THE SJ VIBE

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School

Principal's Reflection

Friday 24th February 2023 Edition 4, Volume 2

SHELLEY'S WELCOME

What a wonderful start to the year we have had! The classrooms have been very calm and I thank the staff and students for setting up wonderful learning routines to assist this happening so quickly. 

I would like to acknowledge Nicole Ryan for the coordination of the Whole School Mass, Confirmation Day and Family Meeting and the Ash Wednesday Liturgy. Thank you to the families who have set aside time to attend these celebrations. All families are welcome to attend any liturgy or mass held on site and these are held in the classrooms, due to space challenges.

I would like to take a moment to pray for our Year 6 students who are preparing for this sacrament.

An invitation is extended to all families to stay for Assembly held on Friday mornings from 8.50am. Parents are welcome to sit in your child's class for this.

Susan and Sylvia have worked together to get the SIMON system up and running. Thanks to all families who have demonstrated patience with this change and note that Skoolbag and Operoo are to be phased out with the centralised system ( one stop shop) of SIMON PAM & SIMON Everywhere.

The Welcome Conversations have been a genuine way of building relationships between parents, students and staff. Thank you for your time and if you have missed this opportunity, please reach out to your teacher to make a time to chat.

Last of all, just a reminder to families that children are not to be delivered to the school and left unattended before 8.30 am. We have Kelly Club to provide support to families. The students are not able to be supervised before 8.30 am and safety can be compromised outside the school with vehicles, pedestrians and bicycles moving constantly. 

Parents are asked to enter the Drive Through from the left side lane of Treeve Parkway and leave it turning into the left lane. If cars are crossing traffic an accident of a child or a car being hit is more likely and I want that risk eliminated. Thank you in advance as the safety of our students and families always come first.

Have a great weekend!

Kind regards

Shelley


HARMONY WEEK

Benvenuti (Welcome) everyone!

At St Joseph’s we strive to be a community that is inclusive of all families and build relationships across the school so that everyone feels ‘Welcome’.

This term in Italian we have been learning different ways of greeting one another and conversational language. We have also been focusing on community; what makes a connected community? How are we a part of the Catholic community? Why community is important?

In light of the upcoming harmony week, we wanted to invite families to share a bit of their culture and community and are asking you to share with us how you say welcome or hello in your language. Attached is a template of what we would love for you to include. If you would like to take part, please have a look at the attached document with some guidelines included for the task.

Once you have completed it, please return it to your child’s classroom teacher by the 13th of March so that we can create a school display.

PROJECT COMPASSION

This season of Lent we are raising funds to help support Project Compassion, Caritas Australia’s annual fundraising campaign. Project Compassion addresses the challenges of poverty today, and drives lasting change for a better tomorrow. Join us to help support remote and vulnerable communities across Asia, Africa, the Pacific and in Australia.

Please see the attached flyer for details on how to donate via the QR code. For those families who would still like to donate, you are able to send money to school with your child and they can add it to the Project Compassion box in their classroom.

We appreciate your support with this worthy cause and are thankful to you for any donation you can provide.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1p1hlgWPe9v2WmjTZAyYhcrVZI3HZPN3s/view?usp=share_link


TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PLAN

This plan is based on the premise of the safety of all being preserved at all times. The process of dropping off and picking up children must be one of efficiency, safety and effectiveness. It will require all parties to follow the procedures established to ensure the satisfactory result. This drop off and pick up zone will only hold a small number of cars at a time therefore the following procedures must be explicitly followed.

Parents are expected to enter Treeve Parkway according to the diagram below to ensure that; others are not kept waiting, Treeve Parkway is not blocked by cars and that our neighbours can access the street safely. 

The only turning into the school at the entry gate will be a left turn from Treeve Parkway. Parents will travel along Treeve Parkway according to the diagram below and will use the roundabout at Fairhall Avenue to turn left at the entry gate.

DROPPING OFF AND COLLECTING CHILDREN

  • Drivers must drive in through the Entry Gate only turning left into the entry gate during the times of 8:30 and 8:45 am & 3:10 - 3:25 pm.

