Term 2 Week 3 2024

Principal's Message

Thank you to all parents who have completed the TTFM survey.  We value this information as a school community as it gives parents, staff and students a voice as to what improvements we can make as a school, to enhance the great things we already do.  I will feed back, through the newsletter, the results and our commitment to the suggested improvements.

As part of our Annual Improvement Plan this year, we are focusing on student wellbeing.  We have collaborated with Angela Lockwood (https://www.angelalockwood.com.au/)  to create a whole school approach to helping our students THRIVE.  Our wellbeing initiative integrates all the great things we already do here at St Joseph's (PBS, MJR, growth mindset, emotional regulation) and centres around the word RESPECT.  

Why Focus on Wellbeing?

Wellbeing is the cornerstone that supports a child's emotional, social, and physical development. Creating a nurturing environment allows students to thrive, learn, and grow. By focusing on wellbeing, we equip our students with the resilience and social-emotional intelligence needed to face life's challenges and thrive.

The RESPECT Model Explained

The RESPECT model of wellbeing

• Relationships:  Having positive connections with family, friends, and our God.
• Emotions: Understanding and responding to our feelings in healthy ways.
• Self: Understanding who we are, our story and what makes us unique.
• Physical Wellbeing: Taking care of our bodies through exercise, healthy eating, and sleep.
• Environment: Caring for our environment and God’s creation. 
• Community:  Being an active participant in contributing to the common good.
• Time: Using our time to find balance and thrive as we grow.   

Over the next 2 weeks teachers will introduce this model to our students 
Our goals are to:

1. Introduce the concept of wellbeing.
2. Explore each component of the RESPECT model and relate it to their lives.
3. Engage students in reflective activities to personally connect with the RESPECT model.

Each piece of the puzzle will be broken down and explicitly focussed on throughout the year. Please ask your children what they are learning about and the strategies they are being taught. Encourage your child to share their feelings and thoughts, and model healthy emotional responses when communicating. Create an inclusive home environment where your child feels valued and understood.

The overall themes covered throughout the year will be as follows;

Understanding Wellbeing: The RESPECT Model
Wellbeing at St Joseph's Tweed Heads
Exploring Trust
Building Trust
Communication for positive relationships
Showing Empathy
Understanding Emotions
Learning Self-Regulation through the Zones of Regulation Program
Understanding Myself: Exploring Strengths and Family Story
Goal setting and growth mindset
Physical Health
Building Self-Regulation Skills for Physical Health
Responsibility for the world around us.
Looking after our school environment
Making Jesus Real
Making a Difference in Your Community
Time to Thrive
Mindful Time Use
Tech time
Reflection & Gratitude

This program will also include Parent workshops offered by Angela to ensure a whole community approach.  We look forward to working together with families to support our students to THRIVE. 

Assistant Principal's Message

PUBLIC SPEAKING

Our yearly Public Speaking competition will be held on Wednesday 26th June at 12:00 pm in St Joseph's Church. Here, two representatives from each class will present their speeches to the school community.

Every child has prepared their speech and is practising it, in class, at the moment. The teacher will then select 6 children from each grade, in weeks 6 or 7, to present their speech to a panel, who then select the two finalists.

Make sure the children begin with ..... Chairperson, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls and end with .... the word:    'Chairperson'   Do not say  Thank you for listening.

Each speech for K Yrs 1 and 2 is  1 min,  Yrs 3 & 4 is 2 mins, Yrs 5 & 6 is 3 mins.

All the parents are invited to come and listen to the speeches, They are so entertaining. Can't wait to hear these speeches.

REPORTS

At the end of this term, the children will receive their first Semester report for 2024. There have been some changes to the report. I have attached an example for you to see what the changes are.

This year the Common Grade Scale continues to be used to report student achievement in Years 1 to 10 in NSW schools. The Lismore Diocesan Catholic Schools have developed a template for each KLA to address this requirement. You will note that the wording for A_E is now being used as a scale and the grades are given to specific Focus Areas within the KLA. The words, extensive, thorough, sounds, basic, and elementary, now represent the A- E scale.

