Principal’s News

Dear Parents and Carers,

With just a couple of weeks to go until Easter, the term is racing by.  

Celebration of our Patron Saints

We have had a busy and spirit-filled week this week with celebrations of our Patron Saint, St Joseph and of our Archdiocese Patron Saint, St Patrick.  I was fortunate to attend a St Patrick's Day Mass with several of our Year Six Leaders, along with our Religious Education Leader, Terry Foley and Cass Darwall, the Year 5/6 Learning Support Officer.  You may have seen some photos I posted earlier on our Facebook page.  I have also included them below.

Archbishop Visit to St Joseph's

We recently heard that Archbishop Peter will be visiting our school and parish early in September.  When more details come to hand, I will share this with you all.

Pupil-free Days, 2026

Professional Learning

Pupil-free days are days when students do not attend school, with the purpose of allowing time for staff to engage in professional development activities, school planning and administration, curriculum development and/or student assessment and reporting.Each year, the first day of Term 1 and the last day of Term 4 will be student-free days in all MACS schools for professional learning. Principals are able to schedule an additional 4 student-free days during the school year to meet the needs of their school.

Time-in-Lieu

The Catholic Education Multi-Enterprise Agreement 2022 (the Agreement) introduced a formal time in lieu (TIL) process for teachers. The Agreement provides that a principal may require a teacher to undertake work and attend a school activity outside the normal hours of attendance (i.e., in excess of the 38 hours or normal hours for a part-time teacher) and when this occurs, it will attract TIL. Principals may elect to acquit TIL through designating days during the year on which all staff and students are not required to attend school. Preparation for the accrual and acquittal of TIL is part of our annual planning process.

Pupil Free Days - Professional Learning

Friday 24 April

Friday 26 June

Monday 13 July

Wednesday 16 December

Pupil Free Days - Time in Lieu

Tuesday 9 June

Friday 28 August

Friday 2 November

Thursday 17 December

While these dates were organised from the beginning of the year, our plan needed to be reshaped due to the disruption caused by the unscheduled Extreme Fire Danger school closures throughout February.  We moved all Professional Learning and TIL into Terms 2 - 4.

If you have any thoughts to share on this plan, please forward them to sac@sjyarrajunction.catholic.edu.au before Tuesday 31 March when the School Advisory Council will be meeting.  The Council will review the plan in light of community feedback and we will let you know if any changes are recommended.  For now, pencil them into your diaries and I will notify you of any changes, if required.

Best wishes for a lovely weekend,

Nick.

Nicholas Boyhan

Principal