Dear Parents,

Last week was one of both excitement and reflection at St Joseph’s.  Once again, we continued with our tradition of the annual school wide Easter Egg raffle.  There were so many entries that the tickets barely fitted into the barrel that we had borrowed for the event.  All up, we had 170 prizes which meant that many of our students went home winners - some even double and triple winners! It was a fun afternoon, and we are very grateful to all the families who donated the eggs, purchased tickets, came in to wrap and organise the prizes and to Scott McShane, our P&F president, who drew out the prize winners. We also continued with our tradition of donating to the students of St Pius Primary school at Windale and they were very appreciative of their eggs and of being thought about in such a nice way.

Our week of reflection included each class preparing a display for a ‘station of the cross’ and then taking time in the week to walk around these Stations of the Cross, pray together and reflect on Jesus’ last week here on Earth.

We then held a very moving and powerful prayer experience in the church on Thursday afternoon, called ‘The Red Cloth’.   A group of Year 5 students dramatised the events of Holy Week in actions, accompanied only by a medley of atmospheric music and one red cloth. This cloth, throughout the prayer experience symbolised the clothing placed on the ground to welcome Christ into Jerusalem  on Palm Sunday, the table cloth for the Last Supper, the towel to wipe the disciples’ feet after Jesus washed them, the whip he was lashed with, the clothes he was stripped of, the cross he was nailed to and the shroud that covered him in the tomb. 

The children watched on in silence and made connections to what they had seen and heard earlier in the week when they did the Stations of the Cross.  This experience was one of the most powerful we have experienced collectively as a whole school. We hope that you managed to find some time over the Easter weekend to take some time out for reflection for yourself, as well.  If not, it’s not too late, as Easter lasts for 50 days, since it is the celebration of the Lord's Resurrection from the dead, culminating in his Ascension to the Father and sending of the Holy Spirit upon the Church at Pentecost.

Morning Arrivals

It has come to our attention that an increasing number of students are being dropped off at the school gates quite early.  The gates open at 8:25am and we have noticed lately that there are students arriving as early as 8:00am with no parents waiting with them. We do not believe this is a safe practice to have students waiting for up to 25 minutes on the outside of the school. If students enter the ground before 8:25am there are no staff members on duty and without supervision the likelihood of accidents, injuries and conflicts are more likely to occur.

It has also been brought to our attention that some parents are waiting in the drop off zone, watching to see when their children walk in. Please do not block the drop off points by doing this.  We ask that you drive to the start of the drop off zone and wait there, if you arrive earlier than the gate opening time.

https://tinybeans.com/ohio-elementary-school-car-line-signs/

Thanks So Much

We recently received a very generous donation of $1 000 from Mark Callil, Ray andEvan’s father, and we are extremely grateful for this generosity.  This money will go towards overhauling the equipment in the canteen to provide a safer work space for our workers and volunteers, as well as help with the efficiency of providing food for our students, families and guests.  The P&F are working with the school to bring this about and we will share the details around this project with you, next term.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/thank-you-so-much-your-follow-through-laura-aurora-stopa/

‘Reverse’ Lunch Time

Thank you to all those parents who took the time to complete our ‘reverse’ lunch time survey and share their thoughts with us.  All students from Year 1 to Year 6 also had the opportunity to complete the survey with the same questions as the parents and staff.  We acknowledge that the survey was a very simple one but in consultation with diocesan staff it was decided that this was best as it was a survey for all three groups of stakeholders – parents, students and staff, that could be undertaken quickly and with ease, thus increasing the chance of more respondents.

Before sharing the survey results, I would like to share the following points with you:

• student surveys were anonymous
• throughout the trial period staff were directed not to share their thought or opinions (whatever they were) about the lunch time change, in order to avoid any bias or creating a situation where students felt they had to agree with their teachers
• teachers were asked early in the term to explain the reasons for the trial to their students on a level that was appropriate for them
• staff did not share their views with one another until the survey was completed
• the change of lunch time practice was not decided upon last year. It was something raised at the end of the year but a decision and implementation plans had not been made until the start of this year
• as professionals, we did not base the trial merely on one 20-year old Canadian study, but instead a range of readings or feedback from both overseas and Australia.
• there were 221 parent respondents, with a fair representation across all grades, and of these, 143 provided explanations for their reasons

Survey Results

When analysing the data it was noted that the most preferred option, by a considerable amount, for the Infants students was the new way.

