Dear Parents, Guardians and Friends of St Joseph’s,

As we work through the final day of Term 1, I’d like to thank our staff and students for all of the great work and dedication this term. I’ve been extremely impressed with the level of work and engagement from our students throughout the term and I’m looking forward to building on this next term.

Our final week of the term has coincided with Holy Week, which commenced with Palm Sunday and concludes on Easter Sunday. This week is the culmination of the 40 day Lenten journey. As Christians, we are called to prepare for the death and resurrection of Jesus - the centrepiece of our faith.

As this is the last newsletter for the term, I wish you all a wonderful Easter break with family and friends. Please take care if you are travelling and I look forward to catching up with everyone after a well-earned mid semester break.

May the promise of Easter, fill your heart with peace and joy.

God Bless,

Prep Enrolments 2022

Interviews for our existing families will happen next term. If you are a current family and you have a child eligible for Prep in 2022, please ensure you have submitted an enrolment form (on the website) to ensure that no one misses out.

Staffing Update

As the term finishes, we farewell a number of our team as they move on to new challenges and adventures. Whether it be for a short or long time that they have been part of our community they have all had a significant impact on us all. I thank everyone for their enthusiasm, dedication and the numerous talents that they have shared.

We say goodbye to Joe Simmons has completed his contract to cover for Libby Lange while she has been o long service leave this term. Joe has bought a combination of passion and joy to our school during his time here and I thank him for his flexibility and can-do attitude.

Annette O’Shea will also be leaving us to move back down South closer to family. We cannot thank Annette enough for her genuine care for our children, for keeping us all well feed and for her flexibility in such a demanding role.

Susan Lesic is sadly leaving the St Joseph’s Team. Susan and her family have been part of our St Joseph’s family for a number of years.  I want to take this opportunity to thank Susan for her service and dedication, she will be greatly missed by all. We wish Susan and her family all the very best, as they start a new chapter of their lives in Cairns.

Farewell to Andrieka Lewis who has been filling in for Terry Wilcox this term. Thank you for your adaptability as you moved seamlessly into the role and has ensured great learning has continued in Terry’s class.

Terry Wilcox has taken extended leave, so Libby Lange and Michelle Gear will take on the role of Year Six teachers for the rest of 2021. Libby will continue to teach PE.

These staffing changes have a flow on effect to our internal staffing from next term. Jodie Hall is taking on the role of Health teacher and will work with Libby to provide noncontact for teachers across the school. Year one will now be taken by Kelly Bienvenu and Amanda Rowe as a teaching team. Although we have had some changes I am confident that the transition will be seamless for our students.

Student Learning Conferences (Parent Teacher Interviews)                                                                                          Our teachers and students have been busily preparing for our student learning conferences that will be held in weeks one and two next term. PTO is open for you to book in a time with your child’s teacher. A reminder that conferences will be held in classrooms and the school bell will be rung to signal interview intervals.

BE Safe On Social                                                                                                                                                           Holidays are welcomed by all. I am certain and also conscious that for many of our children they will spend time on devices during this break time.  Parents I urge you to be very mindful of what your child/children are viewing during this time.

Students at St Joseph’s Primary in Years 3 and 5 will be completing NAPLAN Online in 2021. 

Preparation for the NAPLAN tests: we held an online practice test for Year 3 and 5 students last week.  At St Joseph’s, we are fortunate that our students are currently using devices to assist with their learning.  Teachers are currently asking students to write and read stories on their device, use an online calculator and drawing instruments in maths and teaching ICT skills such as drag and drop, copy and paste and understanding drop down menus. All of these skills will help them to complete the tests to the best of their ability.

For more information around NAPLAN please click on the below link for an online parent information brochure: https://nap.edu.au/docs/default-source/resources/naplan-online-information-brochure-for-parents-and-carers.pdf

WHOLE SCHOOL SPORTING EVENTS – Cross Country

With the school cross country carnival coming up, our plan is for parents to be able to attend as they are outdoor events.  Obviously, this will be reliant upon future COVID outbreaks and the fact that parents must remain socially distant when attending. 

Cross Country – Friday 23rd April The first event will start at 8.00am.  We are running the cross country earlier in the day in an effort to combat the heat. We are always in need of parent volunteers to help out. If you are available, let Libby Lange or the front office know. The tuckshop will also be open on this day.