St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Newsletter: Thursday 8th May, 2025 Edition 6, Volume 4

Acknowledgement of Country

In recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s spiritual and cultural connection to Country, we acknowledge the Wadawurrung people, as the traditional custodians of the land, on which we meet and educate our children.

We recognise the continued care of the waterways passed from generation to generation, wisdom that is shared, and life that is celebrated in harmony with the natural environment.

We honour the Elders, past and present who have laid the foundations, traditions, and culture for emerging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and we commit to working together for reconciliation and justice.

Principal's Reflection

Dear Families,

As this newsletter goes to print Mother’s Day is just around the corner/has just occurred.  

With all that in mind we pray for all those women (and sometimes men) who have loved, protected and nurtured us…

 God of Love and Joy,

On this Mother's Day, we pause to acknowledge the myriad of experiences that define motherhood for each individual.

 To those who carry the weight of loss, who navigate this day with the ache of absence where a mother once stood, we offer solace and understanding.

 For those whose relationship with their mother is complex and tangled, we extend empathy and the hope for healing and resolution.

 To mothers facing illness or the impending loss of their own vitality, we send comfort and strength, knowing the heavy burden they bear.

 For those who yearn for motherhood but find their hopes slipping away, we offer compassion and support, recognising the silent struggles they endure.

 To those engaged in the fierce battle to conceive or adopt, we stand with you in solidarity, honouring your resilience and determination.

 And to those who have endured the unimaginable pain of losing a child, we hold space for your grief and offer our unwavering support.

 We  celebrate the boundless joys and blessings of motherhood that illuminate this sacred journey, filling hearts with love, warmth, and endless gratitude.

 In this prayer, we embrace the full spectrum of motherhood experiences, acknowledging the complexities, challenges, and profound depths of love that define this journey for each and every one.

 St Joseph - Guide Us

St Mary of the Cross MacKillop - Pray for Us

The Footsteps of St Paul

As you may be aware, at the end of last term I had the privilege of travelling with 28 other Catholic Principals from the Western Region on a pilgrimage, following in the footsteps of St Paul. This journey took us through Greece and Türkiye, visiting the places where St Paul lived, travelled, and wrote his letters to the early Christian communities he established.

It is hard to imagine, but without the courage and confidence that St Paul displayed, the Catholic Church as we know it today may not have been founded. St Paul was instrumental in advocating for the inclusion of gentiles (non-Jews) into the Church, often facing opposition from other early Church leaders. As outlined in the Acts of the Apostles, St Paul was also the first person recorded to baptise a woman into the Church — Lydia, a wealthy woman who became a leader in the early Christian community and supported St Paul’s mission to spread the Good News of Jesus’ resurrection.

One of the highlights of our pilgrimage was visiting the river and Church associated with the baptism of St Lydia. Standing in that sacred place brought to life the stories we have heard and read.

St Paul’s greatest gift was his ability to build and establish communities of believers. He empowered others to lead, ensuring that these early Christian communities would not just survive but thrive.

As a Principal and faith leader of this community, the pilgrimage has given me much to reflect upon — particularly how we, too, must work together to continue building a strong, faithful community in Christ here at St Joseph’s.

It is my intention for the remainder of the year to share something of my experiences following in the Footsteps of St Paul. This image is from ust 12 km away from the city of Kavala next to the ancient, archaeological site of Philippi located the place where the Apostle Paul baptized the first Christian woman in Europe - Lydia, and it was here that the first baptismal ceremony was held in Europe.

Foundation Enrolments for 2026

St Joseph’s is in a strong position regarding enrolments for 2026. We have received significantly more applications than places available.

If you are an existing family and have not yet enrolled your child for Foundation next year, it is essential that you contact Sylvia in Administration as soon as possible. Otherwise, you may find yourself in the unfortunate position where we are unable to accommodate your child.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

Toilets at School – A Shared Responsibility

As part of our Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) program, we are asking for your support in speaking with your child about appropriate toilet use at school. Toilets are shared spaces, and it’s important that all students understand how to use them respectfully and responsibly.

To help guide your conversation at home, we’ve included our PBL lesson outline on toilet expectations. When speaking with your child, please highlight the following key points:

• Always flush the toilet after use.
  
  
• The toilets are not a place to play.
  
  
• Food and toys should not be taken into the toilets.
  
  
• If your child has an accident, they should tell a staff member so we can support them.
  
  
• If something is wrong in the toilets, they must report it to an adult immediately.
  
  

We regularly speak to students about these expectations at school, but as parents and carers, you can cover practical and personal aspects of toileting that we cannot. We also ask that you do not assume this message doesn’t apply to your child—even those who are toilet trained may still need reminders about respectful behaviour in these shared spaces.

