Dear Parents,

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Binney Family on the recent passing of their much loved mother Margaret. Margaret was a wonderful community person in Crib Point and her husband Michael has been the chair of our St Joseph's Pastoral Council for the past ten years. Margaret will be sadly missed by all.

Last week students participated in our annual swimming program at Crib Point Pool. What a wonderful asset we have in our backyard!

Swimming and water safety activities are essential particularly with where we live on the beautiful Mornington Peninsula with children learning fundamental swimming skills along with important water safety skills. Students will then travel to Point Leo in Week 10 for beach safety days ensuring we have a comprehensive swimming and water safety program for all of our students.

We had our final cafe for 2023 last Friday. What an amazing program our Year 6 students participate in! The confidence our students show, the resilience they demonstrate as they adapt and change to each situation they are faced with and the positivity that is evident from students, staff, parents and community members is something we are really proud of.

The Year 6 cafe is a living example of the Literacy, Maths, Science and other learning the Year 6 students are involved in along with the way they live out their STEM theme of Being of Service to others. I would also like to thank and recognise Bendigo Bank Balnarring who have donated 30 Cafe aprons for our students to wear.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Matt De Marte, Luke Hewitt and Kerry Colliver for their excellent leadership in the Cafe. I would also like to congratulate Maddy and Ava on being wonderful Cafe leaders throughout 2023 and to all of our Year 6 students.

Our Year students will travel to Phillip Island this Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for the senior camp. We wish the happy campers all the best and know they will have a wonderful time.

Only two weeks to go now till our big Christmas event. Please support the event and come along to celebrate our wonderful community.

Raffle tickets will be sent home tomo for the bumper Christmas raffle

On the 12th December our official orientation day all students in the school will attend a session with their new teacher for 2024. This provides an opportunity for students to be prepared for the following school year.

On this day you will receive an envelope with all of the necessary information pertaining to the 2023 school year. This will also be sent home via Operoo.

You will also be invited to book in for an individual session with your child’s teacher at the commencement of the 2024 school year. This information will be provided in the information pack.

End of term dates
4th December	Community Garden Day- come along and help to plant out our new vege patches and help with clearing up other areas of the school.
6th December	Junior Beach Day
7th December	Senior Beach Day
8th December	1.30pm End of year mass Followed by Spirit of St Joseph’s and other awards And Colour run 6- 8pm Carols night including Prep nativity
12th December	Official transition session and step up for 2024 will be held on from 11.15 am - 1.15 pm.
15th December	The last day for students for the 2023 school year is Friday 15th December. We will farewell the graduating class in the afternoon from 1.30pm and students will be dismissed for the end of year at 3.15pm. All welcome

2024 Commencement Dates
Date
29/01/2024	School staff resume – Staff professional learning
29/01/2024	School staff resume – Staff professional learning
30/01/2024	Individual Conferences with Classroom Teacher
31/01/2024	Individual Conferences with Classroom Teacher
01/02/2024	Students commence classes
09/02/2024	Beginning of the Year School Mass and Welcome BBQ 2pm Leaders ceremony and badge presentation

Term	2024 School Closure Days & Public Holidays
1	Pupil Free Days - Wednesday 27th March and Thursday 28th– Staff Conference
	Labour Day Public Holiday – Monday 11th March
2	ANZAC Day Public Holiday – Thursday 25th April Pupil Free Day – Friday 26th April – Pupil Free day King’s Birthday Public Holiday – Monday 10th June
3	Pupil Free Day – Monday 4th November – Pupil Free day Melbourne Cup Public Holiday – Tuesday 5th November
Camps 2024
5/6 Camp - Wed 17th, Thur 18th & Fri 19th July
3/4 Camp - Tues 11th & Wed 12th June

Yours in Partnership,

Gab

Garden Day...