St Joseph's, Tara - Term 4 Week 6 2024 Newsletter!

Our Vision & Mission Statements

From the Principal

Welcome to the Term 4 Week 6 Newsletter!

Celebration of Learning Evening 

It is always exciting coming to the end of a school year and attending all the final celebrations. 

On Tuesday 3 December we will hold our Celebration of Learning Evening (previously called Awards Night). The change of name was a school decision to align this night of celebration with the work we have been doing in the school’s well-being area (Berry St Model and Qualities of a Lifelong Learner).  

In next fortnight's newsletter, we will delve further into the success criteria for the various areas of recognition.

Master Plan Survey

Each school within the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Diocese creates a Master Plan. This plan helps us determine what facilities we currently have which are meeting the purpose of use, may require refurbishment or demolition, and what new facilities we may require. We are keenly interested in your ideas about our school facilities and ask that you respond to survey via this link. Our goal is to develop a Master Plan for St Joseph’s to provide a school environment that is safe, attractive and suitable for learning and wellbeing. We thank you for your support in this important area of the school.  

2025 Class Structures and Staffing

It has been a long work in progress, but I am pleased to announce that we can confirm our class structures and staffing for 2025.  

Prep/1 - Miss Heather Sheppard 

Year 2/3 – Mrs Tammy Ash 

Year 4-6 – Miss Autumn Taylor 

Learning Support Teacher – Miss Tara Fisher 

Teacher Librarian – Mrs Marg Bowman 

LOTE Specialist Teacher – Miss Tara Fisher 

PE Specialist Teacher – Mr Chris Coman 

Jump Into Joeys Coordinator – Miss Tara Fisher 

School Officer: Classroom Support – Mrs Dorene Warwick, Mrs Krissy Aylott and Ms Anne Furniss 

School Officer: Indigenous – Mrs Dorene Warwick 

School Officer: Library Assistant – Mrs Krissy Aylott 

Administration and Finance Officer – Ms Monica Moran 

Groundsperson – Mr Ben Aylott 

Work Place Health and Safety – Mr Ben Aylott 

Cleaner – Ms Annie Stapleton 

We are very excited to be welcoming two new teachers, Miss Autumn Taylor and Mr Chris Coman, to our St Joey’s team. Miss Taylor will be attending our whole school transition day on Thursday 28th November and Mr Colman will be visiting the school before the term ends.  

It is going to be a great 2025! 

God bless,

Kylie Williams

"Always remember to help and be of service to others." ~ Mary MacKillop.

"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you." John 15:12

From the APMI (Assistant Principal Mission and Identity)

Remembrance Day 

Remembrance Day falls on 11th November each year with a minutes’ silence being observed on the 11th hour. This day is dedicated to those soldiers who died, especially those who fought to protect our nation in the First World War.   

This week at assembly we were privileged to have Mrs Jessica Norford from the Western Downs Regional Council and Mr Brian and Mrs Norma Woodham from the Tara RSL Sub Branch speak to us about the significance of commemorating this day.  

The students were very self-motivated and engaged while they were listening to the guest speakers and displayed a lot of curiosity with the questions they were asking.  

Our school and house captains will be attending the Tara community service with Mrs Williams on Monday at Settlers Park, at the Tara Lagoon Parklands. Havoc (school captain) and Amanii (Year 6 leader) will read the poem In Flanders Field. The remainder of the school will commemorate with a liturgy at 10.45am at our school flagpoles. Parents are welcome to attend either service the students will be participating in.  

Learning at St Joeys

From the Year 4 - 6 Classroom

English 

This term in English, students explored the text “Tom Appleby Convict Boy” and created information reports. They explored the history of words, used commas to indicate prepositional phrases and apostrophes to indicate multiple possession. Students clarified meaning by using appropriate interaction skills such as paraphrasing and questioning. They navigated and read texts for specific purposes while using strategies to monitor meaning. Students used a variety of comprehension strategies to build literal and inferred meaning and evaluated information and ideas. They planned, created, edited and published texts with an informative purpose. Students read, built and spelt words that used common letter patterns in different pronunciations using their existing knowledge. 

Mathematics 

This term in Maths, students have learnt how to measure using scaled and digital instruments and appropriate units. They interpreted unmarked and partial units when measuring and comparing attributes of measurements. Students recognised a named angle's relationship to a right angle while estimating and comparing angles using the correct vocabulary. They conducted statistical investigations, collecting data through survey responses and other methods. Students interpreted collected data and communicated results using a variety of displays, including digital tools. They analysed the effectiveness of different displays including line graphs in illustrating and comparing data distributions. Students discussed the shape of distributions and the variation in the data.  

Religion  

This term, students recognised the significance of the key people and events in the Australian Catholic Church. They sequenced key events and people in the Australian Catholic Church. Students described the experiences of people in the Australian Catholic Church. They created a historical narrative about an Australian Catholic. Students located information about how Australian Catholics have contributed to the community. They identified ways in which Mary MacKillop helped people from the past and in the present. Students explained how Mary MacKillops wisdom is lived by today’s community of believers.   

 Science 

In Term 4, students explored the unit “Light Shows” about light, reflection, refraction, colours and shadows. They explored how light travels and how this enables us to see objects. They designed and created a functioning periscope and explored mirrors and the angles of reflection and incidence. Students worked scientifically and collaboratively to investigate refraction, conducting experiments to determine the effects of bending light. They created and performed their own shadow puppet performances, demonstrating what they have learnt about how shadows can be manipulated.  

