Week 6, Term 2 2024

Dear Families,

The past two weeks have been positively busy for our community as we approach the end of the first semester.

QUIZ NIGHT

This was a spectacular night to connect and have fun as a school community. It is not lost on me the incredible generosity from all the wonderful sponsors for their donations and our amazing Parents & Friends team for all their work to ensure the event was a huge success.

BOOK FAIR

This week our students had the opportunity to participate in the annual library ‘Book Fair.’ I would like to thank our amazing librarian, Mrs Moore for organising all the books and materials for the students to look at and purchase. The money that is made from this event will be used to purchase more books and resources for our students to use in the school libraries at both campuses.

PERFORMING ARTS

Last year, our incredible Parents & Friends committee donated fundraising to specific areas for new musical, sports, and science equipment. With this generous donation, our new Performing Arts teacher, Mrs Issa has commenced the ukulele program for students to develop their musicianship skills and capabilities in conjunction with fine motor and cognitive skills. The children have already been loving this new opportunity to play the ukuleles.

SCHOOL SPORTS

From all reports, our school teams have been enjoying playing games after school throughout the week and on the weekend. It is wonderful to hear about and see the students representing the school with a positive attitude and enjoying having fun with their peers. Thank you, and well done, to all the parent coaches who guide and lead the teams with great care and effort.

Our Year 2 Soccer team

Our Year 3/4 Soccer team

Our Year 5/6 Soccer team

LITURGIES

In recent weeks, our Year 2 classes and Preschool have both held liturgies with Father Chris from the Norwood Parish. The children and teachers have been terrific at planning and running the liturgies.

INCURSIONS

Last week, our Reception and Year 1 classes participated in an incursion with the Australian Museum of Childhood. The students were provided with a range of hands-on activities to investigate new learning opportunities to problem solve in new ways.

ROBOTICS & STEM

Our students have undertaken learning about coding using the 'Scratch' program to construct and program robots to move in specific directions to perform various tasks.

STUDENT FIRST AID INCURSION SESSION

Last week our students particpated in First Aid training to help children develop skills to confidently manage emergency responses.

RECEPTION INDIGENOUS GARDEN

Our Reception students have been planting a native indigenous garden to acknowledge National Reconciliation Week.

2023 SCHOOL COMPLIANCE AND PERFORMANCE REPORT

Please find the link below to our 2023 school compliance and performance report on our website:

https://www.sjms.catholic.edu.au/__files/f/24602/2023_SJMS_School_Compliance_Report.pdf

2024–2026 SCHOOL STRATEGIC PLAN

Please find the link below to our 2024–2026 school strategic plan on our website:

https://www.sjms.catholic.edu.au/__files/f/24599/Strategic_Plan_2024-2026.pdf

Finally, I would like to thank all our teachers, parents, and students for everything they do to build a positive environment in our school. I am grateful that our school values of kindness, love, and care are actively lived out every day in our interactions and connections.

Thanks,

Adam Slater

Principal

Sacred Heart of Jesus

This Friday we celebrate the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus which is a moveable feast that depends on the date of Easter Sunday. It is celebrated 19 days after Pentecost Sunday, and falls on the 50th day of Easter.

Symbolically, the heart has long been regarded as the centre of love, both in a physical and metaphorical sense. In the devotion to the Sacred Heart, the heart of Jesus represents the divine wellspring of love, the source from which flows an abundance of compassion, mercy, and grace.

Confirmation

The Sacrament of Confirmation is the second of the three sacraments of Christian initiation. Confirmation completes Baptism, by which in the laying on of hands and the anointing with Chrism Oil, which first happened at Baptism, we are confirmed with the fullness of the Holy Spirit.

We are reminded of our participation in the ministry and mission of Jesus, and strengthened to follow Jesus more closely.

On Tuesday of Week 8, Bishop Greg O’Kelly will use these words 'Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit when he anoints students with the oil of Chrism during the Confirmation Ceremony.  This seal, marks us as a witness of Christ. 

At Pentecost, the Apostles received the fullness of the Holy Spirit enabling them to evangelise and serve God.  Through Confirmation, we too are prepared for public ministry and receive the fullness of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which help us to be holy.

Confirmation Prayer

Family Faith Formation Program

A reminder to all parents and caregivers of students in Years 3 – 6 regarding the Parish Family Faith Formation Program.

If your child is in Year 3 and above, has been Baptised in the Catholic Church and you would like them to celebrate these Sacraments, could you please contact me for Enrolment Forms for this program.

Preparation for Reconciliation will commence early Term 3 and enrolments should be submitted to the Parish Office before the end of this term (Friday 5 July).

Hi Parents, 

School holidays are approaching and we have some exciting activities and excursions organised. We are going to the movies and Funtopia! We will also be open for the pupil free days on the 5th and 22nd of July.

If you have any questions feel free to reach out.  Programs will be availabe via Audiri today. 

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 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 -

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.