  • If the car spaces are full, drivers must wait in line until space is available before children leave the car. 

  • Parents must not overtake parked cars and instead wait to be directed to move.

  • Drivers must pull up into the space furthest up in the drop off zone

  • Drivers must remain in the car so as not to hold up traffic. 

  • Children must be ready to leave/enter the car when it is parked 

  • Children must not get in/out of the car until the car is stationary.

  • Staff will support children by opening/closing doors & helping children in/out of the car if required. 

  • Staff must ensure that children who are being dropped off and picked up are in the area/leave the area in a timely manner according to our PBL guidelines.

  • Children are expected to demonstrate responsible behaviours while waiting for their car and exit/enter the car in a safe manner. 

  • If children are delayed you will be directed to exit out of the zone and loop back to the end of the line via the roundabouts on Treeve Parkway.

  • After drop off/pick up, drivers must leave the school by turning left through the exit gate when safe to do so. 

  • Caregivers wishing to talk to Staff must enter through the front of the school and park in the spaces available. 

STUDENT VOICE - FOUNDATION

In Foundation, we have been working on building relationships with the students and adjusting to the school environment and routines. Each class has introduced our PBL routines of lining up, eating and unpacking and packing their bags independently. 

In Maths, the students are learning to work collaboratively in small groups. They have started to familarise themselves with numbers. The students are participating in activities where they have matched quantities to numbers and played counting games.

In our Literacy program we have begun using Get Reading Right and students have started to practice their reading skills and are learning new words and phonemes (letter sounds). 

Foundation Jen with Cuddles and Joey
Foundation Bridget with Buddy
Foundation Sarah with Ellie the Elephant

We were all very excited to meet our class mascots who will soon be heading home with a different student each weekend. 

Starting school is a very exciting time and we are all very proud of the enthusiasm and effort all children have shown! Here are some of our highlights from each class:

Foundation Jen Sahib “I like that we have gardens to play in. I’ve been learning to count.”

Foundation Jen Imogen “I love going on the playground. I am learning to write and I can write letters all by myself!”

Foundation Bridget “I like learning to read and playing outside” - Willow and Juliana

Foundation Bridget “My favourite thing to do at St Joseph’s is make new friends and to write and read” - Eliana

Foundation Bridget “I like to do writing and to do drawing with my 5/6 buddy” - Cooper and Jonathan

World Maths Day

World Maths Day is just around the corner. To celebrate, you are invited to come to your child/ren's classroom and play some maths games! We look forward to having some maths fun with you! 

When: Tuesday, 7th March from 2:30pm until dismissal (3:10pm).

Where: your child's classroom (if you have multiple children, you are welcome to spend time in each as you wish)If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your child's teacher.

NAPLAN 2023 - Years 3 and 5

National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is an annual assessment for students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. NAPLAN tests assess student knowledge and skills in Writing, Reading, Conventions of Language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and Numeracy. NAPLAN is completed online (with the exception of year 3 writing) from Wednesday 15 March - Monday 27 March. Students in Years 3 and 5 will undertake all NAPLAN tests. More information can be found in the download link below.

Download

Learning Centre Two

Stage 2 Building Update

The Stage Two building project is tracking well, with Rendine Constructions, Baldasso Cortese and MACS working together, to make great progress over the break. 

The Administration Building may be completed by the end of Term Two and Learning Centre Two (LC2) is  on track for the end of the year. There has been much progress on the LC2 building with the walls and roof structures constructed. 

KITCHEN GARDEN

The Wonder Recycling Program is back for 2023. Thank you to all the families who saved empty bread bags last year. These were boxed up and sent away to be recycled. In return, we have received some skipping ropes of various sizes for use in the playground. So it’s time to start saving our bread bags again. We can also take soft plastic bags from various bread products such as pita bread, bagels, pancakes, bread rolls etc. Just remember to shake all the crumbs out first and then bring them into school.

