Dear Parents, Guardians and Carers,

Last week was the first week of Lent and we marked this with a whole school Mass for Ash Wednesday. This was preceded by Shrove Tuesday. Thanks to all those who helped in classes with making pancakes on Tuesday, helping our students enjoy one of the traditions of the Lent and Easter season.

We are praying for our Reconciliation candidates as they prepare to make their first Reconciliation next Thursday 20^th March. This is a beautiful sacrament which can bring a sense of love and peace.

Next Wednesday, 19^th March it will be the feast of St Joseph! We have lots of special celebrations planned for that day, including a “Bollywood” incursion and donuts. Students can wear "red". Further details in the newsletter.

Friday is Harmony Day! Students are invited to wear a "touch of orange" on this day e.g. orange socks, ribbons, head bands etc. There will be a special assembly on this day. All are welcome.

Thanks to parents who attended the parent teacher interviews. It is so important to keep these channels of communication going so everyone can express hopes and desires for our students.

As I write this, our Year 6 students are on their way home from Sovereign Hill after three days camp experience. From all accounts and the photos that we have received, it was a very successful camp. There will be some tired but happy students and staff on their return.

I wish everyone a restful weekend.

Best wishes,

Ros Joyner

Principal

Term 1

Thursday 30 January – Friday 4 April

Tuesday 18 March                                           St Joseph’s Athletics Carnival Grades 1 – 6 at Geoff Watt Track

Wednesday 19 March                                    St Joseph’s Day - wear RED

Thursday 20 March                                         Sacrament of Reconciliation at St Ita’s, Drouin

Friday 21 March                                               Harmony Day - wear a touch of ORANGE

Thursday 27 March                                         First Holy Communion Parent Information Meeting at St Ita’s School Hall, Drouin

Friday 4 April                                                     Stations of the Cross 9:30am

Friday 4 April                                                     Easter Raffle will be drawn at 1:45pm

Friday 4 April                                                     Last Day of School for Term 1 – 2:20pm finish

Term 2

Tuesday 22 April – Friday 4 July

Monday 21 April                                              Easter Monday Public Holiday – No School

Tuesday 22 April                                              First Day of School for Term 2

Wednesday 23 April                                       Year 3 Day Camp – Forest Edge

23 Wed – 24 Thurs April                               Year 4 Overnight Camp – Forest Edge

Friday 25 April                                                  ANZAC Day Public Day

Sunday 27 April                                                First Holy Communion Commitment Mass

Wednesday 30 April                                       School Photos

Thursday 1 May                                                Foundation 2026 Open Day 3:30pm – 5:30pm

Sat 3 – Sun 4 May                                            First Holy Communion Commitment Mass

Mon 5 – Wed 7 May                                       Year 5 Mill Valley Ranch Camp (2 nights)

Thursday 8 May                                                First Holy Communion Parent/Child Workshop

Friday 9 May                                                      Mother’s Day Morning Tea & Cabaret

Wednesday 21 May                                        National Simultaneous Story Time

Thursday 22 May                                             Andrew Chinn

Thursday 22 May                                             First Holy Communion Reconciliation Ceremony

Sat 24 & Sun 25 May                                      First Holy Communion Masses

Friday 30 May                                                   Pupil Free Day

Sat 31 May & Sun 1 June                              First Holy Communion Masses

Thursday 5 June                                               First Holy Communion Post Teaching Mass

Monday 9 June                                                 King’s Birthday Public Holiday

Thursday 19 June                                            Confirmation Parent Information Meeting

Sat 21 & Sun 22 June                                     Confirmation Commitment Mass

Sunday 29 June                                                Confirmation Commitment Mass

Friday 4 July                                                       Last Day of Term 2 – 2:20pm finish

CELEBRATING ST JOSEPH'S DAY

WEDNESDAY 19th MARCH

On Friday, 19th March, we will be celebrating St Joseph's Day.  St Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, is the namesake of our school and Parish as well as being the Patron Saint of many, including the Catholic Church, fathers, carpenters and workers. 

Grades 1 to 6 will begin the day with a prayer service in the hall at 9:15am. Families and friends are welcome to join us.

As a St Joseph's Day celebration and a Harmony week activity, we are having a visit from the Cultural Infusion organisation presenting "Bollywood Infusion." It should be fun learning about the famous dance industry in India and a few Bollywood dance moves. 

