Week 1 Term 2 2024

Dear Families,

Welcome to Term 2. I hope you had a wonderful holiday break. It's always a pleasure to witness the children's excitement in seeing each other on return to school.  It has been a very settled start to a busy term ahead.  

We received the terrific news during the holidays that Mrs Denison and her husband welcomed the arrival of their baby boy, Navy Jude. Baby and mum are well and Sophie and Jed are very excited about their beautiful baby son.  Congratulations to all and welcome to the family Navy!

As a regular requirement of School Compliance and a way of keeping you, our parent community informed, please be aware that:

• The Diocese of Lismore Catholic School Office Child Protection policy and procedures identifying child protection processes including mandatory reporting is available on our school website, a hard copy is available in the office within the school.
• The St Joseph's Anti-Bullying policy and procedures have been reviewed in line with the Diocesan Anti-Bullying (Student) Policy and Standard Operating Procedures. The Policy is available on our school website.

At the heart of Catholic Education lies a commitment to the wellbeing and safety of every student. Over the next weeks, we will present some items for your information as we continue to foster positive relationships at St Joseph's 

Item 1: What is Bullying?
Understanding bullying helps students and parents distinguish between regular conflicts and actual bullying. This helps avoid confusion and ensures that the right help is given when needed. It can also empower you as parents to engage in prevention efforts proactively. By teaching your children about respectful behaviour, empathy, dignity, courage, and inclusion, parents can help prevent bullying from occurring in the first place.

Bullying refers to the unwanted, repeated and intentional use of words or actions against a student or a group of students to cause distress and risk to their wellbeing. Watch 

Bullying means behaviour that has three (3) key features:
1. It involves the intentional misuse of power in a relationship;
2. It is ongoing and repeated; and
3. It involves behaviours that can cause harm.

A student can acquire power through advantage, such as social status, popularity, an advantage in size and strength, number of allies, age, skill, or membership in a socially defined dominant group, which could be based, for example, on wealth or gender.

Behaviours that do not constitute bullying include:
1. Mutual arguments and disagreements;
2. Not liking someone or a single act of social rejection;
3. A single episode of hurtful words or actions
4. Isolated incidents of aggression, intimidation and/or violence

Indirect bullying (also known as covert bullying) is not always immediately observable and acknowledged as bullying. Indirect bullying can be discreet and anonymous, and the person experiencing the bullying behaviour may not realise it until after it has occurred.
Examples of indirect bullying include:
● Spreading rumours: Sharing false or harmful information about someone to tarnish their reputation.
● Gossiping: Engaging in negative discussions about a person without their
knowledge.
● Social manipulation: Encouraging others to exclude or reject a person from social
groups.
● Cyberbullying: Using digital platforms to harass, intimidate, or spread harmful
content about a person.
● Stealing: Discreetly and repeatedly stealing personal belongings

When parents understand what bullying entails, they can effectively communicate with their child about their experiences at school, in the community and online. By using the correct terminology and understanding the dynamics of bullying, parents can encourage open dialogue and provide the necessary support.

Watch Bullying and Conflict  with your child.

This year we are looking to celebrate our mums with a Mother's Day breakfast on Friday 10 May 2024 to start the day at 7.30 am.

We are seeking dads to do the cooking and serving. Dad's, this is your golden opportunity to do some extra spoiling, by coming along and helping out!

We would need to start cooking at 7 am. Dads can nominate through the Google Form below. 

Please complete the Google Form  to organise catering

A Whole School Mass to thank God for our mums will be celebrated at 9.30 am in the Church. 

A Mother's Day stall will be held after lunch for those children wishing to purchase a gift for Mum for $5.00. 

Thank you to the current Parent Forum for organising the gifts.

The following days have been set down as Staff Development Days for St Joseph's for 2024. We thank you for supporting us in our Professional Development/Learning 
opportunities.

Students do not attend school on these days

TERM 2
29 May	Staff Proclaim
Friday 5th of July	School Review- where to from here
TERM 3
Monday 22nd of July	New Curriculum
Friday 27th of September	New Curriculum

Saturday 4 May	Confirmation Preparation Meeting
Monday 6 May	Tell Them From Me Survey period begins
Tuesday 7 May	Richmond Zone Cross Country
Friday 10 May	Mother's Day Breakfast 7.30 am Mothers Day Mass 9.30 am Mother's Day Stall From 12md
Saturday 11 May	Confirmation Preparation Meeting
Sunday 12 May	Mother's Day
Monday 13 May	Parent Forum Meeting 6pm
Friday 17 May	Confirmation Sacramental Retreat at Coraki
Saturday 18 May	Confirmation Preparation Meeting
Monday 20 May	Sacrament of Confirmation
Friday 24 May	Stage 3 Assembly

         

• The Holiday break we have just enjoyed.
• The arrival of Mr and Mrs Denison's son- Navy
• Our friends.
• Being back together again.
• A new term for learning and growing.
• Our students who attended the ANZAC Day services
• Our Student Award Winners for starting Term 2 in such a positive way!

Have a wonderful weekend

Regards

Jeanette Wilkins

 Principal

Richmond Zone Cross Country

Congratulations, to the students who have qualified to participate in the Richmond Zone Cross Country Trials to be held next Tuesday 7th May at Hepburn Park, Goonellabah The approximate running time for these trials will be 9:30 am – 2:00 pm.   

The children will travel to the trials by private transport.  Students will wear their school sports uniform and school hat.

Additional event details:

Program of the day - Approximate times

• 9.30 - 9.45 Arrival
• Each school will walk the course with their own teachers/group
• 10.15 Welcome - Prayer - Welcome to Country
• 10.25 - Beginning of events:

1. 10 years Boys
2. 10 years Girls
3. 9 years Boys
4. 9 years Girls
5. 8 years Boys
6. 8 years Girls
7. 11 years Boys
8. 11 years Girls
9. 12/13 years Boys
10. 12/13 years Girls

 Presentation - Medallions (throughout the day) and trophy winners (if time permits).

 2pm departure.

Polding Trials

Wishing the best of luck to Chase Martin and Thomas Bailey, who are in Tamworth today for the Polding Trials

Important Dates 

Diocesan Cross Country - Tuesday 23rd May - Grafton

 

CONGRATULATIONS

All orders need to be on paper bags with the child's name, class and what they would like to order clearly written on them with the money enclosed.