St Joseph's School, Tara eNewsletter

Our Vision & Mission Statements

From the Principal

Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome to Week ten! Don't forget that the term ends on Thursday with a pupil free (travel) day this Friday. Term 4 commences on Tuesday 4th October. There is a public holiday on the Monday so enjoy the extra day.

Learning

With so much student and staff illness this term, it has seemed like a much longer term. Fortunately everyone is on the mend again and feeling much better and able to continue their learning at school.

Teachers have set learning and teaching goals based on your child's learning and have adjusted the curriculum to better meet your child's needs. Support for small groups and individuals have been identified and planning to impact learning has occurred through our school review and response process. Teachers have supported the students to reflect on their previous learning goals to develop student owned goals for Term 4.

The three way learning meetings enabled students, parents and teachers to collaborate for student learning. I was very proud of the way the students voiced their reflections on their Term 3 learning and their goals. Parent input was very helpful and enlightening for the teachers.

Well done students, parents and staff. I can't wait to see the students' learning growth in Term 4!

Australian Maths Competition

Seven courageous Year 3-6 students with a passion for mathematics voluntarily entered the 2022 Australian Maths Competition. Jason French and Jorjah Furniss received participation awards. Zak Phillips, Marcella Ferguson, Rubie Warwick, Aldrich Imperial and Gnhevea McLuckie received proficiency awards. Gnhevea achieved the highest score for our school. Congratulations!

GOLD RUSH Day

The Year 3-6 students recently had a very realistic experience of a time in Australia's history, the GOLD RUSH period. Mr. Smith and his wonderful helpers really made this unit of study come to life as students panned for gold, produced their miner's licence and enjoyed olden day games and activities. I was delighted to be able to participate as well.

Under and Over 8's Day

After postponing the Under and Over 8s day last week due to thunderstorms and 27 mls of rain, the day went ahead yesterday and was a wonderful day full of fabulous activities and wonderful interactions.

A huge thank you to the Small Schools and Save the Chidren, who provided fun and educational activities and enjoyed the day.

A special thank you to the wonderful St. Joseph's staff and families for their preparation and voluntary help before and on the day. Local community members and groups, Majella Hetherington, Gary Dicks (Apex) and the Police used their gifts for the benefit of the students. The Under and Over 8s enjoyed a smorgasboard of age appropriate activities. Well done everyone!

Term 4 Transition Days

In Term 4 there will be three Transition Days! Please book the following dates into your calendar:

Friday 14th October from 8.30-10.30 am
Thursday 27th October from 8.30-1.30 pm. Come dressed as a character from the WIZARD of OZ!
Friday 18th November from 8.30-2.50 pm

2023-2024 Enrolments

Thank you for spreading the word that 2023-2024 enrolment applications are now open! Please continue to share this information with your friends and others in the community.

I wish everyone a safe and relaxing holiday. Stay well and be kind to each other.

Regards

Mary Porter

"A beautiful bright light shines at the end of this path, and a few more windings will bring us to it." Mary Mackillop (1907)

"Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path." Psalm 119: 105

From the APRE

A Prayer for All Children

May adults everywhere value and respect the vulnerable and strive to provide a society which is safe and enriching for all children. Lord hear us.

May our families grow stronger in their love for one another and may all children be raised in safe and nurturing environments. Lord hear us.

May children, young people and adults who have been victims of abuse wherever it occurred be believed when they report abuse, come to realise that it is not their fault and find healing and hope through the care and support of all of us.

Lord hear us.

Loving God, May always we be mindful of providing a safe environment for children, young people and adults. Amen.

Happy birthday Mary!

On the 8th September we remember the birthday of Mary, the mother of Jesus.

RIP

We give thanks for the all the good that Queen Elizabeth II did in the world and pray for healing and unity in her family.

May she rest in peace.

Liturgy of the Word

Miss Fisher and the P-2 class shared an end of term Celebration of Creation liturgy of the word today at 2.15 p.m. It was awe inpiring! P-2 are such capable and spirit filled caretakers of creation.

Learning at St Joseph's

Learning in P-2

Wow! Hasn’t this term flown by? It has been amazing to be back with the students and getting to know lots of new faces in P-2. At the end of the term, we have so many things to celebrate and the students' learning is one of them. Students in P-2 have shown a real dedication to their learning and are using our school learning superpowers by showing persistence when a task has been tricky and courage in having a go!

This term we were lucky enough to have gymnastics again which all the students thoroughly enjoyed and P-2 presented a lovely liturgy on Creation which is what we have been learning about in class. I hope all students and families have a fantastic and relaxing break and cannot wait for Term 4! If you ever have a question about your child's learning or wellbeing please feel free to send myself an email and we can arrange a time to have a chat!
Regards
😊 Miss Fisher

Year 3-6 GOLD!

To culminate our studies into the 1850’s Gold Rush in Australia, our students packed up their kit bags, loaded the coach and headed west in search for GOLD with their miner's licence safely in their grasp.

Dry and wet panning resulted in a wealth of the precious metal, but not quite the “mother load”.

The fossickers dined on billy tea and damper in Canvas Town, while enjoying colonial games such as horse shoes, Eureka tag and outback ball toss.

A haul of yabbies was also on the menu.

Precious stones were collected from the old excavations and greedily stored in our young miner's kits.

For lunch we all met at the inn and feasted on sausages, cake, oats biscuits and fruit.

Even a mining licence check by the local constabulary could not spoil the day.

As the coach load of fossickers and miners returned to Tara town, many a weary traveller dreamed of a cosy soft bed.

The students researched the effect the Gold Rush had on the colony of NSW, its role in the development of the young nation and its effect on population, multiculturalism, food and industry. The students were surprised at the role women played in this exciting part of our history and the hardships that many people endured.

Many students took the opportunity to extend their studies and took on extra research at home.

Photo Time

P & F News

Tuckshop - GREAT NEWS- volunteers do not have to be vaccinated to work in the tuckshop or school any more!

A very successful Under and Over 8 day canteen was organised by Anne Furniss, the St. Joseph's tuckshop convenor and her helpers on the day. Thank you for your hard work.

From the Parish

St Mary Of The Angels - Tara
Mass Times

Tara: Friday: 9am
Saturday: 6pm

Moonie: Sunday: 9:30am
on the 1st, 2nd & 3rd Sunday of the Month

Meandarra: Sunday: 7:30am
on the 2nd & 4th Sunday of the Month

Glenmorgan: Sunday: 9am
on the 4th Sunday of the Month

Parish Priest: Fr Jack MacGinley
Presbytery: 4665 3401 (Tara)

St Joseph's Awards

Silver Award Recipients

Tamarah Leis, Havoc McLuckie

Bronze Award Recipients

Decklin Bramich, Roco Phillips, Marcella Ferguson, Zak Phillips, Meliaceae Hockley-Black, Alaura Latimer, John Chottu, Oliver Warrington & Jason French

Students Of The Week

Week 9 - Havoc McLuckie & Jason French

Week 10 - Leakella Norford, Alaura Latimer & Jasmine Wood