This term we are focusing on safety in the Kitchen Garden. It’s been great to see everyone being sun smart and we have all been practicing using tools safely in the garden. This week we have looked at recycled water in the school garden, we have practiced walking safely with trowels and have watered seedlings gently with watering cans. Some of the classes have been able to utilise our outdoor classroom area which has been lovely.

Get Active Kids Program $200 Voucher

On behalf of Tim Pallas MP of Werribee, I’m writing to let you know that the latest round of the Andrews Labor Government’s Get Active Kids Program is now open.

Eligible Victorians can now apply for $200 Get Active Kids voucher online which can then be redeemed at a registered Get Active Kids Voucher Activity Provider – such as a local sporting club or organisation.

The program is open to Victorian children aged 18 and under, named on a valid Commonwealth Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card and named on a valid Medicare Card at the time of application.

A special consideration stream is also available to support children in care, temporary or provisional visa holders, undocumented migrants, and international students up to 18 years at the time of application.

Families can also continue to claim reimbursement for expenses already incurred, as has been the case in previous rounds.

Applications for this round close at 5pm on 10 May 2023. To apply or for more information, please visit the program website at https://getactive.vic.gov.au/vouchers/


2023 SCHOOL TERM DATES

Term 1:

Wednesday 1st February — Thursday 6th April

Term 2:          

Wednesday 26th April — Friday 23rd June

Term 3:          

Monday 10th July — Friday 15th September

Term 4:          

Monday 2nd October — Tuesday 19th December

SCHOOL ATTENDANCE PROCEDURE

If you have not activated your accounts, please email enquiries@sjwerribee.catholic.edu.au and a password re-set email will be sent. Please check your SPAM/Junk emails.


School Attendance - SIMON PAM & SIMON Everywhere App or Voicemail (Attendance Line - 8742 3381)

If your child is absent from school please communicate this with the school office. SIMON PAM & SIMON Everywhere App has an attendance e-form which can be filled out and submitted. This will be sent directly to the office. Please search for 'Parent notified absence'.

Alternatively, please use the school phone number (8742 3381) and select the attendance line option. When leaving a message please ensure you clearly state your child’s full name, class and the reason for their absence. We must have a valid reason for marking your child/children absent by 9:30am.

If your child needs to arrive late or be collected early from school, please also communicate this via Simon PAM & SIMON Everywhere App. Please search for 'Parent notified absence'.

Please be advised the Skoolbag Absence form will no longer be available as of Wednesday 1st March. All absences must be communicated using the above procedure.

Thank you for your co-operation - it is much appreciated.

ADMINISTRATION UPDATE

MONTHLY DIRECT DEBIT COMMENCING 1st MARCH

As per the Fee Agreement Letter that went out last year, please see the 2023 fee schedule listed below as a reminder. Monthly direct debits will commence Wednesday 1st March, 2023.

FAMILY FEE STATEMENTS

We are currently working through some issues with MACS regarding the 2023 Fee Statements. We are hoping to send these out by email in the next 2 weeks. If you would like to pay your school fees in the interim by direct transfer please contact the school directly for the BSB and Accounts Number.

CSEF

We have now opened the expression of interest for both the CSEF Applications and Concessional School Fee Applications. If you would like to express your interest for either of these please complete the google link below by no later than Sunday 26th February 2023. We will then be able to send Application Forms home with Students.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfj8hYXqBZCD1wqL5m71AXKkAzfMycQ3piUAH3FWmhJwtVcHA/viewform

A little bit about CSEF:

Below are the criteria used to determine a student’s eligibility for the Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF).

Criteria 1 – General eligibilityTo be eligible for the fund, a parent or carer of a student attending a registered Government or non-government Victorian primary or secondary school must:

a)     be a holder of one or more of the eligible financially-means tested cards OR be a temporary foster parent, and;

b)     submit an application to the school by the due date.

For the list of eligible financially-means tested cards refer to the CSEF Policy:

https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/camps-sports-and-excursions-fund/policy 

Parents who receive a Carer Allowance on behalf of a child, or any other benefit or allowance not income tested by Centrelink, are not eligible for the CSEF unless they also comply with the above.