 HaSS 

During Term 4, students explored questions through the inquiry process to identify key values and features of Australia’s democracy, including elections and the roles and responsibilities of elected representatives. They discussed how citizens (members of communities) with shared beliefs and values work together to achieve a civic goal.  

 Health

During Term 4, students investigated healthy eating and lifestyle choices, and protective behaviours on online interactions. They demonstrated their understanding with various activities that engage in hands-on activities and performances. Students discussed the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating, nutritional information and the effect of media on the information given about health. They explore the privacy and protection of their identity, the impact of online culture and help-seeking strategies that they can utilise for themselves and when helping others. 

From the PEN

Message from the Tuckshop,

A suggestion box will be out the front of Tuckshop next week for students to put what they would like for tuckshop next year, there will also be a visit to each class next week.

Ms Robyn,

Tuckshop Conveyor 

From the Parish

St Mary Of The Angels - Tara

Mass Times

Tara: Sunday: 9am

on the 1st & 3rd Sunday of the month

Meandarra: Sunday: 11am

on the 3rd Sunday of the month

St Joseph's Student Recognition

Gold Awards

Eliza Adhikary, Malia Adhikary

Silver Awards

Isabella French, Lorenzo Welldon-Taylor, Alayah Laird, Meliaceae Hockley-Black, Deakin Cole and Torben Andersen

Certificates of Recognition

Week 5 - Brett Allen, Jolin Kerr, Dekota Walker, Charlotte Partridge, Kaileigh McChrystal, Torben Andersen and Havoc McLuckie.

Week 6 - Adrian Vines, Kadence McGill, Jolin Kerr, Rory Taylor, Alayah Laird, Azriel Velez and Braxton McGill

From the Administration Officers

Fee reminder letters will be sent out via email today, please check your junk mail.

Thank you to all for being persistent with your accounts.

If you need any financial assistance, be sure to come in and see myself or Kylie to see how we can help. It is completely confidential!

HOW TO PAY YOUR SCHOOL FEES?

*Cash / Cheque, at the office.

*BPoint, in person at the office or over the phone.

*Direct Deposit:
Bank: ADF
Name: St Joseph’s School
BSB: 064-786
ACC: 100-025-583
Reference: Your Name/Customer Code eg. TRA1234             

*Centrelink Centrepay Deduction Payments can be made fortnightly or monthly.

The School’s CRN: 555075545A 

*Direct Debit: Forms are available in the office. Please see me or call the office.

Not Sure how it’s done?  Ask at the office for assistance.

Term Dates

2024

Term 1 2024 – Tue 23 Jan (Public Hol 26 Jan) - Thur 28 Mar

(Good Friday 29 Mar)

Term 2 2024 –(Student Free Day 15 Apr) Tue 16 Apr - Fri 21 Jun 

Term 3 2023 – (Student Free Day 08 Jul) Tue 09 Jul - Fri 13 Sep

Term 4 2023 –(Kings B'day 07 OCT) Mon 30 Sep - Wed 04 Dec

(Travel Day's Thur 5 Dec & Fri 6 Dec)

2025

Term 1 2025 – Wed 29 Jan - Fri 04 April

Term 2 2025 – Wed 23 Apr - Fri 21 Jun

Term 3 2025 - Tue 15 Jul - Fri 19 Sep

Term 4 2025 - Tue 07 Oct - Wed 03 Dec

Professional Development and Planning Days (previously called Pupil Free Days)

• Monday 20 January - Friday 24 January 2025 - Pupil Free day (Staff Professional Development Day)
• Tuesday 28 January 2025 - Pupil Free day (Staff Professional Development Day)
• Tuesday 22 April 2025 - Pupil Free day (Staff Professional Development Day)
• Monday 14 July 2025 - Pupil Free day (Staff Professional Development Day)
  
• Wednesday, 30 July 2025 - Pupil Free day (Bishops Inservice Day (BID))
  
• Friday, 5 September 2025 - Pupil Free day (Consistency of Teacher Judgement (CTJ)
  
• Thursday, 04 December - Friday 05 December 2025 - Travel Days

Public holidays

• Monday, 27 January 2025 - Australia Day public holiday
• Friday, 18 April – Monday, 21 April 2025 - Easter weekend
• Friday, 25 April 2025 - Anzac Day
• Monday, 5 May 2025 - Labour Day
• Monday, 6 October 2025 - King's Birthday

Wellbeing Matters

Student Safety

EVERY CHILD HAS THE RIGHT TO FEEL SAFE

It is a legislative requirement that all non-state schools have at least two nominated staff members to whom a student can report the behaviour of another staff member that the student considers inappropriate.  We call these specially trained staff members School Student Protection Contacts, or SSPCs.  Each SSPC has been nominated by the principal in recognition of their integrity, approachability and knowledge in the area of student protection.  Whilst students are encouraged to speak up to any trusted adult in the school community, it is important that they know they can access these specific staff members at any time should they have worries, queries or concerns. You will have noticed posters throughout the school depicting our current SSPCs.  The SSPCs are also published on our school website along with information about our student protection processes.  In everything we do at St Joseph's Tara student safety is our highest priority, therefore the SSPCs at our school are key personnel in our overall safeguarding processes.  Please see the poster below depicting our current SSPC team.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT