Dear families,

I hope you are well as we start the mid-way point of Term 2. You may have heard that Catholic Education South Australia has recently appointed a new Principal to St Joseph’s Kingswood. We warmly welcome Mrs Jodie Higgins who joins us from her substantive position as Principal at Our Lady Queen of Peace, and her previous position at Galilee Catholic School which she held for a long period of time before that. We are all looking forward to meeting and getting to know Jodie from Term 3. To read the full announcement, please CLICK HERE.

NAPLAN is complete for 2021! Besides a couple of technical hiccups, all has gone well and the students feel as though they have given it their best. In then end this is all we ask for. I thank Belinda Medlow, Maria Perrone, Graham Connor, Kirstie Wicks and Emma Begg for ensuing all the Year 3 and 5 students were prepared and making the children feel comfortable to take the tests. Results will be shared with individual families late in Term 3.

On Monday of last week, I attended a special Mass at the St Francis Xavier Cathedral in the city. The mass celebrated 200 Years of Catholic Education in Australia. Masses were celebrated in each diocese in the country at the same time. The first Catholic School started in 1820 in Parramatta NSW, and the first Catholic school in South Australia opened 173 years ago. Emily Sayer and I joined our school captains Adeline Carman and James Slape at the mass. These two wonderful leaders represented our school very honourably and were happy to receive a free lunch on the way back to school.

On Thursday of last week, Anna Principe and a number of other staff members put on an amazing Biggest Morning Tea to raise money for Cancer research. Anna’s goal of $800 was quickly surpassed as our generous staff chipped in to raise $1981! All the food was kindly donated by Anna herself. A huge thank you to her and all the other staff that contributed funds, donations and time to support this very worthy cause. I am sure all of us know someone who has been affected by cancer.

Just a reminder that on Friday of Week 7, June 11^th, we will be having a staff retreat day and this means it will be a student free day. As all staff are required to attend, and therefore we will be unable to offer OSHC before or after school on this day. I apologize for the inconvenience, and hope you all enjoy an extra long weekend.

Our school is currently looking the best it’s ever looked and I always receive positive comments from visitors and families on school tours. We are very lucky that we get to come to such a beautiful school each day. I would like to personally thank the State Government for supporting our school with a capital fund grant that we used in conjunction with other financial sources to facilitate such a well-designed and contemporary build.

I hope you all have a great few weeks, 

Take care,

Jamie Deverson

Hi all,

During my time here I have quite a few yard duties on the wonderful oval and nature play areas. I love watching the children interacting and eavesdropping into their conversations and imaginative play adventures. Over the last few weeks, the gorgeous golden elm in this area has been slowly losing its leaves, preparing for the winter season ahead. The children have absolutely loved gathering the leaves together in large piles and jumping into them or throwing the leaves into the air like they are pieces of confetti. I suspect many of you would be like me and can remember many times in our younger and simpler years when we would do this for ages when we were sent outside to play. I loved it!

In the nature playground, I have listened to stories that show the wonderful imaginations children have when they have the chance to just play with friends and with minimal input from adults or devices. Some have gone to outer space; some have played with animals or created their own kingdom with moats and castles.

Many times, we have our children come to us and say they are bored but current research is telling us that boredom is a positive thing for our children and developing their skills in play, socialisation and creativity. Raising Children (from the Australian Parenting website) explains that boredom allows children to let their thoughts and imaginations roam, explore ideas and think creatively and choose activities that match their mood. I know for my own two children the hours they would spend making cubby houses inside on those cold and rainy winter days. We used sheets, cushions, quilts and whatever was at hand to create a space that they would use to entertain themselves and if we were lucky, Mum and Dad would be invited in.

If you are looking for inspiration there are many websites to help you including Nature Play SA, local council listings of playgrounds but just taking a walk in your local area or a bush walk is a great start. Get bored together!

Take care,

Emily

Greetings, dear St Joseph’s Community!

