eNews Term 1, Week 3 2024

From the Principal

Dear parents, carers, teachers, and students,

This week, on Wednesday, February 14th, we celebrated Ash Wednesday with Father Phillip Marshall. It was a special occasion that brought our school and parish community together.

A sincere thank you to all the parents, carers, relatives, and friends who joined us for Shrove Tuesday's pancakes and attended the Ash Wednesday Mass. Also, special recognition to the Year 6 students and our School Captains, were admirable in their roles.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a period of reflection and spiritual renewal.

As we begin our journey towards Easter and the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, let us make time to reflect upon that for which we are grateful and consider how we might focus more fully on making better choices and spreading kindness in our daily lives.

Special Guest

On Wednesday, February 14th, we were honoured to welcome Hon Blair Boyer, Minister for Education, Training and Skills, to St. Joseph's School. Minister Boyer visited several educational institutions in the area, and we were thrilled to be included in his itinerary.

Our student captain Charlotte Wise, served as an exceptional tour guide, showcasing the diverse range of resources and facilities available to our students.

This visit provided Minister Boyer with a valuable opportunity to connect directly with our school community and learn more about the unique learning environment we offer at St Joseph’s School.

School Board and Annual General Meeting

Our next school board meeting is Monday, 4^th March.
The School Board AGM will be held on Monday, 25th March, at 6.30 pm. Reports will be tabled at the beginning of the meeting, elections for new members will be held, and those elected will remain for the meeting.

We are also calling for nominations for the school board.

The school board does not require a huge commitment. It is two meetings each school term (6.30 - 8 pm, on a Monday evening). The school board is important in shaping policy and the school's future direction. It is a vital part of parent voice and is a great chance to meet other parents, offer ideas and discuss school planning. We are looking for people who can think strategically or provide insights into specific areas such as finance or marketing. If you would like to know more about the specific roles of office bearers on a school board, please refer to the following link: School Board Responsibilities.

Please call Leesa Angove in the Administration office if you’d like further information about nominating for a position on the School Board in 2024-2025.
Nominations must be made before the AGM.

There is also some information about school boards at School Boards.

Kindest regards,

Mrs Ros Oates
Principal

Reminder – COVID-19 and Illness Protocols

Students unwell with a cold, virus or COVID-19 are asked to remain at home until the acute symptoms (e.g. runny nose, sore throat, cough and fever) have cleared.
Families should notify the administration office if their child returns a positive COVID-19 test.

If our school observes that there have been five or more COVID-19-positive students across a seven-day period in a home class/room or connected with a school camp whether present in their infectious period or not, in that case, we will communicate to families to be alert to possible symptoms via a Seesaw letter.

Student Absences (Grades R-9)

To ensure your child's safety and accurate attendance records, please notify the school of any absence by phone before regular office hours (8:00 AM). You can reach us at 85342000. If contacting outside of office hours, please leave a message stating your name, your child's name, their year-level class and reason for absence.

Our teachers verify electronic attendance rolls daily through the SEQTA system. If a student is marked absent without a documented reason, we will automatically send an SMS confirmation request to the registered parent/caregiver's mobile number. For extended absences, class teachers will personally follow up to ensure proper communication and support.

School Photo Day

Friday 1^st March. The photo orders will be taken via QR code by MSP Photography, who have provided the following information:

To order school photos, please keep a look out for your photo form with the QR code containing your child’s unique shoot key & remember these helpful tips:

Use the unique shoot key provided on the handout to place your order online before the close date.
If you would like family photos, please collect a form from the front office.
Your child is not required to hand anything in on photo day.
Please call our office if you require your order to be collected from the school’s front office.

Should you have any queries, please don’t hesitate to contact MSP Photography.
email: admin.adelaidesouth@msp.com.au ph: 08 83913951

Meet and Greet Parent Information Meetings

Parent Information meetings will be held in Week 6 (4^th March – 7^th March) for Reception – Year 6’s families and in Week 7 (11^th March – 14^th March) for Year 7-9’s. These meetings provide an excellent opportunity for you to connect with your child's teacher, discuss their progress and learning goals, and explore ways to support their academic success at school.

At St Joseph’s School, we believe in fostering open, honest, and positive communication with our families. Parents and carers are integral partners in our school community. Your involvement is crucial in supporting your child's academic journey and overall well-being. Information via Seesaw about registering a date and time with your child/ren’s teacher/s will be forwarded in the coming weeks.

We understand that concerns and questions may arise before these scheduled meetings or throughout the school year. We encourage you to make prior appointments for meetings with your child's teacher if you have any specific questions, concerns, or challenges you wish to discuss. Our goal is to address any issues promptly and effectively, ensuring your child receives the support they need to thrive.