Week 2, Term 3 2023

Dear Families,

I hope everyone had a wonderful break and have enjoyed the return of school for semester two.

OUR COLLECTIVE SCHOOL PILLARS AND VALUES

After receiving close to 200 community responses from staff, students and parents we have finalised our three school pillars and values that will guide our school moving forward into the future.

Our three pillars that will set the direction for our mission are:

FAITH – LEARNING – COMMUNITY

Our values centred on the example of Jesus Christ that will support our daily actions and interactions are:

KINDNESS – LOVE – CARE

Thank you to everyone for your input and support throughout the process of constructing our shared pillars and values.

2023 NAPLAN RESULTS

EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE AGAIN with the 2023 NAPLAN RESULTS

Once again, we have managed to produce outstanding results!

ALL RESULTS IN YEAR 3 ABOVE THE NATIONAL AND STATE AVERAGES

Congratulations to all our Year 3 & 5 students who sat the test. A special thank you to our leaders and teachers who have looked closely at our testing data over the last three years and adjusted teaching practices to achieve such excellent results:

Student results have been sent home to families.

NEW RECEPTION CHILDREN

Our mid-year intake consists of 23 children who have enjoyed their first two weeks at school. They are a delightful group of children taking their next step into the wider world under the incredible leadership of their teacher Mrs Haddad.

OSHC & VACATION CARE

SHAYLA COOPER – NEW OSHC DIRECTOR

We welcome Shayla who will be our new OSHC Director. Shayla has worked in various OSHC services as a leader and most recently at St Francis of Assisi in Newton. We look forward to the positive impact she will have on our community.

During Vacation Care, one of the highlights was the excursion to the Hahndorf Farm Barn. The children enjoyed feeding the animals. Thank you to the staff for ensuring the excursion was a huge success.

YEAR 1 & 5 SHARED MAKERS EMPIRE SHOWCASE
This week our Year 1 and Year 5 students shared their collaborative buddy project for the ‘Learning by Design’ Showcase event at Stone & Chalk. The two year levels worked together to solve a problem of soccer balls passing through the goal nets at Bridge Street and used Makers Empire technology and 3D printing to resolve. Thank you to both teachers for leading this impactful initiative to enhance student engagement and purposeful learning.

SCHOOL HOLIDAY UPGRADES

Over the school holidays we organised for maintenance and upgrades works to be undertaken. One specific holiday makeover occurred in the Preschool with the floorboards being replenished.

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Welcome back to Term 3. It was pleasing to see so many smiling faces returning to school last week. I look forward to the term ahead and the wonderful learning that will happen in our classes.

On the final day of Term 2, the staff came together to spend the day reflecting on our Catholic Identity. Catholic Identity is a way in which the stories we hear about Jesus are given living expression in our school. It is the encounter between faith, life and culture which permeates structures, processes, relationships, learning and teaching that offers students lifelong meaning and purpose.

We are guided by our Catholic Education SA mission statement which says: “Animated by our Catholic Faith and in partnership with families, our schools are communities that create opportunities for encountering life to the full - in all its personal, religious, political, ecological and cultural richness.”

At St Joseph s Memorial School, we promote Catholic Identity through:

• A Sense of Sacramentality
• A Commitment to Community
• A Respect for Human Life
• A Reverence for Scripture and Tradition
• An Attitude of Faith and Hope.

Mary MacKillop Feast Day

This week, a note regarding our St Mary MacKillop Feast Day Mass was sent out to all families. Parents, Friends, and Caregivers are invited to join us as we celebrate St Mary MacKillop’s Feast Day on Tuesday 8 August at 9:30am in St Ignatius Church. St Mary is Australia’s first Saint who was very connected to the Norwood Catholic Community. As part of our celebration (and keeping up with the Australian theme), we are asking families to donate a jar of vegemite to support the St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal. Donations can be sent to your child’s class teacher prior to the day.

UniSA Social Work Students

Over the next semester, we will host 2 Social Work students from UniSA for their placement. Both Shuyu and Janice will work across both sites supporting the community. Social Workers in schools help parents, students, and school staff identify needs that may interfere with learning. They may work with students individually or in small groups to help build on their social skills, resilience, or wellbeing.

A reminder that there is Kiss and Drop Zone ONLY in front of Bridge Street and William Street from 8-9am and 3-4pm Monday to Friday.  You must not leave your vehicle and take your child/ren to class – this has been causing congestion for parents wanting to use the zone as intended.

Please note that the sign states:

IMMEDIATE PICK UP AND DROP OFF ONLY

2 MIN MAX

8-9 am  and again  3-4 pm

SCHOOL DAYS

DRIVER MUST REMAIN WITH THE VEHICLE

Please consider this when dropping off/collecting your child from school. 

Preschool parents and caregivers will need to find alternative parking as they need to sign their child in and out of Preschool.

Please be advised that Parking Inspectors do patrol the area and parents/caregivers may be fined.

We thank you in anticipation of your support in this matter.  Your child's safety is our priority.

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.

• Monday 16 October 2023
• Thursday 14 December 2023
• Friday 15 December 2023

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.

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.

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