School concludes at 2:30pm, Friday 16th September, 2022

Note the early finish time of school this Friday for all students.

Country buses run to an earlier timetable.

Students who use the town bus system should check the timetable for the route that they use.

Matthew O'Brien, Principal

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

The flags of St Joseph’s school will fly at half mast until after the funeral of the late Queen Elizabeth 11. We join with our community in celebrating her life as an example of dignity and respect. In particular I am inspired by her humble leadership and diligence in serving those she led.

Year 5 camp

I was privileged to join the Year 5 children on their camp to Ballarat last week. It is always fun enjoying the company of kids outside of the routine of school and as principal I think that the Year 5 camp is a great opportunity to really get to know the future leaders of our school. Rest assured our school is in good hands. Across the three days the children showed every characteristic that you would hope for especially those who were well out of their comfort zones. This group missed out on their Year 3 and Year 4 camps and were heading off for two nights for the first time. As we headed off to our cabins to sleep it was quite obvious that some children had a little sense of trepidation and heart warming to see their friends gently distract them and make them feel at ease. Equally impressive was the display of enthusiasm and manners that the children showed in public and to our guides and hosts. Please and thank you goes a long way and many adults commented about this to me.

Another impressive observation was the knowledge the children had regarding the Gold Rush and Eureka Stockade so congratulations to their teachers. 

The only downside was the movies. I had to sit through “Minions -The Rise of Gru” that is 90 minutes of my life that I will never get back.

Thanks to the teachers for their organisation and generosity, Layla and Kayne - our trainees and Travis Thornton, Mark Davis, Katie O’Kane and Alison Russell - our volunteer parents.

NAPLAN Results

The NAPLAN tests were administered during May this year for Year 3 and Year 5 students. For the first time they were conducted online. As the tests were online they were adaptive i.e. the questions became easier or harder depending upon previous responses. These adaptive tests will a more accurate picture of children’s achievement particularly children achieving well outside the mean for their year level.

Our staff analyse these results (along with other work samples) and use them to plan further learning for individuals and to inform our School Improvement Plan.

Student results were posted yesterday and should arrive in the coming days. At this stage we do not have comparative results to state and national scores as the participation rate was quite low due to COVID. Parents are able to see their child’s results compared to a national average. Congratulations to all of the children who participated and continue to do their best.

Whole School Mass

Please join us for mass this Friday at 10:00am. We don’t get the opportunity to celebrate mass as a whole school very often and the participation of parents adds to the occasion. Our school choir will be leading the singing from the choir loft.

State Election

Letter to Parents and Carers regarding the coming state election.

Please find a follow letter addressed to parents and carers from Catholic Education Commission of Victoria regarding the coming state election.

Upcoming State Election

School Improvement Survey

Thanks to those families who completed the School Improvement Surveys over the last two weeks. This information is used to help guide future improvements at St Joseph’s and across our system. I am looking forward to analysing the results next term and working with our school community to continue developing our school.

Arrangements for the End of Term

Friday 16th September is the final day of Term 3 and we remind families that classes finish at 2:30pm on this day.

Hats from 1st September

In accordance with our Sunsmart policy all students and staff are required to wear a school hat for all outdoor activities from September to April.

We ask all families to locate student hats and send them to school. New hats are available to purchase from Lowes.

Safe and enjoyable holiday

Finally, I hope that everyone has a safe and enjoyable holiday.

Go Lions!

Regards
Matthew O'Brien, Principal

Happy Birthday to children celebrating their birthday this week.

Sophia Furphy, Oliver Marris, Ava Toohey, Flynn Harle, Charlie Madden, Ava Walsh, Braxton Ciurleo, Alexis Harris, Van Walsh and Harry Kerr.

Report your result and isolate for at least 5 days.

If you tested positive using a rapid antigen test, you must report your result to the Department of Health online, or by calling 1800 675 398. You don’t need to report your result if you tested positive from a PCR test.

Your isolation period begins on the day you took your positive test.

