Dear Parents, Carers and the St Joseph’s Community,

Dear God,

We pray for children who face an uncertain world,

Unable to hear about the unknown and the new, or to ask questions so as to find a solution.

We pray for those who care for others, while at the same time needing to be cared for themselves.

And we pray for our own children, blessed with the opportunity to learn and be nurtured, that they grow to see others in our community who want for that same opportunity.

Amen

Semester 1 Reports

Today your child’s report has been sent home via the new Compass Parent Portal. The new format of the student reports is specifically to provide feedback on your child’s learning progress for Semester 1. The reports are based on achievement in line with the Australian Curriculum, and your child’s engagement with their learning.

I encourage you to view your child’s report as an opportunity to find out how they are progressing, and then to discuss this with them to celebrate successes and to set some goals for Semester 2. The reports do not have written comments this semester, so focusing on the Engagement with Learning statements will give you ways to speak to your child about their learning.

Parent / Teacher Interviews

As part of the reporting and feedback cycle, inclusive of the Semester 1 Reports, Parent / Teacher Interviews will be held next week. All parents are encouraged to use this time to gain a deeper understanding of the growth shown so far this year, and to discuss areas for development next term.

These interviews will run for 15 minutes. Bookings are now open on the Compass Parent Portal, but will close at 3pm on Friday 18 June.

Please click here for information on how to access Parent/Teacher Conferences in the Compass Parent Portal using the Mobile App or a Desktop.

This new approach to Academic Reporting by Catholic Education is a developing process. Further work will be undertaken in the coming months to determine how progress and achievement is best reported based on what we know to be important information about a student’s learning and progress.

School Board

Last Wednesday the School Board met, as we do twice a term, to discuss the progress of the school and to consider ways to further improve and build on the wonderful school community we have. Matters discussed included the continuing efforts to work closely with Camp Australia to ensure they are providing an engaging, effective and safe OSHC service at St Joseph’s. We are pleased that there have been some necessary improvements to date, and look forward to further efforts to build on this in the coming months. Also considered in the meeting was some capital expenditure over the second half of the year. We are looking at installing new school signage on both Boronia Drive and McArthur Avenue, to better direct visitors into our school. In principle approval has also been given for the design and planning stage of a nature-based playground located at the Boronia Drive end of the oval. Further details will be provided to the school community early in Term 3. Thank you to the School Board for their ongoing support of the school.  

Staffing

We officially congratulate and welcome Mrs Anita Bettell as the new classroom teacher in 2 Magenta from the start of Term 3, replacing Mrs Eloise Wilson who is moving to Sydney. Anita currently works in the school across a number of areas, so will move easily into her new role. We have also interviewed and anticipate appointing a new teacher in 6 Lime for Term 3 and 4 by the end of this week. 

Winter Woolly Day

To help raise funds for the St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal we will be holding a Winter Woolly Day this Friday 18 June. Students are invited to rug up for the day in scarves, gloves, beanies, oodies and the like for a gold coin donation. Our donations will be contributed to the fundraising efforts of members from Catholic Education who will be participating in the CEO Sleepout on 17 June.

Canteen

From the start of Term 3, the Canteen will be open for lunch orders on Tuesday to Friday. The only difference is that Tuesday will be lunch orders only. There will be no over the counter sales on Tuesday. There will be full canteen services on Wednesday to Friday.

Have a great end to the week.

Yours in Christ,