All things Design/ Technology and Science

Students from Prep to Year 6 have been involved in a STEM unit of work this term, as a secondary topic to our Performing Arts focus. Our Year 6s presented aspects of their STEM topic this morning at assembly and next week we will be celebrating National Science Week across the school.

Science Week 2023 Week 6

The school theme for National Science Week in 2023 is Innovation: Powering Future Industries. The theme incorporates the advancement in technology in all industries, especially using artificial intelligence (AI).

The curriculum focus of the theme is on:

Science as a Human Endeavour
Chemical Sciences
Physical Sciences
Earth and Space Sciences, and
Biological Sciences.

Along with the Sustainability cross-curriculum priority, it is versatile and accessible to all students and teachers.

Student investigations may include the use of AI in industry, as well as recent advancements in renewal energy technology, data science, and environmental monitoring. With topics of interest from medicine to marine research and agriculture, there are opportunities to engage with the theme from a variety of perspectives. Staff from Prep to Year 6 will be hosting daily Science sessions to bring this important aspect of the curriculum to life across our school and I thank them for their ability to enrich our usual timetable with knowledge-rich scientific learning.

Thanks to our Year 3 parents who this week provided valuable incursions for our students, covering design elements and engineering in the new Metro train network, architecture, and a session on design components in hairdressing. Just brilliant! The children have been raving about these experiences all week, and Mathius, Will and Bridget are now sporting fancy new hairstyles! Thanks to Amy (Will, Bridget and Grace) for sharing her hairdressing expertise. (Amy, I think you're going to be booked out for the foreseeable future).

Connie (Salvador's mum), Sally (John's mum), and Lucas (Archer's dad) presented information about their jobs in design and digital technology. The students loved learning about their roles in architecture and project management. We are so thankful for them giving up their time to share their knowledge with us and to Ms Huebner for organising the incursions.

The Feast Day of St Mary of the Cross Mackillop

The feast day of Australia’s first saint, St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, was celebrated this week on Tuesday the 8th of August. Her work in establishing schools for all has left a lasting legacy and provided a call to action in responding to the needs we see in communities across Australia. Our students participated in liturgies and activities in class to celebrate the special feast day of Australia's first saint. Saint Mary of the Cross was born in Melbourne in 1842 and at the age of 24, dedicated her life to God as the co-founder of a new religious order, the Sisters of Saint Joseph, whose purpose was to educate poor children. Living in poverty alongside those she served, Saint Mary of the Cross was famous for saying, “Never see a need without doing something about it”.

All loving God, we thank you for making Mary MacKillop a woman strong in faith and courage, a person for all Australians.

Inspired by her example, may we strive to make our country a place free of poverty and injustice, a place full of wisdom and learning and a land where you are praised in love and peace.

Amen

Congratulations...

To Hamish in Year 6 who recently had a great (and highly successful) day at the Victorian Band League State Championship. Picking up first place in the solo category! What a brilliant effort, Hamish. We are so proud of you!

Ava (Grade 3H) and Philippa (Grade 2B) recently had an incredible weekend, winning 1st place in both the Jazz and Lyrical dance categories at the Energy Competition. Both girls are members of the Mini Elite team at the Australian Academy of Dance. Congratulations to Ava and Philippa for their outstanding achievements, we are so very proud of you both!

Book Week 2023

“Read Grow Inspire” Book Week is fast approaching and will take place in the week from the 21st to the 25th of August. We are looking forward to celebrating our love of reading in the library, classrooms and with our annual costume parade. The theme for Book Week this year is “Read Grow Inspire”- a great theme for creative costumes and of course, wonderful reading! Our costume parade will be held on Monday 21st of August at 9 am in the hall. Children are encouraged to come to school dressed as a book character, and to bring a copy of the book their character is from. Looking forward to a great Book Week!

Learning Support Officers

Not a day goes by when we don't count our blessings to have such dedicated, supportive and nurturing Learning Support Officers on staff. This amazing team support the students, either 1:1, in small groups, or in the classroom, implementing targeted academic or social and emotional intervention or extension programs. An invaluable resource for our classroom teachers, we remain indebted for all the great work they do around our school.

Coordinated by Faye Forbes (Learning Diversity Leader) Amanda Jackson (Literacy Leader) and Martin Earl (Maths Leader), our LSO team provide such valuable insight and support into the learning needs of all our students. Thank you to Miss Jo, Miss Gloria, Miss Rachael, Miss Karen, Miss Briely, Mr Marcus and Mr Liam.

I know our classroom teachers are deeply appreciative of the work carried out by our LSOs.

I would also like to acknowledge the care and attention given by Isabelle and Lynnette (administration officers) who quietly work in the background to look after our children.

We are blessed at St Joseph's to have staff who go above and beyond each day to support our students.

Assembly Announcement

There were many excited students at assembly this morning, when Martin from Stage Left Performing Arts School announced the new on-site after-school program, which will begin in Term 4. Stage Left Performing Arts School is one of Melbourne’s leading Performing Arts Schools, and will be coming to St Joseph’s every Tuesday to run after-school Acting, Singing and Dancing classes. These classes are only for St Joseph’s students from Grades 1-6 and will run from 3.30pm until 5pm.

Click below for sign-up details and numbers are strictly limited to 20 per group:

https://www.stageleft.com.au/sites/default/files/application_form_term_4_2023_stage_left_at_st_josephs_ps.pdf

St Joseph's Malvern Major Fundraiser

With the social night/ fundraiser just a week or so away, our P+F team need to know how many people to cater for, both with dinner and drinks.

I mean, imagine if the bar was to run dry???

The dinner menu sounds delicious, and with a drink on arrival and great entertainment throughout the evening, it is an event not to be missed.

We know that lots of you are planning to be there and have not yet purchased tickets, so please, please, please go ahead and book now!

https://www.trybooking.com/CKDNL

Live entertainment and silent auctions

$75pp includes dinner and drink on arrival

Dress: A touch of disco OR turn it up to 54!

Contact Details: David Kahn - 0412 551 179, Tennille Baré - 0479 198 860 & Jane Pausewang 0402 144 079

DATE

Saturday 19 August 2023 7:00 PM - Midnight

De La Salle Hall1318 High Street, Malvern VIC 3144

Have a great weekend,

Michelle

Feast Day - Mary MacKillop