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- Principal's Report
- 2024 Upcoming Event Dates
- Religious Education
- School Fees
- Students not returning in 2025 and Class Allocations for 2025
- Remembrance Day
- Emergency Management - Bushfires
- SCHOOL TV - SPECIAL REPORT: Navigating AI Relationships
- Library News
- Parents and Friends
- Beleza VIP Sale
- General Information
- Marist-Sion College 2025 Year 7 Orientation Day
- Camp Australia
- Public Notices
A reminder:
Monday, 4 November - School Closure Day
Tuesday, 5 November - Melbourne Cup Public Holiday
Dear Parents, Guardians and Carers,
Today our school participated in a Mission Market. The idea behind this initiative is to help our students understand that they can do something to alleviate the suffering of others. It is too easy to think that the problems of the world are so big that we cannot do anything about them. Even a small step to helping someone else is a way of promoting peace and justice. Congratulations to our year 5 and 6 students who have worked together so creatively to make their stalls and competitions. Thankyou parents for supporting this experience by providing materials for the stalls, encouragement for the students and for others those who gave small change for their children to enjoy the market. All proceeds will go to the missions in Mongolia.
Congratulations to our children who made their First Holy Communion last week and to those who will be receiving this sacrament for the first time this weekend at St Ita’s Church in Drouin. They have prepared well for this and I am sure there have been some joyous celebrations over the past two weeks.
I have been alerted to students taking a short cut across the train tracks on their way to and from school. Can you please discuss with your children about the dangers of crossing train tracks and suggest a safer route instead.
Please consider nominating for the School Advisory Committee. The Annual General meeting will be held on Tuesday 12th November at 4.30 at school.
Next week there are a few changes: the school will be closed Monday and Tuesday and there will be no assembly on Friday.
Have a great extra long weekend and enjoy Cup Day!
Best wishes,
Ros Joyner
Principal
Term 4
Tuesday 8 October – Tuesday 17 December
Monday 4 November School Closure Day
Tuesday 5 November Melbourne Cup Public Holiday
Friday 8 November NO School Assembly this week
Tuesday 12 November School Advisory Committee AGM 4:30pm
Monday 18 November Year 3 - 6 Swimming
Thursday 21 November Foundation 2025 Transition Session 2
Friday 22 November School Assembly
Thursday 28 November Foundation 2025 Music/Art Session in the Hall 2:30-3pm
Friday 29 November Marist-Sion Year 7 (2025) Orientation Day
Monday 2 December Foundation 2025 Library Session Group 1 2:30-3pm
Tuesday 3 December Foundation 2025 Library Session Group 2 2:30-3pm
Thursday 5 December Year 3 - 6 Swimming Carnival
Friday 6 December School Assembly
Tuesday 10 December End of Year/Graduation Mass at 9:15am
Tuesday 10 December Orientation Session for 2025 11:45-1:30pm
Thursday 12 December Year 6 Graduation Dinner
Monday 16 December Carols on the Oval 6pm for 6:30pm start
Tuesday 17 December Last Day of School for 2024 – 3:20pm finish
Congratulations
The Communion Masses are being held over two weekends at the Parish Masses.
The remainder Mass times are:
- Saturday 2nd November, 7pm St Joseph’s - Warragul
- Sunday 3rd November, 9am St Joseph’s – Warragul
- Sunday 3rd November, 10:30am St Ita’s - Drouin
FAMILY MASS POST FIRST HOLY COMMUNION
Thursday 7th November, 6pm St. Ita’s Church Drouin
This year we would like to hold a family Mass where all the Communion candidates can come along together with their families and celebrate this wonderful sacrament. This will also be an instructional Mass to deepen our understanding of the Mass, and a time where the candidates can receive Holy Communion together. Then after the Mass we will share a BBQ picnic together.
A message from Deacon Mark
That's All Folks
Love God, love neighbour! (Mark 12:28-34) That’s it! Surely Jesus, you’ve missed something here?
What about all the holocausts and sacrifices, traditional rules and regulations deciding who to love and who to condemn? We can’t simply love God and everyone else! That would include non-Catholics, non-Christians, sinners and even atheists! Surely Jesus, folk need to be ruled by fear: fear of a vengeful creator, fear of the world around them? If we followed this “love” notion, then people would feel liberated. Soon they might even stop following the Ten Commandments and the Law of Moses. It would be mayhem!
What’s that? So, the Ten Commandments and Moses’ Law are because we wouldn’t follow this Great Commandment! And all the other rules we’ve devised are subject to it also? The Vatican Chief Scientist muses: Perhaps at times we have created “a religion of rules alone [which] can imply faith in a God who only punishes, not a God who creates. Rather than a religion leading its followers to the God who gives them what the universe is for, they wind up with the religion of a God who can only give them what-for” (Consolmagno, G. God’s Mechanics Jossey-Bass 2008, p75.).
Certainly Jesus, you’ve modelled this Great Commandment for us in your own loving, non-judgemental actions and healing; your compassion for the least; your preference for the poor. Your teaching is all about the Kingdom of God. Honouring and worshipping the Father.
So how would this work, Jesus? You are calling us to love and worship God as we see and hear him amid his creation, delighting in and cherishing the natural world in which we find ourselves; the enormity of the universe, the planets, and stars down to the smallest of creatures and proclaiming this astounding Good News of God’s Kingdom in which all are cherished and valued, just as they are. Are you sure? Ok – if you say so!
Deacon Mark Kelly
Dear Families,
2024 School Fees
As the 2024 school year is rapidly coming to a close, all School Fees still owing are now due for payment.
