12 November 2024 (Week 5 Term 4 2024)
Dear St Joseph’s Community
It certainly has been an incredibly busy term! We have had students at summer sports trials and touch gala days, engaged in making a Christmas tree for the Quota Competition, singing in the choir, and keeping their classroom learning going very strongly!
Reading and Maths Assessment Data
We have recently been collecting our End of Year assessment data. We’ve seen very strong results in both Reading and Maths in our PAT-Reading Comprehension and PAT-Maths assessments. Our teachers have worked incredibly hard, supported by our Enrichment tutors and our leaders, to complement the new curriculum with fidelity. This strong growth is fantastic and places us very well when compared to other schools.
We are now collecting our DIBELS reading data, which assesses reading fluency and comprehension. Our early look at some of this data already looks very positive!
Remembrance Day
On Monday, 11th November, all students and staff attended our school Remembrance Day Ceremony. Mrs Moloney also took four of our school leaders, Addison, Nate, Ruby and Hugh, down to the Alstonville Memorial to lay a wreath. These ceremonies offer our school community meaningful opportunities to honour those who have served and sacrificed for our country. Sincere thanks to Gladys, one of our grandparents, for making the beautiful Remembrance Day Wreath for our service.
End-of-Term Community Celebration
We are currently planning our end-of-term celebration, which we think will be a great way to finish our year (among the many other events we have coming up!)
Keep an eye out for the details we will share soon on Compass.
Enrolments 2025
We are working to finalise our 2025 enrolments at the moment. Some year groups are full and have a waiting list, but we do have some limited opportunities for enrolment in a couple of year levels. If you know anyone who may be interested in enrolling their child at Joey’s for 2025, please direct them to contact the school.
School Fee Payments 2025
Just an FYI that the Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools Office will be sending all families an email seeking their preferences for school fee payment schedules for 2025 in the coming weeks. This process in relation to school fees is being transitioned to a more central process at the regional level rather than the school level. Please keep an eye out for this email in your inbox.
SCRIPTURE REFLECTION
In the story of the Widow’s Offering (Mark 12:41-44), Jesus notices a poor widow at the temple offering two small coins—all she had to live on—while wealthier people give only a small portion of their abundance. Although her gift was small in comparison, it held the deepest value because she gave from her heart, without reservation. Her act of giving shows us that true generosity isn’t about how much we give but how much heart we put into it.
St. Paul describes this kind of love as agape—a selfless, unconditional love that seeks no reward. It’s the same spirit of love and commitment we often see in families, where the little things done with love, patience, and kindness mean the most. Whether it’s spending quality time with children, lending a hand to someone in need, or just being present, these small acts make a big impact.
As parents and carers, you are a constant example of this generous spirit in your children’s lives. When they see you giving wholeheartedly, they learn that true generosity doesn’t come from wealth or abundance but from a caring and selfless heart. In our busy lives, even the smallest acts of kindness can teach them the value of giving, just like the widow who gave all she had.
You are invited to listen to Bishop Greg’s Homily from Sunday’s Mass.
School Community Group Meeting
A huge thank you to those parents who were able to join us for the School Community Group Meeting last Wednesday evening. These are great opportunities to share your voice and to guide the direction of the school. Thank you to Sarah Crook for chairing the meeting and to Simone Green for notetaking. Our next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, 11 March 2025 at 6:30 pm.
The notes can be accessed here via this link.
Mr Crosby gave an excellent presentation on how we teach maths and how you can support this at home during the meeting. Here is the link to the slides. There are some excellent resources on slide 32 to help you support your child with Maths at home.
TERM 1 2025 COMMENCEMENT DATES
For your calendars for the start of 2025, please see the commencement dates below.
