School fee statements have been sent out today.  If you have made any electronic payments that are not reflected on this statement please contact Cathy Duynhoven on 55611343. 

I have received one Bpay payment where the incorrect reference code was quoted so I have been unable to match that against an account, if you believe this was you please ring me with the details of the payment you made.

Michael Gray, Principal

Dear Parents, Guardians, Students, Staff and our Wider School Community.

As a school community we are truly blessed that each and every year parents, staff, students, families, sponsors and the wider Warrnambool region support and create a Fair that is consisently an outstanding day of family fun, friendship and engagement.

Living in a time where social media, the internet and what is wrong in the world can hijack our agenda; the simplicity of conversation, co-operation, team work, time with neighbours and contributing to an enterprise bigger than ourselves (schooling); the St. Joseph’s fair connects us with each other and this is an important learning for young people.   

Obviously one of the key features of the day is fundraising. To this end it gives us great pleasure to confirm a highly successful day with total spend increasing, our profit margin rising and a final profit of $44,000. This was all reported at our evening summary gathering after the pack-up.

Events such as this only happen with effort, support and interest. A very special thanks to all the students who embraced the opportunity to be with friends, support their school and contribute to our community. Thank you also to all our parent volunteers who again donated time, talent and a spirit of cooperation which is a significant contributor to the success of the school fair. A very special thanks also to our administration team, teaching staff, school support staff and our brilliant grounds and maintenance teams who also generously support the school’s vision with time, energy and commitment.

Each key aspect of the Fair has a team leader; support by our Fair Coordinator and school administration team. For the last few years this has been Helen Sheedy. I cannot thank Helen and this team enough for their vision, helpful spirit and a “can do” attitude. It is this culture which invites people to “jump on board” and support a day that helps young people grow into mature, resilient and compassionate people. I recognise this team as critical to the Fair success and especially thank Helen, on behalf of everyone for her coordination. Helen will finish with our school when her last child (Bill) moves into Year 7, so I extend an invitation to anyone who maybe willing to think about sharing your talents with our team to help run the 2020 Fair.  

A key aspect also of this event is the sponsorship support; goods, services and cash donations ensure key costs are covered. They underwrite the rides which we all acknowledge are tremendous value. Our Sponsors support our vision of pro-active engagement in health, learning and wellbeing. I thank each of these organisations and encourage families to support these local people.

Looking at today (Monday’s) weather we were fortunate yesterday; the heavy rain held off until after the pack up, the bad wind forecast was only mild in Warrnambool and we experienced near perfect conditions over the day.

In conclusion the funds raised this year will support our Parent School Association (PSA) budget. This budget, developed and accounted for by this important parent group mainly supports our grounds, playground and special events. This year our focus is replacing our old and tired school fencing for both security and assetic reason. We have designed this project and are awaiting final city council and catchment management authority approval. As many would be aware the playground area of the school is in a flood zone so this needs to be considered in school design. We look to this being in place for this year.

George El-Hage, Healthy Moves Co-ordinator

Friday saw so many of our students embrace Ride2School day. It was a great opportunity to build some exercise into the day for parents, as well as students. We had 70% of students travel by bus, walk and on wheels, with a massive  236 students walking.

Congratulations to Gold Box winners Connor Ross and Noah McGennan for excellent listening to a friends point of view and to Leah English for fabulous singing and participation in Mass. 

Winners of our Gold Box get to go for a swim at the pool.

Mark Hyland, Religious Education Co-ordinator

The Celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, for our senior students, will take place this Tuesday 26th March, beginning at 5:30, in St Joseph’s church.

Try to be there 10 minutes beforehand so the children can take time to settle and think of what they will say to Father John or one of the assisting priests.

Children are to wear their white sacramental stole with the purple Reconciliation symbol.

In the Sacrament of Reconciliation God calls us to live in “RIGHT RELATIONSHIP” or harmony, with OURSELVES, OTHERS, OUR EARTH and OUR GOD.

Jesus calls us to repent and live as he showed us how to live. Jesus accepted all people, he even ate with outcasts, he healed those people who needed physical or spiritual healing and he often told parables that show us how to behave.

In the Lord’s prayer we say “Your kingdom come, Your will be done.” When we all live as Jesus taught us to, then God’s kingdom will have come, everyone and everything will be in “Right Relationship”.

