St Joseph's Primary School Gloucester eNewsletter

Dear Parents,

Last week we had an amazing experience, with all classes spending time with author illustrator, Sami Bayly. This was part of our school focus on writing, and the Growing Minds, Inspiring Reader's project. While we were not able to complete the full week due to the weather conditions, Sami will return on Friday 21st March and we plan to finalise and share this week with parents and carers on this day. Following this there will be follow a the process for publishing, finalising the draft copy, submit the illustrations to graphic designers and send to the printers. Once our published book is complete we will have a 'hard launch' to share the finished book all of our students have worked on. It has been a wonderful process for our school tobe apart of and we look forward to sharing this work.

Thank you to all our parents who have engaged in Parent Teacher interviews to support each child's learning. The beginning of each school year is such an important time and one where teachers work hard to formulate positive relationships with their students. A learning environment based on trust, where students feel safe to share their ideas and comfortable to make mistakes can set the scene for a successful school year, for each child. Teachers have been forming positive relationships over the last few weeks by getting to know your child; finding out their strengths as learners, their passions, hobbies, challenges and goals they have for the year ahead. Research has shown that students achieve more in school when their parents are actively involved in their education. Parental involvement not only enhances academic performance, but also has a positive influence on a child’s attitude and behaviour.

Celebrating Harmony Week

Harmony Week is celebrated annually during March to highlight our diverse cultures and help us better understand each other’s experiences and backgrounds. During this week, the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is also acknowledged on the 21 March. Harmony Week is an opportunity to recognise Australia's multiculturalism, which embraces people from all over the world, especially indigenous Australians. As a nation, we are encouraged to promote respect, understanding and appreciation for all cultures.

Australia's multicultural background has been shaped by migration since 1945, which at times has culminated into situations that have been challenging and sometimes leading to conflict due to a lack of understanding. Harmony Week reminds us to appreciate everyone, regardless of their background or circumstances.

Families can join in the celebrations of Harmony Week, and view it as an opportunity to join in the activities that unite cultures demonstrating that everyone belongs. There is no set way to celebrate the week, but participating in international food fairs, attending street parades, wearing orange or even just having a meaningful conversation, can all help show your support.

Here is the link to your special report:

Harmony Week Special Report

NAPLAN

This week students in Years 3 and 5 completed NAPLAN. NAPLAN assesses literacy and numeracy skills that students are learning through their regular school curriculum. Students will sit assessments in writing, reading, conventions of language (spelling, grammar, and punctuation) and numeracy. NAPLAN is a snapshot of a child's ability and resulted are made available to staff and students later this year.

Enrolment 2026

Our Kindergarten Information Session, focussing on Succesful Foundations will be held on Tuesday 8th April, the final week of school at 10am. If you know of any families interested in enrolling next year, please let them know about this Information Session.

Peace & Best Wishes

Amy Maslen

Week 7
Monday 17th March	Shared Table - Chicken Wraps
	Sacraments Meeting (Baptism) 3:15pm
	St Clare's Open Afternoon, Registration from 3:30pm
Wednesday 19th March	Harmony Day @ St Joseph's
	Library
Thursday 20th	School Cousellor - Sascha Isaacs
	Sport
Friday 21st March	Canteen
	Gloucester Show excursion
	Assembly 2pm - 'Soft launch' of our book created with author, Sami Bayly
Week 8
Monday 24th	Sacraments Meeting (Baptism) 3:15pm
Wednesday 25th	Soccer Gala Day 3/4
	Library
Thursday 27th March	School Cousellor - Sascha Isaacs
	Sport
Friday 28th March	Canteen
	Assembly 9:30am (2/3 Item)
Week 9
Monday 31st March	PUPIL FREE DAY
	No Sacraments Meeting today
Tuesday 1st	Minni Vinnes Fundraiser
Wednesday 2nd	Polding Swimming - Small Schools Relay Team
	Library
Thursday 3rd April	Sport
	School Cousellor - Sascha Isaacs
	Gloucester High School Yr 6 Transition Evenining 5pm
Friday 4th April	Canteen
Week 10
Monday 7th	Holy Week
Tuesday 8th	Kindergarten 2026, Succcessful Foundations Information Session 10am
Wednesday 9th	Library
Thursday 12th	School Cousellor - Sascha Isaacs
	Sport
Friday 11th	Assembly K1
	Easter hat Parade 2pm
	FINAL DAY TERM 1
Friday 25th April	ANZAC Day March

Dear Parents and Carers,

Zones of Regulation is a Social and Emotional Regulation program that is being implemented K-6 to support students with emotional regulation. This week students will develop a sense of understanding of how their emotional state can affect others. Demonstrating empathy and compassion towards others will be a part of our learning activities. Students will also learn about meditation and how it can be used as a grounding technique to assist in bringing us back to the ideal “green zone”.

