Dear Families,

It is only week 2 in Term 4  but already we are being kept very busy and looking forward with much excitement to the events over the next few weeks.

It is certainly turning out to be a term of review. Last week, we had our whole School Review and this week Mrs Felicity Wilde had her appraisal. The process involved a review of her 5 years as Assistant Principal at St Joseph's.  Feedback was provided through staff surveys and input via phone from the Schools Consultant and some of our parents in relation to commendations and recommendations for Felicity.  

It was an overwhelmingly positive appraisal. The feedback acknowledged that she is an outstanding and passionate educational leader and Assistant Principal who is truly valued and respected.  Congratulations Mrs Wilde! We are so blessed to have you! 

The Junior Joeys 2020 Orientation Program begins next Wednesday 28 October 2020 from 9.15 am until 11 am,  and continues for 4 consecutive Wednesday mornings. The last session will be held on 18 November 2020. 

During the 4 visits preschoolers will become familiar with the following:

•  School boundaries
•  School and class routines
•  Outside play skills
•  Play as part of the curriculum
•  Working as part of the class
•  School values and classroom expectations
•  Class teachers and class learning environment, including outdoor learning areas.

With the current COVID-19 guidelines in place, we ask that parents sign their child in outside the Library each Wednesday morning. The children will clean their hands with sanitiser and then be taught our COVID safety strategies as the day progresses.

We are so excited to finally be able to welcome our Kindergarten 2021 students to our beautiful school. 

Australia will celebrate and thank the teaching profession on World Teachers’ Day - Friday 30 October. 

Teachers (with support from parents and carers) have ensured education continues across the country this year, despite major challenges.

It’s reinforced the significant role teachers play in the lives of children and students, their families and communities.

Next  Friday 30 October, please take some time to say a mighty big thank you to our wonderful St Joseph's teachers.

It was with big congratulations but a heavy heart that I announced to staff this week that Mrs Felicity Wilde will be leaving us at the end of the year to take up her new role as Assistant Principal Learning and Teaching at St Mary's Primary School, Casino. 

Felicity has been with us for 5 years and during that time she has had an enormous impact on every facet of St Joseph's.

Whether it was learning and teaching, digital technologies, caring for our students, staff and families, mentoring, behaviour management, administration,  leadership or just being an amazing wing-woman to me, she has gone above and beyond in every instance. We have been incredibly blessed and privileged to have her as our Assistant Principal. We will miss her but truly wish her all the very best in her new role.  

• Our Mini Vinnies Leaders, Lacie and Breanna for starting our day every morning by reminding us of the wonderful ways we can make a difference with MJR messages. 
• Our Assistant Principal, Mrs Wilde for her outstanding Appraisal.
• Junior Joeys are coming next week.
• Bookweek, Rocktober  Socktober and Naidoc Week are happening over the next 3 weeks
• We are going swimming! 

• Staff and students exhibiting even mild COVID-19 symptoms are to be sent home and required to produce proof of a negative COVID-19 test before returning to school. 
• Non-essential adults are not be permitted to enter the school grounds. We ask that no parents enter the school past the front office. All inquiries to the front office, please. 
• Pick up and drop off will continue out the front of the school. 
• Canteen for lunches only is continued to be offered if we are able to get parent volunteers to assist.  
• It is paramount in these times, in particular,  that any child who is unwell is kept at home. We appreciate your understanding and consideration for the safety of the other students and the staff.
• Our bubblers will still not to be used and therefore the children require a water bottle.
• Our stringent hygiene practices for our new normal continue with: the washing of hands regularly; sanitiser after eating, no food or drinks to be shared; coughing and sneezing into elbows, tissues discarded immediately, cleaning of the desks between lunch and recess breaks and extra cleaning of the school by our cleaners.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Regards

Sunday Gospel Reading:

30th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Matthew 22:34-40
The Pharisees continue to test Jesus with a question about the greatest commandment

Jesus says that all of the commandments can be summarized in two commandments: LOVE GOD and LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR

CATHOLIC MISSION FUNDRAISER   

ROCKTOBER SOCKTOBER DANCE PARTY

This term on Friday, 30 October our students are invited to a Rocktober Socktober Dance Party fundraiser, and to come to school wearing colourful socks in a creative way -  eg. socks in their hair, on their arms or in whatever way they can think of, and to bring a gold coin donation.
October is World Mission Month. Our focus country this year is Cambodia, where the Catholic Mission seeks to provide shelter, food, education, and life-fulfilling opportunities for children in need, especially those with disabilities. 

Students across Australia are encouraged to learn about Cambodia, and through fundraising, prayer and advocacy, be a part of the life‑changing work of the Church as they support children with disability. Distressingly, in Cambodia, people with disability are not always accepted and given equal opportunity. Children with disability are sometimes not able to go to school and gain an education, and their families may struggle to care for them. The Arrupe Centre, established by Bishop Enrique ‘Kike’ Figaredo Alvargonzalez in 2001, is a home for children with a disability.

The Arrupe Centre strives to show the love of God through caring for and empowering those in need. They provide children with support and opportunities to live a fulfilling life. As Bishop Kike says, “We are here for the common good; to be a more inclusive society and to bring also the joy of life everywhere ... we look with a positive vision and, I would say, with hope and joy and happiness”.

EXURO 2020 – 

EXURO is a Retreat Day for Stage 3 students from Parish Primary Schools across our Diocese. Exuro is Latin for ‘on fire’.

