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- P&F Easter Raffle
- 2022 Kindergarten Enrolments OPEN NOW!
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Again, I would like to thank you all for the patience and understanding that you gave the School during the floods. I am conscious of the impact this rain event has had on our local community, and hope you all got through the week safely. We ask you to please let us know if we can support your children in any way as a result of the Flood Event.
This term, our focus on ensuring excellent instruction, every day, in every class, for every student, has been lived. We have continued to build the knowledge and understanding of our Catholic faith traditions across our school community, and maintain our pledge to work towards improving student outcomes for all students.
As we conclude this term and head into the Easter break, I realise how quickly the term has gone, it feels like the Year has just begun. As I reflect over the last 10 weeks, I am so thankful for the relationships made, and for the happy, smiling children I see at the gate each morning. We are truly a team, which I am grateful for each and every day.
As always, I thank you for your support in regards to your child’s ongoing learning and growth.
Guy Campbell
Driving Education in the Macleay
GOSPEL REFLECTION
EASTER MORN
The Gospel readings for Easter Sunday are all powerful. Jesus’ appearances to people indicate a difficulty to recognise Christ in the encounter. Yet as the individuals reflect together, their eyes are opened and they see Jesus.
This Easter, we can share a companionship with those we love, and in doing so invite Jesus into our lives, as we witness in all our actions the celebration of God alive amongst us.
“The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light… light has dawned.” (Matthew 4:16)
PRAYER
Christ our Light, thanks be to God.
Amen
Sourced from: https://www.vinnies.org.au/icms_docs/323223_Spiritual_Reflection_Guide_January_2021.pdf
Learning & Teaching in Our School
WITH MRS KRYSTAL BRADY
Home Reading
At St Joseph’s we have a holistic approach to reading. In order to build strong literate learners across all areas of the curriculum reading needs to have sound foundations in the skills of decoding, fluency and phrasing and all levels of comprehension. This is called a balanced reader.
By not 'pushing' students vertically through the levels of reading but widening their level means students are exposed to a variety of texts and vocabulary that deepen their understanding across all levels of reading for a variety of purposes.
Learning to read is not a race. As the complexity of text increases students need to learn the skills to comprehend these texts. When students are reading the levelled PM Texts between 1-30 they are learning the skills to read. When students have mastered these skills they are then able to read to learn.
So how can you help at home?
Reading at home is an opportunity for students to develop their fluency and confidence. It needs to be an enjoyable experience and is not a time for introducing new skills. Teachers choose to send home texts that are easier to read or encourage you to read to your child.
Catholic Identity and Mission in Our School
WITH MRS ERIN MCGOVERN
Today we held an Easter Liturgy to signify and mark the importance of Holy Thursday; when Jesus held the Last Supper for the Disciples and washed their feet. This day is significant because it was the first known version of ‘Mass’, when Jesus shared the Eucharist with His Disciples, the origins of an integral part of our Catholic Faith tradition.
The Washing of the Disciples' feet is also significant because it was a demonstration of Jesus' message to serve others, one of the founding pillars of our Catholic identity and faith. As Christians we are asked to serve others through kindness, compassion and acts of charity and love for all. As part of today’s liturgy, Fr James reenacted the ‘Washing of the Feet’ with 12 members of our school community to remind us all of our duty to serve.
Thank You to our wonderful school community who have generously donated towards our Lenten Project Compassion Mission Appeal. The final amount raised will be advertised next term. We know this will go towards improving the lives of those less fortunate in impoverished and disadvantaged countries.
Unfortunately due to the recent flooding of our beautiful Macleay and the disruption it placed upon the normal running of planned events, we were not able to celebrate St Joseph’s Day as we had hoped. The good news is we have planned to hold our BBQ lunch Friday 30th April, Week 2, next term. All sausage sizzle orders will be cooked for students on this day to commemorate and celebrate Catholic Schools Week, and 200 years of Catholic Education in New South Wales.
During this week we will also be having a combined Mass with St Paul’s on Wednesday 29th April, and a Kindergarten Open Night on Tuesday 27th April, for prospective 2022 Kinder student enrolments. Please invite any interested parents and families to come along and hear about our great school as a wonderful option for their child’s education.
This term we congratulate the following “St Joseph's Super Hero Students!” who continually display admirable qualities of friendship to all students in the playground and classrooms. What wonderful students to have as part of our community, leading by example, showing kindness and care to all.
