Week 1, Term 3 2024

It feels like just yesterday morning my little one was coming into the kitchen with messy hair and sleepy eyes. Now, my daughter is at university! Growing up is challenging not just for kids but for parents too. As our children enter new phases of life, we also face new seasons, making it more important—and perhaps harder—to trust God with their future.

Now that the holidays have ended and we have sent our children back to school, the anxieties and worries of parents and carers come to the forefront. Whether it's Little Joey’s, primary school, high school, or university, letting our children go can be filled with fears and uncertainties. We often wonder, “Did I teach them enough? Did we spend enough time together? Were they listening?”

This reminds me of the story of Moses. When the Pharaoh felt threatened by the Israelites, he ordered all midwives to kill any baby boys born to the Israelite people by drowning them in the Nile River. But Moses' mother wouldn’t have it. She hid him as long as she could, and when she could no longer hide him, she placed him in a basket among the reeds of the Nile. The very river that could have drowned him became his refuge. Trusting in God's plan, she let go, not knowing what would happen. We know, baby Moses was drawn out of the water and grew to become one of the greatest heroes of the Bible, rescuing God’s people from slavery and leading them to the Promised Land.

From this, we learn a valuable lesson as parents: there comes a time—many times, actually—when we must let go and trust the plan of the Father. The world can be a scary place, and we fear for our children. But we must remember that letting go allows God to draw them from the waters for His great purpose.

As you prepare for the next phase of your child's life, whether it's Little Joey’s, primary school, high school, or university, remember that you have to place your children in the water for God to draw them out and place them into His perfect plan. Though you might not be physically present with your child as much during this new season, you can always petition the heart of the Father on their behalf. Trust in His plan and know that He is with them every step of the way.

Welcome back to a new term at St Joseph's School Barmera! This term we will transition from the chilly days of winter to the much milder embrace of spring. It’s wonderful to see how much our students have grown and changed over the two-week break, their progress is always a delight to witness. This term holds special significance as we officially celebrate the 70th birthday of our school. It’s a milestone that reminds us of our rich history and the bright future ahead. Term 3 promises to be filled with learning, growth, and celebration!

We are excited to welcome Koda, our newest student, to the Reception class this term through our Mid-Year intake. Koda participated in our Little Joey School Ready Transition program, which runs for two terms before a child starts school, ensuring a smooth transition to full-time education. For those starting Reception in 2025, the Little Joey School Ready Transition program begins in week 2 of this term. This extended program offers significant benefits, preparing children thoroughly for their school journey. If you have a child starting Reception in 2025, please enrol them now to take advantage of this fantastic opportunity. Feel free to share this information with anyone interested.

This week, NAPLAN results were sent home with students. Our Year 3 and Year 5 students participated in NAPLAN testing in Term 1, assessing their Literacy and Numeracy skills. While these results provide a snapshot of a child's performance at a specific moment, it's important to remember their broader context. Knowing your child's scores helps you understand their current skill levels, and it also provides valuable insights for our teachers and our school. This information enables us to target our teaching strategies more effectively, aiming to enhance each student's learning outcomes.

Our Year 4-6 students enthusiastically participated in Bike Education. This program promotes the development of good bicycle handling skills, responsible behaviours, attitudes, and decision-making skills essential for safe cycling, both on and off the road. It was a fantastic experience for all involved, and we are especially proud of those students who rode a bike for the first time—what an incredible achievement!

This week all families received an invitation to participate in the Living Learning Leading (LLL) survey. The survey takes only 5-7 minutes to complete and provides our school with invaluable data on various topics. Your input is essential in helping us meet the needs of all our students and families.

In recent years, our completion rate for this survey has been small, raising questions about the validity of the data. I hope that this year, more families will take the time to complete the survey. Your feedback is crucial in ensuring we continue to improve and provide the best possible educational experience for your children. This survey is open until August 23.

I met with School Locker to get an update on our new school uniform. All items are scheduled to arrive at their warehouse by Monday. Once processed, their status of uniform items on the website will be updated from 'pre-order' to 'in stock', making them available for immediate purchase. Once items are ‘in stock’ it takes 5 business days for them to arrive. Additionally, a new uniform policy has been drafted and is awaiting approval from the school board. Families will receive copies as soon as this process is complete, ensuring everyone is informed on how to wear the uniform correctly.

A friendly reminder that next week, Monday, July 29, and Tuesday, July 30, are student-free days as announced last term via the newsletter. These days allow our staff to engage in professional learning that will ultimately benefit our students. Please make any necessary arrangements for your child's care on these days.

Have a great weekend.

Nanda de Winter

Principal

Starting school in 2025?