Welcome to the 2023 school year!  It is great to be back.  On Monday some students welcomed the younger students at the front gate with dancing and singing.  Thank you Chloe, Sophie, Rosie (our lollypop crossing lady), Maya and Kaylem.  You brightened our first day.

This year we welcome 12 new Foundation (Prep) students and 5 new students in other grades. We hope you all feel especially welcome in our school and enjoy learning with us.

Welcome to Axel Treyvaud, Bethannie Gramlick, Bowie Madex, Harry Zarah, Isaac Bain, Noah Templeton, Ollie Scanlon, Poppy Hicks-Lowjen, Rhett Willoughby, Samuel Carpinteri, Sophie Dilger, Wilfred Jenkins, Matilda & Lucas Hume and Nicole, Bryce & Jack Varley. 

Beginning of the School Year Prayer

At the beginning of this school year,

we thank you God for so many things: 

our school, our classrooms,

our friends and our teachers. 

Help us to be thankful for each day and to use it well. 

We thank you for the gift of this new day,

for the learning and the fun we will have. 

Help us to appreciate everything that is done for us  Amen.

Student Leaders

At our school we are proud of our Student Leadership Program which aims to grow successful student leaders. Pictured here are our first group of Gr 6 leaders: Summer Parise,  Tia Jamieson and Thomas Kennedy.  Congratulations and we look forward to your leadership in our school.

In addition, this year we have introduced a Student Representative Council (SRC).  Students who were interested in the leadership roles were invited to prepare a speech on how they would fulfil the role and then present it to the senior students.  Then the senior student body voted and the SRC was formed.  Congratulations to Tia Jamieson who is our RE leader, Summer Parise who is our sport leader, Bryce Varley who is our Arts leader, Chloe Mynard who is our Child Safety leader, Ava Harvey who is our Learning leader and Kirah Shields who is our Environment & Sustainability leader. Here are their photos:

We have completed some maintenance work in the school holidays.  Danny Farrell has painted our classrooms and the toilets, and they look fantastic.  Sadly we had to cut down the branches off our big tree in the yard as it was no longer safe, we now have quite a big tree stump left.  We are thinking of creative things to do with the tree stump.  Does anyone know anyone who does chainsaw art? If you do could you send their contact details to the school office.  We are exploring options of what to do with the stump.  All ideas welcomed. 

Information to parents

Each term class teachers prepare a newsletter that gives information about the learning planned.  It explains the focus in key learning areas like English, Maths and RE (Religious Education).  It also highlights excursions and special events for the term. Be sure to read this information.  The termly class newsletters are released in the first week of each term.

School Fees Schedule

Catholic Schools do not receive as much government funding as Department schools so we need to charge fees to meet our operational costs.  We are a 'not for profit' organisation.  Please see below our fee structure for 2023.  If you are on a Health Care Card this makes a tremendous difference to your school fees, please make sure the office knows that you have a Health Care Card.

May God continue to bless and guide us in our learning

Trish Mulqueen

You might like to talk to your child about how to safely use technology at school and at home.

Safer Internet Day is a global event dedicated to creating a safer online world for everyone. 2024 marks the 21st Safer Internet Day with the slogan: Connect. Reflect. Protect.

We know that feeding children with healthy foods helps support their growth and development. But there is a growing body of research showing that what children eat can affect not only their physical health but also their mood, mental health and learning.

The research suggests that eating a healthy and nutritious diet can improve mental health, enhance cognitive skills like concentration and memory‚ and improve academic performance.

Find out more about the latest research from Monash University

Giving your children a healthy lunchbox is a great start to boost their learning, concentration and active play.

Click here to build a healthy lunch box with your children

Prepared by West Gippsland Healthcare Group –
Health Promotion Team 56243500

We have a wonderful P&F group at school.  Last year the P&F raised a tremendous amount of money for our school's new playground equipment.  We are very grateful. The Committee would like to have our Annual General Meeting (AGM) earlier this year so that we can get started on our work.  I'd really like to encourage all parents to come along and get involved.  Research shows clearly that students of actively involved parents perform better in schools as their parents value the work of the school.  It is also a great way to meet people in our school community. 

