Week 6, Term 3 2022

Dear Parents and Carers,

It is wonderful to feel that spring is in the air and the days are getting longer. It also greatly assists with work continuing on our two play spaces, ready for our students to experience and enjoy. We are in the final stages of the concept designs with our Architects on our future Learning Street Project and hope to have these available in the near future to share with the school community on our website.

Last week, it was amazing to have parents and carers returning on site to our annual Book Week parade and see all our students dressed in their favourite book character. Thanks to Kathryn Beilby and the team for organising this event. This week Kathryn has also organised a Book Fair in the library for students and families to come in and purchase some great books and posters. The Book Fair will be open this Wednesday and Friday.  We look forward to seeing what is available and we are proud of the way our school promotes reading in our students lives.

On the 1^st September each year we celebrate the World Day of Prayer for Care of Creation. This annual day, established by Pope Francis in 2015, is an opportunity to pray, reflect and act to care for God's creation.

You may like to take a moment within your family to pray together or talk together about the ways you are already caring for creation. Every little act of kindness to others and to the environment is important. You might also want to recommit to something as a family ie being more committed to recycling soft plastics, seeking to buy only ethically sourced products, spending more time in the natural world in gratitude.

Monday Morning Community Prayer

It is so lovely to see family members joining us for community prayer on Mondays in the Hall.  This gathering is for only 10-15 minutes and it is good opportunity to take a moment for yourself to experience student led prayer. I look forward to seeing you when you next have the chance to stay for prayer.

This term the Receptions have been enjoying Italian Immersion afternoons. Together as a unit we have been engaged in activities which have allowed us to experience some of Italy’s culture. Our afternoons have been based around a story about a little red car that visits lots of Italy’s landmarks. We have made leaning Tower of Pisa’s from playdough and sticks and beautiful collages. This week we made paper pizzas which the children loved being involved in. 

With three weeks to prepare, our Year Six girls delivered an excellent debate on "The Adelaide Zoo should push to replace Wang Wang and Fu Ni." With their teammates support, their research included surveying zoo staff, interpreting statistics and reading articles. On the night of the debate, the girls all earned a high score, with Lally receiving the "Speaker of the Night" award.

For Year 4 and Year 5 students who are interested in finding out more about debating, the 2022 team will be holding a 'demonstration night'. Please keep an eye on your Seesaw or contact Margaret McNamara on mmcnamara@stjotran.catholic.edu.au

5/09/2022 – 09/09/2022

Shopping hours: Monday 05/09/21, Wednesday 07/09/21, Friday 9/09/21 from 8.20am until 8.45am and 3pm-3.30pm.

If you are unable to attend the book fair, your child may bring home a ‘wishlist’ which parents are then able to pre-pay online.

Once paid for, please write the receipt number on the back for the children to show Kathryn so they can then collect their books.

This year the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) introduced a new enterprise for young students.

Through the Sun Project: Shadow Judging initiative, young voices from schools and groups across Australia were invited to join the conversation about our annual CBCA Book of the Year Shortlist and choose their own winners. Creating a group of ‘shadowers’ is a powerful way to connect young readers with the shortlisted books in a safe space where their opinions and responses can be heard.

 The winning books were announced at the end of the CBCA Book Week at the first ever Shadowers’ Choice Awards on Friday 26 August.

Year Six students at St Joseph’s were offered the opportunity to join this group and Lachlan, Mia, Leila, Ella, Grace, Evie, Maggie, Jasmin, Michaela and Lally have worked tirelessly to complete the reading of the six books in their chosen category of “Younger Readers’.

During the term we have had enlightening and in-depth discussions about each of the books using the criteria of setting, plot, characterisation, theme, literary merit, cohesiveness, appeal, originality, quality and age appropriate. As the adult facilitating this group of students, I have been amazed at their thoughtful and considered responses to each of the texts.

The final activity for the students was to construct a creative response to one of the books they had read. These are to be viewed across Australia on the Shadow Judging website  https://shadowjudging.cbca.org.au/

Come and join our Family Play Group facilitated by SPiCE (Supported Playgroup in Catholic Education) for you and your child (birth to 5 years).

When  -  Tuesday mornings in term time from 9.00am to 11.00am

Where -  Small Parish Hall (entrance from Birkinshaw Avenue)

Come along and spend some time with your child and meet other families while learning together through play.

If you wish your child/children to attend Out of School Hours Care (OSHC) for either Before or After School Care, we require registration with 'Fully Booked' prior to session attendance.  This system is both user friendly and streamlined to ensure that registration is a simple process and that families are able to manage their own bookings/cancellations as needed.

Initial setup will require you to register an account and complete all necessary information required using the following link: http://stjotran.fullybookedccms.com.au/family/    

Please contact Angela Girolamo agirolamo@stjotran.catholic.edu.au or Melanie Heaney mheaney@stjotran.catholic.edu.au if you require further assistance.

It is important to note that when you create your bookings through Fully Booked, the session type will automatically default to the Full Casual rate.  If this is not what is required, you will need to deselect the ticked box in the top left hand corner of the booking screen and select available options from the drop down menu.  Unfortunately we are unable to change past bookings, so please make sure you go through this process to ensure the correct rate is charged. 

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.

Melanie Heaney

OSHC  Director

Information for Volunteering - Due to changes in the Child Protection Act

At St Joseph’s School Tranmere, we are always grateful for the support given by our volunteers.  Volunteering applies to a wide range of activities in the school including attending excursions, coaching sports teams, reading in the classroom, helping in the many committees and many other school-related activities. 

If you would like to act as a volunteer in the school, you are required to have a 6-point check.  Please provide the school with copies of the following:

• Completed CESA Volunteer Registration pack - available from the school office
• A Catholic Police Check Clearance or Working With Children Check (WWCC from the Department of Human Services  (if you need to obtain this clearance please come to the school office)
• A RRHAN-EC (Responding to Harm, Abuse and Neglect in Education and Care) training Certificate
• Work Health and Safety on-line Induction for Volunteers Certificate
• Work Health and Safety signed form
• COVID Status Certification

Please note: that all these processes are mandatory and must be completed in order to volunteer/continue to volunteer.  This requirement is designed to ensure our children are protected and safe at school.

If you are missing any documentation above I can send you links to complete the paperwork once I receive your Completed  CESA Registration Pack

Angela Girolamo, WHS Administrator