As I reflect on the events of the past weeks, both on the local and worldwide stage, I can’t help but feel the gentle hand of the Blessed St Joseph on our shoulders, giving us strength and reassurance. So, I invite you all to join me in prayer:

Prayer for the Year of St Joseph

Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer,
Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
To you God entrusted his only Son;
in you Mary placed her trust;
with you Christ became man.

Blessed Joseph, to us too,
show yourself a father
and guide us in the path of life.
Obtain for us grace, mercy, and courage,
and defend us from every evil.  Amen.

Have you noticed?

Have you spotted our new logo banner in the front office? Luke from Cu Copper worked closely with us to create a focal art piece for our brand-new school entrance. It features our school logo rising out of an abstract rendition of a book (representing knowledge) with hills to one side and the sea to the other. The design was created with a sense of respect for the land that our school stands on, and the Kaurna People of past and present that nurture and protect it. The Cross on the logo is the main feature of this art piece; radiating love, compassion and welcome.

We want this banner to be a symbol of the Faith that is at the Core of our mission. We also want to honour the deep connection to Creation as an expression of God’s love for us.

Keep an eye out for a second piece that will be brought in in the next few weeks.. more information about this will follow.

Sacramental Program

The 2020/2021 Sacramental Group has been contacted and the first two PowerPoints in the Confirmation Program have been circulated. Please contact Sr Jasmine at jasmine@eparish.org.au with any queries.

Please don’t forget to collect your poster materials from the school’s front office.

Our School’s Confirmation date is Friday, 30^th July at 6pm.

Vinnies Winter Appeal

Last week we launched our yearly Vinnies Winter Appeal in conjunction with the Kingswood Vinnies Conference, our parish community and St Therese and St Thomas schools. This event marks a coming together of the various groups into one powerful and united community, in aid of those less fortunate.

Our efforts will converge on Friday 25^th June, when the School Spirit team and I will join students and staff from all over our Parish to deliver donations to Christie’s Beach Vinnies centre. This is a centre that our Vinnies Conference work closely with. They have reported that their shelves are very close to being empty, and that by the end of term they will not be able to continue to offer help to families in need.

I invite you to consider donating and as a family, reflect on the importance of giving and caring for others. Please refer to the poster below for details on donations. Thank you in advance for contributing to positive change-making. I will make sure to send out photos of the before and after of our visit.

Launch of the New RE Curriculum

Over the past year, the staff at St Joseph’s have been working hard behind the scenes to prepare for the 2021 Launch of the New Religious Education Curriculum for South Australian Catholic School: Crossways. As of this year, all RE content will be referenced and informed by this document. More information can be found here: https://www.cesa.catholic.edu.au/our-schools/curriculum/religious-education/the-re-curriculum

Blessings!
- Christine Farrugia, APRIM

cfarrugia@stjk.catholic.edu.au
8827 3304

Netball Carnival – Thursday 1^st July (week 10)

A reminder that Netball Carnival registrations are still open, if you would like your son or daughter to participate in this Carnival please register on SZAPP HERE. We are also looking for parent helpers on the day to help supervise students, no Netball experience is necessary!

Knockout Netball/Soccer – Year 5/6 students

Congratulations to the year 5/6 students on their selection in the knockout Soccer and Netball teams. These games will be played on Thursday 10^th June here at school and at Mitcham High School. The year 3/4 Soccer players will also participate in a friendly match on that morning against Holy Family Catholic School. Please make sure your son/daughter have filled out permissions to participate in these games (team lists can be found on SZAPP and were published on seesaw).

Athletics Trials – Catholic Schools Athletics Carnival

This week will see the final Athletics trials conducted. An 800m trial will be held at lunch time at Kingswood Oval on Thursday and long jump and Hurdles trials will be held during PE lessons. Please register your child’s interest in this Carnival on the SZAPP HERE.

Congratulations Audrey Patriarca!

Well done to Audrey Patriarca on her selection in the Year 6 City South Netball Team! She will compete in the state championships this week. Best of luck Audrey.

Congratulations Edie Heynen!

