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Dear parents and carers,
It’s great to see everyone settled into life at school and especially encouraging to see how well the children are responding to the clear routines and expectations in place to ensure our classrooms are great places to learn and grow. Direct instruction programs such as InitiaLit, Spelling Mastery and Connecting Math’s Concepts have all started positively and we look forward to building on the great learning of 2023 and laying firm foundations for the Kindergarten children.
Attendance is Everything!
St Jospeh’s has transitioned very successfully to the Direct Instruction model to learning thanks to the Archdiocese-wide Catalyst focus. Our teachers have done a great job of participating in training opportunities with commitment and enthusiasm and consequently, implementing DI successfully in classrooms.
We would like to emphasise the importance of the children’s attendance at school. This is especially necessary with the DI model due to the pace of the learning, the importance of participating in revision opportunities and the structured programs.
Last year, the student attendance rate across the school was 80-85%. As you will see from the graphic below, this level is of concern and in 2024 we are aiming to do better. One of our goals for the year is for school attendance to increase from 80-85% to 95% or above. Please let’s work together unity to achieve this important goal.
Opening Mass – Wednesday 7th February
Thank you to all the families who joined us for the opening Mass 2024 on Wednesday. It was especially lovely to have the Kindy families join us and to see the Kindies and the children and teachers who have joined the school since the beginning of 2023 have their names added to the St Jospeh’s banner. Just think, the Kindy children will receive their stars back again in 2030! I’m sure parents of Year 6 children would agree that the years will tick over very quickly.
Congratulations to the children who were confirmed in leadership positions during the Mass. Our leaders for 2024 are as follows:
School Captains- 2024
Georgia Conron & Saskia McLelland
Student Representative Council- 2024
Year 5- Jed Metcalfe & Arabella Batinich
Year 4- Jack Fanning & Felicity Cameron- Connolly
Year 3- Claudia McCarthy & Isabelle Protheroe
Congratulations to the Hotham Family!
On behalf of the St Joseph’s community, congratulations to Melissa, Brenton, Lachlan, Riley, Angus and Archie on the joyful arrival of Fletcher Harrison, born on 5th February.
Instrumental Music Lessons
We are grateful for the positive partnership we enjoy with the Young Regional School of Music. On Thursday, Mr Barone conducted a special Music assembly where he highlighted the instruments which the St Joseph’s children can learn through the Instrumental Program. The children were introduced to instruments such as the Recorder, Guitar, Keyboard, Drums and Precussion. If your child is interested in learning to play an instrument, further details of fees etc are available at the office.
School Community Council
This year, St Joseph’s is transitioning from a School Board and a Parents and Friends Association to a School Community Council. Members of these groups will be meeting next Monday 12th February to plan for the transition. The SCC will provide the same opportunities for parents to contribute to the life of the school and we look forward to continued support for providing opportunities for the children, events and fundraising.
We will soon be inviting St Joseph’s families to participate in the School Community Council and look forward to establishing a strong, positive and inclusive School Community Council to continue the great work of the Board and the P&F.
Please watch this space for more information over the coming weeks. Thanks!
Parent and Teacher Conferences – Please Save the Date – Tuesday 27th February.
Teachers look forward to meeting the students’ parents and carers during the upcoming Parent and Teacher conferences which are scheduled after school on Tuesday 27th February.
The Conferences provide the opportunity for parents and teachers to establish the positive learning partnership for the year ahead. Teachers will be ready to discuss with you how your child is settling into the new year of learning and parents, this is a great opportunity to discuss the goals you have for our child for this year with their teacher.
Information on how to book in for the appointments will be provided closer to the date.
Assemblies will be held every fortnight in 2024. Here is our schedule for term 1. Parents are always warmly invited to join us!
In Conclusion…
This year, the children will enjoy a weekly 30-minute session focusing on Wiradjuri Language and Culture. We are delighted to welcome Julie Ferguson to our team to make these experiences fun and meaningful for the children.
In line with this cultural focus, the classes have each chosen a Wiradjuri name as follows:
K/1 - Gulaagga
2/3/4 - Gugubarra
5/6 - Bagaay
Please see below an important message from our School Counsellor, Danielle Hudson. We are delighted to have Danielle in this important role again in 2024.
We look forward to reporting next week on the Swimming Carnival scheduled for this coming Friday. Mrs Washbrook (Sport’s Coordinator) and the staff have a great day planned for all!
See you there!
With best wishes,
Louise Grant
Acting Principal
Opening School Mass Reflection:
The Opening Mass was a wonderful way to start the year. It was a special occasion where we came together as a community to acknowledge and celebrate various groups within our school.
One of the highlights of the mass was the recognition of our Kindergarten students. It was heartwarming to see these young learners being welcomed and embraced by the entire school community. It set a positive and inclusive tone for the year ahead.
In addition to the kindergarten students, the mass also provided an opportunity to acknowledge and welcome new families across the school. Seeing their happy faces reminded us of the importance of community and the diversity that enriches our school.
The new staff members were also recognized during the opening mass. It was a chance for them to be introduced to the wider school community and for us to show our support and appreciation for their dedication and commitment to our students' education.
Lastly, our school leaders were acknowledged during the mass. Their presence and guidance provide the foundation for our school's success. Recognizing their efforts at the beginning of the year served as a reminder of their important role in shaping our school's culture and values.
Overall, the opening mass was a meaningful and uplifting experience. It brought together different groups within our school community and set a positive tone for the year ahead. It was a great way to start the year and foster a sense of belonging and unity among students, families, staff, and school leaders.
Year of the HOLY SPIRIT Prayer:
O God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful,
Grant that by the same
Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever rejoice in his consolations.
Through the same
Christ Our Lord.
Amen
Grenfell Parish
MASS TIMES:
SUNDAY: 8.00am Mass (2nd & 4th Sun) 8.00am Communion Service (1st & 3rd and any 5th Sunday)
RECONCILIATION: Sunday (7.30am - 7.45am)
WEEKEND MASS TIMES AT YOUNG AND BOOROWA
YOUNG: 6.00pm (SAT) & 10.00am (SUN)
BOOROWA: 5.00pm (SUN)
Coming up
13th February: Shrove Tuesday, is the traditional feast day before the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday. The students will acknowledge the importance of this time whilst also having the opportunity to enjoy pancakes offered at Breakfast Club.
Ash Wednesday
Chelsea Harveyson
Dear Parents and Guardians,
I hope this message finds you well as you settle back into a new school year.
I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself – I'm Danielle Hudson, returning school counsellor for the year.
Today, I had the pleasure of visiting all the classrooms to introduce myself and let the students know that I'm here to support them in any way I can. It was wonderful meeting every one of them, I'm looking forward to getting to know them better throughout the year.
As we navigate the ups and downs of primary school life, I want you to know that if your child needs support with anxiety, friendship issues, difficulties with sleep, recurrent nightmares, anger issues, grief and loss, or facing changes within the family, I'm here to provide confidential support.
If you believe your child could benefit from counselling sessions with me, the referral process is easy. Simply visit our online referral form
https://catholiccare.force.com/housing/s/school-referral-form and submit your child’s referral.
For students of primary age, parental permission is required for the counselling sessions.
Once I receive the referral, I will contact you and have a chat about your concerns. If your child was seen last year, and you want them to continue being seen a new referral is required. I’m here every Tuesday, and I welcome parents to schedule appointments to discuss any concerns regarding their child's well-being.
Warm regards,
Danielle Hudson
School Counsellor
Marymead Catholiccare
