Newsletter 11 2023
Principal's Report
Hello to Families and all in the St Joseph's School Community,
Welcome to Term Two! I hope everyone enjoyed Easter and the holiday break and are feeling refreshed and ready to go! Term Two is a shorter term, being only eight weeks long, so keep an eye on the calendar dates as there are number of important events coming up.
I was privileged to attend the ANZAC Day activities in Charlton on Tuesday and was moved by the service. It was wonderful to have some students attend and join the march to the hall. Our new term leaders, Charlie Zagame and Liam Monaghan, completed their first official duty by laying a wreath on behalf of the school, so thank you boys. I hope the students present learnt, or felt, a little of the importance and significance of this special day. The day even concluded on a high note in the Hogan household, with Collingwood being ahead after the final siren!
Staff and students celebrated a liturgy on Wednesday touching on both the season of Easter, which continues for Catholics for fifty days after Easter Sunday, and ANZAC Day. Below is a part of the liturgy we shared.
Dear Lord, as we prepare for the coming of this new term make us ready and willing to follow your ways.
Thank You for the gift of your Easter spirit which allows us to live each day knowing you are with us.
Thank You for the gifts of creativity and uniqueness, and the energy to put them to good use.
May the work and learning we do - and the way we do it, bring kindness, empathy and happiness to all we come in contact with this semester.
We make this prayer through Christ Our Lord, Amen.
“Be kind to one another, be loving, and forgive one another, as God forgives us.”
We give thanks for Jesus, risen and with us this Easter season.
We give thanks for all the men and women who served and fought at war for Australia.
We give empathy to those who have lost people they love.
We give forgiveness to those we have fought with.
We give kindness to new staff and new friends.
We give thanks for the opportunity to live and learn in a safe space.
Lord Jesus, be with us as we begin this new school term.
Open our eyes to new challenges and exciting opportunities.
Open our hearts and minds to new friends and new teachers.
Give us enthusiasm to try our hardest and to do our very best each day.
As part of the liturgy, I have challenged staff and students to make kindness and empathy our focus values for this term (and always!) Teachers will work explicitly to help grow the kindness at St Joseph’s. Currently, students are working on kindness posters to display around the school environment.
New Staff
This week we were thrilled to welcome Mrs Anne Anderson as class teacher in the Junior Room. I am told the students are taking good care of her and that she has had an enjoyable week. We are very fortunate to have secured a teacher of Anne’s experience and nature, and hope her time at St Joseph’s is rewarding. Miss Lara Thompson will provide release for Anne each Friday, and we welcome Lara as a beginning teacher and look forward to her sharing her talents with us. Students are familiar with Lara from a pre-service placement. Mrs Tammy Wright formally joins St Joseph’s staff, to allow me one day in the Office. I am truly appreciative of this and Tammy will work each Wednesday for the remainder of the 2023 school year.
Library
There are a large number of overdue library books from our school library. At present, this equates to between $1500 -$2000, which is a large amount of school resources we cannot utilise. Students with overdue books have received a notice today. Please join the book hunt to locate these missing books.
Mother’s Day
There will be a Mother’s Day Liturgy and Morning Tea on the 12th May in the school multi-purpose room at 10:30am. Mothers and grandmothers of St Joseph’s are warmly invited to attend and celebrate this occasion.
Grade 5 & 6 Camp
This year the Grade 5 & 6 students will benefit from a Positive Start Camp, which is government funded. We will join with the senior students from St Mary’s Donald and St Patrick’s St Arnaud, to attend the PGL Adventure Camp in Kyneton. More details as they become available.
Bus Travel & Dismissal
Parents will receive a notification on the PAM app asking for your USUAL routine regarding bus travel. This will be recorded and parents are asked to contact the Office or Mary’s phone (0410137966) on any day this routine changes. Unless notified, staff will presume the usual routine applies.
To ensure the safety of students being collected from the school car park, they will be asked to wait with staff until their ride home arrives.
I know this will be a change, but this is very important if the school is to ensure the safety of each student every day. Thank you in anticipation of your cooperation.
School Uniform
As Term Two begins students will transition to full Winter uniform. Please continue to ensure students are in full uniform each day. I thank you for your support in this area.
PLEASE NOTE – I am happy for students to wear navy shorts during the Winter terms if that is their preference.
Zone Cross Country
On Wednesday 3rd May, Charlie, Liam, Isaac and Sophie head to Bendigo to compete in the zone cross country. Best wishes for a good run from all of us here at St Joseph’s. Aim for your personal best and you will do yourself proud!
Child Safety
The care, safety and wellbeing of children and young people is a central and fundamental responsibility of Catholic Education. St Joseph’s School is committed to strengthened practice for the protection of children in line with the Victorian Government child safety reforms.
Standard 2: Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in organisational leadership,
governance and culture
In complying with Child Safe Standard 2 an organisation must, at a minimum, ensure:
2.1 The organisation makes a public commitment to child safety.
2.2 A child safe culture is championed and modelled at all levels of the organisation from the top down and bottom up.
2.3 Governance arrangements facilitate implementation of the Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy at all levels.
2.4 A Code of Conduct provides guidelines for staff and volunteers on expected behavioural standards and responsibilities.
2.5 Risk management strategies focus on preventing, identifying and mitigating risks to children and young people.
2.6 Staff and volunteers understand their obligations on information sharing and record keeping.
Important Dates
Wednesday 3rd May - Flying Bookworm Show at the Kinder for F-2
- Zone Cross Country in Bendigo
Thursday 4th May – Charlton College Fete (see details below)
Thursday 11th May – Winter Sports in Boort Gr 3-6
Friday 12th May – Mothers Day liturgy and morning tea at 10:30am
Sunday 21st May – Catholic Education week commences
Wednesday 31st May – Friday 2nd June Gr 5&6 Camp
Please keep on the dates as they continue to populate in each weekly newsletter and aim to avoid appointments on these days so all students can participate.
