Message from the Principal

St Joseph’s Weekly Bulletin

2 7 T H F E B R U A R Y , 2 0 1 5

W E E K 5 , T E R M 1 Tel: (02) 65 62 5501

Fax: (02) 65 62 1371

E-mail: kmpp@lism.catholic.edu.au

Website: http://www.kmpplism.catholic.edu.au

MACLEAY VALLEY PARISH WEEKEND

MASS TIMES SATURDAY, 28th FEBRUARY

6.00pm at Kempsey

SUNDAY, 1st MARCH

7.30am at South West Rocks

SUNDAY, 1st MARCH

9.30am at Kempsey

Principal’s Award - “Co-operating with Others” Sam Sutherland—KH Annika Killmore—2N

Junior Jones—3M Dean Jones—5C

It has been decided that our School

Fete will now be held bi-annually.

Fortunately, thanks to a dedicated committee, all the families of St Joseph’s

and local businesses, we have always

raised substantial funds from our Fete

and we look forward to continuing this in

2016.

Keep a look out in the newsletter for

other fundraising events throughout this year, as we would still like to be able to

raise funds to contribute to school

improvements and our student’s learning

resources.

We encourage all parents and caregivers

to come along to our first P & F Meeting

of the year with all your fundraising

ideas, on Tuesday 17th March 6.30pm in the School Library.

Our first fundraiser for 2015 will be an

Easter Egg Raffle and Guessing

Competition. Tickets will be 50c each

for the raffle and a guess. Lots of great prizes to be won, so send in a couple of

dollars with your child to be a part of this

fundraiser. Tickets will be on sale from

Monday, 16th March until the end of term

and prizes will be drawn at assembly.

The Mother’s Day Stall is another one

of our annual fundraisers and we would

like all students to bring in a small gift

each to contribute to the stall. An Out

of Uniform Day for students will be

held on Friday, 13th March, for

students to bring along an item and

come in casual clothes for that day.

Thank you for your support of these first

two fundraisers at St Joseph’s School.

SCHOOL CALENDAR WEEK 6 Wednesday, 4th March PUPIL FREE DAY - Staff In Service - Mathematics

Thursday, 5th March 6M Class Mass Friday, 6th March Assembly Prayer - 1S UPCOMING EVENTS

Monday, 9th March Zone Winter Sports Trials - Port Macquarie Tuesday, 17th March P & F AGM & Meeting - All welcome

Wednesday, 18th March School Cross Country - South West Rocks

Thursday, 19th March St Joseph’s Day Mass - 9.30am

Saturday, 21st March First Penance - 4.30pm

Monday, 23rd March Primary Disco (Years 3-6) - 6pm to 8pm

Thursday, 26th March Day in the Life of a Year 7 Student -

Year 6 Excursion to St Paul’s College

His message was clear to

the children, if you want

to achieve something

“don’t let a few

obstacles stop you”.

His message to the

teachers was also clear.

“Don’t have low

expectations. With help,

your students can

achieve outstanding

results”.

Tom Critchley

Thank You Parents

and Friends On Wednesday morning,

our students were

entertained by a very

inspirational speaker/

musician, Lorin Nicholson

(sponsored by our P & F).

Lorin was born legally blind

with only 10% vision and

the only aid he had whilst

at school was a

magnifying glass. He

could not see the board

and had to learn to read

and write with the aid of

Braille. His high school

maths teacher, a patient

man who loved his subject,

began teaching Lorin

algebra and trigonometry

and eventually Lorin

advanced to the top 11%

of Advanced Maths in

NSW.

Lorin’s eyesight has now

deteriorated to 6%, and

yes, he is exceptional on

the guitar.

He told of his bike ride to

the beach for a swim,

nothing exceptional in

that you might say, except

that he was blind and lived

in Tamworth. Lorin had to

cross the Great Dividing

Range, and anyone who

has driven the road from

Tamworth to Port

Macquarie knows how

windy it is.

Not only that, his friends

kept telling him he

couldn’t do it, but he

proved them wrong and

made it to the beach

three days later and had a

swim.

