Filter Content
- Message from the Principal
- Catholic Identity and Mission in Our School
- Learning & Teaching in Our School
- Learning Support in our School
- Student Awards
- SJ News
- Sporting News
- News from the Mini Vinnies Team
- News from the Enviro Team
- The Wellbeing Team
- Enrol Now for the Kindergarten Class of 2023
- COMPASS- School Communication Platform APP
- Wanted - resources for Joey's Makerspace
- It's Show Time
- School Terms & Pupil Free Days for 2022
- School Canteen
- St Joseph's OOSH & Vacation Care
- How to Purchase your child's School Uniform
- School Fee Statement
- Applying for a Bus Pass
- BILLBOARD
- Newsletter Sponsors
On Wednesday evening, we saw many parent and caregivers come out to our Parent Teacher Learning Conversations. I thank all those who attended the evening. It was great to see you all and have the chance to say hi and have a chat over a coffee.
We believe it is essential that you have the opportunity to meet with your child’s teachers, along with the School Leadership Team, face to face. I hope you saw this evening as a valuable aspect of our St Joseph’s family-school partnership.
With the end of week eight now upon us, we are quickly moving closer to the end of Term and our Parish Easter celebrations in the middle of the School break. The final weeks of Term 1 will remain focussed on student learning, where all students can achieve their personal best.
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
God Who Sees Us and Cares for Us
The small parable, which Jesus offers in today’s gospel about the fig tree, has much to offer us in this Lenten Season. A fruitless vine is only given so much time before it is pulled up and new seeds are planted. This is the way the vineyard works.
Compassion is not the way of the vineyard in most cases except this one. This is the vineyard of a God who understands that life is not always easy and straightforward. A God that understands our foibles and our vulnerability. Within the eternal truths of the Trinity, God is; God for us, we call you Father. God alongside us, we call you Jesus. God within us, we call you Holy Spirit. You are the eternal mystery that enables, enfolds and enlivens all things.
To be “enabled”, “enfolded” and “enlivened” by the God of the vineyard is God’s response of love to us throughout this Lenten Season especially when we approach this time searching and deepening our faith, our hope and our love in this relationship. Remember to; continue to develop your faith and spiritual growing closer to God; serve the vulnerable and; remain in close social communion with each other. All three aspects open our hearts and minds.
Goodness and kindness shall follow us all the days of our lives.
Prayer
Loving Father, When we see only our world and not your world,
let compassion fill us with hope
Amen.
Sourced from: https://www.vinnies.org.au/icms_docs/329242_Spiritual_Reflection_Guide_Jan-April_2022.pdf
Read LessCatholic Identity and Mission in Our School
WITH MRS ERIN MCGOVERN
Last week it was wonderful to be able to gather again as a whole school community in our parish Church to mark the beginning of our School Year, the Feast Day of our Patron Saint, St Joseph, and also to induct our 2022 School Captains. It was a beautiful Mass and we thank Fr James and look forward to more to come.
Congratulations to our 2022 School Captains as pictured;
Dylan Micallef
Zarli Kirkman Dates
Taj Webber
Ruby McLeod
RECONCILIATION
Next Wednesday 30th March some students in Year 4 will be making their Sacrament of First Reconciliation. We keep these students in our thoughts and prayers as they prepare, and make this sacrament. Please return notes to class teachers. If you have any questions regarding Reconciliation please don’t hesitate to contact the class teachers or Mrs Erin McGovern.
The Pope has asked Catholics across the world to pray on this day, Friday 25th March, as we stand in solidarity with those affected by this ongoing conflict.
COIN LINE - Flood Relief Appeal
Today students in K-6 brought in coins to make class ‘coin lines’ and to donate these funds to the schools in Lismore who were affected by the recent flooding. The day was a great success and we thank all students and families for their generosity and care towards our fellow schools who have been encountering hardship as they work to rebuild their schools, resources and homes.
The class winner of the “LONGEST coin line” goes to 3T
All other results will be published next week.
We thank Miss Barrow, Miss Van Leeuwen and the Minni Vinnies Team for planning and organising such a great initiative in our school.
Learning & Teaching in Our School
WITH MRS KRYSTAL BRADY
Thank you to all our families who came along to this valuable evening. It is always a pleasure to invite families into the school environment and have conversations about your child and their life at school. If you missed out on an appointment yesterday please contact your classroom teacher to set up a mutually suitable time to discuss your child's progress.
Sounds Write - Explicit Systematic Phonics Instruction
Over the past weeks many teachers and leaders in our K-2 area have been engaging in professional development around the explicit teaching of phonics, in particular our alphabetic code. We will be talking about sounds not letter names in the classroom, so please encourage your child to use sounds rather than letter names.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact your classroom teacher or a member of the school leadership team who will be able to discuss this wonderful initiative.
