Filter Content
- Dear Families
Wow, we have less than 4 weeks of school this year!
2021 Staffing
Lucy O’Connell: At the end of this school year, Lucy will retire after a rich and rewarding career spanning over 45 years as a Primary Teacher in Gippsland. Lucy started her teaching career in 1976 here at St Joseph’s School. In 1988 Lucy moved to St Joseph’s in Warragul and taught there for 19 years and in 2007 she returned to us at Trafalgar. Lucy has taught every grade level and prepared students for each of the Sacraments during her career.
When there’s a job to be done Lucy’s philosophy is ‘let’s get started, get it done and move on’.
Lucy has dedicated her entire career to Catholic Education in the Sale Diocese, and has been inspiring hearts and minds for many, many years.
We will certainly miss Lucy’s presence on our teaching staff next year but Lucy promises to visit regularly and help whenever we need it. “We love you Lucy and are incredibly grateful for all that you have done for our community. We wish you all the very best.”
Please remember that the School Advisory Committee have approved the grey school shorts for uniform for all students. So girls are welcome to wear the grey shorts. Yesterday Summer, Ruby, Ava and Shelby modelled the shorts for us and we visited each classroom. The girls said they were comfy and they had pockets for things and that they were able to do physical activity more comfortably in the shorts. So, I think that sounds like we’re on to something here. Thanks for modelling for us Summer, Ruby, Ava and Shelby.
We look forward to welcoming a lovely group of 17 Foundation students for 2021. Orientation will look a little different for these families. DOSCEL has said that we can only welcome future Foundation students in small groups, so the plan is:
Tues Nov 24th Virtual Parent Information Session 9.30 to 10.30
Tues Dec 1st Group 1 9am to 10.55am, Group 2 11.30am to 1.25
Tues Dec 8th Group 1 9am to 10.55am, Group 2 11.30am to 1.25
Students need to bring a snack, hat and bottle of water.
The state-wide orientation day is Tues Dec 8th so all students will spend some time in their new classroom and with their new teacher on this day.
Swimming I conducted a parent survey a few weeks ago asking parents about their expectations for Term 4 2020. Overwhelmingly I heard that parents wanted a refocus on literacy and numeracy given we have missed so much school because of COVID-19. So with this in mind, we have rescheduled our swimming program to next year. Any money that has already been paid for swimming 2020 will be reimbursed to your account. We look forward to returning to our normal programs next year.
Website www.trafalgar.catholic.edu.au Please go to our website and check out:
- Resilience Video Clip (parents and students feature in this)
- Book Week Video Clip (go to News and Events tab) and
- Literacy Parent Information Session (go to the Learning and Teaching tab)
Drinking Fountains Until further notice, students should not drink from drinking fountains in schools. Students need to bring their own water bottle for use (and refilling) at school please.
New COVID safe Procedure for carline at the end of the day for Term 4: From 3pm, if you are parked next to the yellow safety rail at the side of the school, you are welcome to ring Vicki on 56331151 and let her know that you are in carline and ask for your children to be sent to carline (you will not need to get out of the car). We will have a staff member at the carline gate. This will allow for a more staggered approach to pick up.
Please know that you can’t arrive at carline at 3pm and just sit there until 3.30pm to get the kids. The carline needs to start operating at 3pm to allow for a staggered pick up. This staggered pick up also alleviates the long line of cars which is a safety hazard on Seven Mile Road. If you arrive early and don’t want to get the kids until 3.30 then I suggest you park in the carpark and at 3.30 join the carline, alternatively don’t get to school until 3.30pm.
SAFETY IS OUR PRIORITY.
Remember in Term 4 icy poles are sold for $1 on Fridays on the back veranda. Students can only buy one icy pole each unless they are buying for their sibling too.
After very careful consideration, the staff have set the class structure for 2021. The structure is: F/1, Gr 1/2, Gr 2/3, Gr 4/5 & Gr 5/6.
We have started the process of planning our class lists for the 2021 school year. Whilst this is an onerous and time-consuming task, we are blessed to have such a knowledgeable staff who are aware of each student’s individual needs and work collaboratively to make professional judgements in relation to class planning and student placement. When deciding our individual class structures, a number of factors are taken into account, which include: • Student’s social, emotional, academic and physical development • Student’s cognitive development • Student relationships • Family dynamics, eg. sibling placement • Teacher knowledge, skill and expertise • Enrolment numbers at the various levels • Practical resources, such as space. The closing date for parent requests has already passed. Once grades have been set there will be no changes.
If your family’s enrolment situation at St Joseph’s is changing in the future, we would also appreciate you letting us know. An accurate indication of student numbers assists us enormously in our planning for 2021.
Our Graduation and End of Year Liturgy will be celebrated virtually this year on Thursday December 10th at 2.30pm. This is where our school community will send off our Gr 6 students. Parents are very welcome to join us virtually. Monday December 14th will be the last day for the Gr 6s so we have a fun day planned for all Gr 5/6 students. This will include a film, the Graduation Ceremony (that parents can watch virtually), a special lunch and a visit to Traf Outdoor Pool. DOSCEL (Diocese of Sale Catholic Education Ltd) have stipulated that Graduation ceremonies can only be for Gr 6 students and staff, and must be onsite.
Interest Based Learning (I.B.L)
I have a dream…. Where students at St Joseph’s are respectful, resilient and inclusive team players all the time. I also dream of a school where boys are being empowered to be their best. I dream of a school where girls are being empowered to be their best. What if boys could choose to work with other boys (or not) and explore together the things that really interest and help them? What if boys had a chance to investigate male heroes, sports stars, worked with male role models. What if girls could choose to work with other girls (or not) and explore together the things that really interest and help them? What if girls had a chance to investigate female heroes, sports women, worked with female role models. Some students prefer mixed gender groups and of course these will be encouraged and included. Interested Based Learning is about choice.
We are exploring ideas about IBL for next year where students can choose to work in same gender or mixed gender groups to explore their interest. We know students engage more when they have choice and when they are interested. We’re asking for your feedback. I am sending home an interest sheet for you to talk with your child about the things they are interested in. Please also consider how you can help as we want the groups to be small in number. We’re really excited about this idea and we’re interested in your feedback.
May God continue to bless and guide us in our learning.
Trish Mulqueen
Principal
NOVEMBER
24th Prep Orientation Parent Information Virtual Session 9.30 to 10.30
DECEMBER
1st Prep Orientation Group 1(9 to 10.55) and then Group 2(11.30 to 1.25)
3rd Gr 2/3 Camp Activity Day
8th State-wide Orientation Day
Prep Orientation Group 1(9 to 10.55) and then Group 2(11.30 to 1.25)
10th End of Year/Graduation Virtual Liturgy 2.30pm
11th Japanese Day (rescheduled)
14th Gr 6 Last Day (activities day for Gr 5 & 6s)
15th Gr 4 Special Outdoors Activity Day
16th Last day for all students (1pm dismissal)
17th First Aid Training for staff
18th Planning day for staff
JANUARY 2021
27th School starts back for staff
29th School starts back for students
FEBRUARY
3rd Foundation Rest Day
9th P & F Virtual Meeting 9.30am
10th Foundation Rest Day