Principal's Report
Dear Parents and Carers,
This year we have continued on our journey of improving student outcomes and achievement. Our teachers have been undertaking Professional Learning in creating Learning Intentions and Success Criteria to help our students to become more aware of what they are learning and what they need to do to achieve their outcomes.
Part of this process had included the co-construction of Success Criteria with the students. It is so exciting to see students being able to talk about what they need to learn to be successful in achieving their learning goals.
Parent Engagement Group Update
Thank you to all parents who have sent the note back with preferred meeting times and topics they would like to hear about. If you haven’t had a chance we would love to hear from you so we can make our meetings really valuable.
Welcome Back Lachlan
We were so pleased to welcome back Lachlan Blanco and his family to Year 4 this week. It is wonderful to see him back with his classmates, who were very excited to see him.
Scottish Festival
Thank you to all of the families that supported our Scottish Festival Stall. A special thank you to Mrs Lapi-an for everything she did to coordinate our stall. It was so wonderful to see so many people contributing to make the day so successful.
Weekly Storytime
Don’t forget that we have storytime every Friday for children who have not yet started school. If you are a parent who has children at home, please come along for your children to share in a story while you are waiting for school pick up and enjoy a cuppa with some other parents.
Enrolments now open
Our Kinder 2022 enrolments are now open, if you are planning on sending your child to Kinder next year or know someone who is interested in coming to our beautiful school please contact the office for a school tour with Mrs Hunt and an enrolment pack.
Safeguarding in Diocesan Schools
The Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle has an absolute and abiding commitment to promote the safeguarding of children. In 2019, as a part of that commitment, our bishop, Bill Wright, articulated his expectations of all those who work for the Diocese, “I expect you to place the safety, welfare and wellbeing of every child and vulnerable adult at the centre of everything you do in the name of our church.”
Bishop Wright established the Office of Safeguarding, whose director answers to the Bishop’s Office and is charged to oversee the whole of the Diocese’s safeguarding of children, including the students in our system of schools.
As a parent sending your child to a Diocesan school, you are expected to be an active participant in safeguarding your child’s wellbeing. To do so, it’s important that you have the best information available to you. The Office of Safeguarding website offers comprehensive details of the Diocese’s approach to safeguarding children. You are also encouraged to be an active participant in the life of your school.
As a parent of a diocesan school student, if you are concerned for:
- the safety, welfare or wellbeing of one or more children in the school
- the conduct of a member of staff, a volunteer, contractor or other adult associated with the school
… you are able to:
- discuss your concerns with a teacher, Assistant Principal or Principal
- talk to an investigator at the Office if Safeguarding (Ph. 4979 1390, during office hours)
- report your concerns to the Department of Communities and Justice’s (DCJ) Child Protection Helpline (Ph. 132 111, 24 hrs/7 days) if your concerns constitute a risk of significant harm
- report to NSW Police if you believe a crime has been committed.
Please join me in saying a prayer of thanks for everyone who continues to make St Joseph’s such a wonderful place for our children to grow and learn.
God Bless
Making Jesus Real – Values of the week
Week 9 - I wear my uniform with pride
Week 10 - I use safe hands and safe feet