Week 4, Term 1 2025

It has been wonderful to see our students settling into school routines, building strong relationships with their peers, teachers ESOs and engaging in positive learning experiences. We have especially enjoyed getting to know many of our new St Joseph’s Memorial students and their families.

WELCOME DRINKS EVENT

Last Saturday night, our Parents and Friends Committee held a community evening in the Performing Arts Studio as a way for families to connect in our school. Overall, it was a positive event, and on behalf of our entire community, I would like to thank the Parents and Friends committee for all their collective work to ensure the night was a huge success.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The annual general meeting last Wednesday was a positive event to celebrate our many developments and successes as a school community, as well as discuss our vision moving forward for progression into the future. I would like to thank all the parents, staff, and parish members for attending and providing valuable input.

YEAR 6 ASSEMBLY

On Friday of week 3, our whole school community gathered together in our Performing Arts Studio for assembly. Our Year 6 students hosted the assembly and shared a range of work and learning they have already undertaken this year. We also had a chance to present the Live, Learn and Lead Awards to students.

CODE CAMP

This year, we have introduced a new opportunity for students to undertake an additional afterschool ‘Code Camp’ session held for Year 3 to 6 students at William Street. The students have used school devices to develop skills in STEM, coding, animation, and robotics. The first program has 20 students participating from our school and the feedback has been very positive.

CO-CURRICULAR

Co-curricular has commenced for the school year, and it has been wonderful to hear all the positive reports from coaches and students about the games being played throughout the week and over the weekends. We are extremely proud of our students who have tried new sports this year and some who are playing a specific sport for the first time.

SCHOOL CHOIR

Our Year 5/6 school choir was very fortunate to be visited by Catholic Schools Festival Music Director Denise Rothall to help prepare and train them for their performance in Term 3. As chair of the Catholic Schools Music Festival, the event is an impressive showcase of the many talented students in all schools across our Catholic Education system.

PLAYGROUP

A reminder that Marta runs our Playgroup for families and children aged between birth and 5 at our Bridge St campus on Friday mornings from 9:15am.

CREATING SAFE ENVIRONMENTS FOR ALL & CHILD PROTECTION CURRICULUM

At Catholic Education South Australia (CESA), the safety and wellbeing of every child is our highest priority. We are committed to ensuring that every child feels safe, supported, and protected from all forms of abuse, including bullying, harassment, and neglect.

In line with CESA’s commitment to child safety, our school is a mandated child-safe environment, guided by legal policies and procedures that all staff and volunteers must follow. We believe that every child has the right to learn and grow in an environment where they feel secure and valued.

As part of our child protection efforts, our school is required to teach the Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum (KS:CPC). This curriculum helps students develop the knowledge and skills to recognise, respond to, and report unsafe situations. It is delivered in an age-appropriate way to support children’s understanding of their rights to safety and respect.

The South Australian Commission for Catholic Schools (SACCS) requires all Catholic schools to implement robust child safety policies and practices, including comprehensive child safety education. To learn more about current child protection policies and resources, please click here to visit the CESA website.

STUDENT ROAD CROSSING MONITORS

This year there has been an increased interest in students from Years 4, 5, and 6 in undertaking the road crossing monitor program. Keeping our community safe before and after school is a priority, and we are grateful to the students who give up their time to volunteer and show leadership as crossing monitors.

‘THINK YOU KNOW’ CYBER SAFETY PARENT SESSION

As a result of our increased focus on eSafety as a school, next Monday night at 7pm in the William St Performing Arts Studio there will be a parent session on how parents can help and support their children about safety technology and internet usage.

Adam Slater

Principal

World Day of Social Justice

On February 20th each year, we observe World Day of Social Justice. The 2025 theme, "Empowering Inclusion: Bridging Gaps for Social Justice."

Bridging Gaps for Social Justice means considering those people who fall through the cracks and who have been denied opportunities that are granted to others. Bridging gaps for Social Justice means combatting systemic inequality and creating inclusive policies. 

As individuals, we can wait for change, or we can choose to create change ourselves. Within our families and communities, there are gaps that we may not be able to close completely, but we can actively work to make them smaller.  

World Social Justice Day provides an opportunity to highlight the importance of collaboration and collective action. It calls on individuals, communities, and governments to work together to address systemic issues and create a more equitable and inclusive society. By doing so, we can create a brighter future for all people.

Prayer for Justice

Grant us, Lord God, a vision of your world as your love would have it:
a world where the weak are protected, and none go hungry or poor;
a world where the riches of creation are shared, and everyone can enjoy them;
a world where different races and cultures live in harmony and mutual respect;
a world where peace is built with justice, and justice is guided by love.
Give us the inspiration and courage to build it, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

- Author Unknown

ThinkUKnow Cybersafe Presentation for Parents and Caregivers 

A reminder to all parents and caregivers about our ThinkUKnow presentation this Monday 24 February at 7pm in the Performing Arts Studio at William Street. We hope to see many of you there.

