26 March 2018

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Message

Principal Welcome, Michael Gray

Hello to all our school parents, guardians, staff, students and friends of St. Joseph’s. A special Yokoso (Welcome) to our visitors from Kyoto.

Our visitors from Japan all arrived safely and are now headed off home. I especially thank our many families for opening up your homes in a spirit of hospitality, openness, learning and community. We learn much from experiences hosting, especially an international one that supports cultural understandings, introduces language and communication skills and ultimately builds friendships across the globe.

Today’s newsletter is Edition Five of School E-Newsletter. A reminder that this document can be printed for display on the home bench or fridge. The newsletter can also be easily translated into over 200 languages; to translate just click on the “Translate” button with the document.

Across the wider Southwest our thoughts and prayers are with the many families feeling the impact of the regional fires. Farms, business, community groups and schools have all been affected. Our heartfelt thoughts are with everyone from a St. Joseph’s school point of view both informal sessions and formal counselling opportunities have been made available to those needing help. Other ongoing help is also ready, just contact our School Wellbeing Co-ordinator (Mrs Maryanne Evans on a Tuesday. Many have also expressed wanting to help the various communities; after speaking with staff and students we plan to support the Bendigo Bank and EMV Community Relief Fund. This support will be early in Term 2.

With publication of this edition of the school news the Fair will have come and gone. This is a big event for our school and a project many support through the wonderful donation of time, services, goods and cash. I value the students engagement, staff commitment and parent help. To be able to provide a great, safe and fun day which helps us raise funds is a testament to community, resilience and a “can do” mindset. We are indeed all very fortunate here at St. Joseph’s.

St. Joseph’s Primary School School Advisory Council is the group of staff, clergy and parents that provide policy advice to the principal and school leadership This Council is voluntary, meets 8 times per year (Twice per Term) on a Thursday. From midterm two we have several vacancies; if you are interested in supporting St. Joseph's Primary School in this capacity please email myself ( principal@sjwarrnambool.catholic.edu.au OR Cathy Duynhoven (Education Business Manager cduyn@sjwarrnambool.catholic.edu.au) to express interest. Material can then be made available to read to inform your final decision.

Employment: It gives me great pleasure to announce the recent appointment of Mrs. Madeline (Maddy) Williamson to the position of Classroom Teacher, Junior School Grade 1/ 2. Maddy will replace Mrs. Kristy Haberfield who will commence family leave in Term 2. Maddy will be working in the classroom in a transition handover program with Kristy during the first two weeks of next term. Maddy will then commence full time duties on Monday 30th April, 2018. Maddy joins us from working last year in Hamilton and having graduated from Deakin University in Warrnambool with a Bachelor of Education, completed in 2016. I warmly welcome Maddy and offer her our support. I wish Kristy and Joel all the best as they look forward to the safe arrival of their first child.

School Student Photography. We ask for your cooperation and care concerning the use and distribution of photographs of other children at our school. We have adopted best practice which has been supported by our School Advisory Council and Staff.

Click here to view the St Joseph’s Primary School Photography Guidelines for Parents and Carers

General School Information:

• A great return rate thus far to the religious education (ECSIP) surveys; I thank all students, staff and families for completing this important task. All Grade 6 students, all staff and 60 randomly assigned parents are completing this work.
• Last week many students assembled in the Library Resource Centre to make palm crosses for the Easter ceremonies at St. Joseph’s Church. Mary Lancaster (Parish Helper) and Belinda Wrigley (School Religious Education Liturgy Coordinator) appreciated the student support.
• I recently received a wonderful letter of recommendation from Brendan Watson, OAM and Chief Commissioner of Scouts Victoria in recognition of our student, Jamieson Mueglitz’s award of the “Grey Wolf”. To attain this recognition, initiative, self-discipline and sustained effort is completed in camping, hiking and service. Congratulations Jamieson.
• Coles Vouchers: Thank you to the many gathering vouchers for St. Joseph’s. Students feel a great sense of pride when they arrive in the morning and deposit the vouchers into the collection box. A big thanks to all for this practical support.

Regards,
Michael Gray, Principal.

School Advisory Council Nominations

Our School Advisory Council is now calling for nominations from any parents who would be interested in being involved at this level. If you have an interest in Policies or Governance this could be something you would like to do. Positions are for two years, with an option of a second lot of two years (a maximum of 4 years can be served).