Pictured with Lorin are

Leanne, Angelique’ & Hunta

Warning

Dropping Off and Picking Up Children

We, as a school, are totally committed to the safety of your children. If I see an unsafe practice, I feel duty bound address the issue. If I happen to offend some parents, I am willing to wear that criticism if it keeps your children safe.

On Monday morning we had a friendly visit from the police. They talked to me about the drop off and pick up of children at the front of the school. The police have identified people who are illegally parking in the drop off zone, in disabled spots, the bus zone or driveways. People are then forced to double park and then have their children walk through moving cars. All these practices are illegal and carry a fine of $311.00 and two demerit points. The last thing the police want to do is fine people, which is why they have asked me to warn all parents to obey the rules as set out on the signs outside the school. The police will be making random visits during the year. All I can do is obey the laws myself and warn you, your next reminder may be a fine. On a more positive note, if you have suggestions

to improve the flow of traffic at these times, I will be

happy to pass them onto council. Thank you for

your help in keeping our children safe!

Tom Critchley

Due to the wet weather,

Zone Trials planned in

Port Macquarie on

Monday were postponed.

New date is

Monday, 9th March (not 2nd March as previously advised)

ZONE WINTER TRIALS

SCHOOL HATS Sizes S, M, & XL

$15.00 ea

READER BAGS

$15.00 ea

WHY YOUR CHILD CAN’T SKIP THEIR

20 MINUTES OF READING TONIGHT

James reads 20 minutes per night, 5 times per week.

In one week: 100 minutes of reading.

In one month: 400 minutes of reading

In one school year (9 months): 3600 minutes of reading

By the end of sixth grade: 21,600 minutes of reading

Travis reads only 4 minutes per night.. or not at all.

In one week: 20 minutes of reading

In one month: 80 minutes of reading

In one school year (9 months): 720 minutes of reading

By the end of sixth grade: 4320 minutes of reading.

Which student would you expect to be a better reader? Which student would you expect to know more? Which student would you expect to be a better writer? Which student would you expect to have a better vocabulary? Which student would you expect to be more successful in school and life? How do you think each student will feel about himself as a learner?

On Sunday 22nd February, Year 3 Students from

St Joseph's Primary, Kempsey celebrated their

Commitment Mass with Father Paul Gooley in

preparation for their upcoming Sacrament of

Penance. During the Mass, the children and their

parents made a commitment to their preparation

for this special Sacrament. Father Paul spoke to

the children about different kinds of healing and

the importance of this for us all.

Thank you to the Parish Children’s Choir for

singing at the Mass.

FIRST PENANCE

COMMITMENT MASS

Week 6 Roster

MONDAY Linda Pogson

TUESDAY Najana Pilbeam

WEDNESDAY Lisa Collin

THURSDAY Sheena Clarke/Natalie Sanchez

FRIDAY Kerrie Sheridan/Najana Pilbeam

STUDENT BIRTHDAYS

WEEK 6

Destiny Fisher

Eric Gannell

Daniel Nixon

1st March

Mikeah Waters-Holten 3rd March

Rielly Borger

Eric Northey

Flynn Welsh

4th March

ELECTRONIC ROLL MARKING

At St Joseph’s Primary we are now using an electronic system to mark our class rolls.

To help us keep our records legal and correct we ask that all parents/caregivers provide signed notes if their child is:

Late to school

Leaving school early

Absent

Rolls are marked by the class teacher straight after the 8.55am bell each morning.

Your child will be marked absent if they arrive after the roll has been marked.

If this is the case, a signed note of explanation will need to be handed into the school office upon arrival. The student will then be given a yellow card by the office staff to take to their teacher.

Please note that each day an SMS message will be sent to parents of students who have been marked absent without an explanation having been received.

We would appreciate if you could respond to this SMS with a reason for absence so that we can update our roll for the day.

If no return SMS received by 3.00pm on the same day the absence is recorded, a hand written note will need to be sent to school.

Thank you for your assistance in helping us with our new system.

It is appreciated.

TINY TEDDIES PLAYGROUP

9.30-11.30am

Thursday 5th March St Joseph’s School Hall

$2.00 per family BYO Morning Tea

Come along and make some new

friends!