We are human so we really have to work hard at living as Jesus taught us to live, but (lucky for us) God loves us “no matter what”. God’s love is unconditional and God’s forgiveness is never ending.

Family Prayer

Loving God who dances in creation,

Who embraces us with human love,

Who holds us in our joy and grief,

Who shakes our lives like thunder,

 

Help us claim our strength and need,

Our awesomeness and fragile beauty.

Help us stay open to your love

So that hope may be renewed.

Bless us, show us the way.

Amen

Andrew McCombe, Physical Education and Sport Co-ordinator

Junior School Sports

 The Junior School have been busy running and jumping and getting prepared for the upcoming Junior School Sports to be held on Thursday 4th April to finish off a wonderful first term.  Attached is a copy of the event program that we will follow on the day.  A big thank you to those who have offered to help. It’s great to have parents involved in the day.  It’s not too late to help out and we would love to see families come along to join us on the day. 

We’re off to the state finals!  A big congratulations to the 10 year girls relay team who in the last event of the day, came 1st to qualify for the State Finals to be held on Wednesday 24th April.  A huge effort, well done to Charlie Bowman, Tahlia Vesey, Niamh Ginley and Bella Telford. 

Girls 10 Year old Relay Team - Tahlia Vesey, Niamh Ginley, Charlie Bowman and Bella Telford

Also, we had our 12 year girls Medley relay come in 2nd Place, our 10 year boys come in 3rd place and many other personal best swims on the day. 

Girls 12 Year old Medley Relay - Tori Hintum, Hannah van de Camp, Shaylea Ralston, Kendra Wellens

Thank you to all the parents who attended and made the long journey to Horsham to help cheer on the team.

Overall, it was a hugely successful day for all. 

2019 Regional Swimming Team

District Athletics

After the recent School Sports we have been able to select our team to represent St Joseph’s at the upcoming District Athletics Carnival on Monday 1st April. Congratulations to the following students who have qualified in 2019.

There will be practice for relays and individual events at lunchtime on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday of this week.  Children can wear their sports gear on these days thanks.

Golf Tryout

For those Senior School students trying out for golf, there will be another practice hit at school this Friday. Students are welcome to bring their sticks, otherwise the school has a number of clubs to use for practice.  We will be selecting students for the upcoming competition next term.

Andrew McCombe, Physical Education and Sport Coordinator

Thank you to our wonderful Fair Sponsors for 2019.

Congratulations to our Fair Raffle Winners.

Pat Allen, ICT Co-ordinator

Welcome to our visiting students from Doshisha Elementary School in Kyoto, Japan.

Henrietta and Sophie Russell with their family and host students.

Community Conversation Update

Parents are invited to participate in a Community Conversation process. Community Conversation is a forum that seeks to listen, understand and explore what is important to the school community.

We were planning to do this Community Conversation as a parent evening but as we have had a small number of registrations we are going to change how this process will work. 

We invite parents to contribute via this electronic form by Friday 29th March, 2019.

Monica Currer, Literacy Co-ordinator

The Classroom Helpers Program will take place this year on Wednesday 27th March 7:00 pm – 8:00pm. The program aims to inform parents of Foundation, Year 1 and Year 2 students, about the teaching and learning of reading and writing and how you can help in the learning process at home. It is an expectation that you participate in this program if you wish to help in the classroom now or in the future. However, you are very welcome to attend if you are unable to make this commitment.

We also invite you to ask others e.g. grandparents, who may like to help in the classroom. Remember everyone who does help out in the classroom needs a working with children’s check.

Please complete the form below if you would like to attend this session.

Our PSA are once again holding a Hot Cross Bun Drive. Brown's Bakery will be supporting this event with orders now open through CDFPay. Please place your order against the eldest child in your family.

Orders close at 3pm on Friday 29th March.

Delivery dates

Wednesday 3 April 2019 (Grades 1, 2, 3 and 4)

Thursday 4 April 2019 (Grades F, 5 and 6) *Note this is Junior Sport Day

Our first Term of canteen is drawing to a close.

The Term 2 Canteen Roster will be published in a future newsletter. Thanks to our new volunteers coming on board for Term 2.

Emmanuel College

Fair Sponsor

Warrnambool College