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Dear Parents,
Welcome back to the new school year 2024 and a special welcome to families joining St Joseph’s for the first time. We trust St Joseph’s families have enjoyed Christmas and the holiday period and that the new year is off to a great start!
A warm welcome is also extended to our newest member of staff, Natalie Caruana who is co-teaching the K/1 class with Loyola Best. And welcome back to Cindy Washbrook who will be co-teaching with Chelsea Harveyson 5/6.
Finally, a very special welcome to Jock Dugald McFarlane and congratulations to Danielle and Dugald from all of us here at St Joseph’s!
Staff Professional Learning
The staff have enjoyed two focused days of professional learning furthering the themes of Catholic Education Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn through the Catalyst initiative. For all schools, Behaviour and Classroom Management is an important area for to ensure learning time at school is maximised. With all that we have learnt from the past three years through Catalyst, drawing from Cognitive Science and how students learn, during our PD days we have been exploring how we can apply this to our expectations for behaviour. Our aim is to support our students by treating behaviour as a curriculum that is explicitly taught, providing clear rules, routines and rehearsal. This approach not only supports learning but also ensures that school is a safe and positive place for all students.
Emergency Management and Procedures
One of the other areas we focused on during the professional learning days is Emergency Management and Procedures. The children will be participating in a number of drills over the coming weeks so that we are ready to respond as a school community to any challenges that may arise.
Thank you and Congratulations!
The Parents and Friends Association showed great commitment and enthusiasm during the final very busy weeks of the year by hosting the BBQs at the Christmas Fair and the Carols. Thank you and congratulations to the team! Funds raised will greatly benefit the children in 2024 thanks to your efforts.
Well done to the children who attended the Carols event and thanks also to the staff for their support for this event too.
Finally, congratulations to one of our outgoing School Captains, Camilla Metcalfe on receiving a “Youth Achievement Award” at the recent Grenfell Australia Day Celebrations. Well done also to Georgia and Saskia (School Captains) for representing the school by reading an Australian poem. Once again, thank you to staff and students who supported this event.
Upcoming Events
Opening Mass – Wednesday 7th February 10.00am at St Joseph’s Church
All parents are welcome to join us for this special annual event; a great opportunity to join with the school community to pray for the safety and wellbeing of the families, staff and students of St Joseph’s.
Kindergarten families are encouraged to bring their children to the Mass even though this is one of the February Kindergarten rest days. The Mass provides a special opportunity for us to welcome the new Kindies.
Please see the REC section of the Newsletter for further details.
Swimming Carnival – Friday 9th February
Parents by now should have received notification of the 2024 St Jospeh’s Swimming Carnival. You are all very welcome to join us at the pool for this event.
Sporting Schools Grant
We are pleased to report that St Jospeh’s grant application has been successful so the children can look forward to participating in a cricket focus this term. Thank you to Mrs Harveyson and Mrs Baker for their work on the application.
Weekly Schedules and Term Overviews
Class teachers will be sharing the weekly schedules and term overviews with you so that you can help the children prepare for curriculum areas such as Sport and Library.
In Conclusion…
We look forward to establishing a positive partnership where school and home collaborate to ensure that each of the students thrives in their learning and personal growth in 2024. Please remember throughout the year that we are always here to help and available to answer any questions, provide clarifications or simply to chat over anything pertaining to your child’s experience at school. Teachers are available either through email or you can make contact through Nichola and Sheridan in the office.
Looking forward to seeing at the upcoming school events.
With best wishes,
Louise
Louise Grant
Acting Principal
St Jospeh’s Grenfell
Opening School Mass:
Dear Parents and Community,
We are delighted to extend a warm welcome to all of you to our upcoming primary school opening mass on Wednesday, 7th February, at St. Joseph's Church at 10 am. This special occasion holds great significance as we come together to celebrate the beginning of a new academic year.
We would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge our 2024 School Leaders and welcome all the new families and students who have joined our community. Your presence enriches our school family, and we are excited to have you embark on this journey with us. We understand that transitioning to a new school can be both exciting and challenging, and we assure you that our dedicated staff and supportive community will be there every step of the way to ensure a smooth and positive experience for all.
This opening mass serves as a reminder of the strong bond we share as a community, united in our commitment to providing an excellent education and nurturing environment for our students. It is a time for reflection, gratitude, and renewal of our collective spirit. Together, we will continue to uphold the values of St. Joseph's Church and foster a sense of belonging, respect, and compassion among our students.
See you all on Wednesday, 7th February, at St. Joseph's Church at 10 am.
Warm regards,
Chelsea Harveyson (Anderson)
Classroom Teacher and Sports Coordinator
NOTE: Despite the scheduled rest day for kindergarten, they’re strongly encouraged to be present at the mass.
Library lessons will begin in week 2 for all students. Please ensure your child has a library bag ready for borrowing.
King Regards
Leslie King
Breakfast club will run on Tuesday & Thursday mornings from 8:30am - 9:am.
For this to happen we need parents or family volunteers for this short time, If you are able to help please let Sheridan Know and she'll add you to the roster.
