Dear Parents and Carers,

As we approach the final week of Term Four, I'd like to celebrate the fact that we have been able to have four terms of on-site learning this year. This has provided fantastic opportunities for us to really re-engage our students as learners, to experience excursions, camps, sacramental events and loads of whole school events, including our Sports day last week. It has also been great partnering more deeply with parents in the education of their children.

Have a SunSmart Summer

Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world.

In Victoria, from September through to the end of April, average UV levels are 3 and above, which is when UV radiation can damage skin and eyes and lead to skin cancer. When the UV Index is 3 and above:

1. Slip on sun-protective clothing

2. Slop on SPF30+, broad spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen - put it on 20 minutes before you go outdoors and every two hours afterwards

3. Slap on a hat - that protects your face, head, neck and ears

4. Seek shade

5. Slide on some sunglasses - make sure they meet Australian

Standards.

St Joseph's is a SunSmart School and we enforce NO HAT NO PLAY.

Children must wear the school hat during break times at school. Please encourage them to be SunSmart over the Christmas holidays as well.

Big Finish to the Year

Last night's Carols was a great success with fantastic attendance and participation by our students

We also have lots on in the final week of Term Four. Some of these are Year-Level Events, while others are Whole School Events.

Mon 12 Dec - Whole School Bike Ride

Tue 13 Dec - Advent Liturgy at Morning Assembly (8:45am)

Wed 14 Dec - Year Six Graduation (5:00pm)

Thu 15 Dec - Year Six Mystery Tour

Fri 16 Dec - End of Year Assembly (12:00pm)

Bike Ride Monday

Thanks to the parents who are planning to attend the Bike Ride with their children on Monday. Your help with supervision is much appreciated. In the interests of ensuring Child Safety, any adults attending will require the following:

Working with Children Check (WWC)
Signed Code of Conduct
Sign In at the park on arrival and you will be allocated a group to supervise

Any siblings wishing to attend will need to be under the supervision of a parent.

Parents of children who attend Before School Care will need to make alternate arrangements on Monday. Children will need to be delivered directly to the park at Yarra Junction where the Bike Ride begins. After School Care at Cire will be continuing as usual, with the bus picking students up from St Joseph's at 3:00pm.

Save the Date

Fr Michel would like to invite all of the school families to attend a 2023 Welcome Mass and Pancake Breakfast on Sunday 19 February. Mass Time is 8:30am and the breakfast will be held straight after mass. A form will be sent to families closer to the time and anyone who would like to volunteer to help out will be able to indicate this on the form as well. This date is on the St Joseph's Calendar, accessible via the school website.

Semester Two Academic Reports

Today you will be receiving your children's Semester Two Academic Reports. These reports are a reflection of their performance in all areas of the curriculum. Please take the time to read the report in its entirety. Many hours have been put into the assessment and reporting of your children throughout Semester Two. I am very grateful to the teachers and Learning Support Officers for the work they put into these documents. If you have any questions for your child's teacher about the report, please email them or give them a call on 59671183.

Thanks to our wonderful Staff and Families

I would like to acknowledge the work of the St Joseph's Leadership Team - Terry Foley, Simone Traynor, Lisa Bourke, Liz O’Brien and Kylie Hetherington, supporting me in the leadership of the school. I would particularly like to thank Katie Vranken for her hard work and support in the Leadership space. Her contributions throughout the year have been very significant, particularly in relation to our School Review.

Thanks to the Classroom and Specialist teachers and all the LSO and support staff who help out in the classrooms, the Library and the Office. I would like to make special mention of Alison Waldron for her support in the office on a daily basis. We are absolutely blessed to have such a hard-working, highly competent and accommodating Secretary at St Joseph's.

Congratulations to our parents on the brilliant job you did, supporting children with their learning this year. We have ongoing intervention plans in place to support children who have slipped behind during the lockdowns in 2020 and 2021. I thank Lisa Bourke, Simone Traynor, Karen McQuade and Erin Pearson for their work, supporting these learners throughout 2022. Ongoing support for the children will be available in 2023.

Best wishes to our graduating students for their future at Secondary school. We look forward to celebrating the end to your Primary Schooling at your Graduation on Wednesday and on our Mystery Tour on Thursday.

Departing Staff

Best wishes to Liz O'Brien, who has secured a classroom teaching position at Tulliallan PS Cranbourne Nth. Liz has worked at St Joseph's for over a decade in all areas of the school and as a Japanese teacher for a number of years. Liz also made some significant contributions in her Wellbeing Leadership Role. She has overseen Respectful Relationships, the introduction of Positive Behaviours for Learning and has contributed to the updating of our Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy in light of the new Child Safe Standards released in 2022. Liz will be sadly missed by all at St Joseph's. Rebecca Beveridge will be taking on the role of Wellbeing Leader in 2023. I congratulate her on this appointment and welcome her as a member of our School Leadership Team.

We also wish Kylie Hetherington all the best with the next stage of her teaching career. Kylie and the family are having a sea change to Edithvale, one of Melbourne's beautiful bayside suburbs. Throughout her time at St Joseph's, Kylie has worked in a number of classrooms across the school and has done an outstanding job as our Sports Leader for the past two years. Kylie and her boy Hudson (Foundation) will be sadly missed at St Joseph's. Terry Foley will be taking on the role of Physical Education Leader in 2023.

I wish all of our students and their families a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

See you all in 2022.

Nick.

Nicholas Boyhan

Principal.

Library News

Wishing all a Happy and safe Christmas holidays