Week 2, Term 1 2024

Dear Families,

We hope this newsletter finds you well as we start a new school year. We are excited to welcome both returning and new families to our school community. 

I would like to welcome our Leadership Team for 2024:

* Principal, Adam Slater

* Assistant Principal Religious Identity and Mission, Grace Vassallo-Wakefield

* Inclusive Education Coordinator, Toni Benci

* Leader of Learning, Aimee Caruso.

Together, we look forward to serving you and your family in the exciting year ahead.

On the first day of school, we welcomed 41 reception children and their families. Many of the children were having their first day at school, joined by students from Years 1 to 6. We also welcomed new staff members who have joined us: Annie Brearley (Year 5), Tania Montin (Preschool Coordinator), and Janice Bataduwage (Educational Support Officer), who is replacing Claire Tienek on long service leave in term 1.

PRINCIPAL’S AWARD STICKERS

One of my favourite moments each day is going into the classrooms and seeing the wonderful learning that is happening. I also really enjoy speaking with the teachers and students to hand out Principal sticker awards for students who have demonstrated the three school values of kindness, love, and care. It is a wonderful opportunity to recognise students for their daily positive actions and the pride they take in making great choices at school.

LEARNING ACROSS THE CLASSROOMS

It has been an absolute delight to go into the classrooms and see all the wonderful learning that the students and classes have been exploring in the first two weeks. Last week, the year 5 students shared a task in Humanities and Social Sciences where they created Aboriginal artwork to include specific painted features to represent meeting places, such as clapping sticks, rivers, and kangaroo footprints.

The Year 1 students explored learning about sea and beach environments in science. It was great to see the students reading about and investigating the various types of seashells and marine animals.

Our librarian, Mrs Moore, has enjoyed showing the students around the new library spaces in the school. At our William Street campus, the bigger library area is quickly filling with new books, and the students have enjoyed this space being open at lunch time. At our Bridge Street campus, the construction works are well underway for the refurbishment project, with the new flooring, painting and lighting all completed. We are looking forward to the children using these spaces to continue to spark their love of literature and reading.

 

 

LEARNING CONVERSATIONS

I hope all families enjoyed the opportunity to meet with their child's teacher(s) this week. The aim of the learning conversation is for you to share with the teacher your child’s needs, strengths, interests, and future goals.

STAFF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Before the students returned, the school staff undertook three days of professional learning that included a session with Madhavi Parker from Thriving Minds. The staff were able to focus on wellbeing in three ways:

1. Educator wellbeing
2. Current wellbeing science and research
3. Wellbeing curriculum and practice in classrooms to positively impact student learning and achievement

We are now looking forward to implementing the ‘Thriving Minds’ curriculum to focus on student, parent, and staff wellbeing this year. We will share more about this work in the coming weeks.

Our school was provided with a Government grant from Commonwealth Education Minister Jason Clare to enable us to undertake this project. We would like to thank the Education Department and Minister for Education for the funds to complete this project.

 

CO-CURRICULAR

It has been wonderful that school sports have commenced. Training sessions have started, and our parent coaches have been terrific in their volunteer efforts to help guide our students in their sporting opportunities. Once again, I would like to thank the parents who coach our students for their commitment and passion to benefit our school community.

It has been an amazing start to the school year, and I am grateful that every day I am able to work with everyone in this amazing Saint Joseph's Memorial School community.

 

Regards,

Adam Slater

Dear Parents and Caregivers

Welcome back to the 2024 School Year. On Tuesday, it was lovely to see the entire school along with parents and caregivers join us for our Beginning of School Year Mass. Our theme for this year is Faith, Hope and Love and like every other year, I look forward to seeing this in action throughout the year.

Next week we celebrate a change of Season in the Church Calendar. The season of Lent commences with the celebration of Ash Wednesday which is exactly 46 days before Easter Sunday. Unlike Christmas, which is celebrated on the same date, the Lenten season is determined by the observance of Easter Sunday, which is a moving Christian holiday. As such the date cannot be fixed as Easter occurs on the first Sunday after the Paschal full moon on or after the Northern Hemisphere spring equinox.

During Lent, the colour in the Church changes from Green (Ordinary Time) to Purple. The other change we see is that at Mass, Alleluia is not said or sung until Easter Sunday.

Lent invites us to connect more deeply with our faith. We are asked to focus on Jesus and his life especially the 40 days that Jesus spent in the desert being tempted. It is a beautiful way to remember Jesus’ sacrifice for us and prepare us for the Easter season.

