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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
Welcome back to Term 2. I hope you all enjoyed a lovely break over the Easter period and managed some family time over the school holidays.
We welcome several new families to the school this term on both campuses. I am sure that in no time, with the help of our existing parents and students, they will feel settled and happy here at St Joseph’s.
We also extend a very warm welcome to our new Head of Primary - Ms Linley Waters. Linley hit the ground running (or at least skipping) this week as she impressed the students with her skipping skills and also spent time in each classroom. For those who would like to make contact with Linley, her email address is linley.waters@cewa.edu.au.A reminder that next week is a short week – Thursday 25 April is ANZAC Day and Friday 26 April is a pupil free day.
With God’s blessings,
Andrea Woodgate
Principal
Dates for your Diary
Week 2
Monday 22 April: | P&F Meeting @ 6pm in the PAC |
Tuesday 23 April: | FlexiTrack High Uni Taster Day Northam Dental Van - P-P, Yr 1, Yr 3 & Yr 6 |
Wednesday 24 April: | Primary ANZAC Liturgy @ 9am Secondary ANZAC Assembly @ 9.10am |
Thursday 25 April: | ANZAC Day Public Holiday |
Friday 26 April: | Pupil Free Day |
Week 3
Monday 29 April: | Champagnat Cup at Newman College Secondary Parent / Teacher meetings (by phone) |
Wednesday 1 May: | Leonard House Day RSL ANZAC Trailer Visit (S) |
Thursday 2 May: | Netball Competition at Northam Rec Centre Yr 7 & 8 Rosary RSL ANZAC Trailer Visit (P) Secondary Parent / Teacher Meetings (face to face) Early Close |
Friday 3 May: | Primary Assembly - 3B RSL ANZAC Trailer Visit (P) Yr 5 Kings Park Excursion Yr 9 Mindflight Incursion |
Weekly Gospel Reflection
This week's clip has a focus on 'Confidence' and how Christ's offering of Peace gives us the confidence to do more than we think we are capable of.
On Tuesday 16 April, our new staff were involved in Professional Learning celebrating our Marist Spirituality and connection to the teaching philosophy of Marcellin Champagnat.
We thank Michael Neylan and Br Michael Callinan for travelling from NSW to present to us on their whirlwind trip to WA.
Well done to our new staff who are now inducted into our Marist Spirituality.
Year 3 Retreat
On Thursday 18 April, the Year 3 cohort had the opportunity to experience a Reconciliation Retreat with 24/7 Ministries. Students immersed themselves in a series of games, skits, short video clips and activities that stressed the importance of forgiveness in our lives and making Jesus a real presence for our attitudes and ideals. The Year 3s had a great day and are very thankful to Seb, Kristian, Nick, Michael and Jen for facilitating the Retreat.Congratulations to the following students and dance groups on outstanding achievements in their chosen activities:
- Madison Dymnicki (Year 12) played basketball in Queensland for the WA Under 18 Women’s Country Team.
- For the first time, Aaron Holley (Year 9) and Katelyn Jongen (Year 10) represented St Joseph’s in the Equestrian Interschools event and were outstanding. See the story below for further information and results.
- Lily Parker (Year 12), Grace Brayshaw (Year 7) and Mia Parker (Year 4) all danced at the International Highland Dancing competition in Melbourne. Lily placed third overall in her age and division. Both Grace and Mia also performed exceptionally.
- Mantel Rossiter (Year 8) & Cara Woodgate (Year 7) were selected from children trialling at three country hubs to take part in a Basketball WA Future Development Program for their age group.
Equestrian Interschools Competition
We are proud to announce the outstanding achievements of two of our students, Aaron Holley in Year 9 and Katelyn Jongen in Year 10, who recently represented St Joseph's School Northam at the prestigious Equestrian Interschools event sponsored by Ramsay's Horse Transport and Low Loader Logistics.
The Equestrian Interschools, held by Equestrian WA, is a remarkable opportunity for school-aged children to showcase their equestrian talents while representing their schools. This event holds a special place in the hearts of many as it offers a platform for a sport not commonly found within the traditional education system.
This year, the 2024 Interschool State Championships took place between Wednesday 10 April and Saturday 13 April at Brigadoon State Equestrian Centre. The championships were not only a testament to athletic prowess but also a celebration of camaraderie and sportsmanship.
