Dear Parents,

Over the past fortnight there have once again been many activities occurring that the children have engaged in, including netball and touch gala days, Netball NSW coaching sessions from K-6, the diocesan athletics carnival, our liturgy honouring Australia’s’ great saint, Mary Mackillop, and our fabulous NAIDOC day celebrations.

Celebrating NAIDOC Day: Embracing Culture, Honouring Elders

In a vibrant celebration of heritage, community, and the enduring wisdom of our Elders, we marked NAIDOC Day with a kaleidoscope of meaningful activities that resonated with the theme, "For Our Elders." The day was filled with enriching experiences that brought us closer to the heart of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Respecting the Land: The day commenced with a profound Acknowledgment of Country delivered in the local Awabakal language by our talented students. Their words not only paid tribute to the traditional custodians of the land but also embodied the unity of cultures.

Dance and Ceremony: A mesmerizing dance performance captured the essence of Indigenous stories and traditions. The rhythmic movements showcased a deep connection to the land, a connection that has been nurtured for generations.

Spirit of the Smoke: The captivating smoking ceremony marked a symbolic cleansing of the space and a spiritual connection to our surroundings. As the smoke wafted through the air, it carried with it the echoes of time-honoured rituals.

Tradition on a Plate: Children immersed themselves in making Johnny Cakes, a treat cherished for its historical significance. Through this tactile experience, the history of sustenance and connection to the land unfolded.

Faces of Identity: Vibrant ochre face painting allowed everyone to wear the colours of identity, connecting with the ancestral practices that once adorned warriors and storytellers.

Echoes of History: Hands-on encounters with Aboriginal artifacts like boomerangs, axes, coolamons, and furs of kangaroos and possums evoked a sense of history and the innovation of our ancestors.

Harmonies of Islands: The enchantment of Torres Strait Islander songs, shared by the talented Toby, filled the air with melodies that transcended time and place.

Dance to Connect: The rhythm of dance led by Hilary, an engaging Aboriginal dance artist, sparked a dynamic connection between the participants and the ancient stories and creatures of the land.

Honouring Our Elders: Throughout the day, various sessions centred around the theme, "For Our Elders," highlighted their immense contributions. Elders are the threads that connect past, present, and future - holding the role of knowledge keepers, trailblazers, and pillars of strength.

The energy of the day was electric, an embodiment of cultural richness and an homage to those who have paved the way. NAIDOC Day was a reminder of the enduring significance of heritage and the living tapestry of our communities.

As we reflect on the celebration that unfolded, let us carry forward the lessons and connections made. Our Elders, in every generation, continue to inspire, guide, and teach us, making their presence deeply felt in the tapestry of our lives.

Every day in school means so much more 

Education for your child is important and regular attendance at school is essential for your child to achieve their educational best and increase their career and life options.  

When your child attends school every day, learning becomes easier, and your child will build and maintain friendships with other children. 

ANZAC Service Recognition

Today we had Terry West & Phillip Winney from Merewether-Hamilton-Adamstown RSL Sub-Branch join us at our afternoon assembly. They came along to acknowledge the support that our students gave to this year’s ANZAC day celebrations and present them with a certificate of recognition for their services.  We are very grateful for the inclusion each year in the local service and for the time the RSL members give to visiting the local schools, and sharing their stories and gratitude. We are also very appreciative of our students and their families who go along to the service and proudly represent our school.

ADHD Summit

The 3rd Annual Calming the ADHD Family: Steering your Family Towards Harmony and Success will take place on August 15-17 in New Zealand & Australia.

The online summit is jam-packed with videos, tools, strategies, and free gifts from various experts in the field of parenting and families

If you’ve ever asked yourself:

• Why is my child’s behaviour so frustrating sometimes?
• How will my teenager ever get a job?
• How can I make school life more successful?
• How can we reduce the battles?
• What can I do when they’re overwhelmed by their emotions?
• How do I calm my child without making them feel ignored or like they’ve "won"?
• Why do I find it so hard to control my own anger and triggers?
• How am I supposed to regulate myself when I was never taught?
• I’m exhausted and not keeping up at work, how can I increase my energy and productivity?
• What do I do when my child is melting down or being "unreasonable"?