Parish-School Family Mass - 1st December
This is a friendly reminder that we have a Family Mass on Sunday, December 1st at 8:30 am. Mrs Wraight will be leading a children’s liturgy for part of the Mass and children of all ages are invited to join! Kindy will also be leading special parts in the Mass. If you have a child in Kindy who would like to help with singing or reading a prayer, please let Mrs Wraight and Mrs Jones know via this link. Stay after Mass for a play on the playground and a little Advent treat!
Casual Clothes Day for Vinnies Christmas Appeal
On Friday, 29th November, we will have a ‘Christmas Colours’ casual clothes day to raise money and goods for our Christmas Hampers. Students (and teachers!) are invited to wear Christmas colours and accessories on this day and bring a gold coin donation or an item for their class hamper. All money raised and hampers will go to individuals and families this Christmas who need support through the Christmas period.
The Yarners - Invitation to Join
Our group of Yarners has been hugely successful, and we love meeting each week to knit together and chat.
We would like to continue to grow this group and reach a broader range of interests. If there is anyone who has an area of skill or interest, particularly Dads, grandfathers, or parishioners, who might be keen to join a new lunchtime group, please contact Kate Jones. This could be anything from woodwork to board or card games, STEM activities or gardening. We are flexible on days and understand you may not be able to attend each week.
The community, wisdom, and confidence that grow with the opportunity for friendships across ages are invaluable. There are also many skills and art forms we hope to preserve through our inter generational groups. We hope you can join us!
STRUCTURED PLAY ROSTER
The structured play roster is below for parents to have conversations with their children about the exciting sporting and cultural activities we have on offer at break times this term.
A big congratulations to our students Enid, Jordy, Ava, Rory, Ethan, Neo, and Hunter, who represented our school at the first-ever Diocese Touch Trials Tournament. The team joined players from Coraki and Kyogle, and together, they competed in three exciting games against teams from across the region.
Throughout the day, our students demonstrated outstanding sportsmanship and teamwork, supporting one another both on and off the field. Their commitment and dedication were clear as they played with passion and respect for the game. Each student contributed to the team's effort, showing great skill and perseverance in every match.
A special mention goes to Enid and Jordy, who advanced to the round of Possible and Probables, a remarkable achievement. This recognition is a testament to their talent and hard work, and we are incredibly proud of their success.
The day was a wonderful experience for all involved, and it was inspiring to see our students representing our school with such pride and determination. Thank you as well to the parents taking time out of their day to drive them to the event, cheer them on and help coach them as well. We look forward to seeing them continue to grow and excel in future sporting events! Congratulations to all the participants on a fantastic effort!
Dio Footy Trials
Swimming Intensive
Next week, all children in Kindergarten and Year 1 will be participating in swimming intensive sessions at the Alstonville Pool from Monday 18 November to Friday 22 November. During these sessions, students will be separated into groups based on abilities to best target their swimming needs. Permission and payment is due on Compass by this Friday, 15th November.
CHANGES TO END OF DAY ROUTINE
Please ensure that all changes to end of day going home routine (phone calls or emails to alstp@lism.catholic.edu.au) are received by Administration no later than 2:45 pm. This will ensure that the messages can be delivered to your child/ren in plenty of time before the afternoon bell.
Learning growth can occur when your child attends school every day.
By attending school every day, students maximise their exposure to educational opportunities, engage in meaningful learning experiences, and lay the foundation for continuous academic progress. Regular attendance provides students with the opportunity to ask questions, seek clarification, and collaborate with others, enhancing their understanding of the material.
Parents and educators play important roles in fostering an environment that promotes and values regular attendance, contributing to the overall success and wellbeing of students.
Quota Kindness Awards
Olly Lowe was our latest winner of the Quota Kindness Award, presented by Jenny Butler from Quota. Olly’s citation is presented below. It is an award well-deserved.
"He is always so kind to everyone in the classroom and on the playground. He is always helping others by tying their shoelaces, comforting them if they are hurt or upset, and playing fairly and with great sportsmanship; he includes others in his games. He follows all the school behaviour benchmarks and is a role model for others."
