St Joseph's Primary School

Principal's News

Dear St Joseph’s Primary School Community,

 

Our school term concluded yesterday with an excellent celebration of our Faith and generosity. All students participated in our Project Compassion day and our Easter Liturgy before lunch.

 

Thank you to all of our families and community members who contributed to the Project Compassion event for Caritas. Our Junior Joeys set an ambitious target of raising $1300 for Caritas, in hope of raising enough money to supply a water tank for a school in need in the Solomon Islands. They met regularly during lunchtimes planning fundraisers and organising the logistics of our Project Compassion day yesterday. 

 

Congratulations to Rosie Lennon who won our lucky guess competition and received a large jar stacked full of lollies. There will certainly be no shortage of sweets in the Lennon household this Easter!

Also a massive thank you to Mrs Hatton for working with our Junior Joeys to help make this day successful. You can watch some of the highlights of our Project Compassion coin trail by clicking on the following link.

This week started with our student data meetings. These were very well supported by our school families. It is important that we maintain communication between families and the school to help you understand the learning that is happening in the classroom and how you are able to support this from home. Thank you also to the families that I had met with to discuss some future plans on how we can continue to improve performance within this space. Next term we will be continuing to improve our communication of the learning journeys that each student has within our school.

 

Last week, we held practise NAPLAN assessments. We also contributed in a coordinated practise test, that most Year 3 & Year 5 students in Australia, sat at the same time. This is to test the online capacity of the NAPLAN system that we are participating in this year. NAPLAN is an important assessment tool that is co-ordinated by the Federal Department of Education. It is a series of assessments that all Year 3,5,7 & 9 students sit. It is important though that if you have any questions or concerns regarding your child participating in these assessments, that you organise to speak with Mrs Elise Baird or myself. That way we can discuss options that you have to support your child in these assessments. Leaders of Learning will also be in touch with families of students who have Personalised Plans to discuss any adjustments that you may wish to have included within this assessment period. More information regarding NAPLAN can also be found in the News & Notices section of this newsletter.

 

Again, we congratulate the sporting achievement of our students this week. Nate Dewson was successful in making the final of the 50m Freestyle event at the NSW Primary Schools Sports Association Swimming event. Nate, you have made us all proud. It was wonderful seeing St Joseph’s Wee Waa on the big screen during the event. 

 

Also, we had a number of our Stage 3 students competing in the Diocesan Touch Trials yesterday. They represented our school with pride. Congratulations to Edward Haire who was selected to compete at the Polding tournament later in the year.

 

 

Last week, we had to postpone our school’s Parents & Friends Association AGM. We will be holding this AGM now on Tuesday 27 April at school, starting at 6.00 pm.

 

Beginning a new term is an exciting time, and it can also be a very busy. It is important though that we take time to celebrate what makes being part of our school so special. Therefore, our Parents & Friends Association, with the support of our school staff, will be holding a Family BBQ on Wednesday 21 April at 5.30 pm. This is a fun evening where children can play, and families can meet and share a BBQ dinner and celebrate being part of our school community. 

 

Food and icy poles will be supplied free and there will be cans of drink available to purchase too. An RSVP link will be sent to all families to fill out with anticipated numbers to allow us to cater for this event. This will be a perfect opportunity to introduce yourselves to new families and have a social time here at school.

Our Year 2 Reconciliation Parent Information Evening will be held just before this event at St Andrew’s Church at 5.00 pm. More information about this event will be sent to Year 2 families outlining this change in time and date.

 

Thank you for your support of our school this term. It is amazing how fast the weeks seem to go. It is a privilege to witness the growth of your children throughout this term. 

 

I wish you all a safe and happy Easter holiday break.

 

 

God Bless,

 

Alistair Stewart

Principal