St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Newsletter: Thursday 6th March, 2025 Edition 6, Volume 2

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, 

Welcome to Newsletter 2 for 2025!

It’s hard to believe we are already over halfway through the term! So much has happened within our school community, and I couldn’t be prouder of what our students have achieved so far this year. One of the most exciting developments has been the launch of our new student leadership structure, which has already proven to be a great success.

Our Student Leaders are actively working alongside their mentors, developing meaningful projects that will make a real impact throughout the remainder of the year. This new model is ensuring that student voice is not only heard but acted upon, empowering our young leaders to create positive change within our school. We look forward to seeing their ideas come to life!

Staff News

At St Joseph’s, we are truly fortunate to have such a dedicated and close-knit staff who support one another like an extended family. It is with a heavy heart that we share that Tania McCarthy, a valued member of our Grade 1 teaching team, is currently battling breast cancer.

While Tania’s prognosis is positive, she will understandably be absent from school over the coming weeks as she focuses on her health. In true teacher spirit, Tania hopes that her journey serves as a reminder to all the women in our community to prioritise regular breast screenings.

During her absence, please be assured that we will do everything possible to provide continuity in learning and care for the children in her class.

As a school community, we often feel helpless when facing the impact of cancer. While there is little we can do as individuals, collectively, we can make a difference. To support cancer research and those affected by this insidious disease, we will be hosting a Biggest Morning Tea at school. We are conscious that cancer has touched many families in our community, and this is a practical way we can show our support.

In the coming weeks, you will hear more about how you can get involved—whether by donating food items for the morning tea or purchasing a ticket to attend. Please keep an eye on SIMON notifications for further details.

Thank you for your support, and together, let’s make a difference.

Foundation Enrolments for 2026 – Apply Now!

Do you have a child starting school in 2026? As an existing St Joseph’s family, you receive priority placement over new families, but you still need to submit an application to secure your child’s place. Please don’t assume a spot will automatically be held—we need to hear from you! If you haven’t already lodged your application, we urge you to do so immediately to avoid disappointment. To enrol, either follow the links on the school website or speak directly with Sylvia in the office.

Parents In Partnership (PIP) Program – Building Stronger Connections

We had a fantastic turnout at our recent information session for the Parents In Partnership (PIP) Program! It was wonderful to see so much enthusiasm and interest from our school community. This program is designed to strengthen the connection between families and our school, creating a supportive and engaged environment for our children.

If you missed the session but would like to learn more about PIP, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Nicole Ryan (nicole.ryan@sjwerribee.catholic.edu.au for further information. And if you’re already keen to get involved, click here to sign up   – we’d love to have you on board!

Parking & Safety – Let’s Work Together

We understand that drop-off and pick-up times can be challenging, but as a community, our number one priority must always be the safety of our students. Recently, a child was hit by a car during pick-up at Lollipop Creek Primary School, serving as a heartbreaking reminder of the importance of road safety around schools. We must work together to ensure this never happens at St Joseph’s.

With this in mind, we ask all families to follow these simple but crucial rules:
✅ Always park your car completely before letting children in or out—never stop in the middle of traffic.
✅ Use the drop-off zone correctly by driving to the furthest available bay to allow others to park behind you.
✅ Never attempt U-turns that block traffic—utilize the nearby roundabouts for safer turning.
✅ Drive slowly and cautiously when leaving your parking bay.

By following these steps, we can ensure a safer and smoother experience for everyone in our school community. Thank you for your cooperation!

Thank You for Your Support

We truly appreciate your ongoing support of our staff. Teaching is an incredibly rewarding yet challenging profession, and in a time of teacher shortages, our educators have many options—yet they choose St Joseph’s. When I speak with our staff about why they stay, they consistently highlight the supportive colleagues they work alongside and the wonderful community they are privileged to be a part of. Your kindness, encouragement, and partnership make a real difference.

Have a fantastic week, and enjoy this beautiful autumn weather!

Regards

Troy 

Naplan 2025

NAPLAN for all students in Years 3 and 5 will be held in Week 7. Information has been shared with families on SIMON. It is important to encourage children to do their best without placing unnecessary pressure on them, as NAPLAN provides only a snapshot of their learning within a much broader context. Ongoing updates about students’ progress are communicated through Seesaw, Learning Conversations and semester reports. Students have been practising using the online platform so that they are familiar with the format of the assessments. Please remember that all students need to have their own set of headphones at school. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your child's teacher, or feel welcome to chat to Hayley.

