Dear Parents,

Thanks to Sue Jackson, Trish Brennan, Matt Demarte and all staff who contributed to such a wonderful Beginning of the year Mass and community BBQ on Friday. Building a strong community around our students is at the heart of everything we do as it provides a wonderful landscape for everyone to thrive, flourish and build a sense of identity. It is then that we can all make a difference and enrich the world around us.

Congratulations to our student leaders who received recognition of the exciting leadership journey they have commenced in 2024. All of our Year 6 students work collaboratively in teams leading house spirit groups, sustainability, technology, social justice and Indigenous fire carrier groups.

Congratulations on a wonderful week of learning last week. Students have been working really well in their new learning communities and are setting learning goals to achieve the very best in all they set out to do.

As Principal, I am very proud of the scaffolds, routines and supports in place ensuring safe environments that are consistent and automatised, allowing our working memory to learn new things and reach the highest of academic standards.

The article in the media on the weekend highlighted a new senate alarm bell into student behaviour. The report highlighted four important factors.

Set expectations, routines and rules.
Prepare the classroom environment
Build student teacher relationships
Respond to behaviour

I thank staff for the dedication they demonstrate ensuing our Positive Behavior Approach is consistent and embedded in all learning communities and the excellent preparation our teachers have done ensuring all of the four factors mentioned in this article are of the highest priority.

We strive to achieve excellence for every student in their learning. We have the highest priority on ensuring every student reaches their full potential in the basic skills in literacy and numeracy. Home learning has commenced so please ensure your child is reading every night and bringing their signed diary in each day.

On top of our high priority on Literacy and Numeracy we strive to provide opportunities for every student to shine and flourish in inspiring ways.

We have a number of exciting events happening this week at St Joseph’s. Our mangrove warriors and Dolphin Research ambassadors are working with Oz Fish today to plant mangroves on the foreshore. We are passionate stewards of God’s earth and continue to raise awareness of the important ecosystem Westernport Bay is. Our 3/4 learning community highlight this through our Sea is our Best Friend theme.

This week we commence the Lenten season. Tomorrow students will celebrate Shrove Tuesday which is the traditional feast day before the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday. The Lenten season is the 40 days leading up to Easter where we self reflect on ways we can change and grow to be more like Jesus. Students will cook pancakes tomorrow with Matt our wonderful chef.

On Wednesday we invite all of our community to our Ash Wednesday Liturgy at 2.15pm in the hall.

Also on Wednesday morning we have our Senior school Swimming sports at Crib Point Pool commencing at 9am. We invite all of our community to come along and cheer on our students as they swim for their house.

This Friday 16th, we have our first Cafe for the year. This is a wonderful program in our school and we wish our Year 6 students all the best on Friday. Please try to come along to the Cafe and support our Year 6 community. The Cafe is a student led initiative where students connect their Literacy, Numeracy and Science skills in a practical way and we invite parents, friends and outside community to come along.

Friday afternoon we have our first Family Fun Friday for the year. This is held from 2.45pm till 3.15pm. It is a time where parents, family and friends can come into the classrooms and experience some learning with the students. You are all welcome to walk around to each class and engage with the students in their learning.

Yours in Partnership,

Gab

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