Dear Parents, Guardians and Carers,

The final countdown to our school productions is now on!

The last full dress rehearsal will take place on Monday at school, followed by a rehearsal at the West Gippsland Arts Centre on Wednesday, ahead of the big performance on Wednesday night. We hope you enjoy the marvellous efforts of our students. They have been working hard since the middle of Term 2 to put on a great show. We thank Ms Rose Butera for her fabulous leadership and creativity in producing the performance.

If you haven't already, please ensure you grant permission for your child to attend the rehearsal at the Arts Centre. More information about the sign-in/sign-out procedure for Wednesday night will be shared early next week.

This year, our school is proud to participate in the Bullying No Way! National Week of Action (11th–15th August 2025). This is a commitment shared by thousands of schools and supporters across the country, promoting action against bullying. It gives us a chance to connect with students, staff, and our community to implement meaningful strategies for prevention.

The theme for this year’s campaign is: Be Bold. Be Kind. Speak Up.
Throughout the week, students will engage in discussions and activities that promote empathy, understanding, and respect for diversity. We encourage families to take this opportunity to have open and honest conversations with your child about the impact of bullying and the importance of speaking up. You can visit the Bullying No Way! website for tips on how to have these discussions.

Today, we marked the Feast of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, Australia’s first Saint. More than just a historical figure, Mary MacKillop’s life continues to inspire us today. She reminds us of the power of compassion, the importance of standing up for those in need, and the strength that comes from faith and perseverance. Her example encourages us to live with kindness, integrity, and courage in the face of challenges.

We wish our Confirmation Candidates all the best for the upcoming Sacrament of Confirmation next Friday evening (15th August).

Have a lovely weekend, everyone.

Warm regards,

Camillo Redi

Acting Principal

Term 3

Tuesday 22 July – Friday 19 September

Monday 11 August                                          National Science Week

Monday 11 August                                          Bullying No Way: National week of Action

Wednesday 13 August                                   School Production at West Gippsland Arts Centre

Friday 15 August                                              Whole School Feast of the Assumption Mass at 9:30am

Friday 15 August                                              Assembly

Friday 15 August                                              Sacrament of Confirmation Mass at St Ita’s

Mon 18 – Fri 22 August                                 Book Week

Friday 22 August                                              Book Week Dress Up

Friday 22 August                                              Author Virtual Event

Monday 25 August                                          Pupil Free Day

Friday 29 August                                              Assembly

Friday 5 September                                        Father’s Day Breakfast 7:30am - 8:30am

Friday 5 September                                        Father’s Day Stall

Monday 8 September                                   Child Safety Week

Tuesday 9 September                                   Parent & Teacher Interviews

Thursday 11 September                               Parent & Teacher Interviews

Friday 12 September                                     Assembly

Monday 15 September                                 Divisional Summer Sports

Friday 19 September                                     Last Day of Term 3 – 2:20pm finish

Sacrament of Confirmation

Confirmation Mass

Our Confirmation Mass with Bishop Greg will take place on Friday, 15th August at 7:00pm at St. Ita’s Church.

Our Confirmation Mass with Bishop Greg will take place on Friday 15^th August at 7pm at St. Ita’s Church. For more information contact Liz   warragul.sacraments@cdsale.org.au

Baptism Program for School Aged Children

Have you ever thought about Baptism for your school aged child?

An invitation is extended to parents who desire Catholic Baptism for children of school age to attend our Older Baptism Program. The program consists of two parent/child workshops, held on Tuesday, 26^th August and Tuesday, 2^nd September in the Marian Room in Warragul (enter car park from Bowen Street).

Each session will begin with an afternoon tea at 3:45pm.

When families have attended these two sessions, parents will need to attend a parent session to book a time for Baptism.

For more information, please contact Liz via email: warragul.sacraments@cdsale.org.au or phone: 5623 1642.

 Children's Liturgy

 A message from Deacon Mark

True Stewards

Every person in every age needs to deal with the circumstances she finds herself in. Some just go with the flow. Some angrily resist the flow. Some try to tweak the flow a little and probably all of us do each of these at different times.

