We respectfully acknowledge the past and present traditional owners of this land on which we are meeting – the Algnith people. We also acknowledge the contributions of First Nations peoples to the education of all children and people in our country Australia, in which we all live and share together.

Well, the last few weeks have certainly started to get increasingly warmer. Can I please ask if each morning you can help us out by giving your children a gentle reminder about checking if they have their hat and water bottle before leaving home. There are constant reminders from staff to not run around as much, so with all these reminders everyone will continue to stay safe and well through this heat. A big thank you to Mr Jason for planting some trees that will eventually provide some shade for the grounds in the future.

With only 5 weeks to go our teachers are busy finalising learning and assessment tasks in readiness for report cards at the end of this term. It is important that all our students are at school every day so that all the hard work teachers are putting into their planning is delivered and assessed in this short time frame. World Teachers Day will be celebrated at St Joseph’s next Wednesday, please show your teacher how much you appreciate all they do for our children. They deserve the recognition!!

At the end of this term, we will be saying farewell to some of the staff at St Joseph’s. Mr Rory Harrington and Miss Lucy Mills will be heading back down south to family. We will also say farewell to Mrs Amanda O’Brien who has been on leave and will be taking up a teaching position at St Joseph’s Paramatta Park in Cairns. Mrs Michelle Gear will also be taking leave for all of 2024. We wish them well and will get a chance to say final farewells to those leaving Weipa in the last week of term. The recruitment process will begin with positions advertised next week and interviews to follow in the weeks to come. Staffing will be finalised and announced once the positions have been filled.  

Next Friday 27^th October is “Day for Daniel”. It is a timely reminder to have a conversation with your children about how to stay safe and teach awareness of stranger danger. Staff deliver the Daniel Morcombe Program, but we can never give too many reminders when it comes to the safety of our children. More details will come out next week on what is happening on the day as it is an opportunity to wear red for Daniel and take the opportunity to continue to educate on child safety.

Have a great weekend,

Kath

Dear Parents and Guardians,   

Wow Week 3 already, the term is certainly off to a flying start. There have been may events already Assemblies, Prep Transition Mornings, CES Visitors and many more exciting events to come over the term.

Visitors

This week we have the wonderful Ms Heather Alison, our School Counsellor visiting Joseph's School from Monday – Friday. It is always wonderful to see Ms Heather and her smile around our school.

Also, this week we have Sandra Van Rooyen (Consultant of Inclusive Education) and Zinna Aylward (CES – O.T) visiting as well and supporting teachers and students at St. Joseph's School.

Joe Clark - EALD Consultant for Diversity Multilingual Learners (EAL/D) will be visiting in Week 5 Monday 30 October and Tuesday 31 October, 2023. Also in Week 5, Ms Lillian Miller - Consultant First Nations Education from Cairns Catholic Education will also be with us. Lillian will continue to provide her service to St. Joseph's School throughout the week.

In week 6 Heather Alison - Our School Counsellor will be visiting us again in Weipa providing her service to St. Joseph's School from Monday 7^th November – Friday 10^th November 2023.

PREP Personalised Learning Plans (PLPs) 

Mrs Backhouse is in the process of writing Personalised Learning Plans (PLPs) and will be meeting with Parents over the next few weeks. Personalised learning is a process that supports a wide range of students with additional learning and support needs. This includes students who may require support in one or more of the following areas: learning (including high potential learners), behaviour, social/emotional, cultural/language (including international students, boarders and learners of English as an Additional Language or Dialect) and those who have educational support needs arising from disability. Teachers, with the support of the Leader of Diversity, and in consultation with parents, collaboratively decide which adjustments and/or goals are to be targeted and determine appropriate strategies and supports to be implemented. It is the teacher’s responsibility to implement these planned strategies in order to support students to meet their goals. Teachers will direct School Officer support and plan for adjustments on a weekly basis. Teachers communicate weekly with School Officers regarding student progress and make adjustments as needed. Evidence is collected regularly and uploaded to ENGAGE. PLP meetings are set 6 monthly and will determine if current goals have been achieved before setting further goals.  

Social Emotional Learning 

Second Step  

In Term 4 in SEL in the Seconds Steps Program we will be focusing on Emotional Management and Problem Solving for Prep to Year 6. Second Step SEL is research-based, teacher-informed, and classroom-tested to promote the social-emotional development, safety, and well-being of children from Early Learning through Grade 8. Children learn and practice vital skills for listening and paying attention, having empathy, managing emotions, building friendships, and solving problems with others. The 25-minute interactive lessons and discussion-based activities with distinct grade-level experiences.

