Prime Minister Award

  ‘ Being a steward of creation’, ‘trying your best’, ‘speaking with kindness’ and ‘ being a responsible learner’ are some of the qualities that teachers consider when awarding ‘Prime Minister’ at our weekly assembly. It is an acknowledgement of the student’s efforts and they have the privilege of wearing the badge with honour, of suggesting a focus the school can work on, award Gotchas to other students at lunch time as well as earning Gotchas for themselves.  Congratulations to Jett Bliss, Week 4 and Jaxon Osgood, Week 5. 

Regional Swimming Carnival 

Our representative swimming squad travelled to Gloucester Pool to compete in the Manning Catholic Schools regional carnival. Thank you to Mark Knoke for being the Team Manager and accompanying the squad on the day.   

We are very excited by the news that 6 of our students were chosen to compete at the Diocesan Swimming Carnival to be held on Thursday 25th February at Lambton Pool in Newcastle: 

Eleanor Healy        -8 yrs 50 Freestyle
Riley Knoke           -Jrn 50m Butterfly
Scarlet Sheather    -Jrn 50m Buttlerfly
Adena Campbell     -11yrs 50m Breastroke, 11yrs Butterfly
Lacey Hillman        -12yrs 50m Freestyle
Jake Guppy           -12/13 yrs 50 Backstroke

Student Leaders 

Last Thursday the school community  witnessed the commissioning of our Year 6 school leaders who received a special blessing from Fr George.  Congratulations to Angus Abbott, Charlotte Barry, Jett Bliss, Ella Bos, Ava Doherty, Nayte Foley, Maria Fresen, Jake Guppy, Georgia Hartley, Lacey Hillman, Nicole Jordan, Savannah Jordan, Kaylla Lulham and Tristian Minns.

Our leaders have many responsibilities around the school, from Health Hustle to running our Weekly Assembly and setting up the lunch seats daily. These things ensure the smooth running of our school and we are most grateful to have such a capable and responsible group of young people in this role!

Getting started in Year 6 2021

The students have had a great start to the new year. As well as getting used to being back at school, they are realising how many responsibilities we have. From keeping rubbish under control, to the sports shed, health hustles and looking after buddies, it is a busy time. The students have stepped up and they are all doing a great job and helping to keep St Joseph’s running.

 Here are some thoughts from the students on the year so far……..

It's been great in Year 6. Mrs Cleaver's desk is already messy. This year I realised I'm a great dancer and swimmer. Jake Guppy

In Year 6 I like being with my friends and buddy. Jett Bliss

 What I really enjoy doing in Year 6 are doing all the jobs and looking after buddies. The 'Best' thing is Mr Cockroach in the sport shed, that Ella sadly killed. Kaylla Lulham

I have enjoyed having a buddy because they keep me entertained.  Ella Bos. 

 I never realised that I had so much patience, I have to sometimes have patience with my buddy. I have enjoyed coming back to see my friends. Angus Abbott

I'm happy to be in Year six because I love having Mrs Cleaver. There are so many jobs and the health hustle activities are so much fun, especially dancing with friends. Ava Doherty

I'm glad to be in Year 6 because we get to help and care for the younger kids. Getting ready for the health hustle activities and dances was fun. Georgia Hartley

 Year six is a lot of fun. We get to say hi to the teachers and our classmates. Nayte Foley 

I like having my buddy at school. Maria Fresen

 I enjoy having the Kindergartens to look after, being a leader of the school and taking on bigger responsibilities. I like doing harder and more work, so I get smarter and ready for high school. Mrs Cleaver helps me grow and get smarter.  Lacey Hillman

 I love maths. I love school. Nicole Jordan

 I enjoy being in Year 6 because I enjoy taking care of my buddies, doing important jobs and learning about the stolen generation. Charlotte Barry

 I love having a buddy because he is so cute and independent. Savanah Jordan

 I love seeing my friends. Tristian Minns

Behaviour Management at St. Joseph's – PBS and MJR

Joey’s Wingham is committed to creating a positive environment where all students are able to learn. We are using the Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) and Making Jesus Real (MJR) systems because they involve a range of positive behaviour supports for all students within the school, implemented in both classroom and non-classroom settings.

 Introducing, modelling and reinforcing positive social behaviour is an important part of a student’s educational experience. Teaching behavioural expectations, linking them to the real example that was Jesus and rewarding students for following them is both proactive and positive.

 Each week, as part of the program, the classroom teachers will teach students expected behaviours. The same behaviours are taught across the school to help maintain uniformity and to ensure that all behaviours are taught throughout the year.

 The weekly focus area is published in the school newsletter so that parents can discuss it with their child and reinforce these strategies.

 Our school has 4 core behavioural expectations that reflect our community’s values.

• I am Safe
• I am Respectful
• I am a Learner
• I am a Steward of Creation
  
  

 Points: As part of the PBS and MJR Programs, “Gotchas” are given to students for positive social behaviours in the classroom and playground and for individual acts of great respect. These behaviours relate to our school-wide expectations of being safe, respectful learners and stewards of creation. Each Gotcha, which students collect, equals a point. These points are collated each week in the classroom and students can redeem these points for special privileges each Thursday.

Referral Forms:

In the instance of a student failing to meet the set expectations of being safe, respectful learners, the incident is recorded on a “Yellow Form”. This is an in-school referral system that assists us with tracking and monitorning student behaviour. We also use this data to inform our future focus areas at the beginning of each term.

If a student has three incidents referred via “Yellow Forms” in the space of a term, or is involved in a moderate or major incident,  parents will be notified via a blue parent form. This process allows for opportunities to discuss behaviour expectations with the student, and to reinforce positive behaviour, whilst monitoring and recording any problem behaviour.

Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday 

This week saw the beginning of the Church season of Lent - the special time when we look to God and do our best to live as God would want us to live, as we ready our hearts for Easter. Every year throughout Lent, many people pray, fast and give alms. These are the three pillars or traditions of Lent. During Lent, we take time to think about how the Holy Spirit can help us be more like Jesus. We take time to think about how we can care more about others.

 In 2021 some of our traditions during this time of year had to alter a little but some stayed the same. On Shrove Tuesday we enjoyed pancakes wonderfully prepared by Mrs Yerbury and cooked by Mrs Yerbury, Mrs Saul and Mr B. This is a long standing tradition of our school and a small reminder of what is ahead for the season of Lent. The on Wednesday our school held a liturgy for Ash Wednesday to begin the season of Lent and to Launch our Project Compassion appeal for 2021.

 Caritas Australia is the international aid and development organisation of the Catholic Church in Australia and is part of one of the largest aid and development networks in the world – Caritas Internationalis – working in over 200 countries and territories. Each year, Project Compassion runs during the six weeks of the Church season of Lent. Starting on Ash Wednesday, people across Australia are invited to help us raise awareness AND stand in solidarity with the millions of people in the communities across the world with whom Caritas work.

 In each classroom there will be a Project Compassion box and we ask for you to give any small change you can. Even just some coins can make a big difference in the life of those less fortunate. Through our generosity and aspiring to “Be More”, we are assisting some of the world’s most vulnerable people build better futures for themselves, their families and their communities during this time of Lent.  Families are also welcome to get a Project Compassion box for their home or workplace from the office or from Mr B.