Filter Content
- Message from our Principal
- Upcoming Event Dates
- Child Friendly Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy
- Emergency Management - Bushfires
- Religious Education
- School Fees & Book Lists
- Carline - Reminders
- Library News
- Sports
- Carols on the Green
- General Information
- Parents and Friends
- Camp Australia
- Beleza - School Uniform
- Public Notices
Dear Parents, Guardians and Carers
The end of the year is fast approaching. Today, our Year 6 students who are transitioning to Marist Sion College had a special day at Marist Sion as their Orientation Day. This is an important time in the lives of these young people and we wish them all the best as they begin a new chapter in their school lives. Our Year 5 students presented application speeches for School Captains and House Captains. We look forward to welcoming a new group of students as leaders of our school for 2024.
Last night, several students participated in the Sacrament of Reconciliation in preparation for First Communion which will be celebrated across the weekend of 1st and 2nd December. We wish these families well as the students prepare for this special sacrament.
Today, the junior school level which includes Foundation, Years 1 and 2, enjoyed Mass with Father Antony. Many thank to parents and grandparents who joined us for this occasion as well. It was a joyful celebration.
Year 5 students are off to Camp Rumbug near Foster on Monday! Goodluck to all concerned. We will be thinking of you going up and down the hills having lots of fun and excitement. Year 6 students will be off to Melbourne the following week to enjoy an Urban Camp, which includes visits to the Shrine, the National Gallery of Victoria, the MCG and the Victoria Market to name just a few events. We hope everyone has a great camp experience and I particularly want to thank the staff, in advance, for all the preparation that has gone into making these camps a success.
It is indeed a busy time. Lots of sleep and good food leading up to all these events is probably a good idea!
Best wishes,
Roslyn Joyner
Principal
Mon 27 – Wed 29 November - Grade 5 Camp – Camp Rumbug, Foster Nth
Thursday 30 November - Senior Swimming Carnival (Grades 3-6)
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 8 December - School Assembly at 2:40pm
Tuesday 12 December - Year 6 Graduation – 5pm Mass at St Joseph’s Church, followed by dinner at St Joseph’s Primary School Hall
Tuesday 12 December - Orientation Day
Thursday 14 December - End of Year Whole School Celebration Mass (TBC)
Thursday 14 December - Carols on the Green - 6pm for a 6:30pm start (BYO picnic rug or chair)
Friday 15 December - Last day of Term 4 – school finish time is normal at 3:20pm
Our Child Friendly version of our Child Safety and Wellbeing policy has been completed. Our student leaders worked with Mr Redi to develop this version of our Child Safety and Wellbeing policy using simple language. All students had an opportunity to illustrate a part of the policy during Child Safety Week last term. A select few images were added to our policy document. Please read through the document with your family.
The bushfire season is upon us and normally runs from October until April.
As St. Joseph’s is located in a high-risk bushfire area, the school will be pre-emptively closed in the event that the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) issues a Code Red Fire Danger Rating warning for the weather district in which this school is located (West and South Gippsland - Region). A decision is made at 12:00pm the day before if possible, and will not change regardless of changing weather conditions. If possible, three-days notice may be given to families about the closure. When a school is closed in response to bushfire risk, no one will be permitted on site. This is a part of our emergency management plan for St. Joseph's and every effort will be made to give you advanced warning of a closure.
End of Year Mass
Dates for First Holy Communion - There have been changes
A message from Deacon Mark
Multi Talented
No-one knows our make-up better than our maker. We ourselves hardly know our own unique combination of talents and abilities, strengths or weaknesses.
Until we try, we don’t know what we are capable of, but our Creator knows precisely the skill set we have been given, and it is always greater than we think. The Creator loves us absolutely, intimately and infinitely, never expecting the impossible of us, just what is possible.
This famous gospel about the talents (Mt 25:14-30) is not so much about who has the most gifts but about getting the best out of whatever we do have. The Master in the parable is angry at the servant who wastes the talents he has been given and so God expects us to use our gifts, bravely, adventurously and confident in the glow of His approval and support.
God wants the best for us but he has given us free will. If, out of fear of failure, or a desire to be cool, or plain laziness, we refuse to even try using our gifts – what can he do with us? He encourages us to develop our talents and abilities and often this requires patience, self-discipline, and courage. And these too are talents. We have to stretch out of our comfort zone and into our limitless possibility zone. As we progress, we realize more fully our potential and become better at loving God and our neighbour.
Followers of Jesus should be brave and outgoing, using our talents for the Kingdom. Pope Francis in Laudate Si quotes the South African Bishop’s Conference urging us that, “Everyone’s talents and involvement are needed to redress the damage caused by human abuse of God’s creation.”(LS 202) Many are more concerned with selfish desires than the common good. In his newer encyclical, Fratelli Tutti, the Pope counsels us that “the heroes of the future will be those who can break with this unhealthy mind-set and determine respectfully to promote truthfulness, aside from personal interest.” (FT 202)
Deacon Mark Kelly
A big THANK YOU to all families who have paid their school fees. A reminder that all school fees are due before the end of the school year.
