Dear Parents and Carers,

School Improvement Plan

Now that we are a third of the way through the year, it is a good idea to stand back and take of stock of how the school is progressing with achieving our school improvement plan for this year. Our Goals for this year were:

• Catholic Identity:

Provide staff formation about the Jospehite Charism in preparation for 2024 where we will aim to reimagine our vision and mission statements

• Learning:

1. Engage in diocesan-led professional learning with Peter Sullivan in the area of Numeracy.
   
   
2. Document and embed effective numeracy pedagogical practices developed over the course of 2023.
   
   
3. Develop consistent school wide formative assessment practices.

I can report that we have completed a formation day at the beginning of this term, where we immersed ourselves in the Josephite Spirituality and how this should impact on our teaching and formation of your children. This week we will be using our staff pupil free day to engage in professional learning with Peter Sullivan on Numeracy. We also have our pupil free days in Term 3 and Term 4 to continue this professional learning.

Regarding assessment and pedagogical strategies, we have developed a school wide Data Wall and will begin teacher learning conversations where we will triangulate data leading to development of consistent process to ensure teachers differentiate effectively to increase student outcomes.

As you can see, the staff have made a great start on achieving our school improvement goals. I am definitely excited to see aspects of our plan coming together. I know that the staff are excited to continue our school improvement journey, as they can see the focus is on improving student learning, our core business. I will update you again regarding our progress in achieving our SIP towards the end of Term 3.

Parent Teacher Interviews

Kindergarten 2024

Please note that if you have children who you are wanting to start Kindergarten next year, can you please contact the school office to start the enrolment procedure. Similarly, if you know of parents who are not from our community with school age children please invite them to contact the office for an enrolment pack. We have a beautiful school community, let’s all promote it!

Catholic Schools Week

A huge thanks to the parents that joined us last week to celebrate Catholic Schools Week here in our school. Your children got a real buzz out of showing you their work. Thank you to our school captains; Toby, Sienna, Ajay, Mya and Genevieve who represented the school so well at the Diocesan Mass for Catholic Schools Week. They went with Miss James and myself to the Cathedral for mass that was celebrated by Fr Greg Barker. They also had a chance to have lunch with school leaders from other schools across the diocese.

Ponytail Project - Matilda B

I'm very pleased to announce that Matilda is fundraising for a very worthy cause - the Ponytail Project.   As part of the fundraising Matilda will be chopping off her ponytail on Friday 30 June - time to be confirmed - at a special school assembly!

A cancer diagnosis touches every family in one way or another, so it would be great if we could support Matilda's brave move to cut off her hair.

Please consider donating to Matilda's fundraiser at:

or visit Cancer Council Ponytail Project and search for Matilda's page - she is registered in the Queensland fundraiser as it is the current one.

P and F Sports Equipment Presentation

At yesterday's assembly the children were excited to be presented with their excellent new sports equipment, arranged by and paid for by P and F Association fundraising.  The children had a particular interest as the equipment was selected by a popular vote from the children.

A big thank you to our P & F President Cheryl Henriques who made the presentation, and her group of many helpers who always have your children's best interests at heart in their fundraising projects.

Take care, celebrate often, and go gently.

Brad Fuller

Principal

NAPLAN Update

Early in Term 1, students in years 3 and 5 participated in NAPLAN (National Assessment Program - Literacy and Numeracy). There has been a change in how NESA (NSW Education Standards Authority) reports back to parents and schools this year. Please see the information below, direct from NESA explaining these changes.

Changes to reporting NAPLAN results

From 2023, NAPLAN results will be reported against 4 proficiency standards rather than numerical bands as in previous years.
NAPLAN reports will contain 4 easy-to-understand proficiency standards:

• Exceeding
• Strong
• Developing
• Needs additional support.

The new reporting standards will provide parents, carers and teachers with simpler and clearer information about how students are performing.

Parent reports will be made available early Term 3.
Read more on the  ACARA website for more information.

Aspire Songwriting Competition

- 3/4 Maroon Performance!

At last week's assembly, the school was treated to a performance by 3/4 Maroon  - performing their wonderful song which made it into the finals of the Aspire Songwriting competition - well done children!

