St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Newsletter: Monday 2nd June, 2025 Edition 6, Volume 5

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 I write this, we have just returned from the Victoria University Athletics Track after completing our Athletics Carnival. I am exceptionally proud of our community following this event.

It was truly heartwarming to see so many parents, carers, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and family friends cheering on our students in the blistering cold wind. Thank you to those parents who jumped in at the last moment to help out with various activities—your support was greatly appreciated.

I was also incredibly proud of all our student participants. They entered the event with enthusiasm and excitement, yet displayed such a strong sense of sportsmanship. The way they cheered each other on and offered support was nothing short of inspirational.

This was our first year having Sports Captains for each of our house teams at St Joseph's, and these students are to be congratulated for the way they led their teams today. Over the past few weeks, they created and shared team chants to encourage their peers, and at the end of the day, they each delivered speeches thanking their teams and the staff.

Events like our Athletics Carnival could not occur without the support and hard work of our dedicated St Joseph’s staff. Every member of the team played a role in running the day, and every contribution made a difference. In particular, I would like to thank Louise White, our dedicated Health and Physical Education teacher, for putting the entire day together. It takes months of planning and organisation, and Louise does it all to ensure each child has a wonderful experience.

Athletics Carnivals are a great way for students to learn not only how to win but also how to lose graciously…a challenge for many. As the adults in their lives, it’s important we help them understand that winning isn’t everything, and that participation and enjoyment are what truly matter in a school setting.

Traffic Around the School

I’m pleased to report that overall, driver behaviour around the school has improved. Many people are deliberately slowing down and making safety a priority, especially during drop-off and pick-up times.

Our morning drive-through drop-off system is working beautifully, thanks to the cooperation of our families. It’s great to see cars pulling right to the end of the drop-off area, allowing us to fit as many vehicles in as possible.  I encourage you to consider using this facility when it is not necessary to walk your children to class.

However, I continue to receive reports of some children being encouraged to jump out of cars and run across the street. This is unsafe and must be avoided. Please always use the designated crossing and ensure your children exit the car safely.

The Footsteps of St Paul

On my recent pilgrimage in the Footsteps of St Paul, I had the extraordinary privilege of visiting the ancient monasteries at Meteora. These monasteries, built into mountaintops, were once places of complete silence and contemplation. It was an incredible experience to stand in spaces where monks and nuns have lived and prayed for hundreds of years.

At the Monastery of St Stephen—now the only monastery in the region run by women—I purchased a Greek icon of St Joseph, which now hangs in the foyer of our school. I encourage you to come and take a look when you next visit.

This icon, painted by a Greek Orthodox priest, depicts St Joseph with Jesus. In Greek tradition, icons never show St Joseph alone—he is always depicted with Jesus, either as a child or an adult. This artwork is a beautiful addition to our school and another way we can reflect on and deepen our understanding of St Joseph’s life and example.

The Fathering Project

Earlier this week, you would have received communication about St Joseph’s partnership with The Fathering Project. This exciting initiative offers our school community access to wonderful resources to support parenting in today’s world. While the name highlights the role of fathers, this project is for all parents.

We are fortunate to have so many supportive and engaged fathers in our community. Research consistently shows that children whose fathers play an active role in their upbringing have better outcomes across all areas of life. With this in mind, I encourage you to sign up and explore the website and the excellent resources it provides.

Use this QR code to sign up to our Fathering Project.

St Joseph’s Biggest Morning Tea

Last week we hosted a Biggest Morning Tea at St Joseph’s in support of all those in our community and beyond who are affected by cancer. When a loved one is suffering from cancer, we often feel helpless and unsure of how best to support them. Sometimes, there’s little we can do directly, so raising funds for cancer research into prevention, treatment, and hopefully one day, a cure is a powerful and meaningful way to contribute.

We are delighted to report that approximately 50 people attended the morning tea, and together we raised more than $800. Thank you to everyone who bought tickets or made a donation. A special thanks also goes to those who provided the delicious food we shared—it was a beautiful way to come together for a good cause.

Building Update

I’m delighted to report that our new building project is progressing exceptionally well. It’s very exciting to see the new spaces within the building begin to take shape. Next week, we expect a burst of activity on site as the steel framework is completed and the roof is installed. This marks a significant milestone for the project, as it will allow work to continue regardless of the weather—a big plus as we head into winter.

