2023 Week 10 Term 1
Dear ParentsMay the following two weeks be a time of renewal and moments spent with family. The students of St Joseph's have enjoyed a wonderful Term of learning and are looking forward to their school holidays, as are the teachers and staff! We pray that you all stay healthy and safe. We look forward to seeing you ready for Term 2. Thank you to our parents for your ongoing support of our school community.
I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all students, staff, and parents for their support and work during Term 1; we recommence school on Wednesday 26 April 2023.
Happy Easter.
Peace be with You
Brendan Kiely
Tell Them From Me Survey
Each year St Joseph's Primary School undertakes a parent, student, and staff survey that asks questions about the organisational health of our school community. This data is vital in shaping our school improvement planning and future directions. The 2023 survey will open on Monday 24 April 2023 (4:30 pm AEST) and close on Friday 12 May 2023 (4:30 pm AEST). Parents will receive a link to the live survey in the near future, which will be sent via Compass. Please look out for this and take the time to complete the survey. We aim to continually improve and offer the best education available for our students. In advance, we thank you for completing this important task.
Easter Mass times
GOOD FRIDAY - 7 April 2023
Stations of the Cross: - 10:00 am, Our Lady of Lourdes Church
Divine Mercy Novena - 2:30 pm, Our Lady of Lourdes Church
Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ - 3:00 pm, Our Lady of Lourdes Church
HOLY SATURDAY - 8 April 2023
Vigil Mass of Easter - 7:00 pm, Our Lady of Lourdes church
EASTER SUNDAY - 9 April 2023
Mass - 7:30 am, Our Lady of Lourdes church
Mass - 9:30 am, St Peter’s Catholic Church, Long Flat
COMPASS Platform
We are preparing to change over!
As part of a restructure across the Diocese of Lismore, St Joesph’s School, Wauchope will be moving to a new communication & school management platform called - COMPASS School Manager, the Compass platform will become our school community communication tool from the Wednesday 26 April 2023
About the Compass Platform
The Compass platform is a web-based system which is accessible on any modern web browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome & Safari) or by using the Compass School Manager iOS or Android App. Every parent/guardian/carer receives a separate login to Compass which we be provided to you.
The Compass platform includes many different features, you will have the ability to:
- Receive notifications regarding school events, news and information
- Enter an explanation for your child's absences
- Communicate with your child’s teachers,
- Update your family contact details (mobile phone & email)
- Download and view your child’s academic reports
- Book parent-teacher conferences (parent/teacher interviews)
- Pay and provide digital consent for events (No more permission slips)
- Pay school fees
Your login details will arrive via your personal email address, during the April holidays, 2023. Each parent/guardian/carer will receive a username and login provided that we have a valid email or your correct email address. If you share an email address with your significant other, then you will receive two emails with two unique log-ins and these will be sent to you. Your username and password is unique to you, families will not share a username and password, and will come from an address noreply@compass.email - you may need to check your junk mail box.
Smartphone Access
- Download the Compass School Manager App (Google Playstore OR Apple Store)
- Wait for your unique username and log in to be emailed to you after 5.00 pm Wednesday 12 April 2023
- Open the app on your device
- Search for our school by searching for “Wauchope” and then by scrolling through the list of schools and choosing “St Joseph’s Primary School - Wauchope”
- Use the unique username and log in sent to you by email
- Read the welcome message posted on the dashboard
Desktop Access
If you wish to use the desktop version of the platform please note the following;
- Once you receive your unique username and log in, open a new tab on your prefered browser and navigate to https://maclplism-nsw.compass.education
- Use your unique username and password to log into the platform
- Read the welcome message posted on the dashboard
For more information you can visit Compass for Parents or for any assistance email the school at waup@lism.catholic.edu.au
New School Fee Structure
The Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools Ltd is implementing a new financial management system to all Catholic schools within the Diocese. The changes are part of the Diocesan-wide shift to new systems which provide stronger accounting and reporting capacity for schools. These changes bring the Diocese of Lismore in line with the same or similar systems used by most Dioceses in Australia. A number of schools will be converted each Term and the process is scheduled to be completed by mid-2023.
Our school will transition at the commencement of Term 2, 2023, and as such, there will be some changes to School Fee billing and payment methods.
Two payment methods will operate from April 2023 onwards.
Bpay – St Joseph’s School Bpay biller code and your individual Bpay reference number will be advised early in Term 2.
CompassPay – Compass is our new student management system with a mobile interface.
More information regarding Compass and CompassPay will be forwarded to families during the coming weeks.
Payments via Direct Debit will be phased out.
Parents can still pay ‘over the counter’, if they choose.
WHAT IS NEXT?
From 2023, School Fees will be billed at the beginning of each Term along with the School Building Levy. All Resource Fees and Technology Fees will be billed, in full, in Term 1.
ANZAC DAY - TUESDAY 25 APRIL 2023
Anzac Day, this year, falls at the end of the school holidays. Traditionally, St Joseph’s School has invited interested students to march behind the school banner in the March Past along High Street to the Cenotaph. If your child or children would like to be involved the details are as follows:
This year we invite parents to walk with their children as a sign of school community.
Our local Wauchope RSL will run the Anzac Day service on Tuesday 25 April 2023.
Our children are invited to march (summer uniform, school shoes and school hat) and attend the service. We would love for our parents to join with us in the march behind the students. All are welcome to be a part of our school community to march this Anzac Day. Please ensure your child is prepared for all types of weather.
The Wreath Laying Ceremony will commence at 11.00 am at the Cenotaph near the town Library.
Change over to Winter uniform
As the weather cools we will transition and change over to our warm winter uniform. Below are the dates for our uniform change to take place. Please refer to Uniform Policy and ensure your child is fitted out with the correct winter attire. Be aware that we will monitor the weather conditions and changes may occur at short notice.
Zone Cross Country
Congratulations to the following students who have been selected to represent our school at the Zone Cross Country Carnival. This carnival will be held at Kempsey on Wednesday 10 May 2023.
8 / 9 Year olds
Jace Coombes, Ruby Winchcombe, Harry Curtis and Pippa Foster - Age Champions
Hudson Brown, Lilah Moss, Hudson Marchment, Acacia Duddle, Nicholas Redman, Myra Howarth, Cooper Kettle and Jessie Searson
10 year olds
Owen Webb and Abigail Shields - Age Champions
Hunter Ireland, Lucinda Shields, William Saunders, Lucy Seymour, Riley Blom, Keira McCarthy, Henry Chirstian, Ivy Pope, Finn Burgess and Amelia Brown
11 year olds
Livio Sonneville and Tara West - Age Champions
Jack Drummond, Ebony Munt, Jason Loumeau, Frankie Adkins, Alex Redman, Coopa Andersen, Oisin Groogan, Danielle Steele, Riley Searson and Makayla Blair
12 Year olds
Jack Marchment and Peyton McCrostie - Age Champions
Nicholas Riley, Olivia Larkan, William Drummond, Roisin Sonneville, Ruairi Groogan, Kaitlin O'Malley, Joel Marchment, Emily Saunders, Evan Webb and Ellie Smallwood