St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Wandal Newsletter

4 August 2021

Weekly Prayer Reflection

St Mary of the Cross 

By now we have had nearly two weeks of Olympic drama and we have seen varying responses to success and misfortune.  We know both happen in our lives and we are all on learning curves in relation to both.  This Sunday we celebrate the Feast day of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop and certainly this woman can be a model to us regarding success and failure.  One of the things I love best about this saint is the way she related to her family.  It was dysfunctional yet she lived, loved and flourished within that family.  She knew love from both her parents but she also knew the pain and confusion of parents who separated. She loved her father dearly and recognised the good he had given her even though, in his impracticality, he failed to provide for the family and she, at the age of 14, had to go to work to support them.  She learnt early to be realistic and loving – she had a hard head and a soft heart.

If we look at situations too narrowly – “I must win the gold medal to be a success”, “my family should always get along,” we will be overwhelmed by failure. We need to widen our understanding so that we can learn from all that happens.  An Olympian learns so much from his or her training.  We learn how to truly love in the midst of family tensions.  Indeed, we learn how to be a success as a person by how we handle failure. 

 Loving Jesus, your life here on earth looked like a failure – tortured to death, deserted by friends and followers - but God made it the way of salvation.  Inspire our hearts when we feel overwhelmed by our weakness and failure and let us trust that you will work all for good.  We ask this in your name, confident that you will hear us.

Sr Kym Harris osb

From the Principal

I am sure that you are keeping abreast of COVID-19 developments in the south east (and now northern) parts of our state, as am I. I remind you to check the Queensland Health website regularly for updates and advice. A reminder to ensure that your contact details kept here at school (including mobile numbers and email addresses) are up to date in case communications need to be sent at short notice.

As I write today's Newsletter messages, all of our planned events and activities are scheduled to go ahead as planned, including next week's Year Six camp. However, we all know how quickly directives can change and need to remain alert, but not alarmed.

You can access the Qld Health site here: https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19

Catholic Education Week

Last week was certainly a busy one, with many activities organised for our students and families as part of this year’s Catholic Education Week. Thank you for supporting our Picnic on the Grass, school disco, Prayer Assembly and Under 8’s celebrations. The spirit of community was certainly felt in the school last week!  My thanks to the many staff and parents who ensured these events were organised and enjoyed by all!


Photos from Catholic Education Week Events

2021 Catholic Education Week Awards

Our Catholic Education Week awards were presented at Friday’s prayer celebration. Awarded annually, these awards recognise the outstanding commitment to and exhibition of Gospel values in our staff and students.

 Congratulations to our 2021 recipients:

Prep: Mia Maquire

Year 1: Maverick White

Year 2: Mieke Hielscher

Year 3: Dusty Geihe

Year 4: Oliver McKenzie

Year 5: Ashley Semple

Year 6: Alice Chippendale

Staff: Mrs Rheanna Starr and Miss Emma Murphy 

Learning Support 'Myths' (Part 2)

In every classroom, there are a  multitude of personalities, strengths, areas of challenge, likes, dislikes and needs. Our teachers provide individualised instruction to each and every child in the classroom. Their lesson plans include provision for modifications and adjustments for many learners, including those who are not achieving at level and opportunities for enrichment and extension for those achieving (or capable of) achieving above the expected benchmark. Students with particular medical needs must be catered for; this may range from scheduled check-ins or observations, to critical and constant medical monitoring and tracking. The pastoral needs of our children are taken into consideration too. Perhaps we are aware of problems in the home of a particular student, or that they are not sleeping as well as they should be, or perhaps there is sadness and grief impacting on their learning. This is why teaching is often referred to as both an ‘art’ and a ‘science.’ It is a hard gig, but we love it!

