Week 2, Term 1 2023

Dear Families

Welcome to the 2023 School Year!

I wanted to start by thanking the students, staff and families of St Joseph’s Memorial School for welcoming me so warmly to the community. It is evident that the school is a nurturing place where all people are welcomed, valued, and respected. I deeply appreciate that our school has a strong culture of cooperation, fun, friendship and rich learning. My aim as Principal is to help engage children in learning that is relevant, purposeful and connected to their lives. It is evident the school fosters a strong sense of belonging and supports each child to achieve their goals and seek their best.

Across the whole school, we commenced the year with ‘Wellbeing Week.’ The purpose of the week was to provide the students with the opportunities to develop the knowledge, skills and tools to understand and enhance their own wellbeing, as well as, build positive relationships with classmates and teachers. In conjunction with ‘Wellbeing Week’, the teachers participated in a workshop run by Kaine Volkov from Berry Street Education that focused on effective wellbeing practices and strategies aimed to positively benefit students in the classroom.

In the past two weeks, our Preschool and new ‘Ready for Reception’ groups have been buzzing with joyful learning experiences. The educators have set up learning opportunities in the spaces that enable the students to explore, investigate and problem-solve based on their interests and curiosities. The students have been making new friends and have enjoyed being creative through drawing, building and writing.

I have the strong belief that every student is a leader and as a school, our role is to provide opportunities for all students to develop and demonstrate leadership capabilities. The Year 6 students have already shown leadership by creating an ‘Uno’ club at break times for students to join in and play together. In addition to this, another initiative introduced by the Year 6 students this year has been the new ‘Buddy Bench,’ being a seated space provided during school break times for students to develop new friendships and talk with other peers. It has been wonderful to see the students leading and enjoying these wonderful initiatives.

I am looking forward to fostering a positive school climate by promoting a safe and supportive environment that builds effective home and school partnerships. This week we held parent-teacher learning conversations to provide an opportunity to meet and share information about goals for the year ahead.

The afterschool sport program has commenced for the year and I have been able to attend some of the netball and basketball games. It has been wonderful seeing the students represent the school so positively. I would like to acknowledge and share my appreciation for the efforts of the parents who give up their time each week to volunteer as coaches.

Yours sincerely

Adam Slater

Principal  

Dear Parents and Caregivers

Welcome to the 2023 School year. To our new students and their families, a special welcome as you join our community.

Next Tuesday 14 February I am looking forward to meeting you at our Beginning of Year Mass at 9:15am in St Ignatius Church. I also thank in advance the parents and caregivers who have volunteered to support our Bridge Street students to walk across to Mass and then back to school.

Ash Wednesday  

This year Ash Wednesday occurs in Week 4. The students on the William Street campus will attend a Liturgy of the Word in our Performing Arts Studio at 9:15am. The Bridge Street students will celebrate with a Liturgy of the Word at 2:15pm in the Library.

Ash Wednesday signifies, for many Christians around the world, the beginning of the Season of Lent. A time when we prepare ourselves for Easter by reflecting on how we can be a better person by reflecting on life's choices and possible life directions.

On Ash Wednesday people who seek forgiveness for their wrongdoings are marked with the sign of the cross, from blessed ashes, on their forehead. This symbolic occasion reminds us of: our sorrow for sins, as well as the will to change and the hope of forgiveness. It is traditionally a time of fasting and prayer.

Following the liturgy, students will receive a Project Compassion box from Caritas Australia.  The money raised during Lent, will help Caritas to bring about hope and lasting change in the lives of those who most need it in Australia and countries around the world. Caritas work in partnership with local people, recognising that they are best place to identify their own needs and manage their development programs. Caritas support programs that increase the capacity of communities to help themselves out of poverty, hunger, disadvantage and injustice.

As we prepare ourselves for the year ahead, I look forward to working with staff, students, parents and the wider community as we work together as the Body of Christ.

