eNews Term 2, Week 5, 2024

Dear parents, carers, teachers, and students,

Welcome to National Reconciliation Week, a significant time in our school calendar that starts on May 27 and runs through June 3. This week is a unique opportunity for all Australians to deepen their understanding of our collective histories, cultures, and achievements and consider how we can contribute to reconciliation in Australia. This year’s National Reconciliation Week theme is “Be the Voice for Generations.” Reconciliation is a journey for everyone in Australia—individuals, families, communities, organisations, and the nation as a whole. Central to this journey are the relationships between the wider Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Throughout the week, classes will delve into Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and our shared history, enhancing their understanding of Indigenous culture. We will especially acknowledge the Ngarrindjeri People and appreciate the diverse cultures we’re a part of in and around Murray Bridge. The focus of children's learning will be on recognising that, as people of faith, reconciliation should be embodied in our hearts, minds, and actions. Moving forward, we aim to create a nation that is strengthened by respectful relationships between the broader Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

We are excited to share the details of how we will celebrate Reconciliation Week in our school community, organised by Amy Rogerson (ESO Aboriginal Support Officer) and supported by Deb Holland (APRIM) in collaboration with our local Ngarrindjeri community. All the students will be able to participate in activities such as Wurtati Creations, Bugs and Slugs, Noongar Sand Art, Aboriginal Health and Fitness, Ngarrindjeri Language, and sausage sizzle lunch. 

Cybersafety in the Home

This week, a television program about cybersafety for children and families highlighted the essential resources provided by the Office of the eSafety Commissioner (eSafety). The eSafety website equips Australian families with tools and programs designed to enhance online safety and foster positive digital experiences. Australians facing online bullying or abuse can find support and learn how to report such issues through eSafety.
The site offers straightforward, step-by-step guides and resources to help families maintain online security.

Top 10 questions parents have about online security:
Questions are often asked by parents about how to keep your family secure. (these answers are on the website)

• I often click 'remind me later' when I get software update notifications. What’s the risk of putting off software and operating system updates?
• I use my pet’s name as my password. Why isn’t this secure?
• My Wi-Fi router/modem and devices came with default (factory-set) passwords. Why do I need to change them?
• How can I protect my kids when they’re browsing and downloading online?
• How can I protect my family’s privacy online?
• How secure are 'smart' toys and devices?
• How can I know and control what my children are doing online?
• Why should I backup my family’s computers and devices?
• How do I protect my family when connecting online outside of the home?
• Where do I go for help if my family or I have been a victim of an online scam or cybercrime?

St Joseph’s School takes Cybersafety very seriously. With children increasingly using the internet inside and outside of school, cyber safety education is very important. We will continue to provide students with knowledge, information and understanding about being responsible users online. 

Kindest regards,

Mrs Ros Oates
Principal

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REMINDERS

Transition Programs

St. Joseph's School offers two preparation periods for pre-school students to help them transition smoothly into Reception and become familiar with the school environment. 

JOEYs – January start for (12 months) Reception students.
Mid-Transition – Term 3 start for (18 months) Reception students 

These sessions aim to ensure your child is well-prepared and to ease any concerns or anxiety about starting school.

Mid-Transition (Term 2)

Students enrolled for the Mid-term intake (18 months) will transition to school on a nominated day, week 9 of Term 2. Guardians were invited to attend an information session on the 15th of May to discuss the particulars of the transition day at the end of the term.

Our current enrolment numbers are approaching capacity for the Mid-Term class beginning in Term 3 this year. Please refer to the calendar for the upcoming parent meeting dates.

JOEYs (Terms 3 and 4)

Depending upon the registration numbers for JOEYs, we aim for two periods over Semester 2 for JOEYs.

Guardians select ONE DAY (the same day each week) that complements your child’s kindergarten days. 

e.g. Kindy days: Monday, Thursday. JOEY's chosen day could be Tuesday, Wednesday or Friday. ONLY 1 day per week. 

Term 3, beginning week 3 until week 8, (6 days in total)
Term 4, beginning week 1 until week 7, Term 4 (7 days in total)

We host a very special JOEYS Liturgy Graduation at the end of the Year in Week 7, Term 4. Guardians, relatives and friends are invited to join us for this special occasion. 

The JOEY’s extended transition program is a valuable resource designed to aid young children in transitioning from kindergarten to school. This optional program is facilitated by our dedicated Reception teacher and support staff.

