Week 10, Term 3 2022

Dear Parents and Carers,

As we come to the end of Term 3, I would like to acknowledge and thank everyone for their hard work this term. All students and teachers should be proud of their efforts and I am sure all are looking forward to the term break.

Each day we continue to inch closer to the completion of our play spaces. Unfortunately, with the current weather pattern we are experiencing it is affecting their progress each day. We can now certainly see the Adventure Playspace getting close to completion; we are hopeful that the rubber surface can be laid soon when we have a series of dry days in a row. It will be very exciting to see the temporary fences disappear and see students out in the Playspace having fun next term.

“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things”.
Robert Brault

This year the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) introduced a new enterprise for young students.

Through the Sun Project: Shadow Judging initiative, young voices from schools and groups across Australia were invited to join the conversation about our annual CBCA Book of the Year Shortlist and choose their own winners. Creating a group of ‘shadowers’ is a powerful way to connect young readers with the shortlisted books in a safe space where their opinions and responses can be heard.

 The winning books were announced at the end of the CBCA Book Week at the first ever Shadowers’ Choice Awards on Friday 26 August.

Year Six students at St Joseph’s were offered the opportunity to join this group and Lachlan, Mia, Leila, Ella, Grace, Evie, Maggie, Jasmin, Michaela and Lally have worked tirelessly to complete the reading of the six books in their chosen category of “Younger Readers’.

During the term we have had enlightening and in-depth discussions about each of the books using the criteria of setting, plot, characterisation, theme, literary merit, cohesiveness, appeal, originality, quality and age appropriate. As the adult facilitating this group of students, I have been amazed at their thoughtful and considered responses to each of the texts.

The final activity for the students was to construct a creative response to one of the books they had read. These are to be viewed across Australia on the Shadow Judging website  https://shadowjudging.cbca.org.au/

Come and join our Family Play Group facilitated by SPiCE (Supported Playgroup in Catholic Education) for you and your child (birth to 5 years).

When  -  Tuesday mornings in term time from 9.00am to 11.00am

Where -  Small Parish Hall (entrance from Birkinshaw Avenue)

Come along and spend some time with your child and meet other families while learning together through play.

If you wish your child/children to attend Out of School Hours Care (OSHC) for either Before or After School Care, we require registration with 'Fully Booked' prior to session attendance.  This system is both user friendly and streamlined to ensure that registration is a simple process and that families are able to manage their own bookings/cancellations as needed.

Initial setup will require you to register an account and complete all necessary information required using the following link: http://stjotran.fullybookedccms.com.au/family/    

Please contact Angela Girolamo agirolamo@stjotran.catholic.edu.au or Melanie Heaney mheaney@stjotran.catholic.edu.au if you require further assistance.

It is important to note that when you create your bookings through Fully Booked, the session type will automatically default to the Full Casual rate.  If this is not what is required, you will need to deselect the ticked box in the top left hand corner of the booking screen and select available options from the drop down menu.  Unfortunately we are unable to change past bookings, so please make sure you go through this process to ensure the correct rate is charged. 

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.

Melanie Heaney

OSHC  Director

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