NEWSLETTER

Our 2024 Sports Day was a huge success, thanks to PE specialist, Daniel N. We very much appreciate the participation of our students, families and staff. Congratulations to Kolbe House!

Catholic Identity

Welcome to Term 2. I hope you had a great holiday with family and friends. The holidays have provided both children and staff the opportunity to rest and refresh in preparation for this term.

The Easter season is still upon us although Pentecost is fast approaching. The Church season of Easter lasts for 7 weeks leading up to Pentecost. As a church, this year we celebrate Pentecost on Sunday May 19.

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

How many objects can you find that are longer than two of your foot lengths but shorter than three of your foot lengths?

Years 4-6

I have drawn a shape with a perimeter of 24cm. Record all the different ways my shape may look.

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.

Children develop their reading skills, knowledge and understanding by reading regularly. At St Joseph’s School regular reading at home forms a major part of homework set each evening. Why not create regular timeslots throughout the week whereby all electronic devices in the home are turned off and members of the family spend 15 minutes reading together. 

Happy reading.

Teaching and Learning Update:

Choir - J Meyer

St Joseph's again have a choir participating in the Catholic Schools Music Festival in 2024. Rehearsals have begun and the group is enthusiastically learning the songs that form this year's repertoire.

Twenty-nine Year 5 and 6 students are looking forward to being part of this exciting event. Favourite songs currently include Touch the Sky (from the Disney Pixar movie, Brave) and Puttin' on the Ritz (made famous by Fred Astaire).

Ms Denise Rothall visited the choir in Term 1 Week 5 and was impressed by the group's gorgeous sound and ability to sing in tune. A lot of fun is being had.

French - J Meyer

The students have returned enthusiastically to their learning in French. The Olympic Games are being hosted in Paris this year, so there is lots to learn and discuss.

Students in R/1 and 1/2 have begun the year by revising their counting to 30 and commonly used greetings. The groups are becoming more and more confident with their counting and look forward to challenging themselves to see how far they can count independently each week. 

Students in 2/3, 3/4, 4/5 and 5/6 are exploring Francophone locations (nations where French is spoken). Students have been quite surprised by the numerous and varied locations across the world where French is spoken. They have researched the flags of these nations, as well as some 'quick facts'. The focus and effort being shown by students in French lessons has been very pleasing. Très bien tout le monde (well done everybody).

School Start Time 8:45am

I encourage you, if possible, to ensure your child/children are at school by 8:45am each day. This will ensure that your child is present during key explicit teaching moments at the beginning of Literacy and Numeracy Blocks. This will ensure your child is well informed and ready to be a successful learner.

School Master Plan Update

We are very excited to have moved into our new Education and Administration Centre. Last week I was part of a handover Meeting with Horizons Construction as part of the process of taking ownership of the building. Over the next 2 weeks the front of our school hall will cladded to match our new building which will provide additional street appeal along Ina Avenue. 

Staffing News

I would like to officially welcome April McInerney to the position of Preschool Lead Teacher in our school. April has been appointed as Catherine Crosbie’s replacement for the remainder of 2024 and Term 1 2025 while Catherine takes maternity leave. April is an early childhood trained teacher in her 2^nd year. In 2024 April worked as a Kindergarten lead teacher before joining us here at St Joseph’s in Term 1 as a Curriculum Education Support Officer. I’m sure you will join me in welcoming April to the role of Preschool Lead Teacher here at St Joseph’s School. 

Sports Day - Thursday April 11.

Our whole school Sports Day held at the Port Adelaide Athletics Club on Thursday April 11 proved to be a great day full of fun for all our children.

Our Physical Education Coordinator Daniel Nguyen did a great job planning for and facilitating the running of the day. Our House Captains did a great job leading their teams. All staff got into the spirit of the day supporting both their house teams and all our children. The day was a great community building event.

The Kolbe House (Red Team) were the overall Sports Day winners with house captains Houda Semaan and Raphael Bongbong receiving our Sports Day Shield. Their house and names will be engraved on our Sports Day Shield and presented during our next whole school assembly.

Mother’s Day Breakfast

All our mothers are invited to join us in the school Parent Centre between 8:25am and 9:25am this Friday (May 10) for our Mother Day breakfast. APRIM Simon McCullough and I will prepare a bacon and eggs breakfast for all our mums to enjoy. Hoping to see you there.

Term 3 Preschool and Reception Intake

St. Joseph’s School will once again have a Pre-school and Reception intake at the start of Term 3 this year. Our Term 3 new Pre-school children will replace those moving into Reception as part of our Term 3 Reception intake. A new class will be created for our Term 3 new Receptions which will be located next to the current Junior Primary unit. The criteria for starting Pre-school or Reception on the first day of school in Term 3 is that a child will have turned 4 (Pre-school) or 5 (Reception) between 1 May and 31 October in that year. During Term 2 we will hold three transition visit mornings for our new Pre-school and Reception children with the aim of supporting their new start.

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Five Areas of Social and emotional Learning (SEL)

SEL involves developing the ability to understand and manage our emotions, establish positive relationships, develop empathy for others, set and achieve goals and feel good about ourselves.

Be You’s approach to SEL is based on the model developed by the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL), an internationally recognised organisation in this area of research.

Details of the model’s ?ve social and emotional skill areas essential for the development of good mental health are outlined below.

Social awareness

This is the ability to understand and empathise with people from a range of diverse backgrounds, and to understand social and ethical norms of behaviour.

