What a whirlwind this term has been. The calmer, quieter pace that we all came to deeply appreciate last year seems a long distant thing of the past. This term has been jam-packed with events - swimming carnivals, cross country, sports trials, professional learning experiences for the staff, Project Compassion and Lenten events, the launch of Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) and the introduction of tokens, the re-introduction of the band and choir, P&F meetings, parent information evenings, school enrolment tours, along with the regular day-to-day learning opportunities. This upcoming break is very well-deserved by all our students and staff.

I wish you all a happy and holy Easter. Let this Easter be a joyous one for us all.  Let us prepare ourselves, to be worthy of the risen Christ.

We wish Stephanie Colvin well in the project that she is about to embark on next term. We know she will do an amazing job and we look forward to her coming back throughout the year and helping us pilot the new Religious Education units that she will be writing. We offer our congratulations and support to Mrs Donna McMillan who will be stepping into the Acting Religious Education Coordinator’s role in Steph’s absence. Donna is very excited and enthusiastic about this leadership opportunity and we look forward to working with her in this capacity.

Uniforms

Unfortunately, the girls shorts as an option for the summer uniform have not been available this term. They will be in stock later in the year when we begin to wear the summer uniform once more. Lowes apologises for the inconvenience. We will change into winter uniform next term. It is usually around Week 3 or 4 that we transition. We will wait to see what the weather is like on our return to school and then determine the final change over date. Navy trousers, to match the shorts, have been ordered for the girls for winter and it is hoped that by Week 4 of next term they will be in stock. If this is an option that your girls would like to take up please feel free to hold off purchasing the winter uniform. The same white shirt and tab tie as the tunic will be worn with the trousers. We will let you know as soon as they are in stock.

Easter Raffle

It is no exaggeration to say that a sea of chocolate eggs washed through our school this week. We are extremely grateful to all our families for your donations of eggs along with the purchasing of raffle tickets. There were too many prizes to count but I do know that there is a huge number of children going home with big smiles on their faces as a result of having a winning ticket in the raffle. I’d like to thank Angela Samuels with the assistance of Kristy Hatherly, Jodie Bruce, Tammy Wilson and Lauren Payne for the organisation, coordination, sorting and wrapping. Without their help the raffle would not have been possible.

Thanks also go to Lyndall Allen from Robinsons Real Estate for her organisation of the schoolwide colouring in competition. We congratulate the following students who won first prize.

Tabloids

St Joseph was definitely on our side yesterday when we managed to carry out the tabloid activities that had been planned as part of our St Joseph’s feast day celebrations. Blue sky and sunshine were very much the order of the day yesterday and our Year 6 students managed to lead the whole school in a fabulously fun and well organised variety of activities. The students did a terrific job of deciding on the activities, putting all the arrangements in place for them to happen as well as stepping up and leading the different activities. Great leadership Year 6! Thanks also to their teachers who assisted them in making this such a successful event. After all the recent rain, to have the whole school outside at the same time enjoying one another’s company and having fun together was fabulous.

Kiss and Ride

When you are doing afternoon Kiss and Ride pick-up please remember to display your name tags prominently on the sunvisor. As the teacher on that duty it is very challenging to have to supervise the children, keep the kids level down, read name cards, call out names, all whilst thinking ahead and working out which coloured cone to send children to and responding to children as well as monitoring the pedestrians on the footpath. When there are no name tags displayed or they are only held up for a few seconds here and there, and when we turn around they are no longer on display, it makes for a very challenging situation.

If you need further laminated name cards please contact the office at the start of next term or ask your child to go to the office to make the request.

The easiest and best solution to manage this situation is for you to permanently keep your name on the visor with a large elastic band or a bulldog clip. When you arrive in the Kiss and Ride zone then all you need to do is pull down the visor.

Remember, the use of name cards help you as parents and they help the staff as well. A much safer and more efficient practice is the result. I strongly encourage you to work at this next term.

Disco Fever

The P&F are organising their first event in 12 months. They are kicking off with a school disco early next term. There will be two sessions, the earlier one for infants and then one following this for the primary students. Save the date - Friday 14th May. More details will be provided in our first week back after the holidays.

2022 Kindergarten Enrolment

We have recently held school tours for families considering St Joseph’s for their children in Kindergarten next year. Our Year 6 students have been the very capable tour guides. We will continue with these tours next term. If you have a child who will be starting school next year or know someone who does please book in or encourage them to book in for a guided tour. Schedule tour dates are 22nd April, 26 April & 7 May. 

Enrolment packs are available now from the office.

Important Dates

Please note the following dates are scheduled for Staff Development Days later in the year and subsequently will be Pupil Free Days:

Friday 18th June, Friday 25th June and Friday 16th July