Semester 1 Reports

Teachers have been involved in writing individual mid-year student reports that will be accessed via compass in week 10. Teachers put in an enormous amount of effort to provide accurate and meaningful student reports. They have continued to assess and evaluate student progress throughout the year, in order to provide parents with the most accurate account of student abilities.
Each student’s report in stage 1- 3 will continue to have an “A-E” rating scale to evaluate a child’s achievement against the state-wide standards, not against other students in your child’s class. ES1 have a working above, at or below scale grade. For more information, regarding reports please visit:

https://arc.nesa.nsw.edu.au/go/gen-info/

Landcare Donation

Thank you to Lake Macquarie Landcare for their recent donation of 50 native plants to plant in our garden beds. These plants were planted by some Year 2 and Year 6 students. It is wonderful to see our already beautiful school bloom! Thank you again Landcare for your generous donation.

Catholic Schools Week – Encounter: Journeying Together

Thank you to all the parents, families and friends who were able to come to our Catholic Schools Week Liturgy and open classrooms. It’s always a lovely day to see parents and children looking through their books together, discussing what is happening in the classroom and welcoming families on our shared journey of encounter.

On 22nd May, the School Captains, Mr Fuller and I all attended the Catholic Schools Week Mass at the Sacred Heart Cathedral, Newcastle. Together as a community we celebrated our journey of encounter. Father Greg Barker spoke about how our journey with God is meaningful and how Catholic Schools are a place of connectedness and kindness that we can share with all those around us.

Kilpatrick Court Residential Age Care

We have reconnected with our friends at Kilpatrick Court!
On Friday 19th May, our Mini Vinnies leaders and some of the year 6 Mini Vinnies Conference members got the opportunity to go down to Kilpatrick court and visit some of our friends on level 2 for morning tea and to play some games with them. The smiles that the children brought to residents’ faces were priceless! It was a great opportunity to reach out to the community and show the caring and compassionate nature of our students! We are planning to try to make it a regular trip for the Stage 3 Mini Vinnies. With many of the residents saying how much they enjoyed the students being there and can’t wait for them to return!

National Sorry Day Liturgy

Every year on 26 May, National Sorry Day remembers and acknowledges the mistreatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, who were forcibly removed from their families and communities, which we now know as ‘The Stolen Generations’. National Sorry Day is a day to acknowledge the strength of Stolen Generations Survivors and reflect on how we can all play a part in the healing process for our people and nation. This morning, we held a special Yarning Circle Liturgy to acknowledge and pay our respects to the importance of this day, and to the traditional custodians of the land.

We were led today (Friday 26 May) by Mr John Hession, Aboriginal Education Teacher and Gifted Education Mentor, in a respectful liturgy for National Sorry Day to acknowledge the apology given to our Indigenous brothers and sisters for past hurt.  Mr Hession led a wonderful yarning circle with the children, followed by the liturgy explaining the history of Vincent Lingiari and Eddie Mabo, among other things.  

Special mention to Anolah-Rose for her excellent commentary and singing of "From Little Things Big Things Grow" accompanied by Mr Hession on guitar.  Many other Aboriginal students contributed well with prayers and support.

St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal – WEDNESDAY 7th June

(Please note the change of day, this day was first advertised as being on Tuesday 6th June)

The St Vincent de Paul Society NSW has launched its annual Vinnies Winter Appeal with a focus on the number of older women experiencing and at risk of homelessness. “The Vinnies Winter Appeal is crucially important in enabling our services and members to support people experiencing disadvantage and hardship, particularly the concerning number of older women experiencing or at risk of homelessness,” said Yolanda Saiz, St Vincent de Paul Society NSW CEO. “The latest census figures revealed women over 55 remain one of the most at-risk demographics, increasing by 37% over the past decade to more than 7,300 across Australia.”

Funds raised through the Vinnies Winter Appeal will be used to provide assistance with food, clothing, household bills, specialist homelessness services and support people in need to find and maintain secure housing. Further information can be found on the St Vincent de Paul website

on 13 18 12 and/or at all Vinnies Shops.

Beanie and Scarf Day

As we do every year at SJKB, we will raise money for the Winter Appeal by inviting students to wear their beanie and/or scarf on Wednesday 7th June. Students are asked to bring a gold coin donation or a can/packet of long-lasting food. For example: spreads like jam/vegemite/peanut butter, canned foods like soup/fruit/vegetables/stew/fish/beans, pasta or rice.

Cake Stall

Stage 3 will also be hosting a cake stall, on Wednesday 7th June, with treats selling somewhere between 50c to $2. So, all students are invited to bring some extra money to spend on this and all money will go to St Vincent de Paul.

Liturgy

Our liturgy will be held at 1:50pm on Wednesday 7th June, just before our Awards Assembly.

