It is exciting to be back after my three weeks of Long Service Leave. Special thanks to Mr Redi (Acting Principal) and Mrs Barry (Acting Deputy Principal) for leading the school so well during my absence. Thanks also to all staff for supporting them in this important role.

Today the school is a mass of colour. Italian Day is one of our happiest days in the year. The students have come to school dressed in Italian colours and costumes, then proceeded to do multi-age level activities throughout the day. Great community building for our students across all year levels. Special thanks to Mrs Mulqueen for organising this special day.

On Thursday, we welcomed many “elderly students” celebrating 100 days of school. Clearly the Foundation class had a wonderful day. It is hard to believe they have been with us for so long!

On Thursday the year 3 /4 classes enjoyed a trip to the Melbourne museum. By all accounts it was a wonderful day and the students had the opportunity to observe many of the exhibits and listen to some enlightening lessons from museum staff.

As parents we have all had times that have been challenging to work through with our children. This is all part of parenthood! During Covid the Australian government provided a free on-line parenting program/course which provides great tips on managing situations that might arise which cause stress, anxiety etc for our children. It is worth a look. We all know our own children best, however, sometimes an objective point of view is helpful. The program is called Triple P -Positive Parenting Program and is an evidence based, well researched program. I recommend it to all parents and (grandparents).

Best wishes,

Roslyn Joyner

Principal

TERM 3

Thursday 10 August                        - Confirmation – Child Workshop

Tuesday 15 August                          - Junior Showcase Performance (Foundation – Grade 2) 12:00pm & 6:30pm at Marion Theatre, Marist-Sion College

Friday 18 August                              - School Closure Day - Pupil Free

Thursday 24 August                        - Confirmation – Parent/Child Workshop

Friday 25 August                              - Book Week Parade and Performance - 9:00am School Hall

                                                                - Michael Salmon interactive online author visit

                                                                - 5/6 Production Rehearsal at Marist – 1:30pm – 3:00pm

Tuesday 29 August                          - Senior School Production (Grades 5/6) 12:00pm & 7:00pm at Marion Theatre, Marist-Sion College

Wednesday 30 August                   - Grade 6 Confirmation Retreat

Thursday 31 August                        - Confirmation – Reconciliation Rite

Friday 1 September                        - Father’s Day Breakfast and Stall

Monday 4 September                   - Marist-Sion Private Buses NOT running

Tuesday 5 September                   - Parent/Teacher Interviews

Thursday 7 September                  - Parent/Teacher Interviews

Friday 8 September                        - Sacrament of Confirmation (Marist-Sion Hall)

                                                                - Grade 3/4 Musical Rehearsal at Marist 1:30pm – 3:00pm

Sunday 10 September                   - Parish Family Picnic – Marist-Sion Hall

Thursday 14 September                - Middle School Musical (Grades 3/4) 12:00pm & 7:00pm at Marion Theatre, Marist-Sion College

Friday 15 September                     - Last day of Term 3 – school finish time is 2:20pm

TERM 4

Monday 2 October                          - First day of Term 4

Mon 2 – Fri 6 Oct                             - Dental Van visit

Tuesday 10 October                       - Gippsland Regional Athletics at Joe Carmody Athletics Track, Newborough

Friday 27 October                            - Colour Run (back up date Fri 10 Nov)

Monday 6 November                    - School Closed

Tuesday 7 November                    - Melbourne Cup Public Holiday

Mon 27 – Wed 29 November     - Grade 5 Camp – Camp Rumbug, Foster Nth

Thursday 30 November                - Senior Swimming Carnival

Saturday 2 December                    - First Holy Communion Mass at 7pm

Sunday 3 December                       - First Holy Communion Mass at 9am

Mon 4 – Wed 6 December           - Grade 6 Camp – Urban Camp Melbourne

Thursday 7 December                   - Senior Swimming Carnival (back up date)

Friday 8 December                         - Grade 6 Gumbuya World Excursion

Friday 15 December                       - Last day of Term 4 – school finish time is normal at 3:20pm

*Please note that dates are subject to change in accordance with DOSCEL recommendations

A message from Deacon Mark

Butch Cassidy repeatedly asks Sundance in our movie favourite, ”Who are those guys?” They have a bit of an idea about a persistent posse following them, their wonder and fear is increasing, but they still don’t know. 