The School Fee Statements were sent out in the mail at the beginning of Term 4.
If you are experiencing any difficulties or wish to arrange a payment plan, please contact Kitty on 5623 2943 or email kbarrett@stjwarragul.catholic.edu.au
Book Lists
Book lists were emailed out to all current families on Wednesday, 8 November. If you don't have the book list in your inbox, check your spam or junk folder. If still you don't have an email containing the book list, please contact the office on 5623 2943.
Please remember the following items when using our carline:
- fill all available car spaces along the carline - we will direct the students to your car if you are down the carline
- drive with caution at all times through the carline - speed limit of 10km/h must be obeyed
- never park across the crossing and please look out for students/adults using the crossing
Parents must park if dropping off late or collecting their child from the Admin office, the driveway leading to the admin building is a NO STANDING area. This is a matter of child safety and we appeciate your support keeping our students safe.
Book Club
The last issue for Book Club was distributed to students this week. There are some wonderful bargain books in this issue. There are 7 different books at $3, perfect for stocking stuffers for Christmas!
I have attached the Book Club Spotlight for this issue. You can also make a purchase as a gift. All you need to do is follow the gift function how to attached to the newsletter All orders need to be placed by Wednesday 29th November.
Thank you to all families that have made purchaseas. Your support earns us rewards to purchase more resources for our students.
Book Fair
Thank you to all families that visited our Book Fair. Through your generosity and purchases, the school has earned rewards to purchase new resources for our school.
There were a few competitions students could enter at the Book Fair.
Book Fair Winners 2023
The winners of these competitions are:
How many pages? (394) Emilia guessed 396
How many lollies? (334) Jonah guessed 315
Colouring Competition:
Niamh
Chase
Isabella
Layla
Wearing a Hat
Theo
Essie
Thank you all for making our Book Fair successful!
UPCOMING SPORTS DATES:
Thursday 30 November - Senior Swimming Carnival, Leisure Centre
Water Safety Swimming Program
Last week from Monday through to Friday, all our grades attended the Warragul Leisure Centre and participated in the water safety swimming program.
Below is some classroom work for 1/2DVB.
Hats for Term 4
As we look forward to sunny days in Term 4, we must be SunSmart and remember our hats. Hats must be broad rimmed St. Joseph’s approved uniform, no caps.
Sports Uniform Reminder
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.
Term 4 FINAL DAY OF SCHOOL:
Friday 15 December at 3:20pm
School Uniform
During Term 1 and Term 4, all students are required to wear a school hat when outdoors, including recess/lunch breaks, outdoor learning tasks and PE sessions. If you are looking to purchase a school hat, please speak to the office or drop into Beleza in Warragul. All students should be in their full summer uniform, including correct socks and shoes. Wearing the school uniform correctly demonstrates school pride and identity. Please ensure your child has the correct uniform on the correct days. We appreciate your support.
If your children are not intending to return to St Joseph's in 2024 (apart from Year 6 students), please 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.
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.
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.
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.
View these in the school hall or contact the P&F Committee on stjosephswarragulpandf@gmail.com.
P&F Meetings
The final P&F meeting for the year is scheduled for Friday 1 December over a celebratory lunch at 12.30pm at the Railway Hotel in Warragul.
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.
Green Polo Tops
The new St Joseph's bottle green polos shirts are available for purchase from Beleza.
Green short sleeve polo shirts are available in the following sizes:
* size 2-16 - $26.00 each
* size 18 - $32.00 each
Green long sleeve polo shirts are available in the following sizes:
* size 2-16 - $28.00 each
* size 18 - $34.00 each
These prices are before the Beleza membership 5% discount.
* A transition period of two years will begin as of Term 4 2023. The existing yellow polos can continue to be worn until the end of Term 4 2025. The new bottle green polos will be compulsory as of Term 1 2026.
Please note: grey shorts and pants for girls are also available from Beleza.
A reminder that the new summer dress will become compulsory as of Term 1 2025.
Gold/yellow short sleeve polo shirts are available in ALL sizes, 2 - 16
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
Warragul Municipal Band
The Warragul Municipal Band will be holding a "Come and Try" day this Saturday, 25 November 2023. The Warragul Municipal Band is offering a low-cost music education program for school aged students in the Baw Baw Shire in 2024. It would be fantastic to see members of St Joseph's community attend on Saturday. If you have any queries please contact the Warragul Municipal Band at either projectofficer@warragulband.
Gippsland Soccer League
Baw Baw Autism Carers Community
Wild Dog Triathlon Club