From the Principal's Desk

Dear Members of St Joseph’s Family,

Welcome back everyone!  Now that we have made it to the end of Week 2, it is safe to say that 2022 is going to bring with it some challenges.  I would like to thank everyone for their responsiveness to the new COVID restrictions and guidelines that have been put in place so far.  We are doing what we can to minimise risk, in the hope that when there are positive cases in the School, the impact will be minimal.

I would like to extend a very warm welcome to all those who are new to St Joseph’s School.  We hope that you settle into our  community quickly and that your children are happy in their new school.

Opening School Masses

We were lucky enough to be able to start our school year with our Campus Opening Masses on the first Wednesday of the year.  At each of these Masses, we celebrated our new Student Leaders for 2022 as they received their badges. 

The theme for this year was also introduced and a segment of what I spoke to the students about is below:

2022 marks the 150th year of the Marists’ contribution to Catholic education across Australia.  The badge you will all receive is of the number 150.

In this special anniversary year we remember, celebrate and thank God for the generous work of Marist Brothers, teachers, students, parents and clergy throughout these 150 years.  The Marist theme for the year, which we are also adopting is ‘Known and Loved – Dignity for All’

What people of all ages long for most is to be listened to, have a sense of belonging, and to be accepted. Interestingly, a group of students were recently asked, “What is the one thing you fear the most?”  They expressed that their greatest fears were loneliness, being forgotten, and a lack of love for who they are.  None of us want to live our lives in the unknown shadows.

While it is not a new thing for us to open our hearts to others, this year we want to strive to make our beautiful school a place where people are known, loved, and feel the value of their personal worth; St Joseph’s should be a place where everyone is welcomed and has a place at our tables, where voices are heard, valued, and respected.  A place where every person is treated with ‘dignity’.  The word dignity comes from the Latin word dignitas meaning, ‘of being worthy of honour or respect’.  This echoes what is at the heart of the Gospel message.  That every human being, no matter who they are or where they come from, possesses dignity because they are created in the image of God.

As members of a Marist community, we are being called not just to recognise the dignity of all, but also to let the world know that everyone deserves dignity.  We can do this by the way we live our lives for and with others.  It’s a call to roll up our sleeves and to live our best lives, for others; it should include the staff or student sitting next to you, the students in the rows around you that may often feel invisible, the cleaner on a temporary visa, the family risking their life in a desperate search for a home where they can raise their kids safely, those suffering from the effects of inequality because of race, sexuality, economic situation or gender.  Anyone who is at risk of feeling like they are being left-out or forgotten.  We need to make sure that we see them and that we do all we can to welcome them.

This year, as we celebrate the 150 years of Marist tradition in Australia, we look back in admiration and gratitude at those who have come before us.  Let us live as courageously as they did through our actions and the positive example of our lives.  I challenge you to step out of your comfort zone, be aware of those around you and reach out to those who may need you so that our school truly is a community that strives to make everyone known and loved and, importantly, a place where we defend the dignity of all.

COVID Guidelines

As per my email earlier in the week, the following have been put in place:
Camps
All overnight camps have to be postponed and will be rescheduled where possible.
Excursions
Excursions which remain in the Shire of Northam and do not involve contact with other schools will proceed as planned.
Excursions which leave the Shire of Northam and/or involve the interaction with other schools will be cancelled.
Incursions will be cancelled.
Assemblies
For Term One, there will be no whole campus assemblies.  Primary merit certificates will be presented to the students in their class and a photo taken and sent to the parents via SeeSaw.
Masses/Liturgies
Whole campus events will be cancelled and students will instead take part in important liturgies in smaller groups (Ash Wednesday and St Joseph’s Feast Day).
Community Masses
These will not proceed.
Years 4-12 Swimming Carnival
At this stage it will proceed.  However, we are looking into the logistics of each campus being there for only part of the day rather than all there at the same time.  This will be confirmed once a decision has been made.
Uniform Shop
The online shop is the preferred method of ordering uniforms.  If items are required to be tried on, then an appointment can be made by contacting the Primary Admin on 9621 3500.  Only one family at a time will be allowed into the Uniform Shop.
Parents On Campus
Parents are allowed on each campus but are not allowed to enter classrooms.  All adults on the school grounds are asked to wear a mask.
Drive through pick up and drop off is preferred at both campuses.

Unfortunately, the Secondary Parent Tech evening will also be held next Thursday evening.  Instructional videos/instructions will be sent home as soon as they are ready to help those parents who are unfamiliar with SEQTA.

