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Many thanks to Lake Illawarra Police Officers who attended our Prayer service on Wednesday and have offered support to the school and the Heapy family. Thank you also to the ex-students and community members for their attendance and support.
The purpose of the Prayer service is to bring solace to the family and friends. Solace is rather an old fashioned word meaning to bring comfort and consolation to those in times of great sadness. I hope our Prayers brought the Heapy family some solace as we journey with them. Thank you to all our local schools for their ongoing offers of support and to the many students in others schools who have been deeply affected by this sad event.
To our students, thank you for your understanding and participation in events during this week. I encourage all students to look after themselves and look after your friends, as well as those who are simply acquaintances. Seek help if you need it; go to a trusted adult who can direct you to the appropriate services. Attached in this newsletter are the resources from Headspace to assist you supporting yourself, your family and any young person. An additional letter will be issued once the funeral details are known. Over the next few weeks there will be evidence of a ‘roller coaster’ of grief in our community. I recommend that young people try to return to a routine. Feeling sad is normal, but if it is disturbing your sleep patterns or your thought patterns, then you need to seek help. If your friends have significant changes in behaviour, then you need to encourage them to speak to someone. In grief situations, particularly over the coming weeks, difficulty in concentrating is quite normal. If you have assessments, please discuss this with your classroom teacher.
Thank you to the students and staff who represented the school at the various ANZAC services in the region. It is important to remember the sacrifice made by those who have gone before us, as it is from them that we are able to live in freedom. Through all conflicts, many people have given their service or are currently giving dedicated service to our country. For this our rememberance is a way of saying ‘Thank You’.
Eternal rest grant unto Colin, O Lord. May perpetual light shine upon him. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen
NAPLAN 2019
Students in Years 7 and 9 are reminded that NAPLAN tests will commence on Tuesday 14th May to Friday 17th May. The timetable is as follows:
| Tuesday 14 May | Wednesday 15 May | Thursday 16 May | Friday 17 May |
| Writing Test | Reading Test | Language Conventions | Numeracy Test |
Students at St Joseph’s will be completing NAPLAN online. Students will be required to bring their device (iPad or laptop) to school each day fully charged. All students must ensure they bring their own earbuds and a pencil. Rulers and calculators are not required as these are built into the testing platform. We request that students are not late to school on test days and if possible, avoid making appointments which may interfere with testing times.
LEARNING LABS
For further information about workshops and the application process please visit the website, or contact the Learning Labs team via email at learning-labs@uow.edu.au or phone on (02) 4221 5557.
YEAR 10 MENINGOCOCCAL VACCINATIONS
Next Thursday, 9th May, the NSW Public Health Unit will be coming to the school to deliver the Meningococcal Vaccination to students in Yr 10. Meningococcal is a serious disease that usually causes meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord) and/or septicaemia (blood poisoning). Rare forms of the disease include septic arthritis (joint infection), pneumonia (lung infection) and conjunctivitis (infection of the outer lining of the eye and eyelid). People with meningococcal disease can become extremely unwell very quickly. Five to ten per cent of patients with meningococcal disease die, even despite rapid treatment. More information can be found at https://www.health.nsw.gov.
The vaccination is offered to all students in Yr 10. This will take place at school during the day and is free of charge. Students were this week issued an Parent Information Kit containing information about the vaccine as well as a consent form. Further information can be found at https://www.health.nsw.gov.
Students will be allocated a time through the day to receive their vaccination. Students that have already planned appointments are asked to let me know ASAP so alternate times can be arranged for them throughout the day. Students highly anxious about receiving the vaccination are encouraged to inform us so we can make suitable arrangements to support them. Students are to wear their sports uniform to school on the day and are encouraged to bring bottled water with them at their allocated vaccination time.
Students not receiving the vaccination are asked to return the Parent Information Pack (including the consent form) to the front office along with a note explaining the reason for not receiving the vaccination. This will be passed on to the Public Health Unit for their records.
