Dear Parents and Carers,

It was absolutely fantastic seeing you all come together for our Welcome BBQ, Open Classrooms and Meet the Teacher Night. It was great seeing everyone enjoying the evening as a true educational community.  Let's keep this community spirit going! We may not have new community events coming up in the near future, however, you can make sure that your children know that you are interested in their education by regularly asking them about their day.  As a parent, I know that pretty much every day a child’s response to the question, "How was your day?", will always be ‘OK’. Then their attention often quickly turns to anything else they can see, other than you. When your children hit the teenage years you are barely lucky enough to get a shrug of the shoulders, so savour their younger years!

It is important to ask children specifically about their learning in the afternoons to show that you are really interested. This has a duel effect of firstly showing your children that learning is important to you, which usually translates to creating importance for them. If they see you value learning they will value learning.

The second effect of your interest, is that it encourages them to articulate what they are learning, which deepens their understanding of concepts they are being taught. We do this at school through a process of learning walks and talks. Executive and other specialists will ask your children the following 5 essential questions of learning:

1. What are you learning?
2. Why is this important?
3. How are you going?
4. How do you know?
5. Where can you go for help?

You can ask similar questions of your children as well. The learning questions for parents to ask their children are:

1. What are you learning?
2. Why is this important?
3. How are you going?
4. How can you improve?
5. What did you do to challenge yourself today?

I can guarantee that you will not get answers straight away, but eventually over the course of Semester 1 (Terms 1 and 2) children will get used to it and they will be able to answer appropriately, according to their age. 

Shrove Tuesday

Tuesday this week marked a pause in ordinary time of the Church calendar. As Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a time for preparation and renewing our relationship with God, as we journey toward Easter. This Tuesday before Lent is called Shrove Tuesday or more popularly Pancake Tuesday. Why Pancake Tuesday? As Church legend would have it, the story has its origin in medieval times, where people used up excess sugar, milk, flour and eggs before the fasting during Lent. They did this by making pancakes and sharing them in the community. On Tuesday Taylor James and I took our Mini Vinnies leaders to the Diocesan of Project Compassion launch at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Hamilton. We heard how Project Compassion makes a real difference in addressing injustices, both here and around the world. More from our leaders will follow about Project Compassion over the season of Lent. Here are our leaders enjoying pancakes after the liturgy. As you can see we shared this day with schools from all over the diocese. Our leaders did our school proud in the way they conducted themselves and participated.

P & F Meeting

We held the first P&F meeting of 2023 last week with a good roll up to discuss issues facing our community. All parents present I hope would agree that all concerns were listened to and actioned appropriately. As I have already communicated, the school gates will be opened at 8:13am. This time is 30 minutes prior to the school start time of 8:43am. It has also been raised about a possible change to the pickup routine. Most present at the meeting would like to see a return to the days where parents got out of their car and walked up to the school to pick up children. I agreed to survey the community about this issue. We must consider the safety of our children above our own inconvenience. We cannot have the pickup line as well as park and pick options as it is simply not safe, it must be one or the other.

I will send out a survey next week through a compass post to gauge what the community wishes are. Please participate in the survey, it will be a simple vote between two options. I will need to get at least 70% of families to reply to the survey to be able to consider it a fair reflection of the community's wishes, so please participate.

Staffing Update

As mentioned in the last newsletter, Mrs Natalie Baker is our new Learning Support Teacher and she will be joining us permanenting from next Monday.

Gifted Education Mentor

Mr John Hession, our current Aboriginal Education and release teacher will be taking up the Gifted Education Mentor role.  The children will be enjoying the benefit of John's wealth of experience and expertise.

World Safer Internet Day

As part of World Safer Internet Day, which took place earlier this month for the children. The school would like to invite you to a special presentation on Monday 27th February from 7:30 - 8:30pm over Zoom. John Hession our Aboriginal Education Teacher and Gifted Education Mentor will lead the presentation which will cover:

• Current Australian Research.
• The Parent resources. 
• What to do when things go very, very wrong!

John Hession led the Catholic Network Australia (C.N.A.) project team that developed the National Digital Citizenship & Cybersafety online portal for teachers and parents, coordinated the Broken Bay Secondary School Student’s (Years 7 & 9) Digital Citizenship & Cybersafety Survey and associated strategic school support, and coordinated the Broken Bay Online Schools Program for Internet Safety (OSPIS) providing strategic and at point of need support. Additionally, he worked closely with the Office of the eSafety Commissioner of Australia to realise the On-line Virtual Classrooms Program for Australian Catholic Primary Schools that engaged more than
35 000 students.