If you are interested or have any questions about what this position may involve please email Michael Gray on principal@sjwarrnambool.catholic.edu.au or Cathy Duynhoven on cduyn@sjwarrnambool.catholic.edu.au

Nominations will close on the last day of this term, Thursday 29th March.

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) for the School Advisory Council will be held on Thursday 20th April at 7:30 pm.

Teacher Awards

Week 7

Gold Box Winner

Congratulations to this week’s gold box winner Archie McGrath who was nominated for being a good friend. Archie and a friend get to go to the pool for a swim.

Annual School Fair

Some fun from this year’s fair

Thank you to our Fair Performers

Thank you to all our Fair Performers for providing such wonderful entertainment on the day of our Fair.

Thank you to our Fair Sponsors

We would like to thank ALL of the businesses that Support our Fair.
Your support is appreciated by our whole school community.
Without you all our Fair would not be as successful as it is.

Raffle Prize Winners

Spinning Wheel Winners

Lego Competition Winners

Thank you to everyone who entered the Lego Competition. Congratulations to the following winners:

Peer Mediation

Maryanne Evans, Wellbeing Co-ordinator

To enhance Student Wellbeing at St Joseph’s we use programs to support student interaction and give students a voice in various ways of interacting with their peers. Peer Mediation is a process that allows students to assist other students with their social interactions and problem solving skills.

Senior and middle school students are involved in a Peer Mediation training program. We have found this process very helpful for students to learn skills themselves and also to support other students in their social development. The training takes place during school hours and requires five, 30-minute training sessions. The training supports the students to understand what they will experience as mediators and have them ready to use their skills out in the playground. Peer mediators wear an orange high visibility yard duty vest similar to the teachers. Their main task involves dealing with minor relationship issues with students in the junior school who seek out help from peers to solve minor problems.

The training teaches the mediators how to approach a situation and choose the best strategy to address the issue. This would also include knowing when a situation needs the support from a teacher on duty.

We currently have 75 students who are working on a roster in peer mediation and these students are doing a fantastic job in the playground and willingly give up their own time to support Junior students in our school. Their work is valued and very much appreciated.

We have photos of some of our wonderful peer mediators.

parenting*ideas

Our school has an annual subscription to parenting*ideas. This site houses many sheets of information supportive of parents raising children of all ages.

To access the site go to www.parentingideas.com.au
username: jguinan@sjwarrnambool.catholic.edu.au
password: support

Top 5 Articles for Primary Schools from 2017

Curriculum

Louis O’Connor, Curriculum Co-ordinator

Inquiry Learning - A successful start to the year

During Term One each learning area of the school has an Inquiry topic that becomes integrated through other curriculum learning areas. Teachers and students have been focusing their time and energy to ensure learning begins successfully, with this a strong learning culture has been established within each class and school area.

In the Foundation area the Inquiry focus is ‘How Can We Make Our Classroom a Place Where Everyone Can Learn?’ The learning topics include - What helps us to be friendly and what gets in the way? What makes a happy and safe school? What makes a happy classroom for us to learn? How can I use the “Keys to Success” to help me at school - classroom and the playground?

In the Grade 1/2 area the Inquiry focus is ‘How can we make our school a place where we can become lifelong learners?” The learning topics include, Recognising different types of learners, Making our classroom a place where we can learn, and Friendships help us grow and learn. Throughout the year in addition to our Term focus, Mrs Barfus-McCoy takes small groups of Grade 2 students to experience Gardening and healthy food preparation.

Students in the Junior School have been exploring the ‘Keys to being a successful learner’.

Gardening and Healthy Food Preparation.

Sienna Byron, Pippa Ward, Rielle Murfett and Lachie Cannon (Grade 2) enjoying Gardening as part of an Inquiry Unit into Healthy Eating ran by Mrs Barfus- McCoy.

In the Middle school the Inquiry focus is ‘Who Rules?’ The learning includes; Awareness of the need for rules and laws and Australia’s style of government. Identifying features of government and law and describe key democratic values. Identifying how and why decisions are made democratically in communities.

In the Senior school the Inquiry focus is ‘Around the world in 60 days; What are the geographical features that make up our world?’ The learning includes; Appreciating the factors that shape places, influence countries and the people in them. Developing an awareness of the country's, physical geographical features and cultures that make up our world and a basic concept of their location.

