Term 1, Week 2
Principal's Piece
Dear Parents and Carers
Thank you for your support with the smooth start to this year; the majority of our children have well and truly settled into their classrooms and have begun work on various new units of learning.
Our first school Mass will be held at 8.30am on Friday morning in the Library with our new parish priest Fr Vinu. You are most welcome to join us.
Next Thursday, 16th February, our Parents and Friends group will hold their Annual General Meeting at 2.30pm. I invite everyone to come along and be part of this group as they really do provide great support for our children.
Please be reminded that the children should not bring sugary drinks to school. This includes fizzy drinks (such as Coke/Fanta/Sprite), flavoured milk and fruit juices/drinks. Sugar hits provided by these drinks don't support learning. We ask that you do not send drinks such as these to school.
Our yard is looking a little different this year, with some trees cut down and stumps ground out. Sadly, we had to remove the mahogany trees at the school entry for safety reasons. We will, however, be planting some more manageable trees in the area. We are continuing the process of revamping garden spaces and there will be further tidying over the coming weeks.
As mentioned last week, we have made some adjustments to our B.O.A.B.s program this year. Many children are already well on the way to participating in our first planned reward afternoon, scheduled for later next week. Once the children have accumulated the designated number of "tickets" they will be invited to participate in an activity to acknowledge their positive efforts. These activities will be for those who have been recognised for their efforts across both the classroom and playground spaces. We are also looking to have an event for the Faction that reaches the purple line on our leader's board first.
Thank you to everyone for your support with the afternoon pick up on Ironwood Drive, this is operating much more smoothly this week.
Our swimming program is scheduled to start on February 28. We are looking forward to having a swimming carnival later this term, once we've completed our swimming program.
The next in our series of teasers for the 2023 St Patrick's Quiz night is about waterfalls:
"The Horizontal Falls have been described as "one of the greatest wonders of the natural world". This natural phenomenon is caused by the changing local sea level due to tidal movements. With each change of the tide, the direction of the falls reverses from inflow to outflow and back again.
How great is the tidal range at the Horizontal Waterfall?"
The answer to last week's question:
"Carly Simon wrote and sang the song "You're so Vain." Mick Jagger sang backing vocals on this song. Who is the person that she is said to have been singing about?"
is
"Warren Beatty"
Go well this week.
Miss Therese
Principal
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.
P & F AGM, Thursday 16th February
Time: 2.30pm
Our P & F is struggling for numbers and we desperately need some new members to reach a quorum for our AGM. We don't ask for much of your time. Please come along and support the wonderful efforts of the P&F - all their hard work goes towards improving your child's education.
SACRAMENTS and other matters
In January, Fr Joel celebrated his last mass in Kununurra after 10 years of ministry to our school. Last weekend we welcomed Fr Vinu Veletheppilly, and look forward to his visits to our school, along with celebrating masses, Classroom Liturgies, Sacraments and Feast Days.
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. In this case, please contact the school office to place your child’s name on the Sacrament list for 2023. The schedule for Sacraments is below:
Baptism Please contact Sr Julianne or Fr Vinu, at any time, regarding a date.
Reconciliation Year 4 children in Term 1. Date to be confirmed with Fr Vinu.
Eucharist Year 5 children in Term 2. Date to be confirmed with Fr Vinu.
Confirmation Year 6 children on 27th August, during the pastoral visit of Bishop Michael Morrissey.
Other dates/times
Our opening school mass will be held this Friday, 10th February .
Each weekend, Mass is held at St Vincent Pallotti Church on Saturdays at 5.30pm and Sundays at 8.30am. On Sundays, we also have Children’s Liturgy during mass.
This weekend, 12th February, mass will a include a missioning service for our school staff – all are welcome.
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
Sugary Drinks
Sugary drinks make it harder to learn in the classroom, so please avoid sending them to school with your child.
Problems with sweet drinks
Sweet drinks can cause a range of problems including:
- excess weight gain
- tooth erosion and decay
- small appetite
- picky eating
- change in bowel habits.