The lessons focus on Social-Emotional Learning:  

• Mindsets & Goals  
• Recognising Bullying & Harassment  
• Thoughts, Emotions, & Decisions  
• Managing Relationships & Social Conflict  

Positive Behaviour for Learning  

Our school community has identified the following school wide expectations to teach and promote our high standards of responsible behaviour:  

• Be Respectful  
• Be Responsible  
• Be Resilient  
• Be Ready for Learning  

MTSS-E assemblies take place on Mondays at 1.45pm followed by Second Step lessons. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to make contact with myself at a convenient time that suits. My email address is   mturner@cns.catholic.edu.au   

Kind regards,

Melanie Turner.

Curriculum and Learning 

It is a very exciting time in the St Joseph’s community in term 4, this is the time that we start our Prep transition and we get to see all the new faces that will join our school community next year. Starting Prep is an exciting time for children, schools and parents alike.  

To support children’s successful transition, you can do lots of things at home that can help early engagement of literacy and numeracy skills. Involve your child in; 

• Cooking, measuring and dividing meals onto plates 
• Dice games 
• Play rhyming games to rhyme words that sound similar 
• Hopscotch 
• Chalk drawings 
• Memory games 
• Threading beads/jewellery making 
• Hunt for numbers while in the environment 
• Action games (following instructions like Simon says) 

Children learn best when they are actively engaged in their environment and encouraged by a loved one. While early numeracy and literacy skills are important, this is also a great time to develop independent selfcare skills for children that will help them at school. Including; 

• Opening and closing containers 
• Using zips on clothing 
• Stacking things 
• Opening drink bottles 

We look forward to welcoming new faces and families into the St Joseph’s School community. Please reach out if we can help transitioning your kindy child to prep. 

For Peace by John O’Donohue 

O’Donohue, J (2007) “Benedictus A Book of Blessings” Bantum Press Transworld 

Publishers Great Britain Copyright John O’Donohue 2007 

As the fever of day calms towards twilight 

May all that is strained in us come to ease. 

We pray for all who suffered violence today, 

May an unexpected serenity surprise them. 

For those who risk their lives each day for peace, 

May their hearts glimpse providence at the heart of history. 

That those who make riches from violence and war 

Might hear in their dreams the cries of the lost. 

That we might see through our fear of each other 

A new vision to heal our fatal attraction to aggression. 

Disclaimer: The material is produced by the CES Identity & Outreach Directorate and is influenced by their filters. 

News to share

I wish to share with you all from my family and I, that we are expeting our third baby. 

Due March 2024! Thank you all for all your warm wishes.

World Teacher’s Day  

Next week we will be celebrating World Teachers Day. Traditionally celebrated on Friday 27th October, this year we will be celebrating on Wednesday 25th October. It is a day to recognise the extraordinary dedication and effort our teachers at St Jospeh show every day. It is a privilege to work alongside our dynamic staff who continually inspire me. Thank you to all our teachers!  

Your child might like to show their appreciation for their teacher by 

• Wishing them a happy day World Teacher’s Day 
• Making a card 
• Doing a nice deed  

Father Dariusz Visiting 

This weekend we have Father Dariusz visiting for the weekend and leading services in the Church. You are warmly invited to attend any of the services below 

Saturday 6pm 

Sunday 8:30am 

St Joseph’s Recipe Book 

Thank you to all the families who have contributed to the St Joseph's Recipe book, there are so many mouthwatering recipes for all members of the family.  Miss Ridgley has sent it to the printers, and we are ready to take orders. The book is a great gift idea this Christmas with many sweet and savory recipes. A recipe book can be purchased through Flexi Schools for $15 per book. Please complete the parent slip if you are interested in preordering a book to ensure we have enough copies printed.  

D For Daniel Day 

Next Friday our thoughts go to the Daniel Morcombe Foundation and the important work they do around keeping children safe. The children through their Health lessons have been learning about remaining safe, and the importance of reporting and talking to a trusted adult if they feel unsafe. The students are invited to wear red to school on Friday 27th October.  

Prep Transition Days 

Over the past two weeks we have welcomed the 2024 Preps into St Joseph’s to experience life at school and to assist with transitioning to ‘big’ school. It has been beautiful to see them settle in so nicely, make connections and enjoy some of the routines and activities that take place in Prep. The final prep transition day will take place on Thursday 26th October from 9:00-10:30am. If you have a child who is ready to start Prep, they are welcome to come along for the morning and experience Prep at St Joseph’s. Parents are also welcome to stay and hear from specialist staff at the school about how to best support your child in their transition to primary schooling.  

New Principal- Have Your Say 

Thank you to the parents who completed the community consultation survey to assist with the appointment of the 2024 Principal. Your child will be able to receive an ice block next week if you completed the survey.  

CONGRATULATIONS TO THIS WEEKS AWARD WINNERS!