Jesus’ closest disciples have experienced his extraordinary charisma, his truth speaking, his breaking open of scripture, his love of the poor and marginalised, his courageous readiness to challenge corrupt authority. They have witnessed extraordinary miracles and Jesus’ challenging wrong or irrelevant rules. He has claimed a special relationship with God as Father.  But still they wonder, “Who is this guy?”

Peter, James and John are Jesus’ chosen witnesses to the Transfiguration (Matt 17:1-9). At the time they couldn’t grasp the significance of the event, through after the Resurrection they will recognise this glimpse of Jesus’ unique relationship with the Father. A glimpse only but even so, extraordinary, beyond the comprehension of even these closest, select disciples. Fear rightly clutches at Butch and Sundance as their misdeeds catch up with them, but the Transfiguration witnesses too experience fear and bewilderment. They start jabbering on about tents and fall on their faces.

Jesus touches his disciples, calming their fears, reassuring them that, though glorified by God as his Son, he is still their very human leader. Without the physical reassurance of Jesus touch, we later disciples are heirs to the whole account of his life, death and resurrection.

Who is he? We know who he is! He is Jesus, fully human and fully divine, who died for love of us. We need have no fears. As St Teresa of Avila famously proclaimed, now we are called to be Jesus’ touch, hands, feet and eyes for others.

Children's Liturgy

Children’s Liturgy will be celebrated at the 9am Mass on Sunday 13^th August at St. Joseph’s Church, Warragul.

Children’s Liturgy involves the children going into the Marian Room during the readings, after the invitation from Father. The format that is happening inside the church is replicated in the children’s liturgy but in a more child friendly way. The children might act out the readings, give voices to characters, respond with acclamations, song etc. Some discussion to help explain the readings will take place. A worksheet task might also go home with the children. The children return to their parents during the Offertory Procession. Whenever there is Children’s Liturgy, all primary school children are invited. Please encourage your child to participate whether they are receiving a sacrament or not.

Sacrament Dates for 2023

At this time of the year we ask families whose children are not intending to return in 2024 (apart from Year 6 students), to send an email to principal@stjwarragul.catholic.edu.au as soon as possible informing of the change. We have a number of enrolment inquiries and are preparing for 2024 classes. Our Foundation 2024 enrolments are still open, please encourage any family or friends to speak with Kitty in the office if they are looking to enrol their child in 2024.

NAPLAN 2023 results have been mailed out to our Year 3 and Year 5 families. NAPLAN is a valuable tool that can give an insight into a student's performance over time, however individual reports should be interpreted with care as they reflect the student's prformance on the day of testing. This year new standards were introduced, replacing the previous NAPLAN reporting bands. Due to these changes, 2023 NAPLAN results cannot be compared with previous NAPLAN results. For Year 5 families, it is important to store this report paper safely as your child's Secondary School will request these results at their enrolment interview. If you have any questions or concerns about the NAPLAN, please contact your child's classroom teacher.

Have your personal contact details changed?

• Do you hold a current Centrelink Concession Card?
• Do you no longer have a current concession card?
• Has there been a name change?
• Have you moved address?
• Have you changed your mobile phone number?
• Is your landline still valid?
• Have you changed your workplace, therefore your business phone number has changed?
• Have emergency contacts changed? Maybe they have moved away?

If you have answered "YES" to any of the above dot points, please email the office info@stjwarragul.catholic.edu.au with your updated information.

PAM

• Have you verified your PAM email login?
• Please ensure student medical and contact details (including email address) are up to date.

