Dear Parents, Carers, Staff, Students and the wider St. Joseph’s Primary School Community, welcome to another busy school week after a very successful last week.

A special thanks to the many families who also contacted us about the Remembrance Ceremony, the importance of celebrating NAIDOC Week and the fun focus on culture, language and the country of Japan. Significantly also last week 48 Grade 6 students completed their Reconciliation sacramental experience with Fr John Fitzgerald, Fr John Corrigan and Fr Bill van de Camp.

Life At School This Week

Book Week: This week we celebrate Books! Why are books important one may ask? In my opinion books provide new experiences, awareness building about the world outside home; improves our communication skills, help us build greater vocabulary, supports speech patterns and enunciation; improves concentration, shares the magic of story and promotes a life skill; a life skill that can bring knowledge, enjoyment, learning and support to all our careers. Promoting books with young people encourages a love of reading and the wonder of books! A reminder dress up day is this Friday.

Grade 6 Engagement Program: All the best to our Grade 6 students as they participate in our school designed retreat week of engaging, fun and interesting personal development activities. The program started well this morning, even considering the strong wind with archery moved in the hall.

The Warrnambool Youth Council are supporting young people in this region to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic impacts, the link to their support is listed on the Warrnambool City Council W2040 web page.

School Transition and Orientation

Programs will continue for all students except modifications will apply due to Covid-19 restrictions. The key students and families impacted by this program for 2020 will be our new Foundation students for 2021 and the Year 7 students for 2021.

An update is listed below:

Current students attending St. Joseph’s for 2021 (this year's Foundation to Grade 5) will have their Orientation Day as normal on Tuesday 8th December. The program will start in current classrooms and then move to 2021 rooms from 9:30 am until lunch time. Students are to attend in uniform and will be provided with a Zooper Dooper and BBQ sausage prepared on-site by school staff. School will conclude as normal at 3:25 pm.

Foundation students for 2021 have now been sent a letter with their detailed Orientation Day arrangements. Their orientation experience has been shifted to the last week of the school year, starting Tuesday 15th December. Details will be in each families letter. Each student will have their time indicated in this personal correspondence.

Year 7 students will be contacted by their 2021 secondary school. If the orientation day for the Year 7’s does not occur on Tuesday 8th December the students are to attend St Joseph’s primary school as normal.

Employment Update at St. Joseph’s for 2021

After a comprehensive employment process, advertised across Victoria, interviews and appointments were held last week and endorsement by Fr. John Fitzgerald (Parish Priest) for our new leadership structure. I can now announce the following appointments for three years of our Assistant Principal roles. Congratulations to:

Assistant Principal Curriculum, PLC Co-ordinator Mrs. Candice Grant

Assistant Principal Students, Learning Diversity, Mrs Maryanne Evans

Assistant Principal, Administration, Daily Organiser, Mr Pat Allen.

I offer these three staff our hearty congratulations and all the best in these new roles as we continue to embed a culture of learning, collaboration and outstanding learning and teaching at St. Joseph's.

I personally appreciate this new team's commitment to leadership at St. Joseph's school and their support to us and the wider school community. We are indeed fortunate to have people of vision, commitment and humility prepared to lead our school community.

Other Important Staffing Updates

Congratulations and returning for 2021; Kristy Haberfield (returning from parental leave), Camille Sargent (returning from parental leave) and Kara Ward (returning from Western Australia, leave without pay).

Welcome and congratulations also to our new Learning Support Officers (LSO's) who have recently been appointed to St. Joseph's to work supporting our Learning Diversity program and classrooms. Congratulations to Megan Harle and Simone Bell. Both Megan and Simone have children at St. Joseph's. I thank Megan and Simone for their interest in our community and offer them our professional support and friendship. We all look forward to working with our new staff.

All the best to two staff taking up new teaching opportunities in other schools in 2021

Congratulations to Cara Watt who has been successful in gaining a full-time teaching position, Grade 5/6 at St. Malachy's in Edenhope. I also congratulate India Thomas who has been offered a teaching position for 2021 at East Warrnambool Primary School.

I congratulate Cara and India and wish them both all the best with these new opportunities. In a very short time at St. Joseph's, India and Cara have made significant contributions to student learning, teacher professionalism and our school teaching climate. I also acknowledge the Aboriginal Perspectives work Cara has completed for our staff teaching teams and Units of Work in our classrooms. I know both schools will prosper and grow with these new staff members; it is indeed heartening to see young teachers engaging with professional opportunity.

Obviously, we will formally congratulate Cara and India at our final school assembly, along with Jo Pangrazio who all are aware is off to Bendigo. As per previous communication we will also recognise Jim Guinan and Monica Currer for their significant leadership contributions at St. Joseph’s at the final school assembly. Monica and Jim will still work at St. Joseph’s in 2021 in a reduced part time capacity.

School Closure Day: Report Writing

Last Friday we held a report writing day in preparation for the end of the school year reports. Again COVID-19 has impacted the learning and teaching program this second half of the year; however, we understand this and do appreciate student, family and school staff support to ensure accurate, quality assessment and for all our students.

Regards,