Matthew O'Brien, Principal

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

Project Compassion - Lent

Regards
Matthew O'Brien, Principal

Many children are arriving at school well before 8:30am which is when our school gates open. Some of these children are being dropped off in the loop and others are making their way into the school grounds via the Russell Creek path. 

Please ensure that your child does not arrive before 8:30am so that we can be confident that everyone is safe and supervised. 

Happy Birthday to children celebrating their birthday this week.

Zeke Hrabar, Andrii Strekalov, Ryan Doan, Arusha Cashmore, Lottie Foster, Milla Thompson, Tate Rentsch, Noah Roberts and Jack Walker.

Last Thursday, 68 members of our staff took part in our first ‘Structured Literacy’ closure day. We explored the history of reading and the science that is being presented today in how students best learn. Some key theories that we focused on were; ‘Cognitive Load Theory’ and ‘How the Brain Learns to Read’.

The concept of Cognitive load is not just an important concept for teachers but for parents too. Cognitive load theory builds on the premise that working (or short-term) memory has a limited capacity. Information is processed in working memory, where small amounts of information are able to be stored for a very short time, if people do nothing with that information it is forgotten. Three types of cognitive load;

• Intrinsic Load (How difficult is the task?)
• Extraneous Load (How is the information Presented? What does the environment do for the learner?)
• Germane Load (Is the learner able to link new information with information already stored in the long term memory?)

This small diagram below shows the complexities that Extraneous Load has on students' attention. 

• Visual Distractions
• Visual disturbances
• Surprises
• Seating  (not knowing who they are setting next to)
• Temperature (too hot, too cold)
• Noise (announcements)
• Smell 
• Other people/students (knocking at the door)
• Class phone
• Overwhelming material that is being presented to them (powerpoints/irrelevant information)

Some questions that were discussed were;

When students' attention is lost, how much time do we lose to gain it back?
How does this then affect getting that information into students' long term memory?
What ‘extraneous distractions’ can we control? 

Overall, we had a wonderful day learning evidence based practices. 

Marlie Boyd
Assistant Principal - Teaching and Learning

Wellbeing of all, is at the heart of Catholic Education. Enabling a learning environment which provides for the spiritual, physical, emotional, cognitive and social wellbeing of its participants. It is especially important to ensure that children and young people’s wellbeing is looked after in times of uncertainty and stress. Supporting wellbeing not only helps children and young people to feel happier and less anxious, it will also help them to have positive interactions with the rest of the family and to learn more effectively.

Some parents or carers may choose to do wellbeing activities with their child or even with the whole family. Activities that support wellbeing are beneficial for people of all ages and can provide a great opportunity for family members to bond and experience positive emotions together. One activity is practising gratitude. It may be something you have done before but it may be something that has dropped off in the business of life.  You may like to give this a go with your family.

Gratitude

It is always important, especially in difficult times, to appreciate the things that we may take for granted – like having a place to live, food, clean water, friends, family, even access to technology. Gratitude is pausing to notice and appreciate these things. It’s taking a moment to reflect on how fortunate we are when something good happens — whether it’s a small thing or a big thing. Did you know that practising gratitude for 21 days in a row can re–train the brain to look for positives in the world instead of negatives? By simply being grateful, children and young people can experience a greater sense of optimism, happiness and calm.

Gratitude Questions to use with your children:

1. What was the best thing that happened to me today?
2. Who am I most grateful for today and why?
3. What am I looking forward to most about tomorrow?

Does your child prefer Audio Books or eBooks?

Well if you are a current member of the Warrnambool Library, then you can access a huge range of both ebooks and Audio Books for FREE!

Click on the following link to login to your dashboard, using your barcode number on the back of your Library card, along with the 6 digit birth date as your password.

We would love all students in Years 3 - 6 to write their personal Library Card number in their School Diaries so that teachers can assist them in accessing these free resources on their own chromebooks.

Please email me with any questions about this fantastic resource or how to join the Warrnambool Library elloyd@sjwarrnambool.catholic.edu.au

Mrs Emily Lloyd, LRC Coordinator

Tennis

Well done to the four students who proudly represented St. Josephs at the District Tennis competition on Friday. All students played some excellent matches and displayed sportsmanship to be proud of. Congratulations to Sierrah Greene for progressing to the Division Tennis competition held at Warrnambool Lawn Tennis club on Thursday 7th March.

800m trials

Our 800m trials have had to be pushed back from the original date planned. These will now all take place this Friday 1st March. Any children in Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 who wish to try out are invited to wear their Sports uniform on this day.

Swimming

Well done to all students who participated in our swim trials last Monday. It can be a daunting experience to swim in front of your peers, especially during time trials. From the trials and students' times, we have selected a swimming team which will represent the school this Thursday at the Division swimming carnival at Aquazone. Goodluck everyone involved.

School Sports

School sports are getting closer! Our Year 3-6 sports are scheduled for Thursday 14th March, with our Year F-2 to be held on Friday 15th March. More details about these days are contained in this newsletter.  

Matt McMillan, P.E Teacher & Sports coordinator

Middle and Senior School (Years 3 - 6) - Thursday 14th March, 2024

Junior School (Foundation - Year 2) - Friday 15th March, 2024

We are looking forward to the upcoming Sports Days. We are particularly excited to welcome parents, carers and family members as spectators to the day. The following information is provided to help make the day run as smoothly and safely as possible. 

Event Program

Please note that the event program timing may change on the day due to weather conditions and other factors.

Sports Uniform

• Navy Blue school logoed shorts
• House coloured Sports polo (compulsory)
• Navy Blue logoed windcheater, vest or coat
• School logoed hat
• White socks (no logos)
• Runners

No hair colour or coloured zinc permitted.

Spectators

Spectators are welcome at our school sports. Enter via the gate near the school hall. Spectators are not to enter the school building (with the exception of the School Hall for event and toilet access)

Volunteers

If you are able to assist on the day please email sport@sjwarrnambool.catholic.edu.au and indicate which age group/year you would like to assist with. All volunteers are required to have a current Working With Children Check.

Parking

On street and tennis court parking is available. Please obey parking rules.

Photography

Please read the St Joseph’s Primary School Photography Guidelines for Parents and Carers. 

Sign your child out

A reminder that if you are taking your child home early on sports day, they must be signed out at the office. If, by arrangement, you are taking another person's child we must receive either verbal or written permission (note in diary) from the child's parent.

Canteen

Children are advised NOT to have a lunch order on their School Sport Day as they will be working to a modified lunch timetable.

Good luck to all of our athletes.

Senior Reconciliation Program Reminders

Contact Cara Chisholm at cchisholm@sjwarrnambool.catholic.edu.au with any queries.

Key Dates

Postponed: 5:15pm - 6:15pm, Wednesday 27th March, 2024 - Sacrament of Reconciliation

New Date and Time: 5:30pm - 6:30pm, Wednesday 16th April, 2024 - Sacrament of Reconciliation

Parents School Association (PSA)

Over the past few years we have introduced a Mother’s Day event which has comprised of a morning tea beginning at 10:30am.

We have received some anecdotal feedback that this event may be more inclusive should it be held as a breakfast, before school, similar to the Father’s Day Event.

We are seeking your feedback to help us in planning for the 2024 Mother’s Day in May.

Leon Senchenko, PSA Chair

Our PSA is once again holding a Hot Cross Bun Drive. Baker's Delight Norfolk Plaza Bakery will be supporting this event and donating $2:50 from every pack sold back to the school. Orders are now open through CDFPay.

Please place your order against the eldest child in your family with orders now open.

Buns available to order are:

• Traditional Hot Cross Bun - 6 Pack,
• Choc Chip Hot Cross Bun - 6 Pack,
• Apple and Cinnamon Hot Cross Buns - 6 Pack,
• Fruitless Hot Cross Buns - 6 Pack. 

Orders close: 3:00pm, Friday 22nd March, 2024

Delivery date: Tuesday 26th March, 2024

We require some volunteers to assist on the day of delivery from 1:30 pm to pack the packs of buns and deliver to the classrooms. If you can assist please email Alecia on abidmade@sjwarrnambool.catholic.edu.au

Pizza Day: Tuesday 19th March, 2024

Orders Close: 3pm Friday 15th March, 2024

Once per term the PSA run a Pizza Day as a "special occasion" lunch option and to raise money for the PSA.

This term the Pizza Day is set to coincide with the school's St Joseph's Feast Day Celebrations.

Children can choose from either Garlic or Hawaiian pizza (Gluten Free options available) which are provided by Pepper's Pizza (formerly Pinkies 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.

Parents are advised that a case of Chickenpox (varicella) has been reported to the school.

This case was in a Year 2 classroom and the child was present at school last week.

"Chickenpox can be a serious disease in adults and babies. It is very contagious. Vaccination is the best protection against chickenpox."

If your child presents with the symptoms in the linked fact sheet from the Department of Health please contact your GP.

If your child is not immunised and a case from their classroom is reported (as confirmed by a GP) to the school your child may be excluded from school during a disease outbreak. 

A reminder that only students that are registered to travel on specific country buses can use this service.

The service is not to be used for sports training/work/social purposes.

Parent/Carers are to make their own arrangements in this regard.

School Canteen Support