A reminder that this term the gates will continue to be opened at 8:30am each morning and we ask that by 8:50am all students are at school. Gates will be closed at 8:50am and supervision at the carline has ceased. Students arriving after 8:50am will need to make their way through the office area. From 8:50am music will play to signal students to move to assemble in class groups on the basketball court. By 8:53am a bell will ring and by this time, all students should be lined up ready to be moved inside. Learning begins each day at 9am, students arriving after this time will be marked late. Please remember, the office will make contact with you if you haven’t provided a reason for absence by 10am. If contact cannot be made with the parent, guardian and/or carer, the school may contact emergency contact(s) nominated on the student's file, held by the school.

A reminder that any student who brings along a mobile phone to school for a safety reason (i.e. walking home after school or catching a bus), must hand in their phone into the office for safe keeping during school hours. Any messages that need to be given to students must come through the school office. Please be aware that sending emails to teachers with messages for students during school hours, may not reach the children in time. Again, the fastest way to get a message to children is through the wonderful team in the office.

Our students in Foundation celebrated 100 days of school and attended school dressed up as an "old person".

We had Nick from The Warragul & Drouin Gazette visit us and capture some great photos to put in the local paper.

Credit: Nick - The Warragul & Drouin Gazette

Grade 3 & 4 students travelled to the Melbourne Museum by bus as part of their Inquiry learning about our amazing Earth. They looked at how our planet has changed over time, as well as investigating different weather patterns across the globe.

The students were divided into two class groups for some sessions and then into smaller groups accompanied by ESOs and teachers and toured around the galleries and exhibitions.

ALL PERFORMANCES will be held at the MARION THEATRE at MARIST-SION COLLEGE

More information regarding each concert will be sent home soon.

Junior School Showcase (Foundation - Grade 2) - "Showcase of Learning" Tuesday, 15 August at 12pm & 6:30pm

Senior School Production (Grade 5/6) - "Count Back" Tuesday 29 August at 12pm & 7:00pm

Middle School Musical (Grade 3/4) - "Trollin' through Fairyland" Thursday 14 September at 12pm & 7:00pm

UPCOMING SPORTS DATES:

Friday, September 1st. 5/6 Catholic Cluster Winter Sports (Hosted by Marist-Sion College)

Tuesday, October 10th. Gippsland Regional Athletics. Joe Carmody Athletics Track, Newborough

S.S.V. Gippsland Regional Winter Sport A.F.L (Girls)

Congratulations to our Senior Girls Team who played excellent football in perfect conditions in Traralgon this week to finish fifth in the Gippsland Region.

The girls competed strongly and remained composed against some tough opposition. It was a busy program with girls playing against quality teams from Paynesville, Wonthaggi, Traralgon, Yinnar and Koorumburra. 

Thank you to the parents who came to support our students.

Congratulations and Good Luck Xanthe

Wishing Xanthe all the best as she represents our State in the School Sport Australia Football Championship in Albury this weekend. Well done, what a fantastic achievement. We look forward to you sharing your experience with us.

Go Victoria!

Sports Uniform Reminder

It has been great to see so many students prepared for Sport each week with the correct sports uniform. Just a reminder that the sports uniform is to be worn only on the students' Sports Day. This includes appropriate footwear for vigorous activity.

TUESDAY: Grade 3/4 Classes

WEDNESDAY: Foundation and Grade 1/2 Classes

THURSDAY: Grade 5/6 Classes

Grade 6 can also wear their sports uniform on a Monday.

Book Club

All Book Club orders have been distributed. Thank you to all families that have supported this issue of the Book Club.

Author Visit

On Friday 25th August we will be having an interactive online visit with the author, Michael Salmon. Michael Salmon has been involved in graphics, Children's literature, TV  and Theatre since 1967. Michael is an author and illustrator. He likes to inspire students to develop their own creativity.

Students will be able to place orders for any of Michael's books. Order forms are available in the library.

Father's Day Breakfast and Stall

Friday, 1 September 2023

Father's Day is just around the corner.

We have again enlisted the help of the Warragul Lions Club to make sure all of our dads (or special people) get to enjoy a yummy breakfast with their children as an early celebration for Father’s Day.

Breakfast will include bacon and egg rolls, sausages in bread, cereal and fruit. Tea and coffee will be available for grown-ups, please BYO reusable coffee cup.