The AGM is Tuesday February 14th at 4pm at school.  All positions on the executive group are declared open. Narelle Jamieson has been our President and Bec Harvey has been our Vice President, and although both Narelle and Bec need to step down from their leadership positions this year, they both will be able to continue to help with activities, so it's probably a great time for someone else to step into the leadership as you know the continued help and guidance is still there. The executive positions are President, Vice President, Secretary, Vice Secretary, Treasurer, Vice Treasurer and School Advisory Committee Rep.  The School Advisory Committee Rep works as a liason between our two parent bodies in the school.  This person needs to be able to commit to attendance at both these meetings (P&F meet a few times a term and School Advisory Committee have 6 meetings in the year).

If you are interested in nominating yourself or someone else (please check with them first) then please complete the attached form and come to the AGM on Tuesday February 14th at 4pm.  As I said earlier, I really can't encourage you strongly enough to get involved.  There is no better feeling than working together for the betterment of our school community.  

DOSCEL and St Joseph’s Primary School Trafalgar are committed to complying with the Victorian Child Safe Standards.

Prevention and Response

Preventing and responding to child abuse requires a whole community response to bring about cultural change. The Victorian Child Safe Standards apply to a broad range of organisations that provide services for children, including schools, churches, sporting clubs and youth services. Ensuring we have child safe communities goes to the heart of our faith and core purpose. Therefore, we are dedicated to upholding the values and practices that create safe learning environments for students.

Reporting and Contacts

There are a number of supports available when responding to incidents, disclosures or suspicions of child abuse.

24 Hour Services:

• Victoria Police: 000
• DFFH Child Protection: 131 278

Support Services:

• Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800
• Lifeline: 13 11 14
• Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA): (03) 9287 8800
• 1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732

Child Safety Champions

St Joseph’s Primary School has appointed Child Safety Champions. Each Child Safety Champion is available to answer any questions that you may have with respect to our Child Protection and Safety Policy and the Child Protection Program.

Child Safety Champions are selected based on a number of considerations, namely:

• their personal attitudes, experiences and beliefs, for example, a person who is non-judgmental, calm, resilient and demonstrates a high degree of integrity and respect for confidentiality;
• their role within the school, for example, a person who has seniority and experience working with complex student and family issues at the school and someone who is readily accessible and available to all members of the school community; and
• their personal profile within the school, for example, a person who is approachable, who students and staff trust and who is willing and able to respond to issues personally and sensitively.

It is every individual’s responsibility to protect children and make reports regarding their concerns to the appropriate authorities.

If a person requires support in reporting to the authorities, the school’s Child Safety Champions are your first point of contact. They receive special training that allows them to deal with child protection concerns both sensitively and effectively.

Child Safety Champions

Trish Mulqueen                                                                   Taryn Maxwell-Garratt

Principal                                                                  Religious Education Leader

principal@trafalgar.catholic.edu.au           tmaxwell-garratt@trafalgar.catholic.edu.au

Cathleen Ryan Learning Adjustment Leader cryan@trafalgar.catholic.edu.au

Is there anyone out there who would be interested in running our Garden Club?  In the past we have run our Garden Club at lunchtime and the students have really enjoyed it.  If you are interested you could do it whichever day it suited you, we are flexible.  It involves weeding the garden and planting and attending to the plants. If you are interested you need to have a Working With Children Check.

In this edition of SchoolTV - SCHOOL TRANSITIONS

Whether it is starting school for the first time, moving up to a higher grade or embarking on a journey through secondary school, there is no doubt that any school transition is a very exciting time for children and parents. It means your children are growing up!

However, transitioning is an ongoing process. It can continue long after students have entered their new environment and may encounter difficulties at a number of different stages. These stressors may appear as anxiety and frustration and result in negative or disruptive behaviours. Such behaviours can become problematic making the transitioning process even more difficult for children and parents.

In this edition of SchoolTV, parents will learn practical strategies to assist your child during the transition process and reduce stress and anxiety levels.