Below is a flyer from the Catholic Education Office Diocese of Wollongong regarding the Social Media Policy and what this means for parents and carers. Please take the time to read this information.
ANZAC DAY DAWN SERVICE
With a chilly 4.30am start on ANZAC Day Morning, Mayha Podolski, Patrick Ong and Mr Shawn Fenech attended the Anzac Day Dawn Service in Albion Park. The students represented St Joseph's very well by being reverent, respectful and smartly dressed. We would like to thank Gareth Reavell for his organisation and hard work leading up to the service. Please find some photos below of the service.
ANZAC DAY LITURGY
On Monday 30 April, St Joseph's held an ANZAC Day Liturgy. 25 April 2019 marked the 104th Anniversary of the landing of ANZAC troops at Gallipoli. On this day, it is important to remember that ANZAC Day is not for glorifying war but rather the day we acknowledge all Australians, past and present who have served to protect the sovereignty of Australia.
We were honoured to be visited by the President of the Albion Park RSL Sub-Branch, Ms Robyn Hanckel who delivered a heartfelt speech to our school community centred on freedom. Additionally, a talented bugler, Mr Neil Lendrum attended and played The Last Post and The Rouse for our school community. A very moving experience for us all.
Lest We Forget.
BOYS FOOTBALL GALA DAY
It was a very emotional start to the day with the first game up against Edmond Rice College. It was fairly tough and the boys did really well but lost 0-2. With their backs to the wall, the second game against Corpus Christi was a smashing 4-1 win. Preston Ridley was very successful in scoring all the goals. The third game was against St John's and we had a narrow win.
St Joey's finished second in their pool and were in the semi finals. This meant they were playing the team who came first in the other pool. This semi went to a penalty shoot-out and sadly the boys lost. Still a fantastic effort and they were in the play-off for third and fourth.
Zac Ellul did a brilliant job coaching and looking after the boys in a very fragile and difficult day. Well done on this amazing result!
Please ensure that the AIME permission notes are returned this week, as our first AIME program day is Friday 10 May 2019, which is next week.
10 of our Aboriginal students will be attending the bush tucker and medicines excursion with Year 9 Food Tech, which is taking place next Wednesday. If your child would like to attend please return this note ASAP. If anyone needs assistance with payments for some of these activities, please let me know as we can make other arrangements.
This term we have two focused assemblies and you will receive a formal invite in the coming weeks.
Reconciliation Assembly will be on Monday 3rd June 2019. We are looking at focusing on reconciliation and invasion, which is inline with this years theme 'Grounded in Truth - Walk Together with Courage'. We will possibly paint up in Ochre as a sign of connection. NAIDOC assembly will be on Monday 24 June 2019 and the theme this year is 'Voice, Treaty and Truth'. Inline with this, the choir will perform the National Anthem, our students will dance, and we will celebrate with a Liturgy.
The Shellharbour Council Reconciliation Flag Walk will be taking place on Monday 24 May 2019. I will be attending with 4 students from St Joey's. If you would like to attend with your children, you are asked to take them to the flag walk and collect them from the flag walk.
School fees should now be paid in full unless arrangements have been made to pay your fees periodically. If you are paying periodically, please ensure you complete a School Fee Agreement Form (available left) and return it to the finance office. A new form is required each school year.
New families to the school experiencing financial hardship may wish to contact the school to organise an appointment with our Principal to discuss financial support.
All students are to be wearing their Winter Uniform. The Uniform Shop has Blazers, Boys Trousers, Ties and Girls long pants all in stock. No appointment required for fittings so please visit the uniform shop to make your winter uniform purchases.
New Uniform Shop phone number is: 0413 441 892
Hours: Monday 12 pm - 4 pm and Thursday 8:30 am - 1:30 pm
Please click the link below to be directed to the School website for access to current Permission Notes.