 This Retreat is a one-day opportunity to share and build relationships that strengthen students practice of their Christian faith and to be leaders in building strong Catholic school communities. On Tuesday, our Stage Three students, led by Mrs Piccini and Ms Wilson, enjoyed a day of faith sharing, scripture, prayer and fun.

I liked it when we had to write our fears down on sticky notes and rip it up.-Lacie.		I liked it when we get to do different things.-Chloe
There were different types of stations and activities in the morning session that was really fun.-Breanna		I liked when we got to explore the different stations around the classroom in the morning and having to think of different ideas.-Lara
I enjoyed the different games because they were fun and I liked the different stations that we went around and did in the morning session.-Brad		I enjoyed that it was in the Stage 3 classroom because it felt like a normal school session. -Jahli
I liked when we got to explore all of the creative activities in the morning and when we watched the video in the middle session-Farrah		I liked how we got to go at our own pace around the activities.-Nyah
I enjoyed painting small rocks because it was a fun way to remember that there's always something bright there to make you feel better, and we gotta keep them which was a plus. Ever		My favourite part was when we wrote someone's name in the sand and prayed to God to help us forgive them.-Charlotte
It was challenging when we had to do all the hard thinking. -Lean		My favourite station was where we got to create crosses that reminded us that we can always be with Jesus, then decorate them.--Millie
I liked watching the colours of the skittles in the water.-Aiden		I liked the rock painting because it took your fear away-Mia
It was cool seeing all of the smiles on everyone's faces and the moral of the day-Lucas		I enjoyed painting the rocks in our own style it was a relaxing time to reflect with God and the variety of different rocks were exciting to see.-Reily
I liked when we ripped up our fears because it made me get rid of my anger.-Luca		I found it challenging to find a station that nobody was at because there was such a variety of activities to do.-Dylan
I discovered a deeper meaning about the Fruits of the Spirit -Joey		I liked the theme of Exuro it was discipleship and we learnt more about it -Sarah
My favourite station was when we put the food dye in the water. It looked so cool and it was fun.-Hayley		I found it cool how all of Stage 3 got to bond while doing all of the activities and talking, finding out what their fears are and what they like but most of all just bonding together as a stage! -Ruby
I liked the message that Exuro left in our minds, that we have to spread Jesus everywhere we go and have a good attitude about everything - Anna		I loved how all the activities were interesting and fun.-Jackson

You are now able to access this and other important Parish information by clicking on the link below.

Strategies For Taming Teasing

I was recently reading an article by Michael Grose titled ‘Raising a Little Shrugger’. I have included it below:

Everyone knew a shrugger when they were young. They seemed to be everywhere in my neighbourhood.

Shruggers are the kids who can shrug off the teasing and negative comments from peers and siblings.

My best friend Terry was an infuriating shrugger!

He used to shrug his shoulders whenever anyone teased him or tried to persuade him to their way of thinking.

‘Hey Terry, you’re a **&&&E@@!

Shrug!

‘Hey Terry, everyone says your……..*&&TR!”

Shrug!

“Hey Terry, I’m going to tell on you!’

Shrug!

His nonchalance used to drive everyone nuts!

So much so, that he was rarely targeted for teasing despite the fact that he wasn’t sporty, wasn’t cool and he was a late maturer, all of which back then (and is still the case now) put a boy in the “to be picked on” category.

The opposite of shrugging is wearing your heart on your sleeve, which only makes kids prime targets for teasing, and even bullying at school.

Socially savvy kids know that some negative peer comments directed at them need to be ignored. That’s quite a skill.

Interestingly, my boyhood mate, Terry was the youngest of four brothers. I guess he would have perfected the art of shrugging out of sheer necessity. He couldn’t afford to be the sensitive type in that environment.

If you have a sensitive child who wears his or her heart on their sleeve or child who reacts impulsively to taunts and witticisms alike, then it may be wise to introduce the art of shrugging into their repertoire of responses.

It can be infuriating but as my boyhood friend Terry discovered, it’s so darn effective.

Michael Grose

Richmond Zone Summer Sports Trials

Expressions of interest forms have been sent home to students in Year 4 or Year 5 who will be attending the Richmond Zone Summer Sports Trials for the following sports:

Touch Football (girls)

Touch Football (boys)

Basketball (mixed)

Tennis (mixed)

Cricket (girls)

Cricket (boys)

Softball (mixed)

The trials will be held in Lismore on Thursday, 29 October at 4pm. Parents are responsible for transporting their child to the trials. If selected at Zone level, students will need to be available for Diocesan Trials to be held in Lismore on 24 November (Tennis) and 27 November (Touch Football, Basketball, Cricket and Softball).

School Swimming Carnival

Our school swimming has been booked for the 4th December at the Evans Head Aquatic Centre.  Unfortunately, this will be held without spectators this year.  More information will be issued closer to the carnival.

School Water Awareness Program

We wil be utilising the Woodburn Pool for our water awareness program this year. The students will participate in a Water Awareness Swimming Program at the Woodburn Pool for 3 consecutive weeks from Tuesday 27th October, Tuesday 3rd November and concluding on Tuesday the 10th November.  This program develops the children's water awareness strategies which are aligned with the PDHPE syllabus.

The School Water Experience form and payment need to be paid by today -Friday 23rd October 2020.  Due to the nature of this program, no refund will be given. 

Please ensure that your child's green health and medical form is up to date. All relevant information was sent home in the permission note this week.

Congratulations

CANTEEN ROSTER

Could you please give Gayl a call on 66822468 if you

are able to help out in the canteen during Term 4.

THANK YOU LADIES!