The breakfast and activities will be held in the school hall on Friday 1 September from 7.30am to 8.30am. Please register all attendees for catering purposes by Friday 18 August at https://www.trybooking.com/CJYRW

On the same day, the annual Parents and Friends Father’s Day stall will be running.

Please send along some coins so the kids can enjoy their shopping experience!

Each class will have the opportunity to shop at the stall during the morning and purchase one gift for their dad/ special person. Gifts will range in price from $1 to $9. A second visit to the stall may be available to those children wanting to purchase an additional item if there are any gifts remaining after all classes have visited the stall.

If you would like to assist at the Stall, please reach out to the Parents and Friends via their Facebook page 'Parents and Friends of St Joseph's Primary School Warragul' or email stjosephswarragulpandf@gmail.com

Please note the WRC bus loop is NOT a bus stop, yet a bus transfer station only. All students travelling on the Government School bus system must travel to and from their home address to their designated school only.

Current Child Safety Laws and the Conditions of Bus Travel do not allow students to leave the bus transition area. If your child does not intend on travelling to their home address they must depart from their school of origin. Thank you for your understanding. WRC

The bus loop is continually experiencing a high volume of students entering and exiting on foot during the busy bus transition period which is placing unnecessary pressure on bus supervision. Although it may be convenient for parents to collect their children from the WRC bus loop, leaving the bus loop is not permitted for any reason. Child safety laws and the Conditions of Bus Travel stated on all Government applications do not allow a supervising school to permit students to leave the bus loop safely.

Neurodiversity emphasises the natural variation in how an individual’s brain functions and how they perceive and interact with the world, leading to diverse ways of learning and communicating. While most young people are neurotypical, some exhibit variations in brain development, such as ADHD, autism or dyslexia, making them neurodivergent.

Embracing neurodiversity involves accepting, celebrating, and supporting neurodivergent children and adolescents without attempting to change or treat their differences. Using respectful language, challenging unhelpful attitudes, avoiding assumptions, and actively promoting inclusivity can help embrace neurodiversity effectively.

Acknowledging the unique ways neurodiverse young people do things and then adapting tasks and activities to ensure their full participation will encourage them to develop strategies that feel natural to them. It will help improve their mental health, wellbeing and sense of self. By recognising and nurturing their strengths, parents and caregivers can contribute to building an inclusive and compassionate society where all young people can thrive.

Learning more about neurodiversity, equips caregivers with insights into effective communication techniques, educational strategies, and parenting approaches tailored to the specific needs of their neurodivergent child. We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this month’s edition, and we always welcome your feedback.

If you do have any concerns about the wellbeing of your child, please contact the school for further information or seek help from a medical professional.

Here is the link to this month's edition https://stjwarragul.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/neurodiversity

Rapid Antigen Tests are available from the school office.

Please note that if your child tests positive to Covid-19, it is strongly recommended that students:

• Who test positive to COVID-19 should stay home and isolate for five (5) days;
• Should not attend school after five (5) days if still symptomatic;
• Who are symptomatic but have not tested positive should not attend school until their symptoms resolve;
• Parents, guardians or carers advise the school of the COVID-19 positive test result.

To assist with limiting the spread of COVID-19 and other illnesses, parents, guardians and carers should be strongly encouraged to ensure that their child(ren) remain at home if they are unwell, including if they have tested positive to COVID-19.

P & F Dates for your Diary

Events for the Calendar

• Father’s Day breakfast and stall- Friday 1 September
• Footy Day- Thursday 14 September
• Colour Run- Friday 27 October, backup Fri 10 Nov

Has your child lost or grown out of their bomber jacket? If you’ve checked the mountain of lost property with no luck, we have heaps of second-hand jackets in all sizes available, for a gold coin donation. Thanks to Warragul Drycleaners who have donated their services to professionally clean our second-hand school uniforms.

View these in the school sports hall or contact the P&F Committee on stjosephswarragulpandf@gmail.com

P&F Meetings

If you would like to be involved with the P&F, we would love to have you. Please reach out to us via email stjosephswarragulpandf@gmail.com, send us a message through our Facebook page ‘Parents and Friends of St Joseph’s Primary School Warragul’ or just turn up.