Krsytal Shannon

Permanent Casual Teacher

Hi my name is Sascha, I am the lucky new School Counsellor at St Joseph’s in Gloucester and will be here on Thursdays to meet with students for counselling, assessment and intervention. As a school counsellor I will assist St Joseph’s to support their students in in achieving educational success and social-emotional wellbeing. I can do this by working with students, their families, school staff and the wider community by providing knowledge in mental health, child development and with the help of my colleagues how this impacts your children’s education and learning. I feel blessed and excited to become a part of the community here!

· working collaboratively with students, school staff, families, and communities

· providing expertise in mental health, child development, and education and learning

· providing consultation, assessment, and intervention.

We are celebrating "Harmony Day" on Wednesday 19th March. This is part of Australia wide celebrations to recognise and embrace diversity. It is about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone. Students can wear traditional cultural dress if they would like to. This could be any culture from your family heritage. Children who do not have a cultural dress or want another option can wear orange. We also encourage parents to get involved in Harmony Day to celebrate diversity and the value of difference.

Another St Joeys Opp Shop/ Auction is coming up soon. We need donations of any unused goods so that we can sell at out "Op- Shop" on Tuesday 1st April. Last year's Opp Shop was a great success and everyone enjoyed the chance to see how recycling of unused items to others can bring so much joy. We only have a few weeks to go and we are hoping that you can have a look through your cupboards to find some things to donate to the Mini Vinnies Opp Shop. Please donate if you can. Items such as toys, puzzles, bags, books, artwork, small plants etc etc are most welcome (no large bulky items or clothes please). Donations can be dropped off to the school anytime from now until Friday March 28th. Thank You from the Mini Vinnies team (fundraising for Cancer for the "Alysha's Army" where all funds go to the International Cure Brain Cancer Foundation)

From: Georgia, Thomas, Remi and Hamish (Mini Vinnies)

0007418_CS_Gloucester_St_Joseph_s_Successful_Foundations_A5_01WEB _pdf 485.11 KB

Monday 31st March will be a Pupil Free Day. Staff will be participating in professional development. Please make other arrangements for your child on this date.

Students will be exhibiting artworks in the Gloucester Show, Friday 21st to Saturday 22nd March. We will be having an excursion to the show to view artworks and a number of the stalls on display on Friday 21st. Please see permission notes in Compass.

All students are invited to attend the Anzac Day march on Friday 25th April. Students participating in the march should assemble at 10.15am outside Club Gloucester in Denison Street. The march will proceed along Church Street, up Hume Street to the Memorial Clock Park for the ceremony which begins at 11am.
Students should wear full summer uniform. It would be great to have a good representation from students at our St Joseph's.

Year_7_2026_Enrolment_.pdf

Year_7_2026_Enrolment pdf 165.19 KB

Invite_to_T1_3_April.docx

Parents and carers are the most important educators in their child’s life. As well as partnering directly with our school to support your child’s learning and wellbeing, there are a range of webinars and information sessions provided each month by reputable providers specifically for parents and carers- free of charge. To view a list of upcoming webinars and information sessions that may be of interest to you, click the link below at any time. The list will be updated weekly throughout the school term, so be sure to check the page regularly.

www.mn.catholic.edu.au/our-community/supporting-parents-and-carers/upcoming-parent-and-carer-information-sessions/

Another useful resource for parents and carers to access timely information on a range of topics including cyber safety, mental health, positive parenting, school survival, diversity and inclusion and healthy bodies is via School TV. Our school invested in this online platform so that our parents and carers can conveniently access reliable information from credible sources all in one place - when you need it most - not just at a specified webinar time. It includes videos, fact sheets and podcasts all delivered by leading psychologists and experts. To access our school’s SchoolTV site visit St Joseph's Gloucester School TV