Filter Content
Dear Parents, Guardians and Carers,
Today we farewelled Father Peter Slater our Parish Priest. Father Peter is retiring and moving to Pakenham. We will miss him greatly. The students performed a “This is Your Life” tribute to Father Peter presenting him with a book of memories from his life beginning as a baby and right up to the present day. The students also sang the Irish Blessing for him. It was a beautiful, fitting tribute to a wonderful priest who has served his people well. We wish Father Peter all the very best in his retirement and hope to see him “around the traps”.
This is the first newsletter for term 4 and a reminder to check the calendar for the events that will be coming up. Term 4 is always a very busy one with orientation day, transition programs, swimming, camps, graduation and excursions. The school is buzzing with excitement every day and I thank parents and staff as we work together to try to continually make our school a place of welcome, fun and learning.
I was delighted to be able to join the Foundation classes on their trip to the Melbourne Museum this week. The children did extremely well, travelling on the bus and exploring the dinosaurs in the museum as well as listening to an excellent lesson given by the museum staff. A great day was had by all!
Keep an eye out for the information about ‘bare foot bowls”. This a social event being organised by the P and F. We hope to see you there!
Stay well and dry.
Kind regards,
Roslyn Joyner
Principal
TERM 4
Thursday 20 October - Eucharist Parent Information
24, 25 & 27 October - Whole School Swimming Program
Friday 28 October - School Assembly at 2:40pm
- Grade 5/6 Football Victoria Soccer Clinic
Monday 31 October - School Closure Day
Tuesday 1 November - Melbourne Cup Public Holiday
Wednesday 2 November - State Athletics
- Grades 3/4 Swimming Program
Thursday 3 November - Grade 4 Eucharist Parent & Child Workshop
- Foundation and Grades 1/2 Swimming Program
Friday 4 November - P & F Meeting at 2pm
- Grades 5/6 Swimming Program
Sunday 6 November - Barefoot Bowls (adult social event)
Friday 11 November - School Assembly at 2:40pm
Friday 18 November - P & F Colour Run (25/11 back up date)
Monday 21 November - Student Free Day
Friday 25 November - School Assembly at 2:40pm
Thursday 1 December - Senior Swimming Carnival
- Grade 4 Eucharist 2nd Rite of Reconciliation 7pm
Friday 2 December - P & F Meeting at 2pm
Thursday 8 December - Junior Swimming Carnival
Friday 9 December - School Assembly at 2:40pm
Monday 12 December - Grade 6 Graduation – 5pm Mass
Wednesday 14 - 15 December - Year 6 Camp – Phillip Island Adventure Resort
Thursday 15 – 16 December - Year 5 Camp – Phillip Island Adventure Resort
Friday 16 December - Last day of school year
*Please note that dates are subject to change in accordance with DOSCEL recommendations
To support child safety and wellbeing at St Joseph’s Primary School Warragul, we continue work to create an inclusive and supportive environment that encourages students to contribute to our child safety approach and understand their rights and their responsibilities. Our newly established Student Representative Council (SRC) members are enthusiastically working hard each week on child safety initiatives. This term, under the guidance of Mrs Silver, the SRC will establish 'classroom meetings' across the school to encourage and empower all students to express their views, contribute positively to school life and provide feedback on school wide decisions. We look forward to classroom meetings getting underway. In the meantime, students are always encouraged to speak with their classroom teacher on matters of child safety or to speak with one of our Child Safety Champions of St Joseph's - Ros Joyner, Camillo Redi, Emma Van Boven or Kerry Jenkinson.
The latest edition of the School TV newsletter is out and this edition is all about - RESILIENCE.
Resilience is important for a child’s mental health. It is their ability to bounce back from failure, challenges, adversity and stress. It’s not something that kids have or don’t have but a skill that kids develop over time as they grow. Building resilience not only helps a child deal with current difficulties, but it also helps develop a resilient mindset that will help them deal with challenges later in life. All children are capable of working through challenges and coping with stress, but they require guidance and support from a charismatic adult role model.
Please follow the link for more information School TV - Resilience
First Holy Communion
A message from Deacon Mark
Intimate with God
Teresa of Avila, the great Doctor of the Church, who lived in sixteenth century Spain and whose feast day we celebrated on Saturday, was thrown off her horse while crossing a river and, soaked to the skin, looked up to heaven and supposedly said to God, “If this is how you treat your friends, no wonder you have so few of them!”
Prayer (talking to God) was St Teresa’s speciality. Her relationship with God was intimate and total. She knew Him as our almighty, all loving God; interested and intimately connected with each of us. So close and so accepting of God’s will for her was she that she could even be a bit cheeky.
How different from the world’s common message that tells us we are alone in our own little universe bubble and everything else orbits around us! If there is a problem in our lives, then there is a product, plan or technique to fix it. We are urged to take control of our lives, as though only we can do so. Sometimes even our prayer seems more intended to get God on board with our program rather than to lay ourselves humbly at His feet!
