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Matthew O'Brien, Principal
Dear Parents, Guardians, Staff, Students and the wider St. Joseph’s Primary School Community,
The Season of Lent
During the past week staff and students observed the start of the season of Lent with an Ash Wednesday liturgy in each classroom.
During the season of Lent Catholics focus on:
- Almsgiving
- Prayer
- Fasting
Our Mini Vinnies group will be leading the advocacy and fundraising for Caritas Australia (Project Compassion). The Mini Vinnies team for 2022 are: Millie Black, Charlotte Wythe, Samantha Coghlan, Bella Blackmore, Bella Mammone, Harry Brooks, Zarah Timpson, Sarah McInerney, Blair Lyons, Ruby Koch, Bellalie Martin, Rose Armitstead, Manan Agrawal and Abbey O’Keefe.
School Advisory Council
Mark Koch has informed us that he is stepping down from his role as chairperson and from his position on the School Advisory Council. I would like to thank Mark for his contribution to our school, particularly for his thoughtfulness, insight and dedication to the ongoing development of our school.
Personally, Mark welcomed me to my new role at St Joseph’s and provided great support and a sounding board over many issues.
Peter Furphy has accepted the role of chair for the remainder of 2022.
Mark's resignation creates a vacancy on the SAC. The group meets once a term and its main functions are:
- to support the strategic direction of the school in achieving its vision
- Provide a voice for the members of the school community
Should you be interested in joining our SAC please email principal@sjwarrnambool.catholic.edu.au
Other SAC members are: Donna Monaghan, Chris McGrath, Mel Happ, Christian Saywell, Liz Noonan (staff rep).
Foundation-Year 2 Parent Helpers In Classrooms
We are now allowed to have volunteer workers in our classrooms which means that we will begin the Parent Helper Program in Term 2. This program supports the literacy development of students by providing extra adults to support the classroom activities. The volunteers generally hear and change home readers, help small groups with tasks and work with individuals on their literacy learning.
Register for Training
We will hold a training session on Monday March 28th at 9:30am in the hall foyer. Volunteers are required to hold a Working with Children’s Check and to provide proof of being fully vaccinated including a booster shot.
Register to express your interest in help in a Foundation, Year 1 or Year 2 classroom
Generally, parents are rostered once a week or once a fortnight from 9-10am. It is recommended that parent complete the Training prior to assisting in the classroom.
Fire Safety Fundraising Day
As some people might know, Eamon Cottee from E1’s house has burned down, and we are going to run a fundraiser to support Eamon’s family. With the money that we will raise is going to go to the Cottee family for the 5 of them to get new clothes, sheets, and other household items for when they get a new house.
We are going to have a uniform free day and focus on fire safety and also have a fun day. On this day we could all dress up as firefighters or casual clothes if you prefer. Mrs Lee is working with us to contact the fire brigade to come to the school to teach us about fire safety. We will announce the date soon.
From, Archie McGovern, Stuart Thring, Gano Akoch, Monty Darcy and Oliver Mugavin (Year 6 students)
Rapid Antigen Test Survey
The Department of Education and Training is working with the Department of Health to gather feedback from parents/carers and staff to review and improve, where possible, the implementation of the rapid antigen testing program in schools.
This is being done by identifying a representative sample of schools across all three sectors (government, Catholic and independent) and asking those schools to distribute a link to surveys for parents and staff respectively, with the principals of each sample school also invited to complete a principals’ survey. Each of the surveys are entirely voluntary and anonymous.
St Joseph’s school has been identified as one of the schools invited to take part in this survey.
You are asked to complete the survey by 5.00pm Sunday 13 March 2022.
Regards
Matthew O'Brien, Principal
Happy Birthday to children celebrating their birthday this week.
Keilan Lawlor, Kruz McDonald, Sophie McSween, Nina O’Kane, Amelia Austin, Bridget Ambrose, Lucas Rouse, Isaac Brown, Simone Lobos Boada, Gretta Heggie, Logan Wythe, Elsa Farley and Will McCarthy.
- Murder most unladylike book report -
Hi, I am Maya Furphy. I am a Year 6 student in E2 and I have nearly finished the first book in a great new series, A ‘Murder Most Unladylike Mystery’ by Robin Stevens.
The series is about a murder in a girls’ boarding school, in England. Two girls have a secret detective club. Daisy and Hazel are best friends and everything is normal until Hazel walks into the gym to find a frightening scene. The suspense begins!
I recommend this book for Year 4-6 students, but if you get scared easily then maybe this isn’t the series for you! There are nine books in the series and each is filled with suspense and fun! I would rate it 9/10 so far. Overall I have loved every page and recommend to my family, friends and teachers. So if you ever see this series in the library, pick it up and start reading!!
