Term 2, Week 1
Vision Statement
Inspired by Mary MacKillop, we strive to achieve excellence in education and pastoral care, foster well being, develop strong values and include all cultures and community members.
Mission Statement
Following Jesus' example, we support all cultures and needs by building trusting relationships and fostering high expectations that inspire and empower our children to be compassionate, lifelong learners.
Principal's Piece
Dear Parents and Carers
Welcome back to Term 2. It has been wonderful to see the children returning so full of excitement about being back at school. The cooler mornings have been a pleasing change and means that this term the children are able to really stretch their legs and use the expanses of the oval. They have already been getting into some pretty serious soccer and cricket matches. What a beautiful school St Joseph’s is and what beautiful children.
This term we welcome a new Aboriginal Teaching Assistant (ATA) – Mandy Farrer. Initially Mandy will be working four days a week in the Year 3/4 classroom and one day in the Pre-Primary room. Welcome Mandy!
Easter is the most important season in the Church year and I have been very impressed by the experiences provided by the staff for our students. On Tuesday morning we had a wonderful, joyous celebration of the Resurrection. Well done to all the staff and especially to Sr Julianne. We are incredibly blessed to have her working with us.
Within the newsletter, you will see some information about the forthcoming AEDC surveys that Miss Sarah will complete for our Pre-Primary students. A letter is being sent home today to all families that have a child in Pre-Primary (check SeeSaw). If you have any questions or concerns about the survey, please contact me at school or via email – barry.ennis@cewa.edu.au.
Barry Ennis
Principal
UPCOMING EVENTS
Wednesday April 24th – Pupil Free Day
Staff involved in a professional learning day. The Team Teach program provides tailored training involving: risk and restrictive practice reduction, de-escalation and positive behaviour support.
Thursday April 25th
ANZAC Day Holiday
Dates & Reminders
Term Dates 2024
Term Dates 2024
Term 1: Wednesday 31 January - Thursday 28 March
Term 2: Tuesday 16 April - Friday 28 June
Term 3: Tuesday 16 July - Friday 20 September
Term 4: Monday 7 October - Friday 6 December
Public Holidays During Term Time 2024
Monday 4 March: Labour Day
Friday 29 March - Good Friday
Thursday 25 April: ANZAC Day
Monday 3 June: Western Australia Day
Pupil Free Days 2024
Monday, 15 April
Wednesday, 24 April
Monday & Tuesday, 24-25 June
Monday, 15 July
Monday, 26 August (Catholic Day)
Monday, 4 November
Assemblies
Our assemblies are every second Friday afternoon at 1.10pm.
9th February - Leadership presentations
23rd February - Year 5/6
8th March - Year 4/5
22nd March - Year 3/4
Kindy Days
Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday
7.50am - 2.00pm
Description Title
We are ready to collect your recyclable containers. Our drop off point is located in the staff carpark, just inside the fence. Money earned goes towards Mini Vinnies.
If you change your phone number, please tell us. We many need to contact you if your child is sick or doesn’t get picked up after school.
Most school age children are eligible for free dental care in Kununurra School Dental Clinic.
Primary School children become eligible to attend the School Dental Service in the year they turn 5.
High School children are eligible to attend the School Dental Service until they complete Year 11 or the day they turn 17 (whichever occurs first).
If you changed your address or phone numbers, please advise dental clinic staff. Missed appointments may result in suspension from the School Dental Service.
We are located on the hospital grounds in the Dental Health Building, 69 Coolibah Drive and are open Monday to Friday 7:30 to 3:30.
Please feel free to call us on 0419 939 179 or email: kununurramobile@dental.health.wa.gov.au to organise an appointment.
St Patrick's Quiz Night
Thank you to our Sponsors
To the wonderful sponsors in Kununurra who support us year after year....thank you so much for your donations to our 2024 St Patrick's Quiz Night.
We raised about $12,500, all of which goes towards providing a better education for the children in our community.
The more education a child receives, the better their lifelong social, health and financial status. This also means that we all live in a happier, healthier and more fully functioning community.
So once again, a huge thanks to each and every one of you.