Mary Hogan
Principal
Information
Charlton College Fete.
The Charlton College Fete is being held on the 4th May from 12 to 2. We will be walking to the College to join in the festivities. The College Fete runs on a ticketing system where each child must pay for their purchases with tickets. Children will need to bring their money in to Cate at the office by no later than Wednesday morning and she will collect the tickets and have them ready to give the children when they arrive at the fete. This helps avoid waiting in long queues on the day. There is a price list printed below. Please remind your child they must also buy their lunch with their tickets.
Covid Safe Measures For Schools
COVID Safe measures have changed but all Victorian Catholic schools are required to
continue to implement important practices to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
Schools must continue to take the important steps of ensuring air purifiers are in use, external
ventilation is maximised, good personal hygiene is encouraged and face masks continue to
be made available for staff, students and visitors who wish to wear them.
Vaccinations
Staff and students are strongly recommended to ensure they keep up-to-date with all
recommended and available COVID-19 vaccinations as vaccinations are the best way to
protect individuals, families and school communities from the severe effects of COVID-19 and
reduce the spread of the virus.
Vaccination is no longer mandatory for staff or visitors in any Victorian school, including
specialist schools.
Rapid antigen testing
It is recommended that rapid antigen tests (RATs) are used by students and staff:
• If you have symptoms of COVID-19 infection, no matter how mild
• If you are a household or close contact of someone who has COVID-19
• If you are a social contact of someone who has COVID-19.
Management of suspected cases of COVID-19 in schools
A ‘suspected’ case means a person who displays any COVID-19 symptoms who has not yet
tested positive for COVID-19.
The staff member, student or visitor who is symptomatic should be recommended to undergo
testing for COVID-19. Parents of students who are symptomatic should be asked to collect
their child from school and to keep them home until they are no longer symptomatic.
Management of confirmed cases at school
The Department of Health recommends that a person who tests positive to COVID-19 report
that result to their employer, school and household.
Where a student or staff member is identified as a positive case, the following steps should be
taken:
1. Parents/carers should inform the school by phone or written notification if a student tests
positive to COVID-19 (via a PCR or rapid antigen test).
2. Students who report a positive result are recommended to isolate for a minimum of 5
days and not attend school until their symptoms have resolved. Students who isolate as a
result of a positive COVID-19 test should be supported in the same way as students with
an extended absence due to illness or injury, with learning materials provided to support
their continued learning.
3. Staff who report a positive result are recommended to isolate for a minimum of 5 days
and not attend school during that period. Staff who test positive are able to access five
days paid infectious diseases leave when COVID-19 has been contracted at school,
without a medical certificate (though evidence, such as a RAT, may be required), in
addition to personal leave. Staff who are unfit to return to work and who have accessed 5
days paid infectious diseases leave can access personal leave for the duration of the time
they are unfit for work, with a medical certificate.
4. There is no longer a requirement for principals to inform the school community of a
positive case associated with the school.
Foundation/1/2 Class Report
Religious Education
This term the class will be focusing on 'Wonder - Christians celebrate the wonder and beauty of God's presence in the whole of creation'.
This week the class have explored the yard and the different plants and flowers.
Language
In the coming week the class will focus on developing descriptive sentences and the use of Uppercase letters.
Mathematics
The initial term focus will be addition and identifying the patterns which help develop effective strategies when adding numbers.
This week the students, Mrs Lanyon and myself are getting to know each other and our learning routines. Many thanks to the students and Mrs. Lanyon for welcoming me and assisting me to feel part of St. Joseph's community.
Anne Anderson
Grade 3/4 Class Report
Literacy: The class shared reading text for this week is titled The ANZAC Puppy. The students created a book report detailing their favourite part of the story.
Religion: Our religion topic is 'Respect.'
Numeracy: In mathematics this week the class are working on improving their knowledge of Fractions.
There is on Homework this week.
Grade 5/6 Class Report
Grade 5 & 6
It’s hard to believe we are commencing Term Two already! Students returned on Wednesday refreshed for the term ahead. This term The Grade 5 & 6 students have the Winter Sports, Catholic Education Week and a two-night camp to look forward to, in amongst the usual day to day happenings of school life.
School Camp
Grade 5 & 6 students will join with students from St Mary’s Donald & St Patrick’s St Arnaud, from 31/05/2023 to 02/06/2023 for a two-night camp at PGL Adventure Camps in Kyneton. We have been fortunate to access this camp through Positive Start Camps, which are funded camp experiences. More details will follow soon!
ENGLISH
This week our English focus has been based around ANZAC Day. Specific vocabulary has been explored and I’m sure each student has learnt a new word or two! Elements of reading and writing have been combined as students have read to discover facts about ANZAC Day, used their iPads to research, record and share information. We touched on poems, The Ode and In Flanders Field. Next we are moving towards exploring figurative language, such as similes, metaphors, alliteration and personification, in preparation for poetry writing.
MATHEMATICS
In Mathematics, during this short week, we have re-established our routine, working on number facts, times table facts, mental math strategies and topic work each day. We are commencing the term with the topic of MULTIPLCATION. This topic explores counting patterns, fact families, the relationship between multiplication and division, the formal process for multiplying (by with both 1 and 2 digit numbers) and how we can use multiplication to problem solve.
A reminder that students should have their satchel, reader, diary and Homework Book at school each day. Reader diaries are to be filled in each day with the page number read to and a parent/carer signature, please.
The short week and the glorious weather have been the perfect way to ease ourselves back into the routine of school life! I hope everyone enjoys the term ahead and makes the most of each opportunity they are given at St Joseph’s School each day!
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