Criteria 2 - Be of school age and attend school in VictoriaFor the purposes of CSEF, students may be eligible for assistance if they attend a Victorian registered primary or secondary school. CSEF is not payable to students attending pre-school, kindergarten, home schooled, or TAFE.

Special ConsiderationA special consideration category exists for

§   Families on a bridging visa, temporary protection visa, in community detention or are asylum seeker families

§   Students in temporary out of home care arrangements, including statutory kinship care

For more information, see https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/camps-sports-and-excursions-fund/guidance/eligibility 

Eligibility DateFor concession card holders CSEF eligibility will be subject to the parent/carer concession card being validated successfully with Centrelink on the first day of either term one (30 January 2023) or term two (24 April 2023).

PAYMENT AMOUNTS

The CSEF is an annual payment to the school to be used towards camps, sports and/or excursion expenses for the benefit of the eligible student.

•       Primary school student rate: $125 per year.

The CSEF is paid directly to your child’s school and will be allocated by the school towards camps, sports and/or excursion costs for your child.

For ungraded students, the rate payable is determined by the student’s date of birth. For more information, see: www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/Pages/csef.aspx 

If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact the Administration Team.

Thank you

Kelly Sports: Monday 27th February

Kelly Sports Athletics, Hockey & Cricket for Term One, 2023. This program is offered for children of all ages Years Foundation to Year 6. This is an out-of-school program to be using the St Joseph's Facilities. 

Kelly Sports Wyndham program is to commence on Monday 27/2/23 next week between 3:20-4:20 pm after school. A separate session for the Kelly Club between 4:30-5:30 pm will be coordinated with the Kelly Club.

Families need to book this before this Friday to ensure the program can run. A minimum of 10 children need to be booked for the program to go ahead.

Kelly Sports - Multi-Sports Athletics, Hockey & Cricket Programs, 2023 Term 1 at St Joseph's Werrbee Catholic Primary School - Kids are to meet Kelly Sports Coaches at the school's designated meeting point, except Preps who are collected from their classrooms (so please confirm the Prep Grade). Lessons are run outside on the school's sports field (unless wet/inclement weather, then some modified lessons run either indoors or in an undercover area).

Program times: Monday, 3:20 - 4:20 pm

Program dates: Monday 27/2/22 - 3/4/23 ($90 for a 5 Week Program, no lesson on Monday 13/3/23 Labour Day Public Holiday).

Book and pay before Monday 20/2/23 to receive an early bird $80 rate and save, normally $90.

Regards

Tim Cleveland

https://www.kellysports.com.au/Wyndham

tim@kellysports.com.au

0417 500 870

#KellySportsWyndham

Download

IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES

Tuesday 28th February:

School Closure Day (Staff Professional Learning) Kelly Club available

Wednesday 1st March:

2024 Enrolments Open (online)

Wednesday 8th March:

School Closure Day (Staff First Aid Training Day) Kelly Club available

Monday 13th March:

School Closure Day (Labour Day PUBLIC HOLIDAY)

Wednesday 15th March –

Monday 27th March:

Naplan

Sunday 19th March:

St Joseph’s Feast Day

Wednesday 29th March:

Whole School Photo Day (information to follow)

Thursday 6th April:

Term 1 concludes for all students (early finish TBC)

Monday 24th April:

School Closure Day (Staff RELATE Day) Kelly Club available

Tuesday 25th April:

School Closure Day (Anzac Day PUBLIC HOLIDAY)

Wednesday 26th April:

Term 2 commences for all students

Monday 6th November:

School Closure Day (Report Writing Day/Staff Professional Learning Day)

Tuesday 7th November:

School Closure Day (Melbourne Cup Day PUBLIC HOLIDAY)

Monday 4th December:

School Closure Day (2024 Staff Planning Day) Kelly Club available

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Werribee

"Spirit of Unity: Respect,  Courage,  Kindness"