St Joseph’s Primary School

Gayndah

Newsletter Date Wednesday

8 March 2017

2017 Term One

Week Seven

Hi Everyone,

We have passed the halfway mark and are now on the busy stretch of our term. There are lots of exciting events coming up over the

next four weeks, and plenty of opportunity for everyone to get involved in some community fun.

Last Friday, we launched our Project Compassion Appeal for 2017. This is such a worthwhile cause and is one where even a small

donation of money can make a huge difference for families in neighbouring countries. Just $75 can provide a piglet for a family in the

Philippines, with training on how to take care of the pig, allowing them to generate a stable source of income. If we work together and

bring in our small change for the Project Compassion boxes, this is definitely an attainable goal. We have plenty of orders for our Fish

and Chips for Caritas day on Friday, which is a great start to our fundraising efforts. Thank you so much to the many families who have

already generously donated, and also to those parents who are volunteering to assist us in cooking the fish on Friday.

We have plenty of opportunities for community involvement over the next few weeks through various activities. Our first P&F meeting

for the year is next Tuesday 14 March at 7pm in the staffroom. We will begin with the AGM and follow with a general meeting. Please

don’t let the AGM aspect discourage you from coming, as you don’t have to have an official role in the P&F to be part of it! We are also

having our Softball Battle in support of Anna Ulcoq’s fundraising for Orange Queen. This will begin at 6pm on Friday 17 March. We

have a few teams in the competition already and are looking to get a few more, so please contact the office if you are interested. Teams

need 9 players and at least 2 ladies, or 2 children aged between 9 and 15, on the team. If you are wanting to find a team to play in, let us

know and we can put you in touch with teams looking for players. This should be a great night for all members of the community, so we

hope to see you there. Even if you aren’t a big softball fan, there will be food and drink available and you can enjoy seeing the costumes

and being part of the fun.

Another community event is our Catholic Church Parent Information session, which will be held in St Joseph’s Church from 3:15pm

on Thursday 23 March. This is a great opportunity to ask any questions you may have about the Catholic faith or practices, and to get to

know more about what your children learn about our Church and the Catholic faith.

Over the coming weeks, you may notice that there will be times where your child’s teacher is not in the classroom. At this point in the

term, teachers start to take stock of what they have covered this term and how that has progressed, and plan for the term ahead.

Obviously, this is a process that requires considerable time and energy, which is why we organise a day out of the classroom for each

teacher to have time to do this effectively. A relief teacher is then engaged to work in the classroom for that day. We are fortunate to

have a network of relief teachers, including some who already work on our staff part time, so the person who looks after the class is

usually someone who is familiar with our school and the students. Our teachers are incredibly dedicated and always leave a plan for a

relief teacher, and we have had our relief teachers involved in many of the professional development and training opportunities offered

at our school, so they are very well-versed in how each classroom runs. From time to time, we will have new relief teachers come

along, but rest assured they are always given all the relevant information they need to ensure how they operate is consistent with the

normal classroom teacher.

At other times, teachers may be out of the classroom for brief periods to attend meetings about the needs of the children in their class, to

work on developing resources for whole school programs such as our Guided Reading or to perform one-on-one assessments on

students that are difficult to fit into a normal school day. It is very beneficial for teachers to have this time, rather than trying to do these

things while in class or on the run, and it also benefits our students by ensuring that their teacher is able to focus on them and their

learning, and have adequate time to prepare for and support this. Sometimes, teachers also attend professional development in Brisbane

or at other schools in the Wide Bay/Burnett region. This is to continue a teacher’s development in a certain area, and allow them to

learn more about new strategies, information or tools that they can use to maximise the impact of their teaching. Just this term, we have

had some teachers and school officers attend professional development on the Technologies curriculum, supporting students with

additional learning needs, and using laptops in classrooms just to name a few. Teachers love to be in their classroom as much as

possible (even long after the students have left at the end of the day), but it is important for them to have opportunities to keep their

knowledge current and further develop their skills in specific areas. We are very fortunate to have such a professional and dedicated

staff, and I thank them for their tireless efforts for each and every student at our school. It is always wonderful to hear positive feedback

about our staff, so feel free to catch up with me or drop me an email if you have any to share!

Sadly, I cannot yet share any news about Baby Gray’s arrival as it is yet to happen. We are looking forward to hearing the good news,

and rest assured we will let you know once he or she is born! We are keeping Ben, Brooke and the girls in our prayers at this time and

send our best wishes during this special time.

Have a wonderful week!

Amy

Acting Principal’s Letter to Parents

Earlier this week, I came across some words from Saint Paul while putting together a Lenten prayer. In what was a powerful piece

of writing, Paul urged his friends to turn their backs on their old selves and embrace a new life based on what we have learned of

God that is upright and good. Appropriate words in this time of Lent.

What stood out even more strongly, however, was one of the suggestions he made for guiding our new selves;

Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build us up and provide what is needed, so that what

you say will do good to those who hear you.

Use only helpful words, words that build us up and provide what is needed. Don’t we all need

that? Helpful words from friends and family, that build us up, nurture us and provide us with

the support we need? I’m sure we can all remember a time when a kind word from someone

made the difference in a tough time. Unfortunately, we can probably also remember a time we

wish we could take back something said in the heat of the moment, without thinking. In last

week’s newsletter, Mrs Glisson also highlighted how Lenten promises are made so much more

powerful when the bad habits we give away (or the new habits we adopt) help others and not

just ourselves. With that in mind, Saint Paul has reminded us of one of the most compelling

ways we can renew ourselves and others in this Lenten period; by being mindful of the power

of our words and using that power to support and build up those around us and in our

community.

