PRINCIPAL'S NEWS

Principal's Message...

Welcome back everyone, I hope that all of our families had a relaxing and enjoyable holiday and found the opportunity to spend some quality time together. I’m sure all of our students are refreshed, rejuvenated and ready for a spectacular term of learning.  

Please see 'Learning and Teaching' section of this newsletter for information about each level's Inquiry focus for this term.

It's great to start the term by sharing the wonderful news that Ashlyn and Alex have welcomed a baby girl to their family.  Hazel Ella was born last Thursday and both Mum and Bub are doing very well.

Congratulations to Ash and Alex and welcome to the world baby Hazel.

Staffing

This term we welcome four new members of staff to our St Joey's team. 

Julia Koot has joined us in the Prep class - replacing Bella who is on parental leave.  Julia joined us last year when she was working as a pre-service teacher with Kate Lynn in Junior K. 

Julia's email is: jkoot@sjnorthcote.catholic.edu.au

Bridget Sim has joined the senior community - replacing Ashlyn Keane who is on parental leave.  Bridget joins us from St Margarets in Maribyrnong.

Bridget's email is: bsim@sjnorthcote.catholic.edu.au

Kathryn Coventry is our new Administration Officer.  Kathryn and I are finding our 'new normal' in the office and I'm really pleased to have her onboard.

Kathryn's email is: kcoventry@sjnorthcote.catholic.edu.au

Jacinta Murphy joins us as a Learning Support Officer.  Jacinta replaces Lachlan who left us at the end of last term and will be working predominantly in the junior community.

Jacinta's email is: jmurphy@sjnorthcote.catholic.edu.au

Uniform

This term all children should be wearing the winter uniform.  To compliment the winter uniform we have beanies available for sale from the school office ($10 each) and school rain jackets are available from Academy Uniforms.

Sports uniforms will be worn on the following days:

Prep - Tuesday & Thursday

Juniors - Tuesday & Thursday

Middles - Monday & Friday

Seniors - Monday & Friday

Please see the School Uniform section of the newsletter for more details 

School Closure Day

This term all Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) have been allocated an addition student-free day to release teachers for professional practice time.  MACS have stated that, due to the number of disruptions related to Covid and the critical staff shortage,  many staff are missing out on professional development opportunities to cover absent staff due to illness.

St Joseph's will be therefore be holding a School Closure Day on Monday, September 05 (the Monday after Father's Day).  Our focus for this day will be to continue our professional learning around the Zones of Regulation and Curriculum Planning.

St Joseph's Trivia Night - 

We are excited to finally be able to hold our Trivia Night, that has been postponed twice, due to Covid.

Please save the date and join us for what is traditionally a fabulous, and very entertaining evening!!

Covid Update

As per the email that was distributed yesterday, we currently have five positive covid cases across the school.  I will continue to notify families via email of all reported positive cases for students and teachers.

Face masks

It is strongly recommended by the Department of Health that face masks are worn in indoor settings, with face masks mandatory for those aged eight and over who are household contacts and attending school. This is because wearing masks is effective in reducing the transmission of COVID-19.

In practice, this means that the Victorian Government is asking that, through to the end of winter, students aged eight and over and staff wear masks when in class, except where removing a mask is necessary for clear communication or when a particular activity requires the removal of a mask.  Masks are not required to be worn outdoors.

A shortletter is available, signed by each of the three school sectors (Catholic, government and independent), that explains this will be a consistent expectation across all schools in Victoria this winter. 

Reduction of testing and isolation exemption period

The period of time when someone is considered a recently confirmed case and therefore exempt from testing and isolation requirements has been reduced from the previous 12 weeks to four weeks.

This means that staff and students who are household contacts of people with COVID-19 are not exempt from the testing and isolation requirements after four weeks of completing isolation with COVID-19. Previously, this period was 12 weeks.

