St Joseph's Primary School Trafalgar eNewsletter

Deat Families

We are having a big focus on attendance at school. Parents please prioritise school attendance. Every Day Counts. Please plan family holidays for school holiday times and please try and make medical and dental appointments for outside school hours. If you can't get after school, could you please try for afternoon appointments, that way your child can come to school first, then go to the appointment.

We have been running an Attendance Competition at school. Gr 1/2 had the highest attendance this last week (90%) and so they can have 30 minutes extra play tomorrow. The competition also runs next week. Please make sure your child is at school if they are well.

Advent

This weekend we start the Church season of Advent. Advent is a time to prepare our homes and hearts for Christmas.

The word ‘advent’ means ‘coming’. Lighting the candles on the wreath symbolises the coming of light (Jesus) into the world. The first candle (violet) represents hope, the second (violet) peace, the third (rose) joy, and the fourth (violet) love. The central white candle is lit on Christmas Day and represents Christ. The Advent wreath helps us keep our thoughts focused on the coming of Christ at Christmas.

This Advent, help us to learn, act and pray for a more just and fair world – a world full of hope, peace, joy, and love.

Orientation

We are welcoming 11 new Foundation students for 2025. We are conducting three orientation sessions to help in transitioning to primary school.

We have already had the first orientation session that also included a Parent Information Session. The next two orientation sessions are:

Tuesday December 3rd 9am to 11am

Tuesday December 10th 9am to 11am (Statewide Orientation Day). On the Statewide Orientation Day all students will transition to their new class from 9am to 11am. Children will find out what class they are in and who their teacher is, on Monday afternoon before the Orientation Day.

After School Care Program for 2025

Next year we are starting an after school care program. 'Their Care' will be the providers and it will run out of the The Parish Centre. It will start on Monday February 3rd 2025. Their Care will run an Information Online Meeting on Tuesday Dec 10th at 7pm for anyone who would like to find out more. The cost of the program is really very reasonable, I think you will be surprised. And I think they run a particularly good program.

On Friday January 31st Their Care will set up a Coffee Cart at school to promote the program. So let's have a coffee and a chat on that first day. Parents of Foundation students might be especially grateful for that coffee after they've settled their young one into school.

Last Assembly of the Year

Next Friday Dec 6th at 3pm we will have our last Assembly, it will be in the newly refurbished church and we will be celebrating Advent. At the end of the liturgy the Foundation and Ones will make a presentation to their Gr 6 buddy to say goodbye to them. We hope you can all join us in the church.

Graduation

On Thursday Dec 12th we will have our End of Year/Graduation Mass in the church at 2.15pm. We hope everyone can celebrate with us. We will send off our Gr 6s and we will farewell Mrs Raelee Hill. Raelee has taught music at our school for the last 7 years and she has made the decision to retire from teaching after 43 years of service. What an achievement! We will certainly miss her.

That evening of Thurs Dec 12, the Gr 6 families will be invited to come back to school at 5.30pm for the Graduation Ceremony. Here we will celebrate our Gr 6 class and present the awards. The next day all the students in Gr 5 & 6 will participate in a FUN DAY.

School Reports will be available on PAM on Friday December 13th at 4pm.

A Few Reminders: Remember icy poles are sold on Fridays in Term 4 and Term 1. (Remembering our Vic Kids Eat Well healthy eating message, the icy poles have NO SUGAR). The money raised goes to supporting local charities.

Also remember school hats are compulsory in Term 4 and Term 1. If you're child forgets their hat, there are usually spares in the classroom or sick bay, and failing that they may have to stay on the back verandah and play.

2024 School Fees

School Fees are now overdue. Please ensure your account is settled before December. If you are experiencing financial troubles please ring the office to talk to Trish or Janelle and organise a payment plan.

Healthcare/Pension Card

If you have a current healthcare /pension card, please make sure the office has a copy as this greatly reduces your school fees.

May God continue to bless and guide us in our learning.

Trish Mulqueen

REVERSE ADVENT CALENDAR

Advent is a time for giving so why not do something lovely as a family and create a Reverse Advent Calendar for those in need. Throughout November and December, instead of receiving a gift or small sweet treat, we invite you and your family to DONATE a non-perishable item and put it into a box, basket or bag. At the end of Advent, you will have a hamper (in a box, basket or bags) to donate. The hampers will be distributed to local families in need. I really like this idea because it helps little ones to understand that Advent is about preparing for something great, and in this way we are preparing and giving to others, which is great. Please see below the Reverse Advent Calendar that we will use at school. The ideas on our Reverse Advent Calendar are only suggestions, you can of course, do whatever works for your family (or use whatever you have in your pantry). At the end of Week 10 (Friday 13th December), you are welcome to drop your Reverse Advent Calendar Hamper in at school for us to distribute to families in need. Let's start getting ready for Christmas...

Reverse_Advent_Calendar_Advent_2024.pdf

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Each year we purchase our book supplies from the Trafalgar Newsagency. Our booklists are live on their website now. You can access here by clicking this link:

https://www.booklists.com.au/trafalgarnews/

Orders need to be in by Tuesday December 17th and pick up days are Tuesday January 28th & Wednesday January 29th. School starts on Friday January 31st.

School refusal, sometimes called school avoidance or school phobia, is not uncommon. It is different to ‘wagging’ or truancy and is often related to worry or anxiety-related issues about going to school. School refusal may start gradually or happen suddenly. Although it is normal for a child to occasionally miss a day of school, parents should only be concerned if a child regularly complains about feeling sick or often asks to stay home due to minor physical complaints.

School refusal is a complex issue as there is rarely a single cause. It affects children of all ages across primary and secondary levels. It can often occur during times of transition at school. More recently, the Coronavirus pandemic has disrupted the educational experience of all students, affecting some more than others. Dealing with a school refusal child can affect the whole family, adding pressure to an already challenging time. School refusal is not considered a formal psychiatric diagnosis. It’s a name given to an emotional and/or behavioural problem.

In this edition of SchoolTV, adult carers will learn how best to approach this issue and work towards a solution.

We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this edition of SchoolTV and we always welcome your feedback. If you have any concerns about your child, please contact the school counsellor for further information or seek medical or professional help.

Here is the link to the School Refusal edition of SchoolTV
https://trafalgar.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/school-refusal

Christmas Raffle

We are excited to be running a Christmas Raffle this term. Tickets cost $2 each and have been sent home with students. More tickets are available at the office. Please write a name and phone number on each ticket before returning them to school. Please pay via CDF pay.

We need more donations for the prizes. Thank you to everyone who has already donated an item to go towards the prizes. We greatly appreciate the support of families! A tub for donations can be found in the office.

The raffle will be drawn in the last week of school.

Special Free Lunch

On Wednesday the 11th of December, Parents and Friends are offering a free lunch to students as a thank you for the support of families throughout the year. We will be offering pies, sausage rolls and pizza rolls. Families will be able to place orders on CDF soon.

2025 President Position

We would like to thank Jacqui for all her work in this role at our school. Unfortunately Jacqui is unable to do the President's role for next year. If you think you might be able to help out on the P&F for 2025, please let me know. Sometimes people are reluctant to put their hand up and so I would really like to encourage you. There are lots of people to help with events, and it is a great way to get to know everyone. Research shows conclusively that children whose parents are involved and connected to the school, perform highly. Parents who value school grow children who value school and this is very positive.

So if you are able, please get involved in our positive school community.

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Next week we will run our 5 day swimming program from Monday December 2nd through to Friday December 6th. The students will travel by bus to Warragul Leisure Centre each day to participate in a 45 minute swimming lesson by trained swimming teachers. This is an important part of the curriculum and it is expected that all students will participate. Please access the information note and the permission on PAM. Your child is encouraged to either wear their bathers to school under their uniform or bring their bathers (this is a good option if your child has a one piece suit) in a smaller bag to take swimming. We are looking for parent helpers, especially in the junior classes. All helpers must have a current Working with Children's Check. Please see the attached timetable. If you are able to help please let your classroom teacher know.

christmas_mass_flyer_2024.pdf

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December

Fri 13 Gr 5 & 6 Fun Day

School Reports go out

Tues 17 Last day of school 1pm dismissal

Wed 18 to Fri 20 Planning days for 2025

2025

January

Tues 28 First day of school for teachers

Wed 29 & Thurs 30 Individual Testing Days

Fri 31 First day of school for all students

February

Mon Feb 24 to Wed Feb 26 Urban Camp for Gr 5/6 students

March

Fri 3 Student Free day (Staff Professional Learning in RE)