Week 10 Term 3 2024

Dear St Joseph’s Memorial Families,

CELEBRATING AN INCREDIBLE TERM 3

As the final week of Term 3 draws to a close, I would like to acknowledge the incredible work of our school staff for providing opportunities for learning inside and outside of school that students have engaged in this term.

As the term ends, it’s a perfect time to reflect on the exciting and productive few months we’ve had at St Joseph's Memorial. This term has been rich with memorable experiences, including camps, incursions, excursions, Catholic Schools Music Festival, and we’ve celebrated special events like Book Week, Colour Run and the Sacraments of Confirmation. This term, our school has achieved outstanding NAPLAN and Year 1 phonics screening results, won the Year 5/6 Soccer and Football Cups and our students achieved great success in the ICAS and Prime Minister's Spelling Bee competitions.

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS MUSIC FESTIVAL

This week, our school choir, consisting of 21 of our Year 5/6 students, performed at the Catholic Schools Music Festival at the Adelaide Festival Centre. Led by the incredible tutelage of Mrs Radman, the choir performed a showcase for our students last week in our school Performing Arts Studio. As the chair of this festival, I am extremely proud of our students for undertaking this opportunity that they will remember for the rest of their lives.

PRESCHOOL ASSEMBLY

Last week, our Preschool students and educators held an assembly in the newly refurbished Bridge Street library. The students shared their learning and sung a range of songs to our community, which the large group of parents who attended, enjoyed immensely.

SCHOOL DISCO

Last Friday night the school disco was a huge success, and the students enjoyed singing and dancing with all their friends. Thank you to the Parents and Friends committee for their work to ensure the event was extremely successful as well as the parent volunteers and teaching staff for their assistance on the night.

YEAR 3/4 CAMP TO WOODHOUSE

This week, our Year 3/4 students attended camp at Woodhouse. The staff and students enjoyed the time together to learn in an environment outside of the school and classroom through undertaking a range of activities to develop new life skills.

COLOUR RUN

Today, for the first time in school history, we held a 'Colour Run' at each campus, for a fun way for students to end the school term.

ADELAIDE CROWS PLAYER CLASS VISIT

This week, Jess Allen, the current captain of the Adelaide Crows, AFLW team, came in to visit the Year 5 students, as part of a project the class is undertaking to conduct interviews on specific topics. 

RECEPTION LITURGY

Last week, our Reception classes led a liturgy, guided by Father Chris, from our local Parish community.

DOGS ON SCHOOL SITE

I would like to inform the school community of an important update regarding our school. For the safety and comfort of all students, staff, and visitors, dogs are no longer permitted on school grounds.

While we understand that many families enjoy bringing their pets during drop-off and pick-up times, this decision has been made with careful consideration of several factors, including:

Student safety: Some students may feel uncomfortable or anxious around dogs, and even well-behaved pets can react unpredictably in a busy school environment.

Health concerns: We have students with allergies and conditions that may be aggravated by the presence of animals.

Hygiene: We want to maintain a clean and safe environment for everyone and managing animal waste can be difficult in public spaces.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in adhering to this, ensuring that our school remains a safe and welcoming space for all.

PUPIL FREE DAY

Just a reminder Term 4, Monday 14 October will be a Pupil Free Day. Preschool and OHSC will be available on this day.

THANK YOU FAMILIES!

Once again, I would like to thank all the families in our school for the positive ways you have engaged in an effective partnership with the school this term.  This is evident in many ways in our school, such as supporting excursions, checking in with teachers and leaders, assisting children at home with their learning or meeting with us to discuss how we can best work together to support your child. All these interactions enable the growth and development of our learning community, and effective collaboration between home and school that actively supports improved learning and wellbeing outcomes for each child.

I wish all our students and their families a wonderful school break and look forward to welcoming everyone back for Term 4.

With great thanks,

Adam Slater

Principal

So many migrants and refugees face such challenges and difficulties along their way. They can be separated from families and loved ones, lost, bereaved, exhausted, hurt or afraid of the future. They can experience people who are unwelcoming or hostile to them in their time of vulnerability. In the Sunday readings this week, we are reminded that God sees the disregard and injustice of the rich and comfortable. Our relationship with those who are suffering has eternal implications.

As Pope Francis says, God not only walks with migrants and refugees, but within them. God “identifies himself with men and women on their journey through history, particularly with the least, the poor and the marginalized.” In serving the least of our brothers and sisters, we encounter Jesus himself.

These celebrations unite us as a community. We come together to worship and receive God’s grace. To be in communion with God and other worshipers through the liturgy and most importantly through the sacrament of the Eucharist. 

As we come to the end of the term, I would like to wish you all a safe and happy holiday. 

May God bless you all and keep you safe until next term. 

Can’t believe we are approaching Term 4 already! What an amazing year it has been for us. We hope you all have enjoyed the P&F events so far this term with Crazy Sock Day, Father's Day Stalls, Father's Day Breakfast and the SJMS Disco. Thank you to those that have been able to assist with preparation and participation, of these events they wouldn't be a success without you all.

The funds raised on Quiz Night being over $7,000, is outstanding from the community generosity and participation in this event. We have already had a request for fund allocation and are pleased to announce we have allocated a portion of these funds, going towards the purchase of some fantastic school resources, the decodable home readers library for our children to use.

Plans are well under way for Term 4 including our annual Bunnings Sausage Sizzle which will be on Sunday November 3rd. If you would like to assist us on this day, please email us at pandf@sjms.catholic.edu.au 

We are looking forward to celebrating the end of year with you all.

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 4

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

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.

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.