Dear Parents,

This morning, our school was filled with warmth and joy as we celebrated Mother's Day in a truly special way.

The day began with a delightful breakfast of croissant, donuts, muffins and fresh fruit, organised by the dedicated members of our P&F team. It was a lovely start to the morning, bringing together our school community in a spirit of celebration and appreciation.

Excitement filled the air as we eagerly awaited the announcement of the winners of the amazing raffle prizes. The anticipation was palpable, and seeing the joy on the faces of the children of the lucky winners was priceless.

The Year 1 team outdid themselves with a beautiful liturgy, creating a serene and reflective atmosphere for all. The last song was particularly enchanting, filling our hearts with warmth and gratitude.

A highlight of the morning was hearing the heartfelt words about motherhood from Renee Mantle. Her touching reflections reminded us all of the profound importance of mothers in our lives.

We extend our sincerest gratitude to everyone who worked tirelessly to make this morning so memorable, including those who generously donated gifts for our raffle. Your contributions helped create a truly special experience for our school community.

Thank you for being a part of our wonderful Mother's Day celebration!

Catholic Schools Week

Next week, we have the wonderful opportunity to come together and celebrate the profound impact of Catholic education in our lives. It is a time to recognise and appreciate the invaluable role that Catholic schools play in nurturing the hearts, minds, and spirits of our students.

We invite all families to join us for our Open Classroom event on Monday, May 13th, from 2:10pm to 2:45pm. This is a chance for you to step into your child's world, engage in various activities, and witness firsthand the enriching learning experiences taking place within our school community.

Additionally, we extend a warm invitation to our Catholic Schools Week liturgy, to be held in the church at 9:00am on Friday, May 17th. It will be a time of reflection, prayer, and celebration as we come together to honour our shared faith and the mission of Catholic education.

Whether you are a student, family member, or staff member, we recognise that our lives are greatly enhanced by being part of such a strong faith-inspired school system. Together, we continue to uphold the values of compassion, service, and excellence that define our Catholic identity.

Mural Update

The mural that last year’s Year 6 organised for the school is now going ahead.  Jordan Lucky, the artist commissioned for the job, has had a series of unfortunate events take place over the first part of this year but he will begin our amazing mural in the first week of June.  I am sure the children will come home with lots of stories about it, as they will see it emerge before their very eyes over the week.  Watch this space for something incredible!

Parents’ Cocktail Party

For the short period of time I was there at last Saturday’s cocktail evening, it looked as though the crowd of parents that were there, were thoroughly enjoying themselves. I am sure the night only continued to get better.  A big shout out goes to Priscilla for being instrumental in organising the evening. For some time now, at our P&F meetings, we have been wanting to organise such an event and it finally came to fruition! It was a great social event to give people the opportunity to mix and meet and we hope to make it an annual tradition at the start of each year. 

Caritas Australia’s 60th Anniversary Online Photo Exhibition – Vote for your chance to win!

To mark the 60th anniversary of Caritas Australia, they have compiled a selection of their favourite 60 photos. Vote for your favourite photo to go into the draw to win a beautiful Indigenous Australian artwork from Djilpin Arts, a First Australian partner in the Northern Territory. The artwork is a painting by Harry Malibirr which depicts five dreaming stories.

Simply visit their website https://www.caritas.org.au/faces-of-caritas-australia-60th-anniversary/ choose a photo from the gallery and vote via the online form. Entries close 30 June 2024. 

Why not turn this into a fun family activity and each member of the family choose their favourite and explain what you like about that particular image?

I wish all our families a very blessed Mother’s Day,

Karen

Writing is an essential skill that not only plays a role in academic success but also serves as a powerful tool for self-expression and communication. At St. Joseph’s we use the Gradual Release of Responsibility model for writing instruction. The gradual release of responsibility model is a proven method that empowers children to become more self-reliant writers while receiving the support they need.

Our writing instruction consists of four steps: explicit instruction, collaborative talk/oral rehearsal, guided practice, and independent application. Each of these stages supports students writing development.

Explicit Instruction:

• Teachers provide direct instruction and explain the writing process step by step. It involves setting clear expectations, demonstrating writing strategies, and providing explicit guidance on grammar, vocabulary, and organisation. By breaking down the writing process into manageable tasks, children gain a solid foundation and understanding of the key concepts.

Collaborative Talk/Oral Rehearsal: 

• Collaborative talk involves engaging in dialogue with others, actively listening and building upon ideas. It encourages students to work together, using their knowledge to construct meaning.
• Oral rehearsal focuses on the practice of articulating thoughts, ideas, and arguments aloud before writing them. Through oral rehearsal, students refine their communication skills, clarify their thinking, and gain confidence in expressing their thoughts.

