Our very own Archibald Prize artists!

Throughout the semester, our Yr. 4/5 students have engaged enthusiastically in a visual arts unit exploring portraiture, with a particular focus on the Young Archie competition (NSW Art Gallery). Through examining a range of student artworks, they developed an understanding of how artists communicate identity, emotion and personal connection through portraiture.

Students analysed key elements such as composition, colour, facial expression and background detail, recognising how these choices help tell a story about the subject. They also explored the importance of selecting a meaningful person and conveying why that individual is significant in their lives.

This inquiry has provided a strong foundation for their own portrait work. Students are now applying these insights as they plan and create a portrait of an important person, demonstrating growing confidence in both their artistic skills and their ability to express personal meaning through art. Below are a few examples of the process so far.

Catholic Identity

During the season of Easter, we celebrate the essence of our faith: Jesus Lives! Without this truth, faith falls apart and we, as church, become irrelevant. But we believe! Jesus Lives! And it is our privilege and responsibility to bear witness to the belief that Jesus lives among us. The Church season of Easter lasts for 7 weeks leading up to Pentecost. It is a time to celebrate the love of God in our lives and the gifts which have been given to us. The gifts of family, friends, freedom of choice and the environment, just to name a few. We see Jesus everyday through the actions of those around us. We can continue to live the word of Jesus through our interactions with others. The way we speak to each other, care for each other, reach out to those in need, value each other and allow those we are in disagreement with to maintain their dignity, are all ways we can live Jesus’ call to create a just and fair world for all people.

Curriculum News

I have included two mathematical tasks which you might like to have a go at with your child/children.

This week’s Mathematical tasks:

Reception to Year 3

How many objects can you find that are longer than 2 of your foot lengths but shorter than 4 of your foot lengths?

Years 4-6

I have drawn a shape with a perimeter of 54cm. Record all the different ways my shape may look.

Happy inquiry.

Reading is another core learning area here at St Joseph’s School. Our staff use an agreed set of practices around children’s development of reading skills, knowledge and understanding. These practices shape our reading programs across the school.

Children develop their reading skills, knowledge and understanding by reading regularly. At St Joseph’s School regular reading at home forms a major part of homework set each evening. Why not create regular timeslots throughout the week whereby all electronic devices in the home are turned off and members of the family spend 15 minutes reading together. 

Happy reading.

Specialist French and Choir Updates:

French- J Meyer

Students have returned enthusiastically to their learning in French. Students spent the early weeks of Term One revising known language including numbers, colours and greetings.

For the remainder of Term One, all classes engaged in learning about Easter. Students explored French Easter traditions and become familiar with key French language used when discussing Easter.

It is wonderful to see how students' learning in French is beginning to consolidate in the older years as they independently combine known vocabulary to speak and write French with confidence.

Choir - J Meyer

St Joseph's will again have a choir participating in the Catholic Schools Music Festival in 2026. Approximately thirty Year 5 and 6 students have committed to being part of this exciting event, with several Year 6s returning to experience the excitement and wonder of the Festival for a second time. This year's selections have a distinctly quirky and upbeat note, which the students are really enjoying. Highlights of this year's Festival will include a song from Seussical (The Musical), a song about homework going missing, the well-known Somewhere Only We Know and a fabulous John Farnham medley.

Choir rehearsals began in Term 1 Week 4 and the students are showing wonderful potential already. Ms Denise Rothall (Director of the Catholic Schools Music Festival) visited the school on Wednesday 18th March to meet the choir and work with them. We are off to a wonderful start and are destined for success.

Sports Day - Thursday April 9: Rescheduled to Friday October 30

Sports Day was cancelled at 9:05am on the morning of Thursday April 9 due to the storm cell that hit at approximately 8:45am that day. Thank you to all parents who attended for both returning their children to school and for their understanding. Sports Day has been rescheduled and will now take place on Friday October 30 (Term 4 Week 3). 

Five Areas of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

SEL involves developing the ability to understand and manage our emotions, establish positive relationships, develop empathy for others, set and achieve goals and feel good about ourselves.

Be You’s approach to SEL is based on the model developed by the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL), an internationally recognised organisation in this area of research. Details of the model’s ?ve social and emotional skill areas essential for the development of good mental health are outlined below.

Self-awareness

This is the ability to recognise and understand your own emotions, thoughts and values, and understand how they affect your behaviour. It’s about understanding and assessing your personal strengths and understanding that abilities and intelligence can be developed and improved.

The main skills include:

• identifying emotions
• self-perception
• understanding strengths
• self-confidence
• self-efficacy.

Self-management

This is the ability to manage and regulate your emotions and behaviour, including managing stress, controlling impulses and keeping yourself motivated.