In the Dressage category, Aaron Holley secured a remarkable first place, showcasing his dedication and skill in the discipline. In the Combined Training event, which combines Dressage and Showjumping, Aaron impressed yet again, clinching a commendable fifth place.
Additionally, Katelyn Jongen exhibited her versatility by claiming the 15th position in the Participant 45cm and another midfield ranking in the 60cm Showjumping category. She should be highly commended for her excellent attitude and determination during the event, showing a great partnership with her horse Omega.
The Interschool Championships serve as a crucial selection event for the National Championships, held on the east coast annually. This platform not only allows our students to shine locally but also offers them a chance to compete at a national level, representing both St Joseph's School Northam and Western Australia with pride.
Natalie Williamson-Holley
Teacher
Express Dance Challenge
Over the holidays, The Platinum Zone Dance School competed in the Express Dance Challenge. For the first time, the school entered in the Jazz troupe section, which is made up of girls in Year 3, 4 and 5 at St Joseph’s School.
The girls performed in the 12&U and 10&U Jazz section doing their routine “Fabulous”. They danced so well together, worked as a team to be in time with the music, finished off their moves and had the biggest smiles on their faces. It certainly showed on stage and they came away with 1st Place and an invitation to the National Championships being held in Perth in October.
The troupe only gets half an hour to practise each week, compared to many Perth schools who have hours of rehearsals leading up to a competition. They did have a few extra practices during their lunch breaks at school and over a few Sundays, all being held in the PAC. The girls and their teachers would like to thank Mrs Woodgate for allowing them to use the space.
This was a great experience for the girls to work as a team, as dance is often seen as an individual sport or passtime. It certainly built friendships and camaraderie amongst the dance school. Everyone was so proud of their efforts and performance and can’t wait to see them perform again later in the year.
I’m sure the girls will have another lunchtime practice closer to their next competition, and the students can watch them and cheer them on.
Georgia Haddrill
Dance Teacher
Dear Families & Friends,
What a fantastic first week back! A huge thank you to all the students and staff who have welcomed me so warmly. The MJR quality of being ‘welcoming’ is well and truly visible in the Primary school.
I have had the pleasure of popping into all the classrooms this week and the students have hit the ground running! I have particularly enjoyed learning how to add ‘ing’ to words in Year 2, observing Year 6 students show perseverance with their skipping, listening to the Year 1 students counting, and hearing about the Year 3 plans for their upcoming Assembly.
The Year 3 students also participated wonderfully in the Reconciliation Retreat on Thursday. Guided by 24/7 Ministry leaders, they completed reflective tasks on the importance of saying sorry and what it means to restore their relationship with God. We look forward as a community to sharing in their first Reconciliation in Week 7.
Year 1 escaped to Perth Zoo on Thursday too. Thank you to the Year 1 staff for organising the excursion and to the parents who helped in supervising the children to explore the rainforest animals and their habitats. They even got to assist the zookeepers to prepare some food for the animals!
God moments:
- Hearing about Rowan and William’s (Kindy) holiday camping and fishing adventures
- Celebrating with Year 6 students learning to skip in a group of four for Jump Rope for Heart
- Estimating how tall my office plant will grow in my time at the school with Blake and Sidney (Year 2)
- Meeting a set of twins (Noah and Mason - Year 6) and a set of triplets (Brendan, Harrison and Finlay- Kindy)
- Discussing Freo’s chance of winning the derby with Leo (Year 1)
- Sharing a brain break with Year 5 students
Linley Waters
Head of Primary
Class in Focus: Kindergarten Blue
As we kick off the new term, we’re excited to share some highlights from our first week back in Kindergarten Blue.
Playground Delights: Our little adventurers returned to find a delightful surprise awaiting them – brand new sand in the playground! The joy on their faces as they discovered this transformation was simply priceless. They’ve been busy building sandcastles, digging tunnels and creating intricate roads, immersing themselves in imaginative play.
Celebrating Holiday Memories: Our kindy students have been bubbling with excitement as they shared stories of their holiday adventures. From Easter egg hunts to beach days and flower picking, each tale was a treasure. To commemorate these special moments, they painted vibrant pictures of their favourite holiday memories.
