Newsletter 20 2023

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

I hope each family enjoyed the Winter semester break and feel rejuvenated to tackle Term Three. Staff and students gathered for Assembly on Monday morning to begin the term. We shared in some information slides and a prayer relating to NAIDOC Week. Students were also reminded of the importance of “BEING THEIR BEST” and aiming for a positive term ahead. We also welcomed Harry and Clancy as the new Grade 6 Leaders for Term three.

 Across every generation, our Elders have played, and continue to play, an important role and hold a prominent place in our communities and families.
They are cultural knowledge holders, trailblazers, nurturers, advocates, teachers, survivors, leaders, hard workers and our loved ones.
Our loved ones who pick us up in our low moments and celebrate us in our high ones. Who cook us a feed to comfort us and pull us into line, when we need them too. 
They guide our generations and pave the way for us to take the paths we can take today. Guidance, not only through generations of advocacy and activism, but in everyday life and how to place ourselves in the world. 
We draw strength from their knowledge and experience and they have set the many courses we follow. 

And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of
 his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has
commanded us.

God of wondrous possibility
Take my story and my life
Give me courage to stand for justice 

God of dreaming and mystery
Forgive my blind complaining
Give me vision to walk remembering your history

God of truth and love
Take my bruised hands and feet
Give me strength and grace to stand for truth

God of safety and singing
Take my mouth and my voice
Give me words to inspire and encourage

 God of knowledge and creativity
Take my whole being
Help me stretch, broaden and deepen

 God of goodness and hope
Take my connections and influence
And help me stand for Voice and Justice
Amen

FORTNIGHTLY EDITION
This term, as is the practice in many schools, we will transition to a fortnightly edition of our school newsletter. Reminders, new dates and important information will be shared via SIMON Everywhere in the off weeks. Staff will also continue to share information and learning via the class Dojo or Seesaw apps.

BENDIGO BANK GRANT
St Joseph’s School was thrilled to learn we had received a grant from the Bendigo Bank’s Charlton & District Community Investment Program to the sum of $11, 858. This has allowed us to top up the soft-fall beneath the play equipment and to purchase new padding for the poles throughout the playground area. We say a huge “Thank You” and appreciate the Bendigo Bank helping to keep the students of St Joseph’s safe in the playground!

 SPORTING SCHOOLS
We were also pleased to discover that we had successfully secured Sporting Schools funding for Term Three which has enabled us to provide the students with Athletics coaching in the lead up to the Calder Athletic Sports. Garnet Rodda from Bendigo worked with all students on Wednesday to facilitate the first sessions. Students worked on their running (sprinting and long distance) and shot put. I am told St Joseph’s have a good track record in athletics so hopefully Garnet alleviates a little pressure for me!

HOMEWORK
Homework should never cause stress or added pressure in our family households. Homework is provided for students to practice their reading, to learn words/spelling and to reinforce curriculum work being covered at school. If you are pressed for time, please prioritise reading, then words/spelling and finally other set tasks, in the order I have listed them.

WELLBEING
I was successful with an application for a one year’s free subscription to the Smiling Minds Program which is designed to nurture well-being in students. The program has many excellent resources for teachers to access and strategies we can implement in the yard and classrooms. Further to this, the program provides targeted suggestions for working with individuals on such things as emotional regulation, mindfulness and positive thinking. Staff will start professional learning in Smiling Minds beginning this term. The following article was on the Smiling Minds Blog this week and I thought it well worth sharing with you!

Mental Fitness
What is mental fitness, and what does it mean?
The term ‘Mental fitness’ is an analogy of physical fitness. Mental fitness doesn’t literally mean the brain is a muscle that can be worked out, but the concept is grounded in the idea that health—whether it’s physical or mental—can be improved by doing the right training consistently. 
Physical training builds strength and increases our body’s capability to take on the physical demands of daily life. Meanwhile, intentional mental training improves our minds’ capability to manage, recover from and prevent potential mental challenges like stress, anxiety and depression. 
Intentional mental training builds mental fitness.

How do we define mental fitness?
Smiling Mind defines mental fitness as our ability to perform at our best each day, navigate challenges, and support a state of positive mental wellbeing even during challenging times.
In practice, mental fitness involves consistently and intentionally developing mental resources we can draw upon to respond to setbacks, sustain healthy relationships, navigate change and uncertainty, and make effective decisions.
Mental fitness can be practised proactively, before any signs of mental ill-health arise, or at the early stages of experiencing challenges and stressors.
Research highlights several mental skills that, if practised regularly, can set us up for life-long mental health and wellbeing, and enable thriving.
Led by this research and an extensive evidence base, Smiling Mind has created a unique mental fitness framework, pulling a range of these key mental skills into five distinct areas that can be trained and developed. 

