Newsletter No 30 19 September 2018

Found or found out?

My niece brought home, mid-term, a sheet that both her parents had to sign. It stated that she was falling behind in chemistry. A free and frank response was given by both parents – then the family set down to work. Her older brother stated that the text book she was using was ‘useless’. The one he had used three years previously was much clearer so that was brought out. Her father sat down and went through her subject to find out just where she had gotten lost and later that afternoon her older sister was teaching her just how the periodic table worked. The body language of my niece spoke of sheer relief: she knew she was in trouble but, like most adolescents, and indeed all of us for that matter, she had trouble putting her hand up and saying, ‘Help!’ She feared being found out but discovered herself found instead. When we are ‘found out’ we think we will be humiliated even more but when we are ‘found’ we are given the hope of change. We discover there is a way out of the mess. Often we can fear approaching God because of messes in our lives. We think we have to clean up our act before we are worthy. Nothing could be further from the truth. God knows utterly what is out of kilter, even wrong with our lives…and is waiting to help. That is the point of the parables of the Lost Sheep, Lost Coin and the Prodigal Son. We do not have to find our way out of the mess…which we probably couldn’t anyway. We just have to stop, put aside our fear of being found out and let ourselves be found instead. Go on, sit down in one of your messes and say, ‘God, please find me!’ Loving God, you know my life – my joys and successes as well as my griefs and disasters. Come find me in the midst of my mess. Let your good Spirit give me the courage to trust what you could do. I ask this in Jesus’ name confident that you will hear me.

Sr Kym Harris osb

From the Principal

Thank you – to the parents who booked a Parent Teacher Interview this week. At last count,

approximately 180 (out of 300) interviews were booked. Feedback we received from our recent School

Satisfaction Surveys showed that some parents find the reporting system confusing….these parent

teacher interviews are a perfect way to discuss and engage with your child’s progress, hopefully ensuring

that you understand more fully the feedback they receive via their report cards at the end of the

Semester.

Year 6 Graduation Mass and Dinner – Parents of Year 6 Parents have received notification regarding the

details of next term’s mass and dinner. The mass is the central focus of this night. We encourage you to

invite as many family and friends as you like to this celebration. You will note that at the dinner, which

follows, students are limited to inviting two adults only. We remind our students too, that dress is smart

casual and must be appropriate for the mass; there is no need for suits, high heels or the like from our

students.

Impetigo - ‘School Sores’ – We have received some reports of our students in our school with ‘School

Sores’(Impetigo). Impetigo is caused by bacteria that usually lives on the skin – typically Staphylococcus

aureus or Streptococcus Group A or B. These bacteria can live on healthy skin but at certain times can be

responsible for causing infection. When the skin is damaged – such as from a mosquito bite, scratch or

eczema, the bacteria can cause infection. However, impetigo can also occur on healthy skin.

Impetigo is a bacterial infection, so antibiotics are often required. It is important to see your doctor if you think your child has school sores.

Preventing spread of school sores is an important part of the treatment.

Cover all sores with band aids or clothing. This will prevent the child scratching which will stop the spread on themselves and to others.

Don’t share a bath or towels with someone who has school sores Wash all sheets, clothing and towels in separately in hot water if they have been in contact with

the bacteria. Dry them in the sun or in a hot dryer. Keep the child isolated from school until they have had 24hrs of treatment and all sores are

able to be covered.

Hairstyles and Uniforms – A reminder as we approach the school holidays to ensure any haircuts are in line with our Uniform and Presentation Guidelines. If unsure, ask.

Please take particular note of the following: Hair is to be neatly groomed, the student’s own natural colour and, if shoulder length or longer, tied back away from the face with a navy/ yellow or white hair accessory. There are to be no extremes in style or cut. If doubt exists with a style of hair, parents should check with the Principal before having a style change. You can find our guidelines here http://sjwlrok.catholic.edu.au/policies/UniformAndPresentationGuidelines.pdf and our policy here: http://sjwlrok.catholic.edu.au/policies/Uniform.pdf

Holidays are always a good opportunity to ensure that your child’s uniforms are in good order, and that any necessary stationery requirements have been ‘topped up.’

