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- Principal's Message
- Class Preparations 2022
- Prep Neighborhood
- Grades 3-6 Specialist Timetable Term 4
- Hats - SunSmart
- 2021 School Raffle
- Remote Learning Attendance
- Finance Information
- End of Term 3
- Enrolments 2022
- Transition Summer Uniform
- Condolences
- Parish News
- Wonthaggi Basketball
- Little Athletics
Dear Parents, Guardians and Caregivers
Thank you for collecting your Remote Learning packs, it is most appreciated! From what I have witnessed the students seem to be enjoying and are very engaged in their Google Meets and are making the most of this regular time with their teacher and classmates. Thanks to all the parents for supporting this.
It is wonderful to have our Prep and Grade 1 / 2 students back at school!
We have had some exciting news regarding our next building project. TS Constructions will begin work on refurbishing and extending the 5 / 6 classroom space to create an additional classroom in the near future.
As well as providing a fourth classroom area, outside learning areas will be improved and made more easily accessible through large glass sliding doors (similar to the 1 / 2 and 3 / 4 classes). Contemporary intervention spaces and engaging break out areas will be created. The project will also involve the building of a bike shed and landscaping around the building and in front of the school.
While the building is underway, 5/6T will work in the library space, 5/6L will be in the STEAM room and 5/6F will use the Performing Arts room. STEAM lessons will be conducted in classrooms and Performing Arts lessons will occur in the Parish hall.
Staff have been busy moving out of the classrooms and I thank them for all the extra work they have been doing at this challenging time.
We have also had some staffing news: Ms Hannah Parrett has announced that she is expecting another addition to her family and will be taking Maternity Leave for much of 2022. We congratulate Hannah and Matt and offer our sincere best wishes for their future! Ms Claire Shannon will be joining our staff next year. Claire has been working at a Catholic primary school in Melbourne and we are looking forward to welcoming her to our school community.
As Term 3 concludes this Friday at 2.25pm, I would like to take the opportunity to wish everyone a restful and rejuvenating holiday break. I sincerely hope and pray that we will all be back to face to face learning in Term 4 but I also know that we will persevere in whatever situation we find ourselves in, with the students clearly at the centre of our focus.
Thank you again for all your support, understanding and patience this term and most of all for your resilience and adaptability! The students are learning such important lessons from the way we cope and respond. We must all continue to strive to be the role models they need and deserve. Keep up the great work!
Joanne Coldebella
Acting Principal
As the process of planning and preparing for the 2022 school year has commenced, we will soon begin to work on class lists. If parents have a genuine reason for class placement requests for next year, you are required to put this in writing and submit it to the School Office.
Please be aware that a request has to be made for this current year, we will not be referring to requests made 12 months ago as circumstances change and it is important this is requested and submitted each year. Obviously, we cannot (and will not) accommodate requests for particular teachers; we can only look at the needs of the child.
All requests are to be submitted in writing to info@stjwonthaggi.catholic.edu.au by Friday, 8 October 2021.
It is important to note that once classes are established for the year, no alterations to allocations will be made. While we welcome parent input about your child’s individual learning needs, please be mindful that preferences are requests only and school staff decide the final placement of children based on the learning needs of all students.
This year the school will be utilising the Class Solver program to assist in allocating students to classes. Teachers will input data into the program which will then sort the classes. It is hoped that this will make this process more efficient.
Joanne Coldebella
Acting Principal
Grades 3-6 Specialist Timetable Term 4
Due to changes in the Specialist Timetable in Term 4, 2021, the Grades 3/4 and 5/6 students will wear their sports uniforms on Wednesdays and Thursdays from next term. Apologies if this causes any inconvenience.
As of Wednesday September 1 students are required to wear their hats outside.
As part of our commitment over the past 22 years being a SunSmart member we acknowledge the importance in educating and encouraging our students to building lifelong SunSmart habits.
Please ensure your child/ren have their hats labeled and in their school bags.