Our specialist staff include Yuichi Deguchi, Cara Chisholm, Lyn Hyland, Matthew McMillan, Diane Brown, Emily Lloyd and Jo Barfus McCoy.
Introducing Cara Chisholm
I am lucky to have been working at St. Joseph’s for many years. In that time I have taught in all areas of the school. A few years ago I was asked if I would like to join our amazing Arts Team. This is like a dream come true for me. I get to work with fantastic creative people and enjoy seeing the talents of our students in visual and performing arts blossom.
I also love working with the choir and can not wait to get to see these amazing children perform this year. The Arts allow so many people the chance to shine, I love that I get to be part of that.
Our school choir program is a fantastic extra-curricular opportunity for students in Year 3 and above to further develop and extend their musical knowledge and skills, self-confidence, self-discipline and team work.
With this opportunity members are encouraged to attend all rehearsals and be involved in all performances. A choir relies heavily on the active and regular participation of its members and therefore we ask that a commitment to the choir is a year long commitment.
Choir will commence at 8:15am on Thursday 10th March. Students can be dropped at the hall from 8.05am. Students need to fill out a permission form and return this to the school office by Wednesday 9th March.
Students are permitted to come and have a try for the first two weeks. If after this time they decide they no longer wish to be involved that is fine, a note from a parent will be needed so they can be removed from the choir class list.
Unfortunately, we can not provide supervision of siblings who are not involved in the choir.
Athletics
Week 5 was another busy week for our students in all things sport! 1500m athletic trials were held on Tuesday and Thursday. Lots of students came along and gave their all with what was a very challenging long distance run. Well done to everyone that participated.
Swimming
On Friday 4th March our swimmers had an early start, leaving Warrnambool at 7:30am to travel via bus to Hamilton, where our Division swimming carnival was held. The day was a great success seeing many students qualify for Regional Swimming on Friday 18th March in Horsham, more details to come about that event. Congratulations to Zoe Davis who was awarded age Champion for the 12yr Girls age group, Well done Zoe. A huge thank you to all the parents that made their way up, and volunteered their time in helping fill the role of timekeepers, a job that our school was allocated.
Tennis
Goodluck to Hudson Greene who will represent our school and the District at Division Tennis this Friday 11th March, at Lawn Tennis Club.
Year 3-6 Sports Day
This week in P.E lessons our students in Years 3-6 are continuing to practice for the upcoming Years 3-6 School Sports on Thursday 17th March.
Volunteers
If any parents would like to volunteer to assist on the day that would be much appreciated, please contact me via email with the times you are able to help out, and if you have an age group preference or an event preference to help with. sport@sjwarrnambool.catholic.edu.au
Volunteers need to be triple vaccination; email certificate to cduyn@sjwarrnambool.catholic.edu.au
Thanks everyone!
Matt McMillan
Updated Dates for Confirmation
Sacramental programs are family based, parish coordinated and school supported. Each year the sacraments of Confirmation, Eucharist and Reconciliation are celebrated in the Parish. The Parish and School assist families to nurture the faith of the Catholic Church. The Parish and School share this responsibility supporting parents as the primary educator; and so, together in partnership, the spiritual development of the child can be nurtured and grown. Sacraments are supported, but not restricted, to the following Year levels.
- Year 6 - Reconciliation (Term 1)
- Year 3 - Confirmation (Term 2)
- Year 4 - Eucharist (Term 3)
Reconciliation (Year 6)
|
Student and Parent meeting |
Tuesday 1st March, St Joseph’s Church, 7:30pm |
|
Sacrament of Reconciliation |
Tuesday 29th March, 5:30pm |
Confirmation (Year 3) *updated dates*
|
Student and Parent meeting |
Tuesday 10th May, St Joseph’s Church, 7:00pm |
|
Celebrating the Sacrament |
Thursday 2nd June, 7:00pm Friday 3rd June, 7:00pm Saturday 4th June, 11:00am |
The Confirmation program is also open to any Year 4s who did not register in 2020.
First Eucharist (Year 4)
|
Student and Parent meeting |
Tuesday 26th July, St Joseph’s Church, 7:00pm |
|
Sacrament of First Eucharist |
Sunday 28th August, 8:30am, 10:00am and 6:00pm |
The First Eucharist program is also open to any Year 5s and 6s who have completed their Confirmation.
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 with orders now open.
Orders close at 3pm on Monday 4th April, 2022.
Delivery dates
Tuesday 5th April, 2022 (Years Foundation, 1 and 2)
Wednesday 6th April, 2022 (Years 3 - 6)
Tickets to everyone's favourite Easter Raffle are now being sold in the foyer at the school.
$1 per ticket. Children can purchase tickets before and after school.
Raffle Drawn: Friday 8th April, 2022.