The main skills include:

• impulse control
• stress management
• self-discipline
• self-motivation
• goal setting
• organisational skills.

Social awareness

This is the ability to understand and empathise with people from a range of diverse backgrounds, and to understand social and ethical norms of behaviour.

The main skills include:

• perspective-taking
• empathy
• appreciating diversity
• respect for others.

Relationship skills

These involve the ability to develop and maintain healthy and positive relationships with others. They include the ability to communicate clearly, listen, cooperate, resist peer pressure, and negotiate conflict.

The main skills include:

• communication
• social engagement
• relationship building
• teamwork.

Responsible decision-making

This is the ability to make informed and responsible decisions about personal behaviour and social interactions with others, based on adherence to ethical standards, safety concerns and social norms. The main skills include:

The main skills include:

• identifying problems
• analysing situations
• solving problems
• self-evaluation
• self-reflection
• ethical responsibility.

To learn more about how you can support the wellbeing of your child, visit Be You (formerly Beyond Blue). The website also provides a range of resources and ideas to support the mental health and wellbeing of our young people. I encourage you to visit the website at https://beyou.edu.au/and have a look for yourself.   

Term 3 Preschool and Reception Intake

St. Joseph’s School will once again have a Pre-school and Reception intake at the start of Term 3 this year. Our Term 3 new Pre-school children will replace those moving into Reception as part of our Term 3 Reception intake. The criteria for starting Pre-school or Reception on the first day of school in Term 3 is that a child will have turned 4 (Pre-school) or 5 (Reception) between 1 May and 31 October in that year. During Term 2 we will hold three transition visit mornings for our new Pre-school and Reception children with the aim of supporting their new start.

May the love of the Risen Lord continue to be with us during this Easter Season.

Working in partnership with you.

Shaun O’Leary.

Audiri App has been replaced by EdSmart

As you may be aware we have moved away from using the Audiri App to using EdSmart which is an email-based product. Information regarding what is happening within our school along with upcoming school events will now be communicated to families using EdSmart. Be sure to monitor your email inbox for school updates.

The school has cancelled its subscription with Audiri.

Parent Centre - near the office entrance

Please make yourself comfortable and help yourself to tea, coffee and biscuits. The room will be open most days 8:25am and 2:30pm

Mass and liturgy - Term 2

You are always invited to join us for mass and liturgy.

• Mother’s Day celebration and community prayer Friday 8 May.
• Our Lady Help of Christian’s mass at 10am on Monday 25 May.
• Most Sacred Heart of Jesus mass at 10am on Friday 12 June.
• St John the Baptist mass at 10am on Wednesday 24 June.
• Saints Peter and Paul mass at 10am on Monday 29 June.

All weekday masses are celebrated in the Church. Fr Marek is currently recovering from an injury and if any of these masses become a school liturgy I will let you know. We wish Fr Marek a speedy recovery.

Our Year 4/5 and 5/6 students lead community prayer each Friday morning from 8:45am in the Tenison Woods Hall and they also prepare to read the readings and prayers in each mass. I thank these students and their teachers for their great contribution in these celebrations. Other classes will also celebrate liturgies at the completion of each unit of study in their religious education. You will be invited to these throughout the year.

The R/1 class and their 2/3 buddies enjoyed a delightful walk to the local park for a Teddy Bear Picnic. With their favourite teddies in hand, students shared lunch, played games, and spent time exploring the outdoors together.

The picnic provided a wonderful opportunity for students to build friendships across year levels and develop confidence in a relaxed, playful setting. It was a joyful afternoon filled with sunshine, laughter, and plenty of imaginative fun. This special event has been a highlight of the term so far for many of the students.

Dear Parents and Caregivers.

OSHC uses the Xplor Platform for enrolments, bookings and payments. Xplor can be downloaded onto your phone using the QR code, then complete the enrolment process.

Families will need to follow the prompts to complete online enrolments.

Families will be billed weekly through the app, direct debit from your account. Receipts showing payments can be viewed on the app.

SCAN THE QR CODE TO START THE ENROLMENT PROCESS

Childcare Subsidy is available for families to assist with the costs of care in OSHC. This can be completed through your personal myGov app and Centrelink.

All parents/caregivers, whether they have permanent or casual bookings for their child or children, must complete the enrolment online.

In OSHC children are in a safe supervised environment; learning happens while children play, have fun, and make new friends. Please feel welcome to visit.

Parents/caregivers are welcome to read the OSHC Policies, feel free to ask and I will make copies available for your perusal.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Mieke   

OSHC Director   

Play & Go Adelaide

Looking for some FREE & FUN school activities? - then please visit this website!