Please click on the link to access

 
Join Zoom Meeting

https://mncatholic.zoom.us/j/68278531230   

Password: SJKB

Communication 

The main form of communication is Compass. However, I regularly email parents, particularly if your child will be receiving an award in our weekly Award Assembly on Wednesday afternoons. I have been told that my emails have been going to the junk mail folder for many parents. Please check your junk mail folders. If you find an email from me in your junk file, please add me to the safe senders' list so you receive subsequent emails direct. If you would like to contact me directly, my email address is:

brad.fuller@mn.catholic.edu.au

Take care, celebrate often and go gently

Brad Fuller

Principal

Dear Parents and Carers,

Cybersafety and Safer Internet Day

Last week our Stage 2 Students participated in Safer Internet Day. This is a global event that brings together communities, families, schools and organisations from more than 200 countries to help create safer online spaces.

This worldwide initiative is celebrating 20 years in 2023, making it a great time to reflect as well as look forward. 

Technology has evolved dramatically in the past two decades and the benefits have been huge. These developments have also exposed us to many risks with real-world impacts, making online safety awareness even more important. 

The students learnt about ways to:
Connect safely and with purpose – by keeping apps and devices secure and using social media in positive ways.
Reflect before they act – by taking a moment to consider how what we do and say online may affect others.
Protect themselves and others by taking action – by telling family, friends or colleagues about eSafety and how we can help.
Please visit the following link for more practical ways to support your child in staying safe whilst online.

http://www.saferinternetday.org

NAPLAN

The NAPLAN test window is nine days. Day 1 is Wednesday 15 March 2023 and day 9 is Monday 27th March 2023.
Students in years 3 and 5 will be completing the tests at school in this period.
There will be four tests scheduled across this period. They are:
1. writing
2. reading
3. conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation)
4. numeracy
Students will sit one test per day. Students in year 5 will use their own device and students in year 3 will use the desktops in the lab and our school laptops. If students are absent, they can sit catch up tests later in the test window.

PBL

Our school is a Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) School. PBL brings together the whole-school community to contribute to developing a positive, safe and supportive learning culture. 

The framework assists schools to improve social, emotional, behavioural and academic outcomes for children and young people.

When PBL is implemented well, teachers and students have more time to focus on relationships and classroom instruction. Students and staff benefit from:

• reduced problem behaviour
• increased time focused on instruction
• improved social-emotional wellbeing
• positive and respectful relationships among students and staff
• support for teachers to teach, model and respond effectively to student need
• a predictable learning environment where staff and students know what is expected to deliver effective practices that can be sustained over time.

Our Positive Behaviour for learning focus is ‘I show determination and perseverance!’ This focus contributes to becoming an excellent learner.

In class time we talk about what this focus looks like and how we can strive high to be an excellent learner in different situations across the school.

When children are seen or heard following the PBL teachers may reward them with Gotcha’s and select children who consistently follow this PBL focus are awarded with merit certificates at assembly.

Stage 3 have learned the importance of perseverance and determination and have been applying it everyday at school and at home. Here are some examples:

‘I show determination and perseverance on the soccer field by trying really hard to win and being a good team member’ Phoenix

‘I show determination and perseverance by always wanting to do my best, never giving up, and knowing that I can always be better’ Kobe

‘I show determination and perseverance by trying hard in class even when things are hard’ Caitlin

Courtney Porter

Assistant Principal

2023 has begun well and students have enjoyed some fabulous stories. Grades 1 to 6 have been focussing on Cybersafety- ways to be safe on the internet.We will continue reading, researching and exploring some fantastic technology this term.

The Library is open during lunch times on Wednesday – Friday and the children love coming in to enjoy books, chess, games and writing or drawing. It is a great social activity for them and it’s lovely to watch them interact with each other and enjoy creating.

Library borrowing has begun for students that returned their books in 2022.
If your child still has books from last year, please return them
as soon as possible so that they can continue borrowing and enjoying our lovely books. Students are able to keep the books for two weeks, although most return them for new ones each week. If students would like to keep books for longer than 2 weeks, we ask that they bring them to the Library and renew them.

Infants borrowing day is Mondays .
Primary borrowing is Tuesdays .

All students need a library bag to borrow from our Library. This helps protect our lovely books.
School Library bags are available for $14 for anyone who needs one. Kinder students do not have to buy a bag, as the school will provide them one.

