Wednesday 18th December

Procedure for collecting your child early

• Collect your child/ren from assembly or their classroom
• Sign your child out (either via PAM, using the school iPad or with office staff)

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.

Matthew O'Brien, Principal

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

Advent Reflection

This Sunday marks the third Sunday of Advent. A time when Christians around the world focus on a deepening relationship with the Creator.  It is often marked by a calendar or wreath and each new week begins a new focus; hope, peace, joy and faith.

Week 3 Joy

Joy seems to be an emotion closely linked with happiness. According to the psychologists and the wellbeing industry happiness is a more fleeting emotion, often sparked by a moment or event. Joy, on the other hand, is a more long-lasting state of being. Even though we may seek it, desire it and pursue it, feeling happy is not a choice we make but a response we feel. Joy, on the other hand, is a choice we purposefully make.

Joy can also share space with other emotions, such as sadness and fear.

In a Christian context Joy is one of the Fruits of the Spirit and results from recognising the spirit within everyone (self included) and creation. So joy is a state that we can actively seek by being mindful of the precious moments in our lives. Finding Joy is something that we can actively do. Being mindful and grateful can help lead people to a state of joy. Joy is often associated with acts of kindness. At this time of year I know that many people are particularly generous in giving, time, money and goods to others.

The words rejoice, enjoy and jolly all share their etymology with joy.

So as we ramp up towards Christmas. I hope that everyone can find some space in their day and in their mind to pause and be grateful. 

Enjoy!

Transitions

Today the school was filled with nervous excitement as the children moved up to meet their new teacher and classmates. Transitions of all types can be met with different responses by different people.  SchoolTV has a great series on Transitions for all children.  This series supports parents in how to support their children.

Overview of this edition of School TV

Whether it is starting school for the first time, moving up to a higher grade or embarking on a journey through secondary school, there is no doubt that any school transition is a very exciting time for children and parents. It means that the children are growing up!

However, for many it may also be a very anxious and stressful time for both parents and children. Parents need to be aware of their child’s feelings during any school transition and minimise anxiety so the process is an enjoyable experience for all. It is important for children to attend transition or orientation programs offered by schools. Familiarisation is often key to reducing stress levels. It is also important for parents to talk to their children about their expectations and being more responsible for their own needs. 

Matthew O'Brien, Principal

Happy Birthday to children celebrating their birthday this week and during the holidays.

Eve Brown, Davy Nuske, Isabella McDonald, Hugo Van Rooy, Indi Dowd, Elsie Grayson, Letti Jenkins-Smith, Oliver Moloney, Jordan Parker, Charlie Woonton, Daniel Wakely, Walt Ambrose, Finn Clifford, Luna Gibbons, Tilly Funston, Finn McMahon, Mia Neave, Hudson Stephenson-Smith, George White, George Croker, Turner McCaskill, Eli Caveny, Neave Goodfield, Aylah Petalas, Ned Van Rooy, Emma Grixti, Macie Shaw, Gus Kenna, Brodie Manson, Leah Mihindukulasuriya and Nelson McDowall.

On Friday 6th December we celebrated 'Japanese Day.' Students from across the school took part in Japanese activities in their classrooms and in the hall. They tried calligraphy, headband making, sports, Japanese drums, Japanese books, dressups, and shopping using Japanese money.

In the afternoon, students from across the school mixed into Community Groups to try further activities in recognition of Japanese Day. Thank you to all students and staff for their great participation and for wearing 'a touch of Japanese' to school, and bringing along a special Japanese lunch.

Our school calendar can be accessed via our SZApp or website and is regularly updated.

Parents are encouraged to refer to this for important school dates including many 2025 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 Country buses will not be recommencing until Thursday 30th January.  This will affect all of our Country Bus travellers as our students will return to school on Wednesday 29th January, 2025

Student transport has advised that as per the School Bus Program policy;  ‘If 50 per cent of Government Schools don’t require transport, then the buses are not required to run.’