Student Voice: Year 1

The Year 1 students have been getting to know each other through playing games and learning to work together. Some of the classes made a ‘Friendship Soup’ recipe together, which helped us to focus on the things we needed to do or say to work as a team. We have been developing our PBL values through playing games, working collaboratively and building relationships. We love playing new games like Farmer Sam, Speedway and Popcorn Tiggy.

Student voices: “What do you like about grade 1”...

1 Kath

Lucas- ‘I like playtime and playing with my friends and I like when we do maths on the whiteboards’ 

 Riziki- I liked when we made hearts and wrote how we can be like Jesus and I like drawing 

1 Tania/Bree

Evie “ I like Grade 1 because we get to do writing and colouring in”

Hushai “Grade 1 is the best because we have lots of fun reading and playing games outside”.

1 Jayden

“I like handwriting and playing Race to 100 in maths. I also like Star of the Week.”

Special News

Congratulations to Lavannah’s family who welcomed little sister, Aaliyah,  on the 12th of February! 

Zoey’s family also had a recent addition to the family! Congratulations to the family on baby Levi!

2025 CROSS COUNTRY

A big thanks to our amazing community who helped make our running event a great success! It was lovely to see so many of our parents and friends cheering our students encouraging them to keep running to the finish line and try their best.

The top 10 finishers in each age group will progress to the Wyndham District Cross Country competition. This will be held at the Werribee Race Course (previously held at Presidents Park) on Friday 2nd April. Details for those students will be sent home before the end of Term 1.

A BIG congratulations to the top 5 finishers in each age group

Year 5/6 Summer Gala Day

All year ⅚ students will be participating in the 2025 Wyndham District Summer Gala day on Friday 21st March.

 St Joseph’s will be versing senior students from other schools in our district.

Students have chosen a sport they would like to participate in.

Tennis will be held at Wootten Road Tennis Courts.

Volleyball will be held at Eagle Stadium.

Cricket will be held at Galvin Park.

Netball will be held at Heaths Road Netball Courts.

Buses will depart school at  9.00am to take the teams to their location and will return to school in time for our usual dismissal. Most games will commence at 9.45/10.00am. If you are in a  position to attend the day as a parent helper we would be most grateful! Please contact your child’s teacher if you are available.

Parents are welcome to attend these venues to support their child and barrack for St Joseph’s. If our teams are successful on this day there will be another round of Division competitions held for each sport at a later date. 

Permission notes will be sent home soon via SIMON.

Italian

Each week, a selected year level recognises outstanding effort and achievement in Italian. This week, the Year 2s recognised Olivia, Harnav and Elijah for their hard work in this space. Congratulations, bravi!!!  - wear your well earned badge with pride! 

Lent Begins: A Time for Reflection and Renewal

This week, we marked the beginning of Lent, a season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, as we prepare our hearts for Easter. Our journey began with a joyful Shrove Tuesday celebration, where parent volunteers generously cooked and served pancakes to our students —a long-standing tradition symbolising the clearing of rich foods before the Lenten fast.

On Ash Wednesday, we gathered in classes for a special prayer service, where we received ashes on our foreheads as a sign of repentance and commitment to deepening our faith. The words, “Repent and believe in the Gospel”, reminded us that Lent is a time to turn back to God, reflect on our lives, and grow in love and service to others.

As we move through these 40 days, let us embrace the spirit of Lent by praying with sincerity, making sacrifices, and finding ways to help those in need. 

Project Compassion

This Lent, we are called to Unite Against Poverty through Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion. By making a donation, you’ll be answering the Gospels’ call to care for our global family and walk alongside the most vulnerable. 

Your generous support this Lenten Season will enable Caritas Australia to provide life-changing support to communities facing poverty, food insecurity, lack of education, and water shortages, while building resilience against future challenges. Together, through faith and action, we can bring hope and opportunity to those most in need.

You can support Project Compassion 2025 by sending money donations to school with your child to place in the donation boxes or by scanning the QR code below.