School and Class Masses / Liturgies of the Word

Please find below the dates for our School and Class Masses/Liturgies of the Word for Term 1:

Wednesday 14 February:             Ash Wednesday Liturgy of the Word

                                                     10:15am Bridge Street

                                                     11:30am William Street

Friday 23 February:                      Year 5 & 6 Mass

                                                     9:15am in the PAS (Performing Arts Studio)

Friday 1 March:                            Year 1 Liturgy of the Word

                                                     9:15am in the classroom

Friday 8 March:                            Year 3 & 4 Mass

                                                     9:15am in the PAS

Friday 15 March:                          Reception LOW

                                                     9:15am in Reception B classroom

Tuesday 19 March:                      St Joseph’s Feast Day Mass (led by Year 2 students)

                                                     9:30am in St Ignatius Church

Tuesday 9 April:                        Preschool & Ready for Reception Liturgy of the Word

                                                     9:15am in R4R class

(Please note that each term, students from William Street will lead a Whole School Mass and as such will not have a Class Mass – in Term 1 it will be our Year 2 students).

It has been great to have all our smiling faces back into the before/after school routine. Vacation care was amazing, we went to the Big Rocking Horse and Funtopia which the kids loved. We also had some fun onsite days where we had a mini golf course in the school. It would be amazing to see the students back for the upcoming school holidays and the program will be out in Week 5 to book your child/ren in.  We do have some new staff so feel free to come in and introduce yourself.

We are looking at new software and moving away from Kidsoft. I will keep you all updated when I know more information. Just a reminder for how to make any bookings. You can either do it through the iparent portal, email at oshc@sjms.catholic.edu.au or scooper@sjms.catholic.edu.au or you can call/message us on 0432 829 979. If you have any other enquires you can use any of these methods of contact and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Regards,

Shayla Cooper

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We are looking forward to planning many events throughout the upcoming year and working collaboratively with you to create a supportive Parents and Friends community. Your involvement and participation are integral to the success of our school, and we welcome you to engage in the various activities and events planned for the year. Which includes our first event being the P&F welcome drinks night on Saturday, 17 February. Reminder this is an adult only event. This event is a chance for you to get to know the current P&F community you may also wish to use this as an opportunity to ask any questions you may have about being involved in the committee or volunteering for any upcoming events. Please send your RSVPs to pandf@sjms.catholic.edu.au

We are currently in the process of appointing a class representative per year level, being a class representative to organise out of school class events is a great way to be involved and bring our community together. If you would like to put your name forward for your child's year level, please email pandf@sjms.catholic.edu.au

To receive notifications and keep in touch with P&F events, notices and parents selling 2nd hand uniforms, request to join our FaceBook page St Joseph's Memorial School Norwood and Kensington P&F. This is a private FaceBook page for current members of the school community. Notices of events will also be sent out via Audiri.

Wishing you a wonderful and successful school year and looking forward to many St Joseph's Events!

Warm regards,

Vikki Schiavone and Isabella Evangelou

SJMS P&F Co-Chairs for 2024

Just a reminder if your child is unwell we recommend that your child stays home. This is to ensure the wellbeing and safety of all our community members at SJMS.

Student (Rec-6) Lunch Orders are available every Monday and Friday (during school term) organised by Louie’s Deli at Norwood.

Orders can only be made via the QKR app and have a range of pies, pasties, hotdogs, roast chicken wraps, croissants and some gluten free options. 

Please visit the QKR app to view the full menu option.

It has been brought to our attention that children are being dropped off before 8.20am on William Street campus and 8.30am on the Bridge Street campus.

We remind all families the importance of children’s safety and the duty of care with yard duty commencing at those times.  If your child needs to be dropped off before these times, they must be signed in to OSHC.

We also remind ALL families at William Street that siblings are not to be dropped off if sports training is taking place without the supervision of a parent.

Please note that OHSC is available every morning from 7am.

The Annual General Meeting of the Saint Joseph’s Memorial School Board will be conducted on Wednesday 21 February 2024 at the Performing Art Studio located on our William Street site at 6.30pm. Parents and caregivers are all welcome to attend.

The School Board has a number of important governance roles to play with regard to the development of the school. One of its critical roles is oversight and approve all matters which have a financial implication for the school.

The Board also acts as a consultative forum for the Principal on areas such as:

• Faith formation of students and staff;

• Curriculum development;

• Property and maintenance;

• Administration;

• Human resources; and

• Parent education.

In addition, the School Board also provides timely, appropriate advice as requested and assists the Principal in monitoring school effectiveness.

As a body, the School Board is always seeking to harness the expertise, talents and resources of members of the school community and wider local community for the benefit of the School.

Anyone wishing to nominate for the School Board is requested to email the Principal, Adam Slater at aslater@sjms.catholic.edu.au and provide a nomination statement outlining why you would like to be on our School Board.

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 1

16 February 2024 

8 March 2024 

5 April 2024

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.

Learn an instrument in 2024!

Students wishing to start learning an instrument next year are welcome to contact Learning Through Music to enquire about enrolling ready for Term 1!

If you would like to take instrumental music lessons please contact Learning Through Music online at www.ltmusic.com.au or email info@ltmusic.com.au if you would like further 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

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 - Thursday 14 December & Friday 15 December 2024 R-6