Michael Gray, Principal

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

The Great South Coast Health Behaviours Study

Several years ago St. Joseph’s school we made a commitment to data helping to inform school-wide decisions. In the health area, this involved every two years students participating in the ‘Great South Coast Health Study’; students of Grades 2, 4 and 6 participate. The study is coordinated by Deakin University under the jurisdiction of researchers Professor Steven Allender, Professor Colin Bell and Dr Claudia Strugnell. It is funded by government grants, occurs between April through to June and is supported by many schools in this region. This will be the third time over a six-year period we have participated.

The purpose of this study is to examine if health weight and related behaviours (physical activity, diet quality, and wellbeing) among children have changed in recent years in our area. Information is de-identified, we get a school-wide report of our school cohort and parents can ‘op out’ their child if so desired. For St. Joseph’s this information has helped us reflect on our student’s health and then how as a school we can support student’s healthy development. This has resulted in school fruit snack programs, general student’s health and physical activity curriculum, canteen food availability and programs such as ‘Walk/Ride/Scoot To School’ engagement.

Correspondence will arrive home for children in Grades 2, 4 and 6 with full details. Family support and student engagement will add to regional information supporting the many local agencies in this area to promote, plan and develop support for the Great South Coast liveability.

St. Joseph’s Staff Morning Tea supporting the Warrnambool Wig Bank

Last Wednesday our school staff gathered for Morning Tea to support Judy Conn and her work with the Warrnambool Wig Bank. This community service provides free access to wigs supporting the many patients across the local community who with various medical treatments lose their hair. The availability of wigs during treatment and recovery support patient dignity when people are vulnerable. The support might be needed over a short period but often longer periods depending on the individual response to the various treatment. With staff food donations, a raffle and the support of our event organisers Liz, Trish and Donna we were able to present from staff to the charity $800 A very special thanks to all involved.

Parish News

Fr. John Fitzgerald heads off on his sabbatical to the Holy Land, including Jordan and Egypt and will be away for a couple of months. We wish John all the best for what will be a time of renewal, learning and prayer. John's major focus will be an ecumenical experience (World religions learning from, and about each other). He will study at Tantur (Notre Dame Campus) in Jerusalem, Israel.

A warm welcome to Fr. Peter Murnane OP who is with us while John is away. We trust his time here at St. Joseph’s will be a fulfilling one. We also welcome Fr. John Corrigan who has recently been appointed as an Assistant Priest to this area and will support our St. Joseph’s parish sacramental program. John Corrigan will also be an Assistant Priest of the parish of Koroit and Port Fairy.

Very fortunately, we also had a visitor this week from overseas. Fr. Edward, who is a training Jesuit priest is completing his pastoral experience in Victoria. Fr. Edward is from Mwanza, Tanzania. Edward has an amazing story to tell; he lives and works in a parish on the edge of Lake Victoria in Africa and his home is not far from the famous wildlife Serengeti area of Africa. Edward visited several classrooms with me and mentioned two special places in his life, Mt. Kilimanjaro and Lake Victoria.

Conclusion

In concluding my notes for this week I remind families that school photographs are coming. Information is in this newsletter including that we will start the family photo process before school to reduce classroom learning interruptions.

Enrolments for Foundation (Prep) open up on 3rd June with school tours this week and a backup day next week. Details available on our school calendar. Year 7 enrolments have recently closed, if you have missed this process please contact your preferred College to ensure a place for your child. This ensures that appropriate transition for your child can be organised for later in the year.

Yours sincerely, Michael Gray, Principal