Week 9, Term 1 2022

Dear Parents and Carers,

As we approach the end of the term, parents and teachers will have an opportunity to meet next week online to discuss student progress.  While the main focus of parent-teacher conversations should be learning, it is also important to discuss factors that can affect learning, such as students' social and emotional development.  Other topics might include peer relationships, classroom and play behaviour, motivation, self-esteem and work habits, as well as individual strengths and challenges.

With the current restrictions and limited connections for parents with school, it is important to make the time to review and reflect with your child’s teacher(s) to set some future goals for student improvements in all aspects of school life.  I am sure you will be looking forward to meeting the teachers and having a productive conversation.

Please remember to make a booking this week with your child’s teacher(s) by visiting the website: www.schoolinterviews.com.au and follow the simple instructions.  The code you need is 973wk and press “Go”.  The booking system will close on Sunday 3 April 2022.  If next week is challenging, simply contact your child’s teacher and make an alternative arrangement for another suitable time.

Dear families

Reflecting on the term there have been some wonderful celebrations which reflect the Catholic Identity of our school community. We were able to have an online prayer session across the school for St Joseph’s day which was led by two students in our senior years. Classes then created posters about St Joseph. Harmony Week was also a highlight as each class found a way to learn more about each other’s cultures and religions and to celebrate inclusivity and diversity. It was wonderful seeing a splash of orange reminding each of us that we are interconnected. Of course, we all look forward to the day in which we can celebrate such events together with our family communities on site as well!

Lent

The message from Pope Francis this Lent was “Let us not grow tired of doing good”. With that in mind a big thankyou for your generosity in giving to Project Compassion this year and also for responding to the Year 6 student leaders request to donate to the Ukraine Caritas appeal. To enable us to forward on the donations in a timely manner, can you please ensure all boxes are returned to the school before the end of the term.

Sacramental Celebrations

Please keep our sacramental children and their families in your prayers. When we return to school next term there will be 15 children celebrating Reconciliation on Tuesday 3^rd April. Soon after that the workshops and preparation will begin for the 21 children celebrating Confirmation and First Eucharist on Sunday 31^st July. We wish these children all the best as they complete their Initiation which was started at their baptism.

Easter Blessings

We only have a few weeks of Lent left and we then move into one of the most sacred times in the liturgical calendar – Holy Week and Easter. For Holy Week this year our classes will gather each morning outside to remember the events of the last week of Jesus life.

As this will be the last newsletter before Easter may I wish you all the peace of Easter. May your families feel the hope of the risen Jesus and may you enjoy your time together in this special season.

On Thursday 24th March our school competed in the SACPSSA Swimming Carnival at Marion Aquatic Centre.

We were very proud of all the students who competed for our school this year.  They quickly got passed the nerves that bubbled up at the beginning of the day and swam strong in their races.  They were enthusiastic, competitive, encouraged one another, showed great sportsmanship and most importantly had a lot of fun.

The events included 25m and 50m freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke, as well as 25m freestyle relays.  There were some very close races and as a school we finished 5th overall, with many students finishing with individual and/or team ribbons.

Thank you to the parents who volunteered as officials and were an added support for our team.  We appreciate the help you provided.  Thank you to Mrs McCard who attended on the day and helped keep everything running smoothly.

I'd like to congratulate everyone on their efforts, it was a fantastic day.  Well done to the 2022 swim team!

Jacqui Edgecomb 

Fullybooked Registration

If you wish your child/children to attend Out of School Hours Care (OSHC) either After School or Before School Care, you are now able to manage your own bookings. 

We require registration with 'Fully Booked' prior to session attendance.  This system is both user friendly and streamlined ensuring registration is a simple process. 

Information for Volunteering - Due to changes in the Child Protection Act

At St Joseph’s School Tranmere, we are always grateful for the support given by our volunteers.  Volunteering applies to a wide range of activities in the school including attending excursions, coaching sports teams, reading in the classroom, helping in the many committees and many other school-related activities. 

If you would like to act as a volunteer in the school, you are required to have a 6-point check.  Please provide the school with copies of the following:

• Completed CESA Volunteer Registration pack - available from the school office
• A Catholic Police Check Clearance or Working With Children Check (WWCC from the Department of Human Services  (if you need to obtain this clearance please come to the school office)
• A RRHAN-EC (Responding to Harm, Abuse and Neglect in Education and Care) training Certificate
• Work Health and Safety on-line Induction for Volunteers Certificate
• Work Health and Safety signed form
• COVID Status Certification

Please note: that all these processes are mandatory and must be completed in order to volunteer/continue to volunteer.  This requirement is designed to ensure our children are protected and safe at school.

If you are missing any documentation above I can send you links to complete the paperwork once I receive your Completed  CESA Registration Pack

Angela Girolamo, WHS Administrator