Week 8, Term 4 2024

Dear Families,

As the school year draws to a close, we have so much to be grateful for. This is a wonderful time to reflect on the achievements of our students. Every child is unique and their accomplishments reflect their own personal journey—whether academic, social or emotional. St Joseph’s is a safe, supportive environment where children learn to navigate challenges, embrace responsibility and build meaningful relationships. When I reflect on what makes small schools like St Joseph’s Memorial so special, one word always comes to mind: connection. Small schools aren’t just places of learning; they’re living, breathing communities where every voice is heard, every talent is noticed and every child is valued. In small schools, no one is invisible. No one gets lost in the crowd. Every child has their moment to shine, whether it’s presenting at an assembly, playing in a sport of choice, helping a peer in the playground or baking cupcakes for a school fundraiser. Recently, I was inspired by these words from Neil Schiller, a retired Principal:  

“Small schools are very special and provide wonderful opportunities to build a very supportive community and offer opportunities for students to grow exceptional relationship and leadership skills. In a small school the Principal has a much greater role in charting the course for learning and connects with the students and parents more closely than is possible when the school increases in size. While it is a heavy workload, it brings great outcomes in the relationships built and the satisfaction in seeing students thrive.”

As we wrap up a richly productive school year in 2024, I want to share my sincere gratitude to the teachers and the whole school staff for the amazing work they undertake each and every day to help the students in our school thrive in their faith, learning, and well-being.

On behalf of the entire St Joseph’s Memorial community, I would also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the P&F, the School Board, and all our volunteers. Your unwavering support and dedication make a profound difference in the lives of our students and staff. Whether you've helped organise events, supported classroom activities/excursions or contributed valuable resources, your involvement has enriched our school in immeasurable ways. We are incredibly fortunate to have such a generous and engaged group of parents and grandparents.

It is important to share the impactful initiatives and achievements from the year, including:

• Refurbishment upgrade of the Bridge St OSHC/Library space.
• Moving the William St Library to a bigger double learning space to provide more resources for the community.
• Our Year 3 and 5 NAPLAN results were above the national averages in all learning domains.
• Our Year 1 Phonics check data was above the CESA and eastern region averages.
• Our wellbeing pulse check-in data averaged 81% of the student cohort responding with positive green responses for the year.
• New ‘Thriving Minds’ wellbeing curriculum introduced.
• New ‘Playberry Laser’ Science and evidence-based Literacy training and pedagogy implemented.
• New professional development for teachers to undertake the Eastern Region Conference on Student Agency at the Adelaide Convention Centre.
• Continuing school lunches with Louie’s Deli to be provided for students on Monday and Friday.
• Introducing a new soft-shell jacket for the Physical Education uniform.
• Introducing the new ’Simply Sports’ afterschool Soccer and Cricket programs for Bridge St students.
• New leadership opportunities for students to participate in the eastern region podcast and leadership forum with the state premier.
• Providing new sporting initiatives, including the Soccer Jim Huffedine Cup (which we won!) and the Norwood Football Cup (which we also won!), Gather Round visits from the Brisbane Lions and Wheelienet wheelchair program.
• New extension opportunities to reintroduce the ICAS competition, our school hosting the G.A.T.EWays ‘Mindblown’ program and offering the BRAINWAYS school holiday program.
• New Preschool opportunity to enter the Royal Adelaide Show Scarecrow competition.
• New opportunity for students in Years 5 and 6 to participate in the Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee competition, with 4 students reaching the finals.
• Using the Performing Arts Studio again to host two school musicals, based on the Nativity Story. Both performances were sold out and demonstrated an extremely high level of talent from the students.
• Continuing the student traffic monitor program for students to demonstrate their leadership responsibilities and capabilities.
• Continuing whole school assemblies to be held in the Performing Arts Studio with both Bridge and William Street students hosting and attending.
• Continuing SEQTA assessment and reporting to be digital and email to parents.
• Continuing the Clarity teaching practices for students to know learning intentions, success criteria, and how to bump up their work.
• Continuing the Children’s University, with 23 receiving acknowledgements from the University of Adelaide at the graduation ceremony.
• New student agency learning showcases held in the Performing Arts Studio.
• New lunchtime clubs for chess, gardening, crocheting, and dance.
• New social justice initiatives with the community donating goods to pass on 20 full bags to Backpacks4Kids, working with Catholic Mission for Socktober to raise $750 for East Timor, and our Preschool student baking goods for the local church community.
• New ICT initiative whereby the Year 3 and Year 5 students worked collaboratively to create 3D printed objects through Tinker Cad, where 2 teams were selected to present at the STEM MAD competition at the University of South Australia.
• New Parents & Friends events, including the Colour Run, Fun Socks Day and continuing the Quiz Night.
• New instruments for students to learn that were donated by P&F in Performing Arts including the ukulele (William St) and xylophone (Bridge St), as well as the introduction of drum lessons provided by the Learning Through Music program.
• Opportunity for our Year 1 class to partner with Mary Mackillop students to sing ‘Mary’s Vision’ at a school assembly.
• New Debating team workshop for students provided by Debating SA.
• Continuing the reintroduced Book Fair for students to purchase new reading materials that was held in the Performing Arts Studio.
• The continuation of the reintroduced staff retreat with the focus on social justice.
• Continuing the introduction of the new parent information sessions for the reception transition visits.

