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Dear Parents and Carers,
Welcome to Term 1, Week 5!
Compass Communication
Thank you for checking your Compass calendars and news feeds each week to check any further communications from myself or our staff. The more informed you are, the better organised we can be to help your children adjust to a full timetable back at school. Some parents have reported issues with login in to the Compass App on their phones. If this is your experience, please contact the school for help. Send an email to admin@kilabenbay.catholic.edu.au or call 4959 1355 (8:30 am - 3:00pm).
It looks promising with the COVID restrictions easing in the near future HOWEVER I do ask you to continue monitoring your own health and the health of your children and keep them home if they are unwell and arrange a test if they have any COVID symptoms. I will be in touch with you as soon as our new guidelines are confirmed.
Regional Swimming Carnival
Congratulations to our fantastic swimmers who attended the Regional swimming carnival last week at Lambton Pool. We were clearly the stand out school with the most supportive and well behaved children at the carnival – not my bias, actual comments from other schools! Well done boys and girls! Here are some photos of our wonderful children.
Diocesan Swimming Carnival
A big shout out to Ajay (Year 5) who represented the Lakes Region at the Diocesan carnival on Tuesday just gone.
Here is our champion swimmer having a well earned snack in front of the Lakes Regional Flag!
Well done Ajay!
Wednesday Weekly Awards
Our Wednesday Awards Assembly is back! Congratulations to our award recipients and well done to our student leadership team who ran their very first school assembly in the COLA area. Hopefully next week we will be back inside our school hall for the assembly.
Student Awards
Week 4
Week 5
New bus route - Billy's Lookout Teralba
At the end of last year I put a survey out to parents and carers asking who would use a bus service through Billy’s Lookout, Teralba and St Paul’s. The survey results were in favour of introducing the bus service to save parents time, promote independence in their children and for convenience. Many hours of organisation has gone into the introduction of the bus service. We have secured a temporary bus service with Port Stephens buses, a 28 seater at this stage. If the bus service becomes more popular than 28 seats we will engage in a larger bus. The Catholic Schools Office is funding this service, no Opal card is necessary until this route is taken over by Toronto buses which is Government funded. This bus service will start on this Monday, 28th February.
The bus service is happy to start at Speers Point travelling to Teralba, then Billy’s Lookout, First Street (if required), then to St Paul’s, then stopping at Hayden Brook Drive (if requested) and then on to St Joseph’s. The afternoon will be the opposite route. I will put times of this service on Compass. On Monday, one of our staff members may be able to follow the bus for the first time in the afternoon if required, although the bus driver will have a list of where each child is to exit the bus.
School Bus Opal Cards
School Fees
Please have a look through the Compass newsfeed for my letter explaining this year's fees. This year, fees are being billed in our new system, which encompasses other schools, including high schools, in the Diocese. Therefore there is a delay in sending statements to you by e-mail while teething issues are addressed. However, some parents may see a total owing showing in Compass from today. Statements, which will include your Bpay reference number to commence instalment payments, will be emailed out at the end of next week. Please note that the technology fee and general service fee have been combined into one total, which is why the "Resource fee" will look a little larger than set out in my letter but rest assured it's the same amount. As always, I invite you to contact me if you are experiencing genuine hardship in relation to your financial situation relating to school fees.
Strategic Improvement Plan
I would like to share the majority of my “uncut” powerpoints from our parent forums. I, very proudly, arrived as Principal at SJKB in 2019 which is when I offered our first Parent Forum. The following slides are school focuses in 2020, 2021 and 2022! I am extremely fortunate to work alongside our St Joseph’s staff and we have accomplished many great things over the years, we have climbed hurdles and celebrated and we will continue to make our school great! We are not ticking off our accomplishments, we are building on them, we are perfecting them and we are striving high to support our families and children in our community.
ICAS (International Competitions and Assessments)
You have been very patient waiting for your ICAS certificates from 2021. Due to the lateness of administering the ICAS in 2021, the certificates have just arrived. It will be time to register for 2022 soon if you would like your child to participate in 2022 ICAS.