Kinder began borrowing this week.. They received a library bag from the school on their first day of borrowing.
We encourage all students to borrow from our library, as we have an amazing collection of fabulous books.
allenge

I would like to encourage all students to enter
The Premier’s Reading Challenge (PRC). It will begin on Monday February 27th.
The PRC is an initiative by the NSW Government that encourages a love of reading in students from Kinder to Year 10. It is not a competition but a challenge to each student to read widely and enjoy reading. The PRC runs until Friday 18th August.
Students who complete the challenge will have their names displayed in the library and the newsletter. They will receive a certificate to show their achievement. At St Joey’s we also like to celebrate with a Pizza Party for those who complete the challenge.
A note will be sent home closer to the date with information for any student who would like to participate.

Sora

St Joseph’s has a subscription to SORA. Sora is an eBook and audio book Library. As part of the Australian Catholic Education Network (ACEN) member collection, your child can access eBooks and audio books through the Maitland Newcastle Diocese.  All you need to do is to download the SORA app or go to the website and sign in through the ACEN membership, then you and your child can enjoy some terrific books on your devices at home.

One of the great features of SORA is the inclusion of a Premier Reading Challenge book section. Graphic novels, Fiction and Non-Fiction books are also available.
Log in and explore today.

If you have any questions about anything in the Library, feel free to send me an email.

Happy reading,

Leah Hannan

Teacher Librarian and ER Teacher

leah.hannan@mn.catholic.edu.au

School Swimming Carnival

Well, we really started the year with a bang in sport! Our swimming carnival on 7th February was a fantastic day with some stellar performances in the pool. It was great to see some students swimming 50 m for the first time and pushing themselves hard to finish. There were students taking the plunge in 25m for the first time too, which can be a bit scary. Well done to everyone who challenged themselves at some level at the carnival. Here at Joey’s we strive high in everything!
Special thanks to our parents who did our timekeeping and starting and to all the teachers who made the day a great success. Sofia and Seamus from Stage 3 were a wonderful help to our timekeepers and recorders. Thank you all.
Of course, there are winners in every carnival and I hope to announce the age and house champions in the coming weeks. We are just waiting on our trophies.

Lakes Regional Swimming Carnival

Following on from our carnival, we took a large contingent of swimmers to Lambton Pool for the Regional Carnival. Every swimmer did us proud with their excellent swimming and wonderful behaviour and sportsmanship. Several officials, where I was working, noticed the positive cheering and encouragement from our team. Our representatives were:
Hamish, Ajay, Jack, Jacob, Toby, Izeah Mya, Sienna, Evanna, Kaitlyn, Matilda G, Matilda B, Abigail, Angus, Phoenix, Xavier, Matilda D, Carys, Poppy, Bohdi, Zac, Elliette, Darby, Seth. Well done team!

Diocesan Swimming Carnival

After some spectacular performances at Regional the following students qualified to compete at the Diocesan Swimming Carnival. Matilda, Darby and our ‘awesome foursome’ Jack, Jacob, Ajay and Toby swam their hearts out in high class fields. Ajay came 3rd in the 12 years Backstroke and now goes to Homebush in Sydney to compete at the Polding Championships, Well done Ajay!

Qualifying times for this event are very tight as it is a pathway event to NSW Swimming. Just qualifying is a huge achievement, so congratulations to our wonderful swimmers who again represented us beautifully by striving high and showing excellent sportsmanship! 

After some spectacular performances at Regional the following students qualified to compete at the Diocesan Swimming Carnival. Matilda, Darby and our ‘awesome foursome’ Jack, Jacob, Ajay and Toby swam their hearts out in high class fields. Qualifying times for this event are very tight as it is a pathway event to NSW Swimming.

Lakes Region Netball Trials

We have four of our senior girls attending the Lakes Region Netball Trials after meeting the rigorous criteria. All four of our girls have been selected in the Westlakes Netball Train On Squads for the 2023 season, and are very excited to represent Joey’s at the Lakes trials 23/2/23. We wish Genevieve, Mya, Kaitlyn and Matilda the very best of luck.

Diocesan Rugby League Trials

Tuesday 14th March will be an exciting day for two future Knights! ( I hope). Jacob and Ajay are two very experienced and highly regarded Rugby League players with the Toronto Scorpions and will be representing Joey’s at the Diocesan Rugby League trials. We wish them the very best of luck!