SCHOOL BEANIE

The school beanie is available and in stock at the Warragul Beleza store. They are available for purchase and are $18 each.

Prices have been reduced further...

Short sleeve polo shirts are available in ALL sizes, 2 - 16 and are now $6.60 each

Long sleeve polo shirts are available in sizes 2, 4, 6, 8 & 12 - 16 (size 10 & 14 are no longer available) and are now $7.20 each

Green windcheaters are ONLY available in sizes 2 & 14 and are now $10.00 each

Australian Red Cross

Got a bit of time next month? Time to give blood and change lives? 1 in 3 people in Warragul will need blood, and they need people like you to give it. We’re rolling into town from 22 August to 8 September.

Warragul Mobile Blood Donor Centre

Tuesday 22 August 11.15 am - 6.15 pm

Wednesday 23 August 10.30 am - 6.15 pm

Thursday 24 August 10.30 am - 6.15 pm

Friday 25 August 8.30 am - 4.15 pm

Saturday 26 August 8.30 am – 3.15 pm

Monday 28 August 8.30 am - 2 pm

Tuesday 29 August 10.30 am - 6.15 pm

Wednesday 30 August 10.30 am - 6.15 pm

Thursday 31 August 10.30 am - 6.15 pm

Friday 1 September 8.30 am – 4.15 pm

Monday 4 September 10.30 am - 6.15 pm

Tuesday 5 September 10.30 am - 6.15 pm

Wednesday 6 September 10.30 am - 6.15 pm

Thursday 7 September 10.30 am - 6.15 pm

Friday 8 September 8.30 am – 3.15 pm

Warragul Harness Racing Club

Logan Park – 19 Howitt Street

https://goo.gl/maps/vneVBmY7K8V7rPH3A

Don’t forget to pre-book your spot at lifeblood.com.au, on our app or on 13 14 95.

Moe Earth Market

The Latrobe Valley Beekeepers Association is pleased to announce we will be hosting our second Moe Earth Market on Sunday 13 August. We are a local Registered Charity with a group of dedicated volunteers who have been revitalising our club facility on Saviages Road, Moe.

The site is home to our new Community Pollinator Garden plus several other community groups. We are passionate about developing a space for positive community connection. 

Moe Earth Market will take place on Sunday 13th August 2023 from 9am to 2pm.

Follow-up events will be held quarterly (second Sunday of August, November, & February).

This is an outdoor “grow it, make it, bake it, sew it, recycle it” market, which will also have food trucks and include FREE children’s activities.

Geoff Watt Memorial Fun Run & Festival

Warragul District Amateur Basketball Association

Our junior program registrations for Aussie Hoops and Under 8’s are now OPEN, all Registration links provided below!

Aussie Hoops Warragul Program - https://www.playhq.com/basketball-victoria/register/5b3663

Aussie Hoops Neerim Program - https://www.playhq.com/basketball-victoria/register/98ee79

Warragul Under 8's Program - https://www.playhq.com/basketball-victoria/register/8c699c-3c6acce3

Neerim South Under 8's Program - https://www.playhq.com/basketball-victoria/register/8c699c-c2fe3ad2

For any further information please refer to our website - https://warragul-basketball.tidyhq.com/

Girls Football

Looking for under 12 girls players to join:

Gippsland United Football Club's Metro teams play across South East and East Melbourne. We train twice a week (Tuesday & Thursday) on the new synthetic surface at Baxter Park in Warragul. A unify who is keen can email juniors@gippslandunitedfc.com  

Miniroo's Program

We also run a miniroo's program at Baxter Park in Warragul, this is for all kids age 6-10 and every week on the synthetic surface at Baxter Park. This is a great place for players with any amount of experience to try the game and progress into the future. It’s a fun, relaxed environment and all of our coaches for the 2023 season will be qualified to ensure the kids get the best opportunities moving forward. For more information or a link to register, please email miniroos@gippslandunitedfc.com 

Baseball

Warragul Blues Junior Football Club