Messages from Don:

wonderful result for our school and our whole

community. We have been busy preparing a transition

program for our new students starting in 2017. We have

initiated Kindy visits by our Year 6 students who will be

the buddies for our Reception students next year. This is

a very successful component and will be extremely

beneficial when the Transition Program starts next term.

We thank all the Directors of surrounding Kindies for

their cooperation and involvement.

Farewell to Leah Pilla:

I wish to formally farewell Mrs Leah Pilla who will

conclude her service at St Joseph’s School this week.

Leah will move to Port Elliot with her son Leo and

husband John, who moved for work opportunities. I

wish to sincerely thank Leah for her outstanding

contribution to our school community. Leah has been

instrumental with her involvement and input establishing

our Early Years Program. She is a quality educator who

has established outstanding relationships with students,

parents and staff. She is a very proud teacher who takes

her role very seriously and has high standards. I wish

Leah and her family all the best with their future

endeavors.

Staffing for 2017:

I continue to work through the comprehensive process to

appoint staff for 2017. I wish to outline to our

community that no positions have been finalised and as

instructed by the CEO, all contracts have been

advertised. A panel, including Fr Paul, has been

established and collaboratively will begin the process of

shortlisting and interviewing. I hope to make

announcements of all positions early in Term 4. With

this process to consider, we are unable to identify the

S J St Joseph’s School Renmark

Term 3 Week 10 ~ 30th September 2016

RESPECT ~ SAFETY ~ LEARNING ~ TRUST

Opening Doors of Mercy S R

Dear Parents, Friends and Students,

Welcome to our final newsletter for Term

3.

I sincerely hope we have all survived the

last couple of days. The recent storms

have had significant impact on our whole

state and the lives of so many people. We continue to

keep all those affected in our prayers and thoughts.

As we reflect on another fantastic term, there is a genuine

sense of consolidation, optimism and enthusiasm

throughout our whole school community. We again have

enjoyed many celebrations and success stories and have

experienced a wide range of learning experiences. We

have also worked through challenges with care,

compassion and a consistent systematic approach which

again highlights the team approach where staff, students

and families all work together.

Fantastic Learning Experiences:

The past two weeks have highlighted many wonderful

learning experiences and successes. There have been

many excellent initiatives in classes including the success

of the Science/Italian Showcase, Year 7’s leadership and

organisation of the Disco and Café, our ongoing outreach

initiatives including our Breakfast Club, SAPSASA

Athletics and the UNI NSW Competitions. I am so

pleased with the excellent opportunities that our staff

provide our students.

Enrolment Interviews - Kindy Visits:

I have completed all Reception Enrolment interviews for

2017. With existing families, we have attracted a

substantial intake and classes in the Early Years are now

full and a waiting list has been established. This is a

Breakfast Club Mini Vinnies Cheque Presentation Farewell Mrs Pilla

class teachers for next year. I will also inform our

community as soon as this is finalised.

Class Lists for 2017: Reminder:

Last Newsletter, Parents/Caregivers were asked if they

wish to request consideration for their child’s placement

in classes for 2017 to submit their requests in writing to

me outlining sound educational reasoning for the

request. All requests were to be submitted by the end of

this term. I will accept requests in Week 1 next term.

Requests regarding specific teachers or the type of class

structure will not be considered. Class structures and

the placement of teachers into teaching roles is the

responsibility of the school. Whilst every educational

based request is considered, not all requests will be able

to be met, given the complex needs of our school

community.

End Of Term Reports:

As per Term 1 we are sending home your child’s traffic

light report. We continue to focus on effective

communication strategies to inform and build

positive Teacher/Parent relationships. Our reports at

the end of the term aim to provide a snapshot of each

child’s Academic and Social progress. We have

developed a Traffic Light system which will provide a

simple overview. Please peruse your child/ren’s report

and covering letter.

A proud Principal - Happy Holidays:

As Principal, I am so proud of the many ways we have

inspired the students in our care with the many

wonderful events and activities during the term. One of

my personal mantra’s is summarised by this wonderful

quote -

“A teacher and parent effects eternity.

He/She can never tell where

this influence ends.”

I take seriously my responsibility as Principal and

firmly believe that as a Catholic School we do inspire

and offer meaningful life long experiences. We do

offer a positive and alternative education. We do

travel together with a different view. Bishop Greg

often comments about the importance of Parents and

Teachers working together in partnership to support

young people. One of the powerful statements he

often makes is that faith and education is taught and

caught in the home, it is supported in the school and

celebrated in the parish when the community comes

together.

Holidays:

After another busy term I would like to thank all the

staff for their continued efforts. I would also like to

acknowledge the efforts of the people who volunteer

their time and skills to help our school such as the

Board members, P&F, volunteers with class activities

and sports. You are all truly valued and appreciated.

Finally, I would like to thank the students for their

enthusiasm and hard work this term. I trust that

everyone will enjoy a well-earned break and look

forward to seeing you all back for Term 4 on Tuesday

18th October.

Happy Holidays!