Guided Practice:

• Students work in small groups with the teacher. In these small groups students work on achieving learning goals and refining their writing skills.

Independent Practice:

• The ultimate goal of the gradual release of responsibility model is to equip our students with the skills and confidence to independently apply what they have learned.

By implementing the gradual release of responsibility model, we can support your child/children as writers while promoting independence, confidence, and a lifelong love for writing. The writing journey is unique for every child, and progress may take time.

Visual prompts are often used as a stimulus for writing. Here are some examples:

Figure 1 https://fcmalby.com/2020/02/13/writing-prompts/

Figure 2 https://fcmalby.com/2020/02/13/writing-prompts/

Figure 3 https://aestheticamagazine.com/writing-prompts-photography/

Leanne Skinner 
Primary Co-Ordinator and Pedagogical Mentor

Rugby League Gala Day  

On Thursday 11th April, students from Years 5 and 6 electrified Hunter Barnett fields in Windale as they competed in the Knight’s 9s Rugby League gala day. The weather couldn't have been more perfect for a day filled with exhilarating tackles, lightning-fast sprints down the field, and triumphant tries. I even spied some post try celebrations thrown in. There were a few nerves at the beginning of the day – from both students and parents alike – but it was fantastic to see both the boys and the girls get out on the field and fearlessly take on the game. We left at the end of the day with a few wins under our belts, our tanks running on empty, smiles on our faces and some priceless memories. 

The students represented our school with pride and passion. A special mention needs to go to our courageous girls who competed in these mixed teams and showed determination, as they rose to the challenge of competing alongside the boys with generally more experience. Well done, everyone! 

A huge thanks to Pete Maxwell, Dan Mitchell, Luke Jones and Shannon Burgess who gave up their time to coach the two teams and make sure each player got involved in the play and most importantly who were enthusiastic, encouraging and ensured everyone had fun. 

The Year 3 & 4 event has sadly been postponed due to field closures, but we are hopeful it will happen towards the end of this term or beginning of Term 3. 

Cross Country 

After having to postpone our Cross-Country event, we were blessed with an amazing day to traverse Empire Park and its surrounds on the final day of school for Term 1. Students from Years 2 to 6 enjoyed the beach view as they ran either 2km or 3km under challenging conditions, either for enjoyment or in an effort to be selected for the diocesan cross-country team. The top 3 qualifying boys and girls from each age group will compete on the 15th May at Maitland.  

We extend our congratulations to Christian B, Reggie M, Freddie M, Alice K, Chloe M, Ylva M, Sam G, Hugo S, Adrian F, Eve D, Billie D, Matilda F, Luca O, Thomas P, Riley B, Ava K, Maya V, Lula K, Evan B, Xavier C, Joe C, Archie D, Lily G, Adelaide M, Heidi M, Louella D. 

We would also like to extend a huge thank you to our parent sport committee and volunteers. This day would not have been possible without the help and organisation of Renee Mantle, Anna Graham, Julian Johnson and Karen Childs and all the other amazing parents who gave up their time on the day to be a pace setter, photographer, director of traffic, finish line cheer squad, ice block aficionado or cow bell ringer. You are all super stars!  

Swimming Relay Team 

On the final day of Term 1, our senior boys relay team of Archie D, Joseph C, Jack J and Gabe F travelled to Sydney to compete in the State Championships. They came up against the best of the best that NSW had to offer and swam their hearts out. Unfortunately, this time they could not quite get up on the winner's podium but they should be super proud of their efforts. We sure are! Well done, boys. 

Polding Trials  

Over the past few weeks, St Joseph’s talented athletes showcased their skills in various winter sports trials. We are pleased to announce that several of our students have been selected to proceed to the next level, representing our school with excellence and determination.  

Evan B and Louella D demonstrated exceptional talent as they represented St. Joseph’s in the diocesan soccer team. Their performances were amazing, filled with skill and determination. A special congratulations to Evan for his selection in the Polding team – a testament to his hard work and dedication.  

Lily G shone bright at the Polding trials in netball, showcasing her dedication and prowess on the court. Her performance has earned her a spot to represent Polding at the PSSA, a well-deserved accomplishment!  

Vincent M, Hamish M, Toby B, and Jack J left a lasting impression at the Rugby League trials, demonstrating both toughness and skill. Their teamwork and enthusiasm were truly commendable. We extend our congratulations to Vinnie for his selection in the Polding team, where he will proudly represent our region.  