Jesus tells a parable in this week’s gospel (Luke 18:1-8) about the need to pray always and to not lose heart. It speaks to us if we’ve ever felt discouraged in our prayer or if our prayers seem to be unanswered. Rather than give up, Jesus encourages us to be persistent. It is fine to pray for specific healing, assistance or even material things as long as we humbly recognise that God knows best. Praying to change God is a forlorn hope but when we pray to change ourselves, to understand His will, then the exciting and unexpected possibilities are infinite.
Deacon Mark Kelly
New speed humps were installed over the school holidays as a reminder to drive through the carline at a safe speed. We encourage parents and carers to move along the carline during drop off and pick up times. Please remember that if you need to exit the car, parents and carers are welcome to park in the spaces opposite the carline. Drop off and pick up near the school office remains an unsafe practice and we strongly encourage adults to park or use the carline if you are running late.
Junior School
1/2D have settled in well after the holidays, and everyone seems to be enjoying being back in a routine. It’s so great to have everyone back, with their hats ready for some summer weather, and their Reading Diaries ready to go!
This week in 1/2 we say goodbye to Nathan, or Omphe to his mates. We will miss his smile! Best of luck Omphe!
We have been working so hard in 1/2D this term, practicing the ‘ar’ sound in our handwriting and spelling, and some are getting very good at it! We also re-learnt a song called “The because song”, so they should all know how to spell ‘because’ now! There’s so much great learning happening already in Term 4, and I’m sure there’s plenty more to come! Buona fortuna for the rest of the Term from 1/2D!
Middle School
We have had a great start to term 4. The grade 3/4's have jumped straight into their learning with eagerness.
Literacy
In Literacy, students have been completing book reviews on books of their choice. They have been reflecting on why they have chosen particular stories and why they would recommend their book to someone. In writing, we have revisited Recounts. Students used the writing process (brainstorming, planning, drafting, editing, revising and publishing) to create a writing piece about their holidays. They worked very hard to ensure their writing was descriptive and that they were ‘showing’ rather than ‘telling’.
Maths
Our Maths focus is on Location and Transformation. We have looked at a range of objects that we can flip, slide and turn and what an object would look like after each transformation. Students have also had the opportunity to explore symmetry in our world. They used their iPads to take photos of symmetry that they could see around the school. This week students have had the opportunity to draw the reflection of a picture and to get it as symmetrical as possible.
Religion
Our focus in Religion is Creation. Students have looked at the Creation passage from the Bible and are choosing their own way to present their understanding. It is exciting to see the different ways students have presented their work. Some have chosen to present their understandings as Art pieces, drama or a Keynote presentation.
Inquiry
In the first week, the 3/4's have revisited our STAR expectations. In particular, we have reflected on moving quietly and safely around the classroom and school, listening and speaking respectfully to everyone and taking responsibility for our learning. The 3/4's have also been working on their problem-solving strategies and what to do when they are faced with conflict amongst their peers. The students came up with some really great ideas on negotiating differences.
Senior School
Upcoming Dates
TERM 4
Athletics
Wednesday 2 November - State Athletics
Swimming
24, 25 & 27 October - Whole School Swimming Program
- 2 November - Grades 3/4
- 3 November - Foundation and Grades 1/2
- 4 November - Grades 5/6
1 December - Senior Swimming Carnival
7 December - Junior Swimming Carnival
Football
Friday 28 October - Grade 5/6 Football Victoria Soccer Clinic
Date TBC - Grade 1/2 Football Victoria Soccer Clinic
S.S.V. Gippsland Regional Athletics
Congratulations to the following athletes who represented St. Joseph’s at the Regional Athletics in Newborough this week.
Lenny Barake, Ky Bannister, Eve Bradley, Xanthe Dalton, Zaria Dalton, Adam Garvey, Ollie Ireland, Jackson Marx, Flynn McConachy, Nicholas Megetto, Coby Murnane and Hunter West.
All students were impressive. They competed in a fantastic manner, trying their absolute best. They were great sportsmen when participating and supported each of their teammates.
Congratulations to Nicholas Megetto who placed third in the Triple Jump and Zaria Dalton who placed 2nd in the 100m and 200m.
Zaria has qualified for the S.S.V. State Athletics in early November and we wish her all the best.
Whole School Swimming Program
Due to unforeseen circumstances, the swimming program has been brought forward. Please take note of the changes to dates. Apologies if this is inconvenient, the changes will not affect the students' experience.
The permission form has gone out and needs to be returned A.S.A.P.
Art
Welcome back to Term 4 and a BUMPER Issue of Book Club!
Book Club is now open and arriving at school. 40 bumper pages of amazing books to help kids to love reading, including:
- Christmas and Holiday Gift Ideas
- The Best Books of 2022
- Halloween Reads
- Big Savings on Packs
- $6 and Under Books, $3 Value Books, and much more!
Please check students' bags for catalogues or order online:
https://www.scholastic.com.au/book-club/book-club-parents/
Have even MORE fun exploring this issue of Book Club!
