St Joseph's Newsletter

Dear Parents and Community Members,

Last week the school leaders’ badges arrived!!! On Friday 1 April the School Captains, House Team Captains, Vice Captains and members of the Student Representative council were presented with their badges at a whole school liturgy.

Our school leaders and SRC members have responsibility in leading by example, demonstrating the 5 respects in their interactions with each other and being a voice for all the students in our school. 

This year the SRC is being co-ordinated by Miss Jessica Taormina. 

The school leaders then recited the commitment prayer as a witness to all in our school community.

I am delighted and very excited to inform you that a grant application has been successful and we will be partnering with Immaculate Heart of Mary and Our Lady Queen of Peace Schools in a joint three year project, focussing on supporting all students with self regulation to strengthen their cognitive, social and emotional development. 

We will be supported with expert advice and training from an Occupational Therapy provider – “Motivate Kids.” 

Stage 1 of the project will involve two professional learning days for teaching and non-teaching staff.

This professional learning will take place on :

Monday 2 May and Friday 10 June – These two days will be School Closure days – OSHC will be available.

Parent Workshops will also be organised as part of this project. More information to follow.

The School Board recently received an email expressing concern for the ongoing disregard of street signs, with parents and carers conducting 3 point turns illegally at a school crossing, parking for longer than 2 minutes at the ‘kiss and drop,’ resulting in traffic jams and other unsafe behaviours.  Staff on duty at each of the “kiss and drop” zones have a duty of care to the students – student safety is our priority.   It is your responsibility to act safely and responsibly near the school to avoid a catastrophic accident occurring.   As mentioned on numerous occasions, the City Of Charles Sturt traffic management team conduct regular patrols around ALL schools within their jurisdiction to ensure the road rules are being followed and significant fines are issued for those who do not comply with the traffic rules.  I am aware that our neighbours driveways are still being blocked and vehicular access is limited when traffic flow is obstructed by vehicles being parked inappropriately.  Members of the community have taken it on themselves to contact and report vehicles to the council.

School staff wear high visibility vests and may on occasion ask you to move your car – can you please respond promptly to these requests.  "We are all in this together".  Every child is precious and has the right to a safe school environment.  Please support us to ensure that every member of this school community feels safe and members of our local community can travel freely along Bertie and Albemarle street without being caught in traffic congestion.

As this is the last newsletter this term, on behalf of the staff, I would like to extend our best wishes and blessings to you all for a Happy and Holy Easter and school holiday break.  We thank you for your ongoing support and working in respectful partnership to ensure the growth and development of every child.

“In this season of rebirth, may you feel your faith renewed and your heart made new with the hope Easter brings!

God Bless and Easter Blessings

Maria D’Aloia

Principal

If you are able to help with breakfast club on Monday, Wednesday or Friday can you please let the school office know. 

What’s that, Fruchoc hot cross buns you say?
We have those! ✅
Fluffy lamingtons in 3 flavours, we’ve got those too! ✅ ✅
Gluten free hot cross buns? Yep, we’ve got you covered! ✅ ✅ ✅

And thanks to Kytons Bakery, our highest individual fundraiser at St Jo’s will take home a FREE GIFT PACK! 🎁

👉 Head over to the P&F page on QKR to place your orders today (orders close Wednesday 6th April 2022, pick up Wednesday 13th April 2022).

Personal hygiene and the hygiene standards in our school is critical to reducing the risk of infection.

All children and staff will need to continue to:

• wash their hands regularly, particularly after using the toilet and before eating
• avoid spreading infections to others by staying home if they are unwell
• cover a cough or sneeze with a tissue
• year 3-6 students to wear masks in classrooms

SA Health encourages parents to provide children with their own personal, labelled and named drink water bottles. These can then be refilled at the drink fountains or water taps, rather than children drinking directly from the taps.

Parents will need to maintain social distancing when in the school yard.

Let’s care for each other and be kind!

The war in Ukraine is an escalating humanitarian crisis. In a matter of days, over a million people have been forced from their homes and at least 400 civilians have lost their lives.  Many are seeking refuge in Poland and surrounding countries.  Long-standing partner, Caritas Ukraine, is on the ground, supporting people in need during this humanitarian crisis.  Our fundraiser for Harmony Day will focus on Caritas Australia’s Ukraine Appeal.

Donate today at www.caritas.org.au/ukraine or call 1800 024 413 toll free.

Bookings for Vacation Care are still open but there are limited spaces.

Please ensure you read the information in the program attached as it may have changed. View and Download our Vacation Care Program here.

🤩 These holidays we have lots of FUN activities planned:

🐰 Easter Fun Day
🍿 Pyjama & Drive in Movie Fun Day
👷‍♀️ Blocklers Fun Day
🛴 Wheelie & Tech Fun Day

🎨 Craft Fun Day
👨‍🍳 Cooking Fun Day
👩‍🔬 Chemistry Workshop with Nitro Nat
🕺 Disco Fun Day

🎲 Pupil Free Day: Monday 2nd May - Games Fun Day

📝 Return your Booking & Consent Form to OSHC
Bookings are available by filling in the form and returning it directly to OSHC in person or via email (bookings via our online system will not be available).

Printed copies of our Vac Care program are going home with your eldest child this afternoon.

Please remember that term time bookings do not roll over into Vacation Care.

🆕 Using Vac Care for the first time?
Families using our service for the first time will need to complete an OSHC Enrolment process before care can be provided or bookings accepted. Create an account and register your child by following the link on our website, alternatively a step by step information sheet is available through the centre.

🤔 Have a question?
Get in touch with our OSHC team, call 0408 809 107 or email oshc@sjsh.catholic.edu.au