This means that a student or staff member who is a household contact and wishes to attend school must take five RATs over seven days and receive negative test results, and wear a face mask (if over eight years old) in indoor spaces. This applies from four weeks after the end of an isolation period when they were a case.

Rapid antigen tests (RATs) are available for all families in Terms 3 and 4. It is recommended that RATs are used by students and staff twice weekly, on Mondays and Thursday mornings or when symptomatic. 

Students who test positive for COVID-19 are required to isolate for 7 days and contact the school as soon as possible.

Student Absences

If your child is unwell it is best that they remain at home - especially if they are coughing and sneezing.  This will enable us to minimise student absence across classrooms and keep our children healthy.

If your child is absent you can inform the school via the Skoolbag, email your child's classroom teacher (cc/ing in the office - kcoventry@sjnorthcote.catholic.edu.au), or phone the school after 7:45am.  

Please be on time for school.  Each day the first bell rings at 8:45am, and this indicates time for children to move to their classrooms.  A second bell rings at 8:55am which signifies the commencement of classes.  At the beginning of the day (8:45am-8:55am) students are informed of the day’s program, events and important instructions are often given.  It’s also a time for children to settle, so they are not beginning their learning feeling flustered or rushed.  Students arriving late to school (after 8:55am) must enter the school building via the office in order to receive a late pass. Their late arrival may also disrupt the class they are in, as they get organised and for the day.  I understand that there are often extenuating circumstances (trams on High St) which may cause delays, but your support in regards to this would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Building Works

Building works are continuing on the middle level for the next few weeks.  The builders are ready to replace the ceiling tiles and once the new ceiling lights and fans have been installed, and the rooms have been cleaned and 'touched up' where necessary, we will be able to move classrooms back into this space.

Filming on James St

This week there is a film crew filming an SBS mini-series at one of the properties on James St.  The mini-series is called 'Safe Home'.

As you would have noticed today, the film crew and entourage are taking up much of the parking on James St.  I have requested that the 'Kiss and Go' area be kept free and that the parking restrictions are adhered to.

However, there will be disruptions tomorrow and Thursday.  Tomorrow James St will be closed to all traffic between 10:30am to 1:30pm, and Thursday from 9:30am to 1:00pm.

PREMIER'S READING CHALLENGE

It is with great excitement that we announce that our school has finally been registered on thePremier’s Reading Challenge. There have been a few hiccups with loading our data and PRCtech support had to start the process from the beginning. It has been a lengthy one. Uniquelogins and passwords will be given to the children tomorrow (Wednesday 19/7). If your child hasnot registered interest and would like to participate in the Premiers Reading Challenge pleasecontact Fiona at fehmer@sjnorthcote.catholic.edu.au.

Child Safe Standards

On 1 July 2022, 11 new Victorian Child Safe Standards came into effect for schools.  To meet the new Child Safe Standards, we have built on our existing child safety strategies, policies and practices to strengthen our school’s culture of child safety and protect children and young people from abuse.

The 11 Child Safe Standards are listed on the 'Child Safe Standards' section of this newsletter.  This week I would like to take the opportunity to highlight how we at St Joseph's have promoted Child Safe Standard 1.

Child Safe Standard 1- Culturally Safe Environments

Organisations establish a culturally safe environment in which the diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal children and young people are respected and valued.

At St Joseph's we fly the Aboriginal Flag and share an Acknowledgement of Country at Assemblies on a Friday morning.  This is an established and ongoing tradition that recognised our indigenous culture and shows respect for our past.  

Every year our year five students participate in the Darebin Education Committee's 'Yarning Conference'.  The 'Yarning Conference' is a day of activities that reflect upon the current theme for NAIDOC week, and is a day of immersion into our indigenous culture.  The children participate in workshops facilitated by Wurundjeri Elders and indigenous members of our local community.  St Joseph's has participated in this event since it's inception in 2018 and is on the planning committee that coordinates the events and running of the day.

Indigenous perspectives run through many of our Inquiry and Religious Education units - especially during significant times such as NAIDOC week.