Archie's Rocks
79 West
Arte & Sol
Artopia
Aviair
Ben Broady
Birchy's Fishing Tours
Birdland Functional Art
Bush Camp
CGL
Divina D'Anna Member for Kimberley
El Questro
Grab a Bargain
Gullivers Tavern
Home Hardware
Home Valley
Hotel Kununurra
Jeanne Barnes
Kimberley Cafe
Kimberley Fine Diamonds
Kimberley Impressions
Kimberley Kool
Kimberley Spirit
Kununurra Commercial Laundry
Kununurra Cruises
Kununurra Sun
Kununurra Water Ski Club
Lake Kununurra Boat Hire
Lawrence & Hanson
Lily Lagoon Resort
Mitre 10
Office National
OMS
Ord River Electrics
Ord River Sports Club
Pat the Barber
Red Sun
Retravision
Spilled the Beans
St John
Subway
Summer Stone
The Hoochery
The Joy of Cupcakes
The Sassy Pants co.
Thomas & Co
Toy World
Triple J Cruises
Tyreplus
Walkabout Souvenirs
Wild Mango
SACRAMENTS and other matters
Sacraments
As in previous years, all classes will learn about Sacraments and rites of initiation in their Religious Education programs. For students of the Catholic faith, there will also be an opportunity to receive these Sacraments at St Vincent Palloti Catholic Church.
Fr Vinu is available for Baptisms at any time throughout the year. Baptismal forms can be collected at the school office and returned to Sr Julianne with a preferred date during the week, or by contacting Fr Vinu directly on 0475 846 331. Please also let family and friends know about Baptisms, if you aware of Pre-school children needing to be Baptised.
Other Sacraments will be celebrated as per below:
- First Eucharist, Term 2 - Year 5 children (date to be advised)
- Confirmation, Term 3 - Year 6 children (date to be advised)
All classes will complete a unit of work on Sacraments in the term they occur. This will then be followed by the celebration of the Sacrament, if requested by family, at St Vincent Pallotti Church with specific dates to be advised. We are aware that some children have missed sacraments in previous years due to sickness, absence etc, and we can make arrangements for those celebrations also.
A letter about Sacraments has been sent home this week to families identifying as Catholic on our school records. The form needs to be filled out and returned to school if you wish for your child to receive a Sacrament this year. If you did not get a form, they are available at the school office.
Mass Times
Mass is held each weekend, at St Vincent Pallotti Church on Saturdays at 5.30pm and Sundays at 8.30am. Weekday masses are held from Tuesday to Friday at 5.30pm. On Sundays, we have Children’s Liturgy during mass.
Fr Vinu is available for Reconciliation on any day, usually from about an hour before mass.
Juniper Aged Care Facility Visits
Each week a class visits Juniper Aged Care Facility and share an activity with the residents eg singing, lego, painting, reading etc. A permission form, and other information, will be sent home prior to the visit.
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Please don’t hesitate to contact me, through the school office, at any time if have queries or questions about our Religious Education program.
Sr Julianne
Sacrament Coordinator
Art News
Last term all classes focussed on Visual Art, with each having their own focus and project ranging from painting, 3D dioramas to 3D paper art and sculpture.
We had excursions to local art sites to assist students in understanding and appreciating local artwork and why we have it. They loved using iPads to take photos to show different elements of art and their favourite colours, lines and images!
The Year 4, 5 and 6 students had an art incursion when local artist Jackie Ellis visited to share her art processes and some tricks of the trade. We learnt more about shape, colour, line, textures and the meaning behind artwork and how it helps us communicate.
There will be a whole school Visual Art Exhibition in the school library on Wednesday 29th May where we will showcase Term 1's fantastic creations.
Below are a couple of images to give you a sneak peak into our Visual Art lessons.
This term we are focusing on Dance and will have a whole school performance on Thursday 27th June. Similar to last year, each class will learn about and practise dances from all over the world and perform an original choreographed item to represent a continent. Stay tuned for more exciting information regarding both Art shows.
Miss Roberts
Specialist Teacher
Miriwoong Language Survey
Do any kids in your family learn Miriwoong at school, or at preschool? The Language Centre would love to hear what you think!
Follow this (link/QR code) to tell us about your kids’ experience and your opinions about the Miriwoong Language Nest Program.
Thank you.
School Bus Pick-ups and Drop-offs
Streamlining the Bus Run
This year we've had extraordinary numbers for the bus runs. One day we did two full trips, plus one in the school car. On the bright side, it is a credit to our families that they're being so diligent in regularly sending their children to school. THANK YOU!
