Principal Update

Dear St. Joseph’s School Community,

Today commenced our third week of the flexible and remote learning program currently in place for all schools in Victoria.

Our focus for the first two weeks was about teacher/student/family connection and communication. From the home perspective, it was about setting routines, creating learning spaces and trouble-shooting issues/problems/ICT difficulties.

This week the focus sharpens to the learning. The critical guide for parents is the learning plans. These documents have been distributed for everyone and are readily accessible from our SZApp; the two critical access tiles for this parent information are: ‘Learning Plans’ and ‘Term 2’ links. All school information about the COVID-19 and our flexible and remote learning is available here. No need to scroll through old emails to find critical and important information.

A couple of reminders regarding our COVID actions moving forward

The Victorian government has reiterated the current plan for schools to remain, that being the current flexible and remote learning environment. A State Government review will occur on 17th May, 2020, the start of Week 5 this Term.

St. Joseph’s Leadership Team are acting on several key ‘sources of truth’ during this pandemic; the Victorian Government as lead by Premier Daniel Andrews, The Victorian Education Department as lead by James Melino, the Victorian Health Department and the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria. These decision bodies are informed by commonwealth government advice, world best health practice, current scientific knowledge and up-to-date world health and Australian COVID-19 data. 

A couple of updates and reminders about our remote and flexible program

Our key resources with classroom teachers are supporting the learning plans as distributed.

As a parent at home supporting student learning, it is important to remember each age level have ranges of maturity, concentration and needs. There are stages of development that inform learning. The Learning plans are based around more explicit teaching from a Foundation level through to growing independence as the child grows and develops.

As a parent working from home keep the focus of the learning on the ‘I Can Statements.’ These statements give learning purpose, direction and the outcomes we are searching for with each learner.

Remember learning is not a race; depth is much better than breadth at this critical time. Don’t compare across levels, each teacher will have what is essential to cover in the core areas of literacy and numeracy at each level. Languages learning, physical exercise, health, the Arts are all opportunities for each child to pursue their interest and passions.

As a ‘home teacher’ my thoughts are to not stress the detail too much. If the understanding is not coming it is best to reset, stop, change tack and rethink. The amazing thing with young learners is that they know themselves well and they spot frustration quickly. The best strategy is often to pause, take a step backwards to then move forward. 

Flexible and Remote Learning Program: Theme 1, Live with Joy

Here is another link to the Resilience Project Team’s resources available to our families. Again Hugh and Martin focus on Gratitude and Empathy.

Flexible and Remote Learning Program: Theme 2, Live without Fear

This is a link to the Age newspaper article and one parent’s perspective on juggling both working from home and co-ordinating the home learning program.  It is presented as one person’s humorous reflection for families on the situation we now find ourselves in.

Flexible and Remote Learning Program: Theme 3, Live with New Eyes

Message from the Pope: This pandemic time has invited us all to re-think life, meaning, survival and future actions. Below is part of Pope Francis’ address during the extraordinary Urbi et Orbi blessing he delivered while praying for an end to the coronavirus.

“When evening had come” (Mk 4:35). The Gospel passage we have just heard begins like this. For weeks now it has been evening. Thick darkness has gathered over our squares, our streets and our cities; it has taken over our lives, filling everything with a deafening silence and a distressing void, that stops everything as it passes by; we feel it in the air, we notice in people’s gestures, their glances give them away. We find ourselves afraid and lost. Like the disciples in the Gospel we were caught off guard by an unexpected, turbulent storm. We have realized that we are on the same boat, all of us fragile and disoriented, but at the same time important and needed, all of us called to row together, each of us in need of comforting the other. On this boat… are all of us. Just like those disciples, who spoke anxiously with one voice, saying “We are perishing” (v. 38), so we too have realized that we cannot go on thinking of ourselves, but only together can we do this.

It is easy to recognize ourselves in this story. What is harder to understand is Jesus’ attitude. While his disciples are quite naturally alarmed and desperate, he stands in the stern, in the part of the boat that sinks first. And what does he do? In spite of the tempest, he sleeps on soundly, trusting in the Father; this is the only time in the Gospels we see Jesus sleeping. When he wakes up, after calming the wind and the waters, he turns to the disciples in a reproaching voice: “Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?” (v. 40).

Let us try to understand. In what does the lack of the disciples’ faith consist, as contrasted with Jesus’ trust? They had not stopped believing in him; in fact, they called on him. But we see how they call on him: “Teacher, do you not care if we perish?” (v. 38). Do you not care: they think that Jesus is not interested in them, does not care about them. One of the things that hurts us and our families most when we hear it said is: “Do you not care about me?” It is a phrase that wounds and unleashes storms in our hearts. It would have shaken Jesus too. Because he, more than anyone, cares about us. Indeed, once they have called on him, he saves his disciples from their discouragement.

During this time when we are separated from each other as well as from our local church communities, Friday’s Urbi et Orbi was a poignant reminder that we are still united in the Body of Christ that is the Church. While we may sometimes feel alone and overwhelmed at the storm around us, Pope Francis has reminded us that both Christ and the Church remain ever connected to us. During this time of “Eucharistic Fast” where we are deprived of receiving Holy Communion, we are still connected to Christ’s Body and are blessed and sustained by its redeeming power.

St. Joseph’s Parish has continued to share the Sunday mass via youtube streaming. This can be found on YouTube and is available each Sunday from 8:30 am. Last Sunday; in recognition of the devastating impact of the recent highway accident involving the loss of life of four officers Glenn Riddle read the prayers of the faithful. Glen’s grandchildren over the years have been part of the St. Joseph’s school community and he is a past Victorian policeman.

Australian Maths Competition

Today I also share the following outstanding efforts of our students in the Australian Maths Competition. Celebrating and acknowledging student achievement can give us encouragement to strive to be our best. Congratulations to all involved.

Year 3: Jack Kitto, Sam Collins, Oliver Marris

Year 4: Charlotte Wythe, Brody Dubyna, Rupert Jenkins, Pippa Van Zelst, Will Newton, Monty Darcy, Sam Bushell, Casey Carlin, Sophie Ierodiaconou, Sophie Thompson, Billy Schrama, Blake Wood, Maya Furphy, Tyler McCosh, Leo McMeel, Lachlan Cugley, Harry McDonald, Sienna Addinsall, Jameson Nelson

Year 5: Lachlan Gome, Charlie Jellie, Sarita Mueglitz, Ned Russell, Tomm McKane, Kayla Wallace, Torin Kamath, Rhea Sony, Roy Lucas, Bridget Graham, Jordan Morrison, Toby Hellessey, Hillary Collins, Tyler Phillips, Michael Lougheed, Vidhi Jagad, Alexei Khaidurov, Noah McDonald, Nate Hansford, Archie McGrath, Matthew Callaghan

Year 6: William Furphy, Will Johnston, Henry Jones, Laura Van Zelst, Georgia Ierodiaconou, Henare Da Ros, Austin Lloyd, Mathew McConnell, Seb Bartlett, Sam Anderson, Sam Joseph, Ben Roache

Regards,
Michael Gray. Principal.