School News
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Handbook
PB4L (Positive Behaviour for Learning)
Ask your child about the weekly focus for students.
This week's focus:
Listen to and follow instructions the first time!
Happy Birthday
We wish all our students a very happy birthday who celebrated their special day over the holiday period and the last week.
23 October - Xanthe B Year 3
25 October - Ashton B Year 4
26 October - Liam L Kinder
Lost Property
If any of these items belong to you, please collect from the office school immediately.
2023 Grade Spelling Bee Competition
What is a Spelling Bee?
A spelling bee is a contest in which participants are asked to spell words in a round-robin format where each person gets a turn to spell a word.
Students will receive a list of words to practise at home. Students will be tested on these words in a written test to source the top ten spellers per class. Each class will hold an oral competition with their top ten spellers to determine the 3 participants for the Junior/Senior Spelling Bee Competition.
The School Junior/Senior Spelling Bee Competition will be held on Friday in Week 7 (24 November). An unseen word list will be used for the Junior/Senior School Spelling Bee Competition.
Say it, spell it, say it!
In the Grade Spelling Bee competition the teacher will pronounce the word and use it in a sentence. The competitor (participant) will then say the word, spell the word, and say the word again. For example, “Snowflakes… S-N-O-W-F-L-A-K-E-S….. Snowflakes.” A scribe will write the letters/word as the competitor says them.
Rules
A participant is eliminated from the grade oral spelling bee competition as soon as they incorrectly spell a word.
Once the word is said at the end of a participant’s attempt, they cannot go back and self-correct.
Upper case letters are required as in Wollongong – Capital W-o-l-l (double –l-)
If a competitor spells a word incorrectly but “self-corrects” within 15 (junior) or 20 seconds (senior) or self corrects before saying the word the second time that participant remains in the game.
The timing begins once the participant has said the first letter of the word he/she is attempting. If a word is not spelled out within the 20 seconds (Senior) and 15 seconds (Juniors), that competitor no longer remains in the competition.
It is required that a competitor says the word at the end to show they are finished spelling. For example: “fuel f-u-e-l fuel”
If a competitor spells a word correctly, he or she remains in the competition, waiting for his or her next turn. If the competitor spells a word incorrectly, he or she is eliminated from the competition and the next participant is given a new word from the list.
The teacher’s decision is final.
Spelling Bee Timeline
Week 4
Word lists will be sent home for students to prepare for the class written test.
Week 5
Students will participate in a class written test to determine the top 10 spellers.
Week 6
Students will participate in a class oral spelling bee to select 3 participants for the school Junior/Senior Spelling Bee Competition.
Week 7
Junior/Senior Spelling Bee Competition finalists will be published in the newsletter. The words for the Junior/Senior Spelling Bee Competition will be an unseen list. The final will be held on Friday 24 November 2023.
Week 8
Junior/Senior Spelling Bee Champions will be listed in the newsletter.
2024 School Student Travel
Students who need a School Opal card or travel pass for 2024 can apply here. A new application will need to be submitted if they are applying for the first time, or if they are requesting additional travel entitlement because of new shared parental arrangement (e.g. joint custody).
Students who change address, school, campus location, have repeated a year or received an expiry notification from Transport for NSW for their school travel entitlement should renew or update their details before the end of Term 4. This will ensure that schools can endorse applications, and entitlements remain valid for the start of the 2024 school year. School Opal card holders will have the changes applied to their existing card.
Important information for Year 2 students going into Year 3
If a student’s distance eligibility has changed based on their grade (i.e. grade two to grade three), the system will automatically update their entitlement if they meet the new criteria. If they do not meet the new eligibility criteria, we will send them an expiry notification via email.
Students who have an entitlement approved under a medical condition that is due to expire will receive a notification advising them to re-apply.
Term Bus Pass holders will receive a notification to re-apply.
Students in the Opal network applying for an Opal card (including a Term Bus Pass) for the first time will receive their Student Opal card at their nominated postal address. Cards will be mailed out from January 2024.
