PRINCIPAL'S REPORT

Dear Parents and Friends,

An exciting and busy time of the year, hard to believe we are on the home straight! There are a number of events happening over the next two weeks for our students and families. Please ensure that you contact the office if you need any further details on these events. Classes are busy preparing for our Picnic on the Turf next Wednesday. We are very excited about coming together as a community to mark the end of the year.

Over the weekend I received updated guidelines from Catholic Education Commission Victoria (CECV). Please be aware that all events held onsite and in the Church require us to check vaccination certificates on entry.

Should you be unable to attend the Picnic on the Turf for vaccination reasons, please contact the office and an online link will be sent to your email to view the class songs.

Staffing Update

Congratulations and a big welcome from St.Joseph's community to Trish Shaw and Nadine Spriggs-Terlaak who join our staff in 2022. 

In December we will farewell Heather Hulett, who is currently on leave, as she focuses on finishing her PhD. Heather has brought so much joy to our students through the library and will be missed. Nadine will continue to work in the library next year, as well as as a Learning Support Officer.

Trish Shaw joins us from St. Patrick’s Wangaratta as a classroom teacher, as Bridget Woodward will be on maternity leave. We welcome Trish back to St. Josephs, where she started as a teachers aide. Since leaving St. Joseph’s Trish has worked at St. Bernards and St. Patricks in Wangaratta and will be a great asset to our teaching staff.

We will also farewell Glendah Halliday as she steps back from her role as Reading Recovery Teacher. She will be greatly missed but hopes to remain a part of our community, particularly as a classroom volunteer.

Michael Kearton will continue his personal leave until the end of the year, stepping back to two days for 2022.

2022 Class Structures

Each year we review our class structures and student placements. There are many factors considered in this process, these range from student needs, student numbers and wellbeing factors, to name a few. Given the number of lockdowns and remote learning that has occurred over the last two years, this was also a major consideration for 2022, particularly ensuring continuous learning and student/ teacher relationships where possible and appropriate.

Our junior and senior classes will each work across three physical learning spaces. Teachers will plan and work together to ensure that student academic progress and wellbeing needs are prioritised. The flexibility of fluid groups will ensure that targeted teaching occurs for each student. The continued relationship with teachers following disrupted years will mean that the focus on learning that has occurred this year will continue into next year.

We are excited to announce our 2022 Class Structures.

• Foundation/ Year One:Diana Rinaldi and Bianca Vescio
  • Foundation Contact: Diana Rinaldi
  • Year One Contact: Bianca Vescio
• Year Two/ Three:Josh Carr
• Year Four/ Five/ Six: Trish Shaw and Mark Butters
  • Year Four Contact: Trish Shaw
  • Year Five/ Six Contact: Mark Butters
• Visual Arts: Jodie Cuskelly
• Performing Arts: Jane Sartori
• Italian: Diana Rinaldi
• PE: Josh Carr and Michael Kearton
• Intervention Leader: Markeeta Green
• Learning Support Officers: Irene Sharp, Jason Tepper, Dee Morey, Nadine Spriggs-Terlaak
• Library Technician: Nadine Spriggs-Terlaak
• SAKG: Naomi Ingleton
• Specialist Release & Mary and Brigid Group: Linda Murcutt
• Specialist Release: Michael Kearton

Technology Update

As we have reached the end of our current lease, next year we will be moving from student laptops to iPads. iPads will come with a keyboard and sets of pens for classroom use. As we prepare for the change in devices we ask the following:

• All devices to be returned by this Monday 6th December, including chargers
• Any families who would like to purchase one of the laptops are asked to contact the office and finalise payment by next Friday 10th December. This can be purchased at a cost of $300, payment to be made via our school account:
  • Name: St Joseph’s Primary School
  • BAB: 083-543
  • Account: 51 683 8576
  • Reference: Surname and Laptop

Student Fundraiser

This term Mabel and Eddie have been participating in Youth Ambassador workshops as our school representatives. A part of this program is to raise awareness and money for Beyond Blue, https://www.beyondblue.org.au/,  and Tura Island, to build composting toilets.

This Friday students are invited to Guess the Number of Lollies in a Jar at .50c a guess and to make a badge of their own design at $1 per badge.

School Bank Accounts

The school has recently changed our main school bank account to the National Australia Bank.  Please see below our new bank details as of 15 November 2021:

Name:                 St Josephs Primary School Beechworth

BSB                       083-543

Account No.       51-683-8576

Please remember to include your surname and /or account number when making payments.  If you have any queries in relation to your statement or if you are having difficulty paying your school fees, please do not hesitate to contact Carly.

Their Care Survey - St Joseph's Beechworth

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/F8X77T8

The survey will close on 3rd December

Steve Baldock | National Partnership Manager

M:  0438 390 300E:  steveb@theircare.com.auW: www.theircare.com.au