Yours in sport

Anne Neems

Co-ordinator

While the Primary children were splashing it out in the pool at the swimming carnival, the infants had a fantastic day at the Teddy Bears Picnic. Mrs Walker and Mrs Stewart recreated the book "We’re Going on a Bear Hunt" by Michael Rosen by organising lots of 'hunting' activities for the children to participate in. It was a great fun! Some classes made Teddy Bears and everyone sat together with their favourite bear or soft toy for lunch.

Opening School Liturgy

On the 16th January, we celebrated the start of the school year with our Opening School Liturgy in our church. Christopher Voight, our Parish Leader, lead us in our celebrations. We welcomed our new principal, teachers, students and school leaders. Thank you to all those who were able to attend and join us in welcoming the start of the new school year with us.

God Bless,

Taylor James

RE Co-ordinator

Hi everyone,

With all of our new EAL/D students for this year at school, I will be putting together some Cultural Snippets on a regular basis. I'll keep them brief (dot points) & just focus on one country, one aspect.

I hope you find it useful in increasing your understanding.  You may choose to share some of this with your children.   

Chinese Culture > Greetings

•  Handshakes are the standard, casual greeting. The grip tends to be lighter than the Western handshake and is also sustained for longer.
•  In formal situations, people bow slightly or nod politely to greet one another formally. The bow is from the shoulders and should be greater if the person you are greeting has a higher status than you.
•  If seated, the Chinese will stand up out of respect when they are introduced to someone.
•  Always greet those that are older than you first.
•  Use a person’s family name and appropriate title to address them unless they have indicated that you can move on to addressing them on a first-name basis.
•  Usually, only friends address one another by their given names.
•  Nicknames are used only between very close friends or lovers.
•  To show a high level of respect, friends might use the terms ‘lao’ (old) and ‘xiao’ (young) with or instead of titles.
•  It is considered impolite to greet a friend with a comment that could be perceived to have negative connotations, such as "You look tired".

Kind regards,

Dionne Mitchell

EAL/D Teacher

(English as an Additional Language/Dialect)

Welcome to our yummy canteen for 2023!

Please note that slushies are temporarily unavailable

Nippy's frozen cups (kids call them Ice Crushers) are available instead.

Here is the latest menu for your reference.  Please send any questions to admin@kilabenbay.catholic.edu.au or call the school office on 4959 1355

Some reminders:

Pre-ordered frozen beverages

Supply Changes

Please note that vegemite scrolls are no longer available but we will trial our own vegemite and cheese rolls - see Qkr to order.

Also now available are bacon and cheese rolls.

Lunch Order Issues

Volunteer Roster

Every helper is so appreciated and we extend our sincere thanks to our wonderful regulars, together with the new volunteers who are just starting out.  Although a couple of new people have registered (big thanks!), we will need more people.  As with any volunteer position at school you must be registered.

If you are able to offer help, please send an email to admin@kilabenbay.catholic.edu.au and Margaret Livingstone or Susie Doran will help with your volunteer registration.   

See below for the Roster for term 1 from Week 6 (Tracey has contacted volunteers direct for the weeks prior to week 6) - If you are unable to make it on your rostered day, please either text Tracey or call the school office:

Week 6

Wed 1.3.2023 - Andrew Edwards

Thur 2.3.2023 - Laura Rowan

Fri 3.3.2023 - Emily Sault, Stefanie King

Week 7

Wed 8.3.2023 - Jade Davison, Ruth Blyton

Thur 9.3.2023 - Maryanne Cartwright, Lyn Moseley

Fri 10.3.2023 - Alesha Quinn, Helen Edwards

Week 8

Wed 15.3.2023 - Michelle Cherniayeff

Thur 16.3.2023 - Tanya Bower, Elise Fitzpatrick

Fri 17.3.2023 - Jacqueline Hansen, HELP NEEDED PLEASE

Week 9

Wed 22.3.2023 - Sheree Williams

Thur 23.3.2023 - Yasmin Every-Burns, Nicole Davison

Fri 24.3.2023 - Jenna Lorriman, HELP NEEDED PLEASE

Week 10

Wed 29.3.2023 - Michelle Cherniayeff

Thur 30.3.2023 - Michelle Cherniayeff, Emma Douglas

Fri 31.3.2023 - Sarah Morris, Cheryl Henriques

Week 11

Wed 5.4.2023 - Andrew Edwards, Ruth Blyton

Thur 6.4.2023 - Tania Bower, Elise Fitzpatrick

Over the Counter Sales / Recess Qkr ordering

Some healthy snack items are available for pre-order and payment on Qkr for Recess. 