Hats are able to be purchased from our uniform supplier Totally Workwear Wonthaggi
We are excited and proud to re-introduce our annual St Joseph’s School Raffle in 2021.
Due to the challenges and upheaval of businesses since the start of 2020, we have decided to ensure we focus our support on the local businesses in our area. We have enclosed our raffle tickets and we are asking for your help in assisting us with this endeavour by selling them on our behalf to family and friends.
Our capacity to continue to undertake improvements around the school is dependant on the income received from this raffle.
This year our raffle winners will be given the opportunity to spend their prizes within the local community with vouchers redeemable at all participating businesses within the Wonthaggi Business and Tourism Association (WBTA). This allows the lucky winners more flexibility and choice. Vouchers will be issued in denominations of $100 and $50. What a great Christmas gift a voucher would make for your loved ones!
All details are located on the raffle tickets and can be returned with payment to the school or returned with payment made via CDF Pay. All Raffle books (sold or unsold) are required to returned to the school by Friday 10 December.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank our school parents and St Joseph’s parishioners for the ongoing support of our school at the same time. Raffle tickets will be going home with your child this week.
LIVE LOCAL - When we support our local small businesses, our money stays
in our community.
SHOP LOCAL - When you shop local, you help sustain your local economy and enjoy benefits that a national chain store cannot supply.
SUPPORT LOCAL - Small businesses give back to the community by creating local jobs
and offers the customer to contribute to the local economy
Many in our school community continue to face financial impacts as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are committed to supporting families experiencing financial challenges through our School Fee Concession programs, and encourage any parent/carer/guardian experiencing difficulties to contact us regarding fee assistance.
Term 3 fees are now due, if you have not received your statement via email or require any further information, please contact Kaye Carew on 5672 1052 or email kcarew@stjwonthaggi.catholic.edu.au to explore confidential financial support arrangements.
Just a reminder to families that Term 3 ends on Friday September 17 at the earlier time of 2:25pm.
We wish you all a safe and happy break and look forward to seeing you all back in the beginning of term 4.
Students attending school may start to wear their Summer uniform now. Whilst not compulsory until the beginning of Term 4, it is important that students wear either full Winter uniform or full Summer uniform and not a mixture of both.
We pray for Father Darren Howie on the loss of his father, Bill Howie. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Father Darren and his extended family, watch over them as they grieve and give them strength to seek comfort in each other and their faith at this time.
Please pray for those who have passed due to the Covid-19 Virus and experiencing such hardship in Afghanistan. For Matthew Barber who passed away recently and the Anniversaries of Fr. Thomas Hurley, Fr. John Howard and our own loved ones. May God’s merciful love shine on them and on their loved ones left behind.
AS YOU WILL HAVE HEARD REGIONAL LOCKDOWN NOW ALLOWS US TO HAVE WEEKEND AND WEEKDAY MASSES BUT THE NUMBER ATTENDING IS NOW RESTRICTED TO 20. WE WILL BE CONTACTING PARISHIONERS INDIVIDUALLY TO ALLOW A FAIR DISTRIBUTION OF OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THESE MASSES.
THESE RESTRICTIONS ALSO MEAN THAT THOSE ATTENDING MUST LIVE REGIONALLY.
A list of live streams across the Diocese is on www.cdsale.org.au/coronavirus page. This page has listed the Mass times which occur regularly, ie. Don’t change from week to week.
JUST A REMINDER THAT MASS FOR YOU AT HOME IS AN OPTION FOR THOSE LOOKING FOR MASS ON TELEVISION (6am on Channel 10, 10am on Foxtel Aurora Channel 173) or online at www.massforyou.com.au or https://www.youtube.com/massforyouathome anytime from 7a.m. AEST
Cry of the Earth the Social Justice Statement can be read on https://socialjustice.catholic.org.au/2021/06/24/social-justice-statement-2021-22/.