Recently, we’ve experienced repeated incidents of toilets being locked from the outside, preventing access for other students. While we suspect this may be the actions of a senior student who may view it as a joke, it is, in fact, disruptive and unkind. So far, we have not been able to identify those responsible.

Your support in having this conversation at home is greatly appreciated. Working together, we can ensure a respectful and safe environment for all students.

Traffic Safety Around St Joseph’s – A Community Responsibility

As Principal, I am acutely aware of the ongoing issues with traffic management and flow around St Joseph’s. I have raised these concerns with the local council on numerous occasions. While we continue to advocate for support and improvements, many of the safety issues we experience could be significantly reduced if all drivers within our community followed safe and lawful driving practices.

Unfortunately, we continue to witness behaviours that not only break road rules but also place the lives of children and families at serious risk. Other local schools have experienced tragic incidents in the past 18 months, including accidents that resulted in hospitalisation. We do not want this to be our experience.

With that in mind, I am asking every member of our community to support us in making safety a priority by following these essential expectations:

• Park only in designated parking areas.
  
  
• Do not park across driveways or around street corners.
  
  
• Come to a complete stop in a legal parking space before asking your child to enter or exit the car.
  
  
• Do not speed near the school.
  
  
• If picking up your child from across the road, do not encourage them to run across the street. Park safely and walk to meet them.
  
  
• Ensure children do not exit the car from between other parked vehicles.
  
  
• Do not expect school staff to direct traffic—this is not part of their role.

If we are truly a kind and caring school community, then our actions at drop-off and pick-up must reflect this. Every child’s safety matters.

We also encourage families to consider:

• Picking up your child five minutes later—traffic flow is often significantly improved.
  
  
• Arranging to meet your child a short walk away from school to avoid congestion.
  
  
• Always slowing down and staying alert near the school.
  
  

Let’s work together to ensure our school remains a safe environment for every student and family.

As we begin this new term, I leave you with these words of wisdom from St Paul:
“Let all that you do be done in love.” – 1 Corinthians 16:14

May this guide our interactions with one another as we work together to support every child in our care.

It’s shaping up to be an exciting term—especially as we watch our new building take shape and look forward to all the wonderful learning and community moments ahead. Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership.

Wishing you and your family a joyful, safe, and successful Term 2.

Warm regards,
Troy

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St Joseph’s Biggest Morning Tea

Cancer touches most of us—whether it’s a friend, a family member, a colleague, or a neighbour, most of us know someone who has been impacted. That’s why St Joseph's is coming together to host a Biggest Morning Tea in support of the Cancer Council, raising vital funds for cancer research, prevention, and support services.

Join us for a meaningful morning where every cup of tea and every shared treat helps make a difference.

Date: Wednesday 21st May
Time: 10:30-11:30am
Location: Staffroom

Tickets to attend are $10 each, available via TryBooking or by scanning the QR code. Tickets will be available to purchase until 1pm on Tuesday 20th May.  All proceeds go directly to the Cancer Council.

How can you help?
In order for this event to run smoothly, we are seeking donations of baked goods—homemade or purchased—that do not require refrigeration. Your delicious contributions will help make the event even more special. These can be dropped off to the school office on Monday 19th and Tuesday 20th May. It would be helpful if your donations could be sent in in disposable containers/plates and must include a list of ingredients. Please complete the Google Form if you are able to support us by donating something.

Let’s stand together, raise our cups, and support those affected by cancer. We hope you can join us for this special event.

Wellbeing

Student Voice: Year 3

How are you feeling about Term 2? 

Leo: I am feeling excited about term 2. I can’t wait to go to the athletics carnival

Addie: I am feeling good about term two. I am excited to learn new vocabulary and read our new book Yirra and her deadly dog, Demon. 

Brody: I feel really excited to go to camp and to go to the second round of cross country. 

What is something you are most excited about this term?

Abie: This term I am feeling very happy about the new activities that we are going to do. I am very excited about the Sports Carnival.

Alex: I am feeling excited and nervous as well because of the school camp and the activities that we will do there. I am the most excited this term because we will go to camp.

Kiaan: I am feeling very good about this term because we are doing maths groups and the weather is better and we can do lots of fun activities. I am most excited about the new basketball court coming soon.

Boston: I am feeling excited and very good about this term because we do fun craft and I have good friends to play with. I am most excited about the new basketball court and the school camp in June.

Eden: I'm so excited for camp! I can't wait to do all the fun activities.

Evie: I'm so excited about athletics day and competing in all the different sports!

Manraj: I'm feeling alright about term 2 because Term 1 was amazing!

In Year 3, we have really hit the ground running. We have returned to school after our Easter break for the short first week back, where we got to catch up with all our friends and then got straight into our learning. We have begun our creation unit in religion and everyone has so many questions to explore and unpack as we progress through our unit. We sent our cross country winners to the district cross country on Friday the 2nd of May and we are all very proud of their achievements! 

Exciting family news!

Aydan Ali from Year 3 and his family welcomed a new addition to their family! Baby Zayn was born on 14/03. Congratulations to everyone!

PE and SPORT at St Joseph's

We have a very busy and exciting term ahead of us!

Week 2:  Friday May 2nd 

Wyndham District  Cross Country event was held at the Werribee Racecourse. 

Week 4:  Thursday May 15th

Year 1 Camp experience will be held onsite at school. Beginning at 3.10 and finishing at 5.15pm. Please see SIMON for further details in regard to this event.

Week 5: Thursday 22nd May

Divisional Cross Country event will be held at Werribee Racecourse. The students who come in the top 10 for the previous Cross Country will attend this event. A schedule has been attached for your reference:

SSV Division Cross Country Event

Week 6: Wednesday 28th May

ST JOSEPH’S 2025 ATHLETICS CARNIVAL will be held at the Werribee Athletics Track. Please keep an eye out on SIMON for details and permission notes. We need many parent helpers to make this event successful. 

Week 7: Monday 2nd June

Years ⅚ Winter Gala Competition. Students have chosen a sport (Basketball, Hockey, Soccer, Teeball) to compete in against other primary schools in our district. These sports will be played at Eagle stadium, Galvin Park and Presidents Park)

Week 9: Thursday 19th June

Year 3 Camp Experience is taking place at YMCA Discovery camp in Anglesea. This is an extended day experience where students will leave school at 8.00am and return for a 7.15pm collection.

Week 10: Exact date to be confirmed

Divisional finals for our successful Tennis and Cricket teams.

Mackillop College Werribee: Catholic Schools Secondary Enrolment

Enrolments for Catholic Secondary Schools are now open. For students seeking a place at MacKillop College Werribee for Year 7 2027, enrolments should be submitted by Friday 15th August 2025. Click here to download the Enrolment Application Pack. Once completed, please return with all documentation to the Registrar at  registrar@mackillop.vic.edu.au or hand deliver to the College.

Key dates:

Friday 15th August 2025- Enrolments for Year 7 2026 close

Friday 17th October 2025- Offers will be emailed to prospective applicants

Thursday 23 October 2025- MacKillop Open Day 4:00pm – 6:30pm

More information can be found on the school's website https://www.mackillop.vic.edu.au/enrolment/enrolment-information/

Year 7 2026 Secondary Enrolment for Government Schools:

For families who are seeking to access a Government Secondary College placement for 2026 please follow the instructions below to complete an application.

1. Complete the application form in the Year 6 to Year 7 Parent Pack 
2. Use Find My School to locate your local secondary school or preferred school and read about Enrolling in a school.
3. Complete return your completed application form to your preferred secondary school by Friday 9th May 2025
4. If your secondary school preferences include a school or schools that are not your designated neighbourhood school, you should read about School zones and how they work and how applications are prioritised using the Department’s Placement Policy 

Key dates for Government Schools:

Friday 9th May 2025: Applications are due to secondary schools

Tuesday 1st July 2025: Year 7 placements released

Tuesday 9th December 2025: Year 7 Orientation Day for all Government Schools

Please contact me if you have any questions or require support with your child’s secondary enrolment. 

St Andrew's Take Away Sheet

Community Mass

School Fees, Direct Debits, CSEF Applications & Concessional Applications

This is just a courtesy message to let our families know that April Fee statements were emailed out on Friday 2nd May 2025. Please check your inbox & junk mail. 

You can find the school's Bank Details on the bottom of each statement for easy reference. 

2025 Fee Agreements - Upfront Payments

If you have selected to pay upfront on your fee agreement, this is a gentle reminder that all upfront fee payments were due by no later than 14th February and these payments are now OVERDUE. We thank those families who have honoured their commitment and made these payments already. If you are yet to make a payment and selected the UPFRONT option and can no longer commit to this please contact the office for a direct debit form. 

2025 Fee Agreements - Direct Debits
If you have set up a direct debit, please remember all changes need to be emailed through to accounts@sjwerribee.catholic.edu.au as soon as practicable and where possible with 14 days notice as per the direct debit agreement. If you are yet to complete a direct debit form for the 2025 school year please contact the office ASAP.