Your child may need many modifications and adjustments to experience success, or not too many at all. The myth that your child will not receive specialised attention unless they have a disability, or a diagnosis is not accurate. Yes, some children will, by virtue of their particular needs, require significant assistance, but the reality is that at all times in the school day, your children’s teacher (sometimes with the help of a learning support teacher or teacher aide, sometimes by carefully managed groupings) is ensuring the provision of the following for a variety of learners:

 

Curriculum:

·         Additional repetition of key concepts such as letter-sound recognition or basic sight words

·         Frequent reminders

·         Breaking instructions into smaller steps

·         Use of visual aids to establish routines Preferential seating: close to the teacher and support peers

·         Repeated reminders about expectations and routines

·         Repeated instructions and directions

·         During instruction, Teacher directly in front to minimise peripheral issues

·         Supportive peers as models and guides

·         Flexible groupings – including independent work as appropriate

·         Significantly adjusted curriculum

·         Extra time to complete allocated tasks

·         Extra thinking time / processing time / wait time

·         Additional TA time to assist with the clarification and completion of tasks

·         TA to scribe work

·         Additional Teacher time to scaffold the work

·         Additional one to one Teacher and TA time

·         During instruction, Teacher directly in front to minimise peripheral issues

·         Visual behavioural supports such as a ‘traffic light’ system,

·         Individual extension project materials

·         Personal Best goals

·         Increased opportunities to consolidate skills / concepts

·         Use technology to provide additional practise of concepts and skills

·         Use of concrete materials to aid understanding

·         Quiet work space

 

Learning Environment / Access:

  • Clear transitions and routines
  • Support to participate fully in classroom
  • Significantly adjusted curriculum
  • Extra time to complete allocated tasks
  • Extra thinking time / processing time
  • TA to scribe work  / Quiet work space
  • Provide more frequent and specific feedback
  • Teacher monitoring of organisational skills.
  • TA Support with written tasks.
  • Preferential seating – close to the teacher and supportive peers
  • During instruction, Teacher directly in front to minimise peripheral issues
  • Supportive peers as models and guides
  • Fiddle toys  /   Sensory tent
  • Repeated reminders about expectations and routines
  • Repeated instructions and directions
  • Short concise and simple one, two or three step instructions
  • Individual extension project materials
  • Additional TA time to assist with the clarification and completion of the task
  • Additional Teacher time to scaffold the work
  • Additional one to one Teacher and TA time
  • Visual supports – timetable and task completion.
  • Access to specific literacy and numeracy computer programs.
  • Use technology to provide additional practise of concepts and skills
  • Visual behavioural cues
  • Set small, specific and achievable goals within a set period of time e.g. 5 minute increments
  • Personal Best focus
  • Self-assessment to assist ownership
  • Visual supports for organisational skills and task completion
  • Tool box of support materials selected by the student each week to deduce anxiety
  • Use of concrete materials to aid understanding

Flexible groupings – including independent work as appropriate

Communication:

  • Additional repetition of key concepts such as letter-sound recognition or basic sight words
  • Support to participate fully in classroom
  • Preferential seating
  • Repeated reminders about expectations and routines
  • Repeated instructions and directions
  • More than usual amounts of the teacher’s time
  • Supportive peers as models and guides
  • Instructions are simplified to 1 key steps to aid comprehension.
  • Visual supports for task completion
  • Asked to repeat the instructions before completing them.

Use of headphones if the environment is too noisy

Social Participation and Well Being:

·         Repeated reminders about expectations and routines

·         Repeated instructions and directions

·         More than usual amounts of the teacher’s time including additional supervision during lunch time when more issues arise

·         Reminders and role modelling of appropriate social skills

·         Rehearsal of social situations

·         Additional supervision at lunchtimes, for excursions or any whole school events such as sports day

·         Explicit teaching around social skills such as personal space – visual reminders

·         Collaborative development of a personal Behaviour Management Plan Social Stories reinforced daily / weekly

        Explicit teaching of personal safety skills – Daniel Morcombe Curriculum

Health and Personal Care:

  • Allowed additional toilet breaks if required and adjustment amount of PE time.
  • Use of visual aids to establish routines and independence to eat food without direct instruction
  •     Preferential seating to the centre front of classroom for optimum access to the teacher and whiteboard.
  •  Alternative, less physical activities at lunch such as reading in the Library, or playing with Lego in the ‘lunch club’, a supervised play alternative 

Satisfaction Surveys – Quick Fixes!