Get all the information you need about parenting to raise kind, confident, resilient children in short 30-minute videos. Over 30 experts are sharing their knowledge and tips across 3 whole days!
Imagine having all the information and support at your fingertips, from experts in the fields of ADHD, parenting, and child development. Profoundly invaluable!

Grab your FREE ticket for the ADHD Summit HERE

Baby News

It's a baby boom here at St Joseph's.

Congratulations and our very best wishes go to Casey Stewart and her husband Jake, who welcomed baby Zoe Autumn Stewart on 24 July at 3.54am 

Congratulations also to Gabriele Hawthorne and her husband Kyle, who welcomed Baby Hudson Andrew Hawthorne into their family on Tuesday 1 August at 9:10pm.

Karen

Safeguarding 

‘Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility’

National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence – Out of Uniform Day

Friday 18 August 2023 is the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence (NDA). Australia’s key bullying prevention initiative celebrates 13 years of action, connecting schools and communities to find workable solutions to prevent bullying.

The NDA theme for 2023 is 'growing connections'. This theme supports research findings that strong school community connections and social skills are protective factors in the prevention of bullying and help enable positive, help-seeking behaviours in students.

To recognise the importance of this day we will be having a brief assembly on Friday morning (18th August) and an out of uniform day. Students are asked to dress for the theme “Uniquely You”. Across the day, students will take part in anti-bullying activities.

The theme of the day encourages all of us to take a stand together and recognise the important role that everyone plays to stop bullying.

Positive Behaviours for Learning

Our PBL focus for the coming weeks continues to be Care for All. Our two main areas of focus are:

Care for belongings and equipment. This is a big focus area as we often have our lost property bins filled with belongings such as hats and jackets. In class students are learning strategies that will help them take responsibility for their belongings. This includes making sure their names are on items and that they develop a routine to check they have all their belongings with them. 

Care for the place you are in. We continue to learn that by caring for the places we are in, we show love, respect, gratitude and appreciation for the gifts we have been given. Students will be focusing on looking after the environment and identifying sustainable practices at both home and school. If you have an opportunity, please discuss these concepts with your children.

 National Science Week

National Science Week runs from August 12 -20. It is Australia’s annual celebration of Science and Technology. It provides an opportunity to acknowledge the contributions of Australian scientists to the world of knowledge. It also aims to encourage an interest in science pursuits among the general public, and to encourage younger people to become fascinated by the world we live in. The school theme for National Science Week in 2023 is Innovation: Powering Future Industries. The theme incorporates the advancement in technology in all industries, especially using artificial intelligence (AI).

 The curriculum focus of the theme is on:

• Science as a Human Endeavour
• Chemical Sciences
• Physical Sciences
• Earth and Space Sciences, and
• Biological Sciences.

Along with the Sustainability cross-curriculum priority, it is versatile and accessible to all students and teachers.

Student investigations could include the use of AI in industry, as well as recent advancements in renewal energy technology, data science, and environmental monitoring. With topics of interest from medicine to marine research, agriculture, climate change and mining there are opportunities to engage with the theme from a variety of perspectives. There is a student journal that can be used for scientific investigations. The journal can be found here.

There is a wide range of DIY activities available on the Science Week website

Here is what our students at St Joseph's are learning this term in Science & Technology

Leanne Skinner

Primary Co-ordinator and Pedagogical Mentor

St Mary of the Cross

Tuesday, 8th August, we celebrated the feast day of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, the patron saint of Australia. Mary led a remarkable life serving others. At an early age, Mary worked as a governess teaching her Aunt’s children as well as children living in poverty. Mary believed that all children deserved an education and dedicated her life to educating the poor and gave hope to many. St Mary was the founder of the Sisters of St Joseph which is the order that opened our school.

Feast of the Assumption of Mary

This coming Tuesday, 15th August, is the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Mary. This feast celebrates the time Mary was taken up to Heaven body and soul to be with her son Jesus. You will not find this story in the Bible, however, a tradition handed down from the early days in the Church says that when Mary died in Jerusalem and was buried in a tomb. When the disciples went to open the tomb Mary’s body was gone. It is said that she was assumed in Heaven by God because she was so special for saying yes to becoming the mother of Jesus.

