St Joseph's Newsletter

It is important that you continue to actively monitor your child for any COVID-19 symptoms. If any symptoms develop (even mild symptoms) students must not attend school and should follow SA Health advice in relation to testing and quarantine. If a positive result is advised, you will need to let the school know as soon as possible.

We continue to work closely with SA Health, and in instances where there are 5 or more COVID-19 cases in a class, we will activate the Catholic Education South Australia Outbreak Management Plan for COVID-19 and communicate with families at that time.

For the first four weeks of this term, face masks are required to be worn indoors by staff and adults attending school sites. Masks are also strongly encouraged for Year 3-6 students. Whether this remains a requirement after week four will be advised as that time approaches.

Parents are welcome to come into the school grounds however we ask that parents refrain from entering classrooms except for pre-arranged meetings.

Parents are welcome to attend school meetings, events and activities including as spectators for indoor sport, and for masses and assemblies with seating outdoors.

When indoors, please ensure you are wearing a face mask and maintain social distancing as best as possible.

This term year-level and multi-class assemblies and liturgies will resume.

We anticipate that whole school gatherings will also resume later this term.

Please ensure that you are familiar with the changes to close contact rules that took effect from 30 April 2022.

Please note that staff and students who are asymptomatic close contacts may continue to attend school, so long as they are testing in accordance with requirements and wearing a mask if they are over the age of 12. While there is no requirement for schools to keep a record of close contacts, please notify the school.

Further information is available at https://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/public+content/sa+health+internet/conditions/infectious+diseases/covid-19/cases+and+contacts/close+contact+advice/close+contact+advice

To access free Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs), close contacts must register at https://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/public+content/sa+health+internet/conditions/infectious+diseases/covid-19/testing+and+tracing/rapid+antigen+testing+rat+for+covid-19 and nominate the collection point from which they will pick up a free pack of RATs.

Thank you for your ongoing support and understanding as we adapt to these arrangements in accordance with the SA Health advice to education settings.

As mentioned previously St Joseph’s Hindmarsh has partnered with occupational therapist practice, ‘Motivate Kids,’ to support teachers and education support officers to strengthen the crucial building blocks of all higher social and emotional development; through enhancing student regulation, to promote deeper engagement with learning leading to enhanced learning outcomes for all.

This three year project will enable staff to engage in professional learning, followed with in school collaboration where an occupational therapist will working alongside teachers and ESO’s in the classroom setting to further develop strategies and pedagogies to support all students with self regulation and social skills. 

Our first commitment is to use the ‘Zones of Regulation’ across the school so you may wish to seek further information from your child. 

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Parent Workshops will also be organised with the Occupational Therapists facilitating, in the near future.

Students in Year 3 and 5 will be completing the NAPLAN testing between 10 – 19 May. 

Students in Years 3 and 5 will be undertaking NAPLAN testing in areas of Literacy and Numeracy over the coming weeks. It is important that children are punctual to school, so that these can be started at the allocated times.

Last week students took part in a ‘World of Maths’ incursion. 

World of Maths offers opportunity for students to see how Maths is applied to everyday life situations and explore Maths in a hands-on environment.

Students gained an insight into problem solving, worked in teams, and explored various Mathematic topics.  It was a highly engaging session which highlighted that Maths is everywhere and is important in our daily lives and of course that Maths can be fun! 

A number of students have enquired about the redevelopment of the school grounds and had hoped that it was being undertaken in the school holidays!!!  Of course, this was not the case, but I am excited to share that the tender process has been completed and I will soon be in a position to provide further information about when the redevelopment will commence.  We are getting closer!!!!

Please join the staff in extending our best wishes to Helen Clark and Nick Hay who will be married on 21 May.  We hope the day is perfect and they are showered with an abundance of blessings throughout their lives.  Congratulations!! 

God Bless

Maria D’Aloia

Last year, the SRC put forward a proposal to introduce a beanie to our optional uniform items. This was approved by board and the designs were created by the SRC with the support of Penny L (Mateo's Mum). Beanies will shortly be placed on Qkr! They will be available for families to order.

As with all uniform items, it is important that they are clearly labelled with the student’s name.

SRC created a list of ‘rules’ around when beanies may be worn

• can be worn during Term 2 and Term 3 (outside of compulsory hat times) at recess and lunch. 
• may be worn to and from school.  
• not to be worn in classrooms.  

• could be worn to after school sports. 
• school carnivals during time that hats aren’t compulsory.  
• to school camp 

Please make sure to label your child's drink bottles, lunchboxes and uniform items. If your child has misplaced an item please check our lost property in the MacKillop Centre of Learning, just outside Mrs Melis' classroom.

Bertie Street has a 2-minute parking limit and the kiss and drop zone goes from Grange Road all along the side of the school to the end of our new yard space. Parents are to remain with their vehicles at all times.

Easter is the celebration of Christ's resurrection from the dead. It is celebrated on a Sunday, and marks the end of Holy Week, the end of Lent, the last day of the Easter Triduum and is the beginning of the Easter season of the liturgical year. 

As we know from the Gospels, Jesus Christ rose from the dead on the third day following his crucifixion, which would be Sunday. His resurrection marks the triumph of good over evil. It is the singular event which proves that those who trust in God and accept Christ will be raised from the dead. 

Since Easter represents the fulfillment of God's promises to mankind, it is the most important holiday on the Christian calendar. 

In the Gospels, the precise details of the Easter narrative vary slightly, but none of these variances are critical to the main story. Despite the variances, the key aspects of the Easter story all match. Above all, they agree that the tomb of Christ was indeed empty, which is the most essential fact. 

Based on direct evidence from the mid-second century, it is believed that Easter was regularly celebrated from the earliest days of the Church. 

The Easter date is movable and always falls on a Sunday between March 22 and April 25. Easter in the Roman Catholic Church is always on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox. 

Following Easter Sunday, the season of Easter begins and lasts for seven weeks, ending with Pentecost. 

Congratulations to Billy, Lotye, Lucas, Jada, Zoe, Chelsea, Nikolai, Rocco, Jake, Joey and Emily who received the Sacrament of Reconciliation last term.

Confirmation Preparation Session: June 21st and July 5th, 6:30pm at Immaculate Heart of Mary School Hall, 6:30pm

The new Spike Parent App allows families to:

• make bookings and cancellations for before and after school care
• view invoices and statements
• receive OSHC notices and alerts 
• view children's learning (similar to Seesaw)
• quick sign in/out via a QR code
  
  

🏁 Getting Started
We've tried to make this transition as easy as possible, simply watch our demonstration or download the instructions below.

📲 Install the app
Don't waste time scanning a QR code, click here to download the Spike Parent App now

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

You'll need to wear your school soccer top at the game. If you haven't collected yours yet, please pay the fee via Qkr! and the top will be sent home with your child.

More information about who your coaches are will be released soon.