Yours sincerely

Grace Vassallo-Wakefield
Assistant Principal Religious Identity and Mission

Last week we welcomed our new Preschool students for their first day of Preschool. Everyone is enjoying their time in Preschool, making new friends and learning new things.

Please join the St Joseph's Memorial School community for Welcome Drinks!

Saturday February 18

6:30pm until 7:30pm

in the Performing Arts Studio

139 William St Norwood

Drinks and nibbles provided

Please RSVP to pandf@sjms.catholic.edu.au

Adult only event
 

In 2021, Catholic Education of South Australia produced a “Blueprint for Change” initiative that aims at creating consistency across Catholic schools, and ensures the best results for our students. Through this initiative, Pedagogical Coaches, or Leaders of Learning, were appointed in all schools to enhance student agency in their learning, and ensure best teaching practices are being implemented to provide students with opportunities to be successful learners.

Nick Ryan has been the Pedagogical Coach at St Joseph’s Memorial for the past 18 months and has undertaken a number of tasks. He introduced intervention programs to support students with literacy needs to assist them in accessing the curriculum to be successful learners. This has been a program that has assisted student learning in Year 1 – 4, with the program being extended to support student in Year 5 this year as well. Nick has also supported teachers to review their teaching practices to ensure its foundations have evidence-based pedagogies to support the implementation within classrooms.

St Joseph’s Memorial has also reviewed its process for collecting whole-school student data to ensure that teachers are being informed through quality assessments that are able to inform teaching and learning programs, ensuring that our students are provided with the best opportunities to be successful leaders and learners. This has also assisted in identifying student needs earlier and providing intervention to support them in being successful.

Nick works collaboratively with us through another Catholic school and therefore is on-site supporting staff and students two days a week (Monday and Tuesday). If you see him within the school, feel free to introduce yourself and make yourself known to him as he supports our students in their learning journeys.

To the families of St Joseph’s Memorial School,

What a great start it’s been to the sporting year at SJMS, with some strong results around the courts in Netball and Basketball. I’d like to formally introduce myself to those families who may not be so involved with OSHC or the preschool. My name is Will Dacombe-Bird and I am the new PE teacher and school sports coordinator. As a die-hard Liverpool and Brisbane Lions fan and a long-time player for Mercedes Old Collegiates Soccer team playing in Adelaide’s Collegiate Soccer League, sports is something that runs my life. It’s been great to be welcomed back by so many familiar and friendly faces, and I’m looking forward to providing new and exciting opportunities to the students to explore new and old sports. With Swimming and Athletics carnivals locked in, along with Netball and Lacrosse, we’re also looking at getting Footy teams for all back up and running this year, whilst also re-entering the Touch Football carnival once again.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me at wdacombe@sjms.catholic.edu.au with any questions you have regarding sports and PE this year, I’m in at St Joseph’s Memorial every Wednesday and Thursday, Fridays every fortnight.

Looking forward to meeting you all,

Will Dacombe-Bird.

Dear Parents and Caregivers

We are trialing a new Assembly format for the year.
In Term 1 to Term 3 we will have 3 Assemblies per term and in Term 4, 2 Assemblies.
All Assemblies will be held in the Performing Arts Studio at William St on Friday afternoons at 2pm.
Students from Bridge Street will walk across to William Street to participate in Assemblies, face to face.
Below, please find the dates for our Assembly and the Class that will be hosting in that week. 

Term 1
17 February - Leaders Assembly
10 March - Year 6B Assembly
31 March - Year 1G Assembly

Term 2
19 May - Year 5G Assembly
9 June - Year 1B Assembly
30 June - Year 4B Assembly

Term 3
11 August - Preschool Assembly
1 September - Reception Assembly
22 September - Year 2/3B Assembly

Term 4
10 November - Year 2/3G Assembly
1 December - Mid-Year Reception Assembly

We will ask for help from our wonderful parents and caregivers to help walk the Bridge Street students across on these dates. Please look out for the form on Skoolbag, next week.

Please remember to check the school calendar regularly for any updates.