Exploring the Wonders of Water: Our inquiry into the fascinating world of water has officially begun! We’ve had discussions about floods, clouds, raindrops and more, tapping into the natural curiosity of our students. Through hands-on activities and engaging conversations, we’re diving deep into this captivating subject.
Crafting Noah’s Ark: Inspired by the timeless tale of Noah’s Ark, our kindy students have been busy crafting their own arks, complete with pairs of animals. It’s been a joy to see their creativity blossom as they bring this story to life through art and imagination.
As we continue our exploration of water and embark on new adventures together, we can’t wait to see the joy and excitement light up the faces of our little learners. Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership in your child’s educational journey.
Jessica Morris, Verity Chomiak, Kylie Gorbig & Deanne Ashman
The Kindergarten Blue Team
Class in Focus: Year 6 Blue
What a first week it has been! We are dodging the sicknesses going around and are having a great term.
The Year 6s have had a great Health Week. We had an excellent presentation from Headspace at the Secondary Campus, where we learned about the importance of our own Mental Health, why it’s important to take care of ourselves when going into high school and who is available to help support us.
We were also visited by the RAC and got to make Solar-Powered vehicles, with real solar panels and some Lego based construction. Some worked really well, some unfortunately did not – however, we enjoyed the talk and learned a lot about how we can be safe on our roads.
Tim Natkanski
Six Blue Teacher
Primary Dental Screening
The Northam Dental Van will be coming to the Primary Campus on Tuesday 23 April. Students in Pre-Primary, Year 1, Year 3 and Year 6, who are enrolled with the Dental Therapy Centre, will be screened.
The Dental Officer will assess how each child bites his/her teeth together. The exercise will take no longer than 20 seconds per child and there is no pain or discomfort involved.
Welcome back to Term 2 and Health Expo Week!
Thank you to Adrienne Suckling and our wonderful staff who have put this together for our students. While we understand that events like these can be disruptive to some of our classes, we do think that giving our students the tools to ensure they are looking after their mental health is very important, and there have been some wonderful workshops and presentations this week.
On Wednesday of Week 2, on the secondary campus, we will have an ANZAC Assembly presented by the Year 9 Humanities and Social Science (HASS) classes in a 7 period day. The Assembly will take place in the Quad at 9:10am. Thursday is ANZAC Day so the school will be closed.
Thank you to our wonderful parent community who took up the call to arms to volunteer for many of the excursions this term. The Year 7, 8 & 9 Caminos are now full but we are still looking for some netballers to put their hands up.
29 April |
Champagnat Cup – Newman College, Churchlands |
8:30am – 3:10pm |
2 May |
Netball Cup – Northam Rec Centre |
School hours – if you are able to umpire, please let me know when you reply |
The Secondary Parent Teacher Interviews are on Thursday 2 May. If you haven’t already made an appointment please go to the following link - School Interviews Booking. This will be closed on Monday 29 April.
God bless,
Sharon Cusack
Head of Secondary
Da Vinci Club
Term Two da Vinci Club is off and rolling with various events and activities planned.
The students recently received the results for the annual da Vinci Decathlon interschool academic challenge, with some highlights worth recognising. The Year 8 team competed in a field of 34 teams and finished in 9th place in English. Our combined Year 9 and 10 team, competed in the field of 32 Year 10 teams and were awarded 7th place in Legacy, 8th in Art & Poetry, 9th in Science and 10th position in Cartography.
Well done to all our decathlon participants.
This week, the students participated in a virtual workshop with Dr Francis Chun, the Director of the Falcon Telescope Network, based out of the US Air Force Academy. He is currently in WA with his team doing upgrades to the telescope at the Gravity Discovery Centre in Gingin. The students were informed about the function of the Falcon Telescopes, which are located at various international sites, specifically looking at identifying and tracking space debris in addition to a range of other astronomy based applications, along with projects that students may have the opportunity to develop further throughout the year. The 30-minute talk concluded after a few questions and discussions around the developing space workforce, which students interested in STEM have the opportunity to access in future courses and careers, with an increasing array of businesses and institutes in Australia developing space-related projects.
Mark Gargano
Secondary da Vinci Club Coordinator
Term 1 ISP - Upcycling
During Term 1, students from Year 7 to 10 participated in the ISP of Upcycling. The aim of this ISP program was to help teach students the value of reusing and repurposing goods to recycle them rather than just throw them away.