The following graph shows the main reasons parents gave for their lunch time preference

The main reasons students gave for their lunch time preference were:

• they were hungry
• they don’t like change
• they are now more focused/calm in class
• don’t have to rush eating now to get a court or a particular play area
• not enough time to eat
• more time to eat
• not enough time to play
• more time to play
• like both ways.

The main reasons staff gave for their lunch time preference were:

• less unresolved playground issues being brought to class teachers during learning time
• students are more settled coming back into class
• there are pros and cons with both ways of doing lunch
• students are eating more
• gives students a chance to be active rather than sit the whole break time
• gives the canteen more time to prepare lunches

A collection of comments that have been received by the different stake holder groups, can be read here if you are interested, showing you the range of responses received.

Going Forward

Taking into account not only all stakeholders’ preferences but also their reasons we have decided to continue with the ‘reverse’ lunch practice that has been trialed this term.  The preferences alone were too close, particularly with the parents’ responses, to base our decision simply on what the majority chose.

The fact that the most voiced comment from parents was in regard to how their children were eating more and there was less food coming home in their children’s lunch boxes, helped us significantly in our decision making.  The second most voiced comment was in regard to lack of eating time and we have considered this in the practices going forward that are explained below.

From all stake holders’ comments we acknowledge that in the first week of implementation  there was some mixed messaging that went out to children about when they could begin to eat.  We also acknowledge that at the start of the term lunch orders were not ready on time and that this had an effect on children not finishing eating before the bell went (they were, however, always given class time to finish eating on these occasions). Teething problems at the start of implementing this practice did not surprise us, as rarely does change, especially when it involves hundreds of people, go smoothly right from the start.

Considering all stakeholders’ comments received, the following practices will be undertaken:

• We will continue with providing all children with the option to eat when they first come out to play, at 10:50am.
• We will continue to have play first then a designated ‘sitting and eating’ period, however we will introduce a different sounding bell halfway through lunch (11:10am) for those children who are slower to eat or feel they need more time to eat. This bell will serve as a reminder for students to head over and start eating their lunches.
• This additional bell will also indicate to students on lunch order pick up to come and collect the baskets, giving more time for the lunch orders to be distributed and adequate eating time. We will also increase staff support for the lunch order distribution.  If we do not have an increase in canteen volunteers for Wednesdays and Fridays, however, we cannot guarantee food being ready on time so will need to look at capping the number of orders that can be received.
• We will continue to remind children of their options for eating, including reminding them that they can eat if they are hungry at the start of lunch.  We will also remind them to take out their lunchboxes at recess and to eat any leftover lunch they may have.  A fruit break and two 40 minute sessions in a day where students are able to eat is felt to be adequate time for all children to be nourished.
• Just as we make adjustments and are flexible in our teaching and learning practices for those students who may have additional needs we also do so for others aspects of school life.  If you feel your child needs additional support or adjustments around lunch, please speak with their class teacher.

We feel these decisions cater for those children who need an opportunity to play as soon as lunch starts and to release their energy but also are catering for those who would rather spend longer eating and having a more social-style lunch break. We have also opted to keep the new way as there were both students and parents who indicated that traversing the complexities of a playground and social groups, in order to join in games was much easier to do at the start of a break and caused the students less anxiety. Since a number of students also expressed how they were calmer, more engaged and more able to concentrate going back into the classroom after having finished lunch time with sitting and eating, we are addressing their needs and preferences as well.

Thank you for your engagement with the process of this trial and in providing feedback. We look forward to your support in moving forward.

Farewell

Next Friday will be Mrs Tania Vervaart’s last day here at Joseph's. Tania has been here as a Learning Support Assistant for 20 years and has decided that it is now time to retire and do more of the travelling around Australia that her and her husband, Ed, so enjoy.  Tania has always put 100% into everything she does and has been an incredible support to not only the students but to the teachers as well.  She will be greatly missed by all of us and we look forward to hearing all about her travels when she is back in Newcastle. If you would like to pass on any messages to Tania, please do so via the office and we will ensure she receives these.

