Term 3, Week 3
Principal's Piece
Dear Parents and Carers
Thank you to those families who spent time this week with their child's teacher looking at their successes in learning and areas for development. It is great to be able to meet with you and discuss their progress. Your support is appreciated.
On Friday of this week, we will be completing the annual Census for both State and Federal governments. All schools across Australia participate in the federal Census and data provided is used to plan for the 2024 school year and beyond. Information about data collection was sent home via email last week.
Please be aware that one section of the Census deals with school attendance. It is very important that you let us know if your children are absent from school, as this means we can record information accurately. We acknowledge that there are times when children need to be away because they are sick, or for other family reasons. Please let us know if and why your kids are away from school.
In other ways, attendance is important for their education. When children miss school, they miss opportunities to learn. Missing one day per week means that a child misses about 40 days of school per year. This is 8 weeks of learning that is missed and very difficult to catch up on. For more information, see
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUjq7-usyeQ
This year we are creating new opportunities to connect with families and showcase our work. Later this term, we will present a performance for all in our community. It will be the culmination of units of work completed across the term. In Art lessons, students have enjoyed practising dances from different continents. At the end of this term, each class will perform a dance that represents every continent of the world (even Antarctica!). The concert will be in Week 9, with more information to follow.
At the end of the year we will combine our annual Awards Presentation with a Carols Night. We know that this is different to previous years however, this way, everyone can be present for both our end of year performance and the presentation ceremony for our award winners.
For reasons beyond our control (eg jury duty) we have had to offer a limited Canteen menu more than once in recent times. We are working hard to keep the service operating every day and appreciate your patience.
It's time to start thinking about 2024! If you have a child ready to begin Kindergarten in 2024 (born between 1 July 2019 and 30 June 2020), please collect enrolment forms from the office, fill them in and return to school as soon as possible. This will help with planning for 2024.
You might be aware that Mary MacKillop founded the Sisters of St Joseph and worked tirelessly for those who lived in regional Australia. Our school was founded by the Sisters of St Joseph in the early 1970's and we are very lucky to have Sr Julianne (one of Mary's Sisters) working with us. Next Tuesday, we will celebrate Mary MacKillop's Feast Day with Mass at the church on Tuesday morning at 8:30am. You are most welcome to join us.
Our Book Week activities are coming up in a few weeks' time. Events will include "Stories under the Stars" and a Book Character Parade. I'm looking forward to seeing lots of interesting costumes. I wonder who might be the most interesting visitor???
Go well this week.
Miss Therese
Principal
SACRAMENTS and other matters
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.
Term 1 – Reconciliation Year 4
Term 2 – First Eucharist Year 5
Term 3 – Confirmation for Year 6 will be held on August 27th. Notify Sr Julianne ASAP, if you have a year 6 student, older siblings, or know of an adult, that you wish to be Confirmed by Bishop Michael at this time of his annual pastoral visit. At this stage, we have only one adult candidate.
This term, all classes have been doing a unit of work on Confirmation as part of their Religious Education Program.
Baptism
Please contact Sr Julianne at school, or Fr Vinu (0475 846 331), at any time, to collect a “Request for Baptism” form. Baptism can occur during the week, or Saturdays/Sundays.
Other Matters
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 Visits
Visits to the Juniper Aged Care Facility continue to be a highlight, especially in light of the NAIDOC theme this year being "For Our Elders". We have a wonderful two-way learning between ourselves and our Juniper friends.
Other Dates
Tuesday, 8th August - Mary MacKillop Feast Day
Saturday, 26th August - Parish Multicultural Dinner
Thank you to our Year 3 students for helping to clean up St Vincent Pallotti Church yard after the big winds!
Please don’t hesitate to contact Sr Julianne or Miss Marion Roberts, through the school office, at any time if have queries or questions about our Religious Education program.
Sr Julianne
Anger Management for Kids
In her book,
Anger Management Workbook for Kids
(2018), Samantha Snowden offers three essential questions to consider when working with children. Together they form valuable strategies to manage anger and better understand emotions and feelings.
Each question can be explored and answered (in groups or one-to-one) to encourage children to understand their anger. The more open the adult is about their experiences, the more likely the child will feel safe and comfortable being vulnerable. They will recognize anger as an emotion common to everyone.
