What a wonderful event we had on Tuesday evening, with the showcase of Junior Learning in the Arts. The Choir was spectacular as well. I think it was the happiest and most excited group of students ever to be seen. It was wonderful to see the creative talents and skills of all the students. It never ceases to amaze me how the shyest children can somehow transform on stage to be confident performers. It is obvious that our work in Performing Arts is having an impact. The public speaking opportunities are producing some very capable young people. Special thanks to Rose Butera for the work she does in this area. Thanks to Rose and all staff for preparing the students for this event.

Preparation for the sacrament of Confirmation has begun with the next parent/child workshop to be held on August 24^th.

This week is Science week - a great opportunity to research about science and scientists with your child. Some students came to me and wanted to celebrate science week as a dress up day as “your favourite scientist”. It was a great idea, however, with Italian Day two weeks ago and Book Week next week we negotiated and decided to make our book week dress up either a book character OR a favourite scientist. Great thinking!

On Tuesday we celebrated a special Mass at school for the feast day of the Assumption of Mary. This is a day when we particularly celebrate and appreciate that Mary was chosen to be the mother of Jesus. As a mother, Mary experienced such joy at her son’s birth and immense suffering and grief as her son’s life journey unfolded. We are reassured that she is now at peace with God.

Best wishes,

Roslyn Joyner

Principal

TERM 3

Friday 18 August                              - School Closure Day - Pupil Free

Wednesday 23 August                   - Melbourne Stars Cricket Visit

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-Sion College

Tuesday 29 August                          - Senior School Production (Grades 5/6) at the Marian 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-Sion College

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

Thursday 14 September               - Middle School Musical (Grades 3/4) at the Marian 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

Friday 6 October                              - Footy Day

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

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

Friday 27 October                            - Day for Daniel

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

Australians have a long history of struggle, with varying degrees of success, in dealing with “the other”. Particularly during the last century, Anglo-Saxon Celts have been joined by a long list of people of different races, customs and religions. Now we can’t conceive an Australia without Dutch pragmatism, Italian panache, Greek ebullience or Vietnamese diligence. But within recent memory all sorts of voices cried, “Send them away,” these “house-dogs.”

More recently the cry has been, “Keep these house-dogs out, send these refugees (particularly Muslim refugees) away because they are not us”. They are “the other.” 

This Sunday’s gospel (Matt 15:21-28) features the disciples urging Jesus to send away the Canaanite woman. As a woman and a foreigner she has no status, she is to be scorned and ignored. She is an annoying impertinence. Jesus too struggles under the weight of cultural and social expectation: this woman is from the not-us, from the despised enemy. How could she have a part in the reign of God, which Jesus is proclaiming? “Send her away”, the disciples urge as they had urged him to send away the hungry crowds before the feeding of the 5000.

Despite his first inclination, Jesus comes to recognize, not a “house-dog’ but a faithful, loving woman in her human dignity, precious and beloved of God along with all his children. Jesus recognizes a broader vision of his own mission to all, regardless of gender, culture, nationality or religion. Drawing from the gospels, Pope Francis’ “three pillars” are: a passion for those on the periphery, reaching out to “the other” and above all, mercy as the cornerstone. 

For us the question is, will we behave like the disciples or like Jesus in this gospel? Will we offer Christ-like welcome or unformed disciple-like rejection?

Migrant and refugee Sunday update

Theme for the 109^th World Day of Migrants and Refugees:

‘Free to choose whether to migrate or to stay’.

Arrangements are underway for our Combined parish celebration of Migrant and Refugee Sunday 10^th September 10.00am Marist Sion College.

The synodal path that we have undertaken as a Church leads us to see in those who are most vulnerable – among whom are many migrants and refugees – special companions on our way, to be loved and cared for as brothers and sisters. Only by walking together will we be able to go far and reach the common goal of our journey.

Rome, Saint John Lateran, 11 May 2023. Pope Franicis

Sacrament Dates for 2023

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.

Parent Teacher Interviews for Term 3 will be held on Tuesday 5th and Thursday 7th of September. Parent Teacher Interviews for 1/2W (Lisa Wans) and 5/6MT (Megan Maunder) will be held earlier - Tuesday 22nd and Thursday 24th of August. 

The Parent Teacher Interviews are an important opportunity for families to discuss with teachers, progress in learning as well as the wellbeing of child. We strongly encourage you to make a booking. Details were sent to emails a few weeks ago. If you have not received the booking details, please contact the office.

ATTENTION SENIOR FAMILIES (Grades 5 & 6): Information regarding the senior performance and tickets will be sent out early next week.

MIDDLE SCHOOL FAMILIES (Grades: 3 & 4): Information regarding the middle school performance will be released after the senior performance.

On Tuesday night, our students in Grades Foundation, 1 & 2, along with the support of our Choir students put on a show for all our families to enjoy. Thank you to our Arts Teacher, Rose Butera, the Junior team and all that helped make our show such a wonderful event. 

