NEWSLETTER 38/2015

ST JOSEPH’S PRIMARY SCHOOL

2nd December 2015 Term 4—Week 9

SJS CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Week 9

Thursday 3rd December * Bendigo Banking * Year 2&5 Swim School

Friday 4th December * Year 2&5 Swim School

Week 10

Monday 7th December * Commonwealth Banking

Wednesday 9th December * Mobile Library Visit

Thursday 10th December * Bendigo Banking * Year 6 Graduation - Mass 6pm - Dinner 7pm

Friday 11th December * Year 5 - Fisheries Visit * Last Canteen for 2015

Week 11

Monday 14th December * Year 6 - Altina Wildlife Park

* NO CANTEEN

Tuesday 15th December * Last Day of Term 4

* End of Year Mass-10.30am

Other Important Dates

Friday 29th January 2016 * First Day of School for Students Year 1—Year 6

Thursday 4th February 2016 * First Day of School for Kinder Students

Telephone: 02 6959 2238

Fax: 02 6959 3006

Email: sjn-info@ww.catholic.edu.au

Website: www.sjnww.org

P.O. Box 248

85 Larmer Street

NARRANDERA NSW 2700

Welcome We would like to welcome Aaliyah O’Keeffe to Year 3 at St Joseph’s, we hope you enjoy your time here with us.

Sympathies

We would like to extend our sympathies to the Roden and Hands family on the loss of their Great Grandmother, Mrs Eileen Hands. May she Rest in Peace.

Homework As mentioned in previous Newsletters, current research into the benefits of homework is saying that there is little or no benefit for primary aged children. I am proposing that next year we change the practice of giving homework and adopt a policy along these lines.

General Teachers will not set formal written tasks that are to be completed at home. At the beginning of each term, class teachers will provide parents with an overview of topics to be covered in each Key Learning Area, to assist communication between parents and students about the learning occurring at school. The school will regularly communicate via the School newsletter, suggestions for ways parents may support their child’s learning across various KLAs. Parents will encourage students to develop regular reading habits. Students will be responsible for their own revision at home. Students will be encouraged to: K-1 — Home reader and Sight words. Years 2 - 6— Children are encouraged regularly to: - read - rehearse maths facts - reinforce class learning through their participation in programs like Mathletics and Reading Eggs - Year 6 In preparation for High School, students may be involved in technology based research projects. School: The School will be expected to: provide term overviews from each grade to parents provide ideas for parents to develop creative and critical thinking

in home activities I'd welcome any feedback on the above thoughts about Homework. Graeme Urquhart Principal

RELIGION ADVENT This week is the first week of Advent it is the beginning of the church’s year. Advent comes from the Latin word ‘Adventus’ meaning ‘coming’. It is a season of waiting and a time to prepare for the celebration of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) as we recall the first time that Christ came to us. It is also a time to reflect and prepare for Christ’s second coming (parousia – a Greek word meaning presence or arrival) at the end of time when he will return in glory. Advent is a season of spiritual preparation for the coming of Christ, of solemn joy and anticipation. It is not a penitential season. The violet or purple vestments and decorations are intended to focus on preparation. These colours were reserved for use by royalty and so they are used in Advent to symbolise the coming of Christ our King.

End of Year Mass Our end of year Mass will be on Tuesday 15th December at 10:30am. Father Tony Schipp will say Mass. Afterwards there will be the presentation of the awards to classes and the announcement of captains for 2016. Please join us in the staff room for a cuppa at the conclusion of the Mass.

St Vincent De Paul Thank you to Stage 3 today for selling Zooper Doopers to help raise funds for the St Vincent De Paul Christmas Appeal. Next Wednesday is Stage 1 and Early Stage 1 fundraiser. They will host a Christmas Day. All the children are invited to wear Christmas colours and donate a gold coin.

Dates to Remember Year 6 Graduation Thursday 10 December 6:00pm End of Year Mass Tuesday 15th December 10:30am

Mass Times St Mel’s Narrandera Saturday 6:00pm Sunday 9:30am Julie Flynn Religious Coordinator

AWARDS Congratulations to the following students who

received awards last week;

Year 6: Dylan Johnson, Brooklyn Hands

Year 5: Sophie Knagge, Lachlan Kerr

Year 4: Georgie Rava, Mia Manley, Pippa Smith

Year 3: Talon Davies-Botten, Mekaila Luhrs, Aaliyah

O’Keeffe, Mitchell Forrest, Daniel Harrison, Ruby

Hewitt

Year 2: Hallie Mimmo, Mia Pearce, Zoe Achison

Year 1: Isabelle Gillespie, Alyssa Sweeney, Mason

Pearce, Harry Sergeant

Kinder: Aston Hammond, Harry Kschenka, Sophie

Heckendorf

Guitar News Well as our year comes to a close, I think it is very important to mention some of our successes through the year. Our players represented the school for the concert, the church service and the Eisteddfod and have shown they can follow music scores with the strings group. Our senior groups have been mastering bar chords which are extremely difficult and our lead players in senior groups have shown that they can put the lead and rhythm together to play in a band situation. We had people busk for the John O Brien and the School Fete and our buskers are getting more and more confident to busking singularly or in groups. Congratulations to the guitar students who delighted Teloca with their guitar playing recently. Many of our students had been working on items in groups so we had a wide variety of items to present. Mini guitar lessons, Year1/2 students have been progressing well, there certainly is some talented children in our group. I have found this method to be a very affective way to teach younger students. They have learnt all three chords and have been learning to change between chords very well a great effort considering they have only been playing a short period of time. The mini guitar group have asked to play for Kindergarten next week on Tuesday afternoon, so we are looking forward to doing that. Happy playing. Our students will of course have first option for a place in individual or group lessons next year. Next Tuesday is our last week for guitar. Thank you parents and teachers and have a Merry Christmas, Regards Annette Morey

CANTEEN HOURS - 10.00am—2.00pm

Canteen Coordinator — Christy Morton 0404 637 827

CANTEEN ROSTER Friday 4th December Monday 7th December

Christy Morton & Helen Ryan Cleo Fraser

Last day of Canteen for 2015

is Friday 11th December

There will be NO CANTEEN on Monday 14th December

To the following Students celebrating their

birthday over the coming week;

Dylan Gill, Olivia Kschenka and Amelia Gillespie

We hope you have a fantastic day!

Junior Basketball

This week will see the Junior elimination finals followed by the Grand Finals to be held on Saturday. A presentation night will be held Saturday night after the Grand Finals. Tea will be available on the night from 6.00pm. Please check the draw carefully as there are some changes to times.

The Draw for this week is as follows: Tuesday 1

st December

7.00pm Senior Girls Mercury v Liberty Referees Lee & Matt Wednesday 2

nd December

5.00pm Intermediate Boys Warriors v Spurs & Rockets v Bulls

Referees Lee, Casey, Matt, Alexa

6.00pm Junior Boys Raptors v Kings & Intermediate Boys. Referees Lee, Matt, Casey, Alexa

7.00pm Senior Boys Crocodiles v Taipans Referees Lee, Matt Thursday 3

rd December

4.30pm Aussie Hoops

5.00pm Junior Girls JIMZ v Opals Referees Lee, Matt 6.00pm Intermediate Girls Hammer Heads v Star Fish

Referees Matt, Lee

Have we got your Email

Address??

We send the Newsletters and often other

School information home via email. If you

are not receiving this information please call

into the office to update your details.

* * * WANTED * * * Newborn baby car seat

Cot (suitable for Newborn)

If you have a surplus of any of these items

please contact Mrs Darrington in the office to discuss.