We are very proud of our sporting stars and we know that they represented our school with pride and sportsmanship. We look forward to hearing about your successes still to come. 

Athletics Carnival 

Wednesday brought forth a spectacular day for our athletics carnival at Fearnley Dawes track. The clouds parted, the rain ceased, and the sun shone down upon us, setting the stage for an exhilarating event. Excitement was in the air as students lined up on the track to compete and run as far and as fast as their little (or in some cases long) legs could take them. It was amazing to see the students dressed in their house colours displaying unwavering support for their teammates, as they raced past the grandstand to the photo finish line. The competition was strong on the track, in the field and among the grandstand cheer squad. We congratulate the students who not only made it through to the regional level, but all of those who got out there and gave it their best shot. Well done. 

We also want to say a huge thank you again to all our invaluable parent volunteers. Despite the weather challenges leading up to the event, your collective efforts and dedication made a significant difference. Special mention to Anna Graham, Renee Mantle, Julian Johnson and Karen Childs for organising all the parent volunteers and your support both leading up to and on the day. Your efforts don’t go unnoticed or unappreciated. 

Results and notes for those children who qualified for the regional carnival will be released shortly.     

Futsal 

On Monday 6th May, four teams represented our school at a Futsal Tournament. We were proud of the way our students played and how they conducted themselves. Some of the games were super tough, but everyone had a go and did their best. Our U/12 Boys & Girls teams and U/10 Boys & Girls teams, all made it through to the semi-finals with great scores. Our U/12 Girls and U/10 Boys went through to the Grand Final and won their competition! They will now represent the school at Maitland, in the next level on 20 June 2024. A huge thank you to our team managers and coaches, Ben Fitzgerald, Amy and Jim Callinan, Nick Fichera, Ryan Griffiths, Peter Bailey and Carly Beacher. Without their support, we wouldn’t be able to compete at these wonderful days. 

Hunter Hornets 

During the holidays, Toby B competed in the incrediblycompetitive Junior State Regionals in Mudgee. He was selected to represent the Hunter Western Hornets, which encompasses regions from as far away as Dubbo and Mudgee. His team made it all the way to the Grand Final, but sadly was pipped at the post by the Southern Rebels in a thrilling match of skill and determination. We congratulate Toby on his amazing efforts, and we know that he would have shown immense sportsmanship and played some great touch footy. We are super proud of your achievements, well done! 

Sparkle Squad 

Last Sunday, Arlo and Edie performed in their first routine at McDonald Jones Stadium in the Knights half time show as part of the Sparkle Squad. The girls danced their hearts out and I’m sure their enthusiasm wasn’t dulled by the weather at all. Keep shining girls! 

Congratulations to the following students on being named in the St Joseph’s Student Wellbeing Team for 2024: 

Thank you to all students who put time and effort into applying for the role. We look forward to seeing the positive contributions the team makes to our school community throughout the year.   

What’s on this term? 

• Gratitude Grabs – During our Monday morning assemblies we have started sharing, recognising and valuing the positive aspects of our daily lives. Research in positive psychology shows that gratitude exercises can improve mood, decrease stress, and enhance overall mental health by shifting focus away from negative or neutral experiences to appreciate positive moments, no matter how small.  
• Wellbeing Week – We will celebrate Wellbeing Week this term in Week 8. Stay tuned for activities and special events! 
• Student Wellbeing Team – The newly appointed Student Wellbeing Team will commence meetings this term and play a crucial role in fostering a positive, supportive, and inclusive school environment. 
  Some key responsibilities of the team this year will include: 
• Peer support and mentoring. 
• Drive wellbeing initiatives and campaigns across the school. 
• Communication and promotion of wellness programs. 
• Develop and support initiatives that foster a diverse and inclusive school culture where every student feels valued and included inside the classroom and on the playground. 
• Advocate for student voice in areas that impact student welfare. 

SchoolTV 

Please click here to view this week’s special edition report on SchoolTV Celebrating Mother’s Day.  

Happy Mother’s Day for Sunday to all of our beautiful St Joseph’s mothers, grandmothers and mother figures within our community. I hope you find the time to relax and reflect on your amazing contributions to your child’s life and education this weekend. Enjoy the love and appreciation you so richly deserve!  

Our thoughts and prayers are with those this weekend who: 

• Are grieving the loss of their mother. 
• Have lost children. 
• Are yearning to be mothers. 
• Have difficult relationships with their mothers. 

Chloe Coe 
Wellbeing Coordinator

Canteen

Spring Ball

Enrolments

Term Planner

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.