Class Parents

https://www.bcsdny.org/Page/1214

Thank you to those parents who have kindly volunteered to be our class parents.  We will share their names and contact details with you through Compass in order to keep this information within the St Joseph’s community only.  We are still in need of class parents for Kinder Gold, Year 1 Blue and Year 1 Gold, Year 3 Blue and Year 3 Gold and Year 4 Gold.  If you think you could manage to help out in this way, please complete this Class Parent 2024 Form.  You won’t be alone.  The goal is to have at least one parent for each class so that across the grade you have a partner to work with and we also have a class parent coordinator.  If you would like to know more, please don’t hesitate to call the school office for further information.

Winter Uniforms

With the start of Term 2 just around the corner and the cooler weather that comes with this time of year, we will be transitioning to our winter uniform on Monday 13th May, Week 3. However, if the weather turns colder sooner than this, we will bring forward the changeover date to ensure that our students are dressed appropriately for the weather conditions. 

As we move into the cooler months, it is important that our students are dressed in the correct winter uniform to ensure their comfort and well-being during the school day. We also ask that students wear the correct shoes with both their sports uniform and winter uniform and remind you that skorts are not a part of the girls’ sports uniform.

We would like to remind parents that students are not permitted to wear necklaces or bracelets to school, long and/or ‘glittery’ earrings, and temporary tattoos that are in visible places are also not allowed. Additionally, long hair must be tied back and clipped out of the eyes to ensure clear vision and concentration during lessons, for both girls and boys.

As a matter of courtesy, if your child is unable to wear the correct uniform on occasion, please email the school office explaining this and it will be passed on to the relevant teachers or alternatively send in a written note to the teacher with your child.

We appreciate your support in ensuring that our students adhere to the school uniform and grooming standards. These standards help to create a professional and respectful learning environment that reflects the values of our school community. 

Karen

Positive Behaviours for Learning (PBL) 

We have had a very successful first term implementation of PBL at St Joseph’s. Students have enjoyed explicit PBL lessons, and we have seen much of their learning exhibited in both the classroom and playground. This term we have had a focus on: 

• Act Safely – Using safe hands and feet 
• Being Respectful – Including others 
• Care for all – Care for the place you are in 
• Do Your Best – Learn and let others learn 

Our PBL Dash Tokens have been a great way to instantly reward students when they demonstrate positive behaviour. Our current house token count for the final weeks of Term 1 sits at: 
 

Sports captains will complete our final count for the term next week, with the winning house to be announced then. Well done to all, for their efforts with our PBL this term! 

Safeguarding – ‘It's everyone’s Responsibility’ 

Behaviour, Big Feelings and Self-Regulation Webinar 

Families are invited to attend an online event on Tuesday 9 April with internationally respected child development expert and author, Karen Young. Karen will be speaking on the topic ‘Behaviour, Big Feelings, and Self-Regulation’, providing parents and carers with valuable insights and practical strategies to support their children and teenagers. 
 
This event is free for all parents and carers to attend and is brought to you by the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle’s peak parent body, the Federation of P&F Associations. If you cannot attend the webinar at the designated time, you are encouraged to still register, as a recording of the event will be available to you on demand, for one week after the event. To register, please visit www.mn.shor.tn/KarenYoung 
 
Please see the flyer below for more information. 

Nicole Charnock
Assistant Principal 

Figure 1https://jessicalawlor.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/6c3af1a30d3f0d5e0596df44dd6e331b.jpg

At St Joseph’s we have delved into the fundamental concept of ‘Practice Makes Permanent’.

We've all heard the saying ‘practice makes perfect,’ but perhaps a more accurate reference is ‘practice makes permanent’. It's not just about repeating actions mindlessly, but about deliberate, focused effort that ingrains habits and skills into our daily lives.

Understanding the Principle:

Imagine your child learning to ride a bicycle. Initially, they wobble and stumble, but with consistent practice, they become steadier. Why? Because their brain and body are adapting to the repeated actions, reinforcing the neural pathways that control balance and coordination.

The Neuroscience Behind It:

Neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to reorganise and adapt, plays a crucial role. Each time your child practices a skill, whether it's solving math problems or playing a musical instrument, their brain forms and strengthens connections related to that activity. The more they practice correctly, the stronger and more efficient these connections become.

Embracing the Process:

Encourage your child to approach practice with intention and patience. Remind them that progress might not always be linear – there will be highs and lows along the way. It's about embracing the process, learning from mistakes, and persisting despite challenges.