Ari Abigall
Amelia Latham
Lily McConnell
Dylan Micallef
Olivia Rutledge
Dane Fisher
To support our local community to continue to recover from the recent flood, the Macleay Parish is taking donations of any items that could support affected families in our community. If you would like to support this cause, please drop any non-perishable food items and/or clothing, linen, etc into the Parish office so it can be distributed to those in need.
First Reconciliation for those students participating in Year 4, has been rescheduled for Wednesday the 12th May, (Week 4, Term 2). The session times of 3:30pm and 5.00pm remain the same. Please contact your child’s class teacher, or Mr Will Pollock, who is taking over the role of Assistant Principal Mission for the remainder of the year, should you have any further questions.
What a wonderful term of learning, growing and achieving we have had for all our students. Thanks to our wonderful teachers who go above and beyond to create great learning experiences for our students, and support every child to be the best they can be.
We wish all our students and families a wonderful Easter and end of term break, and we look forward to seeing all our students return safe, well and rested for another fantastic term.
- Learning about anxiety
- Learning to think realistically
- Parenting an anxious child
- Facing fears using stepladders
- Learning coping skills such as assertiveness or problem solving
DIOCESAN WINTER SPORT TRIALS
After the third attempt, the Diocesan Winter Sports Trials were held on Tuesday at Iluka for Rugby League and Wednesday at Grafton for Soccer. A big thank you to parents who were able to get their children to these events after disruptions and at such short notice.
Several of our students came close with a run in the Possibles v Probables with other talented players. Neive Blair made the Diocesan Soccer Team for further trials next term at Bathurst. Congratulations Neive.
TERM 2 |
Monday, 19th April Wednesday 5th May Friday, 25th June |
TERM 3 | Monday, 12th July |
TERM 4 |
Tuesday, 5th October Last Day of School Year - Wednesday, 15th December, 2021 |
NSW Premier's Reading Challenge
The NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge began this month and ends on August the 20th. There are a number of changes to the challenge in 2021 to support student engagement and participation. Please familiarise yourself with these updates, and ensure that you have read the 2021 Challenge Rules page, as there have been a number of updates from previous years.
To familiarise yourself with the Premier Reading Challenge visit this website. You can find the site at and there is a useful help video available to demonstrate how the site works.
If you would like to participate in the Premiers Reading Challenge at home please contact Mrs Alarna Garthon alarna.garthon@lism.catholic.edu.au who will issue you with your username and password.
Happy Reading!
Thank you to all the families who sent in donations for our Easter Raffle. Your generosity and support is appreciated.
The major prize winners are as follows, and congratulations to all the other prize winners, it was an exciting afternoon!
Kevin Smith (Anthony Smith)
Rosemary Clarke (Mitchell & William Clarke)
Isaac Fairhall
John Kennedy (Evie Brady)
Toni Rice (Archer Tulk)
Read Less2022 Kindergarten Enrolments OPEN NOW!
Families seeking enrolment of their child into Kindergarten for 2022 are invited to complete an Application for Enrolment, available at https://enrolment.kmpplism.
Families will be contacted in Term 2 to arrange an interview with the Principal, Mr Campbell.
Our focus is not simply to ensure that students are taught, but to ensure that they learn in a safe, supportive and inclusive environment, where their spirituality, social and emotional wellbeing and academic success is always the focus.
Read Less
KEMPSEY SHOW - EXHIBITS
Click here to view the Show Exhibits Schedule and for entry forms and deadlines. Entries will need to be submitted by 9th April. Click here to access the Show Colouring Competition.
KEMPSEY TENNIS CLUB
Tennis lessons available on Wednesday and Friday afternoons from 3.15pm - 7.3.0pm with Tennis Australia & ATPCCA qualified tennis coaches. Private & semi private lessons are currently available and group lessons will be available soon. Active Kids Vouchers accepted. For more information contact Vicki Allman on 0425 251 529 or email vicki1tennis@gmail.com.
APPLYING FOR YEAR 5 ENTRY TO AN OPPORTUNITY CLASS IN 2022
Please click here to access information on the process and how to apply.
CHILD SAFETY HANDBOOK
Please click here to view a Child Safety Handbook for some handy tips on safety and your child.