Principal's Page
Dear Parents,
It is hard to believe that another term is just about over. What a busy term it has been! Below are some student highlights
from the term:
Mabel (Y3) - Cross Country
Alex (Yr2) - learning to build a lot more things in Robotics
Willow (Y5) - Film Festival Project
Dallas (Y1) - learning about shapes
Isabella (Y2) - Grandparents' Day and Robotics
Charlotte (Y4) - attending ResourceSmart Schools Award Ceremony at the MCG
Emma (Y5) - Lightning Premiership
James (Y5) - Brain breaks in class
Ellie (Y6) - DRI excursion and visit to kinder
Pia (Y5) - FBI Projects. I have learnt so much.
Nate (Y5) -Making new friends
Reports & Learning Conferences
Reports will be published this afternoon. Parent/Teacher/Student Learning Conferences will take place on Wednesday 20 July. Students will finish at 1:00pm on this day.
Parents Helper Course
We are hoping to have more parents assisting in our learning areas and teachers will be asking parents to volunteer early in the new term. Before parents can assist, they need to provide the school with a current Working With Children Check and complete a Parent Helper Course. Megan Barber will be running the course on Wednesday 20 July at 9:00am or Friday 22 July at 2:20pm. Parents only need to attend one session.
Zoo Excursion
We apologise for the confusion regarding the excursion to the zoo that was going to take place tomorrow (23/6). Unfortunately the form was mistakenly placed on Operoo where parents could view it. We had to cancel the excursion due to issues with buses. We have organised alternative excursions for students that we will inform you of closer to the dates.
Open Door Afternoon
It was lovely to see so many parents at our Open Door Afternoon. We will be holdinganother one towards the end of next term but please remember that you are most welcome to pop into St Joseph's at anytime.
New Child Safe Standards
In July 2021, the Victorian Government announced new Child Safe Standards (CSS) to further strengthen child safe environments and protect children from abuse. The new CSS come into effect on Friday 1 July 2022.
There will now be eleven new standards to replace Victoria’s seven current Child Safe Standards and principles in place since 2016.
The revised Victorian CSS support greater national consistency, reflecting the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations, developed following the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. The CSS include new requirements, including:
-the involvement of families and students in child safety efforts
-focus on the safety of Aboriginal children and young people
-management of the risk of child abuse in online environments
- governance, systems and processes to keep students safe.
The CSS are underpinned by Ministerial Order No. 1359 (MO 1359), which was released by the Victorian Government on 10 February 2022. MO 1359 defines the actions schools and school boarding premises must take to meet the requirements associated with the new CSS.
The new Child Safety Standards are:
1. Culturally safe environments
2. Leadership, governance and culture
3. Child and student empowerment
4. Family engagement
5. Diversity and equity .
6. Suitable staff and volunteers
7. Complaints processes
8. Child safety knowledge, skills and awareness
9. Child safety in physical and online environments
10. Review of child safety practices
11. Implementation of child safety practices
You will notice some changes as we implement some new changes.
Lunch Orders
St Paul's Road General Store are offering lunch orders to St Joseph's students every Wednesday beginning next term. Information on how to order can be found later in the newsletter. Thanks Sophie for organising.
Sensational Shorts
Thank you to Megan Barber for leading our Film Festival Project. It was an entertaining evening. We have sent links to the movies out to the community, in an Operoo news message this morning.
Biggest Heart - 'Kick in a Can'
Thank you to Jenny Todd for organising this and families for your generous support. Congratulations to McAuley for bringing the most food items in. We will be celebrating the Feast of the Sacred Heart with a whole school mass at 9:15am on Friday. All are welcome.
Safe Travels
We wish the Doherty Family safe travels and every happiness as they move to London (Claire, Neil, Patrick, Annabel and Charlotte). Thank you for being a part of and contributing to our community. We look forward to you visiting us when you next pop home to Australia.
Third Term
Third term commences on Tuesday 12 for students. Staff will be spending Monday 11 July completing a course in First Aid and completing some modules from The Intervention Framework. Staff will be exploring the guiding principles for inclusive education, accountability mechanisms, practices and strategies that need to be considered in order to optimise learning outcomes for all students.
I hope everyone enjoys their well deserved break and finds time to relax, rejuvenate and have some fun. I look forward to welcoming you back on Tuesday 12 July. Moore's Coffee Van will be here at drop off, so please stay for a quick cuppa and catch up.
Enjoy your holidays ,
Monica
moshannassy@sjsorrento.catholic.edu.au