked hard to learn and recite two choral pieces for the eisteddfod. This required considerable effort for the students to learn the words of these poems and to recite them in unison with focus on volume, pace, pitch, expression and simple movements. The students performed with exceptional confidence and skill, winning not only their section but the Betty Pain award for Tiny Tots. Our performance can be viewed on this link - https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B54EfRkSCCmRTVNGTjRoT3NmTEE/view?usp=sharing . We also had many students performing in the individual recitations. This section was won by Alex Waterworth, with Halley Duff receiving second place. A great effort by all students involved in this.
Geography Competition Results
Congratulations to these students on their achievements in the Geography Competition.
Credit
- Isabella Baronio
- Timothy Bell
- Melissa Cannavo
- Asbjorn Gaskell
- Liam Hitchener
- Dylan Nash
- Courtney O’Riley
Distinction
- Leah Peters
- Holly Hillis
- High Distinction
- Rory McDonagh
- Kate Saxby
- Spencer Jensen
- BJ Perrett
Presentations will take place next term.
Sports News
Athletics Carnival
Our annual school athletics carnival will be held on Friday the 24th of July.
Students turning 9 to 18 years will compete at C.F. White Oval whilst our younger students will remain at school for their carnival.
A detailed program for the day will be available early in Term Three. Our younger students will participate at a time that will enable parents to move between venues and hopefully not miss any of the action.
Our 9 to 11 years students will also compete in field events at the following times;
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Thursday July 16 |
Friday July 17 |
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9:00 |
11 Years High Jump - Primary 10 Years Discus- Secondary |
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11:00 |
11 Years Long Jump – Secondary 10 Years High Jump – Primary |
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1:30 |
11 Years Discus - Secondary 10 Years Shot – Secondary 9 Years Long Jump- Secondary |
11 Years Shot- Secondary 10 Years Long Jump- Secondary 9 Years High Jump – Primary |
12 to open Years will compete in Field Events on Monday the 20th of July.
QISRL
Good luck to our Confraternity Boys as they head off to Ipswich, Peter Clavier College, for the first week of the holidays to attend the Open School Boys Rugby League Carnival. 48 Teams from QLD will be competing. The team will be accompanied by Dave Fleming, Mick Mahoney and Mary McLucas.
QISSN
Good luck to our Netball girls as they head off to the Brisbane Entertainment Centre for the first week of the holidays. There are 50 Schools that will be competing in the Competition. The girls’ team is made up of students from year 9 to year 12.
P & F News
This year’s pie drive was a great success with profits up by $200, making a total profit of $1,253.03. A big thank you to all the helpers this year:- Chris Wren, Rose Webb, Rose-Alba Musumeci, Nat Raccanello and Bern Brunckhorst. Thank you to admin staff for the collection and help of collating orders. Also, thank you to Jen Wren for arranging the pie drive and helping to make it such a huge success.
P&F Committee
Reminders and Updates
School resumes for term 3 on 13 July 2015.
Pupil Free Day, 31 July 2015, Bishops In-service.
