Dear St Joseph’s School Community,

As we near the end of Semester One, it’s a good time to look back on what we have achieved during this time.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our families, teachers, support staff and students for ensuring the teaching and learning continued through an extraordinary term. For all of us, the adjustment to at home, flexible and online modes of learning have been trying at times, but also remarkable.

Undoubtedly, there are many positives to come from a new way of doing things. Our teachers certainly exceeded expectations to collectively adjust to technology, learn new techniques and challenge themselves to ensure our students continued to be engaged and supported to learn.

Adapting to using technology to enhance teaching and learning is certainly one positive outcome, as teachers are continuing to use many of the platforms and modes of delivery for instruction now that all students have returned. Teachers have also been busy assessing where students are at with their learning and ensuring students are continuing to learn.

Even when not experiencing a world pandemic, the end of Semester One can be the hardest quarter of the year to manage, especially for parents. If you can still manage a smile and have enough motivation to get and get things done, you have done very well. 

At St Joseph’s we are very fortunate to work and learn in such a positive, happy, supportive, life-giving school environment. In the words of Pope Francis:

“Rivers do not drink their own water; The trees do not eat their own fruit: The sun does not shine to itself and flowers do not spread their fragrance for themselves. Living for others is a rule of nature. We are all born to help each other. No matter how difficult it is… Life is good when you are happy; but much better when others are happy because of you.”  Pope Francis 25/03/2017

Schools are about people and when people, especially our children, start to wear down at the half way mark of the year and tolerance levels fall. What classmates say or do can seem far worse than if they were said at the beginning of the year.

At times like these, as the important adults in their lives, we need to spend time explaining to our children that there will always be ups and downs. There will be times when things don’t go as well as we would like and other times when things are great.

Working together is the key. One of the many great things about St Joseph’s is the level of support staff have from parents here. Almost without fail, parents want the best for their children and realize that the staff do as well and are highly supportive of the efforts the staff make on behalf of their children.

We really do appreciate the support our teachers receive from parents. Once children know that there is a common message from both school and home they soon get the idea that characteristics like, respect, resilience, care for others etc. are important traits in life. 

I hope that every member of the school community will always feel comfortable in approaching someone at the school if they are experiencing a problem.

Our guiding principle is that all people have a right to be heard, agree to act courteously, politely, honestly and expect that relationships will continue respectfully both during and after the management of the complaint.

Problems are a part of life. There will be misunderstandings, adults & children will make mistakes, things will be overlooked, however if people follow the following steps when problems arise we will achieve better outcomes. 

Address issues at the earliest opportunity

• With the most appropriate or relevant person
• In the most informal and confidential manner possible 

There has been much excitement in the playground over the last two weeks. We have been introducing new equipment into the playground and have been encouraging students to try new games/activities. It has been lovely to see students so engaged. It was particularly rewarding to see the Year 6 and Preps play together with the giant blocks. We are looking forward to introducing a number of interest clubs when term 3 begins.

The last tuckshop day for this term will be on Thursday 25^th June and we will be celebrating the end of term with a Sausage Sizzle at first break. Please bring food for second break as usual.

As this is the last newsletter for the term, I would again like to thank the staff, parents and students in our school community for your efforts during this very unique and demanding term. Hope you all enjoy time with family and friends.

God Bless,

Megan

Virtual Classroom

In week 6 we introduced the Virtual Classroom and the students enter in the morning and log into their Virtual Classroom which has a selection of activities that they can complete and record in their Matrix.

Comments about Virtual Classroom

I like it because it is like your classroom and it has lots of fun activities – Charlotte

I like it because when I come in the morning it is quiet and people are working hard - Oscar

It is a great way to start the day - Arki

I can improve my Typing - Louis

I like it because there are multiple activities to complete – Evan

The Virtual Classroom helps me feel very settled in the morning - Lincoln