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- St Joseph's School Vision
- Principal's Message
- Prayer
- 1/2 Neighbourhood
- 5/6 Neighbourhood
- Whole School Approach to Positive Behaviour - Positive Relationships
- 2025 Prep Information
- Winter Uniform
- School Closure Information
- 2024 Australian Early Development Census
- Year 6 to Year 7 Transition Form and Information 2025
- Book Club Issue - Issue 3
- Mothers Day Stall
- Parish News
- Wonthaggi Fire Brigade Fundraiser
- Girl Guides - Wonthaggi
Welcome to Term 2! I hope everyone enjoyed a lovely Easter holiday.
Student Wellbeing
There have been many attempts to define wellbeing. Some relate wellbeing to happiness, effective social functioning and spiritual health, others describe it as having an optimistic disposition, one which is open, curious and resilient. Some see wellbeing as a measure of quality of life or the satisfaction of basic needs: the need for affection; security and clarity; social recognition; to feel competent; physical needs and for meaning in life. Many simply see it as simply feeling good, functioning well, accomplishing and flourishing.
An article from the Australian Institute of Teaching and School Leadership Limited defines it below:
“Student wellbeing is defined as a sustainable state of positive mood and attitude, resilience, and satisfaction with self, relationships and experiences at school”
Wellbeing in Australian schools
However you describe or define it, we know it has a significant impact on student learning.
Students who feel safe, respected, valued, who have a positive sense of identity and culture, who are physically, mentally and emotionally healthy and who feel they have a voice, are listened to and taken seriously are in an optimum position to learn, achieve and thrive.
We teachers are very aware of this and strive to create these conditions for our students. Unfortunately sometimes, we fail. Additionally, sometimes, no matter how hard we try, we cannot counteract other factors impacting student wellbeing that are out of our control.
This is a very challenging space for us as we are not mental health experts. We look to evidence based research and advice to guide our efforts. Using the High Impact Wellbeing Strategies, forms part of our approach. These strategies have been developed to help classroom teachers promote students' wellbeing.
The seven strategies, are ones we try to incorporate everyday in our classrooms:
building relationships with students, facilitating peer relationships, establishing and maintaining clear classroom expectations, supporting inclusion and belonging, fostering student self-efficacy, engaging students and promoting coping strategies and facilitating referrals.
Wellbeing is promoted and supported across the school in a number of ways:
- Victorian Curriculum Personal and Social learning focus.
- Adherence to the Child Safety Standards and all the policies and protocols they entail.
- Termly Wellbeing Student Surveys (anonymous) are conducted and areas of focus are identified in each level of the school.
- Termly Behaviour Audits are completed and teachers follow up appropriately on findings.
- Reference to our Unfair Behaviour chart- to unpack and describe inappropriate behaviours, empowering students to specify behaviours rather than describing them as generally as ‘bullying’ which can be ambiguous and misleading.
- The Whole School Approach to Positive Behaviour supports our use of a common language, understandings and expectations across the school.
- Use of the Rights, Resilience and Respectful Relationships program.
- School Counsellor access.
- The Learning Adjustment Leaders oversee, coordinate and inform our various intervention and support programs for students, particularly those at risk, alongside teaching staff.
- Involvement of specialists when needed (paediatricians, psychologists etc.)
- Regular access to our Speech Pathologist.
As part of building staff knowledge and capacity around wellbeing, the whole school staff (teachers, Education Support Officers and Admin staff) spent the last two school closure professional development days (last term) on Making Space for Learning: Trauma responsive practice in education. The two days were run by the Australian Childhood Foundation presenter Donna Richards. Staff found this professional learning very relevant and impactful. The workshop provided an overview of the Making SPACE for Learning framework and incorporated exploration of the areas of:
- The neurobiology of complex relational and developmental trauma
- How trauma impacts children and young people’s brain, body, memory, emotions, relationships, behaviour and capacity to learn
- Responses to traumatised children and young people within education settings
- Exploration of activities and strategies that can help heal the impacts of trauma to enable improved behavioural and cognitive capacity
Donna taught us many strategies that we can employ in our school setting immediately to benefit our students’ wellbeing. We are very grateful to have had the opportunity to engage in this learning.
Towards the end of last term we became aware of a few incidents involving students name calling. In response to this, teachers had a discussion with their classes about what was occurring, why it might be occurring and how the students felt about it. We used this as an opportunity to teach the students about the impact of being called a name that was racial or derogatory in some way- or could be interpreted as such. We discussed why students would call each other hurtful names and what we could do about it. We will continue to work with students in this area.
Ultimately none of us can exclusively protect our children from harm, disappointment and hurt, we can however validate their feelings and help teach them to reflect, learn, put things in perspective and develop coping strategies to enhance their resilience and wellbeing when faced with setbacks, disappointments, mistakes and adversary.
2024 Camp Program
Last year we asked parents to keep their children in Grades 3-6 home for a day (before or after the camp) to enable us to provide teachers with a portion of the Time In Lieu they will be owed after attending camp. This year we have been able to assign one of our school closure days for this specific purpose so this won’t be necessary.
Joanne Coldebella
Principal
This term we are learning about 2D shapes. We have been using Geoboards to make different kinds of shapes.
Like most of the year, Term 2 in the Grade 5/6 area is a busy one! All students have returned to school with great enthusiasm and are working on all tasks very well!
We welcome Mr McKechnie to our level in 5/6F.
This week we’ve brainstormed how we can learn about ‘Physical Science‘ for Integrated Studies, with slime making and experiments already on the go, as well as an excursion to ScienceWorks later this term already planned!
Our Maths focus on addition & subtraction has given us lots of opportunities to play dice & card games to support our learning in a fun and interactive way.
Over the next few weeks in Religion we will learn about Confirmation and some Grade 6 students will receive this sacrament during a ceremony on May 22nd.
Reading at home is of great importance again this term. We encourage students to read regularly and fill in their diaries, signed by a parent or guardian and brought into school each week on their class’s specified day.
Some of our students will participate in the District Athletics at Bass Coast College Dudley Campus on Monday 29th April. We hope they have a great day and represent St. Joseph's giving 100% effort and with great pride!
Tuesday 30th April is the Grade 6 Activity Day at Mary MacKillop College, a great way to experience life at the college for a day.
5/6 Team
Whole School Approach to Positive Behaviour - Positive Relationships
St. Joseph’s School strives to ensure all children feel cared for and valued by all the adults working within the school.
Research evidence informs us that -
- Students achieve better outcomes when they are accepted, valued, respected and included.
- Students’ value teachers who have clear boundaries and expectations, demonstrate a friendly, fair and respectful manner, see the good in all (regardless of behaviour) and take a genuine interest in them.
Building positive relationships involves at our school involves:
- Understanding each student’s background and context (social, emotional, cultural, societal, academic)
- Conveying to students that they are worthwhile and accepted as individuals, despite any difficulties they may be experiencing
- Knowing the interests and strengths of each student
- The belief that every student is capable of making progress
- Creating an environment where challenge is expected, normal and safe
- Building and fostering strong relationships across the whole school community
- Working collegially to share expertise
- Using interpersonal skills to establish and maintain respectful relationships
- Teaching and modelling respectful relationships through appropriate language, teaching practice and decision making
- Encouraging students to collaboratively participate in social action and leadership initiatives that contribute to the culture and reflect the charism of the school
Whole School Approach to Positive Behaviour Co-ordinators
Trish Martin and Kylee Bertacco
Applications for enrolment are now available for Prep 2025. Tours for all prospective 2025 Prep families can be made by contacting the school office for an appointment time. Enrolment applications are to be submitted by Friday, June 26, 2024.
Orientation sessions will be held for all incoming Prep students beginning in August.
Enrolment information can be found on our website. Email us at info@stjwonthaggi.catholic.edu.au or call the office on 5672 1052 for further information. Click below for our school enrolment pack information.
The transition to the winter uniform has begun. Whilst not compulsory until Monday May 6, it is important that students wear either full Winter uniform or full Summer uniform and not a mixture of both.
Thursday April 25 is the Anzac Day Public Holiday.
Friday June 7 will be a school closure day for staff professional development.
Monday June 10 is the King's Birthday Public Holiday.
Thursday June 27 Final day of classes for students, school finishes at 3:25pm.
Friday June 27 will be a school closure day for staff professional development.
2024 Australian Early Development Census
Attached is a flyer regarding the upcoming Australian Early Development Census for your information.
Year 6 to Year 7 Transition Form and Information 2025
A Parent Information Pack and an Application for Year 7 Placement 2025 has been sent to all Grade 6 families via PAM. Parents, guardians, and carers who wish to enroll their child in a Secondary College in 2025 should complete pages 11-14 of the application form and return it to the school office on or before Friday, May 10. Even if you are uncertain of your final choice, we still require the form to be returned by the deadline.
If you plan to send your child to Bass Coast College and require a bus (even if your child currently catches the bus), please complete the bus application form. Mary MacKillop College and Newhaven will organize their bus applications once they receive the placement forms.
These forms are available below. If you require a paper form, please contact the office, and we will send one to you.
Parent Information and Application for Placement Year 7 2025
Our Mother’s Day Stall will be held this year on Tuesday, May 7.
The stall will provide $5 gifts for students to select from.
In keeping with our cash free platform, we
encourage all parents to pay for their child’s gift via CDFpay before the day.
The CDFpay shop is open now for purchasing.
St Joseph's Wonthaggi CDFPay Shop
Weekday Masses:
Tuesday Our Lady Star of the Sea, Inverloch 11:00a.m.
Wednesday 9:30am St. Joseph’s Wonthaggi
Friday 9:30am St. Joseph’s Wonthaggi
Weekend Masses Our Lady Star of the Sea, Inverloch Sunday 9:00am
St. Joseph’s Wonthaggi Saturday 6:30pm, Sunday 10:30am
PLEASE PRAY FOR; Anniversaries:For the deceased clergy of our diocese.
Parish Office will be open on Wed & Fri 8.30am-4.30pm. All items for the bulletin or Mass intentions to be received by 5pm on Thursdays.
Prayer Group: will be held at Wonthaggi Church on Mondays at 1.15pm. All Welcome
Prayer Shawl Group: New members are always welcome. Wool and simple patterns are available. For enquiries : Maureen Maartensz 0407 055 447 Philippa Warby. 0408 331 340
First Collection is for the keeping of Priest. Second Collection (planned giving and loose) is for the upkeeping of the church and associated running costs. Special Collections will be specified what the collection is for. If anyone has any questions please contact Ann at the Parish Office.
Rosary Beads for sale $10 each. Available at 10.30am mass on Sunday in Wonthaggi. Please see Carole Gow.
Bishops offers prayers and condolences in wake of Bondi attack The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference offers its prayers and condolences in the wake of the Bondi Junction attack. For more information visit : cdsale.org.au/news
In a telegram to Archbishop Anthony Fisher of Sydney, Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin conveyed Pope Francis' deep sadness over the violent attack at a local shopping centre in Sydney, Australia. The Pope assured his spiritual support for all affected, offering prayers for the deceased, the injured, and the first responders. He invoked divine blessings of consolation and strength up-on the nation.
For more information visit : cdsale.org.au/news
Our Parish is committed to the safety, well-being and dignity of all children, young people and adults at risk. Find out more at: catholic.org.au/childprotectionsunday and www.catholicregligious.org.au/safeguarding
St Joseph’s Wonthaggi Cuppa after Mass held on 1st Saturday & Sunday of the Month
Our Lady Star of the Sea—Inverloch Cuppa after Mass held on 1st Sunday of the Month
Reminder all signed Code of Conducts to be returned to the Parish Office as soon as possible. Thank you
If you are concerned about any form of abuse, or believe that someone is at significant risk, you should immediately raise your concerns with one of our Parish Safeguarding Officers. Contact the Parish Office: 03 56 721 111 or St. Joseph’s School Safeguarding Officer 03 56 721 052. Take care, we are here to help.
If you are in need of urgent assistance, please phone either Father Darren Howie 0356 722 923 or Ann on 03 56 72111 or 04999 15 784.
Father Darren Howie Ann Hemming
Parish Priest Parish Secretary
St. Joseph’s Parish Wonthaggi