Michael Gray, Principal

Dear Parents, Guardians, Students, Staff and our Wider School Community;

As a Catholic primary school striving to support high quality learning, faith formation of young people, building respectful relationships and an environment of safety for all, the media coverage of the sex abuse trial of Cardinal George Pell this last week has been confronting. I’m sure this coverage placed many questions in the minds of students, staff, families and the wider community.

With this in mind I did speak with staff on Tuesday and indicated to all teachers that it would be important to be sensitive to our students and families and provide supportive information, with age appropriate discussion of these issues as needed. As a teaching group we are very well trained in supporting students' dialogue and are very conscious of ensuring issues at our school are worked through in an atmosphere of openness and honesty, in a safe and supported environment with the opportunity for dialogue as required.

In 2018 we also embarked on the Respectful Relationships program which supports staff, community and children developing healthy, robust and informed friendships and relationships. While for many students, especially our younger children, media issues can be outside their everyday consciousness, some students and parents will be acutely aware of the broad issues that these discussions can evoke. These would include notions of personal safety, human sexuality, gender identity, trust, wrongdoing, the rule of law in a democracy, our judicial system and trial fairness, feelings of guilt and fair exercise of power.

At this time St. Joseph’s is mindful of those who are distressed by this discussion, including those who have suffered so much because of abuse. St. Joseph’s Parish will continue to offer help to anyone who has suffered abuse. If anyone in our community needs further professional support, please refer to Lifeline 131114; or your local CASA support agency.

At St. Joseph’s Primary School we will also continue our long term commitment to the safety of children. In real terms at St. Joseph’s, this includes health and personal safety curriculum, respectful relationships amongst all, mandatory reporting of emotional, sexual and physical abuse, supporting court parenting orders, support for all agencies including Child First, Victorian Department of Health and Human Services and the Victorian Registrations and Qualifications Agency policies. This commitment includes active engagement with all Government legislation on Child Safety and Catholic Education employment policy which also considers staffing and volunteers.

I thank Fr. John, our staff, parents, guardians and our students for their commitment to a safe and happy environment at St. Joseph’s. Fr. John spoke at all Sunday masses on this topic and also reiterated his commitment to supporting those who need help, the rule of law and active engaged support for all. Attached with this newsletter is the Bishop of Ballarat, Paul Bird’s (CSsR) statement regarding the Cardinals case.

Important Updates: School Programs

This Wednesday the Season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday.

On Thursday our Middle and Senior School Sports Day will take place, see Sports Co-ordinator's Update Reports for program details. All welcome with parking available on the Middle School Oval, entry via Bromfield Street.

On Friday an important whole school mass to celebrate the start of the school year and St. Joseph’s Day will be held at St. Joseph’s Church starting at 10am. Our 2019 School Leaders will also be presented their leadership badges and formally inducted to this important student leadership program.

Community Conversation Update

Parents are invited to participate in a Community Conversation process. Community Conversation is a forum that seeks to listen, understand and explore what is important to the school community.

We were planning to do this Community Conversation as a parent evening but as we have had a small number of registrations we are going to change how this process will work. 

Students and staff will still participate on Tuesday 5th March, 2019. We will invite parents to contribute via an electronic form which will be published in a future newsletter. 

Yours sincerely, Michael Gray, Principal

Click the link below to download the 2019 Student Residential Address and Other Information Collection Notice

Congratulations to Gold Box winners Natasha Barker for caring for a child who was upset in the playground and Billy McDonald for holding the door open for others, using good manners and being resilient in the playground.

Winners of our Gold Box get to go for a swim at the pool.

Friday 15th March, 2019

Mrs. Felicity Lane from the Catholic Education Office, will lead Saint Joseph’s Staff, in further developing our understanding about best practices for the teaching and learning of spelling.

As a staff, we will be discussing our beliefs and understandings about the teaching and learning of spelling. The Victorian Curriculum will be explored in order to identify the spelling skills and knowledge our Foundation to Year 6 students need to know.