Students living in rural and regional (R&R) areas should receive their travel pass at the start of the new school year from their nominated transport operator. It may come via the school or be sent directly to them at home. Note: some R&R operators do not issue travel passes. Students/parents should confirm with their nominated operator if they do not receive a pass.
Library News
Term 4 Library Days
2023 SJB Book Fair
The St Joseph’s Book Fair will commence on Monday 23 October to Friday 27 October. The library will be open for browsing and purchasing, during lunch and after school Monday and Tuesday. It will also be open all day for purchasing on Thursday and Friday, 9:00am - 3:00pm.
Classes will have the chance to attend the Larrikin Book Fair during their library session and have the opportunity to make a ‘wish list’; younger students will receive help with this. The wish lists will then be sent home so you can review them.
REVIEW THE BOOKS YOUR CHILD’S CHOICES
You will be able to review your child’s choices and pre-order online using click & collect at https://larrikinhouse.com.au/collections/book-fair-range. You will also have the option to purchase items at the Book Fair in person.
CLICK & COLLECT ORDERING
- You can ONLY order from our 'Book Fair Top 200' range/page below.
- In the cart below your selection add your Child’s Name and Class in the 'Click & Collect Information' field.
- At Checkout be sure to select 'Click & Collect' as your Shipping Method.
- Carefully Choose your School Name from the list.
- Print / show your order email at the Book Fair as proof of purchase by the closing date.
PURCHASE AT THE BOOK FAIR
We will also be accepting regular cash and credit card payments on site during the Book Fair too.Although every effort will be made to ensure your child brings home the correct item/s there could be a lack of stock or change of students’ minds. If there is a discrepancy, please contact us and we will resolve it asbest we can.
MAKE A DONATION TO THE SCHOOL LIBRARY
If you would like to donate a new book to our school library, please visit the school library or contact the school office.
VOLUNTEERS
On Friday 27 October we are looking for parent helpers for the following tasks:
- Helping student shoppers at the Fair
- Checkout
- Packing up the Fair
If you can assist please contact Mrs Holly Pirie, St Joseph’s Librarian via the school office.
Mrs Holly Pirie
Teacher Librarian
Sports News
Sports Uniform Days - Term 4
Students are required to wear sports uniform as outlined below.
Please be advised that students will be required to wear their sports uniform the following days.
Year | Days required to wear sports uniform |
|---|---|
Kindergarten | Wednesday & Friday |
Year 1 | Monday & Wednesday |
Year 2 | Monday and Thursday |
Year 3 | Tuesday & Thursday |
Year 4 | Wednesday & Friday |
Year 5 | Monday & Wednesday |
Year 6 | Tuesday & Friday |
Canteen
Open Monday to Friday for recess and lunch.
Cash purchases for snacks and drinks can be made at recess and lunchtime. Snacks and drinks can also be ordered via the new platform FlexiSchools.
Lunch orders
Orders for lunch can only be made through Flexischools. Please note that orders close at 9.15am daily. Orders cannot be placed after this time.
Flexischool Parent Support Line - 1300 361 769 (Hours: 7.00am-12.00 noon)
Catholic Care
OOSH, Out of School Hours care at St Joseph's
Email: bullioosh@catholiccare.dow.org.au
Mobile: 0437 713 067
Service hours
Before School Care
7:00am – 8:30am
After School Care
2:45pm – 6:00pm
If you require the use of OOSH for your child/ren you need to be enrolled in the service prior to commencing.
Casual bookings
If your child already uses the service and you requireacasual booking please do this viathe Xplor app.
Before School Care: Bookings are to be made no later than 5:30 pm the night before
After School Care: Bookings are to be made no later than 9:00 am that morning
Casual booking must be made as per the times above to ensure enough staff. If notice is not provided within these time frames and the service does not have sufficient staff your child/ren will be sent to the office for collection. This is something that we all wish to avoid, so please keep in mind the time frames to help support the service.
If there is an emergency and care is needed please phone and leave a message and we will see what we can do.
If you do have any questions, need clarification, or have any feedback please feel free to contact the service mobile during operating hours on 0437 713 067 or Jacinta, Team Leader – 0407 759 720.
Strengthening Relationships
Community Notices
NSW Football - Dads & Daughters Football