Colouring Competition

Through a student suggestion, students will also be running a colouring in activity table at lunch times during week 6 and 7. For a donation of 20 cents, students are invited to choose from a range of colouring in sheets, colour them in at lunch time, then they will be displayed around the school during week 6 and 7. Students are invited to come back as many times as they would like, through week 6 and 7, to join us in a fun way to raise further funds for St Vincent de Paul.

A flyer for our winter appeal has gone out today:

Term 2 dates for the calendar:

• Wednesday 7th June: Winter Appeal Liturgy 1:50pm in the Hall.
-Students can wear beanies and scarves this day and donate a gold coin or canned food.
-Stage 3 will have a cake stall to raise further funds for St Vincent de Paul.

• Friday 30th June: NAIDOC Liturgy

Blessings,

Taylor James

RE Co-ordinator

Youth Group Trivia and Scavenger Hunt!

Evangelisation Presentation with Deacon Peter Pellicaan - All Welcome!

Welcome to Term 2 in St Joseph’s Library.
We have begun another great term of reading, researching and exploring some fantastic books and technology.

St Joseph’s has a wonderful collection of books that we encourage all students to borrow.

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. Students are also able to borrow during lunchtimes on these days.

Many parents and carers often wonder if a book is appropriate for their child. A great resource to help with this is Common Sense Media . This website allows parents/carers to search books, games, apps, movies and websites to view whether it is age appropriate and what its content contains.

Library borrowing occurs weekly for students. 

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 Monday.
Primary borrowing is Tuesdays.

I am very blessed to have some wonderful helpers in the library. Our Library monitors volunteer at lunchtimes to help organise resources, put books away and keep the Library neat and tidy. THANK YOU to those students.

PRC

The Premier’s Reading Challenge is an initiative by the NSW Government that encourages a love of reading in students from Kinder to Year 9. It is not a competition but a challenge to each student to read widely and enjoy reading. Students are each given an individual username and password to log onto the PRC website. There they can add the PRC books they have read to their reading record. Students who complete the challenge will have their names displayed in the library and the newsletter. At the end of the year they will receive a certificate to show their achievement. At St Joey’s we also like to celebrate with a Pizza Party for those students that complete the challenge in term four. The challenge continues until 18th August.

The PRC Website can be found here:

Year 1: Harley C

Year 5: Matilda B.

Year 6: Chloe D.

Recently - Stage 3 enjoyed reading and writing about how their mums look after them:

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 

A sausage sizzle will be available on the day of our school Athletics Carnival at Fearnley Dawes track on Monday 5th June.  Ordering will be available on Qkr! (preferred) from Monday 29th May or by paper order form, sent home today - see below for a copy of the note.  Please ensure that orders are placed NO LATER than Thursday 2nd June to enable us to arrange the supplies etc.  Thank you for considering the organisation involved by being ON TIME with your orders:

Thank you

Mrs Anne Neems

Sports Co-Ordinator

and

Tracey Ryan-Ward

Canteen Supervisor

Who doesn't love a pie drive - please support ours!  It's a win/win for St Joey's - no cooking for you and the school benefits from the profits!

Please use the order form sent home to place your order - or print this one and send back to school NO LATER THAN Friday 9th June:

ORDERS DELIVERED TO SCHOOL ON FRIDAY 23RD JUNE

Thank you

St Joseph's P and F Association

Or see below:

Online entry

https://forms.gle/6uSRbPLtkoWwTC3w8 

(we will correct the '2nd painting medium' option on drop off day)

Art PDF
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1On8k8kxc9UEJaVaEeoGPqF5EE4qEfkfI/view?usp=share_link

Craft PDF 
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KiH5Fl8LBuTy6r84VRdjx8TvxqlBN46b/view?usp=share_link

Or go to Wangi Lions Webpage for all links

https://www.e-clubhouse.org/sites/wangiwangiau/page-7.php

PLEASE NOTE IF YOU ENTER DIRECT USING THE ABOVE LINKS, PLEASE EMAIL THE SCHOOL TO LET US KNOW YOU HAVE ENTERED! admin@kilabenbay.catholic.edu.au

Thank you

Courtney Porter

Assistant Principal

As well as slushies, we also have Nippy's frozen cups (kids call them Ice Crushers).

Supply of hash browns has finally improved and they are back on the menu!  Feel free to order them.

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

Unfortunately, due to increases in supply prices, there will be a very slight increase in the price of some hot food items.  These will be advised early next term.