Born into unimaginable wealth as most of us are in Australia, we mostly go with the flow. Some things particularly annoy us. And some things we do what we can to change. 

Jesus is addressing us directly in this gospel (Luke 12:32-48). Most ordinary Australians live in housing, the size and convenience of which was inconceivable in Jesus’ time; and indeed, remains so for most of our sisters and brothers today. Our surety of food, clean water, health care, education, safety, and recreation are unparalleled. If anyone has had a great deal given them, it is us. Much is demanded of us. And we should feel some discomposure. Much is expected!

It has pleased our Father to give us affluence in the Kingdom (Luke 12:32) so it is our responsibility to oversee ensuring all are fed and clothed and cared for in the Creator’s Kingdom. How are we doing with that?

How is our abundance distributed? Are we supporting the desperately poor people in our communities, in our nation and elsewhere? And others who don’t share our good fortune? Do we sometimes marginalise, disrespect, or despise others who are different? Oh dear!

Realising how we fall short; how do we fix that? Our Creator wants us to enjoy our lives, but last week’s gospel (Luke 12:13-21) reminded us of the foolishness of hording and accumulating possessions and forgetting about more important matters. We are genuine stewards of the Kingdom when we love others as the Creator loves them and generously give of our time and talents to enable others to enjoy life in the Kingdom.

Deacon Mark Kelly

Aussieventure is Almost Here!

It’s almost here – Aussieventure hits the stage THIS week!

After weeks of singing, dancing, and rehearsing, our students are ready to shine. The buzz around the school is incredible – costumes are fitted, props are set, and rehearsals are in full swing.

Our students have shown amazing dedication, and we can’t wait for you to experience the magic they’ve created.

Tickets are still available
Bookings can be made via the Warragul Arts Centre website or by phone. Please ensure you select the correct performance for your child’s year level:

• 5:00pm Show – Foundation, Year 1, Year 2, and Year 4/5/6 students
• 7:30pm Show – Year 3, Year 4, and Year 5/6 students

Please note: Year 4/5/6 students perform in both shows. A ticket is required for each session if attending both.

Costumes & Performance Details
Information has been posted on your child’s ClassDojo page – please check for year-level updates.

Thank you for your support – we can’t wait to share this unforgettable performance with you!

In Victoria, it is compulsory for children 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.

Walking to and from school Safely

The school has been informed that some St Joseph’s students are not using the traffic light crossing correctly on Burke St and Gallagher's Crossing. A bus driver also reported a student didn’t use the railway crossing correctly either. If your child uses that area to walk to school or walk home, please remind them of safe paths of travel and waiting for the lights to safely cross over.

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

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

Anyone with flu-like symptoms, however mild, should not attend school and should follow medical advice, including being tested for 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.

Second-Hand Uniforms – Donate or Grab a Bargain

Donate:
Do you have school uniforms your child has outgrown but are still in great condition? We’d love to give them a second life!

Families are encouraged to donate clean, good-quality uniform items to the school office. These items will then be made available to other families in our community.

Need uniforms?
A selection of clean, pre-loved uniforms is available for a gold coin donation. We also have a limited number of school bags for just $10.

To donate or browse available items, please contact the P&F Committee on stjosephswarragulpandf@gmail.com or ask at the school office.

You're Invited: Father’s Day BBQ Breakfast

We warmly invite all our wonderful dads and special people to join us for a free BBQ breakfast at school to celebrate an early Father’s Day with your child/ren.

With the support of the Warragul Lions, you’ll enjoy a delicious spread including:

• Bacon and egg rolls
• Sausages in bread
• Cereal and fruit

Tea and coffee will be available for grown-ups — please remember to BYO reusable coffee cup!

? Where: School Hall
? When: Friday 5 September
⏰ Time: 7.30am – 8.30am

To help with catering, please register all attendees (including children) as soon as possible at:
? https://www.trybooking.com/DEHYY

We look forward to seeing you there!