If you are interested in learning more as John Walker (the founder of Sounds Write) has developed a fantastic free parent course.
Year 5 - Thank you Ms Gwillam
Year 5 in particular 5Truth have enjoyed having visiting Teacher Ms Gwillam with us over the past four weeks. We would like to thank her for her hard work and dedication during your time with us. Pictured below is Mrs Gwillam teaching an Area lesson in Mathematics.
STUDENT AWARDS FOR WEEKS 7 & 8, TERM 1
CLASS |
MARY MACKILLOP AWARD Recognises Catholic attitude, behaviours & helping those in need |
ST JOSEPH Recognises positive actions witnessed within our school community |
CATHERINE McAULEY Recognises a growth mindset & effort in learning |
KTruth |
Xavier Roache | Jack Sproule | Mack Harman |
KHonour |
Sayler Sproule | Archie Wade | Jack Jones |
1Truth |
Mackenna Dillon | Lennox Edwards | Lexi Kirkman Dates |
1Honour |
Libby Coade | Mariano Abin | Casey Miller |
2Truth |
Sophia Downing | Max Delforce | Indali Miller |
3Truth |
Joey Sang | Manaia Pereira | Jack Brett |
3Honour |
Izabelle Rose | Bailey Smidt | Arlie Wade |
4Truth |
Spencer Atkinson | Hope Weston | Londyn Sutton |
4Honour |
Finley O'Donnell | Jordan Bradley | Lachlan Betts |
5Truth |
Lily McConnell | Danish Lingamneni | Honorah-Jane Akee |
5Honour |
Kieran Walsh | Lucy Judd | Addison Norton |
6Truth |
Taj Webber | Portia Hili | Axle Sproule |
6Honour |
Nevaeh Sines | Oliver Tamblyn | Cameron Borger |
WITH MR MICHAEL WATTS
Children will walk with their teachers to the Kemp Street Sporting fields at the following times to compete in their events: -
10am - Kinder, Year 1 and Year 2 11.45am - Years 3,4,5 & 6
News from the Mini Vinnies Team
We have so much to share this week in Enviro News.
This week at our Enviro meeting we voted on Grade Representatives to help lead some changes at our school.
- Year 1: Eden Passmore
- Year 2: Harper Kennedy
- Year 3: Manaia Pereira
- Year 4: Cheyanne Matheson
- Year 5: Tom Prior
- Year 6: Jordan Connors and Chelsea Workman
SCHOOL VEGIE GARDENS - Next term we will be looking at planting our new autumn/winter crop and using this produce to do some exciting things with our Canteen.
Earth Hour Schools Day is on Friday 25 March. Hundreds of schools in Australia and thousands around the World will switch off their lights to call for stronger action against climate change and biodiversity loss. There are some great resources online for you to discuss as a family. Feel free to visit https://www.earthhour.org.au/ and join in the conversation.
Today, Year 3 had fun making cubby houses and reading in the dark with torches to encourage families to turn the lights off this Saturday night.
MACLEAY VALLEY LITTER COMPETITION
Kempsey Shire Council's current litter message is ‘Please keep litter out of our hood and in the bin’.
Litter in our streets will often find its way into our waterways. It’s up to all of us to reduce litter to keep our environment safe and clean.
Council along with artist Stephen McLeod, has produced 4 litter designs using native animals each with their own message around litter. We would like to add more designs and messages by running a competition for school students to design their own poster including their litter message using Stephen’s design as a background.
Each participating school will have at least one winning entry and each winner will receive a family pass (for 4) for 2 games at Galactic Ten Pin Bowling Kempsey valued at $76.00.
Design a poster to help reduce litter in our local area using one of Stephen McLeod’s backgrounds (obtain a copy from the School Office). The design should include native animals from our local area plus their litter message. Any materials can be used for the design, however, keep in mind a selection of the winning designs will be produced as posters.
Winning entries together with Council’s original designs, will be promoted via Council’s digital channels including a social media advertising campaign, and as posters around the Kempsey Shire.
Competition closes on the 6th April. Entries need to be handed to the School Office prior to this date.
Earn Garden Points between 24 February - 31 October by collecting toothpaste tubes and caps, manual toothbrushes, electric toothbrush heads, toothbrush and toothpaste tube plastic packaging, floss containers.
RECYCLING AT ST JOSEPH'S
At our St Joseph's Sustainability Hub we recycle many items that you may have at home such as: phones, batteries, oral care, writing instruments, stamps, glasses, printer cartridges.
