Dear Parents, Carers and the St Joseph’s Community,

It is hard to believe that we are halfway through our second week of the 2020 school year. It has been a fantastic start to the year, and it is wonderful to see the fruition of many ideas, planning and consultation from last year being implemented across the school.

Sand Pit Fun!

As the saying goes, it never rains it pours and I am so happy that in this case, it is not only the weather but also with regards to building works that are happening around the school. Yesterday we were thrilled to see fences erected and sandstone and logs delivered as we start construction of our sandpits, the first step in our Nature Playground. Did you know that sand is an excellent tool that offers children not only hours of fun but has many educational benefits as well? Children can benefit from playing with sand by developing a range of skills such as:

• Development of fine motor skills
• Hand and eye coordination
• Creativity and imagination
• Sensory development of the sense of touch
• Socialisation – a sandpit is a great gathering place that encourages children to communicate, work together, share, be creative and witness other children being creative
• Language development – playing with sand is a social activity
• Overcoming challenges – problem-solving

School Rules

Last year, I worked with the Kids Committee and a teacher working party to develop new school rules that align with our Seeds of Growth. Working with the students allowed us (the teachers) to understand what is important to students and how we can ensure they feel safe and equipped to be the best ‘Joey’ possible. I feel it is important to note that the ‘words’ used in the new school rules come directly from the students and that the teachers simply put them into ‘sentences’ to enable them to be accessible to all students:

Seed of Creating

A Joey is excited by exploring, experiencing and experimenting.

Seed of Learning

A Joey inquires, takes risks and perseveres.

Seed of Collaborating

A Joey is inclusive, shares and cooperates.

Seed of Being

A Joey makes safe choices, listens and is respectful.

Social and Emotional Learning

This year I will be going into each class once a fortnight to implement strategies that I recently learnt at a 4-day professional development course on the Berry Street Education Model. The Berry Street Education Model utilises wellbeing strategies that enable students’ academic and personal growth. Each fortnight I will share with you the focus for the week in the hope that you may like to discuss the ideas and strategies with your children in the home setting.

This week and in the coming week my focus is on teaching the students the importance of being Present, Centred and Grounded (ready to learn).

• This is a form of physical mindfulness
• We can become centred by drawing all our available energy and conscious awareness into the present moment by grounding ourselves at the core of our body 
• Everything happens in the present – we need to stop worrying about the past and the future and focus on the present
• We cannot always alter our external circumstances but by giving our mind something to focus on in the present time we can calm our emotions and find a focus
• This strategy requires a conscious effort to be mindful of how we feel and think and to let go of our judgments, rationalisation and denial

Our aim is that by establishing a classroom and schoolwide expectation that students are Present, Centred and Grounded we will help generate more confidence, less emotional reactivity, better relationships, improved concentration and engagement in our students.

You might also like to ask your children to share with you some of the Brain Breaks they have been doing in the classroom!

Parent Information Night

We look forward to seeing many of you at our Parent Information Night tomorrow evening. The night will commence with open classrooms from 5:30 pm, followed by a whole school information session in the hall at 6:00 pm and concluding with a social gathering from 6:30 pm. We will be offering supervision for school-age children from 6:00 to 6:30 pm. In the event of wet weather, we ask that children are not brought to the evening as we will not be able to offer care.   

I hope you have an enjoyable end to the week.

Yours in Christ,

 Amy Doszpot

Assistant Principal

Amy.doszpot@cg.catholic.edu.au

Farewell for our community

Sunday 23 February will mark a significant end to such a vital part of our history here at St Joseph’s, O’Connor. After many years of service to the parish, Sr Julie will be farewelled as she takes on a new role in Sydney, supporting those in need. Not only is Sr Julie leaving St Joseph’s Parish, but her departure also ends over 60 years of history, guidance, direction and faithful service to St Joseph’s School by the Sisters of St Joseph. In looking back through prior publications, from the 1981 Silver Jubilee booklet for the school, the beginnings of the Josephite’s history here in O’Connor are described here;

At mid-day on 21 January, 1956, five sisters arrived by train from Goulburn, to be met by the Very Rev. Fr S. O’Donnell, Parish Priest of Braddon, and Rev. Fr P. Bateman, who would later become Assistant Priest at St Joseph’s O’Connor… The sisters took up residence in their first convent, at 61 Boronia Drive, now the presbytery… Across the road, the new Church-School was almost completed: pupils had a long summer vacation that year and classes began for 175 children from Kindergarten to 3^rd Grade on 12 February, 1956.

The Sisters of St Joseph have had a continuing presence in O’Connor and Lyneham, and in particular in our parish and our school, since that day in January, 1956. On behalf of all within our wider St Joseph’s community, I thank Sr Julie, and all the Sisters of St Joseph who have been a faithful presence over the years.

A morning tea will be held following Sunday Mass, 9am 23 February, to farewell Sr Julie. 

Sr Julie, third from right.

Sustainability Coordinator

ryan.mcgee@cg.catholic.edu.au

We hosted a welcome event for Year 4 as well as regular Defence Kids club this week. All our new students seem to be settling into St Joseph’s really well. We are so blessed with a supportive and welcoming community.

Community news

All Defence families are invited to DCO’s welcome event this Friday 14^th. See details in the link below.

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/an-adf-families-event-welcome-to-canberra-tickets-86626451047

Need some inspiration to find out more about your child’s day… try this link for ideas.

https://www.kinderling.com.au/news/21-questions-to-ask-your-kid-after-their-school-day-that-will-guarantee-an-answer 

Sally Adams

Defence Support Mentor

sally.adams@cg.catholic.edu.au 

UNIFORM SHOP - Opening Hours 2020

Tuesday 8:45am to 9:15am

Friday 8:30am to 9:00am

Remember - you can order uniforms via Qkr! and have uniforms delivered to your child's class!

Happy birthday to these students celebrating their birthdays this week: