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Matthew O'Brien, Principal
Dear Parents, Guardians, Staff, Students and the wider St. Joseph’s Primary School Community,
Prayer for Father’s Day
God of kindness and compassion,
we are your children and you are Father to us all.
We pray for all men who reflect your fatherly example:
Those who are dads and grandads;
step-dads, foster dads, godfathers and fathers-in-law;
those who embrace their role as father;
those who struggle with being fathers;
those who are distanced from their children;
those who have passed from this world;
those who are coaches, leaders and mentors;
those who are elders and wisdom-men of our communities.
Give them all strength, comfort and peace.
Amen
Arts’ Week Night Walk
Thanks to everyone for your support of the amazing night walk last week. This was a wonderful community event which showcased the talents of the children and the dedication of our staff. A big thanks to our teachers, LSOs, trainees, our grounds staff and administration team for their efforts, time and creativity. A special thank you to Cara Chisholm, Di Brown and Jo Barfus-McCoy (the Art Team) for their leadership and inspiration.
A final congratulations to the choir for their performance.
Father’s Day Breakfast
Thanks to all of the volunteers for making our Father’s Day Breakfast another huge success. It was wonderful to see the hall and classrooms full of the important men in our kids' lives. Special mention to the PSA and the leadership of Andrea Welsh and Lauren Hoy who coordinated the event.
Again, thanks to the choir for providing the entertainment for the morning.
$10,000 Business Raffle Result
Congratulations to Marcia Miller (Harrison Williams)
MacKillop Family Services
Throughout the region there continues to be a high demand for foster carers who can provide nurturing care and support for children in their local community full-time, short-term, or on weekends or school holidays. MacKillop supports foster carers with comprehensive training, ongoing advice, respite care and an around the clock helpline. If you think this is a role that you are ready for or for further information call 1300 791 677 or www.mackillop.org.au/fostercare
Australian Boys Choir
The choir is embarking on its 2023 tour to Western Victoria and is thrilled to be singing at St Joseph’s Church Tuesday 19th September 4.00-5.00pm. General admission $35, Conc $25 child (under 12) free. Tickets available at the door or book at www.australianboyschoir.com.au
Regards
Matthew O'Brien, Principal
Happy Birthday to children celebrating their birthday this week.
Meg Coleman, Harvey McDowall, Macy Vagg, Eddie O'Donnell, Dhanvant Sivasankar, Bonnie King, Billie McDonald, Aramis Skevofylakas, Asia Suringa, Ollie Southwick, Angus Down, Ollie Gynes, Elise Perry and Rosie Thornton.
Michael Grose - Leading Parent Educator
Parents have always worried about their children. It’s part of the job description.
But today we worry more.
Many see the world as a frightening, competitive place in which their kids’ very survival, let alone success, depends on their constant vigilance.
“There’s no disputing it – today’s parents monitor their own children much more than their own parents ever monitored them,” says Michael Grose, one of Australia’s leading parenting educators
“Parents have developed an aversion to letting their kids learn through exploring, for fear of the child making choices, and a wish to make life easy and keep them happy,” he explains.
When parents experience such anxiety it can distort their notion of success and wipe out common sense, says Andrew Fuller, also the author of Raising Real People. “I see parents who are on an endless quest to maximise their child’s potential,” he says. “If their child is ranked second in their class, they immediately ask, ‘What can I do to make them top of the class?’ It’s an attitude that’s toxic to good childhood.”
The hypervigilance noted by Grose and Fuller has spawned the term “helicopter parent.” Just as helicopters hover over scenes of disaster, such parents hover over their children, fearing disaster at every turn.
2023 Excursion to Flagstaff Hill
Last week our Year 2 classrooms visited Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum to find out more about the history of Warrnambool and how life has changed since the 1800s. We were very interested in the changes in Technology over time and were surprised to find out how different our lives are as a result.
We went in two groups, with B7 & B8 going on Wednesday 23rd of August and B5 & B6 on Thursday 24th of August. We traveled by bus with our parent helpers and were very excited to be met by our volunteers at the gate. We had so much to explore in the village so we split up into groups. We were shocked to find out what life at school was like in the 1800s and that it was not like life at St. Joseph’s is now! We dressed up in clothes that children wore to school and they were very different to what we wear now. We sat in straight rows and weren’t allowed to talk to anyone unless the teacher asked a question. We had to call the teacher ‘Ma’am’ and she made all of us write the alphabet on the slate boards with our right hands, which was very hard for some who normally write with their left hand. Ma’am even demonstrated the strap and we had some very brave volunteers who went out the front to pretend to be in trouble. We found out that boys and girls weren’t even allowed to talk to each other inside the classroom!
We all came away very pleased with our school life in 2023!
We were very lucky that the sun was shining and we could enjoy our guided tour around the village with Gerard telling us all about what we saw, including the Lighthouse, how the ships would find their way, the cannons on the hill and we even saw the maremma dogs.
We went into the shops in the Village and they’re not what we see when we go down Liebig Street. When we went into the Bank we were even given a 1 pound note each to keep. We saw the Fire Station where there was a cart with a water hose instead of a Fire Truck like we see now. We watched the labels being printed for the lolly shop and it is much slower than the printers we use at school.
We finished off with lunch on the grass and played some olden day games before getting back on the bus to go back to school.
We had a wonderful time on our excursion.
Emily Lloyd
We hope that all our school Dads had a lovely day on Father's Day.
Father's Day Raffle Winners
Congratulations to our Father's Day Raffle Winners. Every family is entered into this prize draw.
- Pippa Jones
- Mia Jackson
- Jet Struth
- George Croker
- Matthew Bennie
- Arusha Cashmore
- Reeve Shields
- Archie Shiells
- Andrii Strekalov
- Luca Dwyer
- Adeline Monigatti
- Sibella Lewis
Thank you to these businesses for supporting this raffle draw:
- Collins Booksellers
- Woolworths Dennington
- Mortlake Road BP IGA Express
- Intersports Warrnambool
- Wannon Water
- Welshs Buildpro
- Browns Bakery
Harvey Norman Photos
Thank you to Harvey Norman for supporting our event with a free photo to all those who had a photo taken on the day.
Major Prize Winner - Business Raffle
Marcia Miller (Harrison Williams)
Our school calendar an be accessed via our SZApp or website and is regularly updated.
Parents are encouraged to refer to this for important school dates including many 2023 dates including:
- term dates
- school closures
- public holidays
- sacramental dates
- school camps
- excursions
- PSA meetings
- School Advisory Council meetings
- Mother's Day morning tea
- Father's Day breakfast
- year level swimming dates
- classroom assembly dates
- orientation day
- graduation mass
- final assembly
- last school day.
The PSA will be running their annual fundraiser to raise additional funds for the Art Department.
This year your child's artwork will be available as keyring or magnet.
Magnets
Keyring
Description
Your child's Art Work, which is created in Art Classes, on one side and their 2023 school photo on the other.
Ordering Details
Orders are now open via CDFPay at a cost of $13.50 and close at 3pm on Wednesday 11th October, 2023.
Orders will be delivered in plenty of time to use these items as Christmas presents.
Note: Our Art teachers will endevour to ensure your child has completed the necessary artwork. However, if your child has been absent for an extended period of time for holidays or sickness they may not have completed their artwork.
From Friday 1 September, 2023, children are required to wear their hats at school whilst outside at recess, lunch and sport.
No Hat = No Play
Children without hats will have to stay in the undercover area during lunch and recess. We do NOT have a grace period, hats must be worn from the 1st September.
Hats are available at Lowes, Gateway Plaza.
As per our Sun Protection policy:
Please ensure your child has adequate sun protection during the months of September to May. You child will require the following:
a) their own sunscreen SPF 30+ or higher,
b) St Joseph's Primary School sun hat,
c) rash vest (if they are going swimming).
The above items are all to be labelled with their name and room number please.
Classrooms all have a supply of sunscreen available.