Newsletter - 20 October 2022
From our Principal
Dear Parents,
Today is another chance to get things right!
Schools, as a matter of reality, have to address situations that are sensitive in nature. We are made aware of personal or private circumstances and information. It is shared with school because it helps us to support children and families.
For many of our staff, who are parents as well as employees, this can place them in potentially difficult situations. At times they may be asked questions that really as professional employees they cannot give answers to. I would hope that most parents would not expect them to share this information!! What would this say about their professionalism if they did share? I have found the easiest way to avoid this is simple. Just don’t ask!
What our school hopes and expects is effort by all members of our community to do the same. We need parents and children to do what is needed to help a situation get better or for the school to try to develop solutions to problems or challenges in the short and long term.
This may require people to share information with the school or to let us know about a situation or it may mean that parents and children don’t involve themselves, refrain from ‘over sharing’ with anyone that wants to hear because this will do nothing to help fix the problem and potentially make it worse.
Sadly there have been too many times in my experience where (even with the best intentions) parents addressing problems directly with other parents or contacting parents about things they have witnessed before the school can go about responding, has lead to the problem becoming more complex or the school having to deal with a situation that has escalated.
Our school will not always get things right or go about things in the best way. I am okay with this as long as we learn from it, make changes and improve how we do this the next time. This is called learning! We as adults, parents and members of a school community have opportunities to learn as well.
Wishing you every blessing for the coming week,
Geraldine Rostirolla
Principal
RE Matters
US’ NOT ‘ME’ – A REFLECTION
An anthropologist proposed a game to the children in an African tribe. He put a basket of fruit near a tree and told the kids that the first one to reach the fruits would win them all. When he told them to run, they all took each other’s hands and ran together. Then they sat together, sharing and enjoying the fruit.
Surprised, the anthropologist asked them why they had run like that, when one of them could have had all the fruit.
They replied, “UBUNTU! How can one of us be happy if all the other ones are sad?”
* Ubuntu (oo-boon-too) is a Zulu or Xhosa word. It means, "I am because we are."
(Author Unknown)
VIRTUE OF THE FORTNIGHT – UNITY
“So powerful is the light of unity, that it can illuminate the whole world.” (Unknown)
Unity is inclusiveness. It helps people work and live together peacefully. When you practice unity, you feel connected to everyone and everything. It is achieved when we value each other. The joy of one is the joy of all. The hurt of one is the hurt of all. The honour of one is the honour of all.
“Where there is unity, there is strength.” (Unknown)
OCTOBER - WORLD MISSION MONTH
This month we are celebrating SOCCERTOBER. With a focus on Ethiopia, “You shall be my witnesses” is the theme of Catholic Mission’s appeal this year. Their goal is to support families facing malnutrition and food insecurity.
We are having an exciting SOCCERTOBER raffle. Tickets are 50 cents each or 3 for $1.00. The winner will win a soccer ball for themselves and a soccer ball for their class.
SOCCERTOBER badges ($1.00) will be on sale in the library at lunchtime this month. The staff are also participating in a coffee challenge.
On World Mission Day, which we celebrate each year on the penultimate Sunday of October, we recall with gratitude all those men and women who by their testimony of life, help us to renew our baptismal commitment to be generous and joyful apostles of the Gospel. (Pope Francis 2021)
Please join with Catholics around the world this Sunday to pray for those in need and those who generously support them in word and action. Remember to pray for yourself and the people you love and the members of our school, parish and local communities who live the mission of the Church every day.
MONTH OF THE ROSARY
During October we are encouraged to pray The Rosary and to reflect on the mysteries of our faith which it memorialises. Please join us in praying this beautiful prayer for peace in our homes, school, community and world.
“The greatest method of praying is to pray the Rosary.”
(Saint Francis de Sales)
To find out more about The Rosary and how to pray it, go to Catholic Online:
http://www.catholic.org/prayers/rosary.php
SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM
Please continue to pray for all students who are enrolled in the parish based Sacramental Program and are preparing to receive the Sacrament of Penance for the first time next month
DAY FOR DANIEL - WEAR RED
On Friday 28 October we will join with the rest of Australia in acknowledging ‘Day for Daniel’. It is a child safety and protection initiative that aims to help empower our children to Recognise, React and Report if they feel something is not right. ‘Wear Red and Educate’ is the theme of ‘Day for Daniel’.
All students are invited to wear something red (t-shirt, socks, shoelaces, ribbons) with their school uniform on this day. It is not a free dress day. No donation is required for participation. Badges will be on sale in the week leading up to the day.
For more information about the Daniel Morcombe Foundation and ‘Day for Daniel’ go to: http://www.danielmorcombe.com.au/
MONSTER CHRISTMAS RAFFLE
There may not be NORFAIR this year, but our parish is selling tickets in an amazing raffle. With a First Prize of $10 000, tickets are great value at $5.00 each. The raffle will be drawn on Friday 9 December, just in time for Christmas. You’ve got to be in it to win it!
Tickets are available online, before and after weekend Masses and from St Joseph's Parish Office
(Monday - Friday 9am to 12:00pm - phone 49574855).
For weekly Gospel readings, reflections and meditations go to http://www.prayasyoucan.com.au/
Download this week’s parish bulletin @ https://rok.catholic.net.au/parish/mackay-st-josephs/#
For Parish News, updates and to book for weekend Masses go to the Catholic Parishes of North Mackay and Farleigh Facebook page.