Vacation Care Schedule and Electrical Upgrade – Attached to this week’s newsletter is our Vacation Care Schedule. I apologise for the delay in dispersing this schedule. As part of our building works, we require an electricity upgrade to our site. We were awaiting confirmation from Ergon and the builders as to when this would happen and if this would have any impact on our Vacation Care Service. The update has been scheduled for Friday 5 October. There may be no power to the OSHC on this day. Our staff have planned ways around this including ways of keeping lunches cool, and have scheduled an excursion on this day. If you have any queries regarding Vacation Care please call the OSHC staff on 0429316543.

Building Update – (Right) Nearly ready for the slab to

be poured for the additional classroom, which will

open into the existing one. In the background, you

can see the block walls are up for the general activity

room.

(Left) The side wall of the administration building.

This is the ‘back’ staffroom end.

(Bottom Right) Another view of the site coming

together.

From this point on, our building project may

become a little more invasive, with various works to

occur within the school site over the holidays and

for the remainder of the year. I have displayed

plans on our two Information Stations, and in the

school office if you wish to have a look. Whilst some

of the upcoming work throughout next term may be

noisy and somewhat intrusive, the improvements

and extensions are sorely needed! We will need to

remain flexible with regards to entry and exit points and movement pathways around the school – it is

short term pain for long term gain. Please be patient and understanding throughout this time.

Our girls continue to use the downstairs toilets until the upstairs ones are rebuilt. Year 5 and 6 girls have

been given permission to utilise the hall toilets also, to reduce any congestion.

P and F Meeting – Please join us for our next P and F Meeting, to be held in the staffroom, tomorrow,

Thursday 20 September at 5pm. All members of our school community are welcome to come along.

Parent engagement has been shown in research to have significant positive impacts on children’s

academic achievements – and new faces are always welcome! Agenda items will include feedback from

the recent School Satisfaction Surveys, upcoming works and maintenance around the school, the

Christmas Concert and breakup BBQ and future resourcing.

Homework Position Paper – Over the last couple of months, the School Board has been discussing our

Homework Policy and beliefs about homework in our school. This is certainly a complex issue. Amongst

our school board, we had some parents wanting more, some wanting less, some wanting project based,

some wanting rote learning and the list goes on. Recent feedback from our School Satisfaction Surveys

would indicate this contradictory pattern also. The School Board turned to recent research for guidance,

and together (with consultation from teaching staff) we have developed a Homework Position Paper. As

with all matters, if you have any questions, concerns or queries with regards to homework, I urge you to

chat to your child’s teachers. Our teachers understand the constraints of time and the busyness of our

school families as well as the individual academic and social needs of our students.

http://www.sjwlrok.catholic.edu.au/policies/HomeworkPositionPaper.pdf

Repeating in Prep – If a teacher, after considerable observations of the child and communication with the parents, considers a repeat of prep might be in the child’s best interests then the following must occur: a. Dependent upon the area of need, evidence of some form of formal assessment by a specialist or paediatrician must be provided to the school by the parent/s b. The Regional Co-ordinator: Inclusive Curriculum from the Diocesan Catholic Education Office must observe the student and provide a written report c. The Principal then provides this evidence to the Assistant Director: Schools from the Catholic Education Office who will discuss this decision with the Assistant Director: Curriculum before reaching a decision.

If you have any questions about this process, please do not hesitate to contact either myself or the

school’s Learning Support Teacher, Mrs Christine Gawne (after speaking to yoru child’s classroom teacher

first, or course).

Methods of Communication – Communication between the home and school (and vice versa) is of paramount importance in the education of our children. We, as a school, endeavour to provide clear and timely communication in a wide variety of forms. These include, but are not exclusive to: The school app (preferred method of communication – you won’t miss an ounce of communication from the school this way!), school website, school Facebook page, Information Stations around the school, weekly newsletters, emails, phone calls, face to face communication, parent teacher interviews, parent information sessions and evenings, term newsletters from classes and even our in-office TV and street-side LED Screen! Some classes also utilise class google pages and apps such as Seesaw to provide real-time updates of student work samples and achievements. We spend a lot of time preparing and distributing communication from our teachers and staff in as many formats as we can – and ask that the parent body takes the time to access this information. It is unfortunate when parents are unaware of events or notices because they have not accessed school communication. Occasionally the school app has ‘glitches’ and this can prove frustrating, I know. This sometimes occurs when there has been an update to the app by the company. The solution usually is to delete and reinstall the app if it is not working. If this doesn’t solve the problem, please feel free to give the school office a call and we can call the company directly.

Some teachers email parents directly and are happy to provide their email contacts in return. Emails

should be for ‘little issues’ for example, a lost piece of clothing, sickness alert and the like. Bigger,

more sensitive or urgent issues are best dealt with face to face or via the phone. If a teacher spent

15 minutes per week, emailing parents of children in their class, this could equate to 7.5 hours per

week. I am sure you would agree that this is not sustainable. Personally, I would rather my children’s

teachers spending their non-teaching time preparing engaging and relevant learning opportunities rather

than emailing back and forth. Teachers too, are deserving of their home time. Unfortunately, there have

been instances lately where teachers have been emailed over their weekends and even after midnight by

parents who expect an immediate response.

Enjoy the remainder of the week,

Kellie

APRE News

Mk 9:30-37

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark

The Son of Man will be delivered into the hands of humanity … All who wish to be first must make themselves the servants of all.

After leaving the mountain Jesus and his disciples made their way through Galilee; and he did not want anyone to know, because he was instructing his disciples; he was telling them, ‘The Son of Man will be delivered into the hands of men; they will put him to death; and three days after he has been put to death he will rise again.’ But they did not understand what he said and were afraid to ask him.

They came to Capernaum, and when he was in the house he asked them, ‘What were you arguing about on the road?’ They said nothing because they had been arguing which of them was the greatest. So he sat down, called the Twelve to him and said, ‘If anyone wants to be first, he must make himself last of all and servant of all.’ He then took a little child, set him in front of them, put his arms round him, and said to them, ‘Anyone who welcomes one of these little children in my name, welcomes me; and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.’ © Creative Ministry Resources Pty Ltd

Favour for a Farmer

Both Lily and Elsie came up with the idea to raise money for the drought affected farmers. There is a box in the office that is slowly gathering funds. This Friday Zooper Dooper ice blocks will be sold at first lunch for 50c with all donations going to the farmers.

What’s Happening in Religion in Year 3

This Term in Year Three students have been learning about the sacrament of Reconciliation. We have used the Gospel story of Zacchaeus to help us to understand Jesus’ teaching about how we can receive forgiveness and also how we can respond when someone asks for forgiveness. We have learnt about the steps to completing the sacrament of Reconciliation and the special prayer that we say during this ‘The Act of Contrition’. We have used a Lapboard to assist us to reflect on our learning about Reconciliation also.

Our Reconciliation lapboards Acting out the story of Zacchaeus

Continuing the Journey in the Catholic Faith 2018/2019

Continuing the Journey in the Catholic Faith 2018-2019 Cathedral Parish of St Joseph:

Calling all families with children eight years old or older who wish to prepare to receive the healing sacrament of Penance and to complete the Sacraments of Initiation (Confirmation and First Holy Communion)

You are invited to join the Sacraments team for the Information Evening for Parents only on:

· Date: Tuesday 16 October or Wednesday 17 October

· Venue: Cathedral Centre corner of William and Murray Streets

· Time: 5.30pm. – 6.30pm.

Parents need only attend one of the two sessions.

Preloved materials Sacraments process: As the 2018-2019 sacraments process is about to commence the Sacraments team would love any preloved DUPLO, LEGOS, story books for the family workshops so that any siblings who attend will be able to be engaged with activities. Preloved items can be left at the Cathedral centre or any of the three Catholic Primary schools. Thanks, in anticipation.

Prayer Assembly Please join both Year Three classes, Mrs Hutchinson and Miss Corr as as they lead prayer this Friday in the Hall at 8.35am.

Have a fabulous week!

Rheanna

Curriculum News

Enjoy the holidays,

Janette

Term Four Dates

1 October Queen’s Birthday Public Holiday

8 October Term 4 Commences (9 weeks)

10 October Prep Vision Screening Program

22 October Pupil Free Day (Vacation Care will be in operation on this day – Bookings essential)

26 October World Teachers Day

Day for Daniel

29 October Year 7 2019 visit to The Cathedral College

30 October Mass in the Hall

31 October Debating Round 3 (Finals TBA)

1 November All Saints Day

6 November Melbourne Cup

8 November Prep 2019 Orientation Sessions

No Instrumental Music for Years 4,5 & 6

11 November Remembrance Day

15 November Instrumental Music students performance on assembly

28 November Year 6 Rite of Passage Mass at the Cathedral and Dinner for parents and students.

30 November Whole School Christmas Concert and breakup BBQ

3 December Year 6 2019 School Captain Speeches

4 December Year 6 2019 House Captain Speeches

4 – 5 December Wandal’s Got Talent – Talent Quest

6 December Spelling Bee

Report Cards Available on Parent Lounge

(Note – if leaving Wandal Reports available to January 2019)