Mixed in with all of the terrific titles are 12 mice looking for new books and reading adventures. See if you can spot all 12 mice and try to work out which book these mice come from. Hint—A book by Tim Minchin.
A reminder to all students to please return any overdue library books. If there are any concerns regarding overdue books please email the library.
libray@stjwarragul.catholic.edu.au
Thank you for your assistance with returning overdue items.
Upcoming Dates
Term 4
- P&F Meeting- Friday 4 November, 2pm
- Adults social event (P&F)- Barefoot Bowls- Sunday 6 November
- Colour Run (P&F)- Friday 18 November (back up Friday 25 November)
- P&F Meeting- Friday 2 December
'Bright n Tight' Barefoot Bowls
Adult Social Event
Book in your babysitter, gather your neon and spandex and get excited!
The P&F Committee are hosting a barefoot bowls (adults only) social activity on Sunday 6 November from 2pm- 6.30pm.
Held at the Warragul Bowling Club and themed, ‘bright n tight’, it is sure to be a fun day. With nibbles provided, drinks at bar prices and music by DJ Nige, this will be a great opportunity to meet and mingle with other parents.
Please wear your snazziest, tightest and brightest bowling outfit!
$20 per person, book your tickets here https://www.trybooking.com/CDKPZ
Colour Run
Did you hear the exciting news? This term, we are hosting a Colour Explosion School Fun Run to raise money for ‘The Resilience Project’.
The Resilience Project is committed to teaching positive mental health strategies to prevent mental ill- health and build young people’s capacity to deal with adversity.
In 2023, through an evidence-based teaching and learning program, The Resilience Project aims to inspire and engage our whole St Joseph’s school community- students, staff, parents and carers.
The Colour Run will be held on the afternoon of Friday 18 November.
Keep an eye out for your child's sponsorship booklet for more information.
Second Hand Uniforms
Don’t forget, we have racks of professionally cleaned (thanks Warragul Drycleaners) second-hand school uniforms. Sizes 4-16 available, all for a gold coin donation.
You can view these at assemblies or contact the P&F Committee on stjosephswarragulpandf@gmail.com or the school office.
Absences & Holidays
In Victoria, it is compulsory for children and young people aged 6–17 years to attend school.
Parents are legally required to ensure their child attends school every day and to provide an explanation for their child's absence from school unless an exemption from attendance has been granted or an exception to their attendance applies.
Absences
If your child is away sick or away due to a planned absence or appointment, please ensure you advise the school office. Student absence text messages are sent out if your child is marked as absent without a reason. In some cases, if you email your child's classroom teacher, they may be away and may not be able to check their emails to forward to the office. It is imperative that you notify the office through one of the following methods:
1. Log into PAM (Parent Access Module) and register your child's absence;
2. Email absence@stjwarragul.catholic.edu.au
3. Phone the office on 5623 2943
When sending an email, you may wish to "cc" your child's classroom teacher so they are aware of the absence too.
Holidays
If you are planning an extended holiday (a week or more) during the school term, please email info@stjwarragul.catholic.edu.au addressing your intentions to our Principal, Mrs Roslyn Joyner.
LOST PROPERTY
Please ensure all student belongings, especially jumpers and jackets are named!
Webinars - Presented by Child Psychologist Kirrilie Smout
Learn to support your child with worry, frustration, managing impulses and tricky behaviour
Cricket Blasters
Ellinbank Junior Cricket Club
Ellinbank Junior Cricket Club are looking for Under 12 and Under 14 players (boys or girls) that are interested in playing cricket for a great local club this season. The new season is due to commence in mid October.
Under 12 and 14 cricket is played on a weeknight and the club will provide training during the week so your weekends are free.
Ellinbank is a great family club and has great facilities, including the use of an indoor net when the weather is poor.
If you are interested, please contact the Ellinbank Junior Coordinator, Jason Helps on 0439 036 362.
PAM is our main platform for correspondence. It is important that you register with PAM and verify your email so you can receive all communication.
PAM Instructions
- Ideally parents should have received an email – check your junk/spam folder. If you locate the email in your junk/spam folder – you should make it ‘Not Junk’, then follow the link to verify your email address and set your password.
- If you cannot find the email, please contact our office on 5623 2943 or info@stjwarragul.catholic.edu.au and we can help you.
- Once you have been provided with your username and password, go to a browser on your preferred device (phone or iPad) and enter the following web address:
https://pam.stjwarragul.catholic.edu.au
- Use the provided Username and password to login.
- Once logged in, you will need to verify your email address by clicking on the link at the top of the screen:
- This will send an email to your nominated email address. Click on the link in the email to complete the verification process.
- Once the email address has been verified, you can use this as your username.
- Finally, go to the main menu at the top right side of PAM, select ‘My Settings’.
- Enter your preferred password in ‘Change Password’ fields (new password will need to be entered twice), then update password.
- It is recommended that you save this webpage to your home screen and it will appear on your phone screen with the following icon:
NOTICEBOARD