Principal's Page

Principal's Message

Dear Parents and Carers,

This week is Child Protection Week and the theme is Putting Children First, something our school does each and every day.  

Child Protection Week provides the opportunity to recognise and affirm each and every member of our school community who offers care and concern to our students; and the many people who make extraordinary efforts in the pastoral care and support of our students, their safety and wellbeing.

Child Protection Week also recognises and affirms our students for their efforts to look after each other, care for one another, participate in lessons related to their safety and wellbeing, and the positive behaviour of students that helps to create a safe environment at St Joseph’s and in the wider community.

As a Catholic school, we work with parents and carers to continue to nurture students in the Gospel values of love, hope, and compassion. Our work together in educating students for growth in faith and improvement in learning all contributes to the protection of children’s hearts, minds, bodies, and spirits. We do this guided by the truth and light of Jesus Christ. 

Whilst we have been promoting child protection nationally for the last three decades, this work is ever before us and demands our attention and energy.  The needs today are greater than ever. And COVID-19 has placed additional strain on our school community, just as it has across the globe.  It is understandable that this year there would be special emphasis on online safety, and the impact of COVID-19 on student safety and wellbeing.

The Office of the eSafety Commissioner is Australia's leader in online safety. Their mission is to help all Australians, including our young people, have safe and positive online experiences.

Visit the Office of the eSafety Commissioner website to stay up to date with the latest online safety information, resources, events, news, and research. 

ESAFETY'S IPARENT PORTAL

The eSafety Office has developed iParent - a portal specifically for parents and carers to learn about the digital environment and how to help children have safe and enjoyable online experiences. Visit the eSafety Parent portal here.

iParent provides guidance, information and resources on some of the big issues of online safety, including:

• Cyberbullying
• Social Networking
• Online gaming
• Privacy
• Balancing time online
• Online pornography
• Sexting
• Unwanted contact
• Eating disorders

Games, apps and social networking sites are particularly popular among children and young adults. Learn about the latest apps, how to protect your information, and where to get more safety guidance here.

Pope Francis reminds us:

"The Internet is a gift of God, but it is also a great responsibility. Communication technology, its places, its instruments have brought with it a lengthening of horizons, a widening, for so many people. It can offer immense possibilities for encounter and solidarity. 

May the digital network not be a place of alienation. May it be a concrete place, a place rich in humanity. Let us pray together that social networks may work towards that inclusiveness which respects others for their differences."

During Child Protection Week, let’s celebrate and encourage our continued efforts to work together to help every child to thrive by putting children first.

For all things at St Joseph’s, give thanks!

Jen Charadia

Principal

School Canteen Update

I am sure that many parents and carers will join me in sincerely thanking the P&F for operating the school canteen over many years. We have been blessed with committed and capable canteen coordinators and very generous volunteers. 

The canteen has been a good service for students and parents. Any funds raised have always been donated back to the school by the P&F for the purchase of learning resources.

After much discussion with the P&F and due consideration, a decision has been made to outsource our School Canteen commencing Term 1, 2021.

Why outsource the school canteen?

Our parent volunteers do an exceptional job of managing the canteen 4 days per week. However, over the past few years, the canteen has experienced a significant downturn in the number of volunteers, often resulting in the closure of the canteen, and generally at short notice. 

Outsourcing the canteen will enable it to operate 5 days per week and perhaps with additional service options such as breakfast.

The school canteen is often the first setting where a child practices using money and purchasing skills. With this in mind, the school aims to continue to provide an enjoyable experience for students and a nutritious selection of foods and drinks at reasonable prices.

We are hopeful that the opportunity for parent/carer involvement as volunteers might continue and will discuss this as part of the tender process.

Tenders for the outsourcing will begin this week and I invite interested parents/ families with experience in catering to apply.

For further information please contact the school office on 4283 1111.

What Should I Do If My Child Is Returning To School With A Significant Injury?

The care and safety of a student with a significant injury while at school is important. 

Parents of a student who has sustained an injury such as a broken or badly sprained arm,  leg or leg or foot injury requiring a boot or crutches, and cannot participate in normal school or sports activities, must present the school with a Medical Certificate signed off by a third party Medical Practitioner prior to returning to school.

The certificate must state that the student is medically fit to attend school, the activities he/she is able to participate in and the activities the child should not participate in.

Once the certificate is received the school will conduct a risk assessment for the student before the child can return to school. Until the risk assessment is completed, injured students as described above will not be able to attend class.

The Risk Management Plan will remain in place at school until a further medical certificate is provided clearing the student to resume normal school activities.

I ask that parents adhere to this process as school staff must adhere to Work, Health, and Safety requirements.

St Joseph's Bus Policy and Code of Conduct

Many of our students travel to and from school on a bus.  On the whole, bus behaviour is within the expectations of a St Joseph's student and parent support in helping students understand the expectations is very much appreciated.

For your convenience, the St Joseph's Bus Policy and Code of Conduct is attached.

School Handbook

Principal Awards and Merit Awards

The following students will receive their Principal Awards at our morning assembly on Friday 18 September 2020.  

Acknowledgement to Country

St Joseph's Bulli acknowledges and pays respect to the Dharawal people past and present, the traditional custodians of the land on which our school is built.