St Joseph’s Primary School Charlton eNewsletter

Principal's Report

Hello to Families and all in the St Joseph's School Community,

Term Three is quickly coming to a close with just three weeks remaining! As we edge towards the end of term we will welcome the season of Spring next week. This is personally one of my favourite times of year as the days lengthen, the crops and gardens grow and the weather begins to warm up a little. In the Catholic Church September 1^st also signals the start of the Season of Creation, which runs for the duration of the month. This is a time for Christians to focus on the gift of creation and how they can care for this precious gift. I include below the prayer which was published on this week’s DOBCEL newsletter.

Last week I had a visit from Tom Sexton (DOBCEL Executive Director). We had a lengthy chat about all that is happening at St Joseph’s, about Structured Literacy, staffing and all things education. Mr Sexton was delighted to witness an enthusiastic rendition of one of our concert songs during his visit.

On Monday we welcome the Jince Family to the St Joseph’s School Community. A warm welcome to Jince, Princey, Edwin and Ethan! Edwin joins the Grade 3 & 4 students and Ethan joins the Junior Class. I know the community will join me in making the family feel welcome and hope their time at St Joe’s will be fulfilling and rewarding.

With commitment to our shared journey,
Mary Hogan

God of All Creation,

Blessed are those who hold the space for dialogue with the natural world, God, and each other, for they will hear the fullness of life.

Blessed are those who enter into relationship with the natural world, for they will know the intrinsic value of all of God’s Creation.

Blessed are those who heal the wounded earth for they will be restored to right relationship with all of Creation.

Blessed are those who discern the voice of Creation for they will receive an experience of God in a language not our own.

Blessed are those who see with the eyes of their heart for their vision will imagine the potential for new life to emerge.

Blessed are those who nurture the needs of the living and nonliving world, for they will be nourished in body and spirit.

Blessed are those who live simply, for their discipline will bring harmony with the rhythms of life.

Blessed are those who cultivate a life of prayer for they will know an inner cosmos that honours the outer world.

Blessed are those who participate in civil affairs for they will bring the cry and song of the earth to systems of power and policy.

Blessed are those who have gratitude for they will receive the gift of abundance.

Amen

[Adapted from The Laudato Si Movement]

Father's Day

A reminder that we have our Father’s Day breakfast from 8:00am in the morning. Students are keen for a Fathers V Students soccer match – so wear your running shoes! They have provided some alternative activities for anyone needing a less active event!

School Concert

Our school concert is now only twelve sleeps away! Make sure you have saved the date –

SEPTEMBER 10^th at 7:00pm.

A costume note has gone home today so please rescue this from students’ bags! Contact the School Office if you have any problems with costumes or with any questions.

Active Breakfast

St Joseph's is hosting an ACTIVE BREAKFAST next Tuesday 3rd September. Breakfast will be provided for students on this day. Parents, grandparents and community members are most welcome to join us from 9:40am for a cuppa and to listen to the guest speakers - Nick Thompson & Lily Campbell. See flyer below.

Students of the Week

Camps and Excursion Dates

Grade 5&6 Melbourne Camp - 15th - 18th October

Grade 3 & 4 - Billabong Ranch Echuca - 7th & 8th November

Prep/1/2 - Discovery Science & Technology Centre Bendigo - 13th November

Foundation/1/2 Class Report

What a fun few weeks we have had!

Book Week was an absolute hit with everyone dressing up as their favourite book character.

The children participate in a Colouring Competition and there was a price for each year level.

Foundation - Shepherd Mills

Grade 1 - Samantha Revell

Grade 2 - Mia Wright and Johan Siju

We went for a visit down to the kindergarten to show the kinder kids our Book Week costumes and had a play while we were there, the children had a ball!