However, because we have so many children on the bus, some of them don't get home until 3pm and some of them arrive at school too early. To make their day easier:
- If you are able to bring your child to/from school by car it would be appreciated.
- Please be out the front of your house ready for the pick up:
- Town run - 7am – 7.30am
- Community run - 7.30 am – 8.00 am
Just waiting an extra 1-3 minutes at every house can extend our trip by half hour. Unfortunately we cannot toot the horn, due to complaints from neighbours.
- At the end of the day, please be visible outside your house and wave to us as we drop off your child. We need to be assured that someone is home. Having to stop, take the child to the door, knock and wait for a response, extends the trip by half hour. This is unfair on those children waiting in the heat on the basketball court for the second bus run. If a family member is not at home, it is our policy to bring a child back to school and ring you. We are unable to make another trip to drop them off.
While we learn the 2024 bus route, which is still changing as new families continue to enrol, we may forget to stop at your house. Please call the school office, and we can collect your child on the next run.
Dropping off Your Children
For the safety of our children, we would like to remind parents that children catching our white Coaster school bus will be dropped off in the afternoon ONLY at the address from which they are picked up in the morning.
Attempts to accommodate parents who ring during the day asking that their children be dropped off elsewhere have resulted in an number of confusing situations, whereby children have ended up going home to an empty house or to a house where they are not expected.
Children who live in Lakeside or out of town may not catch our bus home to a different address.
Your child can only be dropped off at a different address if it is an emergency situation (eg you have an emergency visit to the hospital and an arrangement has been made for your child to be cared for by another family member or friend).
Many thanks for your cooperation.
Bike Education Day
Friday, 22nd March
Greetings to our families and friends. Term 1 promises some very exciting events at St Joe’s. On Friday, 22nd March, we have our Bike Education Day! This will be the third consecutive year we've held this event and it has proven to be a very important learning opportunity for students (not to mention a lot of fun!). As usual, I would encourage students to ride to school on that day as it is also the National Ride2School Day.
Please ensure your child wears a helmet and adequate footwear. If your child does not have a bicycle, by all means bring along a scooter, roller blades, skateboard etc. Students will sit for a theory session and be assessed on the bike gymkhana (at the basket ball court) and awarded a competency certificate. A water bottle would be a good idea. Only human powered transport please (no electric scooters, motor bikes or quad bikes).
Many thanks.
Mr Steve
Specialist Teacher
Next Friday we are celebrating St Joseph's Day and Bike Safety.
If possible, please ride your bike or scooter to school with a helmet and shoes. We will make sure that everyone gets to participate in this fun and safe experience at school.
Get Vaccinated!
Community Health offers free vaccines for:
- COVID-19 Boosters
- Japanese Encephalitis - Residents of Kununurra & Wyndham only
- Influenza - all children 6 months - 12 years; all Aboriginal people 6 months or older; all people with a chronic disease; all people 65 years and older.
Call Kununurra Community Health on 9166 4321
POSITION VACANT
family liaison officer
(2 PART-TIME POSITIONS VACANT)
ABORIGINAL FAMILIES AS FIRST EDUCATORS PROGRAM
Position details:
St Joseph’s School seeks an enthusiastic Playgroup Support Worker to work in our Aboriginal Families as First Educators (AFaFE) Playgroup. This role will support the playgroup facilitator to develop and deliver a range of culturally appropriate early learning programs for Aboriginal children (birth to 4 years) and to liaise with families, community members and agencies to engage them in the program.
SELECTION CRITERIA
ESSENTIAL:
o Applicants must be fully supportive of the objectives and ethos of Catholic education.
o Ability to build rapport, confidence and credibility with Aboriginal families and communities.
o Good written and oral communication skills, including the ability to interact with parents, teachers and external agencies on the provision of the AFAFE program.
o Good interpersonal skills, including the ability to work as part of a team in the evaluation of the AFAFE program.
o Good organisational skills that will assist in the delivery and development of the AFAFE program.
o Able to work as part of a team, or independently and have good time management skills.
o Understanding of the needs of young children and their families.
o Current WA driver’s licence.
o Certificate in Education Support or working towards
Be aware:
o The successful applicant will be required to work towards and obtain Accreditation to Work in Catholic Education (Schools).
o Training in the Abecedarian Approach Australia (3a) will be provided to the successful applicant.
Applicants must submit a CV, including the names and contact numbers of two referees, one of whom must be a current or recent employer.
