St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Newsletter: Monday 23rd June, 2025 Edition 6, Volume 6

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,

St Joseph’s is a truly wonderful school, and there is so much to celebrate. I feel incredibly grateful to be leading a community that values openness, honesty, and strong communication.

Every member of our staff is deeply committed to supporting the wellbeing and learning of every child in our care. While no school gets everything right all the time, what we can promise is that we will always take the time to listen, to understand, and to work through any concerns together.

Thank you to those of you who continue to trust us with your thoughts, feedback, and experiences. Your voice helps us grow and keeps our community strong.

Traffic around the School

As Principal, I continue to be deeply concerned by the traffic issues we face around our school. 

Almost daily, I receive reports of unsafe driving and risky behaviour that put the safety—and at times, the lives—of our children at risk. 

This is simply not acceptable. 

I urge all families to please follow basic road safety expectations: 

• only park in designated spaces
• never block driveways
• ensure your car has come to a complete stop before allowing children to exit
• never encourage them to run between vehicles even if they think they are late

Drop off Area

We are fortunate to have a dedicated 'Drop-Off Drive Through' area, but it only works when everyone follows the rules. Please make sure you enter via Treeve Parkway between 8:30–8:45 am, follow the correct route, drive to the furthest available spot, remain in your car, and ensure your child is ready to exit quickly. If you need to speak with staff, please park outside of the school. Please see later in the newsletter for further information explaining this. 

Thank you for helping us keep every child safe.

Long Service Leave

As Catholic educators, we are fortunate to work under an award that recognises our years of service through the provision of Long Service Leave. This leave can be accessed in a variety of ways and offers a valuable opportunity to rest, renew and reflect. It acknowledges the commitment and dedication of those who have contributed to Catholic education over many years.

From time to time, you may be informed that members of our staff are taking Long Service Leave. This is a vital part of maintaining wellbeing and ensuring we continue to serve our school communities with energy and purpose.

I wish to inform you that I will be taking Long Service Leave at the end of this term—specifically, the final week of Term 2 and the first week of Term 3. During the school holidays, I will still be working on a number of important projects, including meetings regarding the COLA upgrade and our new building works.

In my absence, the school will be in the capable hands of Hayley, Chrissy and Bec, with Hayley stepping into the role of Acting Principal.

Thank you for your ongoing support of our school community. I’m especially grateful to all those who generously give their time—whether it’s attending excursions or sporting events, covering books, or even sending a kind email with feedback or encouragement. Every act, big or small, makes a real difference in the lives of our students.

As St Paul reminds us: “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

Thank you for continuing to walk this journey with us.

Regards

Troy

Building Program and COLA update

Our new building project is progressing beautifully, and we remain on track for it to be ready by the beginning of the 2026 school year. This week, the builders are aiming to install the roof—an exciting milestone that will allow work to continue even in wet weather. In the following week, brickwork will begin, and we’ll start to see the building take shape and show some real personality. There’s also progress on the COLA (Covered Outdoor Learning Area). After extensive planning and consultation, a key drainage point is being relocated to manage the large volume of water the structure will collect during rain. Once that’s completed, construction will move along quickly. At the same time, work on the staff carpark extension is also nearing completion.

Bunnings BBQ - Community Spirit

A huge thank you to Nicole Ryan, our incredible Community Engagement Leader, for her outstanding work in organising and coordinating our recent Bunnings BBQ. Nicole—and her husband, Matt —generously gave up their entire Saturday to ensure the event was a success, and we are so grateful for their commitment and energy. It was a big job, and Nicole worked tirelessly to make sure everything ran smoothly. Thank you also to the many parents and grandparents who gave their time to help on the day—your support made a real difference. Thanks to everyone’s efforts, we raised over $2,500, which will go directly towards providing even more wonderful resources for our students.

The Fathering Project

St Joseph’s is proud to be part of the Fathering Project, an initiative that supports dads and father figures to be the best they can be for the children in their lives. The project offers practical tips, videos, and articles designed to strengthen family relationships and support positive parenting. A big thank you to those who have already signed up and are exploring the fantastic resources on offer. We encourage all parents—not just dads—to join the discussion and make use of these valuable tools. It’s a simple way to build stronger connections with your children and be part of a supportive parenting community.

