FOOD ALLERGIES

As you know, schools have processes around supporting students with allergies, most often related to, but not exclusively, food. There are students in our school with allergies to different foods and environmental factors which are managed in collaboration with families and medical practitioners. For some years, St Joseph’s has been a school with a nut-free procedure, where we ask that no students bring nuts or nut products to school. Our communication to families has been that we will send home any foods that have nuts in them and ensure they have a replacement if needed at school. We are beginning a review into this procedure due to new learnings about allergies, which we will continue to communicate to families. Until this is complete and we have worked with families on whether this remains the same or changes, we ask you to continue to support our nut-free procedure. Excerpt from our Parent Handbook:

It is our intention to endeavour to make our school environment as safe as possible for all. Our most urgent concerns have been for a small group of children who have a severe allergy to nuts. Exposure to nut products for these children will trigger a serious reaction. Such a reaction could be fatal if not treated quickly and appropriately. For this reason we are asking your co-operation to help reduce the risk for these children.

Our school has a Nut Free Policy. In real terms this means not sending Peanut Butter, Nutella, foods which contain nuts (e.g.: crunchy nut biscuits/muesli bars with nuts).     

MOSQUITO REPELLENT

Currently with Port Macquarie experiencing an increased mosquito population due to the weather conditions, at school we are seeing an increase in the need to repel them. We recommend adding to your morning routine some repellent for your children if they are being affected and consider sending in something for them through the day should they need it. Products such as patches and wrist bands with citronella can be reasonably effective for personal use. As a school we are managing entrances to rooms and avoiding areas where they are likely to be more prevalent.

CHANGE TO PUPIL FREE DATE - TERM 2

I would like to correct an error in the Pupil Free Day for Term 2 2020. As ANZAC Day falls on a Saturday in 2020, there will be no Public Holiday on 27th April. For this reason, we will change our planned Pupil Free Day from Tuesday 28th April to Monday 27th April. This is the first day of Term 2 and child minding will be available for those who require it at school. We will open bookings for this later in Term 1.

JAPANESE EXCHANGE PROGRAM

St Joseph’s were approached late last year to be part of a Japanese Exchange Program with the sister city arrangement our council have with Higashi. Japanese students who are planning to study teaching are visiting our area in March to engage with students in Primary and Secondary settings. We are fortunate to experience Japanese culture and share our own Australian culture with 19 students on Monday 9th March. These students will be staying with host families during the week and also attend St Joseph’s Regional College and Charles Sturt University at this time. 

Our involvement with the visiting students will be exposing them to how education operates in our setting by being in classrooms and learning from our children and teachers. They will also be providing us a view into their culture throughout the day with cultural activities presented and shared with us. We are pleased to be part of this opportunity and will be sharing some of the experiences with our families when they arrive with us. 

EXCITING NEWS - LAURA HATHERLY

If you have seen our lovely Ms Hatherly recently, you may have noticed something different about her…. I am excited to let you know that Laura and her family will welcome their new baby in the middle of 2020. Ms Hatherly will continue until the end of Term 2 and will then take leave. We can’t wait to celebrate this with her.

LEUKAEMIA FOUNDATION - WORLD'S GREATEST SHAVE

As noted in last week’s newsletter, Year 6 student Grace Chuwen will be participating in the World’s Greatest Shave on Friday 13th March. If you would like to donate to Grace’s page, please follow the link below, or visit our office where there is now a box to place money into.

Tess Koning
Principal