Well done to Edie Heynen who has been selected as an Elite Ninja for SA! Edie will be heading to Canberra at the end of the term to compete against other states in Ninja Warrior. Wishing you luck Edie.

- Mr De Giovanniello, Physical Education Teacher/Sports Coordinator 

In music we have been very busy doing bucket drumming. All students from reception to year 6 have enjoyed learning new rhythms and techniques in drumming to various songs such as Moana songs, Believer by Imagine Dragons and High Hopes by Panic at the Disco. 

- Steph Insanally, Head of Music

Congratulations Caasha!

Congratulaltions to Caasha for receiving an A grade Distinction in her Preliminary Piano Exam! Well done Caasha.

Please save the date for our St. Joseph’s Music Instrumental Evening in Week 9, Wednesday 23rd June. This concert gives all students who are learning a musical instrument at St. Joseph’s an opportunity to play a solo piece in a smaller group setting.

There will be 3 seperate concerts starting at 4:00pm, 5:15pm and 6:30pm which will be held in the church. You will be notified which concert your child is in closer to the date. Please bring a gold coin donation for entry. 

The students are looking forward to showing you all that they have learnt!

The musical ensembles of St. Joseph’s Kingswood will be combining at our first Winter Concert with students from Mercedes College.

Join us for a night of music with some great tunes from our choirs, bands and orchestras. Held in Week 10 on Wednesday 30th June at 7:00pm in the church. 

Please note that on Friday 11^th June 2021 we will be having a Pupil Free Day and unfortunately OSHC WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE that day so please mark this in your diaries!

Also a reminder that if your child/ren will not be attending a regular session, even if they are sick, you need to notify us by Szapp, text or email. Please see policies regarding the times for late bookings and late cancellations.

I am pleased to announce that the Vacation Care Program for July will be released soon on SZapp. We have a lot of exciting Excursions and Incursions to attend so check your SZapp and make sure you book in early!

Our sign in iPad is proving to be very easy to use for signing the children in and out with your own unique pin. If you do not have your own pin number please see me and I will issue you with one.

Vacation Care Program

The Vacation Care Program for this school holidays has been released. Please CLICK HERE to view. We have lots of fun things coming up including Build a Teddy workshops, arcade games, movie excursions, dance and yoga incursions and so much more! Book in asap to avoid missing out!

- Vicky Wilson, OSHC Director

SAVE THE DATE

Parent Eventing with Madhavi from Positive Minds Australia

On Wednesday the 28th of July from 6.30pm, Madhavi Nawana Parker will be discussing Positive Discipline for Homes & Families at a Parent Evening exclusively for St Joseph's Kingswood families. 

More information will be released soon so keep an eye out. This is a night you don't want to miss!

P&F Meeting

The next P&F meeting is Tuesday the 15th of June at 7pm at The Torrens Arms Hotel. Everyone is welcome! We would love to see you there.

Scholastic Book Club

Our school is now participating in the Scholastic Book Club! Each order helps our school earn free books and teaching materials for our classrooms and library. It's been fantastic to see all the orders coming through so far.

The latest catalogue can be viewed HERE or collected from the front office. You’ll find award-winning books and bestsellers, as well as old and new favourites which span a wide range of children’s reading levels and interests. 

Please note, ONLY ONLNE ORDERS are accepted. No cash payments please. 

Place your orders on the Scholastic Book Club LOOP website and your child's order will be delivered directly to their class. For more information on how to order, please click HERE.

Orders for the latest catalogue, Issue 4, close 18th June. 

Entertainment Book memberships are still available! Please support St Joseph's Kingswood and order your digital membership by following the link - https://au.entdigital.net/orderbooks/161n602

After hosting two Playgroup sessions this term, we have made the decision to return to one Playgroup session per week at 8.45am on Friday's. Our morning session has proven to be much more popular than an afternoon session for our Playgroup families! We will chat with our families and re-evaluate later in the term, and will be sure to keep you updated with any changes. 

Join us this Friday for our "Robots Playgroup" at 8.45am, as we have fun with early STEM play. We always love to see new faces at Playgroup! All are welcome.