Week 2, Term 2 2023

Dear Families,

Welcome to Term 2. 

I trust you have had a lovely break from the school routine and maybe your family has had a chance to perhaps have a holiday too!
 

Staffing

We welcome back to our school Jessica Williams, in the role of Performing Arts teacher. You may remember Jessica, as a teacher at both the Bridge Street and William Street sites.

In addition, Belinda Papuni will start this term in the role as Education Support Officer to work with our new arrival students.
 

Newsletter this term

This term we will publish newsletters in weeks 2, 4, 6, 8 & 10.
 

Shared School Pillars and Values

As I identified at the beginning of the year, Relationships & Culture are key areas of focus this year at St Joseph’s Memorial. After surveying the staff, students, parents and the community we currently have received over 140 responses.

If you still would like to complete the two-question survey, please click the link below:

SJMS Values and Pillars

We look forward to sharing the finalised data we have received soon.
 

Mid-Year Reception

We are looking forward to welcoming the largest cohort of Mid-Year Reception students in the history of the school for their transition days this term. We have appointed Mrs Cathy Haddad to be the teacher of this class as they commence at the beginning of Term 3. We are almost at capacity with the Mid-Year Reception group.
 

Mother’s Day Stall and Event

Thank you to our wonderful P&F committee for organising and running the Mother’s Day Stall and Morning Tea event. We thank the committee for all the work behind the scenes to help make Mother’s Day a special one for our community.
 

School Sport Returns

School activties including debating, basketball, netball, soccer and football return this term. I wanted to share my appreciation to Mr Dacombe-Bird who has organised the teams and to the parents who have volunteered to coach this season. 
 

Reports

As you would be aware there are two formal School Reports, mid and end of year. Catholic Education SA has adopted a SEQTA as a Learning Management System and this year the “School Report” module is being rolled out. This means that the report we have used in previous years will change to the reporting system being used within SEQTA. All of the Eastern Region St Joseph’s Schools will be adopting the same CESA SEQTA template to report student achievement. We will be sending more information and the template to families soon via Skoolbag.
 

Children's University 

We are pleased that 60 students are undertaking the Children’s University Adelaide program. It has been wonderful to hear the students share their experiences of taking their passports to various learning destinations. We are all looking forward to graduation ceremony held at the end of the year at Adelaide University to celebrate the achievements of the students involved. 

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Welcome back to Term 2. I hope that you have all enjoyed the break although I am sure that you are all glad to get back into the school routine.

Last week, parents and children from the School and Parish Community, came together to begin their preparation for Confirmation and First Eucharist later this term. On the weekend of the 20 and 21 May the candidates will be presented to the Parish Community.

Parents, family members and teachers have an important role in the faith education of their children and students. 

We all share the responsibility to help children to recognise that God:

• Shares the power to love ‘creatively’ so that they can become more like the person Jesus.
• Created within them the ability to discover and develop their power to love so that they can be more like Jesus.
• Created them to become unique as individuals so that they can become more like Jesus.

In each of these statements we are assisting children to ‘recognise’ or ‘awaken to’ God’s presence in all areas of their lives.  As adults then, it is very important for us to be life loving and life affirming people to our children and students.
 

The school will be hosting a Scholastic Book Fair during Term 2 and for every dollar spent we receive 25%. Now what could be better than that?

So please start saving your loose change.
Books / Posters / Novelty School Supplies for ages 3yrs +

This year we are holding our annual St. Joseph’s Book Fair in the William Street Performing Arts Studio.

St Joseph’s Book Fair
Tuesday 6th June  –  Thursday 8th June   [Week 6]
Children’s books go on sale in the Performing Arts Studio
8.30am  –  4pm.
Pop in anytime during these hours, I would love to see you.

Julie Moore, Librarian

We would like to inform you of the dates for Pupil Free Days (PFD) for this year. Please note that OSHC will be available for families that require this service on these days.

• Friday 7 July 2023
• Monday 24 July 2023
• Monday 16 October 2023
• Thursday 14 December 2023
• Friday 15 December 2023

We are trialing a new Assembly format for the year.

In Term 1 to Term 3 we will have 3 Assemblies per term and in Term 4, 2 Assemblies. All Assemblies will be held in the Performing Arts Studio at William St on Friday afternoons at 2pm.

Students from Bridge Street will walk across to William Street to participate in Assemblies, face to face.

Term 2

19 May - Year 5G Assembly
9 June - Year 1B Assembly
30 June - Year 4B Assembly

Term 3
11 August - Preschool Assembly
1 September - Reception Assembly
22 September - Year 2/3B Assembly

Term 4
10 November - Year 2/3G Assembly
1 December - Mid-Year Reception Assembly

We will ask for help from our wonderful parents and caregivers to help walk the Bridge Street students across on these dates. Please look out for the form on Skoolbag, next week.

Please remember to check the school calendar regularly for any updates.

Come see our Preschool in action, contact us for a tour or enrolment information.

St Joseph's Memorial School provides a safe environment for all while valuing the partnership between school and home.

As a Catholic community, we welcome and value volunteers. To be able to volunteer, and/or attend at other times throughout the school year, we ask that you hold the following:

1. A current Catholic Police Check (parents/caregivers attending excursions, reading in class, helping in class, attending community events);
2. A current Responding to Abuse and Neglect in Education and Care for Volunteers certificate (please click here to view how to complete this requirement);
3. Completed the volunteers application.

A Catholic Police Check for volunteers at SJMS are free for our current parents and caregivers. Application Forms are available to download here or at either school office.

We ask that you present your completed form with verification ID to the front office, and we will submit the application on your behalf. You will then receive an email link to complete the process online. Once all cleared you will receive a Catholic Police Check ID card in the post, please bring this in to the front office and we will take a copy of your clearance.

This process ensures we maintain a child safe environment. To avoid disappointment, we encourage you to apply for a Catholic Police Check through either school office as soon as possible.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at either office.

Thanking you
The SJMS Admin Team
info@sjms.catholic.edu.au

For more information on how Catholic Education SA provides a safe environment for all, please click here.

Summary of what is needed to volunteer at SJMS:
Valid Catholic Police Check
Responding to Abuse and Neglect Education and Care Volunteer Certificate
Completed application form

Please check the SJMS Calendar for up to date Pupil Free Days.

2023
Term 2 Monday 1 May to Friday 7 July
Term 3 Monday 24 July to Friday 29 September
Term 4 Monday 16 October to Friday 15 December

2024
Term 1 Monday 29 January to Friday 12 April
Term 2 Monday 29 April to Friday 5 July
Term 3 Monday 22 July to Friday 27 September
Term 4 Monday 14 October to Friday 13 December

2025
Term 1 Tuesday 28 January to Friday 11 April
Term 2 Monday 28 April to Friday 4 July
Term 3 Monday 21 July to Friday 26 September
Term 4 Monday 13 October to Friday 12 December

Please remember to check the SJMS calendar regularly for important dates and events.