“I would like more showcases of children’s work in the classroom”

We love sharing our learning with our families! Our classrooms are open at 8.15am each morning and you are always welcome to ‘pop in’ and check out your children’s latest pieces of work.

This term we also have the following classroom celebrations of learning planned:

·         Science afternoon and Family Scavenger Hunt in Year 4 on 9 September

·         Puppet design showcase in Prep – date TBA

·         Year 1 Mathematical Mystery Morning - Wednesday, 19 August,             7.45am-8.30am 

·         Maths Olympics in Year 5 – date TBA

·         A Year 6 Camp showcase – date TBA (after camp!)

·         Whole school Book Week in Week 7 (23-27 August). Details are still being finalised, but we will ensure that we have opportunities for parent engagement and involvement.

Years Two and Three classes held open classroom events last term.

 

“I would like handrails on the amphitheatre steps”

We are sourcing quotes for this at present and agree this would be a much safer option. Watch this space!

School Fees

Term Three School Fees are due next Monday, 9 August, 2021.

Concession Card Tuition Fee Discount:  A 70% Tuition Fee Discount is available for ‘means tested’ government Health Care and Pensioner Concession cards. These cards must meet eligibility criteria for this concession to apply.  Please check the expiry date of your card and ensure that we are provided with up to date information.

High Tea Tickets - on sale tomorrow!

In partnership,

Kellie Jenkinson

From the Assistant to the Principal: Religious Education (APRE)

Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop Prayer

Saint Mary of the Cross, from your throne of grace

Tenderly cast your gaze upon the human race.

Saint Mary of the Cross, please hear us when we pray

And guide us through the challenges, that we meet today.

Saint Mary of the Cross, you persevered when trouble came.

                      Teach us who struggle on this earth, to do the very same.

        Keep the people of this land safe within your care.

             Help us to use our talents and with each other share.

                     Saint Mary help and guide us , so that in heaven we may meet

   and all the saints and angels, joyfully we’ll greet.

Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop

Pray For Us

Amen

Year 6 Prayer Assembly - Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop

Please join both Year 6 classes this Friday morning in the Undercover Area at 8.35 am. Year 6 will lead prayer, reflecting on the legacy left by our foundress and Australia's first saint, Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop.

Real Talk - Save the Date for upcoming Parent Information Session

Year Six Camp News

Year Six Camp is less than a week away!  A reminder that the "What to Pack" document was emailed to parents to ensure students have all necessary items for school camp. Please contact classroom teachers if you have any further questions regarding camp.

Year 6, we will see you all at the train station for a very cheery, bright and early start of 6am on Tuesday 10 August.  


Lift Up Your Voice to The Lord! Sacred Concert - St Joseph’s Cathedral 8 August 2021 at 2:00pm

Bishop Michael is encouraging the performance of sacred music in our Cathedral and has invited schools and people from the Capricorn Coast to perform on the 8th of August. This is in addition to the Rockhampton Musical Union concert on Sunday 15th August. 

We ask you to support this event and join our amazing performers from the Capricorn Parish and Schools as they sing and play beautiful Sacred Music and hymns that will be enhanced even further by the incredible acoustics of the Cathedral.

Bring a gold coin donation and your voices as you will be asked to join in with Congregational singing of hymns!

Would you like to receive the Sacrament of Penance, Confirmation and Eucharist?