Smiling Mind defines these areas as:

Similar to physical fitness, we expect to see the biggest impact when we develop ourselves across multiple areas—evidence specifically supports these five pillars of mental fitness.

STRUCTURED LITERACY
This Term, staff continue their professional learning of Structured Literacy. I am excited about the prospect of implementing this program in 2024 and beyond. We are already trialling some of the strategies and concepts in our classrooms and finding the explicit and structured nature is providing promising outcomes. In week three of this term, Mrs Armstrong, Mrs Byrne and myself are journeying to Mildura to witness the program in action in one of the founding schools. Below is some information from one of the program’s leaders, Emma Rutherford:

As many of you would be aware, St Joseph's, Charlton has joined the Diocese of Ballarat's Structured Literacy Project. We have taken the first steps towards a renewed, evidence-based approach to Literacy instruction through participation in the award-winning SunLit Action Research.

The Sciences of Reading and Learning tell us that a systematic, explicit approach to the teaching of the alphabetic code and the grammatical rules that underpin written English offers our students the best chance at becoming confidently literate. The approach we are strategically adopting is called Structured Literacy, which is the approach endorsed by the International Dyslexia Association, the International Literacy Association and the Australian National Inquiry into the Teaching of Literacy.

As a staff, we are working closely with Emma Rutherford and Breeana Wade, from the Catholic Education Office, to learn more about the principles, elements and characteristics of a Structured Literacy approach. We will shortly be implementing an evidence-based Phonics program, called 'No Nonsense Phonics'. Find more about the program here: https://nononsensephonics.com/.

We will strive to keep you updated on the progress of this important project, but for now you may like to follow the following Facebook groups to find out more about the Sciences of Reading and Learning:

The SunLit Project
Reading Science in Schools
Read Ballarat

A SHARED JOURNEY
Families received mid-year reports at the end of last term. Staff spent a lot of time assessing and preparing accurate progression reports for each student. Parents are encouraged to contact class teachers if they wish to follow up any of the information provided in the reports. Likewise, we know that when parents, students and teachers share the journey of education best outcomes are achieved. You are encouraged, and welcomed, to contact class teachers or myself, at any time you wish to discuss your child’s learning and social-emotional development. The link for the DOBCEL Grievance Procedures for Parents & Care Givers can be found on our school website and is linked at the end of the Principal's Report for your convenience.

Students have been encouraged to “BE THEIR BEST” as we commence this school term. Some possible ways of living this at St Joseph’s School are:

• By making your own choices
• By following school rules and expectations
• By using appropriate language, even if you are angry or upset
• By using manners and being polite
• By showing respect to staff and peers
• By speaking in sentences when interacting
• By having a positive attitude and trying to turn negative thoughts around
• By being willing to have a go at new things or tricky things

MEET MRS ANDERSON
Parents of Junior Room students are warmly invited to meet class teacher, Mrs Anderson on Thursday 27th of July from 8:00am.
Join us for a morning cuppa and muffin in the school Staff Room. 

NCCD – Nationally Consistent Collection of Data
Yesterday Maria Richards (Education Consultant), Mrs Armstrong and myself compiled the school’s information about the diverse learning needs of our students. This task is completed annually and enables us to better understand the individual needs of our students and how each child can best be supported each day at St Joseph’s. Mrs Armstrong, in her role as Learning Diversity Leader, has worked very hard to complete assessments, liaise with parents and compile all the relevant information needed for this data collection. I thank her for dedication, which ensured a smooth process, ensuring best outcomes for our students.

WELCOME BRIDIE
This term we welcome Bridie Curran to the St Joseph’s School Community. Bridie is our new CARSO Officer (Compliance and Risk Management Officer), employed via DOBCEL. Bridie replaces Donna Wood who worked tirelessly to ensure our school was up to date and informed about all compliance and risk management issues. I extend a sincere thank you to Donna for her work over previous years at St Joseph’s and wish her well for her pending retirement. I extend a warm welcome to Bridie and hope she enjoys her time liaising with St Joseph’s in her new role. Welcome Bridie!

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 10
Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is regularly reviewed and improved.

In complying with Child Safe Standard 9 an organisation must, at a minimum, ensure:

10.1  The organisation regularly reviews, evaluates and improves child safe practices.

10.2  Complaints, concerns and safety incidents are analysed to identify causes and systemic failures to inform continuous improvement.

10.3  The organisation reports on the findings of relevant reviews to staff and volunteers, community and families, and children and young people.

Important Dates
Tuesday and Wednesday 19 & 20th July - Mrs Olive away at Professional learning. The Office will be unattended and the phone diverted to Mrs Hogan.

Wednesday 2nd August - School Closure Day 
Thursday 3rd August - Calder Athletic Sports
Thursday 17th August - Badminton Tournament Shepparton
Week beginning monday July 21st - Book Week
Friday 1st September - Father's Day Breakfast
Friday 15th September - End of Term Three

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