Years 4 to 12 Swimming Carnival

We have developed a modified plan for the carnival day which will involve the two campuses being at the pool at different times.  At this stage, the advice from the Chief Health Officer is that outdoor carnivals, in modified forms, can go ahead.  Fingers crossed that is still the case in a few weeks.  More information will follow in the coming weeks.

I hope that it is not too long before we are able to gather together again as a School community to reclaim some of the connections Covid has forced us to break.

God Bless

Andrea Woodgate
Principal 

Primary News                                            

Welcome back for 2022!  A special welcome to our new families.  I hope you feel all of the love and warmth that I did when I joined the St Joseph’s community last year.  I am so excited for some of the new initiatives and projects we have in place for 2022 on the Primary Campus.  We have introduced three new Specialist Learning Areas; The Arts with Miss Fernandez, Specialist Mathematics with Mr James and our Language is now AUSLAN (Australian Sign Language) with Mrs Curtis.  With so many new staff on the Primary Campus, I have arranged for a photo of them to share with you all:

 

   Our Primary Playground Extension will be installed in the coming weeks and we have introduced the Making Jesus
   Real (MJR) Program across both campuses to further enhance our school values and ensure that our students and
   staff are sharing the Spirit of Jesus.  We began the program this week by asking children to focus on being
   ‘welcoming’ and ‘encouraging’ of each other, especially those students and staff new to our school.

 

Term One Changes

As you would be aware, there are now fresh COVID directives that schools are required to follow.  As part of these directives, we have been asked to minimise, where possible, the interaction between children of different year levels.  As a result, we have separated groups of children at break times.  Pre-Kindy, Kindy and Pre-Primary students have their own break times and are supervised by their teachers. Students in Years 1 – 6 now have two separate recess times, first Years 1 to 3 go out and then Years 4 to 6.  At lunchtimes, students will eat at their classrooms and we have designated play areas for students in Years 1 to 3 and Years 4 to 6.

Unfortunately, as part of these directives, events such as our Year 6 Camp and School Community Mass have been postponed.  Please rest assured that all decisions we have made as a Leadership Team are to protect the health of our students and staff, and when we are able to proceed with these special events we will do so.

First School Assembly

Last week, we were able to have our first assembly for the school year.  We were blessed to have Daniel Garlett and his family start our school year with a very special Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony.  Our Year 6 leaders also spoke to the other students about their role and the MJR Program.

Unfortunately, due to COVID restrictions, we are not able to have assemblies for the remainder of Term One.  Students will still be presented with Merit Certificates in class by a member of the Leadership Team and a photo will be sent home to families.

Thank you for your support during these uncertain times and rest assured, that our staff are working hard to ensure that the safety, wellbeing and happiness of your children is at the front and centre of everything we do.

May you all have a lovely weekend with your families.

Michelle Christian
Head of Primary

Secondary News

Hello and welcome to the 2022 school year.  My name is Sharon Cusack, and I am the new Head of the Secondary.  I am very excited to be here and work alongside you all in the development of our incredible students.  I love living and working in a rural community.  I have come from St Luke’s College Karratha, where I was Deputy Principal for five years.  I am very lucky to be teaching in my first learning area of Maths this year.

It was wonderful to join the Year 7’s last week for their Mass and Retreat.  I am looking forward to getting to know them all.  It was also great to see the Year 11s and 12s on that first Monday buddying up with Year 7s to help them navigate high school and, most importantly, the dreaded combination lock!  The Year 11s and 12s also got together to paint tiles and chat about their holidays and get to know each other.  These tiles will be put together and mounted on board then onto one of our walls around the school.

I would like to introduce you to some of our new team here.  We have Mrs Carol Farson who has come to teach Food, Science & Technology; Mrs Caroline Marriott is both a teacher and our new Vocational Education and Training Coordinator; Mr Steve Rigney is taking on Materials and Design, with a bit of Maths thrown in on the side; Ms Mel Hepburn is joining our incredible Education Assistants and Rachel Buck is working in our Administration.

I look forward to meeting many of you when we are again allowed out from behind the mask! 

Sharon Cusack
Head of Secondary

Faith In Action

Year 7 Retreat
On Tuesday, our Year 7 students participated in their Retreat day at the Church and Parish Hall.  Students enjoyed a day of prayer and reflection on their emotional and spiritual state.  Commitments to the service of others were made and special significance was placed on understanding the identity and significance of their House groups.