7 December Term 4 Concludes

2019 School Resumes 29 January

2019 Commences 29 January (10 weeks Term 1)

Term 1 29 January – 5 April

Term 2 23 April – 28 June

Term 3 15 July – 20 September

Term 4 8 October – 13 December

Awards “Striving for Excellence” Award – (for a student who has exhibited academic improvements and / or has been applying themselves to the very best of their ability) Ava L – For your amazing efforts at bumping up your writing this week. You have persevered to demonstrate your best work. Cooper S – For your thoughtful reflection about your artworks. You were able to describe elements of the art work. Alannah L – For your enthusiasm when completing your biography on Captain James Cook. You consistently looked for ways to expand and improve your writing. Great work Alannah! Kristen S – For consistently using adjectives and adverbs to make your writing more descriptive and interesting to read. Well done – you are a writing superstar! Dakota F – For your thoughtful explanations in Science. You demonstrated a thorough knowledge of the different states of matter and their properties. Great work!

Ronan O - For the enthusiasm and interest you have shared throughout the heritage building history unit. “To Love is to Serve” Award - (for a student who has consistently displayed leadership qualities) Jack C – Your positive attitude towards learning and the respect you show your classmates is commendable. Well done, Jack! “MacKillop Award” – (for a student who exhibited Gospel values in their words and actions) Ivy C – For being a kind and caring friend to others. Thank you for seeing a need and doing something about it!

Get involved in the School Banking program.

St Joseph’s School Wandal is excited to offer the Commonwealth Bank School Banking program to all students. School Banking is a fun, interactive and engaging way for young Australians to learn about money and develop good savings habits. Children who deposit money into their Youthsaver account through School Banking earn Dollarmites tokens, which they can save up and redeem for exciting rewards. The rewards available during 2018

Twister Power Handball

Secret Scratch Pad

Sparkle Glitter Pens

Glow Light

Mighty Boom Handball

Heat Reactor Pencils

Slushie Maker Cup

Zoom Flying Disc School Banking is also a great fundraiser for our school. Our school receives a Regular Savers Contribution of $5 for every 10 deposits processed per student as well as an Annual Contribution which is based on the number of students who made at least one School Banking deposit in the prior year. Getting involved in School Banking is easy! All you need to get involved in the School Banking program is a Commonwealth Bank Youthsaver account. You can open an account for your child in one of two ways: 1. Online Visit commbank.com.au/schoolbanking and click on the link to open a Youthsaver account. 2. In branch Visit a Commonwealth Bank branch with identification for yourself and your child, like a driver’s licence and birth certificate. If your child has an existing Commonwealth Bank Youthsaver account they can start banking straight away. They just need to bring their deposit in every week on School Banking day using their Dollarmites deposit wallet. School Banking day is Thursday. Each week you need to bring banking into the office and place in the ‘school banking box’, books will be returned Friday. If you would like to know more about School Banking, please ask for a 2018 School Banking program information pack from the school office or visit commbank.com.au/schoolbanking Touch Football - Draw for 22 September http://websites.sportstg.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=14-2733-0-0-0&sID=49511

Rockhampton Futsal ( Indoor Soccer) Club , based at Rockhampton High School Hall, is presently signing on for the summer season. Programmes or competitions for all ages from 3 years upwards to open men and women. To sign up or enquire re joining go to www.rockhamptonfutsal.com ,email rockhampton@australianfutsal.com or ring on 0428681329

KMA: Keppel Martial Arts

Term 4

St Joseph’s Basketball Court

Rundle St, Wandal

KARATE for kids 6 years and older as well as, parents

Mondays 4 to 6 pm Fridays 4 to 5 pm

KARATE: traditional karate and Sports karate. (free fighting techniques and sparring)

