Matthew O'Brien, Principal

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

Student Leaders

Mac Cooknell, Lachlan Walters, Stanley Coverdale, Lucy Bishop, 

Henry Lloyd, Hamish O’Kane, Finn Davis, 

Mia Jackson, Pippa Main, Daisy Martin

Daisy Greening, Millie Langley, Ruby McNeil

It was with great celebration that we extended our warmest congratulations to our St Joseph’s student leaders for 2023 at our assembly on Friday. These students have taken on the important role of representing their classmates, promoting positive school culture, and helping to create a sense of community in and beyond our school.

On Friday, they were presented with their badges, then each gave a short introduction of themselves to everyone in the school. Each of the leaders should be proud of themselves for being identified by their classmates and for their wonderful speeches on Friday.  We look forward to seeing all of the great things they will accomplish this year.  Their efforts will help to make our school a better place, and we are confident that they will continue to make a positive impact on those around them.

Once again, congratulations to our primary school student leaders. You have made us all proud, and we are honoured to have you as a part of our school community. Keep up the great work!

There are many other opportunities for leadership in our school and I invite any Year 6 student who is interested to apply for Mini Vinnies, PMP Helper and Library Helper positions.

All of these roles engage students outside of the classroom, promote initiative and communication, skills that are valued wherever their talents might take them.

Staffing Update

Jeff Vizon begins his Psychology Course this year and he will be working two days a week, Thursday and Friday.

Good luck Jeff.

Interviews were held last week to appoint Learning Support Officers. I am pleased to announce that Kirsty Wright has been appointed 3 days per week, Monday, Wednesday and Fridays. Kristy will be a part of the Middle School Team. We welcome Kirsty officially to our school.

I am also pleased to announce that Kara Wolff will return to St Joseph’s after a short absence. Kara will be working Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday and will also be a part of the Middle School Team. Welcome back Kara.

Living With Primary Aged Children

7:30 pm, Tuesday 28th February and 1:30pm, Wednesday 1st March

As mentioned in last week’s newsletter Helen Diamond from Catholic Care is running a session for parents on Living With Primary Aged Children. Helen is drawing information from evidence based parenting programs; “Circle of Security Parenting”, “Bringing up Great Kids” by the Australian Childhood Foundation and “Tuning into Kids” as well as the observations and experiences of parents she has met along the way.

There is an evening and a daytime session (both identical) and we believe that these sessions are so important that we will supply babysitting services should you require.

Register for Living With Primary Aged Children

Sporting Opportunity For Girls - Cricket Blast

I draw your attention to an opportunity for all of our girls to participate in a 4 week introduction to cricket. This is a great opportunity as it occurs straight after school on the Allen Oval (so no quick pick up and drop off). There are only 4 sessions and the cost is only $10. Please see details and registration.

Regards
Matthew O'Brien, Principal

Happy Birthday to children celebrating their birthday this week.

Harley Kane, Sylvie Roberts, Sophia Sarra, Emma Ludeman and Whyat Brian.

The Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships

Learning materials have been designed for teachers to use in the curriculum in primary and secondary schools to develop students’ social, emotional and positive relationship skills. Efforts to promote social and emotional skills and positive gender norms in children and young people have been shown to improve health related outcomes and wellbeing.

As well as teaching academic skills, it is part of the core business of schools to promote student resilience, wellbeing and positive social attitudes. One way that schools can achieve this is through the teaching of evidence based programs that explicitly foster personal and social capabilities. 

Explicit efforts to provide Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) opportunities is recognised as a key part of this work.

SEL is the process through which children and young people build and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes and skills necessary to:

• Understand and manage emotions
• Set and achieve positive goals
• Feel and express empathy
• Establish and maintain positive relationships
• Make responsible decisions
• Develop resilience to deal with change
• Create positive gender norms
• Contribute to social cohesion.

Social and emotional skills help students develop the resilience to deal with change, challenge and unpredictability.

Social and emotional skills are also the foundation of positive relationships, including positive gender relationships, and contribute to social cohesion.

Efforts to promote personal and social capabilities and build resilience can be fostered through a whole school approach. A key component of a whole school approach is the promotion of positive teacher-student relationships. Positive relationships are significantly associated with increased ‘school connectedness’ and with cognitive, emotional and behavioural engagement.

The Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships (RRRR) learning materials cover eight

topics of Social and Emotional Learning across all levels of primary and secondary education.

These topics will be shared with you over the coming weeks so you can partner with us in supporting your child in their learning. 

Maryanne Evans and Liz Noonan

Tennis

The second and final round of tennis trials will take place this week. Any boys wanting to try out are welcome to on Wednesday 15th February, and any girls who wish to try out are welcome to on Thursday 16th February. Tennis teams will be announced after these trials are completed. Reminder that this is for year 6 students only.

Lawn Bowls

Lawn Bowls trials will take place this Friday 17th February for registered participants. Registrations are now closed. Students will bus down to the Warrnambool Bowls Club in Timor Street. Good luck to all students trying out for our Lawn Bowls team. Again, this is only for Year 6 students. The first competition will be held on the Monday 6th March for those students who are selected for the team.

Swimming

Swimming trials will be held at Aquazone on Wednesday 22nd February for all registered participants. Our first swimming competition will be held at Aquazone on Thursday 2nd March. Goodluck to all students who are trialling for the swimming team.

Athletics 800m trials and 1500m trials

800m trials will be held on Thursday 16th February for the girls, and Friday 17th February for the boys. Age groups are 10yr olds, 11yr olds, and 12+yr olds.

