Michael Gray, Principal

Dear Parents, Carers, Staff, Students and the wider St. Joseph’s Primary School Community, welcome once again to the new school week. 

Today heralds in the last week of what we all realise has been a very different term for all. Our school staff, families and students continue to be beacons of hope, display care, share compassion and above all are displaying a strong partnership to support each other and the learning of all.

Today we received the updated education plan for term 4 for all catholic schools in this region. Essentially it is as we shared last week; students continue in the ‘Flexible and Remote’ program this week, have the normal two week term break, continue in the first week of next term in the ‘Flexible and Remote’ program and then all students return to on-site face to face teaching, Week 2, from Monday the 12th of October. The details are again listed below.

COVID-19: Roadmap to Recovery, St. Joseph’s Primary School

1. Term 3, continue the current ‘Flexible and Remote’ program:
   As per the Premier's announcement on Sunday, there will be no changes to the current regional remote and flexible learning arrangements for the remainder of term 3. The ‘Flexible and Remote’ learning plan will continue until the last day of this term, Friday 18th September. On this day school will conclude at 2:30pm for all students.
   
   
2. Term 4: First Week of Term 4: 5th – 9th October:
   Flexible and Remote’ learning will continue for all students. The on-site supervision program will still continue for children of eligible workers and vulnerable students consistent with existing guidelines. 
   
   From Monday the 12 October, all students at St. Joseph’s (Foundation to Grade 6) will return to full-time on-site face to face schooling. There will be no staggered school return at St. Joseph’s over this week. Pick-up and drop off will return to the same allocated areas of the school.

Other School News

An example of the power of “Positive Thinking” and our students leaders commitment to being outstanding role models was shared by the group in this newsletter. They shared a short video that talked about their plan for a fun day next term and the quotes that inspire them. I commend the link to all to view.

A ‘shout out’ to to all the many creative responses by students to the “Sports Who” challenges created by Mrs Lloyd and Mr McMillian; whether it is making a guess on who the staff member is in their junior sports days or finding a great place to exercise, student interest and responses have been fun.

A big thanks all too for the “Wonderful Wednesday” support. Our office team and school leadership felt a bit of a change to the weekly timetable would break-up the week for all, add a sparkle to the day and encourage community engagement. This has been highly successful. I thank everyone for being involved to the capacity that you could. Everyone has enjoyed sharing photos and the many examples included with this newsletter has certainly encouraged happy talk for all.

Cyber Safety

The Australian eSafety Commissioner (Julie Grant) has written to all schools across Australia to alert all to a deeply distressing and harmful video circulating on social media last week.  Julie writes that formal reports have been made to authorities and reminds us that we can all report harmful and disturbing online content to the eSafety commission. The eSafety web page link is below. A copy of Julie’s letter is also linked from this newsletter. The letter is well worth reading as it highlights young people's feelings when they come across inappropriate material and includes tips for parents to help limit young people’s exposure to harmful content online.

eSafety website https://www.esafety.gov.au/

eSafety Commissioner Letter to Principals

eSafety Commissioner Letter to Principals 145.33 KB

I conclude by again thanking everyone for your support and work this term. Working from home, managing student learning, attending school as required, running remote and on-site lessons all takes energy, commitment and patience. Term Four will arrive and together we will again focus on all student needs.

Regards,
Michael Gray. Principal.

Happy Birthday to children celebrating their birthday this week.

Isacc Crawley, Flynn Harle, Charlie Madden, Jordy Beks, Riley Beks, Anirudh, Alexis Harris, Van Walsh, Austin Lloyd, Henry Morrissey, Isabella Greening and Leesha Keegan.

School concludes at 2:30pm, Friday 18th September, 2020

Note the early finish time of school this Friday for all students.

Country buses run to an earlier timetable. Students who use the town bus system should check the timetable for the route that they use.

This week's Wonderful Wednesday theme is Sport.

You may like to wear an outfit from your favourite sport such as a footy top or netball dress, a dance costume or hockey, basketball, cricket, gymnastics, volleyball, tennis, golf, karate, running or soccer gear.

Here are some photos from last Wednesday's School Colours Theme. We love getting photos sent in to us by parents and classroom teachers. 

School Colours

The school is revamping the process for purchasing Second Hand Uniform. The new system will allow for parents to puchase and sell items all year round with options to purchase online or in person (once COVID restrictions are lifted).