Religious Education Team: Tom Beks, Teagan Holmes and Mark Hyland

A significant part of the preparation for the Sacrament of Reconciliation is reflecting on how we can make good choices that will have a positive effect on ourselves, on others and on our environment.

Thank you to all families who have registered for the Senior Reconciliation Sacramental Program and attended the parent meeting on Tuesday evening. Booklets for the program were collected at Mass on Sunday 3rd March. During this Mass Father John invited the children up to the altar to collect their program booklets and give them a blessing.

A reminder to parents that in the lead up to Reconciliation, when attending Mass, could you collect a purple stole for your child to wear. This allows the parishioners to recognise the children preparing for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

This week we will celebrate the Feast of our Diocesan Patron Saint Joseph by gathering at a whole school mass on Friday 8th March. All are welcome to attend.

Key dates for the term are:

Sunday 3rd March - Mass to collect Senior Reconciliation Program Booklets

Tuesday 5th March - Shrove Tuesday

Wednesday 6th March - Ash Wednesday

Friday 8th March - Whole School Mass for the Feast of St Joseph’s.

Tuesday 19th March - St Joseph’s Day

Tuesday 26th March - Reconciliation Sacrament

Monica Currer, Literacy Co-ordinator

The Classroom Helpers Program will take place this year on Wednesday 27th March 7:00 pm – 8:00pm. The program aims to inform parents of Foundation, Year 1 and Year 2 students, about the teaching and learning of reading and writing and how you can help in the learning process at home. It is an expectation that you participate in this program if you wish to help in the classroom now or in the future. However, you are very welcome to attend if you are unable to make this commitment.

We also invite you to ask others e.g. grandparents, who may like to help in the classroom. Remember everyone who does help out in the classroom needs a working with children’s check.

Please complete the form below if you would like to attend this session.

Andrew McCombe, Physical Education and Sport Co-ordinator

Football

On Tuesday 12th March the Western Bulldogs Players will visit St Joseph’s School and run clinics for selected students across all year levels.  Please note; there is also an opportunity for fans to attend a number of events over the long weekend as part of their community camp. Please refer to the attached flyers.  

Thank you to those who have offered to help out at our upcoming carnival.  Any parents still interested can still complete the form if they are able to help out on the day.  Parents helpers must have a current Working With Children Check.

A reminder that if you are taking your child home early on sports day, they must be signed out at the office. If, by arrangement, you are taking another persons child we must received either verbal or written permission (note in diary) from the child's parent.

See note in Canteen News regarding lunch orders and canteen facilities on the day.

The children have been out practicing their events and are looking forward to a great day.

Lawn Bowls

A great day was had at Lawn Bowls on Monday with our bowlers getting through to the Grand Final and losing narrowly to Warrnambool East Primary School.  They will now go on to compete in the regional finals. Thanks to Mr Guinan for his expert coaching and well done to all our players involved.  

Tennis

Congratulations to all players who competed last Friday in hot conditions.  Our school did a fantastic job and won many matches and games across the day.  Special congratulations to Austin Lloyd who qualified for the division tennis tournament next Friday.

Swimming

A reminder to those students who have not returned permission forms to get them into the office before the carnival on Friday 15th March.  

Regards
Andrew McCombe, Physical Education and Sport Co-ordinator

Our veggie garden is proving to be very fruitful this year. Our cooking program uses fruit and vegetables in their cooking and we invite families to purchase the oversupply on a Thursday from 3pm in the undercover area outside of Room C1.

This is an honesty based purchase, decide on the value of what you are taking and put the money in the box provided.

Our canteen volunteers have been off to a busy start this year with lots of orders for ice-creams and icypoles on the warmer days. Thank you to our wonderful canteen volunteers.

The canteen is open on Sports Day, Thursday 7th March

• Junior school children can put in a lunch order this day.
• Middle and Senior school children are advised NOT to have a lunch order as they have a modified lunch timetable.
• Middle and Senior children can bring in some money to purchase an ice-cream or icypole at lunch time.
• Sandwiches, toasties, slices, cold drinks, icypoles, ice-creams and tea and coffee are available for parents to puchase directly from the canteen.

Emmanuel College

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