Matthew O'Brien, Principal

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

God who calls us to be the bearers of light and peace to those we meet each day, increase our sense of discipleship. Help us to be secure in the knowledge that your love and forgiveness are boundless. Give us your strength to respond fully to the work you have given us to do and our calling to be your witnesses in the world.

Amen

School Leaders

Logan Wythe, Louie Welsh, Zinzan McDermott, Jack Schrama

Georgie Milroy, Ella Down, Audrey Wolff

Milla Rentsch, Elise Perry, Max Cashmore

At Thursday’s assembly our 2025 Student Representatives were presented with their badges by their 2024 Foundation Buddy. Each leader delivered a short speech to introduce themselves to the school community.

Other leadership opportunities for Year 6 children include; Mini Vinnies, Sports Monitor, Library Monitor, Club and Activity Organiser, Flags and Birthday Certificates. We wish all of the Year 6 team best of luck as they head off to the Warrnambool Surf Lifesaving Club tomorrow to engage in a leadership and team building day.

Morning Drop Off

Gates Open 8:30 am

Please do not drop children in the loop before 8:30am as we do not provide supervision.

Matthew O'Brien, Principal

Happy Birthday to children celebrating their birthday this week.

Bella Dwyer, Moses McCann, Ava O'Connor, Finn Gunner, Sylvie Roberts, Abisayan Paramanantham and Isaac Sinioukov.

Swimming

A big congratulations to all the students who participated in the swimming trials on Monday, February 10th. Your hard work and effort were fantastic to see! The final team will be announced soon. Division swimming is coming up in week 5 on Friday 28th February.

Tennis Team Update

The selection process for our school tennis team is nearly complete. The final team list will be released shortly. Thanks to all students who came along to our try out.

New Date: Middle and Senior School Sports Day

Middle and Senior School (Years 3 - 6) - Friday 7th March, 2025

Junior School (Foundation - Year 2) - Friday 14th March, 2025

We are looking forward to the upcoming Sports Days. 

Tuesday 18th February, 2025

A - L Family photos (8:00am - 9:00am)

Individual and Class photos for

Foundation to Year 2

Rooms D3 and D6

Wednesday 19th February, 2025

M - Z Family photos (8:00am - 9:00am)

Individual and Class photos for

Years 3 to 6

Uniform - What to wear

• School logoed blue polo (Not House Coloured Sports Short)
• Navy School jumper
  
  
• Choice of sports shorts/trackpants, grey shorts/pants, navy pants, tunic or skort
• Choice of black shoes or runners
• Choice of white or grey socks (no logos)
   
• No Summer Dresses
• No Sports polos
• No jackets or vests
  
  
• A small supply of spare blue polos and jumpers will be available on the day for children who do not have one.

Year 6 students

We ask Year 6 students to wear their new Year 6 polo, those that have them, and for those that don't to wear their normal pale blue polo.

Hair

Hair longer than collar length for all students must be tied back as per school uniform policy.

A navy blue or white hair band/clip/ribbons may be worn. 

Queries regarding uniform and school organisation

Contact the school office if you have any queries regarding the uniform requirements and organisational aspects of school photo day.

All students have their photo taken

All students will have their individual photo taken on the day regardless of whether an order has been placed.

Class Photos

Class Photos are taken in the traditional format with all children present on the day included in the photo. 

Family Photos

Family photos are taken prior to school commencing, between 8:00am - 9:00am.

• No need to pre-order, simply send you children to he hall foyer
• Children go straight to the hall foyer upon arrival at school
• Leave bags in Foyer
• Line up for photos in order of arrival
• Children then return to the playground until their classroom doors are open at 8:45am

Family Photo orders

• Family photos do not require pre-payment.
• These photos will be taken of any family that turns up to a 'Family photo session'.
• Each child will receive a 'How to order family photos' card with an access code for their private gallery. The school will also receive a list of these codes to have on file for parents who don't know the code.
• The gallery goes live on Sunday 23rd February. Families can then purchase a family photo from the gallery.
• Order in the first week for FREE Standard Australia Post delivery.

Order of Classrooms on Photo Days

The order of photos will be starting from Foundation to Year 2 on the Tuesday and Years 3 to 6 on the Wednesday.

Unwell Children

If your child is unwell please keep them at home.