In March 2025, we have Japanese students from Doshisha Elementary School in Kyoto, Japan visiting our school. We require host families to host 1 or 2 students (mostly 2).

Who: St Joseph's Families with a Year 5 or 6 student

When: Sunday 23rd March – Thursday 27th March

Children you will host: 1-2 boys or girls

Note: All adults (over the age of 18) residing in the home must have a current Working With Children Check (this can be a free Volunteer WWCC).

Catherine Lee, Community Development Coordinator

School report folders will be sent home with your child on Monday 16th December with the report being accessible via PAM from 4pm on the same day.

School report folders contain samples of the students work and tasks. The actual report can be accessed via PAM. 

Contact the office if you require any assistance with PAM.

As the school year comes to an end, we would like you to start thinking about returning ALL library books to the LRC.  Students will finish borrowing books this week, so that it gives us time to STOCKTAKE the Library and run reports on any outstanding books on loan.

Be sure to look under the bed, in old bags and on book shelves for any book with a St Joseph's School stamp inside the cover! We are particularly focused on any books that our current Year 6 children have on loan that need to be returned promptly before they leave the school to attend Secondary School.  

Thank you in advance.

Emily Lloyd, Teacher-Librarian

Closed for the Holidays

Our Recycle centre is now Closed for the Holidays and will reopen in Week 1 of 2025. Thank you to everyone for using the service this year.

It is lovely that children at times choose to give Christmas cards to their friends at Christmas time.

We encourage students to NOT include chocolates or candy canes with their cards in line with the sharing of food guidelines.

The incidence of Whooping cough cases is continuing to increase across Victoria, particularly among school-aged children.

Whooping cough is a very contagious infection, mostly spread through coughing or sneezing. 

Symptoms include:

 blocked or runny nose

• tiredness
• mild fever
• severe bouts of coughing, often followed by a ‘whooping’ sound on breathing.
• Whooping cough can lead to life-threatening infections in babies.

If your child is unwell, they should not attend school. Please see a doctor if you or your child develops whooping cough symptoms. Early diagnosis and treatment will help reduce the spread of the infection.

Students diagnosed with whooping cough must not attend school

If your child is diagnosed with whooping cough, they must not attend school for 21 days after the onset of the cough, or until they have received 5 days of antibiotic treatment.

You must notify the school if your child is diagnosed with whooping cough.

To further reduce the spread of infection to your child and the school community, the Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2019 require that some students who were in the same classroom as a student diagnosed with whooping cough should not attend school.

Your child should not attend school for 14 days after they were last exposed to a person diagnosed with whooping cough, or until they have taken 5 days of a course of antibiotic treatment if they are:

• aged less than 7 years; and
• not fully vaccinated with 3 doses of whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine.

This exclusion is required by law – refer to the School exclusion table for primary schools and children’s services.

If your child is diagnosed with whooping cough, please contact the school to let us know.

Your support in keeping our students safe and well is greatly appreciated.

For more information about whooping cough, refer to Whooping cough on the Better Health Channel.

Vaccination is the best way to reduce the risk of whooping cough. The Department of Health recommends staying up to date with immunisations, including booster doses. A free booster dose of the pertussis vaccine is covered under the national immunisation program for students aged 12 to 13. If you are unsure about your child’s vaccination status for whooping cough, please discuss with an immunisation provider, such as your doctor.

Exciting News! Music Lessons at St Joseph’s Primary School in 2025 with the School of Jammin.

We’re thrilled to announce that the School of Jammin will be offering music lessons at St Joseph’s Primary School in 2025! Students will have the opportunity to learn guitar and keyboard in a fun, interactive band setting, during school hours, all instruments provided in class and online support for practice at home.

In addition to learning instruments, we encourage students to explore their creativity by writing songs, singing, creating music videos, and performing together. School of Jammin's creator and tutor, Mick McCall (a qualified primary school teacher), has been operating the School of Jammin since 2005, and we're excited to bring this program to St Joseph's—Mick’s old primary school!

Enrol now or learn more at www.schoolofjammin.com as spots are expected to fill up fast!