Grade 3/4 Class Report

Literacy: Students are working on using strong connectives in their writing, such as when, where and who. They are using sentence stems (sentence starters) and a chosen connective word to create more complex sentences with one or more ideas. Students are constantly working on improving the complexity of vocabulary used in their writing and using descriptive words and phrases. Students are constantly working on their reading skills, including reading accurately, fluently, with expression and appropriate pace and speed. Currently in our shared reading text, is focused on how living things can be interdependent, revising what living things are classified as and the life cycles of some of these living things, such as butterflies.

Maths: Last week we completed our work on graphing and interpreting data. This week, students are learning about lines, symmetry and 2D shape properties. Students are naming a variety of regular and irregular 2D shapes, creating lines of symmetry and discovering their properties. We continue to revise and practice our mental maths daily in our books.

Book week last week was a great success and enjoyed by students and staff alike. Students enjoyed a variety of Book week activities last week, including making dioramas of our Book week theme ‘Reading is Magic’.

This week, students have been very busy learning their lines, parts and songs of the upcoming play.

Grade 5/6 Class Report

We had a wonderful celebration for Book Week with students getting in the spirit with the dress up day last Wednesday. Well done to Henry and Sophie who won the colouring competition in Grade 5 & 6.

I am super impressed with the increased amount of home reading being completed – amazing work everyone and keep up the wonderful effort. Remember – “The more you read the more you’ll know. The more you know the places you’ll go!” (Dr Seuss) We have finished up our focus text on Changes in Matter. Students have completed an assessment this week and I am very impressed with their understanding of the content. Ask them all about changes in matter – evaporation, condensation, corrosion, combustion, suspensions, solutions!!!!

Students have also completed an assessment on Fractions, Decimals and percentages and have shown considerable growth from their pre-assessment data. We will continue to consolidate our work with percentages as the year progresses.

Students have a spelling sheet and a homework sheet due each Friday.

Mary Hogan

Wellbeing

Tuesday 3^rd September we will be hosting Nick Thompson and Lily Campbell, who will be speaking to the students and community members regarding healthy eating and sport. We wish to thank the Mallee Sports Assembly and East Wimmera Health for their assistance in allowing this opportunity.

It is great to see the students are popping in for breakfast on the Tuesday and Wednesday morning. Students are enjoying colouring, playing Connect 4 and having wonderful conversations with everyone.

This weeks challenge is to ask ,”What are 3 things you are grateful for today?”

Mrs Wright

St Joseph's School TV

As we transition back into school routine, this week's report on our School TV page is all about sleep!

Children these days seem to be going to bed later and later. Distractions such as TV, computer games, internet, texting friends and social media are all having a negative impact on a child’s sleep time. Sleep is vital to a child’s wellbeing. When children sleep well, they are more settled, happier and ready for school the next day. Sleep also strengthens their immune systems, supports overall development and their ability to function properly on a daily basis. Children who do not get enough sleep show increased levels of aggressive behaviour, are less attentive and are much less active. Trying to catch up on sleep on weekends is not the answer and can still lead to severe sleep deprivation. Recent studies have shown than many children, especially teenagers, are missing out on vital REM sleep, which is particularly important for memory and learning

Start exploring SchoolTV today! https://sjcharlton.catholic.schooltv.me/

Child Safety

The care, safety and wellbeing of children and young people is a central and fundamental responsibility of Catholic Education. St Joseph’s School is committed to strengthened practice for the protection of children in line with the Victorian Government child safety reforms.

Child Safety - digital images

Taking Photos/Video Footage
As we begin a new year a reminder to parents and family members to please ensure, when at school events, to take photos or video footage of your child/ren only. Please do NOT post photos of children, other than your own, at school events or wearing school uniform, on personal social media pages other than your own. Thank you for your cooperation in using social media respectfully helping to keep everyone in our school community safe online.

Community News

Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge the Dja Dja Wurrung people as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of this land. We pay respect to Elders past, present and emerging. We thank them for sharing their cultures, spiritualities and ways of living with the land, in this place we all now call home.

Newsletter 15, 29th August,2024