Dear Parents and Guardians,

Welcome to the 2026 school year! I trust you have had a restful and wonderful break with your family and loved ones. We have had a sensational start to the school year and I am really looking forward to another fantastic year of learning and fun at St Joseph the Worker!

Welcome to all our new families who have joined the school community this year. I would especially like to welcome our Preps who commenced last week. They have settled in and all are ready for school! The students looked very smart in their new school uniforms, and it was wonderful to see so many parents and grandparents supporting and welcoming their children and grandchildren as they begin their school journey.

It is very important that parents take the time to read our newsletter, which contains important information and reminders.

Welcome to our new staff members

Clare Young - Prep
Lisa Bernardo - JLA 2
Rosemary Bliss – SLA 3
Charlotte Tenace (LSO)
Stephanie Clarke (Performing Arts Teacher)

Our School Rules

Every member of our school community has a right to fully participate in a learning environment that is safe, supportive and inclusive. Everyone deserves to be treated with respect and dignity. We believe that students learn best when they feel safe and happy in a caring, supportive and engaging environment.

At St Joseph the Worker we:

Follow directions
Listen to the speaker
Speak appropriately
Keep our hands and feet to ourselves
Take care of property and the environment and
Move safely

Behaviour Dispositions

To ensure that we always promote a positive learning environment for everyone, we have three Behaviour Dispositions at St Joseph the Worker Primary School: Respectful, Safe and Responsible.

Every member of our school community has a right to fully participate in a Catholic learning environment that is safe, supportive and inclusive. Everyone deserves to be treated with respect and dignity. We believe students learn best when they feel safe and happy in a caring, supportive and engaging environment. We foster positive, tolerant and respectful relationships.

Teachers have been revisiting our school rules and behavioural expectations with all students in the classroom.

Working together

Effective home-school partnerships rely on positive relationships being established. One way that this happens is through good communication between teachers and parents. The teacher’s role is to teach the children so they may not always be available to speak with parents. For minor concerns that do not relate to learning, parents can ‘catch’ a teacher after school. However, for important issues related to learning, it is necessary to set aside a time to meet. This will ensure that parents and teachers have the time to fully discuss the issue and work together on a solution to best support the student. I encourage parents to communicate with teachers via email or preferably to make an appointment to meet with the teacher so that concerns can be addressed appropriately.

Parents should note that if you are sending an email, teachers may not be able to respond immediately as they will be busy with their teaching responsibilities. Parents should expect an answer to their email within 48 hours’ time and only within business hours. Teachers will not respond to emails before 8.30 am and after 4.30 pm.

Parent Code of Conduct

At St Joseph the Worker we want what you want - and that is the best for your child! Please trust us and know that we always follow up and respond to any incident and we will always do what is right for your child. When you enrolled your child at our school, you accepted and agreed to respect and follow all school policies and procedures.

At St Joseph the Worker we believe that everyone:

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 note that is it never acceptable for a parent to:

approach a child that is not your own with a view to disciplining that child for their behaviour
approach other school parents to resolve issues arising between students at school (such matters should always be referred to school staff)
be rude or aggressive towards any staff member

I encourage you to read our Parent Code of Conduct below which outlines the schools’ expectations.

Adjusted Break Times and SunSmart Reminders

As February and March often experience periods of high temperatures, staff have agreed to trial an adjustment to yard duty and break times. A longer 45‑minute break will take place at 11.00 am, followed by a shorter 30‑minute break at 1.45 pm.

This change allows students to enjoy an extended break earlier in the day, before peak heat and UV levels. In line with our SunSmart policy, all students are required to wear their hats while on the playground.

Early feedback from both staff and students so far has been positive, with many reporting they are enjoying the revised schedule. The trial will be reviewed at the end of the term.

School Routines: Term 1

8:30 a.m.	Gates open and students walk into class
8:45 a.m.	Morning bell for prayer, roll and preparation for the day All students should arrive by 8:45
9:00 a.m.	Lessons commence
11:00 a.m.	Recess
11:45 p.m.	End of recess
1:45 p.m.	Lunch
2:15 p.m.	End of lunch
3:15 p.m.	Dismissal

Morning Drop Off & Afternoon Pick Up

When using the drive through for morning drop off, please follow these simple rules:

The lane closest to the church is designated as the "stop and go" lane. Parents should park as close to the end of the hall as possible, stop, and drop their children off. For the safety of all, please ensure your child exits the car on the right-hand side. In past years, we have witnessed several near misses with children exiting on the left and walking in front of cars where parents cannot see them, which is a significant safety risk.

The lane near the Parish Hall is the designated parking lane, where parents should park and walk their children to the gate. This system is in place to ensure a safer and more efficient drop-off process for everyone.

When picking up your child at the end of the school day, please prioritise safe driving and parking. I have observed cars driving in church car park exit, parking in front of neighbours’ driveways, and parking illegally, such as too close to the school crossing. These actions pose serious safety risks and can disrupt the flow of traffic. Please be mindful of traffic rules and always park responsibly to ensure the safety of all students and families.

Thank you for your cooperation in helping us maintain a safe environment for all students.

School Uniform

Thank you for ensuring that your child is wearing the correct summer uniform which includes the school hat and correct school shoes - no black runners.

The school uniform is compulsory for all students
The new uniform or the old uniform can be worn - not a combination of both
The old uniform can be worn until the end of 2027 school year
As a SunSmart school, hats must be always worn when outdoors during the warmer months. We encourage all students to wear sunscreen daily during times of high UV ratings. You are welcome to send sunscreen with your child in their bag. Sunscreen is available in all classrooms for students to reapply during the day.
All long hair should be tied up
Students are reminded that false nails and nail polish are not permitted at our school. Parents are asked to ensure that students do not attend school wearing either.

School Fees

School fees will be emailed next week. Our School Fee Policy and Concessional School Fees Policy can be found on our school website. The school is reliant on all parents paying their school fees in full to enable us to meet our financial commitments, so it is essential that all school fees are paid in full by the required date.

Term One Curriculum Overviews

Next week you will receive a copy of our term one overview which contains information about your child's class routine and the curriculum content of what your child will be learning this term. I know parents really appreciate receiving this information so that they can support their child's learning at home.

Student Mobile Phones

Students do not need phones or smart watches at school.

Mobile phones are not permitted for use at any time at St Joseph the Worker
If parents require their child to bring a mobile phone to school for a particular reason, the phone must be turned off and handed to their classroom teacher as soon as they arrive at school.
- Please note - just because your child has a phone and they want to bring it to school, this is not a valid reason.
Phones will be securely stored in a locked drawer during school hours.
This also includes smart watches with network connectivity.
If you need to pass on a message to your child, this can be done by phoning the school office.

No Dogs at School

A reminder that under no circumstances should dogs be brought into the school grounds, nor are they to be tied up and left at the school gates. This is for the safety and wellbeing of both families and the pets themselves! We also have students with allergies to dogs and some who are very scared of them. I ask for your support with this matter and to leave the dog at home or wait away from the school grounds with your dog.

Anaphylaxis

I would like to remind parents that we have students at our school who are at risk of an anaphylactic reaction. Anaphylaxis is a severe, rapidly progressing allergic reaction that can be life-threatening. The most common allergens among school-aged children include peanuts, eggs, tree nuts (e.g., cashews), cow’s milk, fish and shellfish, wheat, soy, sesame, latex, certain animal stings, and medications.

The key to preventing anaphylaxis in schools is awareness—knowing which students are at risk, understanding their triggers (allergens), and preventing exposure to those triggers. A strong partnership between the school and parents is vital in ensuring that we stay informed of the medical management requirements for all students.

Parents of students at risk of anaphylaxis are required to review and update their child's medical plan annually. Please contact Michele to arrange a time to complete this review and update as soon as possible. Thank you for your support in keeping our school community safe.

Birthday Treats

It is not an expectation or requirement, but some parents like to send in a birthday treat to share with your child's class. Please note:

Items will need to be individually wrapped and not require refrigeration or special care
They will be given out at the end of the school day

Queries or feedback?

If you have any concerns, queries or feedback, please do not hesitate to contact me or a member of the leadership team. For all classroom matters or friendship concerns, please email your child's teacher. For general information or inquiries, please email the office.

We are all looking forward to working with you and your children and to having a wonderful year at our fantastic school - St Joseph the Worker! On behalf of Father Pritchard and all the staff, I would like to wish everyone in our community a very happy, safe and successful year.

We ask St Joseph the Worker to continue to bless our wonderful Parish and School Community.

Kind regards,

Maria Barnes

Principal

St Joseph the Worker School Prayer

Dear Lord,

We ask you to guide and watch over us through our journey at St Joseph the Worker.

Let us Make Jesus Real by working together each and every day.

Help us to make our school a safe and happy environment for all teachers, parents and students.

Let us keep the ill and less fortunate in our hearts and hope that they find love, strength and protection.

St Joseph the Worker, Pray for Us.

P & F