Over the coming weeks, we’ll see bricks delivered and the overall structure starting to really take shape. We’ve also been informed that the extension to the staff carpark will be completed soon, and that work on the footings and drainage for the new COLA (Covered Outdoor Learning Area) will begin shortly. Exciting times ahead!

Student Illness

A reminder to all families: if your child is unwell, the best place for them is at home with you. Schools are not ideal environments for sick children, and while we do our best to support students during the day, we are not equipped to provide extended care for unwell children.

More importantly, sending an ill child to school can result in the spread of illness to other students and staff, which we all want to avoid. Please be understanding and respectful if a staff member contacts you to let you know your child is unwell. Our staff are first aid trained, but not medically trained, and we rely on your prompt response to ensure your child receives the care they need as soon as possible.

As we continue to grow and journey together as a school community, I’m reminded of the words of St Paul in his letter to the Thessalonians:

 “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
This message speaks so clearly to the spirit of St Joseph’s—where we support, encourage, and uplift one another in all that we do.

And funnily enough, I was actually in Thessaloniki recently on my pilgrimage, so I can confirm St Paul knew what he was talking about!

Thank you for your ongoing trust and support. We are truly humbled and grateful to be part of such a caring and committed parent community.

Warm regards,

Troy

Athletics Carnival 2025

CONGRATULATIONS to all our incredible young athletes who ran, jumped, and threw their absolute best at our school athletics carnival!

It was a big, fun-filled day packed with excitement, and we're sure there were plenty of tired children by the end. Thankfully, the rain stayed away and allowed us to enjoy all our planned events.

A huge thank you to our amazing teachers and staff—it’s no small task managing 406 students across eight activity rotations offsite! We’re also extremely grateful to the wonderful parents who helped monitor students and assisted with timing and measuring. Your support truly makes days like this possible.

The competition was close all day, but in the end, La Mercy (Red Team) claimed victory.
CONGRATULATIONS, RED TEAM!!

Final Scores:

• La Mercy – 1175

• Barr Smith – 1167

• Anderledy – 1142

• Tenison Woods – 1113

While we celebrated many fantastic 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place results, what made us most proud was the sportsmanship, kindness, respect, and courage displayed by our students—always upholding our school values.

Once all results are finalised, the St Joseph’s Athletics Team will be announced. Students in the 9/10, 11, and 12-year-old age groups will be eligible to compete at the Wyndham District event on August 19th. More information will be shared soon.

CROSS COUNTRY

Congratulations to our 9 students who represented us at the Wyndham/Hobsons Bay Division Cross Country event, held at Werribee Racecourse on Thursday, 22nd May.

All participants showed incredible determination and effort as they tackled the challenging 2km and 3km courses around the track, with some very impressive times recorded.

A special shoutout to Johanna Selemani and Jodi Ediagbonya, who competed in the 9/10 Girls race and have qualified for the Western Metro Region Cross Country—an outstanding achievement, placing in the top 12!

We wish Johanna and Jodi the very best for the next round, which will take place on Thursday, 19th June at Keilor Park Sports Precinct. Good luck!

St Joseph's Trivia Night

Luce the Jubilee Year Pilgrim Doll

We’re excited to announce a very special visitor making her way around our school — meet Luce the Pilgrim Doll! As part of our Jubilee Year celebrations, Luce has begun her journey, travelling from class to class and joining students on their daily adventures.

Each week, Luce will accompany a new class of students, taking part in their learning, play, and even a few surprise outings! Along the way, she’s keeping a travel journal filled with photos, stories, and reflections about all the wonderful people she meets and the places she visits.

Luce’s pilgrimage is more than just fun — it’s a chance for us to reflect on the themes of journey, community, and faith that are at the heart of our Jubilee Year. We look forward to seeing how each class welcomes her and shares their experiences.

Keep an eye on our newsletters for updates from Luce’s travel diary — and don’t be surprised if she inspires a few new adventures of your own! For now, here are some snippets from Luce’s time with Year 3 Sarah.