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 Transitions edition of SchoolTV
https://trafalgar.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/school-transitions

Diocese of Sale Catholic Education Limited (DOSCEL) articulates a clear Complaints Process as part of our Complaints and Grievances Management Policy. 
DOSCEL recognises that it is in the best interests of students for there to be a trusting and cooperative relationship between parent(s), guardian(s), carers(s) and school. Complaints are an important way for the school community to provide information and feedback to a school. DOSCEL considers that every complaint provides a valuable opportunity for reflection and learning.
DOSCEL recognises a parent(s), guardian(s), and/or carer(s) right to make a complaint and its responsibility to provide a framework within which efforts can be made to resolve complaints.
It is DOSCEL’s belief that parent(s), guardian(s) and/or carer(s) complaints are best handled at the school level in an environment where individuals feel able to speak up about issues concerning the education of their children.
If you would like to make a complaint, then please visit our website www.trafalgar.catholic.edu.au and on the home page go to the 'Our School' tab and you will find the Complaints Form there. Complete the form and hand it in to Janelle Harte in the school office. All complaints will be followed up.

Conveyance allowance private car travel, or Conveyance allowance multimode travel
What is a conveyance allowance? 
The conveyance allowance is a form of financial assistance for parents/carers to transport children to and from school in rural and regional Victoria. In some locations, students are unable to access free school buses. In these instances, students may receive a conveyance allowance to assist with travel costs. Allowances are available for public transport, private car and private bus. 
If you live more than 4.8km from your closest school you can apply for the conveyance allowance. This is a payment towards the cost of transporting your child to school by public transport, car or school bus
Eligibility
An application on behalf of a student may be submitted if the student is:
• a Victorian resident;
• school aged and enrolled (3) three or more days per week at a school; and 
• attending a school/campus located outside the Melbourne metropolitan conveyance boundary
A student who meets the above requirements may be eligible if they: 
• attend their nearest or designated neighbourhood government school/campus appropriate to their year level, at which admission is permissible, or  
• attend their nearest appropriate non-government school/campus appropriate to their year level, at which admission is permissible, and 
• reside 4.8km or more by the shortest practicable route from the campus attended 
Note: Eligibility is assessed when the School completes your child’s application on the Student Conveyance Allowance System (SCAS). If approved, the allowance payable is based on the one-way distance to make the journey to and from school. No private car allowance is payable if the journey to and from school could be made using a public transport service or contract school bus. For further information regarding the Conveyance Allowance Program see: 
https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/conveyance-allowance/policy
*Multi-mode conveyance allowances
Multi-mode conveyance allowance applies when a student uses more than one mode of transport (e.g. private car and public transport) for a journey between home and school. 
If you fall into this criteria, please call the office on 5633 2169 or 5633 1151 to request your application form.  
Parents should submit their completed application form to their child's school for processing.

2023

March

Thurs 16th                         Reconciliation Parent & Child Workshop

                                         Warragul 4pm or 7pm

Fri 17th                             AFL clinic (all classes)

                                         3.  Interest Based Learning

Mon 20th                           St Joseph's Feast Day Prayer Service church 3pm

Tues 21st                          School Athletics Carnival

Wed 22nd                          Storytime 9.15am

                                         School Advisory Committee 5.30pm

Fri 24th                              AFL clinic (all classes)

                                         4.  Interest Based Learning Program

                                         3pm Lenten Prayer Service in church

Mon 27th                            Gr 6 Young Leaders Day Melbourne

Tues 28th & Wed 29th          Life Ed Program Healthy Harold 

Wed 29th                            Sacrament of Reconciliation 6pm church

Fri 31st                               5. Interest Based Learning Program

April

Mon 3rd                             Easter Carnival 3.30 to 5pm at school

Wed 5th                            Last day of Term 1.

                                        Easter Dramatization in church 2.30pm

                                        School finishes 3.30pm

Thurs 6th                          Pupil Free day. Staff Professional Learning

Fri 7th                               GOOD FRIDAY

Mon 24th                            HOLIDAY

Tues 25th                           ANZAC DAY holiday

Wed 26th                           First Day of Term 2

May

Mon 22 to 26                     Catholic Education Week

June

Tues 6th                            Andrew Chinn (music composer) visit & concert

Mon 12th                           King's Birthday Holiday

Wed 21st                           Last day of term 2 for students

Thurs 22& Fri 23                 Staff PD days in Melbourne (student free days)