Principal's Message
Dear Parents, Carers and the St Joseph's Community,
This term the staff have used The Little Brown Book: Mary MacKillop’s spirituality in our everyday lives, as a provocation for our weekly prayer focus. Each week a different member of staff leads prayer, looking at the simple teachings of Saint Mary MacKillop which underpin the Josephite charism, and therefore what our school, St Joseph’s, seeks to instil in our students. We are also doing this to focus on what we as adults, can prioritise as we go about our daily lives. This week, I am on staff prayer and chose to look at this quote, Do all you can with the means at your disposal and calmly leave the rest to God.
2020… A year that we will all remember!
We have spent much of this year adjusting to and making sense of the numerous challenges that have arisen. We have done so with incredible resilience and positivity, that we truly have made the best out of some very difficult times. It is a year that we will all remember.
However, it is necessary to again share with the community that we will continue to face challenges as we head into the second half of the year. If you have taken notice of the building project being undertaken to construct four new classrooms, you will have gathered that these are not going to be ready for the start of Term 3, as had originally been planned this time last year. The delays are not the fault of the builders, as they are well on track based on their starting date in early 2020. It is the result of works not starting at the end of 2019, following a delay in the tender process. The extent of the change in the program of works has only recently been finalised and the impacts considered.
Therefore, for the duration of Term 3, many of our students and staff will be impacted by the need to relocate and accommodate classes across our school. While there is still much to be determined and planned, please be aware of the following actions that will occur over the coming weeks:
- The Year 1 and Year 2 classrooms will be completely vacated by the end of Term 2, ready for the demolition and refurbishment of the downstairs classrooms, in preparation for the start of the 2021 school year. Works will begin on the first day of the upcoming holidays and continue until mid-January.
- The Year 1 and Year 2 classes will be relocated and accommodated in other classrooms / learning spaces for 8 weeks in Term 3. The plans for where these four classes will be accommodated are yet to be finalised, but are well advanced.
- The Year 1 and Year 2 classes will move into the new classrooms at the completion of the new building, by the end of Term 3.
- The Year 5 and Year 6 classes will not have access to the upstairs classrooms for the first two weeks of Term 3, while demolitions continue downstairs.
- The Year 5 and Year 6 classes will be accommodated in other learning spaces for the first two weeks of Term 3, before returning to their classrooms for the remainder of the 2020 school year. The plans for where these four classes will be accommodated are yet to be finalised, but are well advanced.
- To be able to accommodate the additional classes across a limited number of usable classrooms / learning spaces, it is likely that the Library, the Hub and the Hall will be used in some capacity throughout Term 3. The only classes not to be impacted as part of current planning, is Year 3 who are using the existing temporary classrooms on the oval.
- The Learning Support Room and the Sports Room, along with a number of resource spaces currently occupying the downstairs areas will also need to be relocated to other spaces around the school.
While little detail is possible at the moment about which classes will be relocated to where in the school, please be assured that every effort is being made to minimise the impact on the students. There are a number of options available to us, and others that are still being investigated. I understand the concerns that this information will raise for parents and I will endeavour to confirm plans early next week, so as to give everyone time to prepare for the changes to come.
As always, your incredible support throughout challenging times has made a huge difference in recent months and I am confident that this will continue as we move forward. We have much to look forward to as the year progresses and an exciting 2021 with our new classrooms and refurbished learning spaces.
Vinnies Appeal
Vinnies has launched a Crisis Appeal to raise funds for additional need due to COVID-19. Due to restrictions of operation, it has not been possible to run an appeal in the traditional manner. Vinnies are accepting donations to the appeal online or by calling 13 18 12. The Vinnies Night Patrol Vans are still seeking physical donations of warm items such as blankets, jackets and new socks etc. All donations are quarantined for 72 hours before being sorted. For a list of open stores, please visit the Vinnies website.
School Counsellor
Last week we welcomed our new school counsellor, Mark Holberton, to St Joseph’s. Mark will be at the school each Wednesday until midday and alternate Fridays. This is a valuable and important service that is available to students and their parents, to assist with managing emotions, building social skills or simply discussing concerns. If you would like to access the counsellor, please complete a referral form that is available at the Front Office or by contacting the school, and complete and return it as soon as possible.
Have a good end to week.
Yours in Christ,
Cameron Tarrant
Principal
