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Matthew O'Brien, Principal
Dear Parents, Guardians, Staff, Students and the wider St. Joseph’s Primary School Community,
This week we celebrate Catholic Education Week in the Ballarat Diocese. Catholic schools in the 21st century are open communities where everyone is welcome and included. St Joseph’s is a space for learning where community members (students, staff and parents) search for meaning with one another and the Catholic tradition. In our school we use stories, symbols, rituals and values in a conscious, caring manner.
All members of our community are invited into a living relationship with “God”.
Reframing Teaching and Learning Environment (ReLATE)
Over the past few years we have been working in partnership with MacKillop Family Services focused on Trauma Informed Classrooms. As a part of the evaluation of our progress I am asking that parents of students from Years 4, 5 and 6 complete the following short (21 questions) survey with their child. The information gained will help us design the next stages of learning for our staff.
Regards
Matthew O'Brien, Principal
Happy Birthday to children celebrating their birthday this week.
Ivy Sobey, Francesca Di Cesare, Amber Johnson, Cooper McDonald, Miranda McDowell, Lily Stewart, Mia Toohey, Elizabeth Fitzgerald, Zoe Ierodiaconou, Ollie Welch, Indi McLaurin and Jack Parker.
Free Individual consultations for support available at school Thursday 8th June- bookings essential.
Helen Diamond, who is a parent educator from CatholicCare has been working closely with our school over the past two terms. Helen shares her experience and knowledge of research and supportive approaches to help parents build strong relationships with their children.
Helen will be available for FREE individual consultation this term on Thursday 8th June. This support gives parents an opportunity to chat individually with Helen to explore and understand what she can recommend for your individual circumstances.
Helen can be contacted through the Warrnambool office of CatholicCare, 142 Timor Street and by phone 5559 3000. Bookings are required for individual appointments at school or at the office.
Helen recommended a number of parenting resources which are listed below. The books have been purchased by the school and are now available for parents to borrow from the school library.
Books
- Raising a Secure Child by Kent Hoffman, Glen Cooper & Bert Powell
- Beyond Behaviours by Mona Delahooke
- The Whole Brain Child by Dr Daniel Seigal & Dr Tina Payne Bryson
- The Power of Showing Up by Daniel Siegal & Tina Payne Bryson
- Raising an Emotional Intelligent Child by John Gottman
- No Bad Kids by Janet Lansbury
- Good Inside by Dr Becky Kennedy
Winter sports
Tryouts for the following Year 6 teams are underway.
- The second grade 6 boys Football trials are Tuesday 23rd May at lunchtime.
- Grade 6 girls Netball trials will be on Wednesday 24th May at recess time in the hall.
- Grade 6 mixed soccer trials will be Wednesday 24th May at lunchtime.
- Grade 6 mixed tee ball trials will be Wednesday 24th May at lunchtime.
Cross Country
Well done to all our students who represented the school at this year's division cross country. A special congratulations to Molly McNeil, Lottie Wilkinson, Ethan Alexander, Sibella Evans, Hugh Wright, Milla Rentsch and Noah Anderson who have qualified for Regional cross country on Monday 29th June at Albert Park in Warrnambool.
State Tennis
A huge congratulations to Noah Anderson who represented himself and the school at State tennis in Melbourne yesterday. Noah played three games throughout the day and was able to win one against some tough opponents who have played a lot of tennis. An amazing effort Noah, well done.
After one rescheduled visit due to wet weather, the Foundation classes finally got to enjoy their nature walk at the Botanical Gardens in the beautiful sunshine. We used our 5 senses - touch, taste, smell, sight and hearing to experience the wonder of Creation.
After a walk to explore all that the gardens has to offer (we could have stayed looking at the bats all day) we enjoyed a play on the playground before returning to school with big smiles.
Special thanks to our wonderful trainees Sophie, Emily and Laura who joined us on this excursion.
On Wednesday 17th May all 88 Year 2 students from St Joseph’s School boarded a bus for an excursion to visit St. Joseph’s Church. Our Religious Education unit is all about ‘Participation’ so we attended the weekday Mass along with many parishioners, parents and grandparents.
After Mass we went on a discovery tour to learn all about our church. Fr. John talked to us and showed us special things in our church including his vestments, the Lectern and the Easter/Paschal candle. We had a closer look at the baptismal font and the holy oils that we have been learning are used for the sacraments. We went up on the sanctuary and learnt about the altar. Fr. John opened the reredos and we recognised the pictures from stories we know about Jesus.
We got to go up in the choir loft where Mrs. Hyland showed us the big organ. We had never walked up such a big staircase or seen such a big organ and were amazed by the size of the pipes! Some of us were lucky enough to have a turn on the organ.
It was very interesting learning all about the soup kitchen with Mary. We found out the hall was the first St. Joseph’s Church and was even the first school. Now it is a place where people from the community can meet with others to enjoy company and a three-course meal. There are many volunteers who make this happen by giving of their time and community groups and businesses have donated the things needed to prepare the food. We found out that the Young Vinnies group from our school even donated the microwave for the kitchen.
We really enjoyed having a tour around the Church grounds with Pat. We went for a big walk around the gardens and we found out where Fr. John lives and we saw the workshop where Pat fixes things. We even saw the ashes burnt from the palm leaves.
Our excursion helped us to learn about all the wonderful things at St. Joseph’s Church.
National Simultaneous Storytime, Wednesday 24th May
National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) is held annually by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA). Every year a picture book, written and illustrated by an Australian author and illustrator, is read simultaneously in libraries, schools, pre-schools, family day cares, childcare centres, family homes, bookshops and many other places around the country. Now in its 23rd successful year, it is a colourful, vibrant, fun event that aims to promote the value of reading and literacy, using an Australian children's book that explores age-appropriate themes, and addresses key learning areas of the National Curriculum for Foundation to Year 6.
