Dear Lord,

We ask you to bless St Joseph's School Community.

We pray that you guide us to be just and to see,

listen, speak and act like St Joseph.

May we be inspired by our Founders to be the best
that we can be.

May we always keep Jesus at the centre of all we do.

St Emilie          Pray for us

St Marcellin      Pray for us

St Joseph         Pray for us 

And may we always remember to pray for one another.

AMEN

Dear Members of St Joseph's Community

Weekly Gospel Reflection

Please view the Gospel reflection for this week.

This week's clip has a focus on "Project Compassion - Love" 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZx3xXyMyME

Lloyd Reidy
Religious Education Teacher

Parish Sacramental Program

The Parish Sacramental Program Coordinator, Mrs Kathy Pollard, wishes to advise families that the Parish is considering holding the Commitment Ceremony for each Sacrament prior to or at the first parent/student workshop.  If you have any queries regarding the Sacramental Program, please contact Kathy on 0429 685 632.

Dear Families & Friends, 

Over the past two weeks we have had the opportunity to gather as a whole campus in the PAC.  Our brand new roof and sound system have created a wonderful area for us to come together.  Last week, we held our first Assembly and on Wednesday we participated in our Ash Wednesday Liturgy.  

de Vialar House Day 

On Wednesday, 1 March we will be celebrating de Vialar House Day.  Once a year, we dedicate a day to celebrate each House.  On 1 March, all students from Kindy to Year 6 are invited to wear yellow items of clothing to school (yellow is the de Vialar House colour). This is not a normal free dress day, so if students are not wearing yellow, they are required to wear their normal school uniform.  

The Year 6 student leaders will also have lots of yellow treats for sale during lunch time, so students are encouraged to bring a gold coin along. 

May you all have a beautiful weekend.  

Michelle Christian
Head of Primary

Class in Focus:  Pre-Primary Blue

My goodness!  It is Week Four already.  This first term is racing by. Pre-Primary Blue have settled into life as full-time students so well.  This term we are investigating the magical world of fairy tales.  So far, we have heard the stories of Jack and the Beanstalk, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, and Rapunzel.  We have completed some great artwork and have participated in some challenges along the way.

In Religion, we have been learning about how unique we and our families are.  We also learned a story about how Jesus loves children and we shared our recount of the story to our parents on SeeSaw.  During Mathematics, we are learning our numbers up to twenty and have been refining our subitising skills.  In our Literacy block, we have been working with our groups 1 and 2 sounds to identify, read and encode them into words.  We have also been working on our letter formation and comprehension skills.

This year, we begin to enjoy our specialist classes each week.  During AUSLAN with Mrs Curtis, we have learned our House colours and can now sign them confidently.  In Science with Mr James we are learning about living and non-living things.  On Monday we started the process of growing sprouts.  Twice a day we rinse them and we are looking forward to seeing how they look and taste on Friday.  Finally, during Art with Mrs Smith, we have been working on a collaboration piece called “A Field of Flowers”.  The end result was fantastic, so we have hung it on a wall for all to enjoy.

We still have half a term to go and are excited to see what else is in store for us.

Kym McCarthy
Pre-Primary Blue Teacher

Head of Secondary

This fortnight began with a weekend spent at Camp Leschenaultia with the Student Leadership Team and the amazing Mr Vernede.  This was an opportunity for the students to develop leadership skills and work as a team to promote their ideas in our school community.  We also had a lot of fun along the way with many trust and problem-solving activities.  Thank you, Mr Vernede.  Thank you also to the students and their families for providing some very delicious food.

Thank you to the many parents and students who attended our Digital Technology Parent Information evening last week.  I hope that you are now feeling a bit more confident in the information technology world.  Thank you to Mr Gargano, Mr Vogel, Mr Reidy, Mrs Wallis and Mrs Woodgate for your help and training. 

Earlier this week, we had the first of our Headspace sessions for students to learn about mental health and the services offered in the Northam area.  This week we had the Years 11 and 12 listen to ways that they are able to “pause, reflect, reconnect” while preparing to leave high school.  There will be separate sessions for the Years 7 to 10 later this term.  

