Dear Parents and Guardians,

It has been a busy and eventful few weeks at St Joseph the Worker!

Prep Students Celebrate 100 Days of School

Our Prep students had a great time celebrating 100 days of school—a big milestone for our youngest learners. It was fantastic to see so many families at assembly, supporting our wonderful Preps as they proudly presented to the school community.

Save the Date & Join the Fun!

We are in full swing getting ready for our whole school performance, The Compass in Me, on Monday 15th September at St Monica’s College in Epping. Rehearsals are buzzing with energy as students learn their dance routines and get set to shine on stage. It is shaping up to be a fantastic celebration of creativity, teamwork, and talent—and we would love our whole community to be part of it! Further details will be shared with families in the coming weeks.

St Monica’s College

Last Friday, I had the pleasure of attending a lovely lunch at St Monica’s College with fellow local primary school principals. The meal was prepared and served by the talented VCAL hospitality students, who impressed us all with their skills and professionalism. It was also a great chance to catch up with Brian Hanley and talk about student transition pathways between our schools, while learning more about the inspiring programs happening at St Monica’s.

School Disco

A big thank you to our amazing Parents and Friends Association for organising and running our annual school disco. It is always a highlight for our students, and I have heard from both staff and students that it was a fabulous night enjoyed by all! Thank you also to our staff for their support on the night—it is always appreciated and helps make events like this run smoothly.

School Absentee Reminder

Just a reminder that if your child is going to be absent from school, you must submit the Absentee eForm via Audiri. If an eForm has not been submitted, your child will be marked as having an unexplained absence, and you will receive an SMS notification.

Submitting the eForm helps us keep accurate records and ensures we are working together to support your child’s wellbeing and learning. Thank you for your cooperation.

Working Together to Minimise Disruptions

We kindly ask families to avoid picking up students early unless it is for an emergency or an unavoidable appointment. Early pickups interrupt learning and can be disruptive for both students and staff.

We have also noticed an increase in office interruptions during the day, including lunch drop-offs and unscheduled pickups. While we understand that things come up from time to time, frequent disruptions impact student learning and interrupt teachers during valuable classroom time. Learning time is precious—it is when students are most engaged, focused, and building important skills, and we want to protect that time as much as possible.

Thank you for working with us to keep our school environment calm, focused, and supportive for all students.

Planning for the 2026 School Year

Planning is already underway for the 2026 school year. If your family is relocating and your child will not be attending St Joseph the Worker next year, please email Michele as soon as possible.

It is important that we work together to ensure a smooth transition, so please include the name of the school your child will be moving to. This helps us prepare the necessary transfer documents and support your child’s next steps.

Creating a Safe and Supportive Learning Environment

At St Joseph the Worker, we believe that learning happens best when students feel safe, supported, and respected. Creating this kind of environment is a shared responsibility—and it plays a vital role in helping our students thrive.

When students feel secure, they are more able to concentrate, engage in learning, and build positive relationships. A sense of safety reduces stress and anxiety, allowing students to participate confidently and take intellectual risks.

Our school rules are designed to support this safe and focused environment. For example:

Raising your hand before speaking helps everyone listen and learn without interruptions.
Staying in your seat keeps students safe from accidents and distractions.
Not sharing food protects students from allergic reactions.
No phones during the day helps maintain focus and reduces anxiety.
Using kind words helps everyone feel safe to be themselves and take risks in their learning.
Asking the teacher before leaving the classroom ensures we know where students are at all times.
Following teacher directions helps avoid lost learning time.
Keeping hands and feet to yourself supports emotional regulation and prevents conflict.
Cleaning up your learning space teaches responsibility and life skills.

Learning time is precious and should be protected. By working together—students, staff, and families—we can ensure that every child has the opportunity to participate fully in their learning and play in a safe, respectful environment.

Parent Code of Conduct

At St Joseph the Worker Primary School, we share a common goal with you - to provide the very best for your child. Please trust that we always follow up on any incident and respond with care, fairness, and the best interests of each child in mind. When enrolling at St Joseph the Worker, families agree to follow our school’s policies and procedures.

We believe that every member of our community:

has the right to be safe
has the right to be treated with respect and be valued even in disagreement
has the right to participate within a secure environment without interference, intimidation, harassment, bullying or discrimination
is encouraged to be respectful, polite, courteous and considerate of others
has the right to be supported and challenged as ongoing learners.

Please remember:

It is never appropriate for a parent to approach or discipline a child who is not their own
If issues arise between students, please allow staff to manage the situation, rather than addressing it directly with other parents.

You can read our full Parent Code of Conduct on the school website.

School Fees

Thank you to all the parents who have paid their school fees in full. It is important that all fees and levies are paid by the end of October, unless direct debiting. If you are unable to meet this requirement, please contact Marisa to discuss further.

Child Safety Compliance

Please note, there have been some changes in our procedures due to updates to child safety compliance. This will mean that moving forward, parents attending assembly will be required to sign in. A table will be set up inside the hall entrance where parents can sign in before entering. Thank you for your ongoing support as we work together in keeping our students safe.

Professional Leave

Next week, I will be attending the Australian Catholic Education Conference in Cairns, alongside my Principal colleagues from the Northern region and staff from Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS). This significant event will bring together over 1,500 educators from across Australia, including clergy, parents, and Catholic education leaders.

With the theme Hope Anchored in Faith, the conference will explore the mission of Catholic education through three key pillars: Faith, Excellence, and Access. It promises to be a valuable opportunity for reflection, collaboration, and renewal as we continue to strengthen our shared commitment to Catholic education.

Looking forward

Please check the newsletter 2025 dates section to see what is happening in coming weeks at St Joseph the Worker. There are lots of events to look forward to, including:

Father’s Day open classrooms - Monday, 1st September

Father’s Day stall – Thursday 4th September

Father’s Day assembly - Thursday 4th September

Our whole school performance at St Monica’s College – Monday, 15th September

May St Joseph the Worker bless you and watch over you and your family at this time.

Kind regards,

Maria Barnes

Principal

Honouring Saint Mary MacKillop of the Cross Feast Day

Loving God,

We thank You for the gift of Saint Mary MacKillop,

a woman of great faith, courage, and compassion.

She taught us to see the needs around us

and to act with kindness and strength.

Help our family to follow her example,

to love generously, to forgive freely, and to trust You always.

Amen.

Discovery