2023 Newsletter Term 2 Week 7

Dear Families and Friends

We have enjoyed another week of beautiful North Queensland winter weather. No better place to be at this time of the year.

While I was grocery shopping this week, I had an interesting conversation with someone in the community who explained to me that Catholic Schools get heaps more money from the government than State Schools do. They were pleasantly surprised when I explained that this is not the case and that is why parents pay school fees to help our school run.

This misconception must be shared with other people in our community so I thought it might be helpful to share with our families how funding for our school and other Catholic schools works.

Catholic schools, only receive 74% (Federal 58.4%; State Gov 15.6%) of the total cost associated with per student funding compared to 96.8% (76.3% State Gov; 20.5% Fed Gov) which Ed. Qld schools receive. School fees and levies exist to go a small way towards bridge the government funding shortfall.

As you can see from the above figures, Ed. Qld schools’ main source of funding is received from the State Government while the majority of funding for Catholic Schools is sourced from the Federal Government.

Where do school fees & levies go?

School fees and levies you pay are a major source of income and are directed towards additional teacher and support staff wages, classroom resourcing, capital projects, IT upgrades, building & grounds maintenance, library and curriculum resourcing and of course general operating expenses such as insurance, rates, electricity etc. 

Families also need to keep in mind that the school always strives to keep fees and levies to an absolute minimum. When you consider the resourcing levels and amount of free of charge opportunities available for students here at St Joseph’s, the level of fees is extremely reasonable. Of course, we do understand that from time to time, families fall on financial hardship. Our fees and levies are not designed to be a burden on any family. All we ask is that you contact the office to make an appointment to come in and discuss alternative payment options or concessions.

National Sorry Day & National Reconciliation Week

As shared last week, May 26 is National Sorry Day. It is marked as a day of healing, commemorating the Stolen Generations. It is part of the ongoing efforts towards reconciliation. Last Friday morning we joined together in liturgy as part of St Joseph’s understanding the truth of our past and saying sorry.

National Sorry Day is a day to acknowledge the strength of Stolen Generations Survivors and reflect on how we can all play a part in the healing process for our people and nation.

The theme for National Reconciliation Week 2023, Be a Voice for Generations, encourages all Australians to be a voice for reconciliation in tangible ways in our everyday lives – where we live, work and socialise. This week our students have been learning about our shared histories, cultures and achievements and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. Be a Voice for Generations, urges all Australians to use their power, their words and their actions to create a better, more just Australia for all of us.

At St Joseph’s we take up this challenge to reconciliation, and in playing our part we collectively build relationships and communities that value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories, knowledges, cultures, and futures. We are responding to the call of reconciliation through the development of our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), which is a formal statement of commitment. The statement encompasses a whole-school approach to driving reconciliation by building relationships, respect and opportunities in our classrooms, around the school and with the community. We are also working to formally establish our school’s Vision for Reconciliation and Acknowledgement of Country.  May we all share the commitment to Reconciliation now and into the future.

Athletics Carnival

Our athletics carnival is coming around quickly. It will be held at the Andoom Oval on Thursday 22nd June and will start early.  ALL children will need to be at the Oval by 8am ready for events starting at 8:15am. P-2 will be bused back to the school approximately around 12:30pm after relays, ready for a Wet Play afternoon. Yr3-6 will stay to complete field events and then be bused back to school ready to depart at 3pm as usual. The Carnival Program and further details will be emailed home early next week.

This year we are after some champion parent helpers for our Athletics Carnival this year, needed for the canteen, timing sprints, photos, or move around the field events with their child/children so you could still see them participate and to assist with the activities. You would be required to help with measuring, racking sand, and retrieving equipment. You don't have to know much about the field events, as there will be a teacher accompanying you and running the actual event. 

If you think you could lend a hand, please let us know as soon as possible. 

End Of Semester Report Cards

Teachers have been very busy preparing for end of Semester Reports. This process involves gathering, analysing and reflecting on multiple sources of evidence to make an informed judgment about what students know, understand, and can do.  Our Semester One Report Cards this year will be distributed via the Parent Portal and in hard copy during the last week of this term.

TUCKSHOP UPDATE - Please be aware that there will be no service in week 8 but will resume as per normal from Monday week 9.

Lost Property

We have lots of unclaimed items in lost property basket which is located in the entrance into the Flexible Learning Space waiting to be reunited with their owners. Please take a moment to have a look through and see if anything belongs to your child/ren.

Wishing a great week ahead,

Megan