St Joseph's Newsletter

I am thrilled to announce that we finally have a signed contract to proceed with the building works that will result in a new, amazing play space. Whilst we have had to make some modifications for budget to meet current costings, I am very confident that the overall aesthetics, quality and adventure will not be compromised. Grounds work is due to start in early November and Stage 1 of the two-stage project should be complete ready for the 2023 school year.  It is intended that Stage 2 will be complete by the end of Term 2.

It was an exciting week in both our Pre-School and in our Reception classes as new learners joined our community. 

At the Pre-School we welcomed Leo, Samuel, Zac, Akshara, Ayaansh, Stefan, Elliot, Lac, Pranav, Ryder, Jacon, Layla, Alina, Bethel, Lachlan, Oakley, Judd, Azalia, Harry, Leni, Adit, Aubrey, Aiden, Lewis, Pager, Lucas, Charlotte and Sophia.

To our Reception classes we welcomed Xavier F, Jacob H, Jensen, Dominik, Harper, Stephanie, Prisha, Charlie, Benjamin, Deborah, Georgia, Evan, Claire, Jordan, Thomas, Zainab, Jazleen, Xavier V and Krithik.

Monday August 8 is the feast day of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop. Mary, Australia’s first canonised saint, was the founder of the Sisters of St Joseph and she herself founded many of our Catholic schools in South Australian.  St Joseph’s School Hindmarsh was founded in 1928 by the Sisters of St Joseph nineteen years after Mary MacKillop’s death in 1909. 

We will celebrate St Mary’s feast day with a whole school liturgy in our Hall at 9:15am.  All are welcome to attend. Our learners will continue the celebration after the liturgy with a buddy activity focusing on Mary MacKillop's life and faith.

Several our learners are preparing for the celebration of the Sacraments of Confirmation and First Communion through our Parish and supported by their parents. Preparation sessions continue to occur across the coming weeks, with celebrations occurring at the Parish Mass on Sunday August 28 with the Archbishop of Adelaide, Patrick O’Regan. We keep Lucas, Jada, Zoe, Chelsea, Nikolai, Rocco, Jake, Joey, Emily and Chiara in our prayers as they prepare to become fully initiated members of the Catholic community.

Parents and caregivers have been invited to provide feedback on the performance of St Joseph’s School Hindmarsh via the Living Learning Leading Survey.  I ask that you find three to five minutes to complete this as your response will provide valuable information to help us reflect on our school and plan forward to make St Joseph’s School the best it can be.  Students from Year 2-6 and all staff will also have the opportunity to complete a survey designed to enable them to have a voice in our school improvement.

A link and log in code has been provided to all families via email and the Skoolbag app.

In Week 5 we will be celebrating Book Week and the much loved dress up parade will be Friday 26th August. Students are invited to wear something related to this year's theme 'Dreaming With Eyes Open', or a book character, for the parade.

We need your help! 

P&F have a number of events coming up including Grandparents day, Fathers day and Sports day. If you can lend a hand we'd love to see you at our next meeting on Monday 8/8/22 at 6pm in the staff room.

Our Mini Vinnies group organised last term for families to donate food items for the Adelaide Refugee Support Incorporated. This week they were able to meet with Linda, who thanked them for their efforts and how their contributions will be donated to a family of 13 who arrived in Adelaide two weeks ago. Like some other refugee families, they arrived with nothing - no food or money. 

The Mini Vinnies group will continue to do their part in helping the community.

Last term, our School Captains Massimo and Arsema, along with Miss Taormina, attended the 'Podcasting Leaders Day' held at the Catholic Education Office. 

Massimo and Arsema worked with students from other schools to create a podcast that included three mystery sounds. They only had one shot to record their podcast, no editing! With the help of special guest Jodie Oddy (from NOVA) and podcasting legend Ira Glass, students enjoyed the challenge and the experience of being able to network with so many experts and with their peers from other schools.

Check out the podcasts Massimo and Arsema created by clicking here

Book Creator is an easy-to-use tool for making multimedia digital books. Create Read Publish

Students will be able to

• Create: combine text, audio, video, drawings and photos
• Read: have your book read to you in multiple languages, with word highlighting and page turning
• Publish: share your book online, download as an ePub file or print it as a PDF.

You may already be familiar with Minecraft, a popular game where players collaborate and build creatively with blocks in immersive 3D worlds.

Minecraft: Education Edition is a game based learning platform that builds STEM skills, unleashes creativity and engages students in collaboration and problem-solving. Minecraft helps educators meet students where they are and inspires deep, meaningful learning across subjects.  

Wix Education is a free platform and suite of resources to teach web creation, design, and development in classrooms. 

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.