Father's Day Liturgy

Father’s Day is fast approaching and the St Joseph’s school community would love to celebrate how important our fathers, uncles, grandfathers or people who are like fathers to us are. We will celebrate this special event on Friday 1 September with a breakfast from 7.30am followed by a liturgy from 9am under the COLA.

Netball Gala Day

What a day! The sun was shining, the goals were being scored and the players were cheering. Yesterday we had 51 players represent St Joseph’s in the NSW Netball Schools Cup at National Park. All games were of a high standard with all teams winning the majority of games and the odd draw here or there. The match of the day was between the 5/6 girls and the Year 6 boys. It was an absolute nail biter. At half time the score was tight with the girls in the lead 3-2. The second half began with fury, tight defence and some strategic attacking moves. The girls proved too strong and came away with the win 7-5. The girls now advance to the next level in September. Congratulations! A massive thank you to all parents who coached, managed, cheered and supported. All players should be so proud of their effort, skills and sportsmanship!!

Diocesan Athletics Carnival

Last Wednesday, August 2nd, several students made their way to Glendale Athletics track to compete in the CSO Diocesan Athletics Carnival. As always, St Joseph’s represented our school brilliantly with excellent behaviour and sportsmanship. A few parents emailed to congratulate St Joseph’s students on how they carried themselves and the respect they showed their competitors, officials and each other, always encouraging and supporting their peers in various events. Their skill and athleticism is to be admired and we congratulate them all on their efforts making it this far.

The 20 students below attended the carnival:

Archie D, Evan B, Finn C, Gus M, Jacob F, Oliver S, Sidney M, Thomas P, Vincent M, Xavier C, Hamish M, Xavier C, Amalia S, Ava K, Bridget KB, Charlotte H, Lily G, Maya V and Violet L

We congratulate the following students who were successful in making it to Polding.

Girls National Championships – Oz tag

Lola M, Lily G and Jersey F have further news to share in sport outside of our school grounds. These athletic and skilled girls have been selected to represent the Hunter Region at the 2023 Oz Tag Australian Nationals. What an absolutely amazing achievement to be able to compete at such a high level in sport – Playing at national level! They will be travelling to Coffs Harbour in October to compete.  We look forward to hearing about your success Lily, Lola and Jersey, and we wish you all the very best!

PSSA Soccer Championships

Not only is our very own superstar and budding actor, Felix P, a talent on the stage, performing in the ASPIRE production, he is also an avid sportsman with exceptional talent and skills in soccer. Felix has made excellent progress through the PSSA pathway, and is now representing Polding at the State Championships to be held nice and close to home in Nelson Bay next week. Is there anything you can’t do, Felix? We wish you all the very best and we hope you enjoy the experience at this high level in sport.

ASPIRE

Each year the Catholic Schools Office hold auditions to select students to be a part of the Aspire program and production. This year's production followed Captain Lucy Dastoor and her crew as they hunted for lost treasure against the backdrop of an over-taxed community under the control of a greedy governor. To find the treasure they sailed through storms, fought off the villainous Cutthroat Crowe and defeated the Kraken.

This year we had the wonderful and ever entertaining year five student Felix perform in the Aspire Musical. He was a marvel as a pirate powder monkey and did St Joseph’s Primary School proud in his main role! It was so exciting to see Felix in his element flourishing confidently beside his much older peers. His role required a very deep understanding of betrayal and he performed with maturity and emotive expression well beyond his years! Congratulations Felix for your amazing performance in The Pirate Code. 

It would be brilliant to have more students participating next year in the Aspire Development Program or audition to perhaps be accepted into the Aspire Musical. I'm so proud of the many year four students who auditioned last year (now year five) and were accepted into the Aspire Development Program.

The Aspire Development program helps year 4-6 students develop performance skills to prepare them to participate in the Aspire Musical the year after. Only Students in year four and above are able to audition.

Please see the forms and information below.

Mrs Emily Butler

Performing Arts Teacher  

NAIDOC Celebration at Our School: A Day of Cultural Immersion

St Joseph’s celebrated NAIDOC at school on Tuesday 8th August. It was a day filled with vibrant cultural experiences that left a lasting impact on both students and staff. This event was an incredible opportunity to engage with and learn from our local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of their rich heritage.

