Message from Liz
Welcome Night
Last night we came together on school grounds to celebrate the beginning of the 2024 school year. When we gather as a school community we are providing opportunities to come together and to share experiences. It is wonderful to watch the children play and parents catch up. We look forward to more opportunities like this, especially as we have new families to welcome and include in the life of our school.
Thank you to the Parents and Friends for organising the evening. To all families for bringing a salad or sweet, they are always better when someone else makes them. Special acknowledgement for the anonymous donation for the meat for our BBQ. We are so very grateful to everyone that works on our behalf.
2024 is going to be the year of projects, we are back in our classrooms and with the exception of a few small tasks, they are finished. Now to tackle outside! We all have ideas and we look forward to planning for our external spaces together.
Your voice is important and we will be asking for your ideas soon.
Thank You
Students and staff enjoyed pancakes for morning tea on Tuesday. We thank the parents that gave their time to cook these for everyone.
Sacraments
Children in Grade 2 are invited to receive the Sacrament of Penance (Reconciliation) in 2024.
If you would like your child to receive be a part of the Sacramental preparation this year for Reconciliation, Eucharist or Confirmation, please let us know at the office OR email Eliza McNamara (emcnamara@sjrochester.cahtolic.edu.au)
Care Meals
St Joseph’s prides itself on being a community that is compassionate, connected and caring. At times we all need support, resources and a helping hand.
In 2023, we had donations of meals to our school from catholic schools in our cluster. We are now looking for families that can donate care meals for our freezer.
Please email etrewick@sjrochester.catholic.edu.au if you are interested in assisting with this program.
We have foil trays that we can send home with your child/children for you to fill with a homemade meal, for a family in need within our community.
Birthdays
We have a new way to celebrate birthdays at St Joseph’s.
- If it is your child’s birthday during the week, they are welcome to wear casual clothes on the day of their birthday.
- If your child celebrates their birthday on a weekend or during the holidays, they may wear casual clothes on a Monday or Friday of that week/week following.
Exceptions:
- School Photos - Tuesday 16th April
- School Excursions
Birthday catch up day will be Friday 23rd February. So, if your child has celebrated a birthday since 1st January to 16th February, they are welcome to come in casual clothes on the 23rd February.
Camps, Sports & Excursion Fund (CSEF)
The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) provides payments for eligible students to attend activities like:
- school camps or trips
- swimming and school-organised sports programs
- outdoor education programs
- excursions and incursions.
To be eligible to receive CSEF funding a parent or legal guardian of a student must hold a Health Care Card on the first day of Term one 2024, or on the first day of Term two 2024.
Please Note – eligible Health Care Cards must be in the name of a parent, and have the student listed below.
The CSEF is an annual payment to the school to be used towards camps, sports and/or excursion expenses for the benefit of the eligible student.
The CSEF is paid directly the school and will be allocated by the school towards camps, sports and/or excursion costs for your child.
If you think your student/s may be eligible to receive CSEF funding pleasecontact the office and bring a copy of your Health Care Card.
This is a timely reminder that families who hold a Health Care Card are eligible for fee subsidies also.
If you have any queries please contact the school office on 5484 1797.
Thank you for being a part of our community. We look forward to sharing 2024 with you and your family. It's going to be a great year.
Take care
