Curriculum News

As we approach our Christmas holidays it is important to continue to support student reading progress during that time. Although one of the things students look forward to in December is the academic down time, there's no reason why they can't keep their minds sharp during the holidays. It is important to continue encouraging your child to read books and keep up their motivation and enjoyment of reading as much as possible.

We have seen great success throughout the year with the reading ability of all our students, many making extraordinary gains. However, when children do return to school after the holidays, it’s common for teachers to notice a ‘summer slump’. After six weeks away from school, children can forget some of the key things they spent the last year mastering.

This can mean rather than moving on to new and exciting areas of the curriculum, the start of term is spent helping children back to their pre-holiday level. Continuing with a small amount of reading each day will help students return to school both refreshed and relaxed and ready to pick up their schoolwork just where they left off – a huge advantage.

Mrs Laura Christopher

Reading

This holiday season consider adding some new learning traditions for your family that will make meaningful memories and strengthen foundations for reading and learning success.

Listen, laugh, learn

• Listen to audio books while you're traveling to visit family, wrapping gifts, or cooking.

• Lyrics to holiday songs are fun to read and sing together. It is also good fun and good collaborative writing practice to make up your own lyrics to familiar tunes.

• Start a story-telling tradition by revisiting holidays of the past. Old family photographs at holiday gatherings will help prompt stories about your own life and family traditions.

Read, relax, respond

• Put reading and writing skills to practical use. Plan holiday meals by reading cookbooks together, writing the shopping lists and finding the needed items at the store by reading signs and labels. Read the recipe and cook together. During the simmering and baking, kids can write and decorate menus or place cards for special holiday meals.

• Set aside time just for reading. Curl up on the couch together and read aloud an old favourite or check out books about another culture's celebrations.

• Work on those letters. Improve writing skills with letters to Santa and writing thank you notes for holiday gifts to relatives and friends.

For more holiday reading, visit: www.readingrockets.org/articles/books/c360/

Mrs Kate Carew

Thank You

Thank you to the staff at the Department of Parks and Wildlife for their very generous donation to our Mini Vinnies Christmas Hamper. Their contribution will mean a very happy Christmas for many of our families.

St Vincent Pallotti Church

Mass Times

• Tues-Fri Evening Mass 5.30pm
• Sunday 8.30am
• Christmas Vigil Mass 6.30pm 24 December
• Christmas Day Mass 8.30am 25 December
• Happy New Year Mass 8.30am 1 January

Cnr Leichhardt Street & Konkerberry Drive

Upcoming Events

VacSwim

You can now enrol your children in VacSwim swimming lessons for the October school holidays.

With swimming pools and beaches a big part of the Western Australian lifestyle, it’s important your children are safe in the water.

Programs are available for children from five to 17 years and cater to all skill levels – from beginners to those doing their Bronze Medallion. They are being offered at pool venues across the State.

Enrol your children in VacSwim now at:

education.wa.edu.au/swimming

Leaving Town?

Book Club

Medications

If your child requires prescription medication during the school day, a Student Medication Administration Request must be filled out by parents/carers. These are available from the office. We are unable to administer medications without a signed form, even if verbal permission is given over the phone or to the school bus driver. Thank you for your cooperation.

Immunisation

SCHOOL HEALTH NURSE

Sleep

When your child sleeps well, he’s more settled, happy and ready for school the next day. Good-quality sleep helps your child concentrate, remember things and behave well. This helps him to be a successful learner.

Getting enough sleep also strengthens your child’s immune system and reduces the risk of infection and illness.

Children aged 3-5 years need around 11-13 hours of sleep a night. Some might also have a day nap of about an hour.

Children aged 5-11 years need 10-11 hours sleep a night. They’re usually tired after school and might look forward to bedtime from about 7.30 pm.

Most teenagers need 8-10 hours of sleep each night. Some need as little as 7 hours or as much as 11 hours.

· A good night’s sleep is essential for your child’s learning, because it helps him concentrate, remember things and behave well.

· Sleep problems can affect how well your child learns.

· Behaviour strategies can solve some sleep problems. So can a bedtime routine, morning sunlight, regular exercise and a healthy diet.

Some sleep problems that affect learning are caused by medical issues. See your GP if you’re concerned.

For further information, see the Raising Children Network:

www.raisingchildren.net.au

Ruth Rummery Hoath, School Health Nurse

"NIT ALERT"

As you may be aware, head lice are an ongoing problem at the school and it is a continuous battle to keep the problem under control.

Can you please check your child / children's hair for head lice and nits, which are tiny silvery specks, found along the base of the hair shaft near the scalp. It is recommended that all family members have their hair checked and treated as this condition spreads rapidly.

THE TREATMENT OF THE CONDITION IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PARENT / GUARDIANS, NOT THE SCHOOL.

If your child is found to have Head Lice or Nits they need to be excluded from the school until the day after treatment has commenced.

Treatments are available from the Supermarket, and the Chemist – use as per instructions on the bottle.

You can also use Hair Conditioner – cover the hair in conditioner, and comb with a fine tooth comb to remove the nits and lice. Wash out the next morning. Repeat this process for 10 days, to completely remove all nits and kill the breeding cycle.

It is advisable to continue checking your school age children at least twice a week and even more regularly during an outbreak.

St Joseph’s School is a Nut Awareness Zone

We have a student who has a touch-sensitive, life-threatening nut allergy. Please do not send nut products to school in recess or lunch boxes. This includes peanut butter, Nutella and many muesli bars.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Canteen Volunteers Wanted

Miss Kris is looking for parents or friends of the St Joseph’s community who may be able to lend a hand. As they say, many hands make light work! If you can assist in any way, please have a chat with Kris or the Principal.

St Joseph’s School Uniforms

At St Joseph’s School we take great pride in our appearance. The school uniform is also an important aspect of child health and safety. It is a requirement that all students wear a St Joseph’s uniform (including a hat with our logo) that is purchased from our uniform shop. Similar items bought elsewhere may not be worn to school.

Please note that our “no hat, no play” policy will be enforced.

See our website for a full range of uniform items.

Uniforms may be purchased at any time from our office.

Praying the Rosary

Sr Marcella will lead us in one decade of the rosary each Friday at 7:35am on the grass outside the administration building. Please feel welcome to join us for five minutes of prayer.

New Enrolment Policy

The West Australian School Education Act (1999) stipulates that information about immunisation status and date of birth must be supplied when applying to enrol at school. As of 2018, a child’s birth certificate and immunisation documents must be provided before they can commence their schooling at St Joseph’s.

Thank you for your cooperation.