Join now at www.thefatheringproject.org

First Holy Communion

We are delighted to congratulate some of our Year 4 students who received their First Holy Communion on Wednesday 11th June. It was a truly special occasion as they came together with their family and friends to take this important step in their faith journey. The reverence and joy shown by each student was inspiring, and we are so proud of the way they prepared for and celebrated this sacrament. May this be the beginning of a lifelong relationship with Jesus in the Eucharist.

Kate: It was a very special experience. The priest was very kind by taking his time to give the host to me slowly so I could think about how special this moment was. All the teachers helped us when it was time to go up to receive the Eucharist.

Philip: It was awesome and nice. I was closer to God and Jesus. It was nice that the teachers helped me to know what to do and my family was there supporting me. 

Kayla: I enjoyed receiving my first Eucharist because it made me feel good. The rest of my family has received Eucharist, so it makes me feel amazing that I have done the same. I am part of a bigger family.

Maria: It was really exciting to receive my First Eucharist. It was really fun to listen to and sing along with the hymns.

Ethan: My night was very special because I was receiving my First Holy Communion. I felt like I was close to Jesus. 

Prev

Showing images 1 - 8 of 9

Next

Student Voice: Year 5/6

On Friday 6th June, students who have been consistently reading at home were treated to a special reward, hot chips! This celebration recognised their dedication and effort in building strong reading habits.

A gentle reminder to families: it is an ongoing school expectation that every child reads at home for at least 20 minutes each day. Regular reading supports literacy development and helps foster a lifelong love of books.

Literacy:

Students have been learning how to write a factual recount by exploring the life of Jandamarra, an Indigenous warrior. They planned their paragraphs using a Single Paragraph Outline (SPO), drafted and edited their work to include specialised vocabulary and time connectives, and then published their final pieces. All students worked extremely hard and took great pride in their writing. 

Student Voice:

Nicholas

I’ve really enjoyed working in groups and doing fun activities like learning about carbon footprints and creating our animal hybrids. I’m excited for school camp and can’t wait to keep learning more!

Mikaela

This term, I’ve really enjoyed literacy because it’s helped me find deeper meanings in the books we’ve read and improved my writing skills. Right now, we’re reading a book called Waves, which is an anthology that shows different timelines of people arriving in Australia. I’m looking forward to reading more interesting books and exploring different types of sentence-level writing.

Ruby

I really enjoyed going to the McKillop musical Chicago because it was fun and exciting. I’m looking forward to our trip to the Werribee Zoo because I can’t wait to see the new elephants!

Premiers' Reading Challenge

Throughout term 2, we have been participating in the Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge. Over one hundred students across the school have signed up for the challenge and have begun reading. Students in Foundation to Grade 2 are required to read 30 books and students in Grades 3-6 are required to read 15. All participants have received a challenge checklist which is to be used to keep track of the books that they have read. If your child has misplaced their tracker, please let their classroom teacher know. Each fortnight, the student who has read the most books in their year level will receive a certificate, with some certificates already handed out. Once your child has completed the set amount of reading, they will require you to sign their tracker sheet. The challenge will be running until September. 

Happy Reading!

• Luella and Monish (Learning & Teaching Student Leaders)

STEM: What's been happening?

SSV Finals

The SSV Hockey and Cricket finals are fast approaching in Terms 3 and 4. Congratulations to the teams who have qualified! The finals will take place on the following dates:

• SSV Hockey Finals – Tuesday, 29th July

• SSV Cricket Finals – Thursday, 23rd October

Exciting News – Come Support Sadie Bishop and Indiana Kimber!

We are thrilled to share that Sadie Bishop and Indiana Kimber have been cast in their very first semi-professional musical theatre production, Home Alone: The Australian Musical!

They’ve been rehearsing since the end of April and are now ready to hit the stage. The show will run from Thursday 24th July to Sunday 27th July, and it promises to be an entertaining experience for the whole family.

Attached is a flyer with all the details. If you would like to attend and support Sadie and Indiana, it would mean the world to them!

Let’s cheer them on as they take this exciting step in their performing arts journey!

NCCD Sheet for Parents, Guardians & Carers

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 Parish

Community Mass

School Fees, Direct Debits, CSEF Applications & Concessional Applications

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 July - Mid-Monthly Direct Debit 

30th June, 7th July, 14th July, 21st July, 28th July - Weekly Direct Debit

1st July, 1st August - Monthly Direct Debit

7th July, 21st July, 4th August - Fortnightly Direct Debits

31st August - 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. The final date for CSEF applications this year if FRIDAY 27th June 2025.

School Saving Bonus

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

St Joseph's Trivia Night

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!