St Andrew's Take Away Sheet

Community Mass

Stations of the Cross

School Fees, Direct Debits, CSEF Applications

This is just a courtesy message to let our families know that March Fee statements were emailed out on 5th March 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 March - Mid-Monthly Direct Debit 

10th March, 17th March, 24th March, 31st March - Weekly Direct Debit

1st April - Monthly Direct Debit

17th March, 31st March  - Fortnightly Direct Debits

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 $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. Please note: For the end of Term 1 processing, these need to be returned by no later than Friday 21st March 2025. Concessional Applications are now available from the office. For any family who is currently suffering financial hardship please contact the school and complete an application form.

We are hoping that all those families who applied for CSEF & Concessional fees prior to the 21st February will have their outcomes by the end of Term 1. We thank you for your patience and understanding. 

Please reach out if you have any questions.

School Saving Bonus (SSB) – What You Need to Know

We understand there has been some confusion about the School Saving Bonus (SSB). This bonus was originally not available for Catholic school students, but MACS worked hard to ensure that our families could also receive it. However, the way this support is provided in Catholic schools is different from how it works in government schools. Below is a simple guide to how the $400 School Saving Bonus will work for eligible families.

Who is eligible?

Students who receive the Camps, Sports, and Excursions Fund (CSEF) in 2025 will also access to the $400 School Saving Bonus.

How can the $400 be used?

The bonus can be used for education-related costs such as:

✅ Camps, trips, excursions, and incursions

✅ Swimming and sports programs

✅ Outdoor education activities

✅ Graduation costs

✅ School uniforms

What can the $400 NOT be used for?

❌ Tuition fees

❌ Before and after-school care

❌ Faith-related costs (e.g., sacraments, confirmations)

❌ Social events (e.g., family gatherings, school picinics etc.)

❌ Classroom materials (e.g., stationery, locker hire)

Important things to know

• Families will not receive the $400 as cash, but it will be applied to eligible school costs.
• The school will ensure that families can see how the bonus is used (e.g., on a family statement).
• If a student leaves the school, their SSB funds will be retained by the school for the use of a similarly effected family.
• If a family has more than one eligible child, the SSB can be shared between them.

When will the SSB be applied?

The SSB can be used at any time during 2025, but schools/families are encouraged to use the full amount within the year.

What if we are already on a MACS Concessional Fee?

If a family receives a MACS Concessional Fee, the school will first apply that discount and then use the SSB for eligible costs.

We appreciate your patience as we follow MACS guidelines to roll this out fairly for all eligible families. If you have any questions, please contact the school office.

At St Joseph’s approved CSEF families are able to claim the School Saving Bonus (SSB) for uniform items from November 2024 onwards provided tax invoices/receipts are shared with the school. The uniform purchase will need to be related to the 2025 school year.

Process for application

1. Eligible Health Care holders apply for CSEF
2. Once the Department of Education and Training approve this families will be notified
3. Email all relevant uniform receipts to accounts@sjwerribee.catholic.edu.au In the meantime, find or request any relevant receipts from the uniform supplier.

Administration Update

Whole School Photo Day: Tuesday 25th March 2025

Our professional School Photo Day has been scheduled for Tuesday 25th March, 2025 

Please be advised that you do need to order school photos from the online portal with Advanced Life Photography. Online orders must be submitted by 04/04/2025.

FAMILY/SIBLING PHOTO orders need to be ordered online by  21-03-2025 .

The site is now ready to order your preferred packages online. Go to:  www.advancedlife.com.au and enter the code E8M KWB RKZ

Flyers were sent home last week to assist with the ordering process and a copy is attached below for your convenience.

All students are required to be in FULL FORMAL SCHOOL UNIFORM - full summer or full winter uniform with black school shoes (NO SPORTS UNIFORMS). 

For any classes scheduled for a Sports Day on Tuesdays, please pack runners in your schoolbags.

Please advise if you do not wish for your child/ren to be photographed on School Photo Day by emailing admin@sjwerribee.catholic.edu.au. This email must be received by 21/03/2025. These children will be flagged as “Not For Publication" and will not be presented to our photographers on photo day for either a portrait or a class photograph.

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 collected early from school, please also communicate this via SIMON Everywhere App. Please click on  'Parent Notified Absences' and select the late arrival or early leave option.

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

Community News