Noeleen Kliese
Assistant Principal Religious Education
Curriculum Corner
2023 BOOKLISTS/BOOKPACKS
DEADLY DAY OUT
Our Year Five and Six Indigenous students attended “Deadly Day Out” at Brothers Leagues Club on Wednesday with our Indigenous teacher assistant Mrs Knight and Miss Kirwan. The students enjoyed sporting activities organised by Deadly Choices, learning a dance performance by Mr Patrick Thaiday and explored artefacts and created clay creations with Miss Melanie Kemp. It was a lovely day out. A massive thank you to Mrs Tatchell and Mrs Dorante for their organisation.
Janine Refalo
Assistant Principal Curriculum
APA News
CLASSES 2023
Term Four will see staff arrange classes for the 2023 school year. This process is very deliberate and time consuming, but also very important to creating balanced classes throughout the school. I would like to provide parents with some of the underlying principles that drive our decision making:
- We always aim to create classes that are balanced in need. We consider the academic, social, emotional, and behavioural needs of the children when placing them in a class. This is never straight forward and often needs considerable thought. A past practice has been that students nominate a friend, but as you can appreciate this is very difficult to accommodate in a school with 588 students. This practice will no longer be a deciding factor in class placements.
- We consider the gender balance within the group, the body of knowledge that we have gathered on each child and any parent input that may assist.
- We always endeavour to be just, fair, and compassionate to the needs of each child.
I invite parents to write to me if you have information about your child that may assist the staff in placing your child. While I always stipulate that parents are not able to request certain teachers and groups of friends, there is often information that, as a school, we are unaware of and would benefit from knowing. Please put your consideration in writing and send to the office addressed to Miss Rostirolla by TOMORROW, Friday 21 October.
I would also like to stress that our staff know their students very well and will do their very best throughout this process. I urge parents to trust us in making informed decisions that we consider will be the best for each child.
Geraldine Rostirolla
Principal
Karla Falzon
Acting Assistant Principal Administration
Strategic Priorities 2022
COVID Update
Sporting News
EMMANUEL YEAR 2-6 SWIMMING CARNIVAL 2022
The Inter-house Swimming Carnival will be held on Thursday 27 October at the PIONEER SWIM CENTRE, North Mackay. The carnival is for all students from Years 2-6, with students competing in the age group that they will turn in 2022.
Year 2 students will participate in width events in the main pool and/or novelty events in the wading pool and on the grass. They will then return to school mid-morning (approx. 11:00 am). All other students (Years 3-6) will return to school around 2.00 pm, ready for dismissal at the usual time of 3:00pm. Students will travel to and from the pool by bus.
Students aged 9-13 years may compete in either width OR length events, not both.
Please Note: Points towards Age Champion are only awarded for length events for students aged 9-13 years.
I hope that all students participate in at least one event on the day. Participation and fun are the name of the game. We welcome all school community members to attend to urge on our young stars.
Reminders:
- SLIP! SLOP! SLAP!
- A LARGE water bottle is a must.
- Students need to bring sufficient food and water to see them through the day.
- The pool canteen will have snacks available from 11:00am.
- Leave all valuables (iPods, games, smart watches etc.) at home.
- No coloured zinc or crepe paper is allowed, as this interferes with the pool.
- Nominations are via the Google Forms emailed to all families on Wednesday.
- Only students who have been nominated by their parents via the Google Form will be participating/swimming in events.
- Please find attached a program for the day.
- The marshalling area is out of bounds to everyone except the competitors.
- A designated parent area is allocated on the eastern side of the pool. Please bring a chair/rug.
- The Year 2 novelty area will be roped off – parents are asked not to sit in this area.
- Entry is free for parents
- Parents are responsible for non-school age children – they cannot be in the wading pool.
Carnivals are a great way for our students to participate in a friendly environment, competing against schoolmates. If you would like any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me through the school office.
PREP - YEAR 3 SWIMMING LESSONS
Prep to Year 3 students will participate in swimming lessons at Marlins Swim School later in Term Four. A letter outlining dates / costs has been distributed to these classes. We ask that parents of students in Prep – Year 3 please complete the Google Form (Emmanuel WATER ACTIVITIES - Prep and Year One Students) emailed yesterday to confirm your child's permission for these lessons.
The Arts
Linda Miller
Music Teacher
Awards
Congratulations to the students who received a Virtue Voucher in Week 2.
Tuckshop News
We would like to send out a big THANK YOU to the special mums, dads & grandparents who have volunteered their time helping in the tuckshop. Your efforts are very much appreciated. We cannot keep up with demand without parental assistance. Due to work and family commitments we will be needing more assistance in Term 4, so please consider helping just one day a month.
Please Note: It is imperative that volunteers DO NOT attend tuckshop if they are unwell, have anyone at home who is unwell or have been in contact with anyone who has COVID-19.
Term 4 School Fee Statements
Term 4 School Fee Statements were emailed to all families on Tuesday 11 October, with payment due by 25 October. Statements can also be viewed via parent lounge using the ‘make a payment’ tab from the menu bar and clicking on the paperclip. If you did not receive your statement, please advise the finance office.
Notices
P & F MEETING
The next P & F meeting will be held on Tuesday 1 November at 5:00pm. This meeting is to revise the constitution. No general business will be discussed.
TRAVEL SUBSIDY
Student travel rebate applications are only open in October for Semester 2. Please visit https://schooltransport.com.au/ to check if you are eligible.
Community News
Learn To Skate!
If you are interested in learning to skate come on down to the Mackay Leisure Centre on Thursdays from 4pm to 5pm and get your skate on. The first lesson is free and all abilities and ages are welcome. For further information contact Mackay Roller Sports Association at mrollerhockey@gmail.com or phone Lyle Denman on 0432170997.