Assistant Principal's Message
Dear Parents, Carers and the St Joseph’s Community,
Autumn Prayer
O God of Creation, you have blessed us with the changing of the seasons. As we embrace these autumn months, May the earlier setting of the sun remind us to take time to rest.
May the crunch of the leaves beneath our feet remind us of the brevity of this earthly life.
May the steam of our breath in the cool air remind us that it is you who give us
your breath of life.
May the migration of the birds remind us that you call us to follow your will.
We praise you for your goodness forever and ever.
Amen
Business as usual... as much as possible
Schools are inherently busy places and St Joseph's is certainly no different. Our teaching and learning is planned, taught and assessed carefully to meet the Australian Curriculum and, more importantly, the needs of our students. It is important then that interruptions are minimised throughout the day so that this teaching and learning can take place.
We currently have an increasing number of allied services accessing the school to work with students during the day, which in many instances is necessary. However, I would ask parents to arrange appointments and sessions outside of school hours where possible. When we have students leave the classroom to work on programs outside of their normal program of learning, it impacts the flow of the classroom and makes the school busier with people coming and going.
Likewise, it is important that students are at school for the start of the school day - 8.50am. When they are at school for Morning Gathering, they have the opportunity to socialise and 'find their place' for the day. When students arrive late, they miss this opportunity and also find it difficult to pick up their learning once a lesson has begun.
If you need to collect your child for an appointment, please ensure they are aware of the time, and also inform their teacher. When Front Office staff need to stop what they are doing to deliver a message or to collect a student, it further disrupts the 'business' of the day. We thank all parents for their assistance with these areas.
School Fee Statements
Of late, the Front Office has been receiving requests for Fee Statements to be issued electronically. There is a new operating system coming online in the coming months and we are hopeful that when in place, there will be the option for electronic statements. Until such time, fees will continue to be delivered as hard copies. In the lead-up to this transition, please note that the Qkr! function for fee payments is no longer available as a payment option for school fees.
Seasons for Growth
The Seasons for Growth Children and Young People's Program strengthens the social and emotional wellbeing of children and young people (aged 6-18 years) who have experienced significant change or loss in their lives. The program provides a safe learning environment for children and young people where they can give voice to their experiences, understand and befriend their feelings, learn skills that help them adapt, develop friendships, and recognise ‘I’m not the only one’.
Seasons for Growth is an innovative, evidence-based change, loss and grief education program that draws on the metaphor of the seasons to understand the experience of grief. It builds the knowledge and skills necessary to strengthen social and emotional wellbeing following significant loss by:
- Exploring the impact of change and loss
- Learning about effective ways to respond and adapt
Participants learn that they are not alone in their experience of change, loss and grief, and are able to build their communication, decision making and problem solving skills within the context of a safe and supportive peer group learning environment.
All Seasons for Growth programs are grounded in sound, person-centred educational principles.
St Joseph’s would like to offer this program here at school. Jo Krippner will run this program and is looking for students who would benefit from being a part of ‘Seasons for Growth’. If you would like your child to have the opportunity to be involved please email Jo at jo.krippner@cg.catholic.edu.au
Future of Education Equity Fund 2023
The Fund is open to eligible students enrolled in preschools (attached to a school) through to Year 12 in the ACT. Further information and the online application form is available here.