Led by the University of Adelaide, Children’s University (CU) is a program that aims to nurture aspirations and develop a love of learning. Children and young people who choose to enrol in CU are issued with a Passport to Learning which records their individual learning journey.

After the first 30 hours of learning, children are rewarded for their participation at a graduation ceremony held at the University of Adelaide in Term 4. Children can graduate multiple times depending on the hours they accrue. Students can also to earn up to 10 hours from regular activities they may already be attend, such as sporting clubs, dance studios, swimming centres etc. 

Children’s University is not a compulsory program for students, however it is a great way for students to be engaged in their learning in various ways outside of school. There are a variety of places and activities that are recognised by CU as being learning experiences and can all be counted towards total number of hours. All CU learning is designed to inspire children to think about their futures with a greater knowledge of the careers and professions that they could aspire to.

This program will be an initiative offered to all students at the William St campus from Year 2 – 6. A re-launch of CU will occur in the following weeks with a letter being sent home to families for permission to be involved in the program. This program will be run under the guidance of Mr Nick Ryan, Pedagogical Coach, who will check in with students involved on a regular basis.

Welcome to the Year of the Rabbit 

The St Joseph’s Memorial classes all began the year by looking at the Animal Zodiac and wishing each other a Happy New Year in Japanese. 

This year the Bridge St children will have their Japanese language lesson on a Wednesday and the Preschool children will be having an introductory session to the Japanese language. Throughout the year we’ll be looking at various Japanese cultural festivals as well as learning about life in Japan. 

William St students will expand on the language they have already learnt, with the older students learning how to construct simple sentences. During the year we’ll focus on speaking, being able to respond to simple questions. Becoming literate in Japanese, learning the writing system and being able to read basic words and finally being able to write using Japanese characters. We’ll still celebrate major Japanese Festivals such as Children’s Day and integrate learning about life in Japan with the language that goes with it. 

Oriana Radman
Japanese language teacher 

Come see our Preschool in action, contact us for a tour or enrolment information.

St Joseph's Memorial School provides a safe environment for all while valuing the partnership between school and home.

As a Catholic community, we welcome and value volunteers. To be able to volunteer, and/or attend at other times throughout the school year, we ask that you hold the following:

1. A current Catholic Police Check (parents/caregivers attending excursions, reading in class, helping in class, attending community events);
2. A current Responding to Abuse and Neglect in Education and Care for Volunteers certificate (please click here to view how to complete this requirement);
3. Completed the volunteers application.

A Catholic Police Check for volunteers at SJMS are free for our current parents and caregivers. Application Forms are available to download here or at either school office.

We ask that you present your completed form with verification ID to the front office, and we will submit the application on your behalf. You will then receive an email link to complete the process online. Once all cleared you will receive a Catholic Police Check ID card in the post, please bring this in to the front office and we will take a copy of your clearance.

This process ensures we maintain a child safe environment. To avoid disappointment, we encourage you to apply for a Catholic Police Check through either school office as soon as possible.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at either office.

Thanking you
The SJMS Admin Team
info@sjms.catholic.edu.au

For more information on how Catholic Education SA provides a safe environment for all, please click here.

Summary of what is needed to volunteer at SJMS:
Valid Catholic Police Check
Responding to Abuse and Neglect Education and Care Volunteer Certificate
Completed application form

Please check the SJMS Calendar for up to date Pupil Free Days.

2023
Term 2 Monday 1 May to Friday 7 July
Term 3 Monday 24 July to Friday 29 September
Term 4 Monday 16 October to Friday 15 December

2024
Term 1 Monday 29 January to Friday 12 April
Term 2 Monday 29 April to Friday 5 July
Term 3 Monday 22 July to Friday 27 September
Term 4 Monday 14 October to Friday 13 December

2025
Term 1 Tuesday 28 January to Friday 11 April
Term 2 Monday 28 April to Friday 4 July
Term 3 Monday 21 July to Friday 26 September
Term 4 Monday 13 October to Friday 12 December

Please remember to check the SJMS calendar regularly for important dates and events.