The change as of 2023, in Lismore Diocesan Catholic Schools was that there was no requirement for an overall grade in any subject area for K-2. In 2024, as we move into implementation of the 3-6 English and Mathematics Syllabus there is no longer a requirement for an overall grade in any KLA for K-6. Providing an overall grade for a KLA required weighting of particular outcomes more heavily than others. We are not required to do this moving forward.

The staff are looking at how this affects the Academic Excellence badges and we will determine the criteria to achieve these awards in the near future.

Any questions come in and talk to me.

AEDC - Australian Early Development Census

Kinder teachers are at the moment, preparing this census about early learning and health. Please read the attached information about why they are collecting this data.

Year 6 CANBERRA EXCURSION 2024

In two weeks  our Year 6 students from our school will soon be undertaking an education tour of the national capital. Students will be given the opportunity to participate in a variety of eductional programs with a focus on Australia's history, culture, heritage and democracy.

The Australian Government recognises the importance of all young Australians being able to visit the national captial as part of their civics and Citizenship education. To assist families in meeting the quite substantial cost of this excursion, the Australian Government is contributing funding of $90.00 per student under the Parliament and Civics Education Rebate program towards those costs. This rebate has been taken off the total cost on your invoice. The rebate is paid directly to the school upon completion of the excursion.

We can't wait to visit Canberra.

Regards

Chris

Regards

Chris  Mulherin

Leader of Pedagogy

Maths Extension Sessions at St Joseph's College

On Wednesday afternoon, a small group of high-potential Year 6 students attended a high-potential maths session at St Joseph’s College, Banora Point. This session was led by the Leader of Mathematics, Leanne Ward, and delved into the realms of algebra, tables of values, and the connections to the Fibonacci sequence: F(n) = F(n-1) + F(n-2). Throughout the session, students rose to the challenge of unravelling complex patterns, demonstrating their perseverance as they worked to uncover solutions and articulate their reasoning. At the end of the lesson, students graphed this by drawing connected quarter circles with radii equal to the Fibonacci numbers to create a perfect spiral. These students are very keen to participate again next fortnight!

- Mrs Victoria Atkinson

SPORT NEWS

Next week Nash Hynes will be representing the Polding AFL team at State Championships in Albury. This is a massive achievement and we wish him all the best. 

Willow Millar has been selected to represent North Coast & Inland in a team consisting of Catholic, Independent, and State School girls in the AFL Polding State Championships. Congratulations Willow on this enormous effort. We wish you all the best. 

Zeke Bishop and Flynn Slattery will be representing the Polding Rugby League at State Championships in Sydney. Congratulations to you both on this great achievement. We wish you well in Sydney.

Term 2 PUPIL FREE DAY REMINDER

Monday 27th and Tuesday 28th of May 2024 are PUPIL FREE DAYS. Staff will be off site. 

Please Note; There will be NO CANTEEN AVAILABLE FRIDAY 24th MAY and FRIDAY 31st May (Athletics Carnival)

IMPORTANT DATES TERM 2

Athletics Skills -Every Friday Term 2 Kinder to Year 6

Thursday 23rd May 2024  at 5.30pm - Family, Faith, Fun evening

Monday 27th and Tuesday 28th of May - PUPIL FREE DAYS

Friday 31st May 2024 - Whole School Athletics Carnival

Wednesday 5th of June 2024 - Show us your colours day

Monday June 10th 2024- King's Birthday Public Holiday

Wednesday 19th June 2024- Year 1 Currumbin Wildlife Excursion

Wednesday 26th June 2024 - Public Speaking 12:00 - 2:00pm

Friday 28th June 2024- Pyjama and Can Can day

School Holidays 6th July 2024- 22nd July 2024

Book Club News

Deadline for issue 3 orders is Monday 20th May. Parents are also reminded they can spend their $5 credit earned from issue 1. 

St Joseph's Primary School Parent Community Group -Recommended Listening

Next Parent Community Group Meeting will be held in the school library at 5pm on TUESDAY 18th June 2024.

Parenting in the Age of Distraction

Catholic Schools Parent Assembly Conference