Dear Parents, Guardians, Staff, Students and the wider St. Joseph’s Primary School Community; again welcome to the 2021 school year at St. Joseph’s; our first operating under the new diocesan governance arrangements; Diocese of Ballarat Catholic Education Limited (DOBCEL).

The DOBCEL board was established by the Bishop of Ballarat and ratified by the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA) in 2020. Primary schools transitioned to this arrangement over the 2020 school year and the authority commenced it’s official stewardship of schools this January 2021. The new board is taking the place of the former diocesan educational advisory council and will develop and recommend diocesan education policy. Oversight of the schools, governed by the company, will be delegated to the Director of Catholic Education (Tom Sexton). Principals will continue to have the appropriate delegations to lead and manage their schools and their staff, supported by the Director of Catholic Education.

DOBCEL will own school buildings while it is a school, the school land is held in trust and owned by the parish. Fr John Fitzgerald, along with Fr. John Corrigan, will continue to be our parish priests and be responsible for the pastoral care of the school community and wider parish. These governance changes have been as a response to Victorian Government legislation, child sexual abuse royal commission recommendations, the complexity of the educational environment in today’s world and the need to ensure school communities flourish as leading learning institutions.

Following this editorial Fr. John Fitzgerald (St. Joseph’s Parish Priest) has also shared an important update regarding our parish life and the future arrangements for mass across the local Ministry District. See below for Fathers John Fitzgerald and Fr. John Corrigan’s letter.

As we start our new school year I extend a welcome to all our staff. In 2021 our staff make up four teams; administration, teaching staff, learning support officers and facilities team. I also welcome new teachers Kristan Thompson - Year 5 classroom teacher F5 and Angela Kavanagh - Year 3 Classroom teacher Mondays in D2 and every second Friday in D1 and Laura Dunn - Foundation teacher C3.

Importantly we also have two new Learning Support Officers starting this year, welcome to Simone Bell and Megan Harle. Simone joins us from the early learning sector and Megan from the legal profession.

I also welcome returning classroom teachers: Kara Ward B8 Monday - Thursday; Kristy Haberfield B6 Thursday - Friday; Camille Sargeant B7 - Wednesday and B8 – Friday and Melanie Alexander B1 Monday - Thursday. Working in education is an exciting privilege with many rewarding and challenging experiences; I congratulate all staff on their commitment to our young people and offer all our support. (Classroom Teacher allocation attached to this newsletter).

I also would like to introduce the new leadership executive of St. Joseph’s Primary School. The executive will include Principal (Michael Gray), Assistant to the Principal, Curriculum Professional Learning Co-ordinator (Candice Grant), Assistant to the Principal, Learning Diversity (Maryanne Evans), Assistant to the Principal, Daily Organiser (Patrick Allen) and School Business Manager (Cathy Duynhoven). This team will ensure a well organised school and a focus on a positive student learning environment, collaborative staff teams and results orientation.  

From a parent/student perspective as an issue regarding relationships, learning or behaviour needs support then in the first instance please discuss with your child’s teacher. Teachers can then evaluate, consult and ascertain either classroom actions or onward referral. Incidents of a daily nature will be managed and followed-up by Pat Allen (Daily Organiser), on-going long term relationships and learning goals by Maryanne Evans, (Learning Diversity), fees and finance, Business Manager (Cathy Duynhoven), Curriculum, Professional Learning Co-ordinator (Candice Grant) and teacher/staff performance Principal (Michael Gray).

As I mentioned last week St. Joseph’s is committed to taking cautious, reasonable and safe actions to ensure as best we can our school stays open this term. As such all are invited to follow the following safe covid plans to ensure we all thrive.

General COVID Safe arrangements at St. Joseph’s

Health and hygiene protocols to continue, including hand washing, sanitiser, and social distancing. Classrooms will also consider hygiene protocols as established in 2020. Drinking taps are again available for all students.

If unwell or any flu like symptoms students are to stay home, consult with your doctor and get tested if advised to do so.

Any visitor on-site for longer than 15 minutes will be required to register with Vic Health via our QR code system.

The rule of no large group adult gatherings is to continue.

Programs for students that can start up again include student only assemblies, choir, sport and camping/excursions programs. Any off-site locations we visit Covid Safety plans will need to be in place.

Rescuing the boys from the cave — Richard Harris

As a staff team in preparing for 2021 we recently listened to a podcast of an interview with Richard Harris and his support to the daring team rescue of the Thailand cave boys several years ago. Medicine and diving have been twin themes of South Australian anaesthetist: Richard ‘Harry’ Harris’ adult life. He and close friend Craig Challen were about to leave on a cave diving adventure in July 2018 when they got news of a group of boys marooned in a flooded cave in Thailand. As an expert in the field Richard was asked if it would be possible to extract the boys by carrying them out under heavy sedation. Richard’s response was that it was out of the question. But by the time he got to Thailand, he realised it was the only feasible solution to bringing the boys out alive. Richard and Craig were jointly named as 2019 Australian of the Year for their roles in the rescue mission.

The reason we listened to this story was to highlight the importance of living with Joy in a world where there can be much negative chatter; the podcast also emphasised working through problems, worry and difficulties and it also challenged us as educators to see with New Eyes. As teachers it is important that we present a hopeful disposition, see the uniqueness of every person but also demand high standards of each other. Two links are listed, if you are interested; one the 50 minute podcast and the other a 30 minute Anh Do TV interview.

Podcast: https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/conversations/richard-harris-cave-rescue/11737228

Conclusion

Good luck for the year; Catholic education fosters the formation of the whole person that is deeply and enduringly humanising, it recognises parents as the first educators of their children and understands the importance of schools working in authentic partnership with students to ensure high levels of learning for all. This is our aim and something I believe we all can achieve. We are stronger, together.