Quality Over Quantity:

Effective practice isn't just about clocking in hours; it's about quality over quantity. Encourage your child to focus on specific aspects they want to improve, break tasks into manageable chunks, and engage in deliberate practice – that is, practising with a clear goal and receiving feedback.

Celebrating Growth:

Acknowledge and celebrate your child's efforts and progress, no matter how small. Recognising their improvement reinforces their motivation and resilience, fostering a positive attitude towards learning and skill development.

In essence, "practice makes permanent" illustrates the importance of consistent effort and mindful repetition in skill acquisition and mastery. By instilling this principle in your child's routine, you equip them with a lifelong tool for success in academics, extracurricular activities, and beyond.

Together, let's empower our children to embrace the journey of learning, knowing that with dedication and perseverance, they can turn practice into permanent progress.

Examples of this may include:

Spelling, baking a cake, learning and understanding multiplication facts, tying shoelaces, typing and learning to ride a bike.

Leanne Skinner 
Primary Coordinator and Pedagogical Mentor

Athletics Carnival reminder 

A quick reminder that our school athletics carnival will take place on Wednesday 8th May at the Fearnley Dawes Athletic track. Children wishing to compete in the 200m, 800m, 1500m and high jump must complete the form on compass by Wednesday 10th April. Information for parent volunteers will be sent out in the coming days. 

Polding soccer trials 

Last Thursday, Louella D, Beatrice P and Evan B attended the Diocesan soccer trials. They displayed some fancy footwork to dribble and defend, leaving their mark on the competition. We congratulate Louella and Evan on making it through to the Polding trials in May at Tamworth. What an amazing achievement!  

Swimming  

On Wednesday our swimmers made waves at the Aquatic Centre, in Sydney’s Olympic Park, competing fiercely against the best swimmers our state has to offer. The water churned as our Joey’s stars raced down the lanes in an attempt to touch the wall first. We congratulate the senior boys relay team, Archie D, Joseph C, Jack J and Gabe F on their 2nd place, and the senior girls relay team Ava K, Ava K, Katie M and Clara P on their 7th place. 

The boys team will progress to the State Championships next week!  

Netball Trials 

Last week Lily G, Jersey F and Eve M attended the Diocesan netball trials. They leapt, pivoted and made sure to keep three feet apart from the opposition. We congratulate Lily on being selected to trial for the Polding netball team in May at Tamworth. 

Touch Football Trials 

Last Wednesday, Toby B, Vinnie M, Evan B, Hamish M, Jersey F and Maya V showcased their skills during the Regional Touch Trials at Wallsend fields. Dummies were thrown, goose steps were executed, and long balls delivered with precision. We congratulate Toby on making it through to Diocesan trials on 7th May. 

Diocesan Trials 

Congratulations to Vincent M, Hamish M, Toby B and Jack J on going through to the Rugby League diocesan trials to be held later in the year. We know these boys will give it their all and show some amazing sportsmanship and skills.  

We also congratulate Vincent M and Digby W on progressing to the Diocesan trials for Rugby Union. It’s great to see the dedication and commitment paying off for these talented students.  

Wildfires Rugby Union 

Last week, some of our bright young sports stars trialed for the Maitland/Newcastle Wildfires Rugby Union team. With talented competitors converging from around the region at Waratah Oval, it was tough going for selectors to choose a representative team. We congratulate Ellie V and Joseph C (4G) on being selected for the u10’s team and Digby W who was selected for the U11s. Run fast guys...you don’t want to get mauled! 

NSW Country Championships and NSW Junior State Age Championships 

Recently Ava K competed in the NSW Country Championships and NSW Junior State Age Championships for swimming held at Sydney Olympic Park. Ava came 7th overall in the final for her age in 100 metres freestyle and achieved many PBs in other races. We are sure that she was really carving up the lanes. Well done, Ava. Your commitment, hard work and all those early mornings are paying off. 

International Day of Happiness – March Challenge 

As our March Happiness Challenge concludes I would like to extend a warm thank you to all the classes, teachers and families who completed activities that contributed to spreading kindness and positivity throughout our school community. Congratulations to Miss Flaherty and 2 Gold for winning the challenge! 

SchoolTV 

Please click here to listen and read about youth mental health from leading psychiatrists like Pat McGorry. He is known world-wide for his development and scaling up of early intervention and youth mental health services and for mental health innovation, advocacy and reform. For schools, he stresses that addressing these issues requires a multifaceted approach, including promoting healthy habits, encouraging open communication, and seeking professional support when necessary.

