Week7 Term 1 - 2022
Dear Families
In the 3 weeks since our last Newsletter, the ravaging floods have impacted our area and left many in our community devastated. Our families have sadly shared heartbreaking stories of personal and material loss, fear and trauma. However, alongside this sadness, we have heard the most incredible stories of unbelievable bravery, love, care, support, selflessness and hope. To all of our families who have been impacted, please know that the St Joseph's community stand beside you. We are here for you and want to continue to help in any way that we can. Please do not hesitate to contact the school.
ST JOSEPH'S PRIMARY SCHOOL EVOLVES FROM ST JOHN'S CHURCH AND A DEMOUNTABLE
One constructive way for us to assist in the aftermath of the floods is to reopen St Joseph's Primary School for our students, to provide a safe and caring environment where our students can learn, heal, play, care for and interact with each other again in kindness and joy.
This has been our priority, and with an amazing amount of help from the Catholic Schools Office, our Diocesan colleague schools, schools from all over New South Wales and Queensland and many wonderful people we are able to do just that next Monday 21 March 2022. We have been overwhelmed with the offers of support, donations and kindness. Your children and you, our community have been in the thoughts and prayers of so many people who actively want to help.
It seems almost incredible that just two weeks ago, Fr Max Gow, our Parish Administrator approved the use of the temporary site of St John's Church in Wattle Street, Evans Head for us to set up St Joseph's Primary School. Our main aim from the beginning has been to stay within our community and still be our own school. I take this opportunity to thank Fr Max for his ongoing support and strong advocacy for our school to reopen in the best possible way.
In the short turnaround of those two weeks, we now have a learning space for each Stage group, boys and girls toilets, an admin office, a dedicated eating area, a newly created handball space, a terrific playground for creative play and an oval for the Stage 2 and Stage 3 students (Thanks to the generosity and kindness of the Evans Head Anglican Church).
The most important thing for us all to remember is that even though we have lost our building, furniture and resources in the floods we have not lost our school.
IT IS OUR CHILDREN, OUR FAMILIES AND OUR STAFF THAT MAKE ST JOSEPH'S A SCHOOL.
Wherever we are, we will continue to learn, to grow, to love and to serve each other. We will always hold dear our core values and beliefs, and live every day making Jesus real in the world. All the while following in the footsteps of St Joseph and Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop.
We look forward in the coming weeks to strongly supporting the well-being of our students particularly in the current circumstances, to learning, to local excursions and maybe even accepting some invitations from a couple of our diocesan schools for us to visit them.
BUSES AND BELL TIMES
The buses have been organised for our new school site. Ballina Bus Lines and Northern Rivers Bus lines have informed us that the bus times in the morning will be exactly the same as they have been. However, the bus pickup times in the afternoon are earlier. All students travelling home on buses will have left the school by 3.05 pm.
THE BELL TIMES
The bell times for our new school site will be as follows
8.30 am | Morning Bells |
9 am | Class learning begins |
11 am | Lunch Bell |
11.20 am | Play after eating |
11.40 am | Return to class |
1.40 pm | Recess eating and play |
2 pm | End of Recess |
2.55 pm | Assembly |
3 pm | End of school |
AS WE ARE STARTING AT A NEW SITE, IF YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC TRAVELLING HOME INSTRUCTIONS FOR YOUR CHILD PLEASE CONTACT THE OFFICE AS USUAL SO THAT THE INSTRUCTIONS CAN BE PASSED ON AT THE AFTERNOON ASSEMBLY.
School Uniform
As mentioned in the letter sent home earlier this week, we are aware that many families are displaced and many students will not have their school uniforms. Please still send your child to school in what you have. Where possible, please ensure your child wears closed in shoes. We are endeavouring to source new and second-hand uniforms to be at the school next week.
Counsellors
Disasters often disrupt everyday routines and activities that provide a sense of purpose, control, and pleasure. Our school staff have been busy planning positive, pleasurable, and meaningful activities that will help all students reestablish routines and develop new ones for the current school environment. As well as engaging in learning activities, the students will experience fun activities with their peers.
A priority during this time will be to include activities that focus on social and emotional skill development to support coping skills and self-confidence.
We would like to introduce Kate Naylor, our school counsellor who will replace Nicole Walsh when she leaves to go on maternity leave at the end of this term. Kate will be onsite Mondays and Tuesdays from next week to support our school community. There will be extra Catholic Schools Office Pastoral Care staff onsite during the first week back to support the community.
Lunches
We have received a much-appreciated donation to cover all children's lunches for the first month back at school. This will help to take away at least one of the home mornings stresses and we invite all students to be involved in this kind gesture.
For the first day Monday 21 March 2022 and the first week the following will be available for the students
Sandwiches (daily)
- ham cheese and tomato
- ham and cheese
- cheese,
- Vegemite
- An assortment of fruit and snacks and bottles of water will be available throughout the day.
Friday ( and all Fridays to follow)
- Pies, Sausages rolls and sandwiches will be available
For this week only staff will check in with the children for their required food orders. From a next week onwards a google doc will be sent home for parents to order for their children on a weekly basis.
WE ARE ALSO ABLE TO RUN A BREAKFAST CLUB GOING FORWARD IF THIS IS A COMMUNITY NEED. PLEASE CONTACT THE OFFICE TO LET US KNOW IF THIS IS A NEED.
PARKING AND STUDENT PICK UP
For the safety of our students, families and staff, the following pick up and parking procedures will need to be strictly adhered to.
- There are 5 car spaces dedicated for parents 10 minutes (short stay) visits to the school directly out the front of the St John's Church. These are available all day.
- The area dedicated for Staff parking will begin at the Anglican Church land and head towards Cedar Street.
- The Bus drop off and pick up is the area from the end of the parent short stay parking down towards Cypress Street.
- The 'kiss and drop' will only be available in the afternoon and will be the same area dedicated to buses after the final pickup at 3.05 pm
- All other parking will need to be across the road from the school in Wattle Street. Parents will need to walk across the road to the school with their child/children.
- In case there is initially a build-up of cars waiting to pick up children, we ask that parents enter Wattle Street from Cedar Street to stop any traffic congestion.
MEDICATIONS
All medications held at the school were lost during the floods. If your child normally receives medication during School hours, those medications will need to be replaced and a new permission form will be required. Please see Gayl in the office.
THANK YOU
We have so many people to thank for the donations of school resources, furniture, sporting goods and a myriad of presents, backpacks, stationery, clothing, shoes, and hats, for our students and families. Many surprises continue to arrive at the school.
Over the coming weeks, once our students are back with us, we will take the time to individually acknowledge and thank everyone for their amazing kindness and support.
To that end, please know that there are backpacks, pencil cases, books, pencils, lunch boxes, and drink bottles for the children when they return to school. There is no need for the students to bring anything with them on Monday.
Also, next Monday and Tuesday we will have available for parents the many items that have been donated including, shoes, socks, underwear, hair products and some clothes. We are tight on storage at this stage so after Tuesday we will send any leftover donations down to the evacuation centre. PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU TAKE WHAT YOU NEED ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY. These donations were directed specifically to our families and students.
IN WEEK 7 OF TERM WE ARE TRULY GRATEFUL FOR:
- St Joseph's School is back!
- Our new temporary school site.
- Our students! We can't wait to be with you again!
- Our parents. Come and visit us on Monday for a cup of tea/coffee.
- Our teachers for their amazing efforts to make a school!
- To all who have supported us in any way.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Regards