Students learnt how to repurpose material and household items and then chose their own items from the op shop.
Thank you to Good Sammy’s Northam for supplying the products for the students' final build. We had students build terrariums, plant pots, money boxes, night stands, candles, desk organisers, wind chimes, phone cases, biscuit trays and much more.
Thanks you to Mark Bundock, Beth Beglin, Sue Clements and Cassidy Graham for your help in ISP in Term 1.
Adrienne Suckling
Teacher
Slazenger Cup Tennis Competition
Congratulations to the boys who took part in the Slazenger Cup Tennis Competition at the end of last term. They did extremely well and played with great sportsmanship. While they only won a couple of sets, they had a lot of fun. Other teams played with great spirit and were mindful of the younger age and less experience of our team.
Adrienne Suckling
Head of Health and Physical Education
Over the past week, students from Pre-Primary to Year 12 have been involved in St Joseph’s Health Week. Health Week is a new initiative that aims to educate students on relevant health topics and link them with many local health services, while engaging them in healthy behaviours.
The week started with Helpful, Healthy Hands where students created health messages to be displayed around the school, small reminders of how to live healthy lives.
The fun continued on Wellness Tuesday with finger knitting and relaxation on the Primary Campus and relaxation, stress ball making and Pilates on the Secondary Campus. The Primary students also launched Jump Rope for Heart, with the students learning about how to keep their hearts healthy and picking up some skipping tricks from Nina and Amanda.
Active Wednesday started with a Walk and Talk on the Secondary top oval and saw kids get involved in dodgeball, basketball and netball during lunch and recess. At the Primary Campus, the student leaders ran a skip off with the best skippers receiving prizes. The Year 4 to 6 classes were also lucky to have Michelle from the RAC running activities about wearing seatbelts, risk taking and renewable energy sources.
Thursday was jam packed with presentations from Headspace, Holyoake and Jenny Lucy (Physio).
Friday was the big day with more than 10 health organisations coming to the Secondary Campus to engage with students and provide helpful tips and resources for them. The Year 12 Health General Students also ran 4 stalls to provide information they felt was relevant to the students within our community. The blender bike was a hit with students lining up to take their turn at peddling the blender and mix their chosen juice/smoothie ingredients.
Thank you to all the Primary and Secondary staff who have helped with the running of this week. It couldn’t have come together without all your help.
We would also like to extend our thanks and appreciation to all the organisations who were able to attend our Expo afternoon:
- Holyoake
- Cancer Council
- Royal Life
- Peer Pathways
- Wheatbelt Primary Health Care
- School Nurse
- Northam Hospital representatives
- Wheatbelt Aboriginal Health
- Stand By
- Diabetes Australia
- The Sharing Shed
Adrienne Suckling Cameron Watson
Head of Physical Education Primary Sports Coordinator
School Calendar
The school calender is accessed via the School website or the Schoolzine app. Please ensure that you keep refering to this calendar throughout the year.
You are encouraged to check the calendar for upcoming events that may involve your family.
Andrea Woodgate
Principal
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 & athletics carnivals
- Gardening
- Running or assisting with fundraising activities
- Covering books for the Library
Forms and pamphlets are available from the Primary Office or to download from 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 - the forms can be dropped into either the Primary or Secondary Admin Office and Ms Quinn will arrange for the deduction of the Levy from your School Fees Account.
Sharon Quinn
Business Manager
Term Time Opening Times: Mondays - 3.15pm to 4.45pm
Thursdays - 2.45pm to 4.15pm
REMINDER: Students are required to wear their winter uniform for Term 2 and 3.
Families wishing to access the Uniform Shop are advised that the online shop is the preferred method of ordering uniforms. If items are required to be tried on, then an appointment should be made through our new online booking system. We are continuing to limit numbers in the Uniform Shop so an appointment is required. Please note we can not accept email or telephone orders.
For details of our new online Booking System for Uniform Shop Appointments, please see the attached flyer.
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.
Disclaimer:
All returns and or exchanges of uniforms to be made within the school term (3 months) of initial purchase.
Michelle James
Primary - 9621 3524
The Primary Canteen is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
The Secondary Canteen is open on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
You are encouraged to please 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.
