Welcome back to Term 2. I hope you and your family enjoyed a good Easter break. For Christians it is the most important time of the year. I often reflect on what type of person I am whether I am a Good Friday person - looking at the horror and pain of the crucifixion through life or an Easter Sunday person who looks at the joy of the risen Lord and celebrates all that life can bring? It is an interesting thought exercise but in reality you need to have both elements to be a full human being.

STAFFING

We are working in such interesting times. The teacher shortage has really affected our casual pool of teachers who are available to cover teachers when absent.  Mr Invernon has also resigned and that position is currently advertised. We also have a current advertisement ( 2nd time advertised for an English teacher to replace Ms Williams when she goes on parental leave (soon!). Mrs Oliverio has taken an opportunity at another school and is not returning to St Joseph’s therefore there have been class changes to English and HSIE classes. We welcome Mr Young to HSIE, Ms Anazlone and Mrs Smith to English, Ms Sneddon to Science and we welcome back Mr McGuire to TAS. 

CAMPS

We are making some changes to events for this term. I am concerned with running camps for students in a whole year group situation in the winter months due to the forecasted flu season. This health concern combined with lack of available casual teachers to support the school has made staffing the Year group camps impossible as I cannot meet the staffing ratios required, as well as operate for the remainder of the school community, in particular for our senior students. We have already tried to move the camps to Term 4 but the venues are unavailable. We have prioritised the Year 12 Retreat and the curriculum based excursions such as PASS and PDHPE. Therefore, we are moving the booked camps for Year 8 and 9 to day only events. Parents will receive a partial credit as part of their fees. Students will still be participating in the activities for the camp over the two day period but will be bused to the venue each day. More details and permission notes will be forwarded closer to the event. 

COVID

I wish to inform parents we have created a Health Plan for the school for Terms 2 and 3 

as COVID and the usual winter infections affect staff and students.

No students or staff are to be at school if symptomatic of any infection. Those with chronic conditions, such as asthma, should be supported with a doctor’s certificate. 

Each faculty has created a plan for continuity of work for students if staff are absent so that student learning is the priority.

Hopefully we will not come to the point of needing to enact this plan for the school but I would like for parents to know of the planning that goes on behind the scenes and hopefully we can keep everyone healthy throughout the winter months. 

• If we reach 12  teaching staff absent (sick/carers leave)  we will implement other strategies that may include students learning from home or the combination of classes for the next 5 days. We will also request support from the CEO for staffing at this point. A mask mandate will be reintroduced. 
• If we reach a point of 15  - 20 teaching staff absent (sick leave - not on excursions/PD etc) for 2 or more days we will return to remote learning for 5 days. To create a ‘stop gap’ measure to allow staff to recover and to assist with the reduction of infection rates.   
• If we reach 40% of a year group student absent we may deem it appropriate for a year group to return to remote learning for 3 -5 days.

If your child has not collected their third issue of RAT kits please ask them to get them from the office. 

SRC

Our senior SRC students requested that we look at brightening up the toilet blocks. We have started with the senior toilets. We have painted the doors with Blackboard paint and over the next few weeks the senior SRC students will be selecting sayings they think will inspire them to be strong and more confident in their identity. These will be written on the painted area. If this is respected and looked after we will roll the idea out through all the toilet blocks. I thank you for your great idea and assisting in making it all happen. 

School Cyclic Review May 10 and 11 2022 

Every five years a school cyclic review takes place . It is an opportunity to see how far the school has come and for an independent panel to make recommendations and commendations. An invitation already went out to parents to be part of the interviews about the school. Selected Students - including Captains, SRC and general students, staff and the local parish priest are also part of the process. An executive summary will be published to parents at the completion of the review. Thank you in advance for your participation.

Expression of Interest for a Northern Territory trip 

You will be receiving information for a school trip to the Northern Territory during school holidays . Students will be participating in working on a mission as well as seeing the sights of the far north. Please keep an eye out for the expression of interest form coming your way. It looks like an amazing opportunity for students. 

Ms Amanda Wilson

Principal