Important Upcoming Direct Debit Dates:
16th May - Mid-Monthly Direct Debit 

12th May, 19th May, 26th May, 2nd June - Weekly Direct Debit

1st June - Monthly Direct Debit

12th May, 26th May, 9th June, 23rd June, 7th July - Fortnightly Direct Debits

31st May - Tri-Annually

These dates are now also available in the SIMON school calendar as a reminder for all those on the direct debit plans. A gentle reminder that if you have a bounced payment all families are required to catch this up by making a payment at our office or by direct transfer.

CSEF (Camps, Sports, Excursion Fund) & Concessional Fee Applications

If you hold a valid healthcare or pension card, you could be eligible for the Camps, Sports & Excursion Fund. Eligible recipients will receive up to $154, that is help in credit by the school. This money can then be used to place towards excursions, camps or sports activities that are run through the school.

If families have previously applied for this fund in previous years, this is a gentle reminder that forms do need to be applied for and completed each year. Please feel free to come to the office and collect your CSEF & Concessional Fee Forms. 

Families who applied for CSEF & Concessional fees prior to the 21st February outcomes have started to now go home with your students, this is a long process and will continue for the next few weeks. If you have not received a letter by the end of May and are concerned please let us know.

For any families who applied after 21st February these will be processed mid - late term 2. We thank you for your patience and understanding. 

Families who have submitted the SSB Uniform receipts and made the requirements, will have their accounts credited by the end of term 2.

Please reach out if you have any questions.

Jennifer Matthewman

School Attendance Procedure

School Attendance - SIMON Everywhere App

If your child is absent from school, please communicate this with the school office by 9:30am. Please search for 'Parent Notified Absences' on the SIMON Everywhere App and click to enter details.

Alternatively, please use the school phone number (8742 3381) and select the attendance line option. When leaving a message please ensure you clearly state your child’s full name, class and the reason for their absence. We must have a valid reason for marking your child/children absent.

If your child needs to arrive late or be picked up early from school, please notify us through the SIMON Everywhere App. Select 'Parent Notified Absences' and choose either the Late Arrival or Early Leave option.

Early leave requests can be submitted via the app until 12:00pm. After this time, please contact the school directly by emailing admin@sjwerribee.catholic.edu.au or calling 8742 3381.

Please note that early leave cannot be arranged during break times: 10:45–11:15am and 1:30–2:00pm.

For extended absences, please email the details to  admin@sjwerribee.catholic.edu.au and an Extended Leave Form will be sent for you to complete. Parent forms can also be accessed via SIMON under 'Knowledge Bank'.

School Term Dates 2025

Our school day operates from 8:45am – 3:10pm and gates will be open for arrival at 8:30am and for pick up at 3:00pm.

2025 School Closure Days

STUDENT FREE DAYS: TeamKids available

Important Upcoming Dates

TeamKids News

What’s been happening?

We are thrilled to share that our Autumn Vacation Care Program was a great success—filled with smooth, fun, and exciting experiences! We want to take a moment to thank all the families and children for being part of this wonderful journey over the past month. It has been a joy to see the children learn, grow, and create lasting memories together.

Can you believe it’s already Term 2? Welcome back to another exciting term at our Out of School Hours Care program! We hope everyone had a fantastic break and is ready for a term full of fun, learning, and new adventures.

Below, you’ll find important information about our upcoming activities and events.

Looking forward to another amazing term with you!

 If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out!

Available Times at School:

• DOS – Bhavani: 6:30 - 9:00, 2:15 - 6:30
• 2IC – Jasleen: 6:30 - 9:00, 2:45 - 6:30

During other times, please send an email to the service email. For urgent inquiries, contact the office by email or phone.

Sign-In/Sign-Out Process:

Please note that staff members are not permitted to sign in or out a child on behalf of families. However, staff can sign out children during Before School Care (BSC) and sign in children during After School Care (ASC).

Term 2 Focus:

This term, we are dedicated to fostering creativity, curiosity, and teamwork through a diverse range of engaging activities and exciting club events, added daily. From arts and crafts to outdoor adventures, there’s something for every child to explore and enjoy!

Parent Involvement:

We highly value parental involvement in our program! If you’re interested in volunteering, sharing your skills, or offering suggestions for activities or events, we’d love to hear from you. Your input makes a difference.

Events:

This term, we’re taking on the 100-Hour Outdoor Challenge! Our focus will be on outdoor play, featuring fun games and active experiences to inspire kids to embrace the outdoors.

TEAMKIDS 100 Hours Outdoors Challenge! 

We're going to have a TREE-MENDOUS adventure as we spend more time outside to tick off 100 Hours Outdoors.

We’ll be DIGGING into all kinds of outdoor activities—from treasure hunts to cloud gazing and so much more!

Join us for an UNBE-LEAF-ABLE adventure and help your venue complete the challenge 

Book NOW – www.teamkids.com.au/venues

Community News