On appointment successful applicants will require a WWC Check and current Department of Education (WA) National Police Clearance prior to commencing work. 
All applications should be addressed to the Principal, Barry Ennis and emailed to: admin@stjoknx.wa.edu.au
Applications close Friday, 16th February.
(St Joseph's School reserves the right to interview and appoint prior to the close of submissions.)
Send Your Kids to School
Send your kids to school - it is the best possible way they can get a good education.
If your child misses one 1 day per week of school,
by the time they are in Yr 4 they will have missed 1 whole year of school.
Already they will by 1 year behind expected learning!
It may take some tough love, but it is worth the effort to make your child go to school every day.
Set a good routine from Kindy, don't let them miss a day.
It will give them the best start in life.
Containers for Change
Thank you to those generous families who have donated their recycling money to our school through Containers for Change!
School Recycling Bags
CHECK FOR THE 10¢ MARK
We've ended up with a lot of non-recyclable containers in our school recycling bags.
Which means we have to sort through the bags to remove them.
It's easy to save your 10¢ containers from landfill so they can live another life — just check for the 10¢ mark!
Most aluminium, glass, plastic, steel, and liquid paperboard drink containers that are 150ml to 3L are accepted.
This includes:
- Most single-serve water and fizzy drink containers up to and including 3L.
- Most single-serve alcohol containers, like beer bottles and pre-mixed spirits.
- Flavoured milk containers that are 150ml to 999ml.
- Coconut water, pure fruit, or vegetable juice containers that are 150ml to 999ml.
~ Make sure you take off the lids ~
~ Bring the lids into the school office and we'll recycle them separately ~
Items that we don't accept include:
- Glass bottles or jars of any sort - too many get broken when dropped into the recycling bag
- Plastic milk bottles
- Unflavoured, plain milk cartons
- Cordial bottles
- Non-food plastic containers (eg laundry detergent)
- Steel food cans
St Joseph's School Calendar Term 1 2024
School Bus Contact Details
The School Bus Contractors are Dylon and Chelsea Lodge.
Chelsea: 0450 250 691
Dylon: 0415 945 330
Please note that cash payments for Book Club are no longer accepted at St Joseph's. All orders should be placed through Book Club Loop.
See: https://www.scholastic.com.au/book-club/book-club-parents/
St Joseph’s Student Code of Conduct
The St Joseph’s Student Code of Conduct was developed by the students of St Joseph’s. Students participated in Steps 1 to 4 during Term 1 2021. Step 5 was worked through during term 2 and Step 6 completed during Term 3. The Student Code of Conduct was reviewed by students in Year 3 to 6 on two separate occasions. The Student Code of Conduct was shared with the wider school community during Term 3.
At St Joseph’s School, Kununurra we want to feel Safe.
1. In order to feel Safe we will follow school rules.
When someone isn’t feeling this way, or there is conflict, we will ask an adult for help.
2. In order to feel Safe we will listen and follow instructions.
When someone isn’t feeling this way, or there is conflict, we will ask an adult for help.
3. In order to feel Safe we will help and care for others.
When someone isn’t feeling this way, or there is conflict, we will ask them why they are feeling that way.
4. In order to feel Safe we will keep our hands and feet to ourselves.
When someone isn’t feeling this way, or there is conflict, we will ignore them or walk away.
5. In order to feel Safe we will treat others the way we would like to be treated.
When someone isn’t feeling this way, or there is conflict, we will remind them of the golden rule.
At St Joseph’s School, Kununurra we want to feel Happy.
1. In order to feel Happy we will smile, laugh, sing and dance.
When someone isn’t feeling this way, or there is conflict, we will ask them if they are alright.
2. In order to feel Happy we will be kind to others.
When someone isn’t feeling this way, or there is conflict, we will ask an adult for help.
3. In order to feel Happy we will make friends and play with them.
When someone isn’t feeling this way, or there is conflict, we will play with and include them.
4. In order to feel Happy we will come to school everyday.
When someone isn’t feeling this way, or there is conflict, we will look after them.
5. In order to feel Happy we will listen to the teacher and other adults.
When someone isn’t feeling this way, or there is conflict, we will try to make them feel happy.
Our Code of Conduct prohibits bullying, harassment and other forms of peer-to-peer abuse and we require respect for the privacy and human dignity of other students.
