17 July 2018

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Message

Jim Guinan, Acting Principal

At the time of writing I am in awe of the efforts parents and carers have made in preparing the children for our recent dress-up day. The day was hosted by our student leaders as a fundraiser for BlazeAid. Walking around the school I saw many examples of “Superheroes” which was the theme of the day. There were dairy farmers, fireman, sportspeople and an excellent dress-up by Trae Brereton, student in Grade 5 of our very own Mr Murrell. The day was a lot of fun so thanks to our Student Leaders and Mr Gercovich for organising the day. All moneys raised go to BlazeAid and all raffle winners are announced in this newsletter.

Each winter is a particular time to raise awareness of the road safety of our students coming to, and leaving from our school. Below is a summary of the “hot spots” perceived around our school and our preference for driver behaviour.

Before School

1. A reminder that the staff carpark is not a drop-off zone for children.
   - our preference is that you use the loop instead
   - drive as far forward as you can, and drivers don’t leave the car. It would be great to remind other drivers who may not see this newsletter of not leaving the car.

After School

1. If you are using the tennis courts, please use the designated car parks only before children approach the car.
   - It is our preference that the Allen Oval is NOT used as a pickup point.
   - That all children use the road to access the tennis courts with the teacher on duty.
   - Children not picked up by 3:45 will be brought back to school unless siblings are supervised by a secondary school aged students.
2. The carpark is not a pick-up point nor is the queue to enter the loop.
3. If using the loop be patient. Drive as far forward as possible. Children don’t approach the car until it has stopped and access the car from the left hand side.
4. If using the Aquazone car park, please ensure children have sense enough to use the school crossing on Botanic Road and can cross safely at the Queens Road roundabout to the Aquazone car park. There have been some near misses there.

This article has been a direct response from a recent WorkSafe audit we have undergone at St. Joseph’s and just common season and regard for all children arriving and leaving school safely.

Welcome

This term we welcome a number of new students to the St. Joseph’s community. They are the Perrotts, Rodger and Tracey with children Ash in Room D2 and Milla in Room D5. In Term 2 we also welcomed Bohdi Lee in Room B3 and his parent Steve Lee.

We hope that your time at St Joseph’s is a friendly and happy one.

Regards,
Jim Guinan, Acting Principal.

Teacher Awards

Week 10

Week 11

Gold Box Winner

Congratulations to Gold Box winners Bella and Louis McCombe for walking to school crossing the roads safely. Bella and Louis and a friend get to go for a swim at the pool.

Congratulations to Gold Box winner Jorja Keilar for being a great buddy in Room C3. Jorja and a friend get to go to the pool for a swim.

Literacy at St. Joseph’s

Monica Currer, Literacy Leader

Writing can inform, entertain or persuade. During Term 2, Year 3 - 6 students have been reading and writing persuasive texts. Students will have learnt that the author’s intent when writing a persuasive text is to persuade their audience. Persuasive texts include advertisements on television, the internet and in magazines and newspapers, and the more formal persuasive texts which include expositions (presenting one side of an argument), discussions (presenting both sides of an argument) and debates.

As students learn how persuasive texts work, we are empowering them to think critically, to recognise persuasive texts and therefore be able to think about whether they agree or disagree. Debates give students the opportunity to demonstrate this. Our Year 5 and 6 students have written some fantastic persuasive texts and I hope you enjoy reading the three included on the newsletter, which have been written by E 1 students.

Audience is an important part of writing and speaking and the Year 5 and 6 teachers and students have been very busy presenting debates in their classrooms. Twelve of these students have been selected to participate in the debating section at the Warrnambool Eisteddfod, on Tuesday 31st July. The students participating are:-

Tess Worrall, Cienna Boylan, Sebastian Sony Thazhath, Holly Quigley (Negative team – Topic: That smartphones should be welcome in school classrooms).

Thelma Dragan, Nick Watson, James Hovey, Aylish Murphett (Negative team- Topic: That honesty is the best policy).

Eva Joseph, Massi Da Ros, Harrison Hughes, Paige Rea (Affirmative team – Topic: That every family should have a pet).

I thank Mrs. Camille Sergeant for her enthusiasm in entering and supporting the students who will participate in the Eisteddfod

Enjoy reading these great persuasive texts:

Thanks,
Monica Currer, Literacy leader

Sacramental Program – First Eucharist

Registrations and nominations for preferred family group meeting times are available online this year. Payment for the program will be completed via CDFpay (online ordering system).

Key Dates

BlazeAid

A report on BlazeAid by our School Leaders.

Raffle Winners

Congratulations to raffle winners Bella Mammone (B5), Lily H (B3), Toby (B1), Natasha Baker (E6), Cooper D (B6) and Sam Smith (E7).

Grandparents Day

Friday 27 July, 2018

Sports News

Mark Gercovich, Sports Coordinator

SSV Regional Football

On Thursday 21st June the boys football team travelled to Ballarat to take part in the SSV Regional football competition.

After two solid wins in the pool games the boys progressed to the semi final where they defeated St Francis Xavier College Ballarat, 32 to 0. This qualified us for the Grand Final against the other undefeated team Sacred heat Colac. The team played brilliantly winning 26 to 1 thus progressing them to the state finals to be played in Melbourne in August.

Our School Football Team

The Resilience Project

7:00pm, Thursday 23rd August, 2018

Over 130 parents have registered their interest in attending the Resilience Project “Parent Information Night”.

This program is being fully funded by via funds raised by our Parent Association. Feel free to invite aunties, uncles, grandparents and other family members who may be interested.

Please register your interest in attending this FREE parent Information

PSA Meeting Dates

Our Term 3 meeting dates for our PSA are to be held on Tuesday 24 July (Week 2) and Tuesday 28 August (Week 7). These meetings are held in the school staffroom commencing at 7:30pm. All welcome.

School Disco

Friday 3 August

Poster Competition, closes Wednesday 25 July 2018

Ticket Sales close Thursday 2 August

Ticket sales for the Disco are made via CDFPay (online ordering).

Volunteer Roster

Thank you to the many responses we had to our request for volunteers for our school disco. We are still in need of some helpers for the Middle/Senior Disco. Please consider volunteering.

Canteen News

We always need more volunteers so please consider if you have time, even if it’s only one shift per term. Training is provided and you can pick the day that suits you and even elect to be with a friend. A current Working with Children Check is required.