A strong message this year has been Be Kind.  Most students at school will be able to repeat Mrs Mcleod’s 3 important rules

• Be Kind
• Be Kind
• Be Kind

If we were all to be kind, our school would be an amazing place to be.  However, there are the occasional times when students forget to be kind to others and may be mean instead. Often the victim (who has received the mean behaviour) may refer to this as bullying. However, bullying is a repeated behaviour that is mean, rude or unkind. It is a considered behaviour rather than something that happens in the moment and it usually involves a power imbalance of some kind. Bullying behaviours can be aggressive, unkind or mean. They are also;

• repeated behaviours (it must happen multiple times, in an ongoing way to be defined as bullying)
• happen on purpose
• have a power imbalance – which means that people bullying and the people being bullied aren’t seen as being ‘equal’, e.g. older, bigger people picking on smaller, younger people, or ‘popular’ people targeting someone who they see as being ‘unpopular’, or who is struggling to make friends

Bullying is not the same as

• Being rude – saying or doing something hurtful that wasn’t planned or meant to hurt someone, e.g. someone pushing in front of you in the canteen line
• Being mean – doing something hurtful to someone on purpose, e.g. a friend refusing to play with you one day
• Conflict – having a disagreement with a friend

Bullying can happen to your face or behind your back.  It may be observable or very subtle.  There are many types of bullying including cyberbullying, physical, verbal and social.

Most incidents of behaviour that we see at St Joseph's are poor choices, made in the moment that may be unkind, rude and or aggressive.  Very rarely a student makes a repeated, on purpose decision to be mean.  When these behaviours happen they are mostly resolved in the moment, the behaviour is talked about, an understanding is built and the relationship is repaired.  

However, if you think that your child is being bullied please advise your child to stay calm and report it to an adult.  Reporting keeps students safe, it is a brave and empowering thing to do.  If your child is incapable of reporting it please do not hesitate to make the class teacher aware of what is happening.  It is then that we can work together to make a plan to stop the bullying. 

Premiers Reading Challenge- Half Way Mark

Congratulations to the following students who have completed and risen to the challenge of the Premiers Reading Challenge of reading 10 books in 10 weeks (or less).

• Olivia Oats
• Chelsea Jones
• Sydney Gray
• Lucy Mansson
• Siobhan Alexander
  

Insight

Insight, based on the science of learning and reading, encompasses the way we teach in every classroom. This teaching approach empowers all educators to help their students grow in knowledge, wisdom and service.

On Monday we had Alice Smith visit our school.  Alice is a coach from CogLearn who is working with us on building capacity.  Alice worked in many classrooms and intensively with Mr Semmens as we continue to grow, learn and practise the elements of explicit teaching.

Catholic Education Week

Last week our Year 6 students participated in the Catholic Education week Mass.  This is a great celebration of schools in the North West of Tasmania. 

Thankyou to Carmen Holmes and Anne-Marie Walker for supervising and ensuring our students were able to participate in this celebration.

We were acknowledged for our work on the Archbishops charter at the end of the mass.  There are many aspects of our school that are underpinned by our commitment to Leadership, Catholic Identity, Learning and Mission.

Catholic Idenity 

• Footprint cards- recognising positive behaviours- like Jesus did
• Whole school masses termly
• RE display

Learning

• Sacramental program
• Teachers planning Godly Play experiences
• Promote Christian virtues of faith, hope, joy, peace, kindness, patience, humilmility, honesty and charity through direct teaching and modeling

Mission

• Lyell wing visits
• Engage the school community in understanding and appreciating our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures through Yellow Day and NAIDOC week celebrations.

Leadership

• Promoting ways for students to lead initiatives such as Blue Day
• Recognising and building on the strengths of staff

Science Week

This week is another busy week as we celebrate Science Week.  Science is to be celebrated in many ways across the school.  Below is the timetable of events.

SRC Book Week Disco

As part of PE lessons this term, Mr Quinn has been teaching the students dances.  Students have been learning the Macarena, Cha Cha slide and the Nutbush.  As part of our celebrations of book week and a chance to practise our dances, the SRC will be hosting a disco on Thursday 24th August from 4:00-5:30pm.  Students are invited to wear their book club costume.

Welcome Back Mr Semmens

This week we welcome back Mr Semmens from his trip to World Youth Day.  We are looking forward to hearing about his journey.  We will be sure to publish his thoughts and learnings in the next newsletter, after he has acclimatised to the wonderful Tasmanian, West Coast winter.

Happy Everything

Mrs Teresa McLeod

Term 1: 3rd February - 6th April

Term 2: 26th April - 7th July

Term 3: 25th July - 29th September

Term 4: 17th October - 13th December

The School Board meets regularly throughout the year, assisting the Principal in practical matters associated with operating our school, including governmental and financial domains.

Your Board for 2023 is:

Chair - Christine Gray

Members: Alex Williams, Narissa Gaspersic, Cindy Clarke

Executive Officer: Teresa McLeod

School Business Manager: Kerri Bugg

In 2023 the Board has committed to be proactive and act with purpose to achieve positive outcomes for the St Joseph’s School community. We aim for our meetings to be efficient, with clear updates and actions.

So far this year the following has been undertaken:

• The Chair attended a workshop around the early learning for 3 year olds program being developed by the State Government
• A request made to the State Government for St Joseph’s to be granted a seat on the proposed West Coast Steering Committee in relation to the implementation of early learning for 3 year olds
• Feedback provided to the management committee of the North West Catholic School Swimming Carnival regarding the event held at the Burnie Aquatic Centre in March
• Supporting the Principal in discussions with Catholic Education Tasmania around housing development and upgrades to ensure the attraction and retention of staff
• Agreement to communicate with Catholic Education Tasmania and Catholic Care to commence discussions around before and after school care programs and LUDO (an early learning for 3 year old program).

There is still the opportunity for parents and friends from our school community to join the Board. Anyone with queries or who may be interested is encouraged to contact any of our Board members above.

The next Board meeting is 21 August at 6pm.

Christine Gray

CHAIR

St Joseph’s School Board

Congratulations to the following students who received awards in todays Assembly.

Emergency Practice

This term we will hold an unannounced emergency practice with staff and students to test our response to a potential scenario that staff identify as a threat, warranting the school to go into lockdown (opposite to evacuation).

We have plans in place to make this practice as least disruptive as possible.

If you have queries please contact Teresa McLeod on 03 6471 1139.