Newsletter 18 2023
Principal's Report
Hello to Families and all in the St Joseph's School Community,
This week I took the opportunity to have a chat with the Grade 3-6 students, asking them to reflect on the teaching, learning and day-to-day practices at St Joseph’s School. It was fantastic to hear the student’s feedback and I cannot place enough importance on the value of students sharing their perspectives and ideas. Providing the opportunity for student voice empowers students to have a say in matters that directly affect them, making them active participants rather than passive learners. Student voice opens up a world of opportunities which I hope to investigate next semester; engagement, different perspectives, responsibility, democracy, leadership, inclusivity and possibly, some challenges. Unfortunately, we can’t have an in-ground pool or inbuilt trampolines……..but maybe we can look at new basketball and netball rings! Students raised our languages program, sports equipment, collaborative activities and the possibility of some more activities like the carpentry we did on our school feast day. As a result of our chat, students negotiated to have a casual clothes day, a DVD and lunch from Duhok Fish and Chip Café on the final day of the term (quite the negotiators), which I am happy to accommodate!
This Sunday sees the Catholic Church move back into the Liturgical Season of Ordinary Time. This commences with the Gospel story of Matthew in which Jesus calls his twelve disciples. This is a fitting reminder as the term comes to an end, of the Christian message, that each of us is called to live as a disciple of Jesus, spreading love, kindness and good will in both word and action.
SCHOOL LEADERS TERM TWO
During Term Two Charlie Zagame and Liam Monaghan have officially led St Joseph’s School. Their duties began with ANZAC Day right at the beginning of the term and they have had many opportunities to speak on behalf of the school. I congratulate the boys on their efforts and hope that they experience many more positions of leadership as they progress through their secondary schooling. Charlie and Liam will present a short speech each at our usual assembly on Monday morning, reflecting on their term as leaders.
END OF TERM TWO
As noted above, students are permitted to wear casual clothes to school on the last day of Term Two – Friday 23rd June, 2023. Students will be treated to a suitable movie on this day and a lunch of chips and/or potato cakes will be offered. Orders will be taken at school and the cost will be covered by the school. Any students not wanting this lunch are welcome to bring along their own lunch from home.
WELCOME GRACE
This week we welcomed Grace Leeder to St Joseph’s School community. Grace was a past student during my time at St Mary’s School in Donald. She is currently studying to become a teacher and contacted the school about doing volunteer work during the university semester break. Grace will be helping out at St Joseph’s each Thursday for the time being. Welcome Grace!
VISITORS
This week the school has been supported with visits from Patrice Rickard, DOBCEL psychologist, working with families and individuals. I also received a visit from Noel Dillion, who supports principals in his role at the Independent Education Union. Noel’s support is very timely as staff prepare to vote on a new agreement next week, in relation to work load, pay rates and conditions.
COMMUNITY GARDEN
Yesterday the students were thrilled to have a visit from Mrs Bianca Winslade and some Year 9 Charlton College students to work in the Community Garden. Mrs Winslade and the older students had prepared the beds for planting, and assisted the St Joseph’s students to plant out an array of vegetable seedlings. I can feel some delicious cooking sessions coming on next Term. Thank you to all!
WORLD MUSIC & YOGA DAY
Next week World Music & Yoga day is celebrated. We are joining the celebrations by having a music, movement and yoga session with the very talented Averyl Loft from Wycheproof. The session is next Thursday and the four year old Kinder kids have been invited to join in the Junior’s session. Evidence based research is increasingly showing that music, movement and yoga sessions enhance imagination, develop motor skills and social skills, aid cognitive development and improve language and communication skills.
STUDENT ABSENCE FROM SCHOOL
Under Department of Education Regulations, typically the only acceptable reasons for absence from school are illness and medical or dental appointments that cannot be arranged outside of school hours. In accordance with the Education and Training Reform Act 2006, schooling is compulsory for children and young people aged from 6-17 years. It is a legal requirement that parents contact the school regarding any student absences or lateness.
In the event of any absence or lateness, a note, phone call, text message or email, explaining the reason is required. This must be done before 9:30am on the day of absence.
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.
Standard 9: Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed.
In complying with Child Safe Standard 9 an organisation must, at a minimum, ensure:
9.1 Staff and volunteers identify and mitigate risks in the online and physical environments without compromising a child’s right to privacy, access to information, social connections and learning opportunities.
9.2 The online environment is used in accordance with the organisation’s Code of Conduct and Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy and practices.
