Prayer

Our new school prayer is being launched this year (Week 3 Assembly). The prayer was developed by children, staff and parents with the leadership of Cara Chisolm and Dr Gina Bernosconi. The opening lines expresses our gratitude for our school and adorn our central noticeboard.

Welcome to 2023

Welcome to the start of a new school year at St. Joseph's Primary School! I hope everyone has had a restful and rejuvenating summer break, ready to tackle the challenges and opportunities that this new school year will bring.

As we begin this new chapter, I would like to extend a warm welcome to all students, families, and staff who are joining our school community for the first time. We are thrilled to have you as part of our family, and we are eager to help you settle into our school culture and traditions. For those who are returning, welcome back! It's great to see familiar faces and to catch up on what everyone has been up to over the summer.

As we start this new school year, I would like to reflect on the successes of the previous year and thank everyone who made it such a memorable one. Our students' hard work and dedication to their learning, combined with the support of our families and the tireless efforts of our staff, resulted in some amazing achievements. From our classrooms, our camps and excursions, our arts and choir programs, to our Mini Vinnies and student leaders which all showcased the talents and creativity of our students, the past year was truly a celebration of excellence.

This year, our school has a number of exciting initiatives and events planned including twilight sports and access to the tennis courts as a play space, chess, yoga meditation, new School Prayer launch and a new partnership with Catholic Care to support all parents and families). I would like to encourage everyone to get involved and make the most of these opportunities. I encourage all children to continue to challenge themselves simply by having a “red hot go” at everything. There is a challenge for everyone at St. Joes!

I would also like to remind everyone of the importance of our school values and how they help to create a positive and supportive learning environment. Our school is committed to promoting respect, responsibility, resilience, and kindness, and I encourage everyone to embrace these values in all aspects of their daily lives.

In conclusion, I am incredibly excited about the start of this new school year and the opportunities that it presents. I would like to thank everyone for their continued support, and I look forward to working with you to make this year one of the best yet! Let's make it a great year at St. Joseph's Primary School!

Welcome Families Morning Tea

To begin our school year together all parents and carers are invited to morning tea next Monday at 9am (or just after drop off) in the hall foyer.

I would especially like to welcome all of our Foundation families and new families.  

Welcome New Staff

I would like to extend a very warm welcome to our new trainees. I hope that they enjoy their time at St Joseph’s.

Laura Mullins

Hi my name is Laura Mullins. I graduated high school last year and am now a trainee at St Joseph’s. I am very excited to get to know all of the students and help them in as many ways as possible whilst learning new things. 

Emily Hovey

Hi, my name is Emily Hovey and I am one of the three new trainees. I’m a past student of St Joseph’s and recently finished Year 12 at Emmanuel College and am now completing this traineeship here at St Joseph’s during my gap year. I undertook this traineeship to gather an idea of what a career in teaching would be like. I enjoy creating art and watching anime. 

Sophie Wrigley

Hi my name is Sophie Wrigley. I am joining St Joseph's as a Trainee this year. I finished Year 12 at Emmanuel College last year. I have helped out at St Joseph's over the past two years, one day a week as part of my VCAL work placement program.

My interests are playing footy for Warrnambool Blues, spending time at the beach, swimming, and bike riding. I love dogs and I have a pug dog called “Max”, he has lots of energy. Max loves to go walking and eating food. In the AFL I am a keen Sydney Swans supporter and enjoy getting along to games to watch them play. I am excited for the year and I look forward to meeting you all soon!

Shirley Harris

We also welcome Shirley Harris to our maintenance team.  Shirly will work for three hours each afternoon.

Partnership with Catholic Care

This year we are beginning an exciting partnership with Catholic Care.  Among a range of services Catholic Care delivers excellence in a broad range of child, family and youth services, family relationship services, school counselling and pastoral care services.  Catholic Care has an office here in Warrnambool and we are partnering with them through Helen Diamond who will be working at St Joseph’s leading large group, small group and one to one support for families under the broad healing “Living with Primary Aged Children”. The that she will draw upon information will be from evidence based parenting programs; “Circle of Security Parenting”, “Bringing up Great Kids” by the Australian Childhood Foundation and “Tuning into Kids” as well as the observations and experiences of parents she has met along the way.

Helen will be leading a Parent Information Night here, at St Josephs, on Tuesday 28th February. More information and booking for this session will follow in next week’s newsletter. 

An introductory note from Helen

Twilight Sports 

This year we are tweaking our athletics carnival to make it more parent friendly and to create a community event. Our date is Thursday 9th March from 1pm - 6pm followed by a picnic tea. As this will be a long and exhausting day, children are asked to rest at home until 12:30pm. Events will start at 1:00pm.  We will be able to provide supervision for children should this late start cause undue complications for some families. More information to follow.  

Classroom Helpers Program

We will be holding a Classroom Helpers information session at 9:15am - 10:45am on Tuesday 21st February on for all parents and carers in Foundation, Year 1 and Year 2 who would like to help with literacy activities in their child’s classroom. 

Please complete this registration form to indicate:

• attendance at the Information Session
• when and where you are able to volunteer (new and previous volunteers)

Please note: All school volunteers must hold a current Working With Children Check. These can be obtained free of charge at https://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/

Assembly

Assembly will continue on Friday afternoons beginning at 2:45 pm.  

Week 1 on Friday 3rd February - No Assembly

Week 2 on Friday 10th February - Introduction of 2023 Student Leaders.

Week 3 on Friday 17th February - Launch of New School Prayer

Week 4 on Friday 24th February - Class Led Assembly

Wheels on Wednesday 

After such positive feedback last year we are continuing wheels on Wednesday in 2023. 

Wheels on Wednesday is an opportunity for all children to scoot, skate, rollerblade and/or ride their bikes during playtime and lunchtime. This initiative is designed to promote participation, physical activity and to introduce an element of risk to the playground.

Identifying and managing risk is an important part of growing up. Just as children’s bodies mature and develop, so do their brains. As children’s brains are developing, so is their ability to identify and judge risks.

Children need opportunities to develop their own internal thermometer for risk.  In “Balanced and Barefoot”, Angela Hanscom (2018, p. 126) writes, Although letting kids take risks might be scary for parents (and teachers) and even children at first, it is an essential part of growing up. Taking risks allows children to overcome physical challenges and strengthens their senses at the same time. These benefits ultimately make them safer and more resilient in the long run.  Risky play also allows children to overcome fears and anxiety and builds strong character.  Children need opportunities to fall and make mistakes in order to become more confident and capable when facing future life challenges.

Wheels on Wednesday will begin this week on Wednesday 1st February.

Asphalt areas will be “ball free” for skating, scooting and rollerblading and a separate area for riding bikes.  

There are two rules:

• Wear a correctly fitting helmet
• Have fun

Of course, all bikes must have working brakes. 

I am hoping that this initiative might also have the follow on effect of more children riding to school.