UPCOMING SPORTS DATES:

Wednesday August 23rd, (Incursion) Melbourne Stars visit. Q and A session

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

Congratulations Xanthe

Xanthe's Football Experience at Nationals

Last week I competed at the Nationals 12 and under girl’s Football Championships. We played six games starting on the 6th of August to the 11th, with seven states and territories competing, apart from Tasmania in both girls and boys. We had an opening ceremony and a smoking ceremony. The ceremony talked about each state and how many people had trialled this year and last year, (while Victoria had 80 last year and 230 this year). We stood in lines next to the boys, with the captains holding the flags and the trophy from last year. Each state was called out one by one with the host state (NSW) being the last one called out.

After the opening ceremony had finished, my team walked to oval 2 and into the change rooms to get ready for the big game against WA. As the game was only minutes away, we were ready to run out of the rooms. We sprinted out onto the ground and ran a lap together, as a team. We started to do warm ups when it was time to line up and face WA and the umpires came to us and one said “You should be proud to represent your state and school and good luck girls” after he said that, I became even more nervous and just like that, the game had started. I was in full pocket and the game went so fast, it was quickly over. The 15 minute quarters were so quick and the halves were too. Unfortunately, we lost by two points. We were all pretty sad and upset. We got School Sport Victoria pins and traded them with the same numbers as us. I was looking for number five. I finally found her and shook her hand and said “good game” and exchanged pins with her. I shook a few more hands and walked into the room with the girls and the coach was just talking to us and saying how competitive it was and that we should be so proud while we were getting changed and ate some recovery food.

The next day we had two games, the first against NSW and the second against Queensland. We got there about 1 and a half hours early to do the awards with the team from yesterday. I was not as nervous as I was the day before. My hands were starting to freeze up. It was only 8:00am on a Monday morning and it was frosty. Lilly and I; one of my teammates, started to kick the footy after the siren went off for the Queensland /ACT game. We were having shots for goal, though it was hard to kick with Crocs on. We started to see more teammates and Harro (the coach) and went over to do the awards and have a kick and talk. We had waited until everyone got there and once Harro marked the roll, we completed the awards, which there were six awards, the fifth was a chain award. The chain award had 23 links, to represent our team and signified team work. We had waited until he had read them all out and he said “to get our bags and give mum and dad a kiss and a hug and go in the change rooms”. After I told mum and dad I loved them, I grabbed my bag and headed in the same change rooms we were in yesterday. I removed my pants (which had my shorts and my skins on underneath) and put on my jersey and my training top on top of my jersey and then my footy boots on.

As the game was getting closer every minute, we went out to do warm ups with the team. We were running out with the footballs down the ramp, on to the wide ground. It was only about 15-20 minutes till the game started. We did handball square which is where there's four cones and one person in the middle with a bib on, which we did for about five minutes and the other warm up was kick to kick. When we did both warm ups we ran to the coach as soon as we heard the whistle. He said to run as a team back to the change rooms. Finally, Harro pulled out the coaches’ board and read the names out and said go to your lines (This means, forwards, backs and mids go to their individual coaches). So I went to the forward coach which is the team manager (funny guy) and he started to talk about how we should position ourselves. My dad tapped me on my shoulders and said good luck before I ran out. We ran hard out of the change rooms and once again Didz (assistant coach) gave us a pep talk with our captain, Tia. We had to line up once again to face the light blue jerseys. And they called the captains to shake hands and every one of us were cheering and yelling out and saying go Tia (captain). But Tia lost the coin toss so they got to pick which way and which ball they wanted to use, which they had picked leather. Then the siren went and it was game on.

The first quarter flew, we were in front and once again I went to my line. The siren sounded and we put our hands in and yelled as hard as we could and Tia said on three “three, two, one, North South East West Team Vic is the best” and we were off. There was only about five minutes left already and I saw the ball flying towards me as it hit the ground I ran, but my teammate got their before me and she just got tackled, so I picked up the ball meters away from goal and kicked a GOAL! I had kicked a goal and the goal umpire from NSW put up her flags and then the field umpire came and said it was touched and the NSW girl picked up the ball and ran out of the goal square and kicked it to her teammate and then the siren went for half time and we went up in to the change rooms. After half time the game went so fast, finally we got the win we were hoping for. Once again we exchanged pins with our numbers. We went in the rooms and we huddled up and we learnt the song and then sang it and it started off like this; We are the girls in navy and white, bringing home the gold tonight, hey Vic, hey what, hey Vic, hey what hey what, how do you spell out victory you split the v you dot the I you curl the c t o r y go Victoria. And we got changed and grabbed our recovery food.

An hour later, the game was so quick, I think the game was my favourite because I kicked a sidestepping goal with a little candy in it and we also won. We exchanged Queensland pins and ate recovery food. I met my teammates at the Murray River for cold recovery, it was freezing and the current was so strong so Issy’s dad went in. After 20 minutes, it was supposed to be 10; we went to the Wodonga Pool to warm up.

The next day was a rest day, but our team went ten pin bowling for further team bonding. The next day we played against Northern Territory. Before the game started, we decided to have NT in the rooms after the game, to enjoy some snacks and drinks. Once we exchanged pins, we all got in a huddle and had a photo taken. NT players were excited when we said they would be joining our team for recovery food. The VIC team went on a cultural excursion with some other teams.

The next game was against ACT and it was cold and wet; it was a medal match. The game zoomed past and we had won four games and lost one. The next day was against South Australia. It was a gold winning match, we had to win and we did!! NSW had a victory over WA which meant we shared gold with NSW. I got my training top signed by my teammates. The VIC boys won gold too. The closing ceremony was reading each place out and once they got to us, we walked up in line and got presented with our medal. They gave NT the fairest award; they were so happy, they were jumping up and down and were so happy to be presented with their medals.

We all took turns of holding the cup and had a team photo together. I loved the experience and I’m hoping to do it again next year!:)

Catholic Cluster Sport Day

Catholic Cluster Sport Day will be hosted at Marist-Sion College. The day involves the Catholic Schools in our area. All 5/6 students have selected one of the following; A.F.L., Soccer, Netball or Newcombe.

The purpose of the day is for the students to gather in friendly competition, strengthening the relationships between all of our schools.

Permission forms were released last week with more specific details.

Student’s are to wear the St. Joseph’s school sport uniform. Students wearing alternate clothing e.g. hoodies will be asked to remove them.

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

There are some changes and new features to this Issue!

• You will notice that Scholastic have made their BooksPlus QR codes more obvious with a “Scan Me” tag! This QR code takes you to a webpage with a blurb about the author and illustrator, and some photos of the inside of the book.
• There are now some puzzles and games in the catalogue, including a maze, a crossword and a wordsearch!  Families can participate in Book Club without the need to place an order and are able to get some interaction out of the catalogue. 

All orders for Issue 6 need to be finalised by Friday 25th August.

Issue 6 Highlights

Demonstrating our School Wide Expectations at St. Joseph’s

Our students are familiar with our S.T.A.R. acronym and are becoming well versed in identifying the School Wide Expectations (S.W.E.) when they require support with their behaviour. As we continue to embrace our Whole School Approach to Positive Behaviour we are now asking our students to deepen their understanding and demonstrate our S.W.E. What do they look like?

Regularly familiarising ourselves with the matrix and reflecting on our behaviour is an essential part of embracing the Whole School Approach to Positive Behaviour.

• In Grade 5/6 the students have begun to revisit our Expectation Matrix Expectations Chart 2023 and consider how we action the S.W.E., “Take Responsibility”.
• The S.T.A.R. Raffle is another way we encourage our students to consistently demonstrate our School Wide Expectations with their behaviour.
  

Reflection Forms

Some of you may have received a Reflection Form that your child has completed. Thank you for returning them.

The forms allow students to consider their choices, how they felt and how they can make improved choices in the future. 

More importantly, they inform us and assist us to gain a better understanding of our students' behaviour and how we can support them.

The Forms will be completed by a teacher with the student. The teacher and student will sign the form. The form will then be sent home for the parent/guardian to read, sign and return to school. 

Contact will be made with parents/guardians prior to the form coming home.

Copy of Reflection Sheets Form 1

Copy of Reflection Sheets Form 2

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.

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.

Marist-Sion College Private buses will not be running on Monday 4 September. This does not affect any other buses, ONLY the Marist-Sion College Private bus. Please arrange alternative transport for your children to and from school on this day.

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.

Father's Day Breakfast & Stall

Friday 1 September 2023

Events for the Calendar

• Father’s Day breakfast and stall- Friday 1 September
• Colour Run- Friday 27 October (backup date Fri 10 Nov)

Father’s Day Breakfast - Friday 1 September 2023

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 a 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

Father’s Day Stall- Friday 1 September 2023

On Friday 1 September, the annual Parents and Friends Father’s Day stall will also 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 with 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

Second Hand Uniforms

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.

Ask to view what’s available at the school or contact the P&F Committee on stjosephswarragulpandf@gmail.com.

P&F Meetings

The next P&F meeting is scheduled for Friday 1 September, at the conclusion of the Father’s Day stall (around 12.45pm) at the school. Lunch will be provided.

If you would like to be involved, 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.

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.

SCHOOL BEANIE

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

Gold/yellow long sleeve polo shirts are available in sizes 2, 4, 6, 8 & 12 - 16 (size 10 & 14 are no longer available)

Green windcheaters are ONLY available in sizes 2 & 14

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.

Geoff Watt Memorial Fun Run & Festival

Chess Club

Chess_Club.pdf

Drouin Devils Basketball Club

New players wanted to join the Drouin Devils Basketball Club.

Drouin Devils Basketball Club https://www.playhq.com/basketball-victoria/register/f37d71

Enrolments close 9th September, 2023

For further information, please contact the President, Michael Walmsley on 0404 044 618 or email: president.drouindevils@gmail.com

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