Matthew O'Brien, Principal

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

The St Joseph’s School community will lay a wreath during the 10:30am service to commemorate and pay our respects to those who have served our country and for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

Our Year 2 students under the guidance of Mrs McIntyre Hand have designed and created an art piece which will be on display at the RSL on Thursday. If you are attending one of the services (and the breakfast) pop in and have a look.

Our assembly on Friday have an ANZAC day focus led by Room F4.

Lest We Forget

SchoolTV

I am very pleased to be able to launch the St Joseph’s School TV site.  SchoolTV is a wellbeing resource that can support all parents and carers in the challenges relating to modern-day parenting and child wellbeing.

This award-winning resource helps build relationships, foster connections, enable understanding and break down barriers to navigate a pathway towards better mental health and wellbeing for young people. It can assist in starting conversations on topics that are sometimes awkward or difficult to tackle.

Over time more resources will be added to the page and you can be assured that the information is well researched, current and reliable.  Please see details further in this newsletter to access the platform.

150th Anniversary - Ballarat Diocese 

150th Anniversary of the Ballarat Diocese - Parish Celebration

Sunday 5th May, 10:30 am Mass, St Joseph’s Church

Following Mass we will gather in St Joseph’s Hall for Brunch.

Come along and enjoy this first Star of the Sea Parish
community celebration.

Please bring a plate of food to share.

Reconciliation

Congratulations to the children who celebrated Reconciliation last Wednesday. A big thanks to Fr John Fitzgerald, Fr Bill Lowry and Fr Bill van de Camp who presided over the service.

Matthew O'Brien, Principal

Happy Birthday to children celebrating their birthday this week.

Olivia Finnigan, Ned Swan, Frank Farley, Lucy Beaumont, Layla Kane, Harper Pimblett, Talon Sicely, William Farley, Ethan Watson, Alexis Hernan and Molly McCann.

Because parenting doesn't come with instructions, SchoolTV is a wellbeing resource implemented at our school to help support you in the challenges of modern-day parenting relating to youth mental health and wellbeing. Parenting is a learning journey and SchoolTV supports families by providing credible information from trusted sources with practical strategies to help alleviate some of the challenges being faced by young people today.

Watch video interviews with leading wellbeing specialists and browse a library of resources. Each topic is accompanied by factsheets, podcasts, books, articles, apps and other videos.

This award-winning resource helps families build relationships, foster connections, enable understanding and break down barriers to navigate a pathway towards better mental health and wellbeing for young people. It will assist you in starting those conversations on topics that can sometimes be awkward or difficult to tackle.

Parents and caregivers are the greatest influence on a young person's life and SchoolTV focuses on empowering confident parenting.

SchoolTV can be access via the tile on our SZAPP, our school's website or the link provided.

Explore SchoolTV today!

District Athletics

Well done to our team of 46 students who competed in the District athletics last week. In what was a challenging day weather wise, our students represented the school with passion and displayed fantastic sportsmanship.

Division Athletics

Next Friday 3rd May, 15 of our students will head to Brauerander Park for the Division athletics. Congratulations to all students who represented our school at the District athletics, and good luck to those who have qualified and are competing at Division level.

Winter Sports

Winter sports are fast approaching, with the 23rd of May being our Districts competition for boys Football, mixed Soccer, mixed T Ball, and girls Netball. The first boys football try out will be tomorrow Wednesday 24th April at lunchtime. 

Wednesday 1st May, 2024

We are looking forward to our school cross country day. Parents, carers and family members are welcome as spectators on the day. Children compete in their event at the nominated time and then return to class. 

Timetable

Hopefully we will be able to stick to these times, however sometimes due the wet weather forecast and other factors it might have to be adjusted. 

Age Determination

Ages are calculated as of December 31st in the year of competition.

What to wear

Sports Uniform

• Navy Blue school logoed shorts
• House coloured Sports polo (compulsory in 2023)
• Navy Blue logoed windcheater, vest or coat
• School logoed hat
• White socks (no logos)
• Runners
• Parents may like to pack a change of socks and runners.

No hair colour, sleeveless tops or coloured zinc permitted.

Spectators

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

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, 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.

Good luck to all of our cross country competitors.

Japanese Connections!

Check out these events happening locally and in Melbourne.  Have you ever taken the family to Warrnambool’s own Japanese Garden?  Well click on the following link for information about their upcoming event on May 18th. at the Miura Friendship Garden off Grafton Road.

Last  year all our students learned about the famous Japanese Artist, Yayoi Kusama, with many pieces of student work displayed throughout our Arts’ Week presentation.  Her exhibition is advertised at the following link, and will be at the NGV International Gallery in Melbourne.  So plan your next trip for the whole family!

Mother's Day Breakfast

We urgently need helpers for the Mother's Day Breakfast.

Can you help?

• 3:30pm on Wednesday 8th May for setup (3 volunteers registered)
  
  
• 6:00am onwards on Thursday 9th May for cooking and serving (1 volunteer registered)
  
  
• 8:30am - 10:00am on Thursday 8th May for clearnup (1 volunteer registered)

Please complete the volunteer form if you are able to assist.

Our PSA are holding a Mother's Day Breakfast for our school Mums (or special person). 

Children arrive at school early with their mum and enjoy a breakfast with a choice of BLT roll, Pancakes or Yoghurt, Granola and Berries.

The PSA will provide some muffins and pastries, fruit, juice and hot drinks. After breakfast mums can walk their child/ren to the classroom for a visit.

Orders made via CDFpay

Orders are now open and close at 3pm, Friday 3rd May, 2024.

Dairy Free, Vegetarian and Gluten Free options are available.

Sorry no late orders.

Volunteers

We rely on the assistance for volunteers on this day and the afternoon prior.

Please complete the volunteer form if you are able to assist with setup on Thursday after school or on the Friday morning for cooking, serving or cleanup.

As Mothers Day will come around very quickly after the holidays, we have opened up the online shop (via CDFpay) for children and fathers to start placing orders for their Mothers Day gift.  Each gift is $5 and students will get to personally select their own gift.

The "shop" will operate on Tuesday 7th and Wednesday 8th May.

Due to school camp, Year 4 students will select their gift on Thursday 9th May. A full range of gifts will be made availalbe

Orders close 9am Tuesday 7th May.

As this gift purchase is optional for each family, if an order has not been placed, students will not be able to select a gift on the day; any leftover gifts will be available for purchase if children would like to purchase a second gift for another important person in their life.

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 13 February and Tuesday 12 March
• Tuesday 23 April *New Date and Tuesday 28 May
• Tuesday 30 July and Tuesday 27 August
• Tuesday 22 October and Tuesday 19 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!

School Canteen Support