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Prayer for a new term.
Dear Lord, help me to live each day quietly, easily.
To lean upon your strength truthfully, restfully.
To wait for the unfolding of your will patiently, serenely.
To meet others peacefully, joyfully.
To face tomorrow confidently, courageously.
Amen.
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Term Four Welcome back to a brand-new term, the final one for our school year! I hope that everyone has enjoyed a wonderful restful holiday and is refreshed ready for our busy term ahead. The calendar is packed, and we are all primed and ready to go!
This term we welcome many new students to our school community. We hope that Stella and Archie settle in well over the weeks ahead.
Prep Orientation This week we also welcome our new Prep students to St Joseph’s for the first of four orientation mornings. This is a great opportunity for students to settle in before beginning formal schooling.
Staffing Welcome back to Aimee Robertson. Aimee returns from maternity leave today and will be returning to the School Secretary Role, working a five-day fortnight job share with Suzy Taske for the rest of this term and for 2020.
Year 6 Camp This term is an important, exciting and big term for Year Six. It is the term where there are many 'last times', transitions and social/emotional learnings. In many ways, the Year 6 camp is the culminating event for our students. They went down to Camp Paterson at Mareeba, had fun, behaved well and returned safe, but tired!
I was fortunate to be able to spend some time with the students on camp. They had a great time participating in the many activities on offer at Camp Patterson. It was an excellent opportunity for students to try new things, face new challenges and discover new talents. Who knew giant Jenga was such an exciting spectator sport? It was difficult to leave when there was so much fun to be had.
I was impressed with and proud of the respectful and responsible way our children conducted themselves throughout the trip. The owners of the camp also had high praise for the maturity and manners of our children. I would like to thank Mr Mitchell, Mrs Saunders and Mrs Wallace who gave freely of their time away from their families to enable such a great experience for the children.
Liturgical Events There are lots of important liturgical events we are preparing for this term, culminating in week 8 with our Advent Liturgy and End of Year School Mass. We look forward to sharing these celebrations with you along the way. World Mission Month October is when the Church celebrates World Mission Month and this year, Pope Francis has declared October to be an Extraordinary Missionary Month, marking a worldwide occasion of prayer, sharing stories of mission, formation and charity. Stay tuned through our newsletter and classroom communications for
upcoming events for our students to celebrate and support our partners in Catholic Missions.
Attendance We continue to promote student attendance. Thank you for the support and value that you place on your child being at school each day. Regular school attendance plays a critical role in ensuring that every student has access to the same learning opportunities. When students are not at school, are late to school or leave school early, they are missing out on so much that can impact on their future learning.
Parent Engagement Conference On Sunday, Amanda Scikluna and Rachael Steele represented our school at the Parent Engagement Conference in Cairns. Parents are valuable partners in supporting the school and their child's learning. This conference was a wonderful opportunity to learn about how we can work together to best assist our children in their learning.
A Day for Daniel will be held on Friday October 25th. The Daniel Morcombe Foundation was established in honour of Daniel Morcombe to make Australia a safer place for all children. It was founded by parents Bruce and Denise after their son was abducted and murdered in December 2003 while waiting to catch a bus on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. The aims of the Foundation are to educate children and young people about how to stay safe in physical and online environments and to support young victims of crime. Throughout week three we will be delivering lessons from the Daniel Morcombe Child Safety Curriculum (DMCSC). Our focus on child safety will culminate with our Day for Daniel on Friday October 25th. Day for Daniel is Australia's largest child safety awareness and education day and will be held on Friday October 25th. The goal is to make Australia a safe place for all children. Our school is registered to participate in this important event and our students are
encouraged to WEAR RED and donate a gold coin!
New Phone Number
The school’s phone number has changed, with our migration to the NBN system. Our new number
is 07 4214 6600 The old number will be redirect for 18 months from the date of migration.
Newsletter Change
We will be trialling the Newsletter being published on a Monday so that families are more informed of the upcoming events for the week, rather than what has already happened.
