PSA Meeting - St Joseph's Fair

Last Tuesday the PSA held a community meeting to gather interest in the St Joseph’s Fair.  Sixteen parents and five staff were present.  The survey was responded to by 62 families all of whom were willing to support the fair.  It was identified that the fair was a great community event, a good fundraiser and a vehicle for promoting our school in the wider community. 

It was also identified that the fair was an enormous amount of work that was progressively falling to fewer and fewer people. The rides are a big drawcard for children of all ages. Post COVID we have been informed that we will access fewer rides for more expense.  The fair requires about 380 volunteers, 80 on the Saturday and 300+ on the Sunday.  The survey responses fell well short of this mark.

The PSA will consider all of this information in making their final decision next term.

Staying Safe Online

We have two important opportunities for parents and children to learn about supporting our children in the online environment.

School Workshops and Parent Night

Leading Constable John Keats is working with our Year 4- 6 students on Monday July 20th and Tuesday July 21st.  He will be running a parent and child session on the evening of Tuesday 21st July. Please put this important date on your calendar.

E-Safety Webinar: Safer Online Gaming

Help your kids stay safe by learning about the benefits and risks of online gaming.  This webinar run by e Safety is designed for parents and carers of young people aged 8 to 13 years of age.

It will cover:

• the games young people are using and how they are engaging with them
• the benefits of gaming and how to mitigate the risks
• practical strategies to use at home and where to find help and support if things go wrong.

Term 2 dates (Australian Eastern Standard Time)

• Friday 17 June 12.30 – 1.30 pm
• Tuesday 21 June 7.30 – 8.30 pm

There are also other webinars upcoming for parents and carers.

There is also a link to a list of safe Apps for children.

School Fees and Levies

Fee statements will be sent to all families who may have an outstanding balance.  The statements are a means of letting you know your balance should you be making regular payments. They also serve as a reminder to families who have yet to make a start on their fees.

It is an expectation that all fees and levies will be addressed by the beginning of November.

Remember, as always should you wish to discuss your account or make alternate arrangements, please do not hesitate to contact Cathy at the office.

Sympathies

Our school is saddened by the sudden death of our Emmanuel College colleague Michelle Joseph. Our sympathies are with Michelle’s partner, George, their children and family, as well as her students and staff mates. Michelle’s funeral was held last Tuesday and the condolences of our community were shared.

School Reports and Assessment

As we approach the end of Semester 1, our teachers are working hard to ensure they have an accurate assessment picture of their students. This assessment will inform the reports which parents will receive this Friday 17th June. Parent and teacher conversations are being held on Monday 20th And Tuesday 21st June. The report documents and the conversations go hand in hand. Parents and teachers are able to discuss the learning progress of students with examples of learning published in each child’s Assessment Folder.

Bookings for parent and teacher conversations are open via PAM and we ask parents to make a booking as a matter of priority.

Girls as Leaders in STEM (GALS)

Layla Drummond, Sarah McInerney, Meg Anderson, Pippa Van Zelst, Sophie Ierodiaconou and Ruby Koch have been working over this term with students from other schools and staff from Deakin University on a STEM project.  The St Joseph’s team has focussed on the health of the water, plant life and animal life of Russell’s Creek.  The team will deliver their final presentation at the Lighthouse Theatre this Friday afternoon. Good Luck Team! 

Regards
Matthew O'Brien, Principal