Some reminders:

Pre-ordered frozen beverages

Supply Changes

Please note that vegemite scrolls are no longer available and bacon and cheese rolls have not been popular enough for them to stay on the menu.

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 the Roster below.  Thank you to our wonderful volunteers!  Your children would not benefit from all the canteen has to offer without you!!

If you are unable to make it on your rostered day, please either text Tracey or call the school office:

Week 6

Wednesday 31.5.23 - Michelle Cherniyeff

Thursday 1.6.23 - Maryanne Cartwright, Lyn Moseley

Friday 2.6.23 - Jenna Lorriman, Emma Douglas

Week 7

Wednesday 7.6.23 - Jade Davison, Suzanne Golsby

Thursday 8.6.23 - Tania Bower, Elise Fitzpatrick

Friday 9.6.23 - Sheree Williams, Evalina Bursa

Week 8

Wednesday 14.6.23 - Ruth Blyton

Thursday 15.6.23 - Merryn Compton, Andrew Edwards

Friday 16.6.23 - Sarah Morris, Cheryl Henriques

Week 9

Wednesday 21.6.23 - Alesha Quinn, Helen Edwards

Thursday 22.6.23 - Stefanie King, Nicole Davison

Friday 23.6.23 - Rebecca O'Sullivan, Callan Douglas

Week 10

Wednesday 28.6.23 - Michelle Cherniyaeff

Thursday 29.8.23 - Yasmin Every-Burns, Jade Davison

Friday 30.6.23 - Jenna Lorriman, Emma Douglas

Over the Counter Sales / Recess Qkr ordering

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

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

Another big thank you to the generous families (and also some former families) for your plentiful donations!  As the children grow older, there seems to be a bit less wear left in the clothes, but still need larger sizes (Size 12 - 16) if you have any at home (or know a former family who is having a clean out).

We are also looking for donations of winter uniforms of ALL sizes.  Thank you!

The new format of our pre-loved uniform shop continues with items of clothing presented in a much easier way for purchase.  Current prices are:

- All “good quality” clothing - $5 a piece, except sports jackets, which are $10.

- All “ok quality” clothing is still a gold coin donation.

Of course we will always look after those families who need it the most.

DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED, so please check through your child's uniforms to see whether they are growing out of them and send surplus ones in to the school office (on carline drop off is fine).  A reminder that the larger sizes of good quality uniforms e.g. 12, 14, and 16 are needed. Thank you! A Lowes pricelist is attached to remind you of the cost of new uniforms.  It's a reminder that PLUS runs a very cost effective service that supports our school.

To make credit card payment for your items, please download the Commonwealth Bank Qkr app (see school office staff for details) and choose 

P & F - PLUS - Pre-loved Uniform Shop + New Hats

and type in the total amount for the items you are purchasing

A reminder there are two suppliers for new school uniforms, particularly as the children are in their winter uniforms now:

> Verdun Hiles have stocked St Joseph's uniforms since the school's beginning.
They carry a full range of stock except girls' shorts (they haven’t got the girls shorts in yet as they are awaiting a sample).  The majority of their items are Australian made, resulting in a top quality finish.  Also a good option when Lowes are out of stock.
> Call in and check it out.  They also stock the same colour but thicker winter stock of girls pants than the Lowes brand.  So if you want to support local, you have the choice.

> See Val at Verdun Hiles
> 88 The Boulevarde Toronto
> Ph 02 49591258

Also Lowes Glendale stock a full range.  Some sizes go out of stock from time to time but we wanted to let you know that you may be able to get it at Verdun Hiles instead. 

Lowes, Stockland Glendale - 20% off next thursday and Friday 4 and 5 August.
387 Lake Road
Phone 02 4956 8570

How to Order

Look out for our simple QR system - coming soon.  In the meantime - please email direct to the P & F Volunteers on joeyspandf@hotmail.com

PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR CHILD'S NAME AND CLASS in the message as our volunteers do not have access to the different family surnames to make connections to students - therefore use your child's name first, then your name, especially if different surname. 

Unfortunately school admin staff are not able to leave the office to fill orders, so please use the email address above and volunteers will assist as soon as possible.

Thank you!

THE PLUS TEAM

An updated paper Term Planner will be sent home shortly for your reference.

However, please continue to check your Compass app for daily information shown in orange.

Would you child like to learn guitar?  We have a guitar group here at St Joseph's where children receive tuition from professional teachers at school.  For more information, please contact Ricky direct on 0407 534 944:

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: