NEWSLETTER

Welcome

As I have been moving around the school each day it has been very pleasing to see that children have settled well into the new school year. In classrooms children are busy engaged in the learning opportunities presented to them, enjoying each other’s company, and learning together. 

I hope that their experiences at St Joseph’s encourages their love of learning and sense of curiosity. I hope, too, that their families feel connected with their children’s learning and development, and that our partnership with them is long and prosperous.   

Catholic Identity

In the past I have used the following piece of scripture from the book of Jeremiah with staff:

The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord; Come, go down to the potter’s house, and there I will let you hear my words. So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was working at his wheel. The vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as seemed good to him. Then the word of the Lord came to me: Can I not do with you, O house of Israel, just as the potter has done? Says the Lord. Just like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel. (Jeremiah 18: 1-6)

This piece of scripture reminds us of how impressionable children can be and the impact our attitudes, words and actions have on the development of children in our care. Our school motto of, In All Things Love calls us to ensure that words spoken, decisions made, and actions taken are out of love, compassion and respect for each individual child in our care.

Parent Information Evening & School Board AGM- Monday February 10

It was encouraging to see the number of families attend our Parent Information Evening and School Board AGM on Monday February 10. The evening provided an opportunity for parents to gain an insight into their children’s classroom learning environment and routines along with hear about ways they can support their children’s learning at home. In addition, those who attended the School Board AGM were able to gain an insight into our school achievements for 2024 along with how the school is tracking in terms of strategic planning and finance. The partnership between home and school is a vitally important one as there is concrete evidence which states that high parent engagement supports children in their academic and social development. Thank you to all the parents and carers who joined us on this evening. Thank you also to all our teachers for their efforts in preparing for and facilitating the evening.

Parent/Teacher interviews will take place during Week 9 of this term. More information will be forwarded to families closer to the time.

Whole School Excursion Friday February 14

Our whole school excursion to Tusmore Park on Friday February 14 proved to be a great success. The day provided an opportunity for the whole school community to spend time together having fun and getting to know each other. Across the first 3 weeks of each school year teachers spend a lot of time developing relationships with their children and allowing their children to develop relationships with each other. This strategy forms the basis for a successful school year. Our whole school excursion in Week 2 or 3 of Term 1 each year compliments this strategy very well.

Ash Wednesday - Wednesday March 5

As a school we will join the parish community in celebrating Ash Wednesday mass in St Maximilian Kolbe Church. Parents are very welcome to join us during this mass. 

St. Joseph’s Feast Day - Wednesday March 19

As a whole school we will celebrate the feast day of St Joseph on Wednesday March 19. The St Joseph House Team will lead our whole school liturgy which will be followed by several fun activities. Parents are very welcome to join our celebration. Further details about the day will be forwarded to you closer to the time.

Pupil Free Day - Friday March 21

Our staff will be involved in professional learning facilitated by Autism SA, focusing on working with children on the autism spectrum. As this is a whole staff day, Mieke Vandenbos and the OSHC staff will join us and as a result OSHC will not be available on Friday March 21.

Sports Day - Thursday May 1

Sport Day this year will once again be held at the Port Adelaide Athletics Club.

Curriculum News

I have included two mathematical tasks which you might like to have a go at with your child/children.

This week’s Mathematical tasks:

Reception to Year 3

I am thinking of a number between 10 and 100 with a single 7 in it. What might my number be?

What numbers can you make using 2, 4 and 6?

Years 4-6

How many numbers can you make using the digits 3, 5, 7 and 9? You can only use each digit once in each number.

Two numbers multiply to give 12000. What might the two numbers be?

Happy inquiry.

Reading is another core learning area here at St Joseph’s School. Our staff use an agreed set of practices around children’s development of reading skills, knowledge and understanding. These practices shape our reading programs across the school.

Below are some strategies you might like to try at home to support your children’s learning:

• Encourage and model reading in the home
• Listen to your child read their reading material and ask specific questions related to what they have read                                      
• Read with your child
• Share what you are reading with your child
• Read your child a bedtime story
• Talk to your child about the different situations you find yourself in whereby you are required to read texts.

Happy reading.

Teaching and Learning

Our whole school English and Mathematics blocks commenced this week. English and Mathematics Blocks are daily non-interrupted times where teaching and learning is focused on developing children’s understanding, knowledge, and skills in these vital areas of school life.

I have the pleasure of working with all classes across the school during one of their Mathematics Block lessons each week. Enhancing children’s learning outcomes through providing contemporary child centred and engaging learning opportunities is our focus as teachers. Being in relationship with our children and their families, working in partnership to support all learners across the school is an important part of what we do.

2025 NAPLAN Testing

This year our Year 3 and Year 5 children will once again complete their NAPLAN testing online although the Year 3 Writing Test will continue to be a paper test. NAPLAN is a nationally developed program that provides schools, states, and territories with information about how education programs are working and what areas need to be prioritised for improvement. NAPLAN tests are administered simultaneously in all schools across Australia and the content of the tests are aligned to the Australian Curriculum; English and Mathematics. The 2025 NAPLAN Testing window opens on March 12 and closes on March 24. NAPLAN Tests are just one of many assessments conducted at our school.

School Master Plan Update

We are almost at the stage of signing off on final drawings for Stage Three of our School Masterplan (refurbishment of downstairs classrooms, relocation of canteen and student toilets). Building works are scheduled to commence in May. During the last week of this term, Year 1-2D will relocate to the classroom occupied by the mid-year Reception class in previous years. At the same time, Year 2-3CC will relocate to the school hall. Building work are due to be completed by the end of 2025.

Student Safety and Wellbeing

The Catholic Archdiocese of Adelaide Safeguarding Children and Young People policy can be found on our school website under Community, Welfare, Your Child’s Welfare. The policy outlines the key principles and responsibilities of Catholic schools to ensure a total community approach towards the protection of children and young people in their care. I encourage you to visit our website to view the full policy.

The Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum, in a sense is the curriculum component of the Catholic Archdiocese of Adelaide Safeguarding Children and Young People policy links directly to the Religious Education Curriculum, the Made in the Image of God Curriculum and our professional learning around the Kids Matter program. The Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum forms a large part of our classroom focus during the first 3 weeks of the school year. 

Why we teach children about keeping safe.

School systems have a legal responsibility to protect children and young people from abuse in their settings and in the wider community. All children and young people have a right to:

• be treated with respect and to be protected from harm
• be asked for their opinions about things that affect their lives and to be listened to
• feel and be safe in their interactions with adults and other children and young people
• understand as early as possible what is meant by 'feeling and being safe'.

Curriculum Themes

The curriculum follows 2 main themes:

• we all have the right to be safe
• we can help ourselves to be safe by talking to people we trust.

The 2 themes are explored through 4 focus areas:

• the right to be safe
• relationships
• recognising and reporting abuse
• protective strategies.

The focus areas are targeted to the age of the learners.

The Cyber Safety: Keeping Children Safe in a Connected World document can also be found on our school website under Community, Welfare, Your Child’s Welfare. The document aims to ensure a safe learning environment for all children when using ICTs and working online.

Our Student Wellbeing & Personal Responsibility school policy can also be found on our school website under Community, Welfare, Your Child’s Welfare.

Collectively these documents outline the processes and protocols in place to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all children in our care.

If you have any questions around any of these documents or would like further clarification, feel free to speak to your child’s classroom teacher, our APRIM Simon McCullough or myself.

Our school is registered on the Be You (formerly Beyond Blue) website to receive regular communication around professional learning opportunities to support the wellbeing of our children. The website also provides a range of resources and ideas to support the mental health and wellbeing of our young people. I encourage you to visit the website at https://beyou.edu.au/and have a look for yourself.

Audiri App

To keep up to date with what is happening within our school along with upcoming school events why not download the AudiriApp from the App Store on your mobile phone. Once downloaded simply search St Joseph’s School, Ottoway and add to your Audiri page. Many of our families currently use the Audiri App to keep up to date with what is happening across our school.

May God continue to bless all our families throughout 2025.

Working in partnership with you.

Shaun O’Leary.

May God continue to bless all our families throughout 2025.

Working in partnership with you.

Shaun O’Leary.

Parents and Friends and Volunteers

We appreciated the support of parents on our first excursion to Tusmore Park. Thanks to our volunteers!

Sacrament Program 2025

We keep our 2025 Sacrament Program group in our prayers this year as they get ready for the Sacraments of Reconciliation, First Communion and Confirmation. This program is facilitated each Monday from 2pm in the Church.

Jack, Felicity, Tania, Romy, Mary-Kate, Aaleyah, Giulia, Stacey, An, Faith, Harmony, Camille, Glyzelle, Cailey, Juilianna, Ageil and Stacey

Upcoming dates -

• Ash Wednesday Mass 10am 5/3
• St Patrick’s Mass 10am Monday 17/3
• St Joseph’s Mass 10am Wednesday 19/3 - St Joseph’s House celebration day
• Pupil free day Friday 21 March - Autism SA Facilitating Working with Children on the ASD Spectrum
• Friday April 11: School Directed Non-Teaching Day
• Annunciation Mass Tuesday 10am 25/3
• Holy Week liturgies throughout Week 11

14^th Whole School Excursion to Tusmore Park

10^th Term 1 Concludes 3:00pm