End of Year Reports

Our educators have been comprehensively completing Semester 2 Reports that reflect your child’s learning journey progress thus far. As you know, here at St Joseph’s Memorial, reporting occurs across the school year in a variety of ways. You would have witnessed many assessments through your child’s Seesaw posts, assessment rubrics and conversations with your child’s teacher. The formal academic report you will receive on Monday, December 9th, on SEQTA Engage will outline your child’s strengths and acknowledge areas for future focus and growth. As you speak with your child about their report, I encourage you to affirm all the learning they have undertaken and ask them to share what they are most proud of too. We aim for our learners to be assessment capable, that is, to talk about their learning and consider their own goals and actions moving forward.

STAFFING

As we are approaching the end of the 2024 school year, we have finalised staffing and classes for 2025:

STAFF FAREWELLS

Andrew Merrigan
Andrew Merrigan is retiring at the end of this year. Andrew has worked at St Joseph’s for the past 13 years and 31 years in total with Catholic Education South Australian. Andrew has been a strong part of the vibrant community and has been a dedicated colleague who has made a positive impact on the students he has taught.

Izabella Callisto
Izabella Callisto has won a permanent position at St Joseph’s Ottaway and on behalf of the community I wanted to congratulate her on this outstanding achievement. I would like to thank Izabella for the dedication and positive impact made on our school community over the past 3 years. 

Emily McGuffin
Emily has worked as our Mid-Year Reception teaching for the second half of the year. Emily’s positive influence on our community will be fondly remembered and missed.

On behalf of the school, I would like to sincerely thank Andrew, Izabella and Emily for their work in our community.

Preschool improvements and changes

Recently, we have been advised by the Catholic Education Health and Safety team that the mezzanine in our Preschool needs to be removed from the space. We will miss this unique space for our students, yet over the holidays we will be increasing the outside space for the Preschool to move sheds, revamp the sandpit, and lay artificial grass so that the children have more space to play.

NATIVITY STORY MUSICALS

Recently, our Bridge St students hosted families to share an afternoon musical performance on the Christmas story as outlined in the bible. In addition, on Tuesday night our William St students also hosted a sold-out musical performance. The students showcased their amazing talents. It was wonderful to host this event in our new Performing Arts Studio. Once again, thank you to Mrs Issa for your amazing work to ensure the performance was incredible.

HOSTING THE G.A.T.EWAYS EXTENSION PROGRAM

Last week, our school hosted the G.A.T.EWays ‘Mindblown’ extension program students in our school and from nearby schools in the area. The early years group explored bugs and neuro pathways through robotics. The upper primary group explored spiders and game theory through a range of different explorations.