Text Robi sensei for information 0427016767

Vacation Care Requirements

Please ensure your child has the following items each day they attend

OSHC:

o Wide brimmed hat (no caps)

o Closed in shoes (required for outside play, incursions and excursions)

o Sun protective clothing (shirt must cover shoulders. Please also ensure

clothing is accommodating to daily movement and play)

o Healthy foods for meal breaks (Please remember that we have three breaks

throughout our vacation care days; morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea -

your child will require enough food for each of these breaks)

o Medication if required (All medication must be handed directly to staff e.g.

puffers, EpiPens, Panadol etc. and a Medication Administration Permission

Form must be filled out before parent/carer leaves premises)

If these items are not brought each day, this may limit the activities your child is able to

participate in and in the case of an excursion/incursion, your child may be unable to attend

or participate.

Further requirements: On Incursion and Excursion days, your child must be at the service no later than 8am, to

allow staff and children to prepare for the day ahead. Please ensure that the permission

forms are signed when signing your child in as well.

Due to the new sign in/out system at OSHC, only people who are on your child’s emergency

contact list will be able to sign your child into the service. If you require someone else to drop

your child off or pick your child up from OSHC on any particular day, written permission

must be handed to the OSHC coordinator (by a parent) with this persons full name, address,

contact number and parent signature.

Booking and Cancellation Procedure: All bookings and cancellations are to be made to the service as early as practically possible.

Last minute bookings may be placed via a phone call to the service and secured only if staff-

to-child ratios for the day allows. Cancelling a vacation care booking will require you to

contact OSHC staff before 6pm, the day before attendance to avoid being charged a fee for

the day. Cancelling a booking for a vacation care excursion/incursion will require you to

place a phone call to OSHC staff before 8am the day before the scheduled activity is due to

take place to avoid being charged a fee for the day.

St. Joseph’s, Wandal – September/October Vacation Care 2018 0429 316 543 Child/Children Names: _______________________________ Parent/Carer Name: ______________________________

Contact Phone Number: _______________________________ On days you require your children to attend OSHC, please tick the boxes in the program and return to OSHC.

Week 1 24th to 28th September Bush Tucker Day

For bush tucker day, the children will experience cooking damper and other bush tucker foods. There will also be a series of challenges and quizzes for the children to take part in, in teams. There will be a

prize for the overall winning team!

Incursion +$15 Balloon Twisting Workshop

and Magic Show Skilled balloon twisters will teach the children how to make awesome creations using some exciting, pre-inflated balloons.

This incursion will also offer a spectacular magic show filled with mind-reading, card tricks,

props, music and lots of comedy!

Making Suncatchers

Suncatchers are small, reflective glass-looking pieces that are hung to ‘catch the light’ from any nearby source. The children will be creating their very own designs to take home today using a variety of moulds and special paints.

High School Musical Day Come to OSHC dressed as your

favourite High School Musical character. We will watch the first

movie of high school musical, dance to high school musical

songs, cook high school musical foods and learn

some high school musical basketball

moves!

. Excursion +$15 Roller Skating

Today we will be walking to the Rockhampton Show Grounds and meeting up with two other OSHC services to take part in a roller skating excursion.

Week 2 1st to 5th October

CLOSED

Public Holiday

Sand Art

The children will have the opportunity to extend their artistic abilities today with the use of sand. The children will have sand provided to them which they will use to create a variety of pictures

and shapes to take home with them.

Incursion Basketball Workshop

Today we will have some basketball players from Hegvold stadium visiting us at school and teaching us some basketball

drills. We will then go head to head in a game of basketball.

Scavenger Hunt Day

The children are being sent on a scavenger hunt around the

school today! The team to have all items on the

list checked off first will win a prize.

Excursion +$15 Mount Hay Gemstone Park

Today the children will be fossicking for Thundereggs (or volcanic birthstones), a crystalline formulation that occurs when the gas bubbles in molten lava and solidifies on cooling. The children are able to take their findings home with them to show

parents, and keep as a memento.

The cost is $50.00 per day, $51.00 for casual bookings (7:00am to 6pm). Program changes may occur, without notice, due to hot or inclement weather or transportation/venue issues. There is a requirement to give a minimum of 24hours notice of non-attendance as soon as practically possible. If notification is not received prior to the commencement of the day concerned, charges will apply. Please phone 0429 316 543 with any

questions. Happy Holidays!