School Photo Ordering Information

Home Reading - Parent Information Session

What Does Home Reading Look Like For My Child?

Join our Curriculum Leader and Library Resource Centre teacher for an information night regarding what home reading might look like for your child.  Become a member of our LRC to borrow books and read with your child.

You are more than welcome to bring along your children and we can set them up with a game/puzzle/drawing to ensure you gain the opportunity to hear some tips and advice in supporting your child reading at home.

Note: This is NOT the Classroom Helper Program - We also run a Classroom Helper information session for all parents and carers in Foundation, Year 1 and Year 2 who would like to help with literacy activities in their child’s classroom. This session will be advertised in a future newsletter.

New Online Subscription

Please access our school subscription to Storybox Hub!

This year we have paid for an annual subscription to this fantastic online resource for all staff, students and parents to access. Storybox Hub is an amazing collection of stories read aloud by Australian authors, illustrators, librarians, school teachers and celebrities. There is also a huge range of activities, supporting videos and interviews that link to the stories.

Click on the following link and then use our school login details as follows:

Storybox Hub!

Username: StJoes2025

Password: stjoes2025

Mrs Emily Lloyd
Teacher-Librarian/Digital Technologies

Our school choir program is a fantastic extra-curricular opportunity for students in Year 3 and above to further develop and extend their musical knowledge and skills, self-confidence, self-discipline and team work.

With this opportunity members are encouraged to attend all rehearsals and be involved in all performances. A choir relies heavily on the active and regular participation of its members and therefore we ask that a commitment to the choir is a year long commitment.

Choir will commence at 8:05am on Thursday 20th February. Students can be dropped at the hall from 8:00am. Students need to fill out a permission form and return this to the school office. 

Students are permitted to come and have a try for the first two weeks. If after this time they decide they no longer wish to be involved that is fine, a note from a parent will be needed so they can be removed from the choir class list. 

Unfortunately, we can not provide supervision of siblings who are not involved in the choir.

Senior Reconciliation is a Sacramental Program for Year 6 students who have completed their Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist Sacraments. 

Registration Steps

1. Complete the registration form if your child would like to participate in this program. 

2. Make $20 payment through CDFpay.

Meeting, Retreat Day and Queries

The Parent Information meeting and Sacrament are held at St Joseph's church.

The Student Retreat Day is held at Emmanuel College (to be confirmed).

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

Key Dates

3pm, Monday 17th February, 2025 - Registration and payment closes

7pm, Tuesday 18th February, 2025 - Parent Information meeting (all schools)

10am - 2pm, Monday 24th March, 2025 - Student Formation/Retreat Day

6pm - 7pm, Tuesday 1st April, 2025 - Sacrament of Reconciliation

3:30pm - 6pm
Monday 17th and Tuesday 18th February, 2025

These initial meetings are designed as an information sharing between parents and teachers. It is an opportunity for teachers to learn more about the students in their care.

Bookings, once open, are made via Parent Access Module (PAM) on the school app or website. 

Wheels on Wednesday is an opportunity for all children to scoot, skate, rollerblade and/or ride their bikes during recess and lunch. This initiative is designed to promote participation, physical activity and to introduce an element of risk to the playground.

Identifying and managing risk is an important part of growing up. Just as children’s bodies mature and develop, so do their brains. As children’s brains are developing, so is their ability to identify and judge risks. Children need opportunities to develop their own internal thermometer for risk.  In “Balanced and Barefoot”, Angela Hanscom (2018, p. 126) writes, Although letting kids take risks might be scary for parents (and teachers) and even children at first, it is an essential part of growing up. Taking risks allows children to overcome physical challenges and strengthens their senses at the same time. These benefits ultimately make them safer and more resilient in the long run.  Risky play also allows children to overcome fears and anxiety and builds strong character.  Children need opportunities to fall and make mistakes in order to become more confident and capable when facing future life challenges.

Wheels on Wednesday recommences on Wednesday 10th February.

Asphalt areas will be “ball free” to allow for skating, scooting and rollerblading and a separate area for riding bikes. 

There are two rules:

• Wear a correctly fitting helmet
• Have fun

Of course, all bikes must have working brakes.

It is hoped that this initiative might also have the follow on effect of more children riding to school.