As in past years we will have two fundraisers in aid of Caritas.  Following the Italian tradition of eating sugared fritters, called zeppole or frittelle, on St Joseph's Day, we will offer cinnamon doughnuts to the children, which are like the Italian fritters. Doughnut orders have already been taken.

Students are also encouraged to wear the colour RED on the day, following the Italian and Polish tradition of wearing the colour red to honour St Joseph. Students wearing red are asked to please bring along a gold coin donation in aid Caritas’ Project compassion “Unite Against Poverty This Lent” appeal.

Sacrament of First Reconciliation

Extra Ceremony

Families with candidates preparing for their First Reconciliation please note that due to our numbers, an extra ceremony has been added. Families can choose to attend at 5pm or at 7pm, both will be held at St. Ita’s Church, Drouin. Families are asked to RSVP to Liz Warragul.sacraments@cdsale.org.au  with the time that they will be attending.

Sacrament of First Holy Communion

Note: change in venue

Attention: Families with Students in Grade 4 and above

Dear Parents/Guardians,

If you would like your child to receive the Sacrament of First Holy Communion this year, please attend our Information Meeting on Thursday 27^th March, at 7pm in the St. Ita’s School Hall, Drouin. This meeting is for Parents/Guardians only (not candidates). Our guest speaker is Rev. Dr. Fr. Elio Capra, SDB.  He is a knowledgeable and engaging speaker. At this gathering, we will hand out information packs, containing enrolment forms, and outline the events and details concerning this wonderful Sacrament. A letter with more information should have come home by now. If you have not received one, please check with your school/catechist class.

For further enquiries please feel welcome to contact Liz via phone: 5623 1642 or email: Warragul.sacraments@cdsale.org.au

 A message from Deacon Mark

Now - Down the Mountain

Peter’s, often blundering, steps strike a chord with me. I feel I know Peter. And, as a pretty ordinary photographer and painter and an average wordsmith, I understand Peter’s impulse to somehow capture the astounding event he and James and John are witnessing (Luke 9:28-36). Often, I try to capture sunsets, beach scenes, landscapes and even grandchildren. I want to record them at their peak moments, but I rarely succeed to my satisfaction. Peter probably thinks this is Jesus’ peak moment, hence his somewhat silly suggestion to build dwellings or tents or memorials signifying the great prophets, Moses and Elijah and Jesus. He is quickly shut down. Moses and Elijah disappear, and Peter’s creative moment is gone. Confirmation of Jesus greatness is the beginning not the end. Immediately, Jesus is identified as the Chosen One and they are instructed to listen to him so that they (and we) may learn to truly follow Christ on his continuing journey.

What Peter has failed to realize, as many of us often do, is that what is important is not so much that Jesus is transfigured, but that we be transfigured – that’s what Jesus came to do: to transform us more and more into his image and likeness, that we might become, as C.S. Lewis said, “Little Christs.” This glorious “Transfiguration” event might seem a little left field in the context of Luke’s narrative, sandwiched as it is between Jesus forecasts of his imminent death. But it points us forward to along this Lenten journey, emphasising the glory in prospect for each of us, but recognising too that we need to pass through harsh times before the glory. Peter, James and John (and we) need to come down from the mountain, joining Jesus in his journey of love and service and walking together towards whatever future God plans for us. 

Deacon Mark Kelly

Warragul District Swimming Carnival

Gippsland Regional Swimming Championship

Seb, Riley, Harvey and Khye attended the Gippsland Regional Swimming Championship on Thursday in Sale. They did a great job and came 5th in their event. 

St Joseph's School Athletics - Tuesday, 18 March

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS!

Our Athletics Carnival is one of the largest events on our school calendar. To continue being a successful day, it requires the support of our school community. We need EXTRA HELP THIS YEAR as Marist-Sion students are unavailable as they have their Commencement Mass. If you are able to assist on the day or part of the day, it is very much appreciated.

Volunteers MUST HAVE a current working with children check and have completed a St. Joseph's Code of Conduct, which is attached. Please express your interest and the age group you would like to assist with by contacting the school office or email Carolyn McIntyre: cmcintyre@stjwarragul.catholic.edu.au

In Victoria, it is compulsory for children and young people aged 6–17 years to attend school.