Ash Wednesday

The Church, much like the natural world, follows a yearly cycle marked by distinct seasons, each with its own focus and practices.

Lent, beginning with Ash Wednesday, is a season of prayer, fasting, and charitable giving, characterised by the colour purple and the absence of "Alleluia" being proclaimed in the Liturgy.

This period of reflection culminates in the celebration of Easter, marking a significant shift in the Church's liturgical calendar and practices.

School and Class Masses / Liturgies of the Word 

We are pleased to announce the P&F Committee members for 2025, Isabella Evangelou and Vikki Schiavone continuing on as Co‐Chairs, welcoming back Adam Slater, Grace Vassallo‐Wakefield, Janelle Harris, Diana Thompson, Stephanie Semczuk and Leah Ebel. Welcoming Brooke Bew and Dilere Miozzari to the Committee in 2025.

We are at the end of Week 4 already, the P&F Committee are well underway planning and
organising events for this year. Starting the year off with our Welcome Morning Tea at Bridge St. The first day drop off for little ones at Bridge St can sometimes be overwhelming, it was lovely to see both familiar faces and new parents to the school. Welcome Drinks for parents last week another event to start the year, bringing our community together. Thank you to Currator Wine Co and the White family for their continued support and generously supplying wine for the evening.

We wouldn’t be able to hold events and raise funds without the support of the community
throughout the year, whether it be through donations for events, raffles, volunteers or participation in events organized. From your support and along with the generous donations from local businesses throughout the year and our SJMS Quiz Night, we are very pleased to advise the funds raised in 2024 came to a total of $13,002.16. We aim to distribute these funds across all areas throughout the school as needed also covering both campus’. With the guidance of Adam and Grace combined with suggestions put forward by teachers and staff we are pleased advise the following programs, initiatives and resources will receive funding from 2024 P&F funds.

• Literacy Decodable Readers.
• Indigenous Resources to be utilised as part of the children’s education in the Preschool and
• Bridge St Campus.
• STEM Club Packs – A new STEM Club initiative starting in 2025.
• Yr 6 Graduation Dinner – Continued allocation, as a final thank you and farewell to those
• families who have supported us over their years at SJMS.
• Assisting to provide a bus for transporting Children’s University Students on Graduation Day.
• Updates/Improvements to Sport Equipment.
• Improved tables for Bridge St Library.

Please see below the P&F Community Calendar, save the dates and mark them in your diaries. If you are free to volunteer for any of these events throughout the year please email
pandf@sjms.catholic.edu.au

We look forward to what our 2025 year holds.

Kind regards,
Isabella Evangelou & Vikki Schiavone
P&F Committee Co‐Chairs 2025
For and on behalf of P&F Committee

We would like to inform you of the dates for Pupil Free Days (PFD) for this year. Please note that OSHC will be available for families that require this service on these days.

Term 2

Term 3

Monday 21 July 

Term 4

• Week 9 -

All Assemblies will be held in the Performing Arts Studio at William St on Friday afternoons at 2pm.

Students from Bridge Street will walk across to William Street to participate in Assemblies, face to face.

Please remember to check the school calendar regularly for any updates.

St Joseph's Memorial School provides a safe environment for all while valuing the partnership between school and home.

As a Catholic community, we welcome and value volunteers. To be able to volunteer, and/or attend at other times throughout the school year, we ask that you hold the following:

1. A current Catholic Police Check (parents/caregivers attending excursions, reading in class, helping in class, attending community events);
2. A current Responding to Abuse and Neglect in Education and Care for Volunteers certificate (please click here to view how to complete this requirement);
3. Completed the volunteers application.

A Catholic Police Check for volunteers at SJMS are free for our current parents and caregivers. Application Forms are available to download here or at either school office.

We ask that you present your completed form with verification ID to the front office, and we will submit the application on your behalf. You will then receive an email link to complete the process online. Once all cleared you will receive a Catholic Police Check ID card in the post, please bring this in to the front office and we will take a copy of your clearance.

This process ensures we maintain a child safe environment. To avoid disappointment, we encourage you to apply for a Catholic Police Check through either school office as soon as possible.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at either office.

Thanking you
The SJMS Admin Team
info@sjms.catholic.edu.au

For more information on how Catholic Education SA provides a safe environment for all, please click here.

Summary of what is needed to volunteer at SJMS:
Valid Catholic Police Check
Responding to Abuse and Neglect Education and Care Volunteer Certificate
Completed application form

Come see our Preschool in action, contact us for a tour or enrolment information.