Listed below are items we currently recycle at St Josephs:
- Printer cartridges
- Used stationary (plastic whiteboard markers, textas etc)
- Mailing bags
- Used Batteries
- Preloved glasses
- Oral care products
- Used stamps
- Mobile phones
- Return and Earn 10c containers
COMPASS- School Communication Platform APP
As part of a restructure across the Diocese of Lismore, St Joseph’s Primary School will be moving to a new communication & school management platform called - COMPASS School Manager. The entire Compass platform will become our school community application from the beginning of Term Two this year. Please note that the Compass Platform will replace our current SZapp from the beginning of Term 2.
About the Compass Platform
The Compass platform is a web-based system that is accessible on any modern web browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome & Safari) or by using the Compass School Manager iOS or Android App. Every parent receives a separate login to Compass which we will provide to you tonight after 5pm.
At the start of term 2, you have the ability to;
- Receive notifications about school events, news and information
- Enter an explanation for absences
- Communicate with your child’s teachers,
- Update your family contact details (mobile phone & email)
- View your child’s timetable and the school calendar
- Download and view your child’s academic reports
- Book parent-teacher conferences (parent/teacher interviews)
- Pay and provide digital consent for events (No more permission slips)
- Order lunches from the Canteen
- Pay school fees
We are asking that all families become connected to Compass as soon as possible. Support will be offered for those parents who require help. You will need to ensure a high level of security around your Compass app, as you would your personal banking apps.
Your login details will arrive via your personal email address, and each parent will receive a username and login (provided we have a valid email or your correct email address). If you share an email address with your significant other, then you will receive two emails with two unique log-ins and these have now been sent to you. Your username and password is unique to you, families will not share a username and password, and will come from an address noreply@compass.email - you may need to check your junk mail box. If you have not received your username and password please contact the school office or Mrs Krystal Brady (krystal.brady@lism.catholic.edu.au).
The email will look like this:
SMARTPHONE ACCESS
- Download the Compass School Manager App (Google Playstore OR Apple Store)
- Wait for your unique username and log in to be emailed to you after 5pm today (Thursday 10th March 2022)
- Open the app on your device
- Search for our school by searching for “West Kempsey” or “2440” and then by scrolling through the list of schools and choosing “St. Joseph’s Primary School - West Kempsey”
- Use the unique username and log in sent to you by email
- Confirm the mobile number and email address
- Read the welcome message that will be posted on the dashboard
DESKTOP ACCESS
If you wish to use the desktop version of the platform please note the following;
- Once you receive your unique username and log in, open a new tab on your preferred browser and navigate to https://kmpplism-nsw.compass.education/
- Use your unique username and password to log into the platform
- Confirm the mobile number and email address
- Read the welcome message that will be posted on the dashboard
For more information you can visit Compass for Parents or for any assistance email the school at kmpp@lism.catholic.edu.au.
Read LessWanted - resources for Joey's Makerspace
We are looking for resources for the Joey's Makerspace.
Items such as: tissue boxes, paper towel tubes, old CD's, any cardboard, string, paper cups etc.
Any donations can be brought to the School Office. Thank you.
Don't forget to order online at Flexischools prior to 8.55am.
Workers Needed
We need volunteers to help in our canteen once a week, fortnight or month. No special skills required. If you can make a salad wrap, toastie or put some drinks in the fridge, your help will be greatly appreciated. All welcome - mums, dads, nannas, pops, aunts and uncles. Should you be able to spare just a few hours, please contact one of our canteen team members; Angie Hagger or Nadeen Crowe
E: angela.hagger@lism.catholic.edu.au
P: (02) 6562 5501
St Joseph's OOSH & Vacation Care
WE ARE HIRING AT JOEY’S OUT OF SCHOOL HOURS CARE
Do you love working with primary school-aged children? Joey’s Out of School Hours Care is seeking Casual Team Members for Before and After School Care and Vacation Care. We have two dedicated classrooms at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Kempsey and great outdoor facilities. No formal qualifications are required, just passion and dedication. Rostered hours are varied across the week, either before school, after school and/or vacation care. We aim to fit into your schedule. To find out more call Linda Lewthwaite on 0407 406 433 or email linda.lewthwaite@lism.catholic.edu.au
Joey’s welcomes students from Kindergarten to Year 6 from all schools in the Macleay Valley and surrounding areas. We provide high quality Before School, After School and Vacation Programs.
Joey’s is located in two dedicated classrooms on our St Joseph’s Catholic Primary Campus. The Program is headed by a qualified teacher and is supported by dedicated and experienced staff who plan and manage programs that offer both fun and educational activities.
The Before and After School Care may cost as little as $3 per day after the child care subsidy and Vacation programs as little as $8 per day. You can make both casual and permanent bookings.
To find out more and to explore the enrolment process visit our website at https://www.kmpplism.catholic.edu.au/out-of-school-hours-care
School Fee Statements have now been sent home via email to families. If you have not received your statement please contact the School Office on 65 62 5501.