Congratulations to:
Digital Technologies
Participation: Lisa K
Credit: Toby V-M, Roland P-I
Science
Participation: Carys E, Lisa K, Toby V-M
Mathematics
Participation: Lilly K,Lisa K, Roland P-I
Merit: Toby V-M, Callum R, Carys E
Credit: Audrey T
Spelling
Participation: Shelley D, Matilda D, Carys E, Martine S, Toby V-M, Charlize S, Lisa K
Merit: Nina R
Credit: Grace B
Distinction: Lilly K, Roland P-I
English
Participation: Carys E, Nina R, Martine S, Toby V-M, Roland P-I, Lisa K
Credit: Audrey T, Lilly K
Well done everyone!
Enrolment Information Evening
We are planning our School information evening for any new families K-6 who would like to enrol their children at SJKB in the near future or in 2023! Further details will follow.
Student Leadership
Congratulations to our wonderful Year 6 student leadership team who were commissioned today in our St Joseph’s parish church (there will be a lovely photo of the team in this weekend's Newcastle Herald, unfortunately Ava D is absent in the photo but not forgotten):
CAPTAINS
Chyler C, Sienna G, Ava D, Ghian J, Cooper
HOUSE CAPTAINS
Mia B, Ava H, Ryan S, Decklan G
MINI VINNIES
Scarlett K, Mae R, Charlize S, Ruby C, Ella M
Parents and Friends Association (P & F)
Our P&F Meeting returns for 2022 on Tuesday, 1 March at 6.30pm, at this stage face to face in our library! If your child is enrolled as a student at our school, you are automatically a member of our P & F. So, all are welcome and as they say “No experience necessary!”
God Bless,
Charlene Reid
Principal
We have begun another great year of reading, researching and exploring some fantastic technology. Students have been learning about Cybersafety and how to stay safe on the Internet.
St Joseph’s has a wonderful collection of books that we encourage all students to borrow. They are currently enjoying our collection of Star Wars books, as well as our Graphic novels display.
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. Please pay on Qkr! and the bag will be delivered to your child.
This year class borrowing days are:
Monday: Year 1, 2 Blue, 3 Maroon, 4 Maroon and 3/4 Blue,
Tuesday: Kinder, and 5/6 classes
Kinder began borrowing this week 5.
We encourage all students to borrow from our library, as we have an amazing collection of fabulous books.
Premier's Reading challenge
The Premier’s Reading Challenge (PRC) will begin next Monday February 28th
The PRC 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. The challenge continues until 19th August, so students have 6 months to complete it. Students who complete the challenge will have their names displayed in the library and the newsletter. They will also receive a certificate to show their achievement. At St Joey’s we like to celebrate with a Pizza Party in term 4.
A note was sent home this week with information for any student who would like to participate. If your child has entered the PRC in previous years, their username and password will be the same.
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.
Scholastic Book Club
At St Joseph’s we participate in Scholastic Book Club. This provides families with an easy way to encourage your children to read. Twice each term students will bring home a catalogue of affordable and fun books that you may purchase. All money spent through Book Club benefits the school, as a percentage of money raised is given back to the school as reward points for the Library to purchase fantastic resources.
The current catalogue is due back by Tuesday 1 March
Happy reading,
Leah Hannan
leah.hannan@mn.catholic.edu.au
Learning Support and Gifted News
Learning Support
Personalised Planning meetings will be held the 1st and 2nd March. Please keep an eye out in your emails for your meeting time and day.
Year 1 Minilit Intervention groups have commenced this week with all students settling in and having fun learning their sounds and words.
Below are a few more tips to use when reading with your child:
- Set the scene :Before you read the story, tell your child the title of the book and a bit about it. Try to relate it to your child’s own experience, if you can. If it is about dogs, talk about a dog they know. You can also discuss what might happen in the story.
- Read the book: Read the story in a lively way with lots of expression. If you come across unfamiliar words, stop and tell your child what they mean. This improves your child’s vocabulary and helps them to understand the whole story. During the week, you might also like to remind your child of some of the new words from the story book and relate them to your everyday life.
- Recalling the story: After reading the book, ask your child questions about the story. For example, “What happened at the beginning of the story?” or “What happened at the end of the story?”. If they can’t remember, tell them. You might also want to try asking different types of questions that require more than a yes or no answer. For example, “Why do you think the little green dragon was so sad?” These sorts of questions help to develop your child’s language skills. You don’t need to read a different book for every session; in fact, rereading the same book several times allows the child to become familiar with the story and helps them to learn new vocabulary.