Over the course of the year all students at St Joseph’s learn about the world using an inquiry approach to learning. This approach is foundational to the units of work which derive content, skills and understandings from the Humanities Curriculum (Economics, History and Geography) and the Sciences (including Health). The theory behind using this approach is to increase the engagement of students through hands on activities and experiences.

Senior Visual Arts Pop Art - Food Installation

Monday 23 April – Friday 27 April

The senior school will be exhibiting their Pop Art Food creations in Week 2 of Term 2 from Monday 23rd April to Friday 27th April.

These will be displayed in the Hall Foyer.
Parents and grandparents are invited to come up and view the students work.
The students have studied many different Pop Art artists and have especially looked at the work of Claes Oldenburg.

Some of Claes Oldenburg’s art work

Claes Oldenburg, The Street and The Store

The Sacrament of Reconciliation

A Sacrament of Healing and Forgiveness

Father John welcomed our Grade 6 students who celebrated this Sacrament on Thursday 15 March with the words:

We come together to celebrate God’s mercy and love. This time of preparation has been an opportunity to know Jesus a little better, especially the way he loves and respects all people and his willingness to forgive. May we, the children of God, follow his example love and forgiveness.

Thank you to parents for preparing your child for the Sacrament of God’s Mercy and Forgiveness, together with the support of St Joseph’s School and members of our Parish.

Sacramental Program - Confirmation

Grade 3 children who have already received the Sacrament of Baptism will have the opportunity to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation in Term 2. Registrations and nominations for preferred family group meeting times will be available online this year. Payment for the program will be completed via CDFpay (online ordering system).

More details regarding this process will be in our first newsletter in Week 2, Term 2.

Key Dates

Sports News

Mark Gercovich, Sports Coordinator

Foundation, Grade 1 and Grade 2 School Sports
Wednesday 28th March 2018

Middle and Senior School Sports
Thursday 29th March

Intraschool Cricket Competition

Last week senior students participated in the T20 blast Intraschool cricket competition. Cricket Victoria chose St. Josephs last year to run the pilot program for the event. Now it the free program is being offered across the state and It returned on Friday providing plenty of colour, music and excitement for the students. E7 Renegades (boys) and E5 Strikers (girls) were victorious on the day but cricket was the real winner.

Intraschool Cricket Action

Division Tennis

Division Tennis was held on Friday. Three St Joseph’s students had won through to the event with their efforts at last week’s District competition.

Toby Gedye and Mitchell Lloyd (Koroit) played off in the Boys Final with Toby winning in a tie breaker. Toby will now play in the Regional final in Ballarat. Tess Worrall and Charlie Maher both made it to the semi-finals with Tess winning her play off for 3rd qualifying her for Regionals as well.

2018 Division Tennis Boys winner: Toby Gedye

Toby and Tess in action

2nd hand Uniform Sale – Friday 27 April 2018

The PSA are conducting a Second Hand Uniform Sale for all school uniforms. If you have any good quality uniform that reflects current St. Joseph’s uniform policy and standards this day could be for you. You can either donate items to be sold to the school for sale OR price them accordingly and have a % of your sale go to the school’s PSA.

If you would like to participate you can do so by one of the following two options:

OPTION 1 - If you are donating any school uniform items for sale please bring these along to the school office. Volunteers will price all items accordingly and all sales will be donated to our schools PSA.

OPTION 2 - If you have any good quality uniform that you are wanting to sell please name clearly with your family name, grade of the eldest child, size and price. All tags are to be pinned on the garment and removed when sold. It has been determined that 70% of the sale will go to the family and 30% to the PSA.

Second hand school bags are also able to be sold on the day providing that they are in appropriate working condition.

Bring donations and sale items into the office.

The sale will occur on Friday 27 April 2018 from 2:00pm till 3:30pm (before and during School Assembly) in the School Hall foyer. This is a fantastic opportunity to purchase good quality second hand uniforms.

Canteen News

The canteen will be open as per normal during both Sports Days. Children will also be able to purchase icypoles and ice-creams with cash at lunch time on the day of their sports day.

Coles Sports for Schools

Thank you to families who have been bringing in the vouchers for the Coles Sports for Schools promotion. There are collection boxes in the foyer at school, in the senior school building and at the Coles Centro in Mortlake Road. Encourage your extended family to collect vouchers for our school. Please drop in your vouchers by Monday 11 June, 2018.

Community Notice Board

Our Community Notices are flyers that are sent in by various community and sporting groups for inclusion in our newsletter.