Dear staff, families and students of St. Joseph's Primary School community

Please be advised that the Victorian Premier, Minister of Education, Chief Health Officer and Catholic Education Commission of Victoria advise that regional and rural Victoria will progess to the third step of the roadmap for re-opening from midnight tonight, Wednesday 16th September 2020.

With this formal advice St Joseph's Leadership Team can now confirm that all students, Foundation to Year 6, will return to onsite school face to face learning from Monday 5th October.  This is the first day of term 4, 2020.

I note the outstanding effort by our students, staff and families in supporting learning over this lockdown period.  On return next term our focus will be on reviewing student progress, consolidating essential core learning, enriching experiences and supporting personal development and wellbeing.  Our teaching staff are very excited about the return and are very confident in our ability to ensure the successful learning of all next term.

This week will still continue with the flexible and remote programs, onsite and offsite. 

When we return next term the COVID arrangements for safety will still be in place, including pick up from the three locations. (A-G Loop, H-M Queens Road & N-Z Tennis Courts), social distancing, mask wearing by adults, healthy hygiene practices and vistors and parents not onsite.

Thank you for your understanding and patience this year; and we are all excited to now say "We are back!"

In 2021 I welcome back to St Joseph’s Primary School, Camille Sargeant and Kristy Haberfield from family leave.  I also welcome back Kara Ward (returning from working in Broome, WA) and Jeff Vizon as learning support officer.

Jim Guinan (current Deputy Principal) will conclude his deputy principal tenure at the end of this year and will return to St Joseph’s in 2021 working with our Literacy team 2 days per week.  I would also like to take this opportunity to inform you all that in 2021 Mrs Monica Currer (Literacy Leader) will reduce her support to a part time role.

I especially thank Jason McDonough for his outstanding support to our facility team this last term while Nigel Gray was on leave for term 3.  Nigel will return in term 4.

Andre Pangrazio (Learning Support Officer) who is currently on 12 months leave while taking part in a music writing scholarship, has now officially resigned.

I also again welcome Laura Dunn to Grade 1, room B1 for Term 4, replacing Melanie Alexander who is currently on leave.

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.

Thank You Day (Victorian Public Holiday)

Friday 23rd October, 2020

Melbourne Cup Day Public Holiday (replaces May Race Day)

Tuesday 3 November, 2020

School Closure Day - Report Writing

Friday 13th November, 2020

A guide on getting your child to and from school safely.

Update: Orders for Second Hand Uniform are now open. See link below. Orders will be filled Week 1 of Term 4.

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

Parents are 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.

A big thank you to all our staff, students and parents for the enthusiasm of Wonderful Wednesdays. It certainly has lifted the feeling around school and via remote learning. We have loved all the photos that were sent in by students, parents and teachers.

Thanks to all the photographers!

Sporty Students

Sporty Staff

Sporty Google Meets

Dates for Term 4 and end of year

We regularly update the parent calendar with cancellations, postponements and changes.

Parents encouraged to view our school calendar for dates and times of upcoming events. The calendar is accessible via our SZApp and our website.

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

Introduction of Chromebooks at Year 4

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

Closing Date for Orders
3pm, Monday 12th October, 2020

Pizza Day
Wednesday 14th 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.

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

All children will require hats on the first day of Term 4.

No Hat = No Play.

Children without hats will have to stay in the undercover area during lunch and recess. There will be no "grace period" in Term 4.

School Banking will return next term starting Monday 5th October, 2020.

Children are asked to bring their bank books into school and place them in the yellow tub at the office first thing on a Monday morning. All school banking children will receive a special prize this week and those who banked at least once in Term 1 this year will receive an extra reward from the Commonwealth Bank.