MEDITATION GROUP: POSTPONED
LITURGY GROUP MEETING: POSTPONED
PRAYER SHAWL GROUP There are now plenty of newly wrapped and blessed shawls/rugs ready for distribution to those that you may know who are struggling with life in any way. Enquiries to Kristine in the Office or Philippa (0408 331 340) & Maureen (0407 055 447).
PRAYER GROUP: POSTPONED
St VINCENT de PAUL: St. Joseph’s Conference Update
We continue to support those in need of our assistance, Our school community contributed a wonderful amount of “goodies” for our cupboard. Thank you!
Our collection baskets are in the foyers of both churches. Donations of non-perishable good or of cleaning products are appreciated.
At a Regional meeting we were informed that the $9.5million donated to SVDP for last year’s bushfire appeal has been distributed to victims with no administration costs involved.
We meet on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month, at 10:30am in the Church foyer. We would love to have you join us. (Noting that during Lockdown this is not able to take place)
Countdown to the Plenary Council 3-10 October 2021
The pandemic has certainly upended arrangements and planning for the Council, including discussion and sharing within diocesan and parish communities.
Firstly, the decision was made by the Bishops last year, to postpone the opening of the Plenary Council by one year. Then arrangements were put in place for a multi-modal Assembly, for Plenary Council Members to gather physically in 5 capital city hubs, but to be involved in on-line interaction with Members across Australia.
Now the goalposts have shifted once more. With the increasingly dynamic situation of lockdowns in many parts of the country, affecting the majority of Australian citizens, the Bishops have decided to go ahead with a totally online engagement, with one person-one device to be the mode of attendance. The bishop of each diocese has the discretion for gathering the diocesan Plenary Council Members together in a small hub arrangement, where COVID conditions permit. Despite these challenging conditions, it is important to stress that the Plenary Council is ONE GATHERING, fostering a UNITY OF EXPERIENCE.
A list of live streams across the Diocese is on www.cdsale.org.au/coronavirus page. This page has listed the Mass times which occur regularly, ie. Don’t change from week to week.
MISSAL ON LINE: ‘An App’ which Father Darren Howie finds very helpful is Universalis. This will allow you to follow the Daily Mass.
FAN THE FLAME: Towards Plenary Assembly One October 2021
‘If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me.’ Mark 8:27-35
There can be no shortcuts, no bypassing the cross or the tomb to encounter the resurrection. For new life and new hope to emerge, we need to acknowledge that we are a broken, hurt and traumatised Church…. by standing in solidarity and compassion with each other, particularly the wounded, the poor and the traumatised.
(Humble, Healing and Merciful-Discernment Paper pp. 12 and 18) www.plenarycouncil.catholic.org.au/fantheflame/
YOUTH MINISTER 2022: Expressions of interest are invited for the position of Warragul and Drouin Parishes Youth Minister From January, 2022 Current position is 8 hours per week equivalent, but it is hoped that, in combination with some neighbouring parishes, multiple days can be offered to the right applicant. Expressions of interest: Deacon Mark Kelly 0427 748 646 Mark.Kelly@cdsale.org.au
We have been emailing and sending out important communications from the Diocese and if you would like to be involved and receive this information then please contact the Parish Office on 56 721 111 or email your details to wonthaggi@cdsale.org.au.
We are a Child Safe Parish. Any children, young persons and vulnerable adults have a right to feel safe and be safe. If you are concerned about any form of abuse, or believe that someone is at significant risk, you should immediately raise your concerns with one of our Parish Safeguarding Officers. Contact Kristine McRae via the Parish Office: 03 56 721 111 or St. Joseph’s School Safeguarding Officer 03 56 721 052. Take care, we are here to help.
If you are in need of urgent assistance, please phone eithe Father Darren Howie 0356 722 923 or Kristine on 03 56 72111 or 04999 15 784.
Bishop Statement on Afghanistan
Thank you for your patience and understanding
Father Darren Howie Mrs. Kristine McRae
Parish Priest Parish Secretary
St. Joseph’s Parish Wonthaggi