Matthew O'Brien, Principal

Dear Parents, Guardians, Staff, Students and the wider St. Joseph’s Primary School Community,

Confirmation

Congratulations to the children who finally celebrated the sacrament of Confirmation on Thursday and Friday night.  The ceremonies were very simple, personal and prayerful. The children’s reverence was a credit to their families and teachers.

Thursday Evening

Friday Evening

Preparation for a sudden school closure (Snap Lockdown)

We are very grateful to have returned to onsite learning and our thoughts are with everyone around the country still in various degrees of lockdown.

The last two regional closures have been called quickly and the formal notifications have not come from the Premier until after school.  With this in mind it is prudent to be well prepared.  I have attached a letter from the Warrnambool Catholic Schools Network outlining our common procedures in the event of a snap lockdown.  This letter will be shared with all Catholic Primary School parents and carers this week.

In summary:

Day 1: Independent learning activities. There will be no online meetings or check ins. 

Day 2 onwards:  Paper based, interactive and digital learning activities. Teachers will commence check ins via interactive virtual platforms and lessons will commence. Devices will be available for collection from school.

Network Sudden School Closure Plan

Term 4 School Closure Days

There are two pupil free days planned for Term 4 this year. The school has been granted permission to hold an extra closure day as this was a review year. These dates were confirmed at the beginning of the school year.

Friday 22nd October, 2021
ReLATE Wellbeing Framework

Friday 19th November, 2021
Student Assessment and Report Writing 

Matthew O'Brien, Principal.

Happy Birthday to children celebrating their birthday this week.

Madison Finnigan, Daisy Greening, Isla Dixon, Jack Haynes, Sienna Byron, Lexie Keane, Daisy Brown, Georgia Hope, Eli Oakley, Mia Robinson, Grace Gapes and Oscar McCutcheon.

We would like to send a massive THANK YOU to Midfield Meats, who made a very generous donation to our school.  Midfield meats have been generously supporting St Joseph’s Primary School for many years now, all of which is greatly appreciated.  Without the support of these local businesses we would not be the great school that we are!

Please support these local businesses where you can!

On Friday 13th August, the Foundation students celebrated a very special milestone - 100 days of school! During the week they participated in lots of different fun learning activities that related to the number 100. Students dressed up as if they were 100 years old, made some wonderful celebration crowns and had their faces changed to look like they were100 years old. There was a big parade around the whole school on Friday, showcasing the many wonderful and amazing costumes! The Foundation students looked fantastic! It was a great day for all!

Congratulations to the amazing Foundation students on a very successful and fun filled 100 days of school so far! Keep up the great learning.

Some of our children have begun their preparation for their First Eucharist which will be celebrated on Sunday 29th August at either the 8:30am, 10am or 6pm Mass.

Here is a prayer to pray for the children involved.

Thank you, Lord, for being with us today

As we think of those children preparing to receive the Eucharist for the first time.

Help us always to appreciate the ways

In which you are present to us

When we celebrate the Eucharist.

We know we are always loved by you;

You have chosen us and we will try our best

To bring your love to others.

You are Lord for ever and ever.

Amen

The program has 4 booklets to complete. Here is a brief overview of the first two booklets.

The first booklet is called “Gathering.”

The activities begin with a reflection on how families celebrate significant occasions in their lives in particular ways. You then move to discussing how the faith community gathers at church to celebrate the Eucharist at Mass.

The second booklet is called “Remembering Jesus.”

The activities begin with a discussion on how celebrations often help us to recall past events, for example at Christmas we remember the birth of Jesus and on ANZAC day we remember the men and women who gave their lives in defence of freedom.

You then reflect on the Eucharist, which is a special meal recalling the events of the Last Supper.

Winter Sports and Hockey

Due to Melbourne’s extended lockdown it is highly unlikely that our Winter Sports and Hockey can progress any further.  We will let students know this once it is officially confirmed.

Girls Football - Thursday 19th August!

Mr McMillan and Mr O’Brien will be taking our Senior Girls’ Football team up to the Mack Oval this Thursday.  Their training schedule has been interrupted due to the multiple snap lockdowns, like all our inter-school sports, however they are ready to play together on Thursday!  We would like to wish them all the best and look forward to seeing some smiling muddy faces.  Just a reminder that due to the current Covid Guidelines for schools there will be no parent spectators allowed at this venue.  Thank you for your support.

AFL 9’s

We won’t believe that we can attend two sporting events in one week until it actually happens!  Fingers crossed our Year 4 students can finally represent the school at the AFL 9s Round Robin competition this Friday 20th August.   We have used this opportunity to mix up all the Year 4 students into 6 different teams, giving them the chance to socialise with different students before they are in Year 5!  We have been practicing our football skills during P.E classes and we look forward to putting them into practice this Friday.  At this stage, there are still no parents allowed to spectate due to the high number of students attending this event.  Thank you!

