Week 3, Term 2 2024

Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome everyone to Term 2. No doubt you are enjoying the beautiful weather we are experiencing at the moment, ideal for building!

This term will be a busy and exciting time for our school as we transition into the new classrooms for our Reception and Year 1 students.  At this stage we hope to be the Learning Street complex by mid-June, in around about 4-5 weeks’ time.  Each week we see many changes within and around the building.  Recently the builders completed the new irrigation system for the grass area, have begun installing the joinery and are beginning to paint inside and out.  Over the next few weeks, we hope to get to the lock-up stage and begin more of the landscaping and civil works.  One of the major works will be the removal of the old transportable and temporary sandpit as major trenching needs to take place in this area to connect to the sewer in Birkinshaw Avenue.  As a result of these works our Year 6 class will make the move into their new  and final location – Room 1. This has meant that our Reception Class, RMM will move into the Resource Centre temporarily while they wait for their final move to their brand-new classroom on completion of the project.  As a result, we have adjusted the library times for classes during this period to accommodate borrowing for our students.  We hope this will only be for the next 4 weeks as we rapidly approach the handover of the site.

Newsletter message from Tania Gal (School Counsellor)

“Encourage and support your kids, because children are apt to live up to what you believe of them.”—Lady Bird Johnson

This weekend, enjoy spending time with your family and children.  Make a plan to do something that is fun together.  Engaging your children in fun activities can create positive and deeper conversations, whilst strengthening your relationship and the bond you have with them. 

May 19 – 26 is Laudato Si Week. A special week where we give thanks for all of creation and recommit ourselves to looking after plants, animals and each other. This year’s theme is  ‘Seeds of Hope’.

Laudato Si’ Week began as a way to celebrate the first anniversary of Pope Francis’ world-changing papal encyclical letter, “Laudato Si’: On Care For Our Common Home”.

In Week 6 we will also be celebrating World Environment Day on Wednesday 5th June. This year our Social Justice and Ecology Year 6 Leadership Group will be coordinatin the activities. Here are some of the plans for the day:

Year 3/4 team and our ecological student leaders will be planting at The Gums with Landcare volunteers

We will have a ‘nude food’ day and eat together at lunch

Learning  activities in classes/teams

• Whole school clean up
• Prayer Service

Last week some children in our community celebrated their First Reconciliation. This is a special Sacrament which is about God’s love and the importance of forgiveness. The children and their families participated in a special ceremony co-celebrated by  Fr Roy, Fr James and Fr Severoy. Congratulations to the children and their families.

This week the preparation of the Sacraments of Confirmation and First Eucharist (Communion) began. For these children they will be completing their Sacraments of Initiation and they will become full members of the Catholic Church at their special ceremony in June. We keep these children and families in our prayers at this very special time in their faith journey.

In visual Arts the Year 2 Unit have been exploring the work of collage artist Pete Cromer. Pete Cromer uses colour texture and layering to create his art pieces. The children critiqued some of Pete Cromer’s animals and included what they liked and what they would change. During the term the children experimented with collage art and at the end of the learning the children created their own Pete Cromer style art piece with wonderful results. They then reflected on their creation and critiqued a class mates art.

We are currently looking at 2025 enrolments. If you have a child that you are yet to enrol please visit us in the office to get an application form or download and print an application from our website to secure your child’s enrolment. https://www.stjotran.catholic.edu.au/enrolment/enrolment-prospectus

Our family playgroup is back for another exciting year in 2024.  

It’s a new year and we’re bouncing back with excitement as we reintroduce our playgroup name ~ Joey’s Playgroup.  Our family playgroup is facilitated by SPiCE (Supported Playgroup in Catholic Education) and is suitable for you and your child (birth to 5 years).  Our playgroup focuses on actively involving parents, grandparents, and carers by proving you with opportunities to play, talk, sing and explore with your child and other families in a relaxed, fun and supported environment. 

Joey’s Playgroup is FREE and runs during the school term on a Wednesday morning from 9am-11am in the small Parish Hall (entrance via Birkinshaw Ave).

If you are new and would like to join us, please register your interest via our website Playgroup Registration Form.  Jacqui our Playgroup Coordinator will then be in touch.

Come and discover the magic of play!  We hope to see you there!

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