CONFIRMING OUR FAITH

This Friday several of our children will join other children from our Parish to be Confirmed into the Catholic Church and in a few weeks’ time will receive Communion for the first time.  This special time enables the children and their families an opportunity to reflect on their faith and what it means to be a disciple of Jesus.

I hope and pray our young people will be able to recognise the gifts of the Holy Spirit in their lives and develop the love, understanding and courage to become true disciples of Jesus.  As they grow and possibly encounter prejudice, hatred and misunderstanding they will be strong enough to stand up for the most vulnerable and isolated they may meet throughout their lives.  Congratulations to:

Max, Noah, Sierra, Spencer, Lucy, Sophia-Rose, Aiden.

Deb Holland
APRIM

See images below of how we celebrated Reconcilation Week within our school community, organised by Amy Rogerson (ESO Aboriginal Support Officer) and supported by Deb Holland (APRIM) in collaboration with our local Ngarrindjeri community. 

It has been an eventful year so far for the year 6 students! We started off with our annual Shrove Tuesday pancake celebration, where the students watched our parent volunteers flip pancakes and then enjoyed this tasty tradition. 

As we moved into the Lenten season, the year 6s worked hard to prepare an Easter play depicting the story of Christ's passion, death, and resurrection. Their powerful performance at the end of term reminded us all of the sacred meaning of these holy days.

Our religious education studies this term focused on the interconnectedness of God, ourselves, and others. The students explored how we are all children of God and part of one human family. They discussed how to live out the teachings of Christ by loving our neighbours as ourselves.

The year 6s also got a chance to experience indigenous culture firsthand when Amy Rogerson visited. The students learned traditional painting techniques and artistic symbols, and then applied them to paint colourful designs on the class’s outdoor sports equipment bins.

On Tuesday, 15th May, 15 girls from Year 5 and 6 went to Mt Barker for Round One of the SAPSASA School’s knockout football to play St Francis de Sales and Aldgate Primary School.

The team had been training twice a week during their recess times to prepare for the day. 

The first game against St Francis saw our team dominate the play. The girls pressured St Francis with tackles and we weren’t afraid to run and carry when we had the ball. Unfortunately, our girls couldn’t get clean kicks at goal at our end and St Francis managed two goals when our defenders had pushed up the ground and couldn’t get back to stop some easy shots.

Final score: St Joseph’s 3points. St Francis de Sales 14points.

After a 30minute break the girls were back on to play a fresh Aldgate Primary. Aldgate were able to kick long and take marks. They also ran and carried the ball and got off to a 7 goal lead at half time. We managed our first and only goal for the day in the third quarter and our backline players held off many goal attempts through their discipline to stop a player each. The team showed big improvements as each quarter was played with Aldgate Primary only scoring 2 goals in the second half.

Final score St Joseph’s 6points. Aldgate Primary 63points.

Huge thank you to Mr Mack Wenske and Miss Georgia O’Neil for assisting the team on the day. Thank you also to the parents who came and supported the team. Congratulations to all the players on an awesome day of football.

On Thursday, 23rd May, our Year 5/6 AFL team played against Aldgate Primary and Crafers Primary at Bridgewater Oval. Despite losing both games, the boys demonstrated exceptional effort and sportsmanship. Several players played their first competitive footy game, showing great enthusiasm and determination. The team made noticeable improvements in skills and teamwork, and their positive attitude was commendable. We're proud of their perseverance and look forward to their continued development. Well done, boys!

National Simultaneous Storytime is annual book event.

Every year a Picture Book written and illustrated by an Australian Author and illustrator is read aloud at the same time in libraries all over Australia and sometimes overseas.

The book that has been chosen for this year is Bowerbird Blues - written and illustrated by Aura Parker.

Aura Parker is an award-winning writer, illustrator and designer. Her picture books are joyful with a plafyful sense of humour that are full with lots of detail to explore.

It was announced that 2,341,490 people joined in at over 21,000 locations around Australia and New Zealand today.

Our school had Year 4D and all the Year 2 classes participate in the library, while the other classes at school participated in their own classrooms.

Congratulations to 3 of our students who were selected to play in the School Sport SA SAPSASA Football Carnival for the Murraylands. 

Isaac Rowland, Leo Sobels and Kailem O'Hara.

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