Principal's Report

Dear Parents and Friends,

Welcome to the 2023 school year! We have had a great start this week, brilliant to see so many smiling faces. I must congratulate students on the way they have begun the school year with focus and so many acts of kindness! 

I welcome our new families to the St. Joseph’s community.

There is much to look forward to this term beginning with our Meet and Greets and Beginning of Year School Mass next week. All are welcome to join us next Thursday morning at 9:00 am for Mass, followed by morning tea. 

Parent Reps

Parent Reps are a great way for classrooms parents and caregivers to feel more connected and informed.

This looks different for all class groups as families move through the different year levels. Chat groups are a great, informal way to share information and connect with the class parent groups. I encourage these to keep going! If you're not part of one yet and would like to be please contact me and I'll direct you to relevant people to link you in.  

The Parent Reps are a more formalised group of parents who filter down relevant information to your fellow classroom parents/caregivers via email or Social Media groups (if everyone is linked to these).

They can be one or two parents from each class who offer a small amount of time to do this. The types of things they may become involved in:

 Assist the teacher in sourcing helpers for classroom activities/excursions.

• A ‘go to’ for new families. Providing advice on where to go or who to ask for information when required, what is required for dress-up days, sports days, etc.
• A reminder for key school activities and events and encourage parents to get involved with the school, social, and fundraising activities throughout the year.
• Plan class-specific social activities, e.g. coffee mornings, dinners, and family picnics.
• Provide feedback about ideas for school improvement to be passed on to school council members or myself.

 We are currently looking for someone to put their hands up for the following Parent Reps, please fill out the form from the link below if you are interested. 

Meet and Greet Interviews

Throughout the year there are two formal opportunities for you to meet with your child/ren’s classroom teachers, the first of these being next week. We encourage you to pop in regularly to touch base with teachers throughout the year.

The purpose of this first meeting is for you to share your wisdom about your child with their teacher. Some questions you may consider are:

1. Is there anything happening at home that you feel could impact your child at school?
2. What are your child’s strengths and areas of need?
3. What are the interests your child and your family have, outside of school?
4. Are there any learning difficulties that you think we may not know about?
5. Do you have any concerns about your child’s social well-being?
6. How can we best communicate throughout the year?

These will take place next Tuesday 7th and Wednesday 8th February. 

Parent Engagement Expressions of Interest

Expressions of interest regarding a range of opportunities for Parent Engagement is now open, until Wednesday 15th February.

We all value being part of a connected and engaged school community. Everyone can play a part in building a connected community at St Joseph’s - and all contributions are valued and welcomed. We’d love parents and carers to get involved in whatever capacity you can offer, whether it be helping with reading, being the classroom rep or even joining our School Council.  Please be in touch with myself, or fill in the attached form if you’d like to help in 2023.

Parent Code of Conduct

This School Code of Conduct ensures clarity about the behavioural standards that parents and staff can reasonably expect of each other.  It is our intention that with this Code of Conduct, we will continue to promote and advance respectful, cooperative, and supportive relationships between parents/carers/guardians, and staff.  

This process is supported by our deep commitment to human life being sacred and to the dignity of the human person at all times being honoured and respected.  The implementation of this Code of Conduct will contribute to the ongoing development of our school as a healthy, safe, and hope-filled community.

This Parent/Carers/Guardian-School Code of Conduct is one violence prevention strategy in promoting a shared understanding and commitment of all in the promotion of the school as a safe workplace for our staff and students. We are here to support you and your children. We expect that everyone will act and speak respectfully, listen, and work together to resolve issues of concern and or problems as they arise. 

Please see attached a copy of the Code of Conduct (which is endorsed by Catholic Education Sandhurst) for your reference. 

Student Birthdays

This year we would like to invite students to wear casual clothes to acknowledge their birthday. Any students who have had, or will have a holiday or weekend birthday are invited to choose an appropriate day to wear casual clothes to celebrate birthdays.