Finally, being patient and enthusiastic will make reading together a much more positive experience for both you and your child. Have fun!
(taken from Multilit)
Year 4 Macqlit group are also going really well. If your child is in my Macqlit group and they have a laptop and headphones, and you are happy for them to bring in, please do so.
Gifted Education
The Virtual Academy Orientation Day was held on Wednesday, 23rd February for new students to the VA and was a great experience to see and learn all about the projects for the year. I am sure Sienna is going to love this opportunity!
I am always on the lookout for other amazing students to work with, so keep trying everyone!!
If you ever need further assistance, my contact details are: monica.shanahan@mn.catholic.edu.au
Regards,
Monica Shanahan
Welcome to Week 5!
A couple of weeks ago a paper letter and a digital copy of the Class Parent Network letter with a return slip (nomination form) went home.
CLASS PARENT NETWORK-
It is that time of year where we start to organise our Class Parent Network. A Class Parent Network was established at our school in 2012. It involves parents nominating to become the “Class Parent” in their child’s class.
The purpose of a Class Parent is-
- To provide a personal link between the class teachers and the parents of the students.
- To provide parents with an opportunity to be in an advisory role to the principal.
- To enable parents to have another means of access to information about the school.
- To provide the school with relevant information regarding the needs of the community.
- To involve parents more closely at the school; and
- To assist the school in promoting community i.e., organising social events
I have received a few slips back, thank you to those parents/carers for nominating. There are a few classes still without a nomination. If you have a child in KB, 1M, 3M, 3/4B, 4M and 5/6M and would like to nominate for the position of Class Parent for your child’s class. Please return your nomination form to the school as soon as possible. (downloadable copy below) It is greatly appreciated.
Wishing you a happy and healthy week
Mel Dobosz
Pastoral Care Worker
Wishing you a happy and healthy week.
Mel Dobosz
Pastoral Care Worker
School Swimming Carnival
We had a fantastic day at our Swimming Carnival in week 2. Our Year Six students did us proud, timing races and carrying out all the roles we usually ask our parents to do. We are so grateful for your assistance Vincent H, Mia B, Sienna G, Ava D, Ryan S, Dominic V, Lucas B, Ella M, Mae R, Chyler C, Ghiann J. Special thanks to Griffin who wrangled all the equipment needed all day.
It was wonderful to see so many students having a go at the difficult competitive races including Matilda D, Ruby M, Scarlett K and Vicki P-M.
The number of entries in our 25 m races was very high and it was great to see students pushing themselves to do their best including Zaine H, Henry G, Archie F, Mae R and Allanah R. Many students celebrated success after completing a race they ' didn't think they could do!' Well done.
Our trophies are on order and will hopefully arrive at school for assembly in week 6.
Regional Swimming Carnival
We took 21 swimmers to the Lakes Regional Carnival at Lambton Pool and we are very proud of the effort of each and every one of our team! Our team was without doubt the best behaved team with amazing team spirit and plenty of encouragement for each other.
The team was:
Jack B, Sienna B, Zac B ,Lucas B, Matilda B, Chyler C, Ava D, Carys E, Angus G, Max G, Sienna G, Kaitlyn G, Matilda G, Ajay J, Jacob S, Ryan S, Ethan S, Bohdi S, Evanna S, Mya S, Toby V-M.
Diocesan Swimming Carnival
The final icing on the cake was the selection of Ajay into the Lakes Regional Team to swim in the Diocesan Carnival. Ajay will swim in no less than five events at the carnival which is a fabulous effort. Ajay swam a beautiful final leg in the junior boy's relay at the Lakes Carnival, let's hope he can do it again.
Our next big event will be our school Cross Country Carnival at the end of this term. Students are being upskilled for the carnival in their PE lessons.
We are hoping that Primarily Active can visit us for four weeks of gymnastic skill development starting next Tuesday!
Yours in Sport
Mrs Anne Neems
Sports and Primary Co-ordinator
Ordering
- Orders for multiple children have been grouped onto one in error - please ensure that each child's name is selected before choosing the order for that specific child. Then return to the beginning and select the next child to place the next order.
- Please check each of your child/ren's registrations to ensure their 2022 class is up to date.
- Please supervise the order being made on Qkr as errors have occurred when allowing children to use the app unsupervised - this creates confusion for children, wastage of food and expense for you when errors occur for wrong days or what are perceived to be incorrect items.