Mental Health Week
Something to ponder—This Thursday 10 October, is Mental Health Day. One in five Australians are affected by mental illness, yet many don’t seek help because of stigma. People living with mental health illness are often isolated, have difficulty accessing employment and have disrupted family, social and peer networks. For many, mental health issues lead to homelessness. The shortage of affordable and appropriate housing makes recovery and rehabilitation more difficult. This is not just
something that happens in big cities—we have homeless people here in Weipa. It is not enough to just sympathise or say they have had some bad luck.
Mental Health Week Prayer
God calls us to love our neighbour as ourselves;
the one who is weak and the one who is strong,
the one who is happy and the one who is sad,
the one who is enjoying mental wellness today
and the one who is struggling with mental illness today,
the one whom we understand and the one we don’t,
the one who is embraced and the one who is shunned,
the one who is like us and the one who is different.
Come, let us journey together!
We come, trusting God’s abundant love!
Amen
PUPIL FREE DAY - Monday 21st October
Each year all schools across Queensland will have a pupil free day. This is an annual pupil free day for professional development for staff.
God Bless!
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Joyful Mysteries The AnnunciationThe VisitationThe Birth of JesusThe Presentation in the TempleFinding the Child Jesus in the Temple |
Sorrowful Mysteries The Agony in the GardenThe Scourging at the PillarCrowning with ThornsCarrying of the CrossThe Crucifixion |
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Mysteries of Light (Luminous) Christ’s Baptism in the JordanThe Wedding at CanaThe Proclamation of the KingdomThe TransfigurationThe Institution of the Eucharist |
Glorious Mysteries The ResurrectionThe AscensionThe Descent of the Holy SpiritThe AssumptionThe Coronation of Mary |
Wednesday 16th October - Western Cape College Year 7 Transition Days begin
Thursday 17th October - 2020 Prep Orientation begins
Thursday 17th October - Daniel Morcombe Parent Information Session - 2.30pm - Multipurpose Room
Monday 21st October - Pupil Free Day
Thursday 14th November - The Annual Twilight Swimming Carnival - 4.00 - 8.00pm
Friday 22nd November - Starry Starry Night
Friday 29th November - Last day of school
Dear Parents,
Welcome back to Term 4 and I hope you had a relaxing holiday and enjoyed the beautiful weather.
Physical Education (P.E) and Health
This term P.E for all students will be on Wednesday, please wear the Sports Uniform on the allocated day.
In term 4 for P.E the students will be continuing to learn about the following concepts:
Prep - How can I be a good sport and play safely on a team?
Year 1 - How can I show value for myself and others?
Year 2 - Ropes and Rhymes
Year 3 - Scoot, Scoot - How can we safely scooter around?
Year 4 - Bat, Catch, Howzat!
Year 5 - Built for B-Ball
Year 6 - Over the Net
In Health this Term St Joseph's School is mandated by Catholic Education to teach the Daniel Morcombe Program from Prep to Year 6. A parent information session will be held on Thursday 17th October at 2.30pm in the Multipurpose Room.
On Friday we began the St Joseph's Swimming Program which runs through to Friday 15th November (week6). It was a great day and the children participated with enthusiasm. The Learn to Swim program is an excellent Program and all children are encouraged to participate fully. Swimming teachers for Term 4 are Mrs Peta Hancock, Mrs Kelly Bienvenu and Mrs Melanie Turner, who are qualified Swimming Instructors with Swimming Aust.
The times for lessons are as below:
Prep lesson - 9.00 - 9.40am
Year 1 lesson - 9.40 - 10.20am
Year 2 lesson - 10.20 - 11.00am
Year 3 lesson - 11.00 - 11.40 am
Year 4 lesson - 11.40 am - 12.20pm
Year 5/6 lesson - 12.20 - 1.00pm
If you are interested in being a parent volunteer and helping with swimming lessons please contact me.
The Annual Twilight Swimming Carnival will be held on Thursday 14th November from 4.00pm - 8.00pm
Social Emotional Learning (SEL)
This term the students will be focussing on the following Key: Getting Along.