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 send back your Canteen Assistance form or, for Primary, sign up online: the new Volunteer Sign-up Page is now up and running - click here.
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 Sandrini (Primary) Desrae Smith (Secondary)
9621 3525 9621 8104
Movie Night
This year we will be holding a family movie night. Due to unforeseen circumstances we have had to move the Movie Night to Saturday 18 May. Tickets will go on sale in Week 3.
Bingo Night
Our first big fundraiser for the year! This year we will be raising funds to go toward the senior school Health program. In particular to provide extra resources for mental health. Bingo night will be an adults only event. It will be held on Friday 7 June. Further details are to come.
If you wish to help out in any of the above mentioned events, please do not hesitate to contact myself or the school.
Our next meeting will be held on Monday 22 April at 6.00pm in the PAC at the Primary campus.
If you require more information or would like to discuss any school or P&F issue, you can contact me at anytime 0424 288 354. No question is too silly, I am here to help in any way. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out!
Class/Library Book Covering
Ever wanted to help from the comfort of your home?
We have boxes of books processed and ready to be covered, all supplies (tape and plastic) provided. Pick-up is from our Primary Campus Library.
We welcome anyone, and grandparents and friends can cover on your behalf. All support and help is appreciated.
Please remember to complete your parent participation form.
Email Kylie Dymnicki, Education and Library Assistant: 8605svc_library@cewa.edu.au
Follow us on Facebook
To stay up to date with the P&F please follow our Facebook page for more updates. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1764507137145087
Casey Pearse
P&F Chair
Parish Priest - Fr Stephen Jean Paul Victor
Assistant Priest - Fr Rubenson Cardona
Mass Times ~ Saturday Vigil @ 5.30pm
~ Sunday Mass @ 8.00am
Presbytery Phone: 08 9622 5411
Email: northam@perthcatholic.org.au *
Website: www.northamchurch.com
Parish News ~ Children's Liturgy
Children’s Liturgy sessions are held during the 8.00am Sunday Mass.
*Please note the new email address.
Twinderella The Musical Auditions
Are you interested in being part of the Northam Theatre Group's production of Twinderella The Musical? See the flyer below for more information.
School Dental Therapy Centre
Please note that the School Dental Therapy Centre is available to see school-aged children from Pre-Primary to 16 years of age at their Northam Centre, located on the Northam Primary School campus. If any students require Dental Care, please contact us at the following:
Northam Dental Therapy Centre
c/- Northam Primary School (entry via Duke Street)
0458 644 530
NorthamDTC@dental.health.wa.gov.au
Parenting Workshops
Parenting Connection is presenting a number of webinars and information sessions over the term. For more information, please see the flyers below.
This year Auskick will be kicking off from Friday 3 May to 21 June for 8 consecutive sessions. Our Friday afternoon sessions will run from 4:30pm - 5:30pm at the Pool end of Jubilee Oval at the Northam Recreation Centre.
We are looking for a new Auskick coordinator, if you are interested in this role, please contact us asap. The role comes with one season of mentoring by previous coordinator.
Auskick is for boys and girls from 5 to 8 years. It helps build ball skills, hand and eye coordination and teamwork, giving kids a basic understanding of team sports preparing them for later in life.
It is a requirement that you register online and to secure your place, Kids sport vouchers are available at https://kidsport.dlgsc.wa.gov.au/kidsport/apply-for-kidsport-1/. We strongly suggest that your register early so that your child receives their Auskick pack before commencement of program. Cost is $75 per player.
To register visit https://www.playhq.com/afl/register/608b64. should you have any issues please contact aflauskick@afl.com.au or contact the temporary coordinator.
Please keep in mind that this program is only possible with parent support and each family will be required to assist at least once over the course of the 8 weeks. If you can consistently assist by running groups, please contact Angela at northamjuniorfootball@gmail.com and I will make sure that you have all the required information. For up-to-date information, please like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077340198010
Northam Hockey Club
Registrations for the 2024 season are now open. Please see the flyer below for more information.
Anyone interested in joining a new Touch Football competition, please contact Brett Inglis on northamtouchfootball@gmail.com for more information.
NOTICEBOARD
Please ensure an absentee note is sent in on this day if your child is absent, thank you.
(Audit Requirement)
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