The main skills include:

• perspective-taking
• empathy
• appreciating diversity
• respect for others.

Relationship skills

These involve the ability to develop and maintain healthy and positive relationships with others. They include the ability to communicate clearly, listen, cooperate, resist peer pressure, and negotiate conflict.

The main skills include:

• communication
• social engagement
• relationship building
• teamwork.

Responsible decision-making

This is the ability to make informed and responsible decisions about personal behaviour and social interactions with others, based on adherence to ethical standards, safety concerns and social norms. The main skills include:

• identifying problems
• analysing situations
• solving problems
• self-evaluation
• self-reflection
• ethical responsibility.

To learn more about how you can support the Social and Emotional Learning and Wellbeing of your child visit Be You  https://beyou.edu.au/dashboard/resources/fact-sheets

Kiss and Drop Zone Speed Limit 10km per Hour.

A reminder that the school Kiss and Drop Zone along Rosewater Terrace has a speed limit of 10km per hour. Please ensure you observe the speed limit when using the Kiss and Drop Zone as this is an area where children are entering and exiting the school in large numbers.

A reminder also that the school Kiss and Drop Zone is not a place to park your car if you need to enter the school grounds as this holds up all incoming and outgoing traffic. It also leads to children exiting their cars on Rosewater Terrace and having to manoeuvre between traffic, raising further safety concerns. If you need to come into the school grounds, parking is available along Rosewater Terrace and on Ina Avenue.

Thank you in anticipation of your support with these important safety matter.

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 the love of the Risen Lord be with us during this Easter Season.

Working in partnership with you.

Shaun O’Leary.

Mother’s Day Breakfast and Liturgy

We invite Mothers, Grandmothers or Carers to our Mother’s Day Breakfast on Friday 10th May from 8:15am. We will prepare tea, coffee, bacon and eggs and would love to see you. Following this we will offer a special blessing for you as part of our community prayer gathering.

You are invited to join us when we attend the Parish masses. The dates are;

·         Our Lady Help of Christians Mass Friday 24th May at 10am

·         Sacred Heart of Jesus Mass Friday 7th June at 10am

·         Nativity of John the Baptist Monday 24 June at 10am

Parents and Friends and Volunteers

We would love to see you join us as a volunteer. There are a range of ways to be involved and we greatly appreciate opportunities to work with you and get to know your family. Volunteering requires that you complete a process of induction and also some online training in child protection called, ‘Responding to abuse and neglect.’ All people who work with children are required to do this training. If you would like to volunteer, you will need to complete the following:

·         Speak with Tanya or Alissa about a Working with Children Check which the school will lodge on your behalf.  There is also a personal information form to complete which includes your contact details and those we would contact in any emergency.

·         Complete the required Child Protection training - Responding to abuse and neglect for volunteers. This will take an hour or two and it is done online. Follow the instructions below to locate this training. You will need to register for a PLINK number to access the training on the Department for Education website.

·         Provide the school with a copy of your child protection training certificate. This will be accessible at the end of the training module - Responding to abuse and neglect for volunteers.

·         Follow this link to register and get your plink number. This will allow you access to the training.

https://www.plink.sa.edu.au/pages/signup.jsf

Then access the training through this website:

https://www.plink.sa.edu.au/pages/external-dashboard.jsf?menuId=1104&locale=en-GB&showbundlekeys=false#/?dashboardId=6

Thanks very much for considering becoming a volunteer, we respect and value your time very much. Please let me know if you have any questions. My email is smccullough@stjotto.catholic.edu.au

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Please return to Simon McCullough

I,_______________________________________ would like to support the 2024 Parents and Friends events or volunteer in another way.

My child / children are in:__________________________________________(class)

I am best contacted on: ___________________________________ (phone / email)

2024 School Fees

A reminder that Low Income Remissions are available to families who are approved for Scholl Card. School Card must be applied for each year (it does not carry over from the previous year).

https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/education-and-learning/financial-help-scholarships-and-grants/school-card-scheme

Should you be experiencing difficulties with meeting your fee obligations please make a time to see Finance Officer Kali Brown.

Dear Parents and Caregivers.

Welcome to Week 2, Term 2, 2024 in OSHC.

Children are in a safe supervised environment; learning happens while children play, have fun, and make new friends.

Please feel welcome to visit.

Morning care in OSHC is available, 6.30-8.30am.                                          

Afterschool care in OSHC is available 3.00-6.00pm, 2.45-6.00pm Tuesday.

Please remember to make a booking when you need OSHC.

All bookings can be made by ringing or messaging the OSHC mobile on 0437 863 067.                                               

If there is no answer leave a message on the service. I will call or message you back.                            

Making a booking helps us keep the child/educator ratio in line with legislation.                                                                                          

24 hours’ notice is necessary when cancelling a booking or charges will occur.

All parents using OSHC will need to check their myGov app to check for messages.              

When you attend OSHC casually.     

Please remember check your myGov app and Centrelink for messages.                                                                                                                                      

When parents use OSHC casually you won’t automatically receive CCS (Childcare Subsidy).

Follow the prompts-confirming that you used the OSHC service.

Centrelink is just confirming that you are using the service.

Parents/caregivers are welcome to read the OSHC Policies, feel welcome to ask and I will make copies available for your perusal.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Mieke   

OSHC Director   

29th - School Board Meeting

18th - Pupil Free Day

OSCH available contact Mieke