News & Events

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A message from the Principal

07.05.19

Dear SJMS Community

Welcome back after what I hope was peaceful holiday that allowed you to spend quality time with your family and loved ones.

During my visits around classes this week I have seen the students busily preparing for Sunday. Happy Mother’s Day - one and all!

The day is devoted to all mothers, for their selfless love and the pains and hardships they have taken to make life better for their children. At SJMS we focus on the day to allow children to realise the importance of a mother and the contributions they make in their lives and hence, a day like this provides an opportunity to thank mum or a special person for all that they have done. I look forward to this Friday’s Mother’s Day Celebrations.

Special Welcome to New Students

I would like to extend a warm welcome to our new students and their families to St Joseph’s Memorial. May you experience much happiness and success throughout your learning journey at St Joseph’s Memorial; Henry Year 4, Yuvraj Year 3, and Manning in Reception.

Federal Election Update - Catholic Education’s Key Election Objectives

Catholic schools are a vital part of Australia’s education landscape; from humble beginnings almost 200 years ago, Catholic Education is now the nation’s largest provider of education outside the government.

The key national issues for Catholic Education at the upcoming federal election are:

  • increased capital funding
  • more resources for early childhood education
  • religious freedom in schools

To find out more go to:  http://www.cesa.catholic.edu.au/news/federal-election-2019

Dr Tom Nehmy Presentation

Thank you to our P&F for organising Dr Tom Nehmy. Last week Tom presented to over 70 Parents on how we, as parents and educators, can foster good Mental Health and Resilience in adolescents. The session was well received by all. 

The P&F hopes to facilitate events such as this on an annual basis, on areas that may interest the parent community as a medium to ensure that there is a continued partnership and synergy between home and school.

Uniform

Last term I reminded parents of our Uniform Policy. I was very pleased with the majority of students who complied from the beginning of this term, wearing their Winter Uniforms correctly. Please be conscious of your child’s PE day/s this term, to ensure they are wearing the correct uniform at all times. A reminder that the School Uniform Policy also incorporates grooming, in particular;

  • Hair needs to be kept away from the face at all times. Long hair (shoulder length) needs to be tied back.
  • Hair ribbons, ties, clips and headbands are to be in school fabric or school colours.
  • Make up is not allowed including nail polish.
  • Hair style and colour needs to be appropriate for school and should not be designed to attract attention.

NAPLAN

NAPLAN testing will start next Tuesday until Friday 24 May. Tests of this nature provide us with valuable data as a school and more importantly feedback about individual student progress. You are also no doubt aware that the data forms part of the MySchool website which I elaborated on at the SJMS AGM earlier this year.

The NAPLAN tests, by their nature, are only a snap-shot of how a child performs on a particular day, at a particular time, in a given test situation. My experience has shown that some children may become anxious on the week or eve of the tests; this anxiety often reflects itself in results where they underperform. I believe in the ‘normalisation’ of the process. Key to this is treating the day, like any other and not fuelling the fire by ‘talking the tests up’. NAPLAN is one of a number of ways that allows teachers to assess, measure and track student individual attainment and achievement, it provides another piece of the learning jigsaw not the finished picture. Here are some suggestions that may help you support your child/ren during the week…

  • Ensure your child gets plenty of rest and a good night’s sleep.
  • Give them a solid healthy breakfast – but don’t overload them.
  • Provide healthy snacks and lunch on test days and plenty of water.
  • Cut back on after school activities if your child is tired, but encourage fresh air and a fun play outside.
  • ‘Keep it low’; children pick up cues from us, so encourage your child to do their best but don’t put extra pressure on them.’
  • No extra tutoring or last minute studying is necessary; the test will cover normal classroom/curriculum work learnt over a period of time.
  • Emphasise that this is just one of many tests they will have during their schooling.
  • Most of all – please reassure them that you are proud of them … for who they are – not what they can do. No ‘one’ test can ever measure a person’s worth. 

Year 6 Canberra Trip

Year 6 students will be travelling to Canberra in Week 3 (13 May to 16 May) to explore our Australian Capital Territory. While they are there they will be visiting; The Australian Institute of Sport, Parliament House, Questacon, Old Parliament House, National Electoral Education Centre, Royal Australian Mint, Australian War Memorial, Museum of Australian Democracy, National Gallery of Australia and the National Arboretum.

I look forward to joining the group alongside of Mr Heaney and Mrs Lewis. Our graduating students always develop a deeper understanding of how our heritage and our Australian identity has been formed. In visiting the significant places, students will develop an understanding of how our country is governed and the electoral processes. It will be an interesting time to visit Canberra in the final week of the election.

Today the Year 6/7s had the pleasure of welcoming Mr Slater to their classroom. Mr Slater was one of six members of the Australian Defence Force who brought back The Unknown Soldier and laid him to rest at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Australian War Memorial. Mr Slater’s talk was a rare and wonderful insight into the significance and enormity of what our students will experience in Canberra. A big thank you to Mr Slater for taking the time to visit our school.

God Bless

Brady Stallard