Principal News

Dear parents and carers, 

This is our final newsletter for Term 2 and it gives us the opportunity to reflect upon what a wonderful term of learning we have had, with just so much to celebrate at St Joseph's. We congratulate our students, staff and families for their significant investment during this period. In particular, we congratulate our Preps for completing their first semester of learning and our Year 6s for the exceptional leadership they continue to show across the school. Both sets of students are doing such a wonderful job under the watchful eye of Miss Nardella, Miss Dillon, Miss Shanahan, Mr Jansson and Mr Sandler. 

Over the break, we hope that you are all able to have some rest and recharge, after what has been an incredible term of learning. Below is a small snapshot of what we have achieved this term - it is no wonder we are all feeling ready for a break! 

Term Two Snapshot 

Anzac Day Liturgy

2027 Prep Enrolment Interviews for Siblings

2028 Prep Enrolment School Tours

Martial Arts whole-school incursion

St Kevin's College Year 10 work experience students

Year 3-6 Dendy Cross Country competition

P-2 Rickett's Point excursion

Year 3-4 Excursion to the Royal Botanic Gardens

Mother's Day stall, breakfast and assembly

Year 5-6 'Mini Boss' incursion

P&F Meetings

Year 3 Victoria by the Park visits 

Year 4 Kinder Buddy visits with Orrong Road Kinder

School Advisory Council meetings

Maths Olympiad

Ethical Olympiad

Year 6 Da Vinci Decathalon

Dendy Year 6  Interschool Soccer

Sorry Day and National Reconciliation Week 

Dendy Year 6 Girls AFL competition

P&F Cake Stall

Beachside Cross Country competition

St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal

Year 3-4 First Aid incursion with St John's Ambulance

Year 3 Sacrament of Reconciliation 

Year 6 Interschool Football and Netball

Open Learning Sessions

Parent and Teacher Interviews

Open Learning Sessions 

What a wonderful morning we shared at our Open Learning sessions!

Thank you to the many families who were able to join us. It was very special to see our classrooms filled with parents, grandparents and special visitors, all taking the opportunity to celebrate learning alongside our students.

There was a lovely sense of pride throughout the school as students shared their work, explained their learning and showcased the progress they have made this semester. Whether it was workbooks, projects, hands-on activities or classroom displays, our students embraced the opportunity to share their achievements with confidence and enthusiasm.

Events such as these are a powerful reminder of the importance of the partnership between home and school. We are incredibly grateful for the support our families provide and for the value you place on your child's education. Your presence sends a strong message to our students that their learning matters.

A sincere thank you also to our dedicated staff for the care and effort they put into preparing for the morning. It was wonderful to see students speaking so confidently about their learning journey and reflecting on the growth they have made throughout the semester. Seeing our students flourish in this way is one of the greatest joys of being part of a school community.

Year 5 & 6 'Shark Tank' Expo 

A particular highlight for our Year 5 and 6 students was the opportunity to present their business proposals to our panel of judges in the much-anticipated Shark Tank event.

As part of their Economics and Business unit, students have spent the entire term developing their ideas, conducting market research, creating business canvas models, designing prototypes and refining their marketing pitches. The learning that has taken place throughout this project has been extraordinary, and we could not be more proud of what the students have achieved. Many families commented on the exceptional quality of the businesses and displays showcased during Open Learning. The creativity and attention to detail on display were truly impressive. Perhaps the greatest endorsement of the project came from our Year 3 and 4 students, many of whom are already eagerly counting down the years until they have the opportunity to participate in Shark Tank themselves.

We send a very big congratulations to the staff who facilitated this opportunity for our students: Miss Shanahan, Mr Jansson, Mr Sandler, Mr Moldrich, Miss Dusting and Mrs Pepper. I know the teachers were incredibly proud of their students today. Standing in front of a panel of judges to present the culmination of a term's worth of work takes courage and resilience. Our students stepped up to the challenge, spoke passionately about their ideas and showcased not only their creativity, but also their ability to collaborate, problem-solve and persevere when things didn't always go to plan. Every student involved should be enormously proud of what they achieved. The growth, learning and confidence developed throughout this process are what make opportunities like Shark Tank so valuable.

Being part of the Year 6 judging panel was a genuine privilege and provided a wonderful opportunity to see our students shine. The enthusiasm and professionalism displayed by the students as they presented their businesses and responded to questions was incredibly impressive. The quality of the ideas, products and presentations was outstanding and reflected the significant effort that had gone into the project. A heartfelt thank you to our judging panel members for Year 5 - Liana Cauchi, Andrew van de Gumster, David Constable, Ant Philips, Adam Versteege, Molly Fahey, and Year 6 - John Ferraro and Sarah Lockett, for generously giving their time and encouragement to support this valuable learning experience for our students.

