Dear Parents and Guardians,

Students, staff and families enjoyed a wonderful Athletics carnival on Wednesday, 6th November. A very big thank you to everyone for their support at this event. It was fabulous to have so many parents join us at Meadowglen Athletics Stadium to assist and encourage our students on the day. Special thanks to Vanessa her great work planning, organising and leading our Athletics Day. Thank you also to our staff for their support in ensuring a successful day for our students.

Fun Run

Thank you to all our families for their wonderful support of our annual fun run. Students will be participating in this run tomorrow morning and l am sure the students will enjoy this. Please note that students must wear old clothing tomorrow.

Student Leaders 2025

Our current School Captains and Vice Captains will be joining leaders and myself next week to interview aspiring student leaders for next year. I wish all students applying for these positions the best of luck and congratulate them for being willing to step up and lead our student community in 2025.

School Advisory Council Update

As we only received two nominations for our vacant council positions, l am pleased to announce that Craig Osborne is continuing, and Lucia Guarino is our new School Advisory Council member.

On behalf of our community, l would like to thank Patrick Wood for his valuable contribution to our School Advisory Council. Patrick has been integral to our application and success in achieving a building grant this year and l look forward to thanking him on your behalf at our carols evening.

Art Show

Thank you to all our families who visited our Art show last week. Once again l was very impressed by the high standard of Art on display and the creative thinking that contributed to the finished piece of Art. The work on display was impressive and l congratulate Connie and our staff for their work with our students in for organizing another inspiring Art show for our school community and for her ongoing work in supporting our students in their love of Art. Thank you to Sofka Rocca and Giovanna Basile for their assistance setting up the Art Show.

Illness

Unfortunately, in the past few weeks many families have been impacted by gastroenteritis or COVID-19. As gastroenteritis is a common and highly infectious conditions, students should not return to school until 48 hours after their last episode of diarrhoea and/or vomiting.

If you are concerned that your child may have COVID, the following protocols are still in place for all schools:

Parents/carers should inform the school by phone or written notification if a student tests positive to COVID-19 (via a PCR or rapid antigen test).
Students who report a positive result are recommended to isolate for a minimum of 5 days and not attend school until their symptoms have resolved.

Medical Management Policy

St Joseph the Worker Primary School operates with the consent of the Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne and is owned, operated, and governed by Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS). MACS have updated their Medical Management Policy for all schools, with a significant change regarding the administration of medication at school.

In all cases except emergency situations, medication must not be administered to a child being educated and cared for unless the administration is authorised by a treating medical / health practitioner.

Medication can only be administered when a Medication Authority Form that reflects details of medication to be administered at school has been completed and signed by a Health Practitioner and parents.

A copy of the Medical Management Policy and Medication Authority form is available from the office. If you are taking your child to a doctor and expect that they may prescribed medication that will need to be taken at school, we recommend that you take a copy of this form with you for the Medical Practitioner to sign.

Prep Orientation

We had our second Prep orientation recently and welcomed our 2025 Prep students and families to our school. Students worked in classrooms with teachers as an introduction to learning next year. Our new parents met in the hall and listened to information regarding a typical day in Prep, teaching and learning at our school and met staff from Theircare and Academy Uniforms. It was a successful morning for all our new students and their families, and we look forward to working with them again today on their final visit to our school in preparation for starting next year.

School Fees

Thank you to the majority of families who have finalised this year's school fees. There are just a few families who have not finalised their account. I ask that you do so this week. Please contact Marisa if you wish to discuss your account.

School Uniform

The wearing of the correct school uniform is compulsory for all students. It is now time for all students to wear the correct summer school uniform. 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 your child wears sunscreen.

Many children are wearing sneakers to the school at the current time and whilst l know we are getting towards the end of the year, the correct school uniform is mandated for all families. Please ensure that your child/children attend school in the correct uniform every day.

Dogs at School

A reminder that under no circumstances should dogs be brought into the school grounds. This is for the safety and wellbeing of both families and the pets themselves! We have students with allergies to dogs and some students 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.

Travel Safe

It is wonderful to see students riding to school now that the weather is improving. A reminder to all students who walk or ride to school to always follow the road rules and be very careful when walking or riding past the school driveway entrances.

2025 Year of Jubilee

Pope Francis officially declared 2025 as a Jubilee Year. Hope is the overarching theme of the upcoming Jubilee. As 'Pilgrims of Hope,' the Jubilee 2025 offers a unique opportunity for all of God's people to strengthen their faith, experience God's grace and share hope with the world. Embrace the spirt of pilgrimage and participate in this special year of celebration.

Archbishop Comensoli invites parishes and communities to an Archdiocesan Celebration next Sunday 24th November, at St Patrick’s Cathedral to begin the Archdiocese of Melbourne’s journey towards the Jubilee Year.

The Jubilee Prayer

Father in heaven,

may the faith you have given us

in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother,

and the flame of charity enkindled

in our hearts by the Holy Spirit,

reawaken in us the blessed hope

for the coming of your Kingdom.

May your grace transform us

into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel.

May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos

in the sure expectation

of a new heaven and a new earth,

when, with the powers of Evil vanquished,

your glory will shine eternally.

May the grace of the Jubilee

reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope,

a yearning for the treasures of heaven.

May that same grace spread

the joy and peace of our Redeemer

throughout the earth.

To you our God, eternally blessed,

be glory and praise for ever.

Amen

May St Joseph the Worker continue to bless us and watch over us

Maria Barnes

Kind regards,

Maria Barnes

Principal

Surprise visitors at our Prep Orientation day on November 8th!

Literacy