We continue our support of Caritas’ Project Compassion this week by hosting our annual Fish

and Chip Day on Friday. In each week of the Lenten period, Caritas tell the story of a

community around the world that their fundraising goes towards. This week they tell Dinia’s

story and how your fundraising will go toward helping

Today is International Women’s Day, a day where we formally recognise the

fantastic contribution of women in our families, communities, and work places. This

year’s theme is #BeBoldForChange and aims to continue the work to ensure gender

equality in our community. At St Joseph’s we have many amazing women who

contribute to our community in so many ways and we recognise that we wouldn’t be

as successful as we are without their contribution. Thank you to all our mums,

grandma’s and staff members for what you bring to our school community.

Next Friday (17th March) is National Day of Action against Bullying & Violence. Keep it in your diaries and watch this space, I’ll

talk more about it next week.

Thanks,

Jim

ICAS Information for students in Years 2-6 went home last week. Please

return any orders with any payment due to the office by Wednesday 22nd

March.

SPORTS NEWS: Reminder to students participating in North Burnett

trials to return any forms and levies ASAP. NB touch trials are on 16th

March, Netball, Soccer and Rugby League 24th March.

P & F NEWS: Tuckshop - Thank you to our tuckshop helpers for this week: Kym Baker, Giuseppe

Catalano, Nicole Slattery, Lisa Baker and Jacqui Kirk.

AGM: We look forward to seeing you all next Tuesday 14th March at 7pm in the staff

room upstairs in the admin building! New and existing families are welcome. Please spread the word

that EVERYONE is encouraged to attend as we require at least 10 members to attend the AGM to

constitute a quorum (rest assured NO ONE has to accept a position UNLESS they wish to do so). This

will be followed by the first general meeting for the year. Be involved, have your say and help make

decisions surrounding the P & F levy and other school matters!

BOOKCLUB: Issue 2 was sent home last week. Please send in any orders and payment by next Friday

17th March. A great chance to order for Easter!

COLOURING COMPETITION: Included with today’s newsletter is an Easter colouring comp from L J

Hookers Gayndah. There are 2 catorgories: Under 8’s and 8-12 years with 1st & 2nd prizes in each.

Return to school by 31st March or LJ Hookers before 13th April.

Week 6 Year 4 - Zoe Hoskinson, Year 1/2 - Mackenzie Ung, Year 6 - Bridie Worland,

Prep - Riley Kirk, Year 5 - Shelby Rowles, Year 3 - Ella Smith

St Joseph’s Primary School

38 Meson Street

PO Box 119 Gayndah

Queensland

Phone: 07 4161 1889

Fax: 07 4161 2655 Email:

pgayndah@bne.catholic.edu.au

Website: www.stjosephsgayndah.qld.edu.au

“In All Things

Glorify God”

ST JOSEPH’S SCHOOL

TERM

DATES 2017

Term One

Tues 24 Jan—

Fri 31 March

Term Two

Wed 19 April—

Fri 23 June

Term Three

Tues 11 July—

Fri 15 Sept

Term Four

Tues 3 Oct—

Fri 1 Dec

Public Holiday—ANZAC Day

25 April

Public Holiday—Labour Day

1st May

ORANGE FESTIVAL QUEEN ENTRANT Anna Ulcoq (sponsored by St. Joseph’s Primary

School) is running a Golden Draw raffle. 1st Prize—$500, 2nd prize $200 & 3rd prize -

$100. There are also weekly draws to win your money back. Limit of 100 tickets at $20 each.

Weekly draws have started so get in quick!

Contact the school office or Anna Ulcoq 0428 611 560 for details.

NETBALL COACHING CLINIC FOR 8-12 YEAR OLDS

Sunday 19th March 2017 11am to 2pm

JUNIOR COACHES CLINIC—For all junior coaches and interested parents.

March 19th 9am– 2pm

Gayndah Sports Ground - To register please contact Chris Duncan 0419 518 423

CENTRAL BURNETT BRUMBIES

The season is starting and training starts next Tuesday 14th March at Gayndah 4.30pm.

Registrations is done online through the website playnrl.com

Medical forms for all players are available from Mel Bice at training.

Calling for volunteers for coaches, FAO & Leaguesafe for the following teams-Under 6, 8, 10.

Blue Card Applications from Tash or Mel at training.

SOUTH BURNETT EQUESTRIAN COMPETITIION: Thursday 27th April Nanango

Showgrounds. Open to all students of South Burnett School. Includes team penning, Working

Cow Horse, Western Bending, Barrel Race, whip cracking. Nominations close Tuesday 18th

April. Please contact the school office for details and nomination forms.

JUNIOR NRL DEVELOPMENT CAMP: Monday 3rd April—Wednesday 5th April at

Currimundi for players eligible for U9’s - U14’s in 2017. Expert coaching by NRL & QRL

staff. Skills, games and fun. For more details and registration go to www.playnrl.com

AUSTRALIA GOVERNMENT MOBILE SERVICE CENTRE Incorporating Centrelink,

Medicare, Australian Tax Office and Child support, will be located in front of the town hall,

Capper St. Gayndah on Friday 17th March 9am to 4pm. Contact 132316 for more detail.

ST JOSEPH’S COLOUR RUN TEAM: You may have heard that there is a Colour Run being

held at the Golf Course on Sunday, April 2 at 9:30 AM - 2 PM.

If a group of 10 nominates, the registration cost is $35 per person as opposed to $40. If you

are interested in being part of a St Joey's team, can you please let the office know no later than

Monday 20 March