Join us on Facebook

We welcome all families to join our Parents and Friends Facebook page — a great space to connect, ask questions, and stay engaged with our wonderful school community.

? Simply search: 'Parents and Friends of St Joseph's Primary School Warragul'.

P&F Events and Meetings in Term 3

Our Term 3 Parents and Friends meetings and events to pop in your diary are:

• Father’s Day Breakfast and Stall: Friday 5 September
• P&F Meeting: Friday 5 September, approximately 11am (after the stall) at the school.

If you would like to be involved, we would love to have you join us. Please reach out to the P&F via email: stjosephswarragulpandf@gmail.com or send us a message through our Facebook page. Otherwise, you are welcome to turn up at the school office - please ensure you bring your Working With Children’s Check (if you don’t have one, it’s free for volunteers) visit: Working with Children Check | Working and Volunteering | Service Victoria).

A huge thank you to our wonderful school community. Through your generosity and purchases our school has earned $1600.00 in Scholastic rewards. It was wonderful to see so many families supporting this fabulous event.

Thank you to those who volunteered at the Book Fair. Special thanks to Kerry, Larissa, Kelsey, Tania, Gabrielle, Caitlin, Claire, James and Melinda. 

The theme is "Book an Adventure!". 

Children's Book Week 2025 will be held from August 16th to 23rd. 

This year is a milestone year as we celebrate 80 years of Children’s Book Week! For 8 decades, CBCA has been dedicated to inspiring young minds to journey through the countless worlds that books offer. Jess McGeachin is an award-winning Australian picture book illustrator, he has captured the adventurous spirit in his imaginative artwork. Jess’ illustration invites young readers to embark on fantastical journeys, inspiring them to travel through the worlds that books open up. Jess’ work encourages children to imagine, explore, and create their own adventures.

Dress-up Day

Friday 22^nd August

For Book Week, students can dress up as a variety of characters from books, or even dress up as a word. Popular choices always include characters from classic fairytales like Cinderella or Little Red Riding Hood, or figures from much loved children's stories like Alice in Wonderland or Harry Potter. You can explore fantasy worlds with dragons or mythical creatures. 

 

Author Visit

We are very excited to have award-winning Children’s author, Chris Collin visiting our school! Chris’ books include the Funky Chicken series and A Bug Called Doug. His latest environmentally-themed book, The Things You Can Do with Blue Whale Poo reveals the importance of whale poop to the planet! His shows and workshops are fun and educational, designed to get all children into reading and writing through fun and funkiness! If you would like to purchase signed copies of his unique musical picture books, simply follow the two steps below to order your child’s books. There is provision in the ordering process to request the books to be signed by Chris. All orders will be delivered to the school office, on or just after the author visit for collection.

1. Click on the link - https://www.trybooking.com/CSKBS
2. Click the orange BOOK NOW button to select and order your books.

Chris will  make an appearance virtually on Friday 22nd August. 

 

Free Government Funded Autism Workshop for Families

Olivia's Place Gala Dinner & Charity Auction

Olivia's Place is a local charity based in Drouin dedicated to providing essential support to families across Gippsland during any stage of pregnancy and throughout the first year of their child’s life.

One Night Outside Camp for a Cause

On Saturday 30 August, Park Lane are holding One Night Outside at BIG4 Traralgon Park Lane Holiday Park, to raise funds for Flying Fox, a not-for-profit organisation creating life changing experiences for young people with and without disability.

One Night Outside is a fun and inclusive evening under the stars. All are invited to pitch a tent and enjoy a night of BBQ, hot chocolate, kids' activities, entertainment, and the chance to connect with the community.

100% of all camping site fees and 10% of all glamping and cabin proceeds from the night will be donated to Flying Fox, helping them continue their incredible work with young people of all abilities.

Book your camping site here: www.parklaneholidayparks.com.au 

For more information about the Flying Fox charity: www.flyingfox.org.au 

Warranor Junior Football Club

Warragul Blues Junior Football Club

Peninsula Cinemas, Warragul