SPORTS AND MUSIC ASSEMBLY

Today our Year 2 to 6 students who have been learning a musical instrument throughout the year had the opportunity to showcase their wonderful talents to the whole school community. Well done to Year 6 students Tayla and Cailin for leading the assembly.

Today we also held the Sports Assembly to recognise the wonderful leadership and positive impact of the parents who volunteer to coach. The coaches nominated different students in their teams for the wonderful manner in which they have represented the school and developed their skills.

YEAR 3 BASKETBALL SUCCESS!

Congratulations to the SJMS Year 3 Bears Basketball team, who won their grand final this week 33-19 against Trinity Toucans. This group has been wonderfully led by parent coach Damien and at times with the great help of parent helper Drew. Well done team!

YEAR 3 & 4 SOCIAL JUSTICE XMAS FUNDRAISING

Last week our Year 3 and 4 classes led a Christmas market stall for students from both campuses who were able to purchase a range of baked goods and homemade toys. The money raised was approximately $1000 for Ronald McDonald House Charities.

ICAS, BRAINWAYS AND PAT AWARDS

Last week, we handed out the Live, Learn, Lead awards, ICAS competition certificates, BrainWAYs program certificates and PAT Reading and Mathematics assessment awards for significant improvement. Well done to the students that received these awards in recognition of their wonderful work and development.

Just a reminder that school resumes on Tuesday 28 January 2025.

God bless

Adam Slater

Dear Parents and Caregivers 

We are currently in the Church season of Advent, which means “coming”, and in this season, we prepare for the coming of Christ.  One of the ways families prepare for Christmas is to have a Christmas Tree in their homes. 

The tradition of the Christmas tree is thought to have started in Germany in the 16^th century when devout Christians brought decorated trees into their homes. 

In 2004, Pope John Paul called the Christmas tree a symbol of Christ. This very ancient custom, he said, exalts the value of life, as in winter what is evergreen becomes a sign of undying life, and it reminds Christians of the "tree of life" of Genesis 2:9, an image of Christ, the supreme gift of God to humanity. 

This year, why not have a blessing ceremony for your Christmas Tree as you wait for Christmas? Blessing the Christmas tree is a way to celebrate and prepare during the Advent season. You may bless the tree as soon as you put it up, or you can wait until after you have decorated it.  When you are ready to bless the tree, turn the Christmas tree lights off and gather the family around the tree as you follow the 3 steps below:  

1. Designate someone to lead the following prayer.  

2. Have everyone extend a hand in a gesture of blessing.   

3. Sprinkle water or holy water on the tree while praying the prayer below.  

Loving God, we stand before you once again.

We stand here ready to celebrate the birth of your son, Jesus.

Bless this tree, this sign of life and freshness and perseverance in our midst.

It stands as a reminder that you are born anew in us each day.

Bless our family and friends as we celebrate this joyous season.

Keep us safe in our travels, kind in our conversations,

and gracious in our giving and receiving.

We ask you this in confidence, because we know you love us.

All: Amen.

End of Year Mass & Year 6 Graduation 

On Tuesday 10 December we will come together to celebrate the end of the School Year Mass and Year 6 Graduation. It is a joyous celebration where we reflect and give thanks for the 2024 School year.

We will also congratulate all the Year 6 students who will graduate and move onto their Secondary Schooling in 2025.

We ask that God grants these students many blessings on their journey ahead. 

Code Camp 2025

In 2025 SJMS have partnered with Code Camp to offer an After School Coding Program for students from Years 3 – 6. It will be held on Tuesday afternoons from 3:15 – 4:30pm.

Below you will find a flier with information regarding this program. The cost of the 8-week program is $260 however, if you register before 31 December 2024, there is an Early Bird discount. Just use the Early Bird Discount Code: EBT1AS

Please click on the link below www.codecamp.com.au/stjomem to register.

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 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.