Principal’s News

Dear Parents and Carers,

Each week the staff of St Joseph's school go to great lengths to provide you with comprehensive communication regarding the learning and events taking place at our great little school. I would encourage you to take the time to browse through the links in this newsletter to ensure you are up to date with what's happening at St Joseph's School.  As you will see, your children have fantastic opportunities in the classroom, on the sporting field and in the playground.  If you have any suggestions for further information you would like to see, please email principal@sjyarrajunction.catholic.edu.au

Out-of-School-Hours-Care

Recently, the Out of School Hours Care (OSHC) at CIRE on Little Yarra Rd was discontinued as it was no longer financially viable. This has significantly impacted a number of families who previously used this service. I have been liaising with Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools to find a solution to this challenge.  

While doing this one of our parents was liaising with local State and Federal Members of Parliament.  I have also recently been in communication with the principal of our local state school to see whether our students could be accommodated in their program.

Out of the blue, Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) Principals all received an email today stating that Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools Early Years Education Inc (MACSEYE) would be taking over OSHC in MACS Schools.  I have been in touch with MACSEYE to ask the following questions:

1. As St Joseph's does not currently have a program in place, will one be established by MACSEYE?  
2. If so, when is this likely to happen?
3. Is there any possibility that St Joseph's could be prioritised? This is potentially impacting current enrolments and threatening future enrolments. Some potential families have identified this as a barrier to enrolling their children at our school.

I will let families know the response I receive in relation to this important matter

School Advisory Council Excursion Survey

Yesterday, parents and carers were emailed a survey regarding our use of the Lilydale Train to provide students with the opportunity to attend an extra excursion each year.  The subject of the email was "Excursion Feedback Form."  While many parents are very happy to drop their children to the Lilydale Station, some see this as a significant inconvenience due to work commitments and the challenge of getting children to multiple locations.  To inform the school of future directions in relation to the use of the Lilydale Train, please take the opportunity to contribute to this survey.

School Uniform

Thanks again to the families who are sending their children to school in their correct school uniforms.  Most children are wearing the correct uniform most days.  However, we have noticed some other clothing items creeping in, including Hoodies and other non-St Joseph's items.

If your child's uniform is incomplete on any given day, could I please ask that you send a note or email to your child's teacher, letting them know the reason for them being out of uniform.  We get it.  Many of us have children of our own and understand the challenge of having everything washed and dried in time for the next day. However it is a great frustration to parents who diligently send their children to school in their correct uniform while seeing other students wearing whatever they choose.

Father's Day Celebration

As you may have noticed on the school calendar, we are planning a Father's Day Celebration for our Dads and Kids on Friday 30 August. We have had suggestions that it may be more convenient for Dads to attend an After School Event.  Others have suggested that the traditional Father's Day Breakfast is the better option.  Keep an eye on your emails for a survey over the weekend for Dads to let us know what they would prefer.  We'll never please everyone but we are open to doing something different if it works better for the Dads.  Ideas such as a Footy afternoon and a Hot Dog Dinner have been 'kicked around.'  Looking forward to hearing the Dad's suggestions.

Kind regards,

Nick.