All items of uniform have been moved into a refurbished area within the sports press/old school canteen which is located near Rooms C1/B7. 

Items for second hand sale can now be dropped into the school office at any time of the year.  

Uniform items MUST be:

• current uniform items only
• very good to excellent quality
• washed and free of stains
• have any naming labels crossed out
• labelled with either the printable Pricing Label template or similar.

Items that are NOT suitable are:

• school bags more than 2 years old
• library/book bags
• stained or torn clothing
• non-current school uniform
• sports shorts without the school logo
• shoes
• secondary school uniform items.

Unsuitable items will be returned to the seller/donator.

Pricing of Uniform Items

Price uniform items accordingly and receive 70% of the amount (when the item is sold) with 30% of your sale going to the school’s PSA.

Items are kept in the second hand uniform shop until they are sold. We will notify via text of any monies to be collected, this may be after a family has left the school.

Alternatively you can donate items to be sold. We will label and price donated items. 100% of these sales go to the school's PSA.

Refer to suggested pricing guide linked below.

Purchasing of Uniform Items

Once we are all organised and up and running in the new second hand uniform shop (possibly Week 1, Term 4) we will include online purchase details in the newsletter.

Parents will be able to complete an online form indicating the uniform item and size required and it will then be sent home with your child or made available for collection.

Payment to be made in cash the following day. Items can be returned if they aren't the correct size or quality.

Week 9 and 10 Optional Extra Challenge

Last term we offered the "Magic Mile" as an optional extra challenge to help motivate you through to the end of Remote Learning!  This term we are offering the Challenge to locate a 'Secret Spot' around Warrnambool, that is great for completing a Daily Sweat Session designed by you and your family!

Select a suitable location close to your home and easily accessible (No cliff tops please!) We also need to obey the current Covid-19 restrictions.

Choose at least 4 exercises to complete - perhaps using similar ones to the previous planned sessions in Physical Education; have an adult take some photos of you completing these exercises in your Secret Spot; and either insert them into the attached Google Document, or simply email them through to us at sport@sjwarrnambool.catholic.edu.au

You must include your full name, class and any other clues you wish to give about your location!

Please give permission for them to be featured on Google Classroom in order for others to guess your Secret Spot and be in the running for a Prize!

Email us any questions and good luck!

Remember - this is purely optional and not at all compulsory.

Mrs Lloyd and Mr MacMillian

Called and Sent Out

Remember - Share - Give Thanks

In celebrating Sunday Eucharist, commonly called the Mass, Catholics gather as a faith community to celebrate God's life giving presence in our world and especially the presence of Jesus Christ. An important role of this gathering is to meet Jesus who speaks to us in the Scriptures by listening to the Word of God proclaimed in the readings. We know this as the Liturgy of the Word - the first part of the Mass.

The second part of the Mass is the Liturgy of the Eucharist. As Catholics we are called to be present and participate at the Sunday Eucharist - so that we can be nourished by the Word of God and the Body and Flood of Jesus Christ. In this session we will focus on the Liturgy of the Word. Having listening to the Word of God at Mass, our tasks is to take the message of these Readings with us in our thoughts and actions during the week ahead.

Sacraments

St Joseph's church is still waiting for restrictions to ease before we are able to have the Sacrament of the First Eucharist (Year 4) and the Sacrament of Confirmation (Year 3). We will let families know when we have more information.

Introduction of Chromebooks at Year 4

This survey will close on Friday 18th September, 2020.

Due to Remote Learning we postponed the Term 3 pizza day to Week 2 of Term 4.

Pizza Day
Wednesday 14th October, 2020

Closing Date for Orders
Monday 12th October, 2020

All orders were automatically transferred to the new date. If you wish to edit or cancel your child/rens order you can do so through CDF Pay under "see / manage paid orders".

The second pizza day will be held on Wednesday 11th November with a closing date for orders on Monday 9th November.

This is an assembly created by the St. Joseph's Student Leadership Team. They prepared some of this video prior to the commencement of Remote and Flexible Learning No. 2 so that other students in the school would get to know their school leaders. We hope you enjoy it!

From Tuesday 1 September, 2020, children are required to wear their hats at school whilst outside at recess, lunch and sport.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Warrnambool City Council Vacation Care will not be delivering brochures to schools for the upcoming September/October program.

Below is a link to information on the upcoming Vacation Care Program, so that families that would like to utilise care can have access. 

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