Student Wellbeing Team 

Thank you to all students who expressed interest in joining our Student Wellbeing Team for 2024. A lot of time and consideration was put into each application, and we look forward to announcing the team in Term 2. 

As we bid farewell to an incredible Term One, I wish you a restful and rejuvenating break filled with joy, laughter, and cherished moments with your loved ones. 

Chloe Coe 
Wellbeing Coordinator

Cocktail Party

The St Joey’s P & F hope to see as many parents and carers at our cocktail party on Sat 4 May from 7pm at the Cricketers Arms Hotel, Cooks Hill.

It’s a chance for everyone to come together in a relaxed setting, catch up and welcome our new parents. There’s no cover charge, but we ask you to RSVP by 27 April so we can let the venue know rough numbers. RSVP via this link

The P&F will be providing some finger food platters to kick start the night, and the Cricketer’s Arms Restaurant will be serving food til 9.30pm if you would like to order something more substantial or book a table before the night starts. Buy your own drinks at the bar.

It’s an adults only event, so book your babysitter now!

Easter raffle

Thanks to all the families who supported the amazing Easter Raffle by either donating eggs, buying tickets or doing both! Over 170 prizes were handed out to some very excited and lucky children! The raffle is one of the nosiest and funnest events on the calendar, and this year we raised over $3,000.00. St Joseph’s has traditionally donated some of the Easter Eggs to St Pius X Catholic Primary School in Windale to spread some extra Easter joy and these were gratefully accepted by the school Principal, Mr Pryde. Thanks to Dee, Jess, Tammy, Julie and Kristy for wrapping up all the donated eggs.

Cross Country

Due to the closure of Empire Park and the forecast of heavy rain, the school cross country will now be held on Friday 12 April. We have had great support from parents to volunteer at the event (thank you!), and look forward to seeing the kids happy faces on the course next week! Big thanks to the P&F Sports Committee – Anna, Julian, Renee and Karen for all their efforts to pull this event together not once, but twice.

2025 Enrolments

Enrolments for 2025 are now open and will close on Friday 24 May 2024. 

Our school is a pilot school for online enrolments which means you can now apply online.

Information regarding the new Enrolment Policy can be found here.

If you have a younger child that will be starting Kindergarten in 2025 you are encouraged to submit an application prior to the closing date.

Student lead tours have already commenced. To register your interest please visit Student Lead Tours

Open Morning

We are also holding an Open Morning on Wednesday 10 April, this will replace our annual expo held as part of our Kindergarten transition days.  All families who have children starting Kindergarten next year are welcome to attend.  Please spread the word to any families and friends who might also have a child due to start Kindergarten next year.

Winter Uniform

The 2nd hand uniform shop will be open on the following dates and times

Tuesday 30 April	8.30am - 9.00am
Wednesday 1 May	2.30pm - 3.00pm
Tuesday 7 May	8.30am - 9.00am
Wednesday 8 May	2.30pm - 3.00pm

Lowes at Westfield Kotara have advised they have plenty of Winter uniforms in stock and they are also having a 20% off sale in the first week of May.

School Fees

2024 School Fees have been invoiced for the full school year.

There is an expectation upon enrolment that fees are paid in full. The collection of these fees is to ensure the best possible learning environment for your child.

Payments can be made over the course of the year via BPay, direct debit or credit card.

For fee payers wishing to establish a new direct debit or adjust their existing direct debit please contact the office.

School fee payments are expected to have commenced by 31 March and be finalised by 30 November 2024, please contact the school office if assistance is required to work out a best payment method or frequency to accomplish this requirement.

For those families experiencing financial hardship it is important to arrange an appointment with the Principal, to discuss your account.

Term Planner (Terms 1 & 2)

St Nicholas OOSH Vacation Care

Unless otherwise stated, the advertisements placed in this newsletter are placed by independent third parties who have no legal relationship with the Diocese.  The activities or services of the advertisers are not supervised or controlled in any way by the Diocese.  The Diocese is not in a position to endorse the advertisers or the services provided and makes no representation about those matters.  Accordingly, the Diocese cannot accept any responsibility for the advertisers or the activities or services that are the subject of these advertisements.