St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Newsletter: Thursday 7th August, 2025 Edition 6, Volume 7

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 back to Term 3. It’s hard to believe we are already more than halfway through the school year. I hope the break provided your family with some time to rest and recharge.

I returned this term feeling particularly refreshed after taking some Long Service Leave at the end of Term 2 and into the start of Term 3. During this time, I travelled across Australia — from Darwin in the north to Adelaide in the south, and then enjoyed some time by the beach. Rest and renewal are vital in our work as educators. Long Service Leave gives our staff the opportunity to take a well-earned break and return with renewed energy and perspective.

You may notice throughout the year that a number of staff members will also take some time off for Long Service Leave. Please be assured that we have strong structures and processes in place to ensure the smooth running of the school during these times. I would like to extend a sincere thank you to Hayley Frazzetto for stepping into the role of Acting Principal during my absence, and to Chrissy Edwards, Rebecca Alexander, and the wider Leadership Team for their continued dedication.

Later this term, Hayley will be taking some Long Service Leave herself, and Chrissy will follow in October.

Thank you for your ongoing support. We’re looking forward to a term full of learning, growth, and community.

Warm regards,
Troy Rickard
Principal

Building Update

There has been significant progress on our building project. Brickwork is nearly complete, windows and doors are being installed, and internal works are well underway. We remain on track for completion by the end of the school year.

You may have noticed a delay with the construction of our COLA (Covered Outdoor Learning Area). While this has been frustrating, the delay is due to some positive design updates which will result in a more flexible and functional space. We’re hopeful that ground works will begin shortly.

In addition to the new building, several other upgrades are taking place:

• The original office area and nearby planning rooms will be converted into a new classroom.
  
  
• Door repairs across the original building are being scheduled.
  
  
• A new electric sliding door will be installed between the school office and the yard, improving student access — particularly in wet and windy weather.
  
  

It is certainly an exciting time for our school.

Newsletter Update

In response to feedback from our parent community, we are trialing a new model for our school newsletter. We understand that our current newsletter format can be quite long and at times overwhelming, making it difficult to locate the information you need. To address this, we will move towards shorter, more focused newsletters, each with a specific theme.

Over the coming months, you’ll see four streamlined newsletters:

• Wellbeing – focusing on Child Safety, Student Voice, and Wellbeing Initiatives
  
  
• School Management – covering notices, enrolments, news and key updates
  
  
• Learning & Teaching – highlighting student learning, classroom celebrations, and new initiatives
  
  
• Catholic Identity – sharing our work in social justice, community involvement, and faith development

Our goal is to make communication clearer, more relevant, and easier to navigate. We look forward to your feedback as we trial this new approach.

Staffing Update

As some of you may know, Georgia Burton will soon be finishing up as she prepares to welcome her first child. We wish Georgia and Matt all the very best as they begin this wonderful new chapter.

We are pleased to welcome Mirren McKinney to the Foundation team. She and Georgia are working closely together to ensure a smooth transition.

We’re also thrilled to have Erin Cooke rejoin the St Joseph’s team in a part-time capacity, currently supporting the work of Tania MacCarthy. Our dear colleague and friend Tania continues her health journey with strength and grace. She is currently meeting all the treatment milestones set by her medical team, and we remain hopeful that we’ll welcome her back in Term 4.

Student Voice: Foundation

What a busy and exciting start to Term 3 our Foundation students have had! In Week 1, we headed off on our very first excursion to the Werribee Zoo. The students were buzzing with excitement as they explored the zoo and saw a range of amazing animals in their natural habitats.

In Week 2, we celebrated a huge milestone, 100 Days of School! The students dressed up as their favourite InitiaLit characters, took part in fun activities and reflected on how far they’ve come in their learning journey.

Here’s what some of our students had to say about their first 100 days of school:

"I love learning new sounds and playing with my friends."
"I liked counting to 100 and making a crown!"
"I feel proud of all the writing I can do now."

It’s been a wonderful start to the term and we can’t wait for what’s to come!

In Foundation Hannah, Rory’s family welcomed a baby boy, Rudy on Thursday. Congratulations to the Allen family on the arrival of your bundle of joy!

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 Parish

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

Book Week Celebration

St Joseph's School Disco

Container Deposit Scheme

Support Our School Through the Container Deposit Scheme!

Did you know that your empty bottles and cans can help support our school? By donating your eligible containers through the Container Deposit Scheme (CDS), you can choose to direct the refund straight to our school. See the attached flyer for instructions on how to do this.

Here’s how you can help:
- Collect eligible bottles and cans
- Take them to your local CDS collection point
- Donate your refund to St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School Fundraiser

 Can’t get to a CDS machine? 

You can bring your plastic bottles and cans to school and place them in the marked bin at the front of the school (off Fairhall Avenue).

Every 10c counts — funds raised go directly towards improving learning resources, student wellbeing programs, and school facilities. It’s a simple, sustainable way to make a big impact!

Thank you for supporting our school and the environment!

Car Boot Sale

et ready to Spring into Spring with our School Car Boot Sale, happening later this term!

As the seasons change, it’s the perfect time to clean out your home, cupboards, and garage – and what better way to pass on your pre-loved items than at our fun and community-filled car boot sale?

Event Details:
Date: Friday 22nd August
Time: Sale from 3:10-4pm (gates open to park cars from 2:30-3pm)
Location: St Joseph’s School Oval
Tickets: $10 per car – and you keep all the money you make!

Whether you’re decluttering, looking for a bargain, or just love a local community event, there’s something for everyone. 

How to get involved:

• Book your car spot for $10
  
  
• Start gathering items to sell – toys, clothes, books, homewares, and more
  
  
• Tell your friends and neighbours – all are welcome!
  

Booking open now on Try Booking via this link.

 Let’s work together to make this a great day for our school and community.

Community News

TeamKids