Hooptime Basketball

This year Covid restrictions have made the usual selection process most challenging for us. After two lockdowns and no outside visitors allowed on-site, we as teachers have spent time collaborating and creating the teams we have listed  so far.  Unfortunately the date for the Year 3/4 competition has been postponed and the Year 5/6 competition date stands on next Friday 27th August.  We will continue to train at school, when possible, however current guidelines remain that there will be no parent spectators allowed at these events, purely due to the large number of students at the venue.  We appreciate your support and understanding with this in mind.

Year 6 Volleyball – Thursday 2nd September

Please sign up on the noticeboard in the Hall if you wish to be considered for the Year 6 team.  Unfortunately our Year 5 students will be on their School Camp and therefore cannot attend this competition.  Please keep an eye out for training dates.

Year 5/6 Table-Tennis – Friday 10th September

Trials have commenced for our Boys and Girls Table Tennis team.  At this stage we can only take 4 boys and 4 girls on the day.  The shortlist will be posted on the noticeboard by the end of this week.  Thanks to everyone who have attended our recent trials.

Sports Practice this week

Regards, 

Mrs Emily Lloyd (Physical Education & Sport Co-ordinator)
Mr Matthew McMillan. 

Book Week is coming up next week and we are getting very excited in the Library. To go along with the ‘Old Worlds New Worlds Other Worlds’ theme a Dr Who - like Tardis Console has been set up in the Library and a Tardis poster has been added to the front library door.

Our Book face competition is going well with some very creative entries coming in. Here is an example.

As usual there will be activities in the library during Book Week - with an Old world theme to them!

Due to Arts Week happening 2 weeks later in Week 9 with a dress up component there will be NO official dress up for Book Week. We do not want families having to do 2 dress ups. Instead on the Friday of Book Week the students and staff will be encouraged to wear or bring something from another world for a Special Book Week Tell and Show time.

Examples and ideas - a mask or hat - Star wars, Harry Potter,

Mrs Hyland has a Harry Potter Wand, Mr Hyland could wear his Doctor Who scarf.

If you have an item from another country you could wear or bring that.

Mrs Hyland and Mrs Lloyd

Thursday 19th August, 2021, Orders close 3pm Tuesday 17th August, 2021

Note: If your child is part of the Girls Football team then you are advised to cancel their pizza order as they will not be back for lunchtime.

Once per term the PSA run a Pizza Day as a "special occasion" lunch option and to raise money for the PSA.

Children can choose from either Garlic or Hawaiian pizza (Gluten Free options available) which are provided by Pinkie’s Pizza who are one of our major school sponsors.

Orders open on Monday 10th May via CDFPay (Canteen ordering system)

There are no canteen orders on Pizza Days and children not wanting to order pizza should bring their lunch from home.

Sorry, no late orders can be accepted.

Previously at this time of year, we have celebrated Grandparents Day at St. Joseph’s, which falls around the feast day of Jesus’ Grandparents, Joachim and Anne.

As we cannot meet together at school for such occasions this year, families might like to enter a photo of their grandparents, perhaps with their grandchildren as well, which will make up a movie that can be viewed at home and school.

If you would like to participate, send your photo/s to the listed email address by Friday 20th August.  Please ensure you have permission from the people in the photos, to share, as they will be viewed by our school community. Emails will only be accepted from parents' email addresses, not students’ email addresses.

Email: grandparents@sjwarrnambool.catholic.edu.au

Due to ongoing and changing restrictions the decision was made at the last PSA meeting to not hold our annual Fathers Day Breakfast this year.

As a community we still want to highlight the wonderful father figures in our life.

We have organised a raffle for our fathers, with all prizes being donated by our fathers. Tickets will be send home with the eldest child in your family.

Drawn: Friday 3rd September, 2021

1st Prize is two nights accommodation at Beacon Point Ocean View Villas donated by Jeremy Alexander and Holiday Village (http://beaconpoint.com.au/)

2nd Prize is a Beefeater BUGG BBQ donated by Leo & Gerard Duynhoven of South West Roofing and AK Garage Doors (https://www.swragd.com.au/)

3rd Prize is a $100 voucher to the Flying Horse Bar & Brewery donated by Matty Monk (https://www.theflyinghorse.com.au/)

All three of these donors have been great supporters of our school and fair in the past.

Thank you

Thank you to Star Printing for their support of this raffle by providing the printing of the tickets at no charge to the school.

Volunteers Needed

We rely on our volunteers and are also in need of more parents to assist. Canteen can only run 5 days a week if we have sufficient volunteers. Can you help?

Training is arranged by our Canteen Co-ordinator Tania Hughes. Please consider volunteering, even if only once per term, all help most appreciated.