Mental Health in Primary Schools - leader appointed for 2025

As part of the Victorian government's Mental Health and Wellbeing initiative, our school will receive funding in 2025 to employ a Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader. The initiative is based on a successful pilot created in partnership between the Department of Education (the department), Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) and the Faculty of Education at the University of Melbourne. The department continues to partner with MCRI and the University of Melbourne to support schools participating in the Mental Health in Primary Schools (MHiPS) model and to train Mental Health Wellbeing Leaders (MHWLs). The leaders’ role will be to implement a whole-school approach to mental health and wellbeing.

The MHWL is a teacher registered with the Victorian Institute of Teaching, who works across the school to lead implementation of MHiPS. The role will:

• Build the capacity of school staff to identify and support students with mental health concerns.
• Support the school to create clear referral pathways and connect to local services for students identified as needing further assessment and intervention.
• Coordinate targeted mental health support for students by working with school staff, school community members and external agencies.
• Implement effective mental health strategies aligned with social and emotional learning and adapt a whole-school approach to wellbeing and learning initiatives.

The MHWL promotes a whole-school approach to mental health and wellbeing to students, staff and families, and does not provide one-to-one intervention or counselling support to students.

Please see the Fact sheet attached for more information.

Mental Health in Primary Schools Factsheet

We are very pleased to announce that we have employed Mrs Claire Shannon, who has just completed her Masters in Wellbeing as our MHWL from 2025. Claire will work closely with our Learning Adjustment Leaders: Mrs Dianne Gin and Mrs Trish Martin, our school counsellor, Mrs Kathy Williams and all the staff to enhance student wellbeing across the school.  

Recent Weather

Due to some severe winds and storms in recent weeks we are having the trees on our school grounds reassessed and dealt with as deemed necessary. Early each year a qualified arborist completes a thorough assessment of all the trees on our site and writes a report which informs the work we have carried out. As a result, we are able to ensure our beautiful grounds are safe for the students. Thanks to the generous parishioner who volunteered to clear up some damage on the school oval promptly so the children could access this area safely again!  

Open afternoon     

Sincere thanks to all the parents, caregivers, grandparents, relatives and friends for attendance at our Open Afternoon. The students were thrilled to share their learning and projects which they have worked so hard on this term. It is great to give them an authentic audience for all their achievements. Your encouragement goes a long way!

This action packed term has certainly flown by! Thank you for all the parent support over the term especially for events and dress-up days! Thanks to all the families who donated to our St Vinnie’s Spring drive. I hope everyone has a lovely break and look forward to seeing you all next term.  Good luck to the AFL enthusiasts, emotions for dedicated AFL team staff members have varied widely over the last few weeks. (We have a high number of Carlton supporters on staff). May the best team win!   

Joanne Coldebella

Principal

SRC news

Dear Parents, Guardians and Carers,

On the 20th of September (the last day of term), we will be having a day when you can dress in your footy team colours or in casual clothing to celebrate the grand final.

Everybody has to wear sun safe clothes (no singlets please), sensible shoes and their school hat. If you are wearing a footy jersey, please remember to wear a shirt underneath so you don’t get sunburnt. 

 Sincerely, The SRC

Well done to our award winners who were presented with their certificates at our last assembly, congratulations on all your hard work.  

The Prep children have had a very busy term and we are all looking forward to our well earned holiday.  

This term we have learned all about the weather around us and how it affects what we do, wear, eat and play. We learned about the wind, how it rains, Seasons and clouds.

We are so proud of how hard the Prep children have worked in Literacy with reading, writing, spelling and vocabulary. 

In Maths our main focus this term was addition. We looked at different strategies such as 'make10, counting on from the largest number, using number lines, part, part, whole and more. We have learned our Seasons, Months of the Year and skip counting by 10"s.

We have enjoyed lots of fun incursions, our 100 Days of school celebration and lunches and activities with our buddies.

We want to thank all the parents for your ongoing support in all that we do here at St Joseph's. 

Have a fabulous holiday and we look forward to seeing you all back for Term Four. The last term of being a Junior Joey.

