Dear Parents, Carers, Staff, Students and the wider St. Joseph’s Primary School Community, welcome to the new school week.

Community

Our young people at St. Joseph’s love life, they get involved and they respect each other, their families and communities. I witness this in action every day but especially when there is a ‘call to action.’ We saw this again on Friday with our ‘Green Day’ supporting the local muscular dystrophy fundraising charity. What an outcome! Engagement, care and commitment; these are the values a day such as this generates.

I especially thank everyone for your support, interest and care shared with others. Our senior leaders have persisted with this idea from January; a pandemic was not going to stop their endeavour, support and positive sense of hope for all.

Thirty-eight schools across Western Victoria also joined the effort; thus far over $600 has been donated by families associated with our school; an outstanding response. The good news is that if you are yet to make a donation to the charity the program is open via our online ordering system until Wednesday 11th November.  To recognise the outstanding effort of our students, to celebrate a learning focused work ethic by our students returning from the lockdown, to celebrate the Melbourne Cup and thank our students for their commitment today, I have donated a ‘Thank-you’ Zooper Dooper to each child. Sugar free was also made available to those who required them.

Student Green Day Report

I share a report on the event written by Grade 6 student Sam Anderson. This succinct, clear and heartfelt report is testament to the work of our senior grade 6 students and their growing maturity, sense of purpose and commitment to community.

On 30th October, St Joseph’s hosted ‘Green Day.’  It was chosen as a worthwhile charity by our student leadership team earlier this year.

After many failed attempts, due to COVID-19, it was an overwhelming success. Everyone arrived in green clothes and shared great spirit and support for the day.

The donations went towards raising much needed funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Awareness Organisation. It is a disease in which a person’s muscles weaken and cease to grow.

Across the school we raised an astounding $611! We’d like to thank the Gillin family for their support and everyone in the school community who contributed to this great cause. Sam Anderson - Year 6 Student

November, Remembrance Time

November also usher in a special season of our Catholic liturgical calendar; that is a time of remembrance. St. Joseph’s parish has started their annual ‘Book of Remembrance’. This book remembers those who have died during the year (2020) as well as our loved ones who have passed from this world to eternal life. The Bereavement Book will be available in the Parish Office where you are invited to record the names of deceased family members and friends you wish to remember. You may also phone Leanne at the Parish Office for the names to be included. (Parish Office phone number, 5562 2231).

St. Joseph’s Curriculum Snapshot

Melbourne Cup Public Holiday: Tuesday 3 November, no school for students and staff.

Book Week: Look out for activities and the opportunity for families to visit our library in a Covid safe way to purchase books.

Transition and Orientation: Considering COVID-19 safety requirements.

This year’s Grade 6 students will receive their information from your child’s future secondary college.

For students at St. Joseph’s; Foundation to Grade 5, these students will have a normal transition experience and orientation day. For St. Joseph’s students this Orientation day will still be Tuesday 8th December. (If a college secondary orientation day does not proceed on the 8th November the student would still attend school at St. Joseph’s).

For Foundation students arriving at St. Joseph’s in 2021 we have reviewed several options as we are not allowed to have outside visitors in groups greater than 10; and no more than one group on site at any one time. The program we are planning will address these requirements and will be communicated to those families in detail when finalised. We are committed to a valuable experience this year in readiness for 2021. Full details will be sent home in the not too distant future.

Languages Study Week: Classroom teachers will remain in classrooms over this week to learn some Japanese phrases to support our students learning

NAIDOC Week: As mentioned in detail in last week’s newsletter together we will celebrate our indigenous history, culture and community.

School Raffle

Supporting those who support our community.

Our PSA Association and School Advisory Council have continued to meet regularly this year despite the COVID situation; this has been achieved via very productive virtual ‘zoom’ meetings. Attendance, conversation and decision making has been exceptional. I thank our parent members for this continued support.

With the above in mind our parent association have worked on two additional programs; the introduction of a sports/physical education uniform addition which will be in place for 2021. As well the group has continued our pizza days and are keen to support school fundraising. Given the loss of the Annual Fair our PSA have established a new idea leading into Christmas. Funds raised will support our canteen, school grounds and student programs. The idea behind the raffle has been to support local businesses that have supported our school and the broader community. It is a small way our school can direct financial support to the many local businesses, authorities and associations finding it tough during the pandemic shutdown.

Details are in this newsletter but first prize will be a TM6 Thermomix (latest model) supplied locally including in-house demonstrations. Second prize ($300) and third prize ($200) are with a school sponsor. The winner of these prizes can choose which sponsor their voucher will be based with. Tickets arrive home soon, along with the sponsor booklet with the choices for 2nd and 3rd prizes. The raffle books only contain 3 tickets of a value of $10 each; this is matched to what the average spend for families is at our Fair. First prize is designed to attract interest from beyond our school. Extra books will be available as needed. Have a great week everyone!

Regards,