Message from the Principal
Dear Parents and Guardians,
SLA Camp
Our SLA camp to Anglesea last week was an enjoyable experience for our students. Thanks to Jill, Connie, Michael, Rhoe and Anabelle for generously giving your time away from your own families, to enable our student to have this wonderful opportunity. Further information is included in today's newsletter.
World Teachers Day
Today is World Teachers Day. This day is a great opportunity for everyone to recognise and appreciate teachers and the important role they play in shaping the next generation of young minds.
I would like to thank our teachers (and all staff) for all the wonderful work they do in educating, nurturing, protecting, supporting and growing the mind and spirit of our children at St Joseph the Worker. We celebrated with a special morning tea on Tuesday to recognise, celebrate and give thanks for how fortunate we are at St Joseph the Worker to have such a wonderful staff!
Building Grant Application
We have recently applied for a building grant to upgrade facilities at St Joseph the Worker Primary School. The Government has committed $450 million to help build and upgrade catholic schools across the state and this funding will be allocated over one grant round and with successful notified in June 2024. Special thanks to Vanessa, Jed, Craig and Patrick, our School Advisory Council Grant Committee, for their support with this application.
School Uniform
Thank you for ensuring that your child is wearing the correct summer school uniform. This includes the correct school shoes and socks. Students are required to wear their school hats in Term 4 while at school and are strongly encouraged to wear them when walking to and from school. Students without a school hat will be required to sit in a shaded area during breaks. With the UV index much higher this term, parents are encouraged to ensure that their child also wears sunscreen.
Athletics Day at Meadowglen, Epping
Staff and students are looking forward to our Athletics Day next Wednesday, 1st November at Meadowglen in Epping. Thank you to Cara for her excellent organisation of this event. Please note that Cara has included a running sheet for the day further on in the newsletter. Special thanks the parents who have offered to assist at this event as this is helpful to ensure the smooth running of the day.
At the end of the day, parents who would like to take their children home, must see their child’s teacher so that they are marked off the class roll. Please note that due to our child safety compliance we can only allow parents to take students home from Meadowglen. Please note that if we need to cancel due to inclement weather, parents will be informed via skoolbag app on Wednesday morning.
Colour Fun Run
The P&F will be reviewing the date for the Colour Fun Run as it clashes with an SLA excursion. We will update families with the new date early next week.
Prep Information 2024
We welcomed all of our 2023 Prep families at orientation last Friday. Students worked with teachers in the classroom and parents met with leaders and were provided with information to support the smooth transition to their child’s first year of school. We welcome our new Preps and their parents back to our school on Friday, 3rd November.
2026 Year 7 Enrolments Information for our current Year Four students
Below are some critical dates regarding secondary school enrolment timeline.
• Monday 29th January 2024 – Applications will open for students commencing Year 7 in 2026.
• Friday 16th August 2024 – Applications will close.
• Friday 30th August 2024 – Date by which principals must exchange their full list of applications with neighbouring colleges, including parish of residence.
• Friday 13th September 2024 – Date by which principals must exchange their full list of applications with neighbouring colleges, identifying proposed offers and non-offers.
• Friday 18th October 2024 – Offers will be posted to prospective Year 7 applicants.
• Friday 8th November 2024 – Final date for parents/carers to accept an offer made by a school.
Alumni News
Congratulations to David Donato, past student at St Joseph the Worker Primary School who has been elected School Captain of Parade College in 2024. David and his brothers all attended St Joseph the Worker and interestingly, Michael Donato was School Captain in 2017. I am sure many families in our community remember the Donato family and join me in congratulating David on this impressive recognition of his role in the community of Parade College. Well done, David.
School Closure Days
Just a friendly reminder that there is no school on Monday 6th November and Tuesday 7th November is the Melbourne Cup public holiday. Wednesday, 8th November is a school closure day and staff will be working offsite on this day, working together on faith formation to support the teaching and learning of Religious Education. The school will be closed on all of these days. On Wednesday, Theircare will be open for families who require out of school hours care.
Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend and we ask St Joseph the Worker to continue to bless and keep us all safe.
Kind regards
Maria Barnes