Thank you for your co-operation with this.
Volunteer Roster
Volunteers are still needed, so it would be wonderful if you could consider giving a few hours of your time, even once per year! A huge thank you to our existing volunteers who make the running of the canteen possible for your children's enjoyment.
See below for the Roster - apologies that Tracey didn't realise that Week 1 commenced in January. Therefore week numbers are corrected here as follows. If you are unable to make it on your rostered day, please either text Tracey or call the school office:
Week 6
Wed 2.3.22 - Nicole Davison, Sheree Williams
Thur 3.3.22 - Tania Bower, Elise Fitzpatrick, Julie Kempnich
Fri 4.3.22 - Sarah Morris, Cheryl Henriques
Week 7
Wed 9.3.22 - Ruth Blyton
Thur 10.3.22 - Volunteers needed
Fri 11.3.22 - Alesha Quinn, Helen Edwards
Week 8
Wed 16.3.22 - Ebonny Blakey
Thur 17.3.22 - Maryanne Cartwright, Lyn Moseley
Fri 18.3.22 - Emily Sault, Stefanie King
Week 9
Wed 23.3.22 - Andrew Edwards, Jade Davison
Thur 24.3.22 - Volunteer needed, Worakot Walker
Fri 25.3.22 - PUPIL FREE DAY - no staff on site - OOSH OPEN
Week 10
Wed 30.3.22 - Nicole Davison, Sheree Williams
Thur 31.3.22 - Tania Bower, Elise Fitzpatrick, Julie Kempnich
Fri 1.4.22 - Sarah Morris, Cheryl Henriques
Week 11
Wed 6.4.22 - Jenny Dudgeon
Thur 7.4.22 - Volunteer needed
Fri 8.4.22 - Alesha Quinn, Helen Edwards
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
Calling all Rock n’ Rollers!! Learn guitar St Joseph’s Kilaben Bay in 2022
A reminder that St Joseph’s Kilaben Bay students will continue to have the opportunity to learn guitar in 2022. Open to years K to 6, students will learn everything from Bon Jovi to Billy Eilish to The Weeknd, to Post Malone, to Imagine Dragons, to Guy Sebastian, to Tones and I, to AC/DC, all whilst learning acoustic and electric guitar skills, learning to perform as part of a group and enjoying the excitement and experience of being a real musician with skills that will last a lifetime. All lessons are conducted in small groups, based on age and skill level. If you are interested in your child being involved, please email Ricky at ricky@rickysmusictuition.com.au
Hi everyone,
On behalf of Plus we’d just like to thank everyone for your kind donations. In the last year we’ve made $1000 towards resources for St Joseph’s. To put that into perspective, we sell most items at $2.00 each (except jackets and tracksuit pants which are $5).
So we’ve sold approximately 500 items that have been donated by our beautiful families here at St Josephs. Without your support in making donations and buying from us none of this would be possible.
If you need an item, please send a text to Chris, details below. If you'd like to donate, please hand your bag of clothes to staff at the car drop off in the mornings or send to school with your child to drop to Margaret or Susie in the office.
I just wanted to remind everyone that there are two suppliers for our new school uniforms:
> Verdun Hiles have stocked St Joesphs 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 of stock, some sizes go out of stock from time to time but I wanted to let you know that you may be able to get it at Verdun Hiles instead.
Lowes, Stockland Glendale
387 Lake Road
Phone 02 4956 8570
If you're looking for anything, please try us first as sometimes we’ve had items with the price tags still attached. Text Chris - 0413 362 801.
Thank you!
THE PLUS TEAM
Unless otherwise stated, the advertisements placed in this newsletter are by independent third parties who have no legal relationship with the Diocese. The activities or services of the advertiseers are not supervised or controlled in any way by the Diocese. The Diocese is not in a position to endorse the advertisers of the services provided and makes no representation about those matters. Accordingly, the Diocese cannot accept any responsibility for the advertisers of the activities or services that are the subject of these advertisements.
We have a number of students who have life threatening anaphylactic allergic reactions to all nuts and eggs. We would like to encourage families NOT to send these food items to school with their children or to ask their children to tell their teacher if they have brought them, so that they can be eaten away from affected children. We also encourage children NOT to share food at school.