“Luce’s favourite thing was going down the mountain (stairs). I think Luce learned to never give up on mountains. Mountains are big and we are small but we are braver”. - Finno

“I had an amazing journey with Luce. I took her to the kitchen garen and showed her all the beautiful flowers. She had an amazing time and I also put flowers in her hood”.  - Addie

“We took Luce to the garden for prayer. Everyone got to touch Luce. It was the best day ever. I’m happy we have Luce because she is from Rome. She is God’s child”. - Fela

Student Voice: Year 4

Term 3 Learning News 

There’s an air of adventure in the Year 4 Community as we explore the Seven Continents of the World as part of our Inquiry Unit. We’ve enjoyed venturing to the far corners of the planet learning the names of continents, countries and their capitals. Venturing closer to home, we have explored the interconnectedness between the Wauthaurong people and their lands, especially our surrounding environments. We look forward to our upcoming excursion to the Werribee Zoo on Thursday June 5th.

• Victoria - In Inquiry, we are learning about the continents of the world. I’ve found out that Mount Everest is the tallest mountain on Earth. I also figured out that Brazil is the biggest country in South America. 
• Leah - I found out that Russia was the largest country in Asia. 
• Unica - I never knew that Wadawurrung Country and the Werribee area have differences within the environment.
• Jacob - I have enjoyed learning about the different continents because they have different animals and flowers.
  

Eucharist

This term, our Eucharist candidates began their journey towards receiving Eucharist for the first time. All students in Year 4 experienced our Eucharist Immersion Day. Together, our community to develop a deeper understanding that the Eucharist is a memorial of Jesus’ loving sacrifice on the cross. We ask that you pray for our Eucharist candidates as they prepare to receive their Sacrament of Eucharist.

• Ivy - We made the bread that Jesus would have eaten at The Last Supper. We tried some! 
• Odette - I really enjoyed the role play about  The Last Supper because we got to experience how it was when the disciples felt when Jesus told them that he was going to die. 
• Ethan - my favourite part was when we made the chalice display for the school. I hope everyone prays for us and cares for us when we make our Eucharist. 
• Aziza - My favourite part of the day was when we got to make unleavened bread because we got to mix it ourselves and learned that Jesus gave the bread to his Disciples to remember Him.

Health and Wellbeing

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. Completed application forms were due for submission 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 were 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

Coffee Van Update

Caffeina & Co – Coffee Van Service Continues

We’re pleased to share that Caffeina & Co will continue serving as our coffee van on Tuesday mornings. It’s a wonderful way for families to connect before the school day begins. For added convenience, you’re welcome to pre-order your drinks using the link provided: 

Caffeina & Co. Pre-Order Form

Please note: If you are purchasing drinks for your child, or if students are purchasing for themselves, drinks must be consumed by 8:30am in line with our Occupational Health and Safety requirements. Drinks are not permitted in classrooms and will need to be disposed of after this time. We kindly ask that you keep this in mind when placing your order.

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 June - Mid-Monthly Direct Debit 

2nd June, 9th June, 16th June, 23rd June - Weekly Direct Debit

1st June - Monthly Direct Debit

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

31st May - Tri-Annually 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 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

SIMON Excursion Permissions Reminder

A friendly reminder that SIMON excursion permissions must be submitted prior to the day of the excursion in order for students to attend.

If permission has not been granted on time, there is a risk your child may not be able to participate. Please ensure all required forms are completed and returned promptly to avoid disappointment.

If you need assistance accessing excursion information or need to reset or activate your login details, please contact us at admin@sjwerribee.catholic.edu.au.  

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

Community News

Join the St Andrew’s Parish for a wonderful evening of food, fun, and fellowship at the Annual Parish Dinner Dance! Bring the whole family and enjoy a delicious buffet dinner, lively music, and plenty of dancing as the parish comes together to celebrate the vibrant community.

Date & Time: Saturday 19th July
Location: St Andrew’s Primary School Hall

It’s a perfect night to connect with friends old and new, and create joyful memories together.

Tickets are available now! Please see the St Joseph’s office staff to purchase yours (CASH ONLY) or use the try booking link on the attached flyer.

Adults - $50     Students (5-12 years old) - $25     Children under 5 - FREE (No seat)

See the attached flyer for full details!