9.3 Risk management plans consider risks posed by organisational setting, activities and the physical environment.
9.4 Organisations that contract facilities and services from third parties have procurement policies that ensure the safety of children and young people.
Important Dates
Thursday 22nd June – Averyl Loft visiting for Children’s Movement and Yoga sessions
Friday 23rd June – reports posted on PAM
END OF TERM TWO - DISMISSAL at 2:30PM
Monday 10th July – Term Three commences
PRELIMINARY NOTICE – August 2nd will be a school closure day at St Joseph’s School.
Please keep on the dates as they continue to populate in each weekly newsletter and aim to avoid appointments on these days so all students can participate.
Mary Hogan
Principal
Foundation/1/2 Class Report
Religion
The class have been completing their final assessment for the unit 'Wonder'. It has been enjoyable to spend time reflecting on the Wonder of Creation. Students have shown pleasing understanding of the areas covered and produced some beautiful prayers related to the environment and our responsibility to care for God's creation.
Language
This week amidst Term assessments students have been busy writing interesting stories. After reading about future space travel students have produced some entertaining pieces which they enjoyed sharing with Mrs. Hogan. Well done.
Mathematics
The students have also completed term assessments throughout the week and have shown pleasing progress in their understanding of fractions. The cut up apples have provided me with tasty lunch snacks.
I have greatly enjoyed my first term at St. Joseph's and teaching the Junior Class.
Families are invited to contact me if you would like to discuss your child's learning prior to the end of Term or early next term after reading the Report.
Anne Anderson
Grade 3/4 Class Report
This week in Literacy we are revising our understanding of poetry. We are focusing on the shared reading text of ‘Waltzing Matilda’ with a focus on text features, such as verses. Students have read and discussed the themes in the poem and discussed the varying vocabulary presented. In their reading students continue to practice their reading skills- focusing on accuracy, fluency and expression in their reading. In OLSEL we are focusing this week on identifying syllables and singular and plural phonemes (diagraphs, trigraphs and quadgraphs) of the words that we read and spell. We have had a focus on the long i phoneme represented in i-e, i, y, igh and ie in our OLSEL, Sound Waves booklets and handwriting. In writing, students are revising their understanding of poetry. Students are looking at what an ‘ode’ is and how to create one of their own. Students are also completing their research and beginning to draft their information reports. All students have written a clear and concise introduction early in the week and have continued to work on their draft, focusing on the subheadings of diet, habitat and appearance.
In Maths we are revising our understanding of addition and subtraction with various mental strategies such as jump and split strategy. We are focusing on carrying over and borrowing and ensuring that these concepts are sound in the student’s understanding. We are focusing on mental strategies to support these concepts, such as building to ten. Students have read, written and solved vertical and horizontal sums using these strategies along with modelling with MAB to support concept understanding if required. Students are also revising doubling and near doubling strategies.
In Religion we have explored the physical structure of a church and the different symbolism in each part. Students have linked this learning with our local church and identified these in the Catholic Church.
Homework contract 15 and spelling words are due this Friday please. Thank you.
Grade 5/6 Class Report
Grade 5 & 6
Our young people are the best learners! Students are rapidly finding their way around the Chrome Books and becoming familiar with word processing and presentation of work. Much of our week has centred around assessment and data collection, in preparation for reporting to parents at the end of the semester. Term Two has certainly flown by and it’s hard to believe the school year is almost half way through.
ENGLISH
Students have continued to work on their research project on a chosen animal. I have modelled explicitly how to read to locate relevant information, highlight key facts, take dot point notes and then transfer notes into sentences using your own words. Students have used their Chrome Books to practise locating, copying and pasting relevant images to support their written information. In Grammar we have reviewed verbs and their use, and how tense stays uniform within a text (past, present or future).
MATHEMATICS
In Mathematics, we have completed our unit of work on division, with all students showing an understanding of the concept, and being able to complete the formal division process to their individual level. This week we have completed a number of diagnostic reviews and assessments to collect data for reporting. This data also provides valuable information about specific areas individuals may need to revise before the end of the semester. If you are looking for a quick activity to practise with students at home, can I recommend adding or subtracting 10, 100, 1000 from any given number (eg 345 +10, +100, + 1000).
A reminder that students should have their satchel, reader, diary and Homework Pocket at school each day.
Planting the Seeds in the Garden Beds
Community News
Acknowledgement to 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.