Message from Leadership Team

As the students settle into their first full week, it is wonderful to see the commitment that many students have returned to school with. Enthusiasm is high and behaviour standards are great.

Pilgrims of Hope: 2025 Theme

At our whole school start of the year mass last Friday, the students were introduced to our theme for 2025 – Pilgrims of Hope. This is actually the theme for Catholics worldwide this year and is being led by Pope Francis in his call for all of us to be people of hope for others. The badge for this year is a signpost with the word HOPE written across it and students were reminded that people feel hope when they are shown love. Love doesn’t have to be romantic; love is shown towards others in small acts of kindness and by making efforts to be inclusive in language and actions. Students were challenged to be signposts of hope this year in the way that they treat and speak to those around them.

Safety Around the School

This is a reminder to all parents and carers to drive and walk with caution around the school. The fifteen minutes before and after school are very chaotic and everyone needs to show restraint and patience. There is no need to arrive at the school early! Children are supervised until collected and so sometimes, arriving 5-10 minutes after the bell will actually save you time in the long run.

Please also park with common sense. As parking is very limited, particularly at primary, it is important to pull into any verge parking nose (or end) of the car pointing towards the road and not park horizontally to the kerb. This allows for more cars to park.

Years 4 - 12 Interschool Swimming Carnival

Friday February 21 is our Year 4-12 Interhouse Swimming Carnival. Families will have received an email today with the important information but the highlights are:

1. It is a compulsory school day and all students are expected to attend
2. Morning bus students from Years 4-12 are to get off the bus at Northam Primary and will be walked to the pool by school staff.
3. Afternoon bus students will all be walked back to the Secondary campus to catch the bus from there
4. P&F will be selling sausage sizzle and juiceboxes & water at the carnival – students can use cash or card to pay
5. Kiss and ride will be in operation for the afternoon pickup. Entry off Peel Tce, loop around the carpark at the rear of the pool and exit out at Henry Street (see map below)

Communication

One question we are asked frequently is where do I go to find out what I need? The infographic below is designed to help you with that. 

Contacting the teacher: Parents may contact teachers through email during the school’s communication hours (8.00am to 4.00pm on school days) and we will endeavour to respond within 24 hours. For matters requiring a more in-depth conversation, the teacher may phone parents or request a meeting.

SeeSaw: Teachers publish child and class-related news and notes on the SeeSaw app - please check it regularly. Direct messaging with the teacher will no longer be offered on Seesaw - all teacher communication is via email, a phone call or in person. Download the SeeSaw Parent & Family app and the teacher will provide a QR code to log in.

Weekly newsletter: We provide parents with need-to-know school information, important dates and merit award winners in the weekly newsletter. Our aim is to only communicate with you once a week - please ensure you read the newsletter. Previous editions can be found under Quick Links - Newsletters.

Social media: You can choose to follow nice-to-know news, photos, events and videos on our Facebook and Instagram.

SEQTA Engage: A portal that provides access to to your child's school information, such as reports (all students), as well as timetables, assignments, assessments and communication (for secondary school students).

Use of student images: A pictures says a thousand words and permission for your child to appear in photos and videos helps immensely. We are respectful in the way we share images and do not publish children’s names on social media.

Events in the Next Week

Friday: February 14	Senior Secondary Ball
Sunday: February 16	Secondary Student Leaders Camp (Feb 16 - 18)
Monday: February 17	Year 6 Camp (Feb 17 - 19)
Tuesday: February 18
Wednesday: February 19
Thursday: February 20
Friday: February 21	Interhouse Swimming Carnival Years 4 - 12

Term 1 Dates for your Diary

Tuesday: February 25	Leonard House Day (wear something red)
Monday: March 3	Labour Day Public Holiday
Wednesday: March 5	Ash Wednesday Liturgies (Sec: 10.20am / Prim: 12.30pm)
Monday: March 10	Parent Workshop (WANSLEA) 6.00pm
Tuesday: March 11	CAPS (Primary) Interschool Swimming Carnival
Saturday: March 15	School Community Mass 5.30pm
Thursday: March 20	ACC (Secondary) Interschool Swimming Carnival
Friday: March 28	P&F Colour Run
Friday: April 4	Pre-Kindy G 2025 Information Session 2.00pm
Wednesday: April 9	Parent Teacher Meetings (Secondary only)
Friday: April 11	Term 1 Concludes

2025 Term Dates

School Fees for 2025 School Year 

The School Advisory Council has endorsed the increase of the school fees by 4%. This is an average figure, with the primary fees not being impacted as much by the increases. This was tabled at the Annual School Community Meeting in November. A link to the 2025 school fees can be found here.

click image to access the School Fees website page

This week's clip has a focus on 'Pilgrims of Hope' and how to use Grit as we travel our pilgrim journeys.

Year 7 Retreat

On Thursday February 6, our Year 7 students participated in their Retreat day. The students enjoyed a day of prayer and reflection based on the theme of Commitment to Christ. 

We thank the House Captains and special guests Mrs Doughty, Miss Ridout, Mr Vernede and Mrs Marasco for their insights into how to be a person for others.

Pre-Primary

This week the Pre-Primary classes started their learning journey by learning to write their letters. Well done!

 

Year 6 Camp

The Year 6 cohort head off to camp at Woodman Point next Monday.  We hope they have a wonderful time!

Kiss & Ride

2025 information about the Kiss & Ride system for after school pickup at the Primary campus.

Little Joeys

After a very successful year with our 'Little Joey's Stay & Play' group last year for 0-3 year olds, we are running this group again in 2025.  We are very excited to be able to offer this fun introduction to St Joseph’s School and we look forward to seeing the excited faces most Friday mornings.

Booking link: https://www.schoolinterviews.com.au/code/bwfau
Event code: bwfau

Click the image to take you to the booking site

 

Pre-Kindy - 2nd Group

Click on the image to access the Enrolment page of our website

Year 12 Chemisrty

The Year 12 Chemistry class donned their white lab coats and started dabbling in Chemical Equilibrium!

Senior Secondary Ball

We wish our Year 11 & 12 students at fabulous evening at tomorrow's 'Amour' Ball!

Secondary Student Leaders' Camp

The Student Leaders’ Camp has been planned to assist the 2025 Secondary Student Leaders in commencing their new roles this year. To introduce students to the role, duties and expectations of a School Leader, in this leadership training workshop.  Enjoy the team building!

The Primary Canteen is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. 

                              Click Image to access Volunteer Sign-up Page

Welcome everyone to the 2025 school year! I hope you’re all having a great first week back. For those families that are new to the school I would like to extend a huge welcome and for those families returning welcome back!

The P&F help run some of the major events held throughout the school year. I encourage all families and parents to get involved in the P&F; many hands make light work! It is also a great way to get to know other parents and families especially if you are new to the school!

Some key dates to put in your diaries:

• Swimming Carnival (P&F will offer sausage sizzle): Friday February 21
• Colour Run: Friday 28th March
• Easter Raffle: From week 8

Both the school and P&F Facebook pages are updated regularly and I encourage everyone to check both pages for up to date information. We also have a great addition with the 'P&F Uniform and Books Sale' Facebook page for families wanting to buy/sell uniforms and text books. We also have the individual year Facebook groups: if there are any parents new to your year please add them in!

P&F Meetings are held twice throughout the term. Please keep an eye on our Facebook page and newsletters for dates.

All caregivers are welcome to attend the meetings and it would be great to have many people there to help support our school! We have lots of great events coming up this year, I can’t wait to share them with you!

If anyone has any questions please do not hesitate to reach out! I look forward to working with you all this year!

Follow us on Facebook

To stay up to date with the P&F please follow our Facebook page for more updates: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1764507137145087

Casey Pearse
P&F Chair