This week students enjoyed some free pancakes for Shrove Tuesday. Thank you to Mrs Farson and her students for the preparation and cooking of these pancakes. Shrove Tuesday leads us into Ash Wednesday, and I would like to thank Mr Reidy for the Liturgy students were able to partake in when receiving the Ashes from last year’s Palm Sunday. 

Term 1 sees our Years 7 and 9 students completing NAPLAN earlier than previous years.  This year we will start on 15 March and complete assessments on different days until 24 March.  If your child is absent, then we will catch up with them at their next school day so that they are given every opportunity to complete the assessments.  For Year 9s, a level of Band 8 is needed in NAPLAN so that they are not required to complete OLNA (Online Literacy and Numeracy Assessment).  

The OLNA enables students to successfully meet the Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) requirement of demonstrating a minimum standard of literacy (reading and writing) and numeracy.  For those Years 11 and 12 students who have not yet met the requirement, we will be completing OLNA between 27 February and 10 March and then again in September. 

I am now looking forward to a beautiful day at the aquatic centre for the Interhouse Swimming Carnival and seeing a lot of team spirit and sportsmanship.

God Bless

Sharon Cusack
Head of Secondary

Curriculum Matters

Something for our current students to reflect on is the positive groundwork laid down by our 2022 graduating Year 12 class.  Our ATAR group had a most successful set of results.  Of our group of 17 ATAR students, four were completing alternate tertiary entrance pathways, which has enabled their admission into university this year.  Of the remaining 13 students, 7 students gained an ATAR of 80 or greater.

Leading the pack, we congratulate Cameron de Wit, who was awarded a WACE Certificate of Distinction from the School Curriculum & Standards Authority (SCSA) and obtained an ATAR of 96, which means he scored in the top four percent of the State.  Well done!

In 2022, our cohort finished with a most pleasing median of 80.20, which was an improvement from 2021 and the previous year.  Our entire Year 12 student group finished with a WACE graduation rate of 96.4%, once again a pleasing result.  To our past students, who are now about to commence their university studies, congratulations on your efforts and results, the hard work has paid off.

For those students with us, 2023 is already progressing well and quickly. It is not long before the first tasks for the year are to be completed. The time is now to set the tone for the rest of the year, so now is a good time to set the right tone. There certainly is a positive vibe, with rich classroom conversations and analysing content, a great start, so how do we keep that going?

Remember to read your textbooks, complete the questions, transfer key points, tables and graphs to your notes. Use your resources and use them wisely, if you are not sure, this is where your subject teacher can help you; what notes do I need to make, what are the important points, what do I need to study, these are great questions to receive an answer to before it all becomes too overwhelming.

There is a story, or a tale of two wolves, which has been adapted for many situations, which effectively outlines the struggle between two animals - one an individual and the other a team player, one good one evil, or one kind and one mean. So perhaps a further adaptation is the struggle between two ‘wolves’, one that doesn’t complete homework, doesn’t spend time studying and making notes and completing study, one that procrastinates and allows themselves to be distracted from completing their tasks. The other ‘wolf’ is organised, prepared for class, makes class notes, and creates and sticks to deadlines. This struggle, this internal battle may have gone on for years and will continue for many years yet, perhaps for the rest of your life.

So you may wonder, how do we know which ‘wolf’ wins?

It is the wolf you feed that wins!

Feed the wolf that listens in class, writes down and completes the homework, studies for tests and submits all work on time.  This is the wolf that will lead you to a successful year and one that you can look back on and say that you really did strive to be the best student you can.

All the best to our 2023 students in their learning journey.

Mark Gargano
Years 7-12 Teaching and Learning Coordinator

Year 9 Science

The Year 9B Science class have been studying the structure of the earth and the formation of the continents.  As part of this area of study we have been modelling the process of plate tectonic using plasticine.   Students were asked to layer different colours of plasticine to represent layers of the earth and then cut their model to show a fault line.  Students then had to draw their model and explain whether their model would be formed by tectonic plates in tension or compression.

Andrew Ellis
Science Teacher

Secondary Mathematics

Hello to all our parents and guardians. Here is a quick summary of how the year has begun in Mathematics including some key information:

We welcome new teachers, Michelle Ridout and Andrew Ellis, to the Mathematics learning area. Both are excited to join St Joseph’s School community in 2023. 