We thank the House Captains and special guests, Mrs Rebecca Doughty and Mrs Sharon Cusack, for their insights into how to be a person for others.

‘MJR’
St Joseph's School for 2022 and beyond has adopted the 'Make Jesus Real' approach or MJR for short.  Within MJR, we focus as students and staff to bring Christ to all.  Our goal is to provide an education that forms the spiritual, intellectual, physical, psychological, social, moral, aesthetic, and religious capacities of each student in the pursuit of wisdom and truth.

Every few weeks we will have a theme in order to stay true to our MJR goal.  This week’s theme is to be WEST people.  That is; to be people who are Welcoming, Encouraging, able to say Sorry and to be Thankful.

Past Student Success
One of our past students and Graduate of our Class of 2020, Hannah Morrison, was this year awarded Toodyay’s ‘Youth Citizen’ of the year.

Hannah won the award for her immense involvement in community events within Toodyay and extended areas.  Some of Hannah’s endeavours include her continued involvement in the Toodyay Theatre group.  Plus, her leadership on the Toodyay Youth reference group including; planning and organisation of the ‘Zero2Hero Forum’, ‘Epic Team Community Program’, ‘Recycled Regatta’, ‘Inclusion Solutions’ Workshop and the ‘Pre Learner Drivers Safety Workshop’.

Additionally, Hannah has volunteered and community events such as the Fibre Festival, school events, Moondyne Festival and Toodyay Show.

We congratulate Hannah on her prestigious award and look forward to seeing her continued leadership in the Toodyay and surrounds community.

Lloyd Reidy
Religious Education Coordinator

Learning Area in Focus:  English 2022

The English Department welcome new staff Mrs Kylie Parker and Mrs Caroline Marriott.  We are pleased to have you on the team!

In Year 7, English students are settling into high school, learning routines and will be launching into short stories on a fantasy theme this week.

The Uglies is the text for Term 1 in Year 8.  Students will be engaged in lively discussion about social divisions within society.

Year 9s are looking at the impact of war on children through the texts Tomorrow When the War Began and The Book Thief.

In Year 10 English, students are investigating short stories on themes of race and prejudice.

The 11 ATAR students have begun investigating dystopian texts which make the reader reflect on the impacts of technology.  In Year 11 General English, the class is viewing a range of advertisements as they study advertising techniques and marketing.

Year 12 ATAR have begun investigating a variety of contemporary short texts.  Australian Identity has been the topic for discussion in Year 12 General as students are reading a range of articles on Australia Day and what it means to be an Australian today.

We encourage all our students to keep reading every day to build their literacy skills.

Secondary English Teaching Staff

Welcome to 2022

Welcome to 2022!  A new, fresh academic year full of exciting possibilities.  Clearly, the year is going to throw some challenges at us, encouraging us to be flexible and adapting to change perhaps a little quicker than we would like, but now is the time to ask, ‘How successful will my 2022 be?’

Certainly, we have seen everyone starting off in a positive direction, with fresh minds and fresh books.  What we should see as time progresses is less of the latter, those books should not be so fresh!

Notebooks should have notes and text books are great resources, read them, complete the questions, transfer key points, tables and graphs to your notes.  Use your resources and use them wisely, if you are not sure that is where your subject teacher can help you, what notes do I need to make, what are the important points, what do I need to study, these are great questions to receive an answer to before it all becomes too overwhelming.

As expectations and commitments grow, this feeling of being overwhelmed can lead to unnecessary stress.

Everyone has deadlines and commitments, such as assignments due and tests to complete, but without planning and preparation these can pile up and lead to anxiety.

Think of it like holding a glass of water, it doesn’t weigh much, not a problem.  Well, if you continue to hold it in front of you for a minute, two minutes, five minutes, ten minutes, well now it begins to be a problem.  A little thing like a few hundred millilitres of water, all of a sudden begins to weigh you down, all you can think about is that ‘heavy’ glass of water, it is making you anxious and tense and eventually it does become too overwhelming, and you cannot hold it anymore.

This is a lot like your student career, this is built up of lots of little tasks (some bigger than others), plan ahead, don’t let them sit there, it will weigh on your mind, especially if you are juggling many tasks.  If you don’t deal with these matters as soon as possible, this added weight may make an impact on your academic success or even your general well-being, where all you are worried about is the work which is due, or perhaps even overdue.

