Matthew O'Brien, Principal

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

 

For Our Mothers

Good and Gentle God,

We pray in gratitude for our mothers who have joined with you in the wonder of bringing forth new life. Grant to all mothers the courage they need to face the uncertain future that life with children always brings.

Give them the strength to live and to be loved in return.

Give them the faithful support of family and friends as they care for the physical, emotional and spiritual growth of their children.

Give them joy and delight in their children. And, give them the wisdom to turn to you for help when they need it most.

Amen

Year 4 Camp

I am writing this newsletter from Kangaroobie where I am enjoying camp with our Year 4 crew. It is always fun to be with the kids outdoors enjoying each other’s company and extending themselves through fun activities.

I am also in awe of our teachers and learning support Staff for the care and organisation that goes into taking 100 children away. Thanks also to the parents who volunteer to be an extra set of eyes and hands without whom our camping program would not be able to continue.

A full report of the camp will be in next week’s newsletter.

Matthew O'Brien, Principal

Happy Birthday to children celebrating their birthday this week.

Eleanor Goodfield, Lewis Austin, Finlay McLaurin, Harrison Greenwood, Jack Hall, Clea Skevofylakas, Chanel Templeton, Jayden Zhang, Maddox McDermott, William Stewart, Knox Guiney, Paddy Melican and Leo Walsh.

On Monday, Year 6 students represented St Josephs at Emmanuel College to celebrate Catholic Education week. The Year 6 students walked up to Emmanuel over snack time and got to meet the other Catholic primary schools including St Pius, St Johns, Our Ladys, Dennington, St Patricks Koroit and St Patricks Port Fairy.

Once the students got to Emmanuel College, they ate their recess, and got to interact with the students from the other primary schools and some Emmanuel students as well.

The primary school and year seven Emmanuel students then got moved to the grandstands in the hall to meet Tom Richardson. Tom then taught the students some body percussion such as stomps, claps and clicks.

After the body percussion the students moved on to singing.

They sang:

Taylor Swift - We are never ever getting back together, The man and Anti hero

The Beatles - Hey Jude

Pharrell Williams - Happy.

Over all the Year 6 students had an amazing day at Emmanuel College. Thank you to Tom Richardson and Peter Morgan for making this day special for all of the students involved in celebrating Catholic Education week.

Mia Toohey and Stella Monigatti, Year 6 students

During the final week of Term 1, 80 children from Year 3 to Year 6, competed in the KSF Maths Competition.  This is an Australian wide competition.  Congratulations to the following children for having a go and achieving some great results.  

Year 3

D1: Elliot Smock, Gus Kenna, Hadley Boyle, Leonard Rope  

D2: Era Smith, Knox Guiney, Herbie Neagle 

D3: Theo Arms, Daniel Jiang

D4: Hank Gladman, Max McCosh

Year 4

D5: Jed Lilley, Daisy Brown, Nash Anderson, Hudson Foster, Liam Hose, Ayuni De Silva 

D6: Hugh Wright, Patrick Dufty, Violet Greening, Turner McCaskill, Xavier Skevofylakas, Charlie Matthews 

D7: Xander Perry, Harry Leach, Sophie Dubyna, Mary Fitzgerald, Eddie O’Donnell, Eddie Wearne, Joel King

D8: Will McCarthy, Akarsan Paramanantham, Siena Keramaris, Rebecca Coghlan, Jacky Deverall, Asia Suringa

Year 5

F4: Leo Rees, Chelsea Kao, Alfie Woonton, Ella Down, Nina O’Kane, Sophie Parker, Archie Stewart, Will Farley

F5: Dia Jagad, Elise Perry, Cooper McDonald, Reeve Shields, Harrison Williams, Jaxon Green, Dominic Anderson

F7: Abbie Wrightson, Jaxson Byron, Max Cashmore, Elijah Bishop, Ella Carlin, Chris Vu, Georgie Milroy 

Year 6

E1: Ava Gleeson, Blair MacDougall, Oscar Saywell, Charlie Bellman, Billy Main, Doris Pham

E2: Stella Monigatti, Mia Toohey, Spencer Kenna, Cole Burleigh, Rihanna Gibbons, Zavier Nelson, Cooper McCosh, Neve Lyons

E3: Quinn Madigan, Zoe Ierodiaconou, Darcy Drummond, Joshua Coghlan, Isaac Brown, Mackenzie Marshall, Aramis Skevofylakas, Logan Hunter

This applies to all canteen volunteers, all helpers at our Mothers Day & Fathers Day breakfasts, and our Pizza day helpers. 

Amendments to the Food Act 1984 have meant that we are now required to have all of our staff and volunteers who handle or process food, to have some type of food handler training to ensure that only safe and suitable food is supplied to customers (in our case our parents & students).

This training can be done online via the link below.  Once completed can you please forward a copy of your printed certificate to Cathy Duynhoven or email on cduyn@sjwarrnambool.catholic.edu.au

The PSA is looking forward to hosting our first Mother's Day Breakfast on Thursday. We have a high volume of orders and we look forward to a significant attendance of our mums and children on the morning. A reminder that for those who were not able to order an option via CDFPay, the PSA will be supplying additional muffins, pastries, fruit and drinks, GF options available, and we invite you all to attend this great social event.

Harvey Norman will be attending to set up their photo booth so mums have the chance to get a snap taken with their kids the initial photo is provided free to families with the option to then purchase more.

There will also be a coffee van onsite for those who prefer to purchase an espresso coffee.

Thanks to the small group of PSA members who have put in a lot of time to bring this event together, and our wonderful crew of event volunteers who are helping on Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning. Thanks also to those school staff who will be in attendance early to help with the event, to open classrooms for mums & kids, and for providing additional supervision through the morning. Being our first breakfast of this type and with high numbers expected, thanks in advance for your patience on the morning.

We would also like to extend an invitation to the parents bowls night on Wednesday 22nd May, as a chance to connect with other Joey's parents in a social and relaxed setting. Part of the mission of the PSA is to bring the school community together, and to this end the PSA is subsidising a portion of each ticket for the evening of nibbles and bowls. 

Finally, a reminder of our overarching focus of PSA fundraising activities across 2024 and beyond, being the installation of a new and fantastic playground for the middle and senior years. Mr O'Brien has mentioned this as a longer term project in Assembly to the excitement and enthusiasm of all the children. Our small dedicated group on the playground project looks forward to harnessing this student enthusiasm over the coming months, once they are provided with a range of design ideas from a variety of potential suppliers.

Leon Senchenko, PSA Chair

Parents are advised that the school has had one confirmed case of Influenza A reported to the school.

Key facts

• Influenza A is a type of virus that causes the flu.
• Symptoms of influenza A infection include:
  • fever, chills,
  • headache and muscle pains,
  • feeling tired and weak,
  • sneezing,
  • coughing and
  • sore throat.

If your child is unwell or presents with any of the above symptoms we request that you keep them at home until well enough to return to school.

There will be no choir on

• Thursday 25th April (Anzac Day)
• Thursday 2nd May (May Race Day)
• Thursday 9th May (Mother's Day Breakfast)

Normal choir resumes on Thursday 16th May.

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.

School Canteen Support