Concession Cards
Could all parents who are holders of a Concession Card please forward a copy to Kitty. This can then be taken into account when processing the 2025 School Fees.
If you have any problems with the fees or questions about the Concession Card, please call Kitty on 5623 2943 or email kbarrett@stjwarragul.catholic.edu.au
A reminder that we ask families whose children are not intending to return in 2025 to send an email to principal@stjwarragul.catholic.edu.au as soon as possible informing of the change. We have a number of enrolment inquiries and are now working on class groupings for 2025, so it is important that we know of any students leaving (apart from the Year 6 students) that may affect enrolments and class groupings for 2025. Our class allocation policy is attached below. Please note from our policy:
Parents and carers may provide the School Principal with specific information about their child's learning or social needs, in writing, that they believe the school may not be aware of. Whilst the School Leadership Team appreciates that Parents or Carers may believe their child would benefit from being placed with a certain teacher, we are unable to consider these requests. The information should be provided in writing (letter or email) to the Principal by Friday, Week 3 of Term 4 (25/10/24). This information will be referenced, along with other available information, during the class placement process. The Leadership Team will manage this process in consultation with parents and class teachers. It must be clearly understood that no definite guarantees can be given regarding parental concerns.
St Joseph's Primary School Warragul Class Allocation Policy.pdf
REMEMBRANCE DAY POPPY APPEAL
Remembrance Day is Monday, 11 November. To commemorate this day, we have poppies available at the school office for 20 cents each.
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 tof 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 their 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.
Despite governments globally moving towards raising the minimum age for social media access due to mounting concerns about the negative effects on youth mental health and wellbeing, there's now an even newer challenge on the horizon - the rise of romantic and companion AI bots. These virtual companions are becoming increasingly popular with young people, raising serious questions about privacy, ethics, and the future of relationships in the digital age.
The rise of AI-powered relationships is offering a new frontier in human interaction. Initially emerging in the gaming world, AI companionship has evolved into mainstream culture, with apps providing personalised experiences that range from platonic friendships to romantic encounters. These interactions can blur the boundaries between real and virtual relationships, creating confusion and potential psychological harm.
Criminologists warn that children as young as 12 are accessing dating apps, often bypassing age restrictions, exposing them to sexual content and predatory behaviour. Researchers have also found that many adolescents are turning to virtual partners for validation, risking unhealthy emotional attachments that can affect real-life relationships.
As AI reshapes social dynamics, it's crucial to stay informed and engaged. While AI can enhance education and creativity, it also presents challenges around privacy, mental health, and misinformation.This Special Report will help you foster an open dialogue and balanced approach to help young people navigate this evolving digital landscape.
Here is the link to your Special Report https://stjwarragul.catholic.
Book Club
Thank you to all families that placed orders in issue 7. These orders have been processed and we're waiting for delivery of your items.
Big Blokes BBQ
The Baw Baw Big Blokes BBQ was held last Friday at Lardner Park. It was a great success and raised over $200,000 for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and local causes.
St Joseph’s own P&F served up over 700 meals on the day for the Big Blokes in partnership with Alimentos Catering, with a generous donation provided to the school.
Pictured left to right: Elisha, Gabrielle, Michelle, Renee, Tania and Caitlin.
If you would like to support St Joseph’s Primary School with a donation from your exchange of eligible drink containers, please use partner ID C2000009902, or scan the barcode below.
C2000009902
Get in Touch
If you would like to be involved with the Parents and Friends Committee, we would love to have you. You can reach out to us via email at stjosephswarragulpandf@gmail.com, or send us a message through our Facebook page ‘Parents and Friends of St Joseph’s Primary School Warragul’.
Second Hand Uniforms
We have lots of clean second-hand school uniforms, available for a gold coin donation.
To check out what is available, just ask at the school office or contact the P&F Committee on stjosephswarragulpandf@gmail.com
2024
Term 4 Tuesday 8 October - Tuesday 17 December (3:20pm finish time)
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
Health Department Alert - Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
The Department of Health, Victoria has issued a health alert, increasing pertussis (whooping cough) cases in Victoria.
Cases of pertussis are increasing in Victoria, mostly affecting children aged 10-12 years. Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory illness known for causing a cough and can lead to life threatening infections in babies. Symptoms of pertussis may be very similar to other respiratory infections, especially in the early stages, meaning diagnosis by a doctor as soon as possible is important. Please remain vigilant and seek medical attention as soon as possible when symptoms present.
The below exclusion periods apply to diagnosed cases and contacts -
For diagnosed cases:
- students diagnosed with pertussis should be excluded from primary schools for a minimum period of 21 days after the onset of cough, or until they have completed five (5) days of a course of effective antibiotic treatment. The treating doctor will complete the required notifications to the Department of Health
For contacts of diagnosed cases:
The exclusion requirement only applies to contacts who meet all three (3) of the below criteria:
- aged less than 7 years;
- in the same class as the student with the diagnosed case; and
- have not received three (3) effective doses of pertussis vaccine.
Students meeting these criteria should be excluded for 14 days after the last exposure to the infectious case, or until they have taken five (5) days of a course of effective antibiotic treatment.
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 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.
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
School Uniform
During Term 4, all students are required to wear their full summer uniform, including correct socks and shoes. Wearing the school uniform correctly demonstrates school pride and identity. Please ensure your child has the correct uniform on the correct days.
We appreciate your support.
Lost Property
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.
Absences & Holidays
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 as 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 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.
Friday 29 November
NOTICEBOARD