Now is the time to make a good choice, a choice to do your best, leading to your personal success at school this year.

It’s All Happening in Science!

The Year 11 ATAR crew are priming up for their first experiments as senior secondary students studying Biology, Chemistry, Human Biology and Physics with the arrival of our laboratory coats.  A very exciting time indeed, with all the students ready to go into the laboratories and do some amazing activities to compliment all the content that is so vital in ATAR subjects.  We wish all the students the best in their endeavours.

Right back in 2020, a group of 15 students in our da Vinci Club participated in the Blue Origin ‘Postcards to Space’ through the Club for the Future program.  The students had to submit a postcard, which on one side had an idea for the future of life in space, this could have been a statement, a few written ideas or perhaps a design highlighting living in space or off-world.  These postcards were then forwarded to Blue Origin in the US, awaiting a flight mission.

After several delays, our students were excited to not only receive their postcards back in the mail, but confirmation that they have all flown in space.  Our postcards flew in the suborbital New Shepard capsule to a maximum altitude of just over 107 km on 13 October last year.  The four-person crew included one Australian Astrophysicist and Engineer who has established a university in the US, worked for NASA and now has the honour of being the founder of a private company that has launched more satellites into orbit than anyone else, plus a second crew member who at 90 years old, became the oldest person to have flown into space, William Shatner, also known as Star Trek’s ‘Captain Kirk’.

There will be ongoing opportunities and competitions for students in the future and we look forward to being involved.

Congratulations to the Class of '21.  During the school holidays, we received wonderful news on their results in the ATAR examinations. Congratulations to Demi Hunt, Dux of the 2021 cohort, who attained our highest ATAR of 85.30.

Across the board there were many successes with our ATAR students attaining positions in courses in all five universities with most students obtaining their first preference, either through the ATAR procedure or the Early Offers program.  A large number of General students have obtained employment or apprenticeships.  We congratulate them on their efforts and wish them the best in the next stage of their academic and professional careers.

Mark Gargano
Teaching & Learning Coordinator (Years 7-12)

Our School

2022 Fees, Health Care Card & Pension Card

The full year’s School fees will be emailed out to all families next week.  Unless you are paying by Direct Debit (DD) or another regular payment scheme, the School requires payment of at least 1/3rd by Friday 4 March.  Parents/guardians are advised that If you have a Centrelink Family Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card, or a Department of Veteran’s Affairs Pensioner Concession Card, and have not come forward with your card, please visit or contact the Business Manager through the Primary Office immediately, so that discounted fees can be calculated and the Secondary Assistance Scheme (SAS) rebate claimed (if applicable).

Secondary Assistance Scheme

Parents/Guardians who hold a Centrelink Family Health Care Card, Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card or Veterans’ Affairs  Concession Card who have students in Years 7-12 can claim an allowance.  Note: Card held must be current in first term of the school year.  To apply for the scheme or to obtain more information, please arrange to see Mr Steve Johnson at the Primary Campus immediately.  Applications close 31 March 2022.

Steve Johnson
Business Manager

Our P&F

P&F News

Welcome to the new school year!  The P&F had planned several 'welcome' events to be held on both campuses which unfortunately have been cancelled with the new COVID regulations in place.  

We are planning our first meeting of the year to take place on the outside deck at The Grand located at 426 Fitzgerald Street, Northam on Monday 14 February at 6.00pm!  This will be a short meeting and we hope to see you there.

Lauren Holten
President

Our Community

Worldwide Marriage Encounter

Take time out for yourself and your spouse with the gift of a weekend that will focus on your relationship.  It will be the best gift you’ll give each other this year.  We invite to you to join us on a worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend and come back with a marriage that is refreshed and exciting.  Weekend details are 12-13 March 2022 (live-out at Prendiville College Ocean Reef) or 29-31 July 2022 (live in Atrium Hotel Mandurah).  For more information or booking contact: Valerie & Brendon on 0424 220 625 – Email: WAbookings@wwme.org.au Website – www.wwme.org.au 

Extend B&ASC

Extend is the place for your children to thrive, learn and play, so what are you waiting for?  We are only able to offer After School Care at present.  Enrolling is easy and ensures we have the information to safely care for your child so enrol now and book via extend.com.au.

Better Health Program - What is the Better Health Program?

