2025 Week 1 Term 1
Welcome to a New School Year!
Dear Parents
Welcome back to St Joseph's School. I hope you all had a restful and enjoyable break, filled with fun memories and exciting experiences. We are thrilled to welcome you to what promises to be another fantastic year of learning, growth, and discovery.
We are eager to hear about your summer adventures and excited to see how you have grown. To our new students and families, a very warm welcome to the St Joseph's School community! We know starting at a new school can be a little nerve-wracking, but we are committed to making the transition as smooth and welcoming as possible. Our staff and students are ready to embrace you and help you find your place.
As always, our dedicated teachers and staff have been working hard over the summer break to prepare engaging and enriching learning experiences for your children. We are committed to providing a supportive and stimulating environment where every student can thrive and reach their full potential.
We encourage you to stay connected with us throughout the year. Remember to use your COMPASS app to keep up to date, follow us on our Facebook and don't hesitate to reach out to your child's teacher or the school Office with any questions or concerns. Open communication between home and school is vital to your child's success.
We are looking forward to a successful and rewarding school year, working together to create a positive and enriching experience for all our students. We can't wait to see what this year brings!
Peace be with you
Brendan Kiely
Opening School Mass
Friday 14 February 2025
Jubilee 2025
What is the Jubilee of 2025?
During 2025, the Catholic Church will celebrate a special event known as the Jubilee Year, an ancient tradition rooted in Scripture and history which invites people to renewal, forgiveness, and deepened faith. Pope Francis has announced the Jubilee of 2025 with the theme:
"Pilgrims of Hope."
What is a Jubilee Year?
A Jubilee Year is a time of spiritual renewal that takes place approximately every 25 years. It traces its origins to the Old Testament, where the Israelites celebrated a “Jubilee” every 50 years—a time of rest, forgiveness, and restoration. In the Church, Jubilee Years are moments of grace, where special prayers, pilgrimages, and acts of charity help people grow closer to God and each other.
What is special about the 2025 Jubilee?
Pope Francis has called the world to embrace the Jubilee of Hope, encouraging Catholics to seek peace, reconciliation, and a renewed relationship with God. The Jubilee will include:
Pilgrimages—especially to Rome, where the Holy Doors of major Basilicas were opened
Opportunities for Reconciliation—special focus on the Sacrament of Confession
Acts of Mercy—serving those in need as a sign of Christian love
Prayer and Celebration—special Liturgies and prayers for families and communities
How Will Our School Participate?
As a school community, we will take this opportunity to reflect on the meaning of hope, forgiveness, and renewal in our lives.
Families will be invited to participate by:
Exploring the theme of hope at home through prayer and Scripture
Attending special school and Parish celebrations
Engaging in acts of kindness and service for others
Undertaking a local ‘pilgrimage’ to a sacred space
The Jubilee of 2025 is an invitation to journey together in faith, hope, and love. We look forward to sharing this special year with our school families!
Jubilee Prayer
Father in heaven,
may the faith you have given us
in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother,
and the flame of charity enkindled
in our hearts by the Holy Spirit,
reawaken in us the blessed hope
for the coming of your Kingdom.
May your grace transform us
into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel.
May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos
in the sure expectation
of a new heaven and a new earth,
when, with the powers of Evil vanquished,
your glory will shine eternally.
May the grace of the Jubilee
reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope,
a yearning for the treasures of heaven.
May that same grace spread
the joy and peace of our Redeemer
throughout the earth.
To you our God, eternally blessed,
be glory and praise for ever.
Amen.
Going home arrangements
Safe Travel
Road Safety At St Joseph's
Road safety at St Joseph's is important to everyone. This information has been designed to give you an understanding of the traffic management plan which has been implemented by St Joseph's School for the benefit of all, ensuring staff and students can travel to and from school safely.
Please take the time to read this information and please speak to Mr Brendan Kiely, the School Principal, if you have any questions (or suggestions) about traffic management around the school.