Children do not need to include any fruit juices or other sweet drinks to have a healthy diet. Intake of sweet drinks reduces the quality of your child’s diet, has links to weight gain and poor oral health, and also exposes them to the ‘habit’ of drinking sweet drinks.
The Australian Dietary Guidelines do not recommend the consumption of sugar sweetened drinks such as soft drinks, cordials, fruit drinks, vitamin-style waters, flavoured mineral waters, energy and sports drinks.
Fruit and vegetable juices contain sugars that are found naturally in fresh fruits and vegetables, but become very concentrated when made into juice. Children do not need any fruit or vegetable juice to have a balanced and healthy diet. Encouraging children to eat the whole fruit or vegetable, and drink plain tap water or milk rather than juice is the best way to establish good eating habits early.
Encourage plain milk in preference to flavoured milks as flavoured milk is higher in added sugar.
Limit Artificially Sweetened Drinks
Some soft drinks contain artificial sweeteners instead of added sugar. Artificially sweetened drinks add very little energy (kilojoules) to the diet and therefore, do not contribute directly to weight gain. However, artificially sweetened drinks still maintain the ‘habit’ of drinking sweet drinks and do not add nutritional value to a healthy diet.
The acidity of drinks, whether sweetened with sugar or artificial sweeteners, and the frequent consumption of them, may contribute to tooth erosion and decay. For good oral health encourage children to drink plain tap water throughout the day.
Suggestions for Parents
Changing your child’s diet can be a challenge, but remember that young children can only eat or drink what is given to them. Suggestions include:
- Be a role model by not keeping sweet drinks in the house or consuming sweet drinks yourself.
- If your child is already used to sweet drinks, start to reduce their intake – for example, you could offer watered-down versions for a short time and then move on to water.
- Be patient. This may take time, particularly if your child is in the habit of wanting juice or cordial whenever they are thirsty or hungry.
- Encourage your child to eat fresh fruit and vegetables instead of drinking juice.
- Limit consumption of fruit juice to ½ cup (with no added sugar) only occasionally.
From the Victorian Government Department of Health
No more soft plastics for recycling please...
Unfortunately, we cannot take anymore soft plastics for our recycling bin as the only company in Australia that processes it - REDcycle - has ceased accepting it for the time being. They are hoping to be up and running again in 2023.
In the meantime you could:
- Store your soft plastics until REDcycle resumes collection again or another company takes on the role.
- Choose to buy fewer products in plastic bags.
See ABC News for more details:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-11-09/redcycle-soft-plastics-recycling-program-suspended/101632220
Olivia and Grace’s farm fresh
free range eggs
~ $8 a carton ~
Call or text
Mary (Mum) on 0428 524 611
Canteen Menu
Families at St Joseph’s to receive more affordable quality Catholic education
Families at St Joseph’s School will continue to benefit from high quality, Christ-centred and child-focused education in 2023.
Catholic Education Western Australia (CEWA) has announced that the fees parents pay at St Joseph’s will be $739 for a single child in 2023 (see attached email for information about fees for additional children). This compares to current fees of $1,137 for a single child.
The changes to school fees have come about as a result of changes to the overall funding for Catholic schools in Western Australia. Our school and CEWA are able to utilise a greater level of data to inform how we determine fees in a way that better matches our school and community’s unique context.
I hope families will welcome this news as indicative of our school’s commitment to meeting the needs of the Kununurra community we serve. The reduction in fees has been impacted by changes to the Federal Government’s funding model, which is now based on the parent community’s Direct Measure of Income (DMI). We are strongly committed to delivering the highest quality education alongside all our other current programmes offered in 2023 and beyond.
The change in fees is a strong sign of Catholic education’s continued place as the best value for money education option for young people in Western Australia.
Miss Therese
Principal
~ 2023 Parent Planner ~
New School Bus Owners
As of 30th August 2022 the new 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.
Containers for change can assist in raising money for school resources. You can either deposit your cans in the school bins near the fence or take your own bag to the depot and write our school code on your bag.
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: 10 February - Year 5/6
Week 4: 24 February - Year 4
Week 6: 10 March - Year 3
Week 8: 24 March - Year 2
Week 10: To be confirmed
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 currently 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.