Kind regards
Melanie
Dear Parents / Caregivers
Welcome to Term 4, it is hard to believe in less than 8 weeks your child/children will have completed Prep. This is so exciting!
For our Design Technologies we will be needing tissue, shoe or similar size boxes if you do have any of these boxes please bring them in to Prep.
This term we will be covering the following units:
English:
The students will continue with whole class reading, guided reading and reading for fun to encourage students to read books that is of interest to them as well. This term we will be looking at Information reports and how it is different from a Narrative. We will write a class Information report and then the students will have the opportunity to write their own information report.
Maths:
In Maths we will be learning about addition and sharing (subtraction) in number stories. The students will be answering yes / no questions to collect data and make their own Pictorial graph. Continue to identify patterns and explain why something is a pattern or not.
Science: Growing Well
To investigate the needs of living things, particularly the water, sunlight and nutrient needs of plants. Students observe and describe how conditions of the environment affect the features, behaviour and survival of plants and animals.
Religion: How Can the Church Community Prepare to Celebrate Christmas
By the end these learning experiences, students
- Will understand - What is a celebration?
- Will understand how a church community has special celebrations
- Will know about sacred spaces and symbols in the Church
- Will know about the Nativity Story as part of Christian Christmas Celebrations
Health: Daniel Morcombe
This Curriculum aims to support schools and teachers in the promotion of safety for all students. It includes lessons about personal safety and awareness. The Curriculum is structured sequentially and developmentally across three phases of learning:
Lesson 1: Safe and unsafe
Lesson 2: Safety clues
Lesson 3: Body clues
Lesson 4: Private body parts
Lesson 5: Body ownership
Lesson 6: Safety options
Lesson 7: Persistence and safety helpers
Lesson 8: Phone and online safety
Lesson 9: Review – Recognise React Report
We have had a terrific start to Term 4. In Literacy we have been learning about the soft ‘c’ and ‘g’. Ask the students to tell you the rule (when c is followed by an ‘e’, ‘i’ or ‘y’) and sing you our song to the tune of Old McDonald. This term we will be learning persuasive text where we will use high modal verbs and convincing arguments to persuade our readers.
The students have been learning about the Rosary, and will participate in a number of activities for the month of October. We will be making our own set of Rosary Beads!
In Maths we have been learning about location and direction. The students have been using vocabulary such as clockwise, anticlockwise, left, right to direct other students around our maps. We practised using prepositions such as around, over, through, under to create our very own playgrounds.
A reminder that the weekly spelling lists have been consolidated into the one pager I sent home at the end of term 3 (email and hard copy). So there is no need for students to bring their homework folders in each week. Library bags need to be brought each Tuesday.
Hi Parents,
Welcome back to Term 4. It is sure to be a busy term with lots of learning to take place as
well as exciting special events. We have the Twilight swimming carnival, Starry Starry Night
and End of Year Mass just to name a few.
Swimming Friday- Year 2 can wear their swimmers underneath their uniform ready for their
lesson and then change afterwards. Please ensure your child has a bag for wet clothes and
has underwear to change into. Your child should come to school wearing sunscreen and
have a sunshirt, swimmers, goggles, swimming cap and sandals or thongs.
Term 4 Maths homework booklets have been given out to all children who had either their
homework folder or Library folder here in week 1. Please complete one sheet per week.
Bring in a folder for a safe trip home if you have not received one yet.
In Science this term we will be focusing on push and pull forces that create motion. In
Maths we are learning trading when adding and subtracting numbers. In Religion we will
focus on how Jesus’ teachings are lived out in the church today. We are using Dash robots
in Digital Technologies and building a raft in Design Technologies. For Health this term
we are focusing on child safety and learning to recognise, react and report when we are
unsafe. All Reading and Writing activities this term will be based on our English focus of
poetry.
It is sure to be a fun term!
Please let me know if you wish to discuss anything.
Welcome back to another busy term of learning. There is much to do and learning to be done in Year 3. You will notice an extra person in our room over the next few weeks.Miss Summer is studying her Bachelor of Education through CQU and is gaining some practical experience in the Year 3 classroom. If you see her, I hope you will make her feel as welcome as the students and myself have this past week.
In Religion we are exploring the Fruits of the Holy Spirit, the Christmas stories and Jesus as the 'good news'.
In English we will be writing procedural texts where students will be required to write down how to make or do something. This will vary from recipes to craft or a game. Students will also be asked to present a procedure text to the class as well. More information will be provided in homework books next week.
In Maths we will be looking at fractions, angles, probability and chance, symmetry and division.
In HASS this term we will be looking at our neighbouring countries, learning the continents and oceans of the world as well as different climates. In our Civics and Citizenship lessons we are looking at how we can help our community organisations. Students will learn about what organisations are on offer in Weipa.
In Science we will be investigating heat. How it can change or is created. The students will also have to make a pizza box oven so keep that in mind as a dinner option in approximately 4-5 weeks time.
In The Arts we will become young artists by exploring lines and shading using pencil and colours. They will also continue their studies in music with Mrs Scikluna.
Other than swimming lessons, the students will be continuing with their Scoot, Scoot unit with Mrs Turner in PE lessons.
I look forward to another great term in Year 3.
Welcome back families!
Time for the last and busiest term of the year! We have been working hard to settle back into routines of going to school and the different expectations of school. We have been discussing the 4R’s: Respect, Responsibility, Resilience and Ready for learning. This week we have been working on being resilient and trying our best to stay on task. Our busy adventures on the holidays have made it hard to stay focused in the classroom!
This term we will be looking at the location of countries in relation to Australia. We will be exploring the different environments of countries and how they compare with each other. The students will be using a class map to refer to and continually build their knowledge.
We will be studying narratives as our text type for the term. We will be breaking down the structure, language features and vocabulary associated with this text type. The students will be looking at a story of their choice and finding these elements of their story.
Our attendance for the last two weeks of term dropped and we had 12 students attending 100%. A long weekend here and there makes a huge impact on a students engagement and success at school. Some absences are unavoidable due to sickness and family responsibilities but its still important to communicate this to the office and myself as soon as possible.
How lovely it is to back in the classroom with these amazing students!
We have hit the ground running already with such a full on term ahead. We have started our unit in Religion about Mary of Nazareth (Jesus’ mother) and how her faith carried her through many difficult times to become a woman of strength and grace. Next week we will explore many biblical stories of her different qualities and the importance of Marian prayers in our school and our faith.
We continue on with the Gold Rush History unit from last term. We have built on the information learnt so far and researched more about specific aspects. The students are writing a draft of their task, and then will start on their multimodal assessment task to present. It is about the Gold rush period in Australian history and the impact it had on our country in many different areas.
Our focus unit for this term is called “Changing Landscapes” and is an integrated unit of Media Arts, Geography, Civics and Economics. This is an interesting unit based on some local topics of the Changing Landscape of Weipa.
In Maths we have reviewed multiplication and division operations to ensure we can do them automatically and know how to trade correctly.
The students are excited to be back into PITW and of course swimming which starts on Friday.
I am so proud of how hard they have worked this week, how respectful they have been and how each student has really tried their best. Way to go, stepping up Yr 5!!!
Year 6 camp
The year 6 group gathered on the last day of the holidays at Weipa Airport to board our flight to Cairns. There we boarded a bus and ascended the Kuranda range to arrive at Camp Paterson, just outside Mareeba.
Students and teachers alike were impressed with the great facilities at Camp Paterson, and the many fun and well organised activities on offer. From canoeing and raft building to water wipeout and rogaine, every activity was a winner. In our free time we also developed some excellent skills in card games and giant Jenga (coming within 5 levels of the official world record). The food was great, the company was excellent, and the staff were very pleased with the excellent behavior and team spirit showed by all students throughout the camp.
An extended slideshow of camp highlights will be presented at our school assembly next week, and some of the best pictures from the camp appear below.