Our students have settled in well and are prepared for class. This includes having the correct calculator and textbooks. For most of the Years 7 to 10 the textbook comes with Cambridge Hotmaths. This platform is frequently used for assigning homework and offers the students' additional support with their work.

Further to correspondence sent home, please be aware that if your child is in Years 9 or 10 they are either in Course A, B or C.  Courses A and B sit an examination at the end of the year, while Course C will complete one at the end of Semester One. The following table shows what grade adjustments occurs in each course:

Our Years 11 and 12 have settled into their courses, which are Specialist (ATAR), Methods (ATAR), Applications (ATAR), Essential (General), Foundation and Preliminary.  This is encouraging to see as time is of the essence in the senior years.

Finally, thank you to all the parents and guardians who have been communicating with their teachers.  This improves our knowledge of your child’s learning needs.

Mathematics Department: Mike Hillyer (HoLA–Mathematics and Technologies), Sharon Cusack, Daniel Vernede, Kylie Wallis, Michelle Ridout & Andrew Ellis

Mike Hillyer
Head Of Learning Area - Mathematics and Technologies

Religious Education

Year 7

In Year 7 RE this term, we are exploring the rich heritage of our school. Our founders St Emilie de Vialar and St Marcellin Champagnat have been inspirational as they have lived purposeful lives that have been centred on Jesus Christ.  

A select group of Year 7’s have also been involved with Altar Server training with Mr James Chua from the Liturgical Office at Catholic Education WA.  These students will be commissioned into the Ministry of Altar Serving at our first Community Mass on Saturday 12 March.

Year 8

In Year 8 Religion, students have been exploring the importance of communities and how they affect individual development.  Quite relevant to the lives of the students, they have also explored the aspects of acceptance and belonging.

Many students have expressed their complicated social lifestyles and the need to maintain relevant connections with other, self and spiritual elements with.  Overall, the students will address the driving question of ‘What is the role of relationships in religion?’

Year 9

Year 9 students have spent the beginning of the year exploring what it means to be human through looking at the questions of the human heart.  We have been exploring those questions that are at once deeply personal but are also shared with all other human beings, questions that form the basis of our own identities, purpose, and meaning.  Students are investigating how these questions ultimately lead us to God and his son, Jesus, “the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” (John 14:6)

Year 10

The Year 10 students have begun exploring Vocations and the elements of our lives that give us meaning and purpose.  Students visited the Church this week to gain an understanding of the ancient meaning of sacrifice and how Jesus’ life was the ultimate sacrifice.

The Year 10B class have also put together the challenge for the ‘Mega Project Compassion Colouring in Competition’ which will run right throughout Lent.

Year 11

Year 11 students have explored the relevance of religion in society and how people worldwide are drawn to connect with aspects of religiosity and spirituality. Within this scope, students have investigated the variety of worldwide religions, their leadership structures and the influence faith has on society.  To reinforce the influence of faith on society, both the Years 11 and 12 Student Leaders distributed pancakes for Shrove Tuesday.

Year 12

Year 12 General Religion & Life students have been examining why people search for meaning in their lives. This process has included identifying some of the ways in Australia people find answers to these questions.  Often the effect of major events, even those tragic in nature, have led to people finding their place in life.  Students have recalled how the Catholic viewpoint is an expression of how God reaches out to us, leading us onto a review of the structure of the Catholic church.

Lloyd Reidy
Religious Education Teacher

From the VET Office

ASDAN

Students enrolled in the ASDAN program for Years 7 to 9 have been learning about the logistics of growing a garden as part of their environmental course.  Students looked at private and community gardens and learned how to create healthy soil and plants, compost and worm farms.

Caroline Marriott
VET Co-ordinator

School Calendar

We have transitioned over to our new website where you will be able to access our school calender via the website or the Schoolzine app. Please ensure that you keep refering to this calendar.

There are many events planned for Term 1, and you are encouraged to check the calendar for upcoming events that may involve your family.

Andrea Woodgate

Fee Concession Eligibility

If you have a current (eligible) Family Health Care Card (HCC) or Pensioner Concession Card (PCC) you may be entitled to a reduction in your school fees.  Applications for this assistance need to be submitted to our Finance Department by the end of Week 7, Friday 17 March 2023.
 
