St Joseph's Newsletter

Last week I had the privilege of showcasing our wonderful school to two members of the Education Standards Board. 

The Education Standards Board is a state government authority that regulates early childhood services and schools. This work is done to ensure high-quality education services and high standards of competence and conduct by providers.  One function of the ESB is to undertake the registration process for schools every five years to ensure the school meets the obligations under the Education Act.  This involves providing evidence in each of the standards:

Standard 1: School Governance

Standard 2: Student Learning and Assessment

Standard 3: Student Safety, Health and Welfare

I highlighted to our visitors that we have a commitment to providing a child safe environment, physical resources and infrastructure to enhance the delivery of the curriculum and teaching programmes.  I am very grateful to School Board members and Staff who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to review all documentation that was required to be submitted!  Thank you!

This week we farewell Ms Helen Clark who will commence a new APRIM position at St Joseph’s Clare next week.  We will gather as a community on Thursday 23 June at 2:30 to farewell Helen at a liturgy.  You are most welcome to attend.  Please note 1.5 metre social distancing.

Please join me in extending our best wishes to both Siobhan and Helen as they embark on the next chapter of their lives.  We are so grateful for their wonderful contribution to our school community.  

God Bless you both.

Maria D’Aloia

Principal

On July 8, as part of our ‘Wellbeing Day,’ Brainstorm Productions will be presenting their student wellbeing performance ‘Saving Lil & Archie’ for all year levels. ‘Saving Lil & Archie’ is a live educational theatre performance that promotes balance, positive connections and responsible use of technology. Pandemonium ensues on Planet Arkon when two robots, Lil and Zig, are zapped to earth and into the lives of two siblings, Bella and Archie. Bella is being bullied by the girls in her friendship group. With no sleep and too much screen time, Archie finds it hard to connect with other children. He is lonely and confused. Bella learns to be assertive and to ‘report’, ‘log off’ and seek help when her online interactions become negative and nasty. To restore the balance, Archie must learn how to control his impulses, listen and use empathy so that Lil and Zig can return to Arkon.

‘Saving Lil & Archie’ is part of our student wellbeing curriculum and has been developed by teachers and psychologists. This exciting live theatre experience provides students with practical social and emotional skills, and encourages students to build safe and healthy relationships, at school and online.

Brainstorm Productions is one of Australia’s largest and most respected theatre in education companies, performing to over 300,000 students every year. They offer a range of programs to help schools nurture healthy and harmonious environments, addressing issues such as cyber safety, bullying and resilience. They are also endorsed by the eSafety Commissioner as a Trusted eSafety Provider. Learn more about Brainstorm Productions by visiting their website (brainstormproductions.edu.au) or following them on Instagram (@brainstormproductions_), or Facebook (@Brainstorm.Productions).

Beanies are now available for purchase via the Qkr! app, look under the 'School Events' menu.

Price: $22 per beanie

ℹ️ How to Order a School Winter Beanie - FAQs

When can I order a beanie?
Families can order their beanies via the Qkr app from Wednesday 25th May.

I've made an order, when can I collect my beanie?
Place your order before Thursday morning each week for Friday pickup. Beanies can be collected by a parent from the Front Office or sent home with the eldest child on Friday afternoon.

How do I tell the school I'd like the beanie to be sent home or collected?
Select the 'Delivery' option when purchasing on Qkr to complete the transaction.  Please remember, if families choose the option of the beanies going home with students the school will not take responsibility for beanies lost in delivery.

On Sunday the 19th June, this sacred feast, also known as Corpus Christi was commemorated. It celebrates the presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist. In the Gospel, the story of the multiplication of bread was shared. At this gathering, Jesus made all feel welcome and encouraged them to share in a meal regardless of their backgrounds.

We remember Christ at each Mass as we listen to the words ‘This is my body…. This is my blood…. do this in memorial of me.’ We are all invited to celebrate in the feast where we are invited to join at God’s table to be nourished, so that we may share our gifts with the world as we walk in the footsteps of Jesus.

Vinnies Winter Appeal

Mini Vinnies have a blue Vinnies bin in the chapel foyer. They are collecting donations of clean blankets, sleeping bags, beanies, socks etc, that can be delivered to St Vincent de Paul’s to be distributed by Fred’s Van.