The three modified questions are:
- Why do I feel angry?
- What happens when I feel angry?
- What should I do with my anger?
Scenarios and their outcomes
Understanding the different options available to them can help children choose thinking and behavior more appropriate to their own and others’ needs.
Work through several scenarios that typically lead to anger, and discuss three possible responses for each one (Peters, 2018b).
1. I have been blamed for something I didn’t do.
a) I am going to get angry and behave badly.
b) I am never going to do anything again.
c)
Or, more helpfully, I am going to explain that I am upset because I didn’t do it.
2.
I can’t do something new.
a) I am going to cry and get angry.
b) I am going to sulk and give up.
c) Or, more helpfully, I am going to talk to someone and learn how to do it.
3. My friend has borrowed something and hasn’t given it back.
a) I am going to get angry with them and demand they give it back.
b) I will never talk to my friend again.
c) Or, more helpfully, I am going to explain that I am upset and would like to have it back. If that doesn’t work, then I will talk it through with an adult.
Encourage the child to explain why the two extremes (a) and (b) are not helpful or the best outcome for everyone involved. Then discuss why option (c) leads to a better result and less upset.
Who’s in the driver’s seat?
“Anger can change the way we see people and situations.” Snowden, 2018, p. 80
Work with the child to help them understand and recognise the clues that indicate an angry or a calm mind.
A calm mind can enable us to:
- Consider the consequences of our actions
How would the other person feel if I took away their toy?
- See different sides
Perhaps it was an accident rather than something they did on purpose.
- Be understanding
Perhaps they are just having a bad day.
- Hold back or walk away
I need to calm myself before saying or doing something I will regret.
- See feelings more clearly
I am sad, frustrated, or angry.
An angry mind is like this:
- Reactive
I’ll do what I want.
- Does what it wants, when it wants
I was hurt, so I should hurt them back.
Recognising each of the above signs can help prevent angry outbursts and improve the child’s self-awareness and empathy.
Canteen Volunteers
We are looking for parent helpers to assist Hellen in the Canteen. Even if you have just an hour to spare, it would be very welcome. Please drop by the office and we'll take you over to meet Hellen.

(You won't need a Working With Children Check if your child is enrolled at St Joseph's)
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.
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
Science News
In the Year 3 Science lesson last week (right) we learnt about different states of matter and investigated how cornflour and water can be combined to create something that can be both a liquid and a solid. It was a messy but fun experience!
In Year 2 (below), students participated in a guided investigation to explore and answer questions about materials and how they can change their appearance when they are combined. The two groups made play dough and had a great time!
Miss Roberts
Specialist Teacher
Drama News
All classes have recently learnt about the elements of drama and acted out the story of
How the Birds got Their Colours,
as well as a Scripture story. It's safe to say that we have some budding actors and actresses at our school! The lovely, colourful artwork seen here was drawn on an iPad by Violet Smith (Year 5) and was shown to each class to successfully revise the story of the helpful parrot and the unhelpful crow.
Miss Roberts
Specialist Teacher
Olivia and Grace’s farm fresh
free range eggs
~ $8 a carton ~
Call or text
Mary (Mum) on 0428 524 611
Canteen Menu Terms 2 & 3
School Bus Pick-ups and Drop-offs
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.
St Joseph's School Calendar Term 3 2023
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.
Reminders
Term Dates 2023
Term Dates 2023
Term 1: Wednesday 1 February - Thursday 6 April
Term 2: Tuesday 26 April - Friday 30 June
Term 3: Tuesday 18 July - Friday 22 September
Term 4: Monday 9 October - Friday 8 December
Public Holidays During Term Time 2023
Monday 6 March: Labour Day
Friday 7 April - Good Friday
Tuesday 25 April: ANZAC Day
Monday 5 June: Western Australia Day
Pupil Free Days 2023
Monday, 24 April
Thursday & Friday, 1 & 2 June
Monday, 17 July
Monday, 4th September (Catholic Day)
Assemblies
Our assemblies are every second Friday afternoon at 1.10pm.
Week 2: 28 July - Year 3
Week 4: 11 August - Year 2
Week 6: 25 August - Year 1
Week 8: 8 September - PP
Week 10: 22 September - Kindy
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.
