Principals Message

Dear Families,

As we begin to wind down from another very different term, we had a wonderful opportunity yesterday to celebrate our fun athletics carnival. Due to COVID, we were unable to run our normal athletics carnival this year.

During our fun carnival, the students rotated in Stages around activities of Hoops (Paper Scissors Rock), Rob the Nest / Ladder Adder, Games- 4 Cones and Cones and softball with a twist over 2 sessions. During recess, they received a surprise Zooper Dooper to cool down. It was such a joy to witness them having fun, trying new things, being competitive and just really enjoying themselves.

On our last day of term, next Friday we will have our SRC fun day. Please see the information below from our SRC Presidents.  

This year, at St Joseph's we are taking part in a School Cyclic Review. The process of School Review for improvement has changed within the Diocese. Schools will now undergo a Cyclic Review process in the fourth and seventh year of the school improvement process. 

The School Cyclic Review allows the school to focus on four elements of school improvement:

1. Strong leadership that is shared, stable and sustained
a. Christ centered vision
b. Stability over time
c. Capacity is developed in the school

2. High levels of expectation and teacher efficacy
a. All educators have high expectations for all students that they can learn given the
right conditions
b. Staff believe they have the capacity to make a difference for all their students

3. Ensuring an orderly environment where students are well known
a. Established through positive, consistent staff behaviour
b. Working together towards the Mission
c. Students’ needs are met through a personalized and differentiated approach

4. A focus on what matters most
a. Limit to a few core improvement priorities with high-leverage strategies
b. Evidence and data-informed
c. Targeted resourcing

Along with our consultant, Mr Paul Wilson, the leadership team and staff have been involved in a process of review of the last 3 years around the abovementioned four areas and from there defining the areas of focus for the next three years to continue to improve our school.

On the 15 October 2020 a panel of educators, external to the school will attend to affirm, challenge and report on the improvement journey at the school. As a part of that process, the SCR Panel will be meeting with the Leadership Team, a selection of staff, Administrator Priest and the Parent Forum Executive to assess the outcomes of the School Improvement Process. 

THE FIRST DAY OF TERM 4 FOR THE STUDENTS WILL BE TUESDAY 13 OCTOBER 2020. 

SRC Fundraiser

The Student Representative Council met this week and have nominated Friday 25th September (the last day of the term) as their fundraiser day.  Farrah Carpenter and Bradley Felsch, the SRC Presidents asked that the following information be forwarded to parents: 

• The students are able to wear appropriate casual clothes on the day.
• Students are asked to bring a gold coin donation.
• The free time will happen between lunch and recess.
• The activities will include a movie and outside game time.
• The money will be donated to a cause decided by the students. 

COVID 19 Practices Term 3 

• Staff and students exhibiting even mild COVID-19 symptoms are to be sent home and required to produce proof of a negative COVID-19 test before returning to school. 
• Non-essential adults are not be permitted to enter the school grounds. We ask that no parents enter the school past the front office. All inquiries to the front office, please. 
• Pick up and drop off will continue out the front of the school. 
• We have resumed our Canteen and will continue to offer this if we are able to get parent volunteers to assist.  The Parent helpers will be advised of the mandatory hygiene practices at the front office. PLEASE CONTACT THE OFFICE ON 66822468 IF YOU ARE ABLE TO GO ON TO THE CANTEEN ROSTER FOR TERM 3.  
• It is paramount in these times, in particular,  that any child who is unwell is kept at home. We appreciate your understanding and consideration for the safety of the other students and the staff.
• Our bubblers will still not to be used and therefore the children require a water bottle.
• Our stringent hygiene practices for our new normal continue with: the washing of hands regularly; sanitiser after eating, no food or drinks to be shared; coughing and sneezing into elbows, tissues discarded immediately, cleaning of the desks between lunch and recess breaks and extra cleaning of the school by our cleaners.

Assistant Principal Appraisal Process:

Next Term on Monday 26 October 2020, Mrs Felicity Wilde will be involved in an assistant principal appraisal as part of her contract conditions with the Catholic Schools Office. 

The appraisal process seeks information from a variety of people associated with the parish school.  The process aims to highlight the positive aspects of the assistants principal's performance and identify areas for further development. 

The full assistant principal appraisal process involves:

• a survey and self-appraisal statement completed by the assistant principal
•  surveys of parish school staff, Catholic Schools Office personnel
•  an interview with the principal
•  input as arranged with the parish priest
•  interviews with parish school staff
•  interviews with any parents who wish to present
•  a formal interview with the assistant principal by the pane

Any parents who wish to make contact with the panel are welcome to do so by contacting the Principal before the appraisal date.

Have a wonderful weekend.