1500m trials will be held on Tuesday 21st Feb for the boys and Thursday 23rd Feb for the girls. Age groups are the same as the 800m.

Please note that however old your child will be as of 31st of December 2023 is the age group they will be in. For example, a current 10 year old whose birthday is in October will compete in the 11 year old age group.

Matt McMillan, P.E Coordinator.

The PSA (Primary School Association) is a forum for all parents to become involved in the life of the School. It’s where we work to provide, improve and maintain the amenities available for the school students, including equipment and maintenance of School Buildings and grounds.

To provide opportunities for social meetings between parents, and promote a spirit of union and good fellowship. The PSA runs and supports several events throughout the year to raise money for the school and to support our school community.

What do we do? Mother’s Day Stall, Hot Cross Bun Drive, Father’s Day Breakfast, Pizza Days, Art Activities and Canteen support

Who can attend? Anyone and everyone, meetings are held at the school in Room C19 or the staffroom.

How often do they meet? Tuesday evening, Week 3 and Week 7 of each term. 8 meetings per year! Meetings commence at 7:30pm.

• Tuesday 14 February and Tuesday 21 March
• Tuesday 9 May and Tuesday 6 June
• Tuesday 25 July and Tuesday 22 August
• Tuesday 17 October and Tuesday 14 November
• Date TBA: Parent Committee Thank you evening

How can I help? Come along to the meetings, contribute to the discussion, share ideas, support events that enrich the school community.

We really need our school families to support this group.  It’s only 8 meetings per year! Hope to see you there, better still bring a friend!

3:30pm - 6:00pm
Tuesday 21st and Wednesday 22nd February, 2023

These initial meetings are designed as an information sharing between parents and teachers. It is an opportunity for teachers to learn more about the students in their care. Booking for the meetings will be available through Parent Access Module (PAM) on the school app or website.

We will be holding a Classroom Helpers information session at 9:15am - 10:45am on Tuesday 21st February on for all parents and carers in Foundation, Year 1 and Year 2 who would like to help with literacy activities in their child’s classroom. 

Please complete this registration form to indicate:

• attendance at the Information Session
• when and where you are able to volunteer (new and previous volunteers)

Please note: All school volunteers must hold a current Working With Children Check. These can be obtained free of charge at https://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/

Senior Reconciliation is a Sacramental Program for Year 6 students who have completed their Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist Sacraments. 

Complete the registration form if your child would like to participate in this program. Please make $20 payment through CDFpay.

The Student and Parent Information meeting is held at St Joseph's church.

This is a Parish run program supported by the school. Please contact Leanne at the Parish on 5562 2231 with any queries.

Key Dates

3pm, Wednesday 15th February, 2023 - Registration and payment closes

7:00pm, Tuesday 21st February, 2023 - Student and Parent Information meeting 

*New confirmed time* 5pm, Tuesday 28th March, 2023 - Sacrament of Reconciliation

There will be no whole school assembly this Friday 17th February 2023. 

The Launch of our new School Prayer will now be held at Assembly at 2:30pm on Friday 24th February, 2023

The Camps, Sports Excursion Fund is provided by the Victorian Government to assist eligible families to cover the costs of school trips, camps and sporting activities.  If you hold a valid means-tested concession card or are a temporary foster parent, you may be eligible for CSEF.  An allowance is paid to the school to use towards expenses relating to camps, excursions or sporting activities for the benefit of your child.

The annual CSEF amount per primary aged student is $125 per year.

If you qualify for CSEF support, you are also eligible to apply for the Family Fee Assistance Program funded by DOBCEL.  The FFA is to help families with the Annual Family Fee by reducing this amount to $520 for the year; this means in 2023 the FFA support is $860 per family.

Both funds are to be applied for through the school (with both forms included here).  These need to be submitted at the school office along with a copy of your current Health Care Card, or Veterans Affairs Card.

If you have applied for this before you do not need to submit this form each year, however if you have become eligible over the past 6 months or are a new family, please lodge your application.  To be eligible your card must be valid on Friday 27th January 2023. 

School Canteen Support 

We have two new products recently added to our canteen items. The Twin Pole icy pole and a Gluten Free Glazed Donut are now available to order via CDFPay.

It is recommended that rapid antigen tests (RATs) are used by students and staff if they:

• have symptoms of COVID-19 infection, no matter how mild
• are a household or close contact of someone who has COVID-19
• are a social contact of someone who has COVID-19.

The Department of Health recommends that all Victorians report their positive RAT result via the online form or by calling 1800 675 398.

RATs are available for all Victorians from council sites. Individuals can obtain two free packs (10 tests) for themselves and two free packs (10 tests) for each household member. People with disability and their carers can get up to four free packs (20 tests) in line with existing RAT distribution for people with disability.

In Warrnambool RATs are available at the Civic Centre (25 Liebig Street) and the Archie Graham Community Centre (118 Timor Street).

To all families that park and collect children from Queens Road, a reminder that the vacant land adjacant to the creek IS PRIVATE PROPERTY and we ask school families to please NOT park there while waiting for your children to be collected.

Please remember the Aquazone car park is available as well as along Queens Road.

All Girls Blasters Program to be held at St Joseph’s Primary School, (this is not a school run event) which will not only allow girls the opportunity to try/play our great game but a chance for local cricket clubs such as Nestles Cricket Club to connect with new aspiring female cricketers! The registration link for the program is now officially live and ready for parents or guardians to begin signing up their child. A discount code has been created so that participants will be encouraged to join the program at an extremely low cost. 

Details: Wednesdays from 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM, Starts Wednesday 22nd February 2023,  4 Sessions, Ages: All years except Foundation.