eNews Term 1, Week 1 2023

Welcome to the New School Year.  We do hope that all members of our school community return happy and eager to resume old friendships and be introduced to new ones.  A special welcome to new families to our school.

During the break I was reading and came across this little parable of sorts: “One day as the Buddha was sitting under a tree, a young, trim soldier walked by, looked at the Buddha, noticed his weight and fat and said, ‘You look like a pig!’ The Buddha looked up calmly at the soldier and said, ‘And you look like a God.’  Surprised by this comment, the soldier asked the Buddha, ‘Why do you say that I look like God?’  The Buddha replied, ‘Well, we don’t really see what’s outside of ourselves, we see what’s inside and we project it out.  I sit under this tree all day and I think about God, so that when I look out, that’s what I see.  And you, you must be thinking about other things.”

It is our sincerest hope that all students, as they gather to commence the new school year, will regard their opportunity for education as a privilege rather than an obligation and so embrace this new school year with enthusiasm, determination and a positive mind set.  The great St Thomas Aquinas made the comment that, “Whatever is received is received according to the mode of its receiver”.  Again, we hope that all students return in goodwill and with an attitude to do the best they can for themselves and for their fellow students. 

In a sense, our school has a double staff; the staff that performs within the school and that very important “staff” that performs within the home.  Your Child’s education can be greatly enhanced by your involvement at home, in particular, but also through involvement in school activities.  It is parents’ enthusiasm, support and involvement that will inspire children to do their best.  Children frequently adopt attitudes and opinions held by the adults they look up to; and enthusiasm for learning is no exception.  If children sense that parents consider their education to be a high priority, they are likely to view it in a more positive manner themselves.  Positive reinforcement will help children to adopt a more enthusiastic attitude towards their learning processes.

We have St Joseph as a wonderful example from whom to draw inspiration and confidence as we, the staff at school and the “staff” at home, work together to create the best possible learning environment for all the students in our school.  Our school’s motto; “In all things Kindness” a saying from St Mary MacKillop, helps us to remember that God our creator made us all with the hope that each person can reach their full potential.

We hope and pray that 2023 will be a year in which our students will become thriving people, capable learners and potential leaders for the world God desires.

Welcome families, friends, and students to a new and exciting school year.

A special welcome to our new students and their families. We know you will enjoy being part of the St Joseph's School community. All students are congratulated for the positive way they have commenced this school year with a seamless transition back into school life.

Our students seem eager to embrace the learning that has been happening in their classrooms. This smooth return to the school year makes our staff even more excited for the fantastic year of learning ahead.

A new school year, timetable and classroom changes and different teachers and peers can bring about some anxieties, but rest assured, as routines are established and bonds are created, these will decrease.

Our staff spent the week before school completing professional learning to build our teacher's capacity and continue to provide quality classroom practice. We worked together to unpack our school mission and underpinning values as we commenced the process of revitalising our school branding and image. Solid family-school partnerships are pivotal in student wellbeing and success.

St Joseph's School uses an online collaborative tool called Seesaw.  This is a secure learning network for teachers, students and parents. It provides a safe way for teachers, students and parents to connect, share learning content and class information. Also, to ensure caregivers are informed of the beginning of year expectations and routines in their child's learning, each class/year level has sent out a parent information letter. Don't hesitate to contact your child's teacher if you have not received any form of communication to date or email info@stjomb.catholic.edu.au
 

NAPLAN

New in 2023, NAPLAN Testing for students in Years 3, 5, 7 & 9 will be conducted in Term One. This assessment will be held in Weeks 7 and 8, 15-27 March, not the May date in previous years. Teachers will explain the process to students in relevant classes to ensure students are prepared for the testing environment. NAPLAN is a snapshot of learning at a particular time and is not the only form of assessment we gather to understand where our learners are in their learning cycle. Students in Years 3,5,7 & 9 will receive a Privacy Collection Notice this week. 
 

NEW END-OF-DAY TIME

I appreciate the communication received regarding our change of school times and thank the community for their flexibility and understanding. This change in school finishing times resulted from accommodating parents' feedback to me personally in 2022 about providing more space for students to play during breaks and having split play for both lunch and recess. Working this out within a reasonable timeframe with teaching and learning in mind and employing staff to accommodate such a change was a highly complex process and something new for all in our community. All this work took place over the school holidays. St Joseph's School is very progressive and aims to do what is best for our learners, parents, and carers. Families will need a month or so to adjust, and we will ensure the best care for the students while adapting to the change. To start the term, many children will be waiting for a later pickup, and we are happy to support whatever families need to accommodate the early finishing time. So far this week, the early finish time of 3:05 pm has run smoothly for the whole school. Bus transport has not changed at all. The school gates in the morning are not supervised until 8.30 am. Children mustn't be dropped off at school on their own before 8.25 am. Before this time, the staff are in meetings and preparing for the day.

Thank you all for the fantastic start to the school year.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend.
Ros Oates

COVID-19 continues to affect the community, and we all have a part to play in keeping our school community safe and minimising the disruption to learning that can occur when illness circulates at school. We also have several vulnerable members in our community with other illnesses who are related to children.  It is very important that families notify the Administration office of any infectious illnesses that may be surrounding the family, outside school. Please ensure the following:

• Students who are unwell should stay home if they have cold or flu-like symptoms and get tested for COVID-19.
• If students have COVID-19, please advise the school as soon as possible, and stay at home until all acute symptoms (runny nose, sore throat, cough and fever) have cleared.

It is pleasing to see over 90% of the students in their correct school uniform. Thank you. Parents are asked to communicate any difficulties with uniform ordering, purchasing or product quality via the school email address info@stjomb.catholic.edu.au

It is appreciated if families do not express their grievances on any school matter, especially uniforms, through social media. I remind families that working with Vinnies is the most cost effective and easiest way to access uniforms, and prices remain reasonable, if not below cost for the quality, due to Vinnies supporting the school as a non-profit organisation. Please see below further information sent out to families in Term 4 last year. 

We have been working with Vinnies to help improve the process for our families to either book a uniform fitting order or place an order for the new uniform. This can now be done via scanning QR codes using a mobile device such as your mobile phone.
 

Book a Fitting

Please see the attached Vinnies Uniform Shop Book a Uniform Fitting flyer, scan the QR code and make a booking for a suitable time. Opening hours at Vinnies in Murray Bridge are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:30 – 5:00 pm. Please call the store manager Rochelle on (08) 8532 6699 if you have any questions.
 

Place an Online Order

Please scan the below QR code to be directed to the St Joseph’s Murray Bridge - School Uniform online order form. Once you scan the code, you will be directed to the Vinnies Shop page and will need to scroll to the bottom of the page to locate the school’s online uniform order form. There is also a link to the School’s Uniform Price List as of 13 October. This is also attached in this week’s newsletter.

Click to open the Uniform Pricelist