The day kicked off with a mesmerising didgeridoo display, followed by a traditional dance performance and a moving smoking ceremony that set the tone for a day full of cultural exploration.

The heart of the celebration was the series of engaging workshops presented by local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander experts. Toby, a knowledgeable representative of Torres Strait Islander culture, shared a Miriam reef song, Taba Naba and introduced students to the art of traditional Torres Strait drumming. The beats resonated through the air, connecting everyone to the vibrant heritage of these islands.

Steff, another talented presenter, guided students in making Johnny cakes, a delicious treat rich in history. Students chose to eat their Johnny cakes with Rosella or Lili Pili jams, honey, or golden syrup. To quench our thirst, Steff generously shared her family's special Rainforest punch, a refreshing concoction that offered a taste of cultural fusion.

Kristy, deeply connected to her heritage, explaining how and when wisdom is passed down by her elders. Her insights provided a glimpse into the profound teachings and perspectives that have shaped her identity. As an enlightening addition, a video of Nanna Wilson recounting her upbringing as an Aboriginal person in the Hunter region was shared.

Hilary, a master of traditional Aboriginal dance, led an engaging workshop where students learned dance moves representing many native animals. Mauri's presentation of traditional tools, weapons, and animal skins transported us to a time when resourcefulness and connection to the land were essential for survival.

Mrs Temple and Mrs Shaw taught students some traditional Yolungu games in the hall. Laughter and camaraderie filled the space as students embraced these traditional activities, connecting with their peers in a joyful way.

The celebration concluded with a whole school rendition of Taba Naba with Toby. This event was more than just a celebration; it was a meaningful step towards reconciliation, fostering cultural understanding and respect within our school community. This day will forever stand as a testament to the importance of cultural exchange and learning, enriching our understanding of Australia's First Nations and strengthening our bonds as a diverse and inclusive school community.

Book Week 

The excitement can be felt in the air, books, reading, games, costumes.  It’s all happening.  It's so big that we are going to have Book Two Weeks!

Next week in a special lead up to the official Book Week we are having 2 authors come to the school on Tuesday.  Jacqueline Harvey, author of the Alice Miranda series will speak to the infants’ classes, while local author Jess Black, the author of the Keeper of the Crystals series and several books on Bindi Irwin will speak to the primary students.

With all the excitement about the visiting authors we are going to have our book fair next week! So, on Monday, students will be able to create a wish list and bring that home. The official shopping day for students will be Wednesday 16th August.  Each class will be allocated a time to come to the bookfair to complete their shopping.  As in past years, you can prepay for the books using credit cards and have the students bring in the completed receipt or the students can pay cash on the day. Details about this will be sent home with the wish list on Monday.

We ask that parents who wish to shop come and purchase from the fair before school on Thursday 17th August. We will have Eftpos facilities available on this morning.

As usual, we will also have a full week of events for the students in Week Two of Book Week.  We will start the week with the launch of Book Week at the morning’s assembly on Monday, 21st August.  This will include a special gift to each class, as well as our pledge to read.

Each day of this week, the students will participate in activities, both in class and around the school, culminating in the famous St Joseph’s Book Character parade on Friday, 25th August.

We will send out more details early next week.  But get those costumes ready. You have still got two weeks!

Premier’s Reading Challenge

We are almost at the end of the challenge for this year.  We currently have 240 students who have completed the challenge, which is amazing and a huge increase from last year, but still not every student.  Let’s have a big push in this last week.

Thanks for your support with the challenge.

Our P&F held a very productive meeting and you can catch up on the meeting minutes (see attached). After three years of pandemic disruptions, we have an ambitious calendar of events planned for the second half of this year, so stay stunned for Compass as more will be revealed soon! We welcome all from our school community to come along to our next meeting on Wed 30 August, 6pm in the school library – be great to see some new faces and class parents if you can spare the time.

We welcome opportunities to partner with you and discuss your child’s learning throughout the year and encourage you to contact your child’s teacher/s if you wish to discuss their progress and learning goals.

There are many ways that St. Joseph’s Merewether communicates and partners with our school community. The St. Joseph’s P&F have pulled this handy resource together to explain the various ways you will receive communication, and how you can stay across what’s going on.