Here is a picture of the popular and healthy Crunchie Munchie pack.  It includes a delicious mix of fruit and veg, a tasty cheese stick and rice crackers all for just $2.

If you would like your child to have a recess snack, please place a comment in the "note to staff" section when selecting your item.

Thank you

Margaret Livingstone

and Tracey Ryan-Ward

A big welcome from St Nicholas OOSH to all our new and existing families for 2023. We are looking forward to another fantastic year of exciting activities for both Before and After School Care and Vacation Care. For all our new families my name is Kristy and I am the Nominated Supervisor at St Nicholas OOSH Kilaben Bay. Our team also consists of 2 other permanent staff members, Matthew and Natalie and we also have a team of fantastic regular casuals including Mrs Gebhard and Mrs Hawthorne who are Learning Support Teachers here at St Josephs.

Some information regarding the OOSH service. We are open Monday to Friday from 6:30am – 8:45am for Before School Care and 2:45pm – 6:30pm for After School Care. Our Vacation Care program runs every school holidays and we are open 6:30am – 6:30pm Monday to Friday. Our Vacation Care program is released around week 6 of each term and the program consists of in centre days, incursions and excursions. The program will be available via the St Nicholas OOSH website or you can contact the service or the school office for a copy.

We provide Breakfast everyday from 6:30am – 8:15am. This consists of cereal and toast and we also provide special breakfasts which include Scrambled Eggs, Toasted Sandwiches and Pancakes. We also provide an Afternoon Tea for our After School Care children and Vacation Care. There is always a fresh fruit and vegetable platter available and our Afternoon Tea menu consists of items such as Nachos, Muffins, Sandwiches and Cheese and Crackers. All dietary requirements are also catered for.

If you are interested in enrolling your child here with us at St Nicholas OOSH Kilaben Bay please contact the service via email kilabenbay@stnicholasmn.org.au or you can call our service on 0437664070. My hours are as follows Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 11:00am – 6:30pm and Thursday and Friday 6:15am -2:00pm. My office hours are 11:00am – 2:00pm Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and 9:00am – 2:00pm Thursday and Friday. Please contact me at anytime if you have any questions. Matthew, Natalie and the rest of our team are always available if I am not here to assist with your enquiry.

We look forward to getting to know you all in 2023.
Kristy, Matt, Natalie and the St Nicholas OOSH Team.

Here at St Nicholas OOSH we provide a variety of activities for the children that attend OOSH including arts and crafts, construction, role play, a variety of sports activities and plenty of opportunities for your child to relax and chill out after a busy day of learning. We are still taking enrolments for 2022 and our Easter Vacation Care program will be available very soon. If you wish to enrol your child please contact the service either via email kilabenbay@stnicholasoosh.org.au or phone 0437 664 070. Alternatively you can head to the St Nicholas OOSH website https://stnicholasoosh.org.au/kilaben-bay and click on the enrol button which will take you straight to our online enrolment form.

We are also currently accepting the Service NSW Before and After School Care Vouchers. These vouchers can be applied for online via the Service NSW website and give families $500 per child toward the out of pocket costs of sending your child to Before and After School Care. If you have any questions regarding the vouchers please contact Kristy, Centre Coodinator, via email or phone.

St Nicholas OOSH Kilaben Bay Opening Hours

Before School Care: 6:30am – 9:00am Breakfast provided

After School Care: 2:45pm – 6:30pm Afternoon Tea provided

Vacation Care/Pupil Free Days: 6:30am – 6:30pm Breakfast and Afternoon Tea provided.

Pricing for 2022

Before School Care

Casual $24.00

Permanent $19.00

After School Care

Casual $30.00

Permanent $25.00

Vacation Care

Day Camp $60.00

Incursion $70.00

Excursion $80.00

We look forward to seeing you soon.

Kristy and the St Nicholas OOSH Team.

KRISTY MARNEY
NOMINATED SUPERVISOR - OOSH | ST NICHOLAS OOSH
P 0437 664 070    
| PO Box 775 Newcastle NSW 2300 

Email  Kristy.Marney@stnicholasoosh.org.au Visit us online www.stnicholasoosh.org.au

St Anne's Playgroup is back!!  See the downloadable flyer for more information.  If you or anyone you know has children 0-5 years - all are welcome!

Our Bus Timetables are available to download for your reference.  Please note that we have simplified the bus numbers so that younger children are able to remember which bus they catch.  See below for our Bus Number Table Reference: