Week 2, Term 2 2024

Dear Families,

Welcome to Term 2.

I trust you had a lovely break from the school routine.

In returning to school, the children at Bridge Street have especially enjoyed the return of using the library and OSHC space.

NEWSLETTERS THIS TERM
This Term, the newsletter will be published in weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10.

WHOLE SCHOOL LEARNING AND WELLBEING APPROACHES

This year, we have introduced both the Playberry Literacy Program and the Thriving Minds Wellbeing Program.

Playberry Laser Literacy Program is an evidence-informed, multisensory, structured phonics approach to support both reading and spelling development across all year levels. It supports our school's Science of Reading approach to Literacy and helps in the development of phonological, morphological, spelling rules, and reading fluency skills. The Playberry Laster Literacy approaches to learning will be shared with students as part of the learning activities in the daily Literacy blocks for all classes. For more information about the program, please visit:

https://playberrylaser.com.au/.

The 'Ready for Reception' students enjoyed undertaking the Playberry learning to develop their writing and letter recognition skills. This rich opportunity will prepare them for when they commence Reception in the next few months. Incredible capabilities have been demonstrated by the 4-year-old children!

Thriving Minds is a comprehensive, yearlong relational health and social emotional wellbeing program for teachers and students that meets the components of the social and emotional learning, health, and wellbeing requirements in the Australian Curriculum. The Thriving Minds approaches to wellbeing learning will be shared with teachers undertaking online training and then taking their students through the learning in specialised program workbooks and online modules. For more information about the program, please visit:

https://positivemindsaustralia.com.au/.

As some of you may be aware, I am currently completing my PhD with the University of Adelaide to investigate the link between school wellbeing approaches that impact student wellbeing and achievement. This program echoes the current research to provide young people with the wellbeing language, tools, and skills to proactively understand social and emotional development.

I would like to thank our leadership team and staff for their growth mindsets towards learning these programs to effectively implement them for a positive impact on student wellbeing and achievement.

MOTHER’S DAY CELEBRATIONS

Our whole school has celebrated our mothers, grandmothers, and special women in our community and lives. Yesterday, we celebrated the Mother’s Day mass at Norwood Parish, and it was wonderful to see so many people in attendance.

Our Parent’s and Friend’s Committee has been outstanding in providing the stall for students to purchase gifts and by hosting the morning tea.

Our student leaders, Sienna and Jack, constructed poems about mothers, which they shared in leading the morning tea event:

"A tender smile to guide the way, they are the sunshine to light our days.

The heart they give us, who see us as their work of art.

They teach us to be confident and bold, their love is worth more than rubies or gold.

Although we have some tough times, and don't always agree on things.

Our mothers always raise us with love, until we are ready to spread our wings.

You can't ask for anything more, a mother is the best you'll get.

They've cheered us up and wiped our tears, at times when we're upset.

They've taught us to become confident and kind, how to be ourselves and shine.

A mother's love is pure and true, as a person who will always be there for you."

QUIZ NIGHT

A reminder that SJMS ’Quiz Night’ is back this term!

The details are:

Saturday 1 June 2024

6:30pm – 11:30pm

Payneham Library

$25

Please book your tables now through the QKR app.

SCHOOL WINTER SPORTS

The school winter sports program has commenced with Basketball, Netball, and Soccer this term. This week will be the first game for a lot of the teams in Soccer and we are looking forward to hearing the wonderful reports from the students about their matches. Thank you to Mr. Dacombe-Bird for his leadership of the school sports program and to the many parents who give up their time to volunteer and coach the teams.

RAA Road Safety Visit

This week our Bridge Street students had a visit from RAA to deliver workshops to provide the opportunity for students to develop their knowledge, skills and understanding of road safety concepts. The children enjoyed learning about the importance of safely crossing the road.

I hope you all have enjoyed a very positive two weeks back at school for Term 2.

Kindest regards,

Adam Slater

Principal

Last Sunday, we heard Jesus’ commandment to his disciples to ‘Love One Another’.

What does this mean for us today? How do we love one another?

In family life, we have many opportunities to show love in action. Each time we postpone a task to tend to the needs of another, we show ourselves to be on the path to following the example of love shown to us by Jesus. Sometimes the sacrifices we are called upon to make for others are small. But these small choices to love and to serve others prepare us for the larger choices and sacrifices that we may be called upon to make. If we are people who have practised showing our love for others with generosity, we will also be people who are willing to lay down our lives for those we love.

What does generosity mean for us?

To be generous is to give freely to others without counting the cost. Generosity is one of the Fruits of the Holy Spirit. What examples did Jesus give to us that show this kind of love? (washing his disciples’ feet; accepting death on the cross) Jesus helps us to show this kind of love to others. One of the things we can ask for from God is a generous spirit so that we can love others as Jesus did.

As we reflect on this over the next few days, consider how you can be generous in your love.

Happy Mother’s Day

This Sunday we celebrate Mother’s Day.  May all mums, grandmothers and all other women who have this special role in the lives of others have a very special day.

A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie. -Tenneva Jordan

Family Faith Formation Program

Just a reminder to all families with children in Years 3 – 6 who have not celebrated the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Confirmation and Eucharist that the Parish is now taking Enrolments for the Family Faith Formation Program which will commence next term.

A note and Enrolment Form went out to all families via Audiri last week.

Dear Families,

Updated Fee Statements were posted home during the school holidays.  Full payment of your account was due in February, unless you have returned a 2024 Payment Plan form.  If you are yet to return your payment plan form, please do so by the end of Week 3, Term 2.

Please be assured of the school’s support for your family during hard times.  If you are having difficulty paying fees, please contact school Bursar, Nicki Cambourn, to make a time to discuss assistance and payment options available.

School Card 2024

The Government School Card discount is a scheme offered and administered by the School Card Office. School Card needs to be re-applied for on an annual basis.  The 2024 School Card application is available online, please apply as soon as possible.  

https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/education-and-learning/financial-help-scholarships-and-grants/school-card-scheme 

Any parent/caregiver who would like more information about the scheme can contact our school or phone the School Card Office on 1800 672 758 (free call). 

For eligible families, St Joseph’s Memorial School lower income fee will apply once School Card is approved.  A credit is applied to your account to reflect the lower fee and a revised statement sent home for you.

School Card Income Limits

To qualify for School Card, your family's gross income must be below a set limit. This limit depends on how many dependent children you have.  The table below lists the income limits for applications lodged in 2024 – this is based on the family's gross income in 2022/2023.

Fee Remission Assistance

Parents/caregivers experiencing financial difficulties are encouraged to apply for fee remission.  Please email accounts@sjms.catholic.edu.au for a fee remission application form.  We assure parents/caregivers that all details provided will be kept strictly confidential.  

If you are having difficulty with meeting your fee obligations or have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact Nicki Cambourn (Bursar) or Adam Slater (Principal) on 8130 7777. 

It is a government requirement for all schools to participate annually in the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD).

The NCCD collects data about school students with disability who are receiving adjustments across Australia in a consistent, reliable and systematic way. It enables schools, education authorities and governments to better understand the needs of students with disability and how they can be best supported at school (www.nccd.edu.au).

Information gathered is used:

as an evidence base, to give teachers, schools and sectors information about students with disability and the level of educational adjustment being provided
to inform policy development and future planning to better equip schools and education authorities to support students with disability
to improve understanding of the requirements and responsibilities of school teams and the broader community under the DDA and the Standards
to capture the work of schools under the obligations of the DDA and the Standards, allowing students with disability to access and participate in education on the same basis as other students
to highlight the individual needs of each student with disability by focusing on the level of educational support provided to them at school (www.nccd.edu.au).

Information provided about students to the Australian Government for the NCCD includes:

year of schooling
category of disability: physical, cognitive, sensory or social/emotional
level of adjustment provided: support provided within quality differentiated teaching practice, supplementary, substantial or extensive

Students’ personal details are de-identified as a part of the data collection. Please contact Inclusive Education Coordinator Toni Benci tonib@sjms.catholic.edu.au if you have any questions about the NCCD.

More information is available on the following website: https://www.nccd.edu.au/ 

or https://www.nccd.edu.au/tools/fact-sheet-parents-guardians-and-carers

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.

Term 2

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.

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

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

We would like to inform you of the dates for Pupil Free Days (PFD) for this year. Please note that OSHC will be available for families that require this service on these days.

Term 2

• Week 1 - Monday 29 April 2024 R-6
• Week 10 - Friday 5 July 2024 Preschool-6 (Whole School Pupil Free Day)

Term 3

• Week 1 - Monday 22 July 2024  R-6

Term 4

• Week 1 - Monday 14 October 2024 R-6
• Week 9 -