Prep Team

This term, we explored the history of Indigenous Australia, focusing on their cultures and contributions. We examined the British motivations for colonising Australia, such as the pursuit of new territories and resources. The 3/4 students have put themselves in the shoes of a convict and what it would be like coming over on the first fleet. We also looked at what the early relationship between the British and Indigenous Australians may have been like. Recently we have been putting all this learning together and created displays that we shared at our open day. 

3/4 Team

Thanks to everyone who came to our Open Afternoon, we had a fantastic day!

As an extension of our Book Week celebrations, the students were treated to an engaging live show from Tony Bones: Books to Life. The featured book, "That Bird Has Arms," is an award-winning story that explores themes of inclusion, acceptance of individual talents, and cyber safety. The show was dynamic and encouraged active student involvement.

Dani Paulson
Performing Arts

Last week, students from St. Joseph’s represented our school at the Division Athletics Carnival. We want to congratulate the students for representing our school so well. The feedback about the students' behaviour and sportsmanship was exemplary. Well done to the students who have qualified to move on to the Regional Athletics next term.

Just a reminder to families that Term 3 ends on Friday, September 20 at the earlier time of 2:25pm. 
We wish you all a safe and happy break and look forward to seeing you all back at the beginning of term 4. 

Term 4 begins Monday, October 7.

Students may start to wear their Summer from now. Whilst not compulsory until the beginning of Term 4,  it is important that students wear either full Winter uniform or full Summer uniform and not a mixture of both.

Please find the attached orientation session schedule for Prep 2025. This is specifically for new students who have already confirmed their acceptance of offer. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to the office. We are looking forward to welcoming our new Preps at our orientation sessions.

Statements for Term 3 have been emailed to families.  If you have not received your statement or have any queries please contact the office or email kcarew@stjwonthaggi.catholic.edu.au

Weekday Masses:

Tuesday Our Lady Star of the Sea, Inverloch 11:00a.m.
Wednesday 9:30am St. Joseph’s Wonthaggi
Friday 9:30am St. Joseph’s Wonthaggi

Weekend Masses Our Lady Star of the Sea, Inverloch Sunday 9:00am

St. Joseph’s Wonthaggi Saturday 6:30pm, Sunday 10:30am

PLEASE PRAY FOR; 
Anniversaries: For the deceased clergy of the Diocese of sale.
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. “May they rest in peace.”

Parish Office will be open on Wed & Fri 8.30am-4.30pm. All items for the bulletin or Mass intentions to be received by 5pm on Thursdays.

Prayer Group: will be held at Wonthaggi Church on Mondays at 1.15pm. All Welcome

Prayer Shawl Group next Meeting: Wednesday 18th September @ 10.30 in the Inverloch Church Annex. Our group meets on the 3rd Wednesday of the month for a cuppa & chat while creating Rugs & Shawls that are later blessed at Mass , wrapped & passed on to those who may be struggling with life in any way. New mem-bers are always welcome. A special THANK YOU to those people who cannot make the meetings but continue to knit & crochet at home . Wool & patterns are freely available. Please also note the new storage cabinet in the Quiet Room at the Wonthaggi Church. For Enquiries: Philippa Warby 0408 331 340 Maureen Maartensz 0407 055 447

St Joseph’s Wonthaggi Cuppa after Mass held on 1st Saturday & Sunday of the Month

Our Lady Star of the Sea—Inverloch Cuppa after Mass held on 1st Sunday of the Month

Our Parish is committed to the safety, well-being and dignity of all children, young people and adults at risk. Find out more at: catholic.org.au/childprotectionsunday and www.catholicregligious.org.au/safeguarding

If you are concerned about any form of abuse, or believe that someone is at significant risk, you should immediately raise your concerns with one of our Parish Safeguarding Officers. Contact the Parish Office: 03 56 721 111 or St. Joseph’s School Safeguarding Officer 03 56 721 052.   Take care, we are here to help.                  

If you are in need of urgent assistance, please phone either Father Darren Howie 0356 722 923 or Ann on 03 56 72111 or 04999 15 784.

Father Darren Howie                                                              Ann Hemming  
Parish Priest                                                                          Parish Secretary
                               St. Joseph’s Parish Wonthaggi