Sacraments 2021-2022

 Continuing the Journey in the Catholic Faith Sacraments 2021 - 2022

Calling all families with children who have reached the age of reason (which is seven years of age) to join the preparation journey 2021-2022 towards the celebration of Reconciliation, Confirmation and Eucharist in 2022. To register please call The Cathedral Centre on 49 27 6744

Term 3 Prayer Assemblies


6 AugustYear 6Whole Prayer Celebration to recognise the Feast Day of Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop
13 AugustYear 2Prayer Reflection
20 AugustYear 6Prayer Reflection
27 AugustYear 1BPrayer Reflection
2 SeptemberPrepFathers Day Prayer Reflection
10 SeptemberYear 5Prayer Reflection
17 SeptemberStaffStaff to lead prayer reflection


Thought of the Week

Find happiness in making others happy!

Mary MacKillop

With gratitude,

Rheanna Starr

Curriculum Update

Mayor’s Visit

As part of their Digital Technologies studies, our Year Four students designed proposals for ‘apps’ which meet an environmental need in the local community. Students were asked to create a name, symbol, and a description of their ‘app.’ They then had to generate drawings of plans and communicate their design ideas in a proposal. Apps were evaluated to reflect the impacts they would have on the environment.

Year Four submitted their proposals to local Mayor Tony Williams. The Mayor was so impressed, he made time in his very busy schedule to make a visit to thank our Year Four students personally, along with Cr Donna Kirkland, Cr Cherie Rutherford, Cr Shane Latcham and Kelly Smith, Council’s Education Officer. Our students received some valuable feedback from our special guests and were affirmed as being valuable future stewards of the environment.

Well done to Mrs Brightman, Mrs Egan and our very innovative Year Four students!

 

Pete the Sheep

Our Preps and Year One students went on an adventure on Tuesday, looking for 'Pete the Sheep'!  Based on the classic Australian picture book, by Jackie French (illustrated by (Bruce Whatley) this musical comedy of shearers, dogs and sheep explores the challenges and rewards of being an individual - but also working as part of the flock.

Read some of the reviews from our students:

Oliver M – I liked the part when the sheep, the sheep dogs and the shearers got their haircut. They looked pretty cool.

Ethan – My favourite character was Shaun the Shearer.

Tiffany – I liked the bus ride because I got to sit in the back row and we saw houses.

Raina – The seats in the theatre kept flipping up and down.

Harry – When I stood up, my sit flipped up and I forgot so when I went to sit down again the seat was gone!

Pete the Sheep - Student Review

On Tuesday Year 1 went to the Pilbeam Theatre to see ‘Pete the Sheep’. This musical was originally a book that we read in class.

Here are some thoughts we had about the show!

Summer: I felt really happy watching the show because it was so funny.

Lucas: I thought it was really funny because the characters got really confused in the story.

 Vella: When we got to the theatre, I was so excited because I have been there before. I love the theatre!                                                                           

Diesel: I liked the theatre because there were lots of other schools who got to watch ‘Pete the sheep’ as well! It was lots of fun.

 

Educational Apps Permission

Parents are asked to check skoolbag for the education apps permission form and complete.  This allows your child to use some of the educational apps that have specific usage requirements.  All of the apps listed are ones that the teaching staff wish to use to support learning. Currently we have only 97 submissions for over 340 students.  

QAMT Year 5 & 6 Maths Quiz

Our amazing Year Five and Six Maths Teams competed in Round One of the QAMT Maths Quiz today.  We were joined by students from St Peter's and St Paul's, and had a great deal of fun answering team and individual questions.  Well done to all of our team members: 

Year 6 Team members - Lily, Nate, Luca, Hannah, Chase, Jordy, Poppy and Aida.

Year 5 Team members - James, Carlos, Elsie and Tyla

One of our teams, 'The Rulers' (Elsie, Aida and Poppy) finished the competition in equal first place, but lost in a tie-breaker to St Peter's.  Our other teams all did very well, placing equal third and fourth.

QAMT Maths Teams Quiz

“Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.” 