By facilitating NSS we aim to:
- promote the value of reading and literacy,
- promote the value and fun of books,
- promote an Australian writer and publisher,
- promote storytime activities in libraries and communities around the country,
- and provide opportunities to involve parents, grandparents, the media and others to participate in and enjoy the occasion.
https://www.alia.org.au/nss
If your child wishes to bring anything ‘SLOTH’ related to share with their classmates tomorrow, then please make sure that it is clearly labelled with their name and class.
Scholastic Book Club
I would like to extend sincere gratitude to all the families who purchased a book through our recent Book Club magazine. We had over $1,200 worth of books ordered which has resulted in some great rewards for our school to benefit from.
If you have any questions or concerns about books that have been ordered then please email me at: elloyd@sjwarrnambool.catholic.edu.au
Victorian Premier’s Reading Challenge
We have increased the number of participants by more than double this year with 82 students registered! They have started to login to their own online ‘Dashboard’ and we are pleased to announce that we already have 5 students who have completed the Challenge. This is an amazing feat and each of these students have received a badge to wear with pride around our school. All participants will receive a completion certificate for completing the challenge by 8th September, 2023.
Congratulations to:
- Ella Down
- Walter Ambrose
- Bridget Ambrose
- India Smith
- Ezra Smith
- Patrick Dufty
- Quinn McDonald
- Flynn Harle
If your child has registered but still requires some support, then please email:
Mr El-Hage at gelhage@sjwarrnambool.catholic.edu.au
NEW Parent Borrowers
Are you keen to borrow some of the amazing resources that we have available in our LRC? Please fill in the following registration link and we will provide you with a barcode to scan when you pop into the Library. Mondays and Fridays are the best time to borrow books, or pop in with your children after school one afternoon! They will be able to teach you how to use the system.
Mrs Emily Lloyd
LRC Co-ordinator
Art Installation
With Arts Week coming up later this term and our plan to create a special art installation inspired by the Japanese artist,Yayoi Kusama, we are desperately seeking dot stickers of various sizes and colours. We are also after some unwanted household items that are white or could be painted white, such as a tall lamp shade, small coffee table, a few bits of crockery or a random musical instrument.
Can you run an Art sesssion?
This year in term 3 we will once again be celebrating the arts by having “Arts Week” This year the theme for Arts Week is ‘Once upon a time . . .’
Throughout arts week students will be engaged in a range of arts activities. If you can sing, dance, paint, act, design, build, create and feel like you would like to lead a session during arts week for a class or two, we would love to hear from you (you will need to have a current Working With Children Check; if you don’t already there is still plenty of time to apply for one.
Arts week activities will run from Monday 21st - Thursday 24th August. The times may differ for different year levels depending on other school programs. This will be confirmed closer to the date.
If you are interested in helping, please fill in your details via the link below:
Many thanks - The Arts Team
Wednesday 24th May, 2023
A - L Family photos (8:15am - 9:00am)
Individual and Class photos for Foundation to Year 3 (9:00am onwards)
Thursday 25th May, 2023
M - Z Family photos (8:15am - 9:00am)
Individual and Class photos for Years 4 to 6 (9:00am onwards)
Uniform - What to wear
- School logoed blue polo
- Navy School jumper
- No Sports polos
- No jackets or vests
- A small supply of spare blue polos will be available on the day for children who do not have one.
Hair
Hair longer than collar length must be tied back as per school uniform policy.
A navy blue or white hair band/clip/ribbons may be worn.
Classroom Sport Day
If your child has Sport or Sport tryouts/practice on photo day they are to bring their sports uniform and runners in their bag.
Queries regarding uniform and school organisation
Contact the school office if you have any queries regarding the uniform requirements and organisational aspects of school photo day.
All students have their photo taken
All students will have their individual photo taken on the day regardless of whether an order has been placed.
Class Photos
Class Photos are taken in the traditional format with all children present on the day included in the photo.
Family Photos
Commence at 8:15am, children are able to go straight to the hall foyer. There will be reminder announcements.
Ordering Sibling (family) photos will close at Midday Tuesday 23rd May.
Order of Classrooms on Photo Days
The order of photos will be starting from Foundation to Year 3 on day 1 and Years 4 to 6 on day 2.
Unwell Children
If your child is unwell please keep them at home.
School Photo Ordering Information
Questions regarding Photo Packages and Ordering
Please contact Glen Watson Photography if you have any queries regarding the purchasing of photos and photo packages.
Online Enrolment
Online enrolments are now available and can be completed and submitted electronically.
For this process go to our school website and select the Enrolment tab. Complete the Enrolment Enquiry to add your details for reminders and updates.
Under the Enrolment Tab you will also notice an Online Enrolment Form - select this and away you go. A tip with this one is do not use a phone or ipad to complete the form, any laptop or desktop computer will work fine.
You will also need to make sure you have your child's documentation (birth, immunisation, baptism certificates and any specialist reports) loaded onto your device, either by taking a photo or scanning and uploading as you will be able to upload all of that as well.
Pizza Day: Tuesday 30th May, 2023
Orders Close: 3pm Friday 26th May, 2023
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 school sponsors.
Orders are now open 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.
Dear Parent/Guardian
The Lions Eye Health Program is offering Free Vision Screening for St Joseph’s Primary School for Foundation, Year 3 and Year 6 students.
If you would like your child to participate in this vision screening program or wish to know more about the program, please view and/or complete the linked form.