Drop off & Pick up of students
Students at St Joseph's travel to and from school using a variety of modes of transport, including a school bus, private vehicle, on foot or bicycle. St Joseph's School Office entrance is situated on King Street, and our rear entry fence/gate is located on Avondale Street. Both operate a School Zone from 8.00 am to 9.30 am and from 2.30 pm to 4.00 pm. The School Zones help protect our children on their way to and from school at the times and places where they are often in high traffic volume. Please note the speed limit during these times is 40 kilometres per hour.
Avondale Street - Kiss and Drop Zone
The Kiss and drop off Zone in Avondale street is only used for picking up or dropping off passengers.
This area is designed for the convenience of parents and carers and for the safety of children. This is a non Parking zone, which means drivers can stop for a maximum of two minutes. This area minimises traffic congestion for all and aims to maximise student safety.
St Joseph's traffic management would prefer you remain in your car at all times. When parents and carers are collecting their children in the afternoon, staff will assist your children into your car.
If the traffic queue has backed up, please do not double park and go around the block again until you can safely drive into Avondale Street.
To use the Kiss and Drop Zone, your child must be able to get themselves in or out of the vehicle and be able to use a seat belt to unbuckle or buckle up.
Seat Belts
School-aged children should always travel in the rear of their vehicles. Each child must be firmly buckled into an appropriate seat belt or child restraint.
Tip: Try to make a rule that every child passenger must be securely buckled into a seat belt or child restraint before you start the car. Assist your young child in buckling up and always check the buckle.
School Bus Zone
Please do not stop or park or drop off any children in the Bus Zone during Bus Zone times. 8.00 am – 9.30 am and again 2.30 pm – 4.00 pm.
Parking
Parking signs with specified time limits allow drivers to park their vehicles for a certain period of time only, e.g. 15-minute parking.
Double parking at any time is illegal and is particularly dangerous around schools. It reduces visibility and blocks the road for other motorists. Children stepping onto the road to get into or out of a double-parked car are not visible to other motorists.
U-Turns
U-Turns are discouraged near the school. The amount of traffic in the vicinity of the school means that U-turn manoeuvres are unsafe and block traffic flow. Please do
not undertake a U-turn anywhere within the school zone.
No Stopping zones
An unbroken yellow line painted on the curbside of the road also indicates a No Stopping zone.
Sometimes there is a space close to a corner that might seem like a good spot to park. It's NOT. It is illegal to park less than 10 metres from the corner, even if it is not signposted.
Parking on the corner blocks vision for turning drivers and creates a hazard for all motorists, pedestrians and especially for the children trying to cross the road.
Mobile Phones
Please do not use your mobile phone in the school zone, as research has proven that it is a dangerous distraction and compromises the safety of your children.
St Joseph's School Traffic Committee
DO
- Please consider arriving closer to 3.30 pm.
- When you reach the pick-up zone, drive to the front of the queue so that as many cars as possible can pull in behind you. Don't just park in front of the school gate.
- Ensure your child's seatbelt is securely fastened before pulling away from the kerb.
- Please display a clear sign with the family name (don't assume that the teacher will know you or your car).
- Please use Range Street to access the Avondale Street pick up zone.
- Please let grandparents and other carers know this information if they are going to collect your children from school.
- Please consider neighbours.
DON'T
- You don't need to get out of the car as supervising teachers will assist your children to get into the car. For their safety, children should only get into and out of the car directly onto the kerb. If this is not possible due to baby capsules or other child restraints, please consider how you might organise your children to ensure their safety.
- Do not jump the queue of waiting for traffic.
- Do not double park and walk your children across Avondale Street.
- Do not do a U-turn anywhere in the vicinity of the school.
- If you are in a queue, do not move into the pick-up zone until you know for certain that space is available. If you end up stopping in the 'No Stopping' zone, by law, you can be booked.
Please delay your arrival until after 3.15 pm (except for Kindergarten) as children do not arrive at the gates until this time.
If your child is not at the gate on your arrival, be prepared to be directed by staff to go around the block.
Do not park across neighbours driveways or garages at any time.
Please be patient
Your patience and cooperation are essential as we work together to make both our school drop off and pick up zones and the surrounding streets safe for children, neighbours and the community.
At all other times, before, during and after school, please do not park across the school driveway and leave your car unattended.
