Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome to Week Two families! It has been great to get back into routine and commence learning for 2023. We have lots of exciting things happening and I encourage families to utilise the newsletter, Facebook page and Compass to ensure communication about these events is received. On this note, keep an eye out for our Kinder profiles in next week’s newsletter. Nicko, our Year Six Media Leader, will be interviewing our new Kinders and begin introducing them to our school community through these profiles!

Congratulations

I was very excited to read in Tumut and Adelong Times that Panav and Amandeep officially became Australian citizens over the Christmas break. While the Singh’s have been a part of our school community for some time now, it is wonderful to see them officially be recognised as citizens of Australia. Congratulations Panav and Amandeep - we are all very proud and excited for you!

I would also like to acknowledge Will and Jess Reynolds, Geoff Moss and Lauren Bowden for their award for service to the local community, along with other former students and community members that received awards over the break.

Uniform

I want to thank families for the effort they have put into ensuring that students are in the correct uniform. Just to ensure that parents and carers are aware of our official school uniform, Michelle has attached this information to the school newsletter.

In addition to this, I would encourage families who haven’t already done so, to utilise the Service NSW app or website and make use of the ‘Premier’s Back to School’ vouchers being provided to families. These vouchers can be used for school supplies (including uniform) and also school fees. All the information about this can be found on the Service NSW app or webpage: https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/

Swimming Carnival

We are really excited about our swimming carnival tomorrow. Despite the rain and storms overnight, the weather is looking terrific for Friday. A few reminders:

• Food: We ask that students still bring their fruit break, recess and lunch as the canteen will only be open for a limited amount of time for each class group.  NO HOT FOOD WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM THE CANTEEN.
• Uniform: Students are to wear their full sports uniform - they can have a pair of thongs in their bag for when this is required.
• Parent Helpers: While Mrs Turnbull and Miss Soulsby have organised some helpers for timing and some other jobs, we would really appreciate parents in attendance (those that are able to) rotate around the remaining jobs to help the running of the day.
• Permission: If parents haven’t already done so, please read the permission sent out via Compass and approve via this app this afternoon. This will save staff chasing permission in the morning.

Student Acceptable Use of Digital Devices

This week, parents would have received information about the above policy. It is really important that the school and families work in partnership to support students in regard to their understanding of individual responsibilities. If this could be filled out and returned as soon as possible, this would be appreciated.

Enjoy the break,

Ryan Forsyth

Acting Principal

Welcome to 2023! I hope you all had a lovely break.

A special welcome to our wonderful 5 kindergarten students - Cohen, Anna, Brydee, George and Rhett. A special welcome is also extended to Archie in Year 6.

Opening School Mass

On Tuesday 14th February we will celebrate our Opening School Mass at 10am in St James’ Church. During the Mass we will present our Year 6 leaders with their badges as they formally accept their positions of responsibility in our St Joseph’s community.

Please be aware that reserved seating will be provided for Year 6 and Kindergarten parents up the front. If parents / carers can please fill the seats to ensure everyone can fit. Morning tea will be provided to adults after the Mass. 

Our new parish priest Fr Yoseph Neonbasu (Fr Joe) will be celebrating Mass with us on Tuesday. Fr Joe is looking forward to meeting the students and families.

Dates coming up:

• Ash Wednesday (liturgy) - 22nd February 10:30am
• St Joseph’s Feast Day (liturgy) - Monday 20th March 12:30pm
• Holy Thursday - Thursday 6th April 12:30pm

Stacey Braun

Religious Education Coordinator

Students need to be dropped off in Gundagai Street and walked to the gate where they can then walk up to the weather shed.  In the afternoon students catching buses will walk across the grass area to the bus stop by a teacher and students on pick up will be walked to the front gate by a teacher.  Parents need to wait at the gate to collect their child/ren.

If it is raining at morning drop off or afternoon pick up, we ask that parents use the wet weather routine and drive into school grounds via Wyndham St, stopping at the weather shed to drop children off/pick up and leave the grounds via the front entrance.  Buses will use this same routine (please ensure you give way to buses and allow them to enter before the pick up line, this is to ensure they can make it in time for other school pick ups).

If students arrive to school late or are departing early, please see the office so your Child/ren can be signed in or out. 

Daily routine:  The first bell rings at 8:55am, the afternoon bell rings at 3:10pm.

The school grounds are open to students from 8:40am each morning and remains open until 3:30pm each afternoon. 

Therefore, no supervision is provided between these hours and the school accepts no responsibility for the activities of pupils outside these hours.

Please be aware that students arriving at school before this time are instructed to sit in the weather shed until a teacher asks them to move onto the playground in the morning. Teachers supervise all play times and after school dismissal.

Students need to be wearing our Summer school uniform, please find below our current uniform.  We do ask that students are wearing plain black shoes with no colour or logos on non sport days.  Coloured joggers on sports days.

New school uniform supplies are available through Wendellie on Wynyard in Tumut and our local Adelong Golden Treasure Op-Shop stock second hand items of our school uniform and accept donation of pre-owned uniforms.  

If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact the school.  

St Joseph's will be continuing to use the COMPASS Parent Portal for all absences, events, email notifications. 

We will use Compass for excursions and events the children will need to attend eg; swimming, carnivals etc.  Our emails will also come through Compass.

If you need assistance or have any questions, please don't hesitate contacting the office.

Last week on our facebook page we share different sporting trials available through the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn.  If you would like to register your child for any of these sport opportunites through the Archdiocese you will need to nominate via:

Webpage: https://www.sport.cg.catholic.edu.au/nominations

We also suggest you like the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn Sport on facebook to keep up to date with any upcoming sports.

Netball

The Community Council will be holding their first meeting for the year next week.

The meeting will be held at St Joseph's on Tuesday 14th February at 6.30pm and we encourage all families to attend.

Please see below the link to the agenda.

COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA - TUESDAY 14TH FEBRUARY 2023 at 6.30PM

Piano/ Keyboard Lessons:  Individual 30min lessons available at the school during school hours on Wednesday's.

Year One students and up. Creative kids vouchers can be used towards fees.

If interested please contact Vanessa Hall for more info. Ph 0448609479

Adelong Liturgy Roster - January - June - 2023

Keep up to date with events happening at St Joseph's via our electronic school calendar (please note dates can be subject to change).