Matthew O'Brien, Principal

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

All Saints Day and All Souls Day:
Remembering, Connecting, Celebrating

This week, we celebrate two beautiful days in our Church calendar — All Saints Day (November 1) and All Souls Day (2nd November). These feasts remind us that we are part of something much bigger than ourselves — a great story of faith, love, and hope that stretches across time and place.

All Saints Day celebrates all the holy people — known and unknown — who have lived lives of love and courage. Some are famous saints like Mary MacKillop or St Francis of Assisi, while others are everyday people who showed kindness, forgiveness, and faith in quiet, simple ways. In many ways, the saints are the influencers of goodness — people who remind us that living with compassion and purpose can change the world.

All Souls Day is a moment to pause and remember those we’ve loved who have died. It’s a day of gratitude for the memories, lessons, and love they’ve left with us. We hold them close in prayer, trusting that love never ends — it just changes shape.

At school, we invite students to think about the “saints” in their own lives — the grandparents, teachers, friends, and everyday heroes who help them grow into their best selves. Together, we remember that holiness isn’t about perfection — it’s about love in action.

May these days inspire us to live with hearts open to God and others, and to keep building a community where kindness, faith, and hope shine brightly.

Remembrance Day

We currently have a Poppy Appeal box in the office with a selection of items for sale such as poppies, badges, keyrings and pens ranging in price from $2 to $5.     

Thank you for your support.

Our senior students will lay a wreath on behalf of our school community at the Warrnambool War Memorial next Tuesday 11th November beginning at 10:45am.

 

 

 

 

 

Building Updates

The rotunda near the oval has been relocated to the junior sandpit as it was to be demolished in the new building construction.

The portable classrooms will be moved to the oval behind the hall beginning tomorrow. A big thanks to the Year 5 students and teachers for their flexibility and patience.

And, the new playground will be installed next week.

 

Thanks as always to Cathy and Tom for their oversight in all of these exciting works.

Matthew O'Brien, Principal

Happy Birthday to children celebrating their birthday this week.

Charlie Matthews, Levi Smart, Ashlea Ward, Imogen Ward, Felix Bannister, Huey Dowd, Emmy Gladman, Austin Smock and Isabelle Farrer.

This Friday 7th November - will be an optional ‘Book Week’ Dress-Up Parade and short Assembly prepared by our Year 6 Library Leaders. We will use this occasion to celebrate the conclusion of the Victorian Premier’s Reading Challenge and present awards to those who finished the Challenge and to announce the Class Winners who read the most books during the Challenge!

You are more than welcome to join us from 9am, for a 9:15am start. The location of this Assembly is yet to be confirmed, once we can determine the weather closer to Friday.

Author Visit

Last Wednesday our Foundation students were lucky enough to have Sarah Lane, a Picture Story Book Author come to present her latest book- ‘Surprise Shark.’

Wear Orange on Friday

Thank you to everyone for their donations to WOOF Day.

The school raised $474 to support the Story Dogs Program at our school.

SchoolTV - Sleep

Students today have extremely busy schedules, with ever increasing responsibilities at school and at home. Many kids, especially adolescents, are going to bed later and later and are at risk of sleep deprivation. This affects three areas of a child’s development: psychological, physiological and psychosocial. All three are essential to a child's growth, learning ability and overall wellbeing. Sleep is vital to a child’s overall development and is as important as diet and exercise.

Sleep also strengthens a child’s immune systems and supports their ability to function properly on a daily basis. Children who do not get enough sleep show increased levels of aggressive behaviour, are less attentive and are much less active. Trying to catch up on sleep on weekends is not the answer and can still lead to severe sleep deprivation.

In this edition of SchoolTV, parents will learn about the importance of sleep and how sleep deprivation can have adverse effects on a child’s health and wellbeing.

We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this edition of SchoolTV and we always welcome your feedback. If you have any concerns about your child, please contact the school counsellor for further information or seek medical or professional help.

The PSA is excited to invite our school community to a special movie screening of the new release film ‘Zootopia 2’ at Capitol Cinema Warrnambool, 2pm, Sunday 30th November.

This is a community social event organised by the PSA and is not a school-supervised activity. All children must be accompanied by a parent, guardian, or responsible adult for the duration of the event.

This is NOT a drop-off event. Responsible parents/guardians must remain with their children throughout the movie.

Zootopia 2
2pm, Sunday 30th November, 2025
Capitol Cinema Warrnambool

Ticket Cost (includes popcorn & drink combo)
$25 adult tickets
$20 child tickets
Tickets available on CDF Pay.

Tickets are limited, so get in quick! This is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy quality time with your children at a new release film and connect with other families from our school community.

Pizza Day: Thursday 20th November, 2025

Orders Close: 3pm Friday 14th November, 2025

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

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.

The PSA will begin selling Zooper Doopers on Thursdays for the 13, 20, 27 November and 4 December. Zooper Doopers will cost $1. Strictly ONE PER CHILD cash only and correct money (no change given).

Walking and Riding to and from School

At St Joseph's we do promote the Healthy Moves Program and support students walking or riding their bikes to and from school.  We are lucky to have many great paths that lead to our school to enable this.  Any students riding their bikes, need to walk them from the gates to the bike shelter once they are within school grounds.  Any students that are walking or riding can use any access gate to St Joseph's Primary School depending on their path of travel.

Car Drop off and Collection 

Students can be dropped off at any point close to the school grounds and walk in or they can be dropped off in the school loop.  Staff supervision commences from 8:30am, any students arriving at school earlier this will be unsupervised.

Students may ride or walk home, families can choose to park on any surrounding streets and have their children walk to them.

Supervised pickup locations include Botanic Road Loop, Queens Road school gate (please note the vacant land adjacent to the creek, opposite our gate, is Private Property and is not an option for school families to park while waiting), Tennis Court Loop.