Parents are legally required to ensure their child attends school every day and to provide an explanation for their child's absence from school unless an exemption from attendance has been granted or an exception to their attendance applies.

Absences

If your child is away sick or away due to a planned absence or appointment, please ensure you advise the school office. Student absence text messages are sent out if your child is marked absent without a reason. Emails or ClassDojo messages may be missed in some instances; if the classroom teacher is teaching or the classroom teacher may be away.

It is imperative that you notify the school office through one of the following methods:

1. Log into PAM (Parent Access Module) and register your child's absence;

2. Email absence@stjwarragul.catholic.edu.au or info@stjwarragul.catholic.edu.au 

3. Phone the office on (03) 5623 2943

When sending an email, you may wish to "cc" your child's classroom teacher so they are aware of the absence too.

Holidays

If you are planning an extended holiday (a week or more) during the school term, please email info@stjwarragul.catholic.edu.au or principal@stjwarragul.catholic.edu.au addressing your intentions to our Principal, Mrs Roslyn Joyner.

If you have any questions or need any clarification, please feel free to contact Shirley or Kitty in the office on (03) 5623 2943.

Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy

As members of the St Joseph's school community, we all have a responsibility to keep children safe. To support families with information about the actions our school takes to keep children safe, our Child Safety and Wellbeing policy has been updated, endorsed by our Child Safety Team and shared with our community both here and on our school website. Families are encouraged to read the policy or visit our school website and explore the Child Safety section. 

Victoria’s Child Safe Standards under Ministerial Order No. 1359 require certain roles and responsibilities to be allocated within schools, including the role of Child Safety Champions who supports school leadership to effectively implement their child safety and wellbeing plans. Our Child Safety Champions for 2024 and 2025 are Ros Joyner, Camillo Redi and James McMahon.

Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy

Car Line

Our school is very blessed with a long carline with ample parking. However, we continue to experience some issues during the afternoon pickup. Burke Street is extremely busy from 3:00-3:30pm. If you arrive before school finishes, it is an expectation that you move all the way down the carline and fill all the spaces. If the carline is full, take a parking spot opposite the carline and walk to the crossing for student collection. Alternatively, leaving home 5-10 minutes later may be a better option to avoid being stuck in the congestion. Children are supervised in the carline area until 3:35pm, at which time, our carline and Burke Street are clear.

School Crossing

Please remember that the carline is private property and all people using our carline must follow the instructions of the staff managing the area - this is non-negotiable and aggressive or abusive behaviour will not be tolerated. Entering the carline via the exit is dangerous and illegal.

When waiting along Burke Street to enter the school grounds, please do not stop your vehicle on the school crossing. For safety reasons, the school crossing supervisor is not authorised to allow children to cross the school crossing if a vehicle has stopped over the school crossing.

Medical Profiles and Emergency Contact Details

We remind parents and carers that it is time to review your child/ren's medical profile on PAM. Any changes in medical needs should be communicated to the school to ensure that we provide the most up-to-date care for our students. If emergency contact details have changed or emails, phone numbers need updating, please contact the office to provide the updates necessary. The most efficient way to provide these details to the office would be to email - info@stjwarragul.catholic.edu.au

If your child is affected by Anaphylaxis or has any allergies and requires an ASCIA Allergy Plan developed by your child's doctor, please provide information and a copy to the office. In addition, Asthma plans may need updating, please ensure that these are also current. If your child has medication stored at our school, please check with the office that the medication is still in date and there is ample supply.

**All Medical Authority Forms held at school must be updated as soon as possible to allow for any medication changes, dosage or student growth . An email was sent out to all familes on 30 January with medication information and the forms required, depending on the ailment. Please contact the school office if you need any further assistance.

Lunch Orders

Lunch orders:

• are every Wednesday and Friday
• can be placed using the Flexischools app
• are delivered to school for the first break at 11:30am
• can be placed until 11:00pm the night before (Tuesday and Thursday) from a full menu
• can be placed until 9:00am on Wednesday and Friday mornings from a limited menu

The lost property shelves can be found in the multipurpose room. 

Parents are most welcome to come and look in the tubs if students have lost any items of clothing, headbands drink bottles etc...