Invitation to wider

community, not just parents of

St Joseph’s Primary. Spread

the word!

Will run first Thursday of the month.

ST JOSEPH’S

AFTER SCHOOL CARE

Will be open on

Wednesday, 4th March

PUPIL FREE DAY

Filling fast so book now!

Call Linda on

0407 406 433

Kempsey/Macleay Physical Culture Club

What is Physi? It is a combination

of dance moves including ballet, contemporary, hip hop and even

yoga, that is performed to contemporary pop music.

Physical Culture will benefit your daughters’ confidence, cognitive skills, as well as strength and

flexibility.

Classes in Kempsey, Crescent Head and South West Rocks.

For more information call Joan on 65 6 2 5130

Macleay Valley Baseball

REGISTRATION DAYS

15th & 22nd March 10am—12.00pm

at Kemp Street Baseball Fields.

For more information call Rachel on 0422 085 919

Smithtown Junior Rugby League Club

REGISTRATION DAYS

Tuesday 3rd March and Thursday 5th March

4-6pm at the Smithtown Oval

Bring your birth certificate and Medicare number to registration, accompanied by an adult.

For more information call Sonya on 0402 916 637

PRINCIPAL’S REFLECTION

Choices Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Does anyone remember when Birthday Parties were simple affairs, when children ate fairy bread and

home made cup cakes and drank home mixed cordial? Everyone got a handful of liquorice all-sorts

and a couple of musk sticks and when entertainment was about games in the back yard with a

couple of close friends and the odd relative or two? “Grandma can,” someone said!

Well, there was a time when Birthday Parties were simple affairs and when the focus was on the person

whose birthday it was and the simple fun to be had, rather than the splendour and extravagance of

the entertainment. Of course, birthdays should be celebrated and gifts should be given in moderation.

After all, Mother Earth gives us a present each year: another free trip around the sun!

It seems that the Germans have been given the credit for starting to celebrate children’s birthdays and

a song called, “Good Morning to You” written in 1891 might have been well-forgotten by now only

someone changed the words to “Happy Birthday to You”.

On our birthday we celebrate our existence and proclaim our potential to further enjoy the gift of life;

we celebrate who we are and where we came from. “Thanks Mum and Dad!”

Of recent years, birthday parties have moved up-market and aggressive marketing, directed at

parents, can make parents feel that they need to be competitive with the parents of other children

and provide a range of costly entertainment at their child’s party. Trying to be bigger and better can

be unnecessarily expensive and end up taking all the fun out of the experience because parents are

so anxious for the party to be “successful” and acclaimed to be so.

As for the children, could all the gifts provided by all the guests and all the entertainment provided by

the parents be exposing them to a heavy emphasis on consumerism and a lighter emphasis on sharing,

fellowship and celebration of the person whose birthday it is.

Of course, there are alternatives to the “Big Party” concept. Some parents, in consultation with their

birthday child, have had the occasional no-gift party when any gifts from parents and family are given

privately and those invited are asked to put an anonymous donation into a brightly- presented box or

tin. The anticipated cost of the hired entertainment is added and the resulting sum of money is given to

a local children’s hospital or charity. This is but one example of a variety of options.

Parties for children need to be child oriented and age appropriate. Questions should be asked about

the appropriateness of a “Bridesmaid Party” for five-year-olds which includes cosmetic make-over and

pedicure or a “Princess Party” which includes hot-spa, massage and shopping experience for

seven year-olds. Likewise, what’s left for the future when twelve-year-olds are individually picked up

from their house by a chauffeur driven hire car, taken to an expensive restaurant for a three course

meal, then onto a musical, back to the restaurant for supper, then chauffeur driven back to their front

doorstep!

“Please, please, Grandma. Can we have fairy bread, cordial and a handful of liquorice all-sorts. We

just want to be children!”

“Spirit of God within us, we ask for the gifts of wisdom and right-judgement to be strong within us, so that the choices and decisions we make for our children will be solely for their needs and benefit. Amen.”

Peace and Best wishes - Tom Critchley