Semester One Reports and Parent-Teacher Interviews

Thank you to our wonderful staff who worked so diligently to prepare the Semester One student reports. Your child's student report is now available from the nForma Parent Portal. Please refer to the nForma notice regarding access. Parent and Teacher interviews will be conducted next week, on Wednesday June 24 from 1.15pm. Bookings are now closed, so if your circumstances have changed please contact your child's classroom teacher. 

Staffing Update - Term 3

We are delighted to announce that Miss Emily Ball will be joining our Prep team from the beginning of Term 3 while Ms Plaxy Nardella commences maternity leave. Emily is already well known to many of our students, having worked across a number of year levels at St Joseph's throughout the year, including within the Prep classrooms. Her warm and caring nature, along with her ability to build positive relationships with students, will make her a wonderful addition to the team. 

We are also delighted to welcome Miss Charlotte Berman to the St Joseph's staff team. Charlotte will work across the school in a variety of roles, including classroom replacement teaching and supporting our Music program. Charlotte has been onsite all year working in a CRT capacity, and we know she will be a wonderful addition to the St Joseph's team.

Mrs Alannah Harrison will return from maternity leave in Term 3 to the Deputy Principal/P-2 English and Maths Leader position. After completing a handful of days onsite this term, Alannah will return in a part-time capacity, working Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. We know families will join us in welcoming her back to the St Joseph's community.

Mrs Cassie Gleeson will commence maternity leave at the end of next week as she prepares to welcome a new addition to her family. We wish Cassie, Will and baby Lucy every blessing during this exciting time. Cassie's last day onsite will be Thursday June 25. 

At the conclusion of Term 2, Mrs Lauren Doran will be returning to Ireland with her family. Lauren has made a wonderful contribution to St Joseph's in the Music, Art and Sustainability roles, and we thank her for her dedication, warmth and commitment to our students. We wish Lauren, Ger and baby Fionn every happiness as they begin this exciting new chapter. We will miss having you around at St Joseph's. Lauren's last day onsite will be Thursday June 25. 

Lastly, I will be taking Long Service Leave from June 25 and will return to work in Week 2, Term 3. During this time, Mr Luke Daffy will serve as Acting Principal and I know he will do the most wonderful job.

Year 6 Netball and Football 

We could not be more proud of our Year 6 students for representing our school so well at the Netball and Football Lightning Premiership competitions. The netball team, proudly coached by Ms Amanda Bowman and Mr Jansson, worked so well and the students had a wonderful day. Playing in glorious winter sunshine the students demonstrated outstanding spirit and teamwork on the day. 

Our footballers had a fantastic day, winning all of their matches and progressing through to the Grand Final in their first year competing in the Dendy competition. While the result did not go our way in the final, we could not be prouder of the way the team represented St Joseph's throughout the day. 

Mr Sandler proudly reported that the students were "so amazing", displaying incredible skill, teamwork, sportsmanship and inclusivity. Their determination and support for one another was evident in every game, and they should be extremely proud of their efforts and achievements. We extend our sincere thanks to Dan Mackay for coaching the football team throughout the season, supported by Mr Sandler and Ms Melissa.

Ethics Olympiad Competition

On Tuesday 9 June, our Year 6 students took part in the State Ethics Olympiad Competition — a unique and enriching competition that brings together students from different schools to engage in thoughtful, respectful dialogue about complex ethical issues.

Rather than debating to win, participants collaborate to explore moral dilemmas, applying critical thinking, empathy and philosophical reasoning. Students took the position they wanted, worked as a team and competed against other schools to come up with the best possible answers to difficult ethical cases.

We are incredibly proud of both groups — and in particular our St Joseph's Purple Team, who were awarded a special mention for their outstanding thinking and presentation. This recognition is a wonderful reflection of the effort and preparation our students put in.

Congratulations to all ten students who represented our school so admirably:

Purple Team: Luke M (6ES), Harriet S (6ES), Allegra P (6ES), Patrick A (6JJ), Benjamin S (6JJ)

Yellow Team: Maya J (6ES), Massimo P (6JJ), Imogen F (6ES), Lily G (6JJ), Eddie A (6JJ) 

Save the Date - St Joseph's Art Show

We are delighted to announce that our 2026 Art Show will be held on Thursday 10 September from 5:00pm - 8:00pm.

This year's theme is "Connection", a concept that sits at the heart of our school community. Through their artwork, students will explore the many ways we connect - with family, friends, faith, culture, learning, our environment and one another.

The Art Show is always a highlight of the school calendar, providing an opportunity to celebrate the creativity, imagination and artistic talents of every student. Families will have the chance to view a stunning collection of artworks created throughout the year and experience our school transformed into a vibrant gallery space. Further details will be shared next term. 

