Dear Parents and Carers

Staffing Update

I would like to announce the appointment of Mrs Deborah Green to the part-time temporary teacher position in 2023. Deborah comes with a wealth of experience and skills, and will make a great asset to our team. Welcome Deborah!

Class Structures and Teachers 2023

Principal: Melissa Hotham

REC: Danielle McFarlane

K/1: Danielle McFarlane

2/3/4: Lachlan Martens

5/6: Chelsea Harveyson

Student Centred Learning, Library & RFF: Leslie King

Classroom Support Teacher & REC Release (Mon - Wed): Loy Best

Contracted Casual (Tues - Thurs): Deborah Green

Office Admin: Nichola Baker (Monday, Tuesday) and Sheridan Hunter (Wed - Fri)

More information will be provided over the coming weeks as to how we will be best supporting and meeting the needs of our students with targeted programs in 2023.

In very exciting news……St Joseph’s is getting its own School Support Dog!! 

Why do we need a support dog?

• Increase in school attendance,
• Gains in confidence and increased motivation,
• Decrease in learner anxiety behaviours, resulting in improved learning outcomes,
• Enhanced relationships with peers and teachers due to experiencing trust and unconditional love.

Important information:

• The dog is on a lead at all times and must have a handler with it (who is not the classroom teacher) for safety
• Dog will not go near children when they are eating or near food preparation areas
• The dog will not go near students who have allergies or a fear of dogs
• The dog is of mature age, trained and very familiar with children.

Further information was sent via Compass to families this week, including the School Support Dog Policy. If your child has an allergy to dogs, a fear of dogs or you have any questions or concerns, please contact me.

Today Mrs King and I met with the Captain nominees for an informal interview regarding their application for school captain in 2023. This gave them an opportunity to discuss why they would like to be captain and helped to prepare them for their speeches, which will be delivered next week. Captains will be announced at our Graduation Mass.

Our Yr 5/6 students will attend the Grenfell RSL Remembrance Day Service tomorrow at the Cenotaph. Our school captains will be reciting a poem during the service. We will depart school at 10:30am and return after the service. An event has not been sent to parents on Compass, as this comes under our walking excursion permission.

We look forward to welcoming grandparents THIS Friday 11th November for our Grandparent’s Day. Families are welcome to bring a picnic lunch to have with students at 1:20pm followed by a tour of the classrooms, activities and our usual weekly Assembly at 2:30pm. Please share this invitation.

Kind thoughts,

Melissa Hotham

​Principal

Grandparent’s Day - Friday 11th November

2nd  Kindy Transition Day 12pm - 2pm 17th November

Presentation Night - Thursday 1st December

Christmas Family Fun Day- 9^th December

Graduation Mass - Wednesday 14th December

Last day of Term 4 for students - Friday 16th December

1. Keep up-to-date by reading information provided by the school (e.g. newsletters, emails, social media). Attend events if you can (e.g. information evenings, assemblies, open classrooms, P&F meetings, special days, prayer celebrations, masses).
2. Ask your child about their learning and school day. Ask them what they enjoyed most about their school day or the most interesting thing they learned. This shows your child that you are interested in their learning and their wellbeing.
3. Talk with your child about their friends. If your child is having problems with their friends, talk about how they could solve them. If this doesn’t work, discuss your concerns with the teacher.
4. Support good relationships. Children tend to do better when they get along with their teacher and classmates. Be positive about school and respectful of teachers. Support good relationships with friends and classmates.
5. Accept offers for parent/teacher interviews or contact your child’s teacher to talk about how your child is going or to give or ask for feedback. You know your child best and your insights are valuable to your child’s teacher. Focus conversations on your child’s learning and wellbeing.
6. Limit screen time at home. Set up a schedule for the amount of time your child can spend on devices such as phones or laptops. Involve your child in other activities such as reading, games or outdoor exercise and play – and make sure you also set a good example.
7. Make sure your child is getting enough sleep. Work with them to develop a regular routine that includes time for meals, play, fun, and sufficient sleep.
8. Read together. Create regular opportunities to read for pleasure to or with your child. Together, choose texts from home, school, the local library or online on topics they enjoy or are personally interested in. Take the time to discuss what you are reading together.

Retrieved and adapted from https://education.qld.gov.au/parents/community-engagement/Documents/ways-to-engage-y3to6.pdf

This week my thoughts and prayers are again with those affected by flooding, particularly those who live in and near Forbes where the devastation is still being felt and will continue to be felt for many months.

Creator God,
We pray for all those in farms, small towns, and cities
in Australia whose lives have been disrupted
and whose dreams have been dashed
by the floods that have devastated the country.

We pray for those who have lost their homes,
their cars, their treasured possessions,
their crops, their animals, and their livelihoods.
It is a terrible thing to be homeless and helpless.
Be with and sustain those whose entire world
has been torn apart and washed away.
Assuage their fears and be patient with their anger.
Grant them patience and hope, so that eventually
they can rebuild their lives and start afresh.

We are grateful to the SES and other emergency workers
and all those who were heroes in helping those
in distress during the floods.
May they continue their missions of mercy.

Be with those who are caring for flood victims
that their compassion and presence
will be life-sustaining.
May they continue their missions of mercy.

We are thankful for those who serve others
and provide us all with the inspiration to do the same.
We are sending love, peace, strength, and courage
to all affected in Australia.
May healing begin swiftly.

Amen

Retrieved and adapted from https://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/blogs/posts/praying-the-news/17/a-prayer-for-the-flood-victims-in-australia

Peace and Blessings,

Religious Education Coordinator

Grenfell Food Hall Christmas Hampers

Beginning in Week 5, we will start our Christmas hamper food collection drive for the Grenfell Food Hall. Here is the list of the items that we will be collecting by week, but feel free to donate items at any time. Please provide items with expiry dates well into 2023.

Week 5 - cereal (a high level of need indicated by Grenfell Food Hall)

Week 6 – tinned food and pasta (including 2 Minute noodles etc)

Week 7 – sweet and savory biscuits

Week 8 – Christmas treats (lollies, chips, chocolate, long-life custard etc)

All of the collected items will be delivered to the Grenfell Food Hall on the morning of the 9^th of December by a group of students from the school. These students will also have the opportunity to visit the Food Hall and learn about how it operates and why it is important to our town. I thank you in advance for your donations. I am always amazed at how generous we are for this project!

November Birthdays

10^th Claudia McCarthy

23rd Jed Metcalfe

Lunch orders need to be handed in Mondays and Wednesdays with you child's name marked clearly on paper then put into the reusable lunch bags with the correct money.

Lunch Order Day Tuesday- Unwind  

Lunch Order Day Thursday- Micks Bakery