You will be required to complete the following documents and provide us with your current HCC or PCC to enable us to take a copy of your card.  These documents can be found on our website in the Enrolment Section under the School Fees tab or by clicking on this link: Link to Forms

• HCC Tuition Fee discount Scheme Form

• 2023 Secondary Assistance Scheme - Years 7 to 12

Please submit to our Finance Department before the advised cut off date.

Parent Participation Scheme

Did you know that the school offers a reduction in your school fees?

Families have the ability to work off a portion of their fees through voluntary help at the School. This is a great way to get involved and set a wonderful example of vollunteering for your child.

Whilst assisting in the Canteen is an obvious way to help, other activities encouraged include:

• Classroom assistance
• Reading assistance
• Officiating at swimming and athletics carnivals
• Gardening
• Assisting with excursions
• Running or assisting with fundraising activities
• Covering books for the Library

Forms and pamphlets are available from the Primary Office or download through the website at https://sjsnortham.schoolzineplus.com/_file/media/86/parent_participation_card.pdf

Once completed, please hand in to the Business Manager, Ms Quinn, by the end of Term 3.  Forms can be dropped into either Admin Office and Ms Quinn will arrange for the deduction of the Levy from your School Fees Account.

Ms Sharon Quinn
Business Manager

Early Years School Entry Health Assessment

The Avon and Central Wheatbelt Community Nurse, Aimee Leeson, has provided each Kindergarten student with a Confidential Enrolment/Consent Form and asks that parents/guardians complete the Form and return this to School as soon as practical.

This important Early Years Health Assessment will be undertaken during this year with students being withdrawn from class.  Should you have any queries regarding your child’s Assessment, please contact Aimee Leeson, Community Health Nurse Avon & Central Wheatbelt Primary Health, phone 9690 1320 or email:  aimee.leeson@health.wa.gov.au

The Primary Canteen has a new Summer Menu in Term 1 - please check the current menu and daily specials before ordering. 

You are encouraged to order online.  If we experience connectivity issues with the online ordering, please revert to using lunch bags to place orders for that day. 

Recess or snack items ordered online are available for students to collect from the Canteen at their Recess break.  Milo pops and icypoles can be collected from the Canteen following the second lunch bell.  

Colour Run - Canteen Closed

Please note that on the day of the Colour Run, Friday 17 March that the Primary and Secondary canteens will be closed. A special Colour Run Menu has been sent home to students to preorder and we ask that you send cash only with your order please.

Canteen Support - Volunteers Required

Due to high demand on our quality food and service we need helpers to ensure that our kids get their lunches on time.   In order to function to our highest potential, we ideally need 2 or more  volunteers a day.  Volunteering is a great way to teach your kids about giving, modelling them for the future.  Also, every shift you do at our School helps you towards qualifying for a Parent Participation discount on your annual fees.  

We would love to welcome you into our fun, and busy environment and see the smiles on your children’s faces when they see you in their school.  If you are able help, please sign up online at the new sign up link https://signup.com/go/TTaUbeJ 

Our Primary Canteen Helper Roster for Term 1 is below.  Volunteers are urgently needed so please consider offering an hour or two one morning.   

Primary - Week 7  

Primary - Week 8

I look forward to working with you.  If you have any queries, you are always welcome to contact the Canteen on the number below.

Angela
Canteen - 9621 3525 

Opening Times:                           Mondays -   3.15pm to 4.45pm       
                                                     Thursdays - 2.45pm to 4.15pm    

In Term 1 students are required to wear their summer uniform.

Please also keep in mind when ordering, that your items will go home Tuesday and Friday of each week, as Monday and Thursday are the days the Shop is open.  When placing an order via the Online Shop, it will appear on a report the following day.  For example; if you place your order on Monday, the report issues on Tuesday which means it will not be organised until Thursday, and will go home on Friday.

Michelle James 
Primary - 9621 3524

Parish Priest - Fr George James

Assistant Priest - Fr Konrad Gagatek

Mass Times ~ Saturday Vigil @ 5.30pm

                   ~ Sunday Mass @ 8.00am  

Presbytery Phone: 08 9622 5411
Email: northamcatholicchurch@iinet.net.au
Website:  www.northamchurch.com

Parish News ~ Children's Liturgy 
Children’s Liturgy sessions are held during the 8.00am Sunday Mass.