– Chinese Proverb

Janette McLennan

NCCD Fact Sheet Attached

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Yarning with Mrs Semple

In Week 3, I had my first visit at St Joseph’s. I explored the beautiful spaces in your school, and was lucky enough to have Paul, a Year 5 student show me around the school. I am especially impressed with the yarning circle, it’s a great place to listen to stories! And I love to have a yarn!

I look forward to visiting your school in Week 5.

Student Awards

Congratulations to our students on their outstanding achievements. 

“Striving for Excellence” Award – (for a student who has exhibited academic improvements and/or has been applying themselves to the very best of their ability)

Bailey T - for the way you enthusiastically engage with your reading. You have demonstrated a range of reading strategies this week. Well done!

Jacob C - for the way you enthusiastically engage with your reading. You have demonstrated a range of reading strategies this week. Well done!

To Love is to Serve” Award (for a student who has consistently displayed leadership qualities)

Ruben V - Yr 1A - for always being kind and thoughtful of others. You model our school motto, "To Love Is To Serve" everyday. Keep it up!

Lunch Clubs

Looking for a new lunch time play option? Our Year 6 leaders have created two new lunch club groups and are looking for new members. Drawing Club will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11:20am in the quadrangle for those wishing to work on their drawing skills. Lego Club will meet on Monday in the quadrangle from 11-11:20am for all Lego Master enthusiasts. Our Year 6 leaders look forward to seeing you there!

Parent Privacy Notification

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Sports News

Touch Football

Thank you to the six parents who have registered their willingness to assist so far. We are looking for more volunteers from each year level Prep – Year 6 in order to organise teams. A number of people expressed their interest in more sporting opportunities for their children in their satisfaction surveys – here is your chance!

 The Junior Competition will commence August 13/14 and will finish November 19/20. Registrations will close August 7.

For further information, please visit: https://rockhamptontouch.com/.../junior-team.../

 We currently have coaches and managers as follows:

Under 6s Mixed - Coach 

Under 6s Mixed - Coach (Team 2) & Manager

Under 8s Mixed - Coach

Under 10s Girls - Coach

Under 12s Mixed - Coach and Manager

Players are now being called for, for these teams. If you would like your child to join a team please complete the e-form on our school app and we will pass your details onto the team managers.

Sports Draw

Please see link

Under 10s Capras Cup

On Saturday, the under 10s Capras Cup team played at Emmaus College. They played against Frenchville, Parkhurst and in the semi final against St Anthony's. The students represented our school showing respect and positive manner.

 I would like to thank all of the parents and students who came along to support the team. 

 I also like to thank Mrs Jones for coming to support our team. Without Mrs Jones, we would have all been very thirsty and in the wrong places.  - Mr Ivory

Calendar Dates for 2021

Term Dates for 2021

Term 3       12 July - 17 September - 10 weeks

Term 4      5 October - 3 December -   9 weeks


August

6 August Mass - CANCELLED

6 August Friday Sport for Years 4 - 6

8 August  Feast day of Saint Mary of the Cross Mackillop

10-13 August  Year 6 School Camp

13 August Year 2 Prayer Assembly

13 August Friday Sport for Years 4 - 5

15 August Feast Day of the Assumption of the Blessed Mary

18 August Real Talk Year 5 and 6

20 August Year 6 Prayer Assembly

20 August Friday Sport for Years 4 - 6

23 August Book Week

27 August Year 1 B

27 August Friday Sport for Years 4 - 6

29 August Chamber Music Concert 1:00 - 4:00 pm Cathedral

September

2 September Prep Prayer Assembly

3 September Pupil Free - Professional Development Staff 

5 September Happy Fathers Day

10 September Year 5 Prayer Assembly

11 September  High Tea

15 September Catholic Schools Touch Challenge

17 September Staff Prayer Assembly

17 September Term 3 Concludes

October

4 October Public Holiday - Queen’s Birthday

5 October Term 4 Commences (9 weeks)

Community Announcements

Rockhampton Positive Partnerships

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Oz Tag