How long your isolation period goes for depends on whether you have symptoms, which include a fever, sore throat, runny nose, cough or shortness of breath.

If you have tested positive for COVID-19, you must isolate for at least 5 days from the date you took your rapid antigen test or PCR test. For example, if you took your test on Monday, you can leave isolation on Saturday if you have no symptoms.

You must isolate whether you have COVID-19 symptoms or not.

When you may leave isolation.

If you are in your 6th day of isolation and you have symptoms – no matter how mild – then you must continue to isolate. If you have a sore throat, runny nose, cough or shortness of breath, you may still be infectious and you may infect others with COVID-19.

If you have no symptoms on the 6th day of isolation, you are free to leave isolation on that same day. You do not need to take a test to leave isolation. For example, if you tested positive on a Monday, you may leave isolation any time the following Saturday.

If you are in your 7th day of isolation and you have symptoms – no matter how mild – then you must continue to isolate. If you have a sore throat, runny nose, cough or shortness of breath, you may still be infectious and you may infect others with COVID-19.

If you have no symptoms on the 7th day you are free to leave isolation on that same day. You do not need to take a test to leave isolation. For example, if you tested positive on a Monday, you can leave isolation any time the following Sunday.

If you leave isolation after 5 days, there are important rules you must follow for those two days:

you cannot visit a hospital or aged care facility

you cannot attend work at a hospital, residential aged care facility, disability care facility and in-home care premises (including disability and aged care in the home).

For more information about isolation rules for COVID cases: https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/checklist-cases

On Wednesday 7th September we were fortunate enough to have the award winning Author, Andrea Rowe visit our school. Andrea learnt how to read and write when she was in Prep at the original St Joseph’s Primary School site on Lava St in Warrnambool!  Her latest Picture book, Jetty Jumping was recently awarded the winner of the Early Childhood category for Book of the Year. She engaged our Year 1/2 students with stories, underwater sea creatures that provided adjectives for her book and tips about planning, drafting and editing our own writing.  The best part was listening to the genuine awe that the students showed Andrea when she presented her medal for winning the Book of the Year! What a fantastic opportunity for everyone to experience in light of many years of missing out on visitors like Andrea to our school.

On Friday 9th September all Year 3/4 students participated in a workshop presented by local author, Jordan Gould and illustrator, Richard Pritchard. They presented their new middle fiction book ‘Wylah. Korrie Warrior’ which is the only middle fiction book on the current market with an Aboriginal girl as the main character. The students learnt many new words from the local Peek Whurrong language, as well as creating their own Mega Fauna with character traits and so much potential for their own stories!

We like to praise all the students for their active participation, listening skills and thoughtful questions that they asked of our special guests.  We look forward to choosing an appropriate author for our Year 5/6 students to experience next term.

Mrs Emily Lloyd and Mrs Lyn Hyland

The following students are recognised for their efforts in listing the books that they have read in recent months in order to meet the expectations of this year’s Premier’s Reading Challenge!  The following students have now also completed the Challenge!  All  students who entered, will receive a signed certificate from the Victorian Premier at Assembly early next term.  We will start this Challenge a lot earlier next year so if it is something that your child might be keen to participate in, keep an eye out in the Newsletter!

A huge congratulations to all students for achieving a personal goal of reading up to 30 books!

* Elouise Flett

* Georgie Milroy

* Mae Flett

* Archie Edis

* Nellie Edis

* Stella Bell

* Lennie Bell

Emily Lloyd, LRC

We would be most appreciative of parent helpers at the conclusion of our swimming lessons for the first five weeks of Term 4. This is to help children get changed after their lessons.  

It is essential that any helpers have provided the school office with a copy of your Working With Children Check and signed our school code of conduct. 

If you can help us and have filled these requirements please indiate which days that you can assist. 

Please note: All parents are most welcome to watch the swimming lessons  each week, however only parents with a WWCC are able to assist in the changerooms.

School Canteen Support 

School Canteen Support 

Seasons for Growth