During Refugee Week, Mini Vinnies will be collecting donations of non-perishable food items to be distributed by Adelaide Refugee Support to families who have left countries such as Ukraine due to war or feeling unsafe.

These donations can be left in the foyer area of the school office in the baskets provided under the table. Items will be collected by the Support group on Friday June 24th.

Thank you to the St Joseph’s community for making me feel so welcome for the past 3 and a half years. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here and will miss the staff, students and families of the school and parish. It is a small community with a BIG heart and it has been a pleasure to be a part of it.

Helen Clark
APRIM

The Year 5/6 T DP class’s response following the story read by the author, Thomas Mayor.

What it represents…

We thought that a heart in the middle would symbolise the respect for and the love between the Indigenous Australians and all Australians in this country.

We have also included both the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags (on the right) that represent Indigenous Peoples of Australia and on the left, the Australian flag, that represent all Australians who live on this land.

The Preschoolers have been reading the book and singing the accompanying song Special Land. It names many animals, seasons and elements of nature that are so unique to Australia. The children have decorated maps of Australia with cotton bud dot art and expressed sentiments linked to their art and our special land Australia.

Each year we encourage and invite our senior students to demonstrate a personal commitment to service and act to make a positive difference to the lives of others and to their school community to which they belong. 

In doing so, the Year 5/6 students have the opportunity, to be recognised for their efforts and acts of service as they work to lead and direct others in such a way as to bring credit and ‘positive change’ to self and St Joseph’s School.

During Term 1, we reintroduced a leadership initiative program through the ‘School Community Service Award.’

How does it work?

Commencing from Term 1 this year, students who wish to participate in this initiative, will be required to complete 3 ‘community service acts’ within the school community.

They will also be required to complete each ‘service act’ on 3 different occasions throughout the term.  As evidence, class teachers and/or school staff will be required to date and authorise confirmation and completion of their service. 

In addition to completing 3 different ‘acts of service,’ the Year 5/6 students will also be expected to consistently maintain and uphold a high standard of leadership qualities, skills and behaviour.

Congratulations to the following students from the senior unit who have led and are continuing to lead the school community with responsibility, maturity and positive role modelling.

They have met the expectations of the senior unit and have also shown leadership and initiative by serving others in a number of community service activities. 

The students should feel very proud of their achievements and we look forward to their continued service and positive role modelling during the course of the school year.

In Design and Technology the students of Year 3/4FB have been designing a Mini Float for the National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant Float Design Competition!

The task is to create a float that is light weight and can be pulled by a person, it can’t be too similar to any of the existing floats. Students need to think about the materials that will be required to construct the float and label their drawing accordingly. Wish them luck!

With the change of seasons, it is time to begin planting in the preschool garden bed. Last week, our preschool children helped our wonderful volunteer Mirca Bray to plant celery and broccoli seedlings and seeds such as broad beans and carrots. There was great cooperation as the children prepped and dug the soil and watered the plants once they had been placed in our vegetable garden.

Bookings for Vac Care OPEN Monday 6th July.
Please return printed booking and consent form to secure your place. Bookings will not be available online during Vacation Care.

📅 Vacation Care Dates: Monday 11th July - Friday 22nd July

🤩 These holidays we have lots of FUN activities planned:

🎨 Craft & Sensory Fun Day
🍿 Movie Day at Arndale Cinema
🕺 Footsteps Dance Clinic
🚤 Adelaide Oval Tour, Popeye & Lunch on the Torrens
🌈 Tie Dye Fun & Electronic Fun Day

🏃 Mini Sports Day
🐒 Adelaide Zoo
⚽ Socca Joey's Soccer Clinic
🏁 Rev it up Racing
🥳 Vacation Care Party

📝 Return your Booking & Consent Form to OSHC
Bookings are available by filling in the form and returning it directly to OSHC in person or via email (bookings via our online system will not be available).

Printed copies of our Vac Care program went home with your eldest child on Friday.

Please remember that term time bookings do not roll over into Vacation Care.

🆕 Using Vac Care for the first time?
Families using our service for the first time will need to complete an OSHC Enrolment process before care can be provided or bookings accepted. Haven't created an account yet? Simply follow the step by step information sheet below to enrol your child/ren.

🤔 Have a question?
Get in touch with our OSHC team, call 0408 809 107 or email oshc@sjsh.catholic.edu.au