Don DePalma

Principal

Star Student Awards:

L-R: Miekah Gittos, Louis Brown, Ruby

Malinovski, Mahlia Gill, Devlin Taylor, Liam

Price, Kian Taylor, Lily Schloithe.

L-R: Chelsea Hall, Tammy Tran, Arielle

Milich, Brock Rover, Briayshia Hannagan,

Maiya Rice, Zac Logos, Riley Ward, Jayden

Quach.

STUDENT FREE DAY on

Monday 17th October

due to Staff Professional Development.

Out of Hours School Care (OHSC) is available.

Please contact Nicole for arrangements 8586 4481

Go Swans!! go Doggies!

TERM 4 commences Tuesday 18th October

With Coffee’n’Chat at 8.30am

In the Activity Room

& Welcome Assembly at 9.30am

ALL WELCOME

Music Exams:

Congratulations to the following students who

have successfully completed their recent Music

Exams: Alexandra Ramm Grade 1 A, Maria

Tzanavaras Grade 1 A and Madeline Ramm

Preliminary Grade A.

Dot Fforde

Religious Identity & Mission:

Prayer for the School Holidays:

Sign of The Cross - In the name of

the Father, and of the Son, and of

the Holy Spirit. Amen

Task – slow down

Reading - "Sometimes it's important

to work for that pot of gold. But

other times it's essential to take

time off and to make sure that your

most important decision in the day simply consists of

choosing which colour to slide down on the rainbow.”

Lord, we give you thanks for the beginnings of our

school holidays. Be with us in all we do and keep us

safe from all harm. May we return with renewed hope

and vigour, through our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Susan Frawley

Happy Birthday for the month of October

Chelsea Docking, Hamish Pitman, Sophie Robertson,

Isabelle Wutke, Mahlia Gill, Mia DePalma, Con

Demou, Torren Frawley, Jesse Hammond, Hayden

Tripney, Cooper Britton, Chloe Milne, Lilly Phan, Amy

Gibbons, Bradley Lehmann, Danielle Leonard, Zac

Tripney

KidsMatter

Parents & Friends News:

Dear Parents and Friends Community

We wish you all a safe and relaxing

break with your family. Thank you for

your continual support for our school

and our children.

We will welcome you back on Tuesday 18th October

with our first Coffee’n’Chat at 8.30am in the Activity

Room followed by the Welcome Assembly at 9.00am.

Kristine & the P & F Committee

Parish Connections:

ST. THERESE’S RENMARK

Fr Paul Bourke 85821894

Fr John Stuart-James 85882452

MASS TIMES

1 October Sat 6.30pm

9 October Sun 9.00am

15 October Sat 6.30pm

Our recent KidsMatter Champion is Bradley Lehmann.

Brad was rewarded for the effort he has put into

making his time at

school a positive

experience and his

wonderful, polite and

friendly attitude

towards all staff and

students at St

Joseph’s. Well done

Brad!!

Tony Luxton,

Amy Thompson & the

KidsMatter Team.

Pogo Pulse:

This term the Pogo-Pulse team have been practicing

their skills on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings.

The students who found Pogo-ing difficult at the

beginning, are now able to do some amazing tricks

such as no hands, skipping and shooting basketball

goals. The students have shown great resilience

through the program, demonstrating a ‘Bounce

Back’ attitude. On Friday 21st of October (Week 1 of

Term 4), the students will be participating in the

National Pogo Bounce Off Day. The students will be

continually jumping for one hour, demonstrating all

the amazing new skills they have learnt with the

Pogo Sticks. A big thanks to Mr Reeks and Ms

Haeberer for their support with the program.

Help Required Please

for our Parish Working Bee

Saturday 1st October 8.00am

Please bring some shovels if possible.

All support gratefully appreciated, thank you

Science & Italian Display:

Breakfast Club:

During this term we

held a breakfast club

on Wednesday and

Thursday of Week 9

and 10. The purpose

of this pastoral care

program was to

promote students

well-being, social

relationships and

health. Students

enjoyed a selection of

bread or toast,

cereal, fruit in season

and a cup of juice.

The program was run

by the Year 7 Mini

Vinnies and staff

volunteers.

Rehna Sotto

Youth Minister

The Italian and Science

showcase has been very

successful this week and

have given the parents an

opportunity to see the

excellent work that has

been done by the students

in both subjects.

The Year 7 class have been

planning a café as a part of

integrated study in HASS, Italian

and Maths. They went to the

Smokehouse Café for research on

how a café is run. They will be

opening there café on Wednesday

Week 2 for their families to enjoy. It

will be a great opportunity for them

to showcase the work that they

have done.

Year 7 Café:

A big congratulations to the following students who

represented the Riverland in the SAPSASA Athletics

Carnival at Santos Stadium in Adelaide on Monday,

September 26th: Renee Johnson (Gold in U/12 Girls

Relay), Jessica Price (6th in High Jump), Isabella Cant

(Gold in 800m, Bronze in 100m), Toby Johnson

(10th

in Shot Put) and Amelia Koumborakos (4th in

200m, 5th in Relay).

A special mention to Isabella, who will now represent

South Australia in Queensland in the 800m running

event.

Kyerin Grundy

SAPSASA Athletics