Our P&F Welcome Back morning tea held in Week 1 was well attended by many parents. It was great to see and welcome many new families to the school as well as catch up with some old ones!  Thank you to all those who helped out!

We also held our first meeting on Monday 13 February.  This was a great success and it was wonderful to see many new faces!  We were able to discuss the many events coming up in which the P&F are involved.  Our next meeting will be held on Monday 27 March at 3.20pm (location to be confirmed).  All parents and caregivers are welcome and we encourage everyone to come along and see how you can help out!

Colour Run

One of our major fundraising events for the year is coming up very soon!  The Colour Run will be held on Friday 17 March and we require helpers to help setup, run and pack up.  More information on how you can help out as well as the running of the day will be available in coming days.

Easter Raffle

Once again, we will be holding an Easter Raffle. We will be asking parents and caregivers to donate Easter related items in the coming weeks. Tickets will be sold before school and during lunch times. More information on the Easter Raffle will be released soon. 

Class Catch-Ups

Throughout Term 1 and Term 2, class reps from each year will be organising class catch ups for each year groups. This is a great way for new families to meet other parents in their child’s year group. Each year group will be notified of these events through their Facebook group pages. 

To stay up to date with the P&F please follow our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1764507137145087/?_rdr If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Casey Pearse
P&F Chair

2023 CBCA WA Make Your Own Story Book

The 2023 CBCA WA "Make Your Own Story Book" competition is for all the budding young writers and artists in your lives.

Closing date for entries is Friday 9 June 2023.

Details plus very helpful videos (made by local author/illustrator Sean E

Avery) are available on the CBCA WA Branch website.

https://wa.cbca.org.au/make-your-own-story-book.html

They look forward to receiving lots of entries in 2023.

Astrotourism WA ~ Country Star Gazing

The Eclipse Discovery Tour

A series of stargazing events around Western Australia, a world-class dark sky tourism destination and space science epicentre celebrating the Ningaloo Total Solar Eclipse in Western Australia!

The Eclipse Discovery Tour is a series of stargazing events around Western Australia. Stargazing events are planned to coincide with the weeks around the Ningaloo Total Solar Eclipse.  Events begin on 25 March with the first stargazing night in Three Springs and the final event in Narrogin on 28 April. During the month-long celebration, events will cover four regions and visit towns such as Wickepin, Perenjori, Mingenew, Murchison Settlement, Gascoyne Junction and Onslow.

Participants will be able to view through telescopes to see special Southern Hemisphere star clusters, constellations and the Magellanic Clouds, not visible in the northern hemisphere.

• Visit an Astrotourism Town
• Enjoy a dark sky stargazing event
• Stay longer and travel a dark sky itinerary

The Equinox & Star Clusters 

The Equinox marks the transition from summer to autumn in the southern hemisphere and has almost the same number of hours of daylight as darkness!

Equinoxes happen twice a year and on the dates of the equinox, the Sun is exactly above the Earth’s equator, causing the equal length of night and day.  During the Equinox, the Sun will rise directly in the east and set due west.  The Sun will also appear exactly halfway between its northern most and southern most location in the sky.  The exact time of the Equinox occurs when the sun is directly above the Earth’s equator, for 2023 this will occur at 5:24am for West Australians.

The Autumnal equinox for the southern hemisphere will occur on the 21 March.

For some fun stargazing, the quarter Moon makes a close approach to Mars from 26 March, and on the 28^th will be just below the red planet.  For those with telescopes or high-powered binoculars, the Shoe-Buckle Star cluster can be seen above Mars, and the January Salt-and-Pepper Star Cluster can be seen below the Moon.

When to look:   7.00pm to 9.30pm, 28 March.

Which direction to look:  In the western sky.

Something Interesting:  Star clusters are lovely astronomical objects to view, often distinguishable with special shapes and patterns.  The Shoe-Buckle Cluster is an open cluster located in the constellation Gemini. The cluster is approximately 2,800 light-years away from Earth and contains approximately 200 stars.

For more stargazing tips visit www.astrotourismwa.com.au. 

If you’re a budding “astro-enthusiast”, check out Stargazers Club WA’s telescope classes & astronomy events for beginners at: www.stargazersclubwa.com.au.

Or visit Donna Vanzetti’s YouTube Channel, Star Tracks Space Adventures.