Dear Families,

Happy new year! Welcome back to Term 1 2023. I hope that you are all feeling refreshed after relaxing and fun-filled holidays. Our aim this year is to ensure all members of our school community flourish with particular focus on engagement and attendance. I am looking forward to another wonderful year here at St Joseph’s School.

A warm welcome to our new students and their families: Sadie, Atlas and Tong Tong and to our wonderful preps: Arlo, Albert, Angel, Tommy, Hamish, Levi, Hugo, Riley, Flossy, Hao Hao, Leo, Annika, Alexander, Goldie, Willow, Eddie, Pyper, Issy, Bryce and Charlotte.

Everyday Counts

We all want our students to get a great education, and the building blocks for a great education begin with students coming to school each and every day. If students miss school regularly, they miss out on learning the fundamental skills that will set them up for success in the later years of school.

There is no safe number of days for missing school. Every day missed can affect their educational outcomes. Attendance patterns are established early – a child regularly missing days in the early years of school will often continue to miss classes in the later years. It’s vital that students go to school every day – even in the early years of primary school. It is sobering to think that if a child misses 15 days a year, this accumulates to half a year of school by the end of Year Six.

Bell times

To ensure we have five complete hours of explicit teaching time, the first bell of the day will ring at 8:55am. Supervision of students by staff in learning areas and outside will commence at 8:40am. If your child is at school before this time, they will need to wait at the office. We appreciate your assistance with this. Please contact me if other arrangements need to be made. The school day will finish at 3:20pm.

Parents and Friends Association

If you are interested in becoming more involved in the school community, then the Parents and Friends Association is one way in which you can. The main roles of the P & F are assisting with fundraising and organising community social activities. If you would like to be involved, please come along to the first meeting of the year on Tuesday 21 February at 7:00pm in the staffroom. Meeting dates and times will be determined at this first meeting to suit the majority of interested parents.

Assemblies and Newsletters

Parents are invited to attend whole school assemblies, which are held every second Wednesday. You will receive the school newsletter the alternate Wednesday.

School Works Update

Work commenced during the holidays on the western boundary wall. Rather than just repair the wall, the entire space is being redesigned. We look forward to utilising this space again soon.

Last year, as part of the Year 5/6 Sustainability Program, students designed a FIRE Carrier Meeting Place garden. This will replace the present eating area. You will notice changes in the next few weeks. We thank Jane Byrne for leading this initiative and Tracey O'Connor for her assistance.

Communication

Over the next few days you will receive a letter from your child's teaching team introducing themselves and sharing necessary information with you for a successful term ahead.

We have planned to communicate on student's growth and progress at four 'formal' times throughout the year: Student Led Learning Conferences at the end of Term One and Three and a written report at the end of Term Two and Term Four. You are most welcome to make an appointment to discuss your child's needs with their teaching team at any time.

As the first educators of their children, parents and families have a deep knowledge of their child to share with staff that will assist teachers to personalise the learning programs for them. We are asking all parents to complete a 3-2-1 form on your child. These will be sent out by Friday.

We have lots of wonderful community events coming up this year. We will attempt to give you as much notice as possible for these. Please note the dates on the calendar page. We look forward to our Beginning of the School Year Mass next Thursday at 9:15am in the church. Parents are most welcome and will be invited back to the learning spaces after mass for a shared reading activity.

Research demonstrates that effective schools have high levels of parent and community engagement. Such engagement with the school is strongly related to enhanced wellbeing, positive behaviours and improved student learning. I look forward to 2023 being a year in which all members of our school community are engaged and in turn flourish.

Enjoy your week,

Monica

moshannassy@sjsorrento.catholic.edu.au