Good and gracious God, you see our every challenge, you know our every need.

Despite our mistakes, we long to follow you with all our hearts and to return to your embrace.

Be with us this day, strengthen our resolve, and guide our coming and our going.

We ask this in the name of Jesus, who shows us the way.

Amen

Dear parents, carers and the St Joseph’s community,

Over the past week, you may have heard me using the statement, 'It's Not Ok' when speaking with the students about what is acceptable behaviour across our school. 

We have a fantastic school and, for the most part, all students work hard to ensure that it is a safe and happy place to be. However, as in all schools, at times we need to remind them about playing fairly, being kind to others and using strategies to manage emotions.

This is where I have been introducing the idea that it's not ok to treat others in a way that upsets, hurts or excludes. I am also encouraging students to know that it's not ok to be made to feel upset, to be hurt or to be left out. 

We want to foster an atmosphere where everyone enjoys coming to school and is able to be their best self. You can also support this focus by speaking with your child about what they are doing to ensure St Joseph's is a great school. 

Catholic Care

At the moment, Catholic Care has not been able to provide staffing for a school and family counsellor for St Joseph’s. I am in contact with Catholic Care and am hopeful of having someone appointed to the school in the near future. Pleasingly, we have been allocated more contact hours with a school counsellor, which will support students and families as the year progresses. If there is a more urgent need, please speak with your child’s teacher or contact me directly.

Music Classes

Unfortunately our Music teacher, Cathy Berry has been unwell since the start of the new year and remains on leave. Cathy will be taking the rest of Term 1 off and as such we will be seeking to cover her classes to provide release for our classroom teachers. Our Music program will, therefore, be taught Terms 2 – 4. We keep Cathy in our thoughts and prayers and wish her a speedy recovery.

Canteen

Our new Canteen Manager, Tihana Ravanparsa, started this week, developing a new menu and preparing for a reopening next Tuesday 10 March. Please see the current lunch menu for the coming weeks in the Canteen section of this newsletter. As stock levels increase and popular items become known, a new menu will be made available. Most important now is to seek more volunteers. If you are able to spare a few hours occasionally, please email stjosephscanteen@gmail.com .

Sandpits

Due to the current wet weather, it is anticipated that next week will see the official opening of the new sandpits. As you can see they are wonderfully placed to become a loved feature of our playground. There is also some new equipment that has been purchased to support creative play in the sandpits, but we are looking forward to seeing what the students come up with in the weeks ahead. Thank you again to the School Board for supporting the development of the playground Master Plan and the installation of the sandpits as stage 1.

Building Update

The site has been cleared, the pre-construction plumbing completed and this week the footings are being prepared for pouring early next week. It will all take shape very quickly!

Parent-Teacher Interviews

Thank you to the many parents who have made a time to meet with teachers over recent weeks to provide, albeit brief, information about your children to support their learning and development at school. It is always nice to speak to parents after meeting with the teachers, to hear that they feel confident in what is being done within the school and the welcome they receive. Thank you to the teachers for making the commitment to providing this positive school environment. If you have not had a chance to meet with your child’s teacher as yet, please email them to arrange a time.

Year 6 Camp

Last Thursday and Friday I had the pleasure of being part of the Year 6 Leadership Camp, held at Greenhills Centre near the Cotter. From the excited welcomes at school on Thursday morning to the tired return to parents’ arms on Friday afternoon, our Year 6 students made the most of their time away with old and new friends. The activities all focused on building capacity and identifying strengths but also tuning into those aspects that the students need support with. It was an incredibly positive experience for me personally and I hope for all the students. Thank you to Melanie, Annette and Linley for committing their time to take our leaders on camp.

COVID-19 (formally known as Novel Coronavirus)

In response to the ongoing global concerns relating to COVID-19, the following advice remains in place and forms the current requirements:

• Any student or staff member who has been in, or transited through, mainland China or has been in Iran is excluded from work, school or child care services for 14 days from the date they left mainland China or Iran.
• These students or staff members are also required to self-isolate from the community for a period of 14 days, as the COVID-19 incubation period can be as long as two weeks.
• Those travelling from other countries which may have confirmed cases of COVID-19 are able to remain at school and attend work but should monitor for symptoms.
• Good hygiene standards are an important way to reduce the risk of acquiring and spreading respiratory infections. All students are encouraged to wash their hands and to be careful if they have a cough.

While this advice remains in place, there is no specific concern at present. Speaking openly, and from an informed position with your children will allow them to process what they are hearing in the media. Please contact me if you have any questions.

Have a great end to the week.

Yours with Christ,

Cameron Tarrant

Principal