PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Michael Gray, Principal
Dear Parents, Guardians, Students, Staff and our wider School Community
With beautiful weather forecast for Monday, I look forward to our students enjoying our wonderful grounds.
The facility was certainly enhanced and improved with much work completed over the summer break. Thanks to all staff from St. Joseph’s involved; especially Cathy Duynhoven (Business Manager) Andrew Miles, Sharyn O’Bray and Nigel Gray (Facility Staff), David Carlin (Builder), many contractors and a team of University students working during their break to clean, wash and tidy all our learning areas.
A further highlight of the works completed was the donation of time and materials by a past staff member (Mr Bernie Dunn) who constructed the interactive playground school car. This car is designed to support occupational therapy with moving parts for all younger students to build their co-ordination in a fun way. Toddlers visiting our school are also welcome to use this equipment. Our playground works also include a strong maintenance regime to ensure safety and good working order.
The school grounds works are funded via our school fees and this year included two funding partners; the Warrnambool City Council (web address https://www.warrnambool.vic.gov.au/) with the Bromfield Road crossing, pathway and new bridge; along with Midfield Meats International (web address https://midfield.com.au/) supporting our specialised school playground improvements to the value of $10,000.
Key Works Completed during the summer break included:
- Final school fencing completion and the car park of tennis court area cleaned.
- New footbridge over Russell Creek
- Access to Bromfield Road Children’s Crossing
- Long Jump & Triple Jump pit installed
- New Allen Oval seating
- New garden beds
- Playground equipment
- Disability access ramp
- Cleaning repairs and general maintenance and the
- Installation of two new learning areas.
The highlight of all this work was the installation of 26 new interactive televisions. These units connect to our school technology system to ensure access to high-end ICT support to classroom learning. I especially thank Pat Allen and Tom Beks; along with the school facilities team for the great installation work. These units replace old electronic whiteboards and allow full interactivity, clear vision and outstanding sound. The beauty of this work was a new screen for every classroom ready to go for the first school day.
Child Safety: 1) General Health and Wellbeing: Coronavirus.
To support public health and help share community information I can provide the following information about the virus. I note that our focus with our students is discussion of the importance of personal hygiene, especially at school of washing hands after using the bathrooms, staying at home if unwell, coughing or sneezing into a handkerchief; or if not the elbow area of your arm.
The Australian government has advised that people at most risk of serious infection are:
- Those with compromised immune systems
- Elderly people
- Young children and babies
- People with diagnosed heart and lung conditions
- Aboriginal and Torres-Strait Islanders
Preventative measures to consider now are:
- Follow DFAT travel advice for overseas travel
- Review travel plans to avoid having people near places where the virus has spread.
- Stay informed about the virus. Refer to the Australian Department of Health for updated information and advice on mitigating risks or treating suspected symptoms of novel coronavirus
- Encourage the practise of good hygiene for coughing and sneezing, and washing hands
- See a doctor if you feel unwell or have a fever
- Reinforce the importance of following any new protocol or processes supporting public health.
As recommended by the Australian Government Department of Health, visit the homepage at www.health.gov.au Any questions call the Public Health Information Line on 1800 004 599 or contact your state or territory Public Health Authority, in Victoria, this is • VIC call 1300 651 160. Australia’s health authorities are taking an active and precautionary response to protect citizens at home and abroad, and monitoring developments closely.
Of note St. Joseph’s Primary School and our local Catholic Network Schools also have a partnership program with Doshisha Elementary School in Kyoto, Japan. Students and families exchange and visit each other annually. With the virus a world health concern we will review, from a pro-active risk assessment perspective these programs.
Safety: 2) Historical Sex Abuse Article, For Your Information
The following information is provided regarding an Age newspaper weekend electronic edition and the Warrnambool Standard (Possible Publication). For parent and staff information; an ex-Christian brother, Rex Francis Elmer, pleaded guilty to sex offences in the Warrnambool area and various other Catholic institutions. In the Age story the reporter mentioned a St. Joseph's school, I believe this was one of the original schools started by the Christian Brothers in Warrnambool.
In 1935 our current St. Joseph’s Parish Primary School was started at the old Lava Street site, now Koala Childcare. Our St Joseph’s Parish Primary School was then re-located to the Botanic Road site here in Warrnambool and opened in 1986.
At the time of the charges against Brother Elmer, he was at the Christian Brothers College which did have a boys primary school section. In 1981 the Christian Brothers ceased providing primary education. From my understanding, when the junior section of CBC was closed some of the boys transferred to local Catholic parish primary schools. The early sponsors and founders of our St. Joseph's Parish Primary School were lay parishioners, various parish priests and the Sisters of Mercy. The principals in the early days of St. Joseph’s Parish Primary School were Sisters of Mercy and in our latter year’s laypeople.
With the above said St. Joseph’s Parish Primary School continues to vigorously support sex abuse disclosure and will support all victims of any abuse. We acknowledge the monumental betrayal of trust these events cause and that truth is important to on-going support and help. Our current procedures, policies, culture and action support and build a child-safe community. St. Joseph’s Parish Primary School is both a nurturing and happy environment for all and we are ready to support whoever needs our help.
The full article Age article can be found at:
Support in this area is available via Victorian Help Lines which are accessible on 24 hours a day. The Victoria Police information Sheets can be found on
Safety: 3) Mandatory Reporting to child protection in Victoria
Department of Health and Human Services have a site where Mandatory Reporting information is available. Further, recently Beth Allen, Acting Director Children and Families Policy Branch Children and Families Division wrote to all Victorian Catholic Schools announcing a change in Victorian legislation under the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 in September 2019. The act now states that a ‘person in religious ministry’ will become a mandatory reporter to Child Protection without any exemptions for religious confessions from the 17th February 2020. The definition of a person in religious ministry is a person appointed, ordained or otherwise recognised as a religious or spiritual leader of a religious institution. A religious institution is an entity that operates under the auspices of any faith and provides activities, facilities, programs or services.