We have plenty of unnamed bomber school jackets from lost property, mostly new and hardly worn. These can be purchased for a gold coin donation. Children can see Mrs Mulqueen on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday's.

Please note that if your child tests positive to Covid-19, it is strongly recommended that students:

• Who test positive to COVID-19 should stay home and isolate for five (5) days;
• Should not attend school after five (5) days if still symptomatic;
• Who are symptomatic but have not tested positive should not attend school until their symptoms resolve;
• Parents, guardians or carers advise the school of the COVID-19 positive test result.

To assist with limiting the spread of COVID-19 and other illnesses, parents, guardians and carers should be strongly encouraged to ensure that their child(ren) remain at home if they are unwell, including if they have tested positive to COVID-19.

The bushfire season is upon us and normally runs from October until April.

As St. Joseph’s is located in a high-risk bushfire area, the school will be pre-emptively closed in the event that the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) issues a Catastrophic Fire Danger Rating (FDR) which is the highest level of fire danger. This will apply when the warning is issued for our weather district to the school (West and South Gippsland - Region).

A decision is made at 1:00pm the day before if possible, and will not change regardless of changing weather conditions. This will help limit confusion and help families plan for how their children will be cared for when the school is closed.

Where possible, four (4) to seven (7) days’ notice of a planned closure will be provided. However, experience indicates that a Catastrophic FDR may be forecast at short notice. Parents, guardians, and carers should expect that in some instances less than four (4) days’ notice may be provided. No one will be permitted on site when this notice has been issued.

When an Extreme Fire Danger Rating has been issued, the school may close and remote learning enacted - students will join their class online through Google Meet.

This is a part of our emergency management plan for St. Joseph's and every effort will be made to give you advanced warning of a closure. 

Easter Raffle

Our annual Easter raffle is upon us and raffle tickets will be sent home with each child from today.

Any Easter egg donations are welcome (big or small), as well as non chocolate Easter items (crafts etc.) to make up the prizes. We would be very grateful if you could send donations to your child’s classroom or to the office.

This is a great little fundraiser for the Parents and Friends group and prize day is always super exciting for the children.

Tickets (sold and unsold) and money are to be returned by Tuesday 1 April.

Raffle prizes will be drawn at a special assembly at 1:45pm on Friday 4 April, all welcome.

Join us on Facebook

We welcome all families to join our P&F Facebook page. This is a great place to ask any questions you might have and to engage with our school community - please search 'Parents and Friends of St Joseph's Primary School Warragul'.

Second Hand Uniforms

We have racks of clean second-hand school uniforms, available for a gold coin donation.

These will be available to view at some assemblies. Alternatively, to view/purchase items, please contact the P&F Committee on stjosephswarragulpandf@gmail.com or ask at the school office.

Young people today are growing up in a world where exposure to other people's lives is constant. Through social media and other platforms, they are regularly presented with curated highlights - from flawless holiday photos and academic milestones to the latest fashion trends and fitness achievements. This continuous stream of idealised content fuels what is known as comparison culture, where self-worth is often measured by how someone stacks up against others.

For children and adolescents, who are still figuring out who they are, this culture can be particularly damaging. Constantly comparing their appearance, achievements, or social standing to friends, influencers, and even strangers can lead to unrealistic expectations and a skewed sense of self-worth. This relentless need to measure up can contribute to feelings of inadequacy, self-doubt, and anxiety - undermining both confidence and emotional wellbeing.

It's vital that parents and caregivers understand how deeply comparison culture can influence a child's self-perception and sense of value. Left unchecked, it can foster perfectionism and a dependence on external validation, where a 'like' or comment becomes the measure of their worth.

The good news is, families have a powerful role to play in helping young people navigate these challenges. This Special Report will help you empower your child to build the resilience and confidence needed to navigate today's comparison-driven world and embrace their own unique path.

Here is the link to your Special Report https://stjwarragul.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-social-media-comparison-culture-au

Warragul Mobile Blood Donor Centre

8 to 25 April

Got a bit of time this month?

Time to give blood and change lives?

1 in 3 people in Warragul will need blood, and they need people like you to give it.

We’re rolling into town from 8 to 25 April. Don’t forget to pre-book your spot at lifeblood.com.au, on our app or on 13 14 95.

Warragul Blues Junior Football Club

Peninsula Cinemas, Warragul