P&F Major Parent Fundraiser

Join us on Saturday August 1 at the Elwood Bowls Club for what promises to be a fantastic evening of great food, music, laughter and community spirit. This year's major parent fundraiser will help kick-start our exciting new playground project, which will be officially launched early next term. It is a wonderful opportunity to come together as a community, enjoy a fun night out and support an important initiative that will benefit our students for years to come. We would love to see as many parents and carers there as possible. Please visit the P&F page for all the event details and ticket information.

St Joseph's Footy Classic – Parent Players Wanted!

Do you fancy yourself as a football star, or perhaps you're simply willing to dust off the boots for a good cause? We are still looking for parent players to join our St Joseph's Footy Classic team.

For $120, you'll receive:

• A St Joseph's Footy Classic jersey

• Weekly social training sessions every Sunday from 3:30pm–4:30pm (all abilities welcome!)

• 2–3 practice matches

• The chance to cement your place in St Joseph's history and become a footy legend in the eyes of your child

Not quite ready to pull on the boots? We would still love your support. Come along to Sunday training sessions for a friendly kick, or volunteer to assist with the activities, food and entertainment on the day.

There will also be plenty of fun for the children, including our popular Longest Kick competitions. 

Saturday August 29, 12:00pm – 6:00pm

It promises to be a fantastic community event, and we'd love to see as many St Joseph's families involved as possible. 

https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1568645 

School Band Update

Thank you to all the students who expressed an interest in joining the school band. The enthusiasm and excitement for music across the school has been wonderful to see. Due to the overwhelming number of students wishing to participate, we have made the decision to limit the band to Year 3 and 4 students at this stage. Students selected for the band have demonstrated a strong level of proficiency on their chosen instrument and are ready to work together as an ensemble.

The band will meet regularly throughout the term to develop their musical skills, build connections and enjoy making music together. Thank you to all students who auditioned. Please keep practising and developing your skills, as there will be further opportunities and auditions in the future. We look forward to seeing our young musicians continue to grow.

Prep Assembly

Our littlest students absolutely dazzled us with their assembly presentation last Friday! We could not be more proud of how beautifully our Prep students are settling into school life and growing in confidence each week. They spoke, sang and performed with such joy, and it was clear to see just how much progress they have made in such a short time. A huge congratulations to our wonderful Prep students and sincere thanks to our Prep teachers, Miss Nardella, Miss Dillon and Mrs Shea, for preparing them so thoughtfully.

Prep 2028 Sibling Applications

Believe it or not, we are already planning for Prep 2028! We have received strong interest from new families wishing to join the St Joseph's community, and we are beginning to look ahead to future enrolments. If you have a younger child who is eligible to commence Prep in 2028, we kindly ask that you submit a sibling application as soon as possible. This will assist us in understanding the number of sibling places required and help us determine how many new families we may be able to welcome into our wonderful school community.

St Vincent De Paul Winter Appeal

Our Year 6 Social Justice Leaders – Allegra, Charlotte R, Freddie, Hugo and Maya J  – have done a fantastic job leading this term’s St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal. They’ve worked alongside Mr Hayes and Adrian from our local Vinnies branch to organise and track donations across the school.  

Year 6 Sacrament of Confirmation 

We are very much looking forward to celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation with our Year 6 students on Wednesday July 29 at 5.30pm (Term 3, Week 3). This special occasion marks an important step in their faith journey, and we know it will be a deeply meaningful evening for them, their families, and our wider school community. Fr Andrzej Madry CR will be the celebrant on the night, along with Father Leenus. We sincerely thank Mr Hayes, Miss Shanahan, Mr Jansson and Mr Sandler for their preparation of the students in the lead-up to this sacrament. 

Final Day of Term Two

Term Two concludes on Friday June 26 at 1pm. There is no school assembly on this day. Students are welcome to wear their PE uniform with a touch of green and gold on this day to celebrate the Socceroos playing Paraguay. School resumes at 8.30am on Monday July 13. 

Term 3 Key Dates

Parents are asked to note down key dates, found on this page in the newsletter.

Term 3 Assemblies

Assemblies are held on a Friday at 9am unless otherwise listed. Families are always welcome and encouraged to stay 

Little Gems

Then and Now - Chloe, Evie and Ines from Prep to Year 5. 

We have had such a steady stream of special visitors, showing off such incredible work! We are so proud of you. 

In closing...

 Thank you to the staff for another amazing term at St Joseph's, to the students for their hard work and determination and to our parents for their trust and partnership. 

How is it the end of June? The year is flying past. 

Looking forward to seeing you all next week for the final sprint to the finish line. 

For those families who are off on an extended holiday, have the most wonderful time and see you in Term 3. 

Take care, 

Claire Tobin