The Better Health Program is a free, healthy lifestyle program for families.  The program is evidence-based and is delivered by qualified health professionals to support families with making sustainable health changes at home.  Children (and their families) are eligible to participate in the program if they are:
• Aged 7-13 years
• Living in regional or remote WA
• Above a healthy weight

The online program includes:
• Weekly interactive modules
• Weekly phone coaching support with a health professional
• Lots of freebies (including a Garmin fitness tracker and other great resources)
• Prizes

To register or find out more, contact 1300 822 953 or email betterhealthprogram.org

Come and try Scouts!

Scouting is fun and adventurous, and youth aged 5 (and in Pre-Primary) to 25 years can join!

Northam Scout Group meet on Mondays and Thursdays after school at 46 Burnside Avenue, Northam.  Joey Scouts (5 and in Pre-primary to 7 years) meet Mondays from 4pm to 5.30pm to 7pm, Cub Scouts (8 to 11 years) meet Thursdays from 4pm to 6pm, Scouts (11 to 15 years) meet Thursdays from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.  Venturer Scouts (15 to 17 years) meet with Bilgoman District Venturer Unit. Rover Scouts (18 to 25 years) meet with Mundaring Rover Scout Unit.

Anyone wishing to join Joey Scouts, Cub Scouts, Scouts or Venturers is welcome to come along to our meetings and try for free for a few weeks.  We are also looking for adults in the community that would like to become an adult volunteer with Scouting, from parent helpers, committee members, and Leaders – many hands make light work, so please contact us to find out more about becoming an adult member of Scouting.

Uniform Shop 

Opening Times:                             Mondays - 3.15pm to 4.45pm       
                                                      Thursdays - 2.45pm to 4.15pm    

Families wishing to access the Uniform Shop are advised that until further notice, the uniform shop will be closed to walk-in sales.  The online shop is the preferred method for ordering uniforms.  If items are required to be tried on, then an appointment should be made by contacting the Primary Admin on 9621 3500.  Only one family at a time will be allowed into the Uniform Shop.  Please note we no longer accept email or telephone orders.

Preloved items will still be available outside the shop these two days, so feel free to have a forage and take what you need.

Please also keep in mind when ordering, that your items will go home Tuesday and Friday of each week, as Monday and Thursday are the days the Shop is open.  When placing an order via the Online Shop, it will appear on a report the following day.  For example; if you place your order on Monday, the report issues on Tuesday which means it will not be organised until Thursday and so go home on Friday.

Michelle James 
Primary - 9621 3524

Canteen News

Canteen Support - Volunteers Required

Welcome to another school year.  As our school grows so does the number of lunches that we supply daily.  Due to high demand on our quality food and service we need helpers to ensure that our kids get their lunches on time.  In order to function to our highest potential, we ideally need 2 or more volunteers a day.  Volunteering is a great way to teach your kids about giving, modelling them for the future. Also, every shift you do at our School helps you towards qualifying for a Parent Participation discount on your annual fees.

This year, a new Canteen intiative is to offer families the easy 'birthday treat' for your child's class.  We are offering a birthday bucket of icy poles (value is $30) or a bucket of lollypops (value is $20).  Each bucket contains a birthday badge, two balloons for the birthday child and enough icy poles or lollypops for the children in that particular classroom.  These birthday treats should be ordered at least two days in advance and can be ordered through the online shop (Please note that the bucket will need to be returned to Canteen and is not included in the price). 

         

The Canteen is operating with the Summer Menu and you are encouraged to check out the daily menu options before ordering lunches.  If we experience connectivity issues with the online ordering, please revert to using lunch bags to place orders for that day. 

We would love to welcome you into our fun, and busy environment and see the smiles on your children’s faces when they see you in their school. This year is promising to be a big year and we would love to have some new faces in our canteen.  If you are able help out, please sign up online at   https://signup.com/go/LQaHAbC

Our Primary Canteen Helper Roster for the next two weeks of Term 1 is below:   

Primary - Week 3  

Tuesday	15 Feb	Julie Sandrini	& Bridget Moore
Wednesday	16 Feb	Julie Sandrini	& Sarah Sloss
Thursday	17 Feb	Julie Sandrini
Friday	18 Feb	Desrae Smith

Primary - Week 4

Tuesday	22 Feb	Julie Sandrini
Wednesday	23 Feb	Julie Sandrini
Thursday	24 Feb	Julie Sandrini	& Penni Nankivell
Friday	25 Feb	Desrae Smith	& Lisa Hasson

We look forward to working with you.  If you have any queries, you are always welcome to contact the Canteen on the number below.

Angela
Canteen - 9621 3525