School Advisory Council

Chairpersons Report 

2025 has been another extraordinary year for St Joseph’s School Sorrento - one filled with energy, community spirit and rich learning. Our highly successful Community Fete with Sorrento Primary in March was a wonderful start to the year and a celebration of partnership between our two schools.

Fellow SAC member Jessie Schmitt and I had the privilege of attending the School Advisory Council Dinner at the Catholic Leadership Centre, where we viewed outstanding artwork from MACS schools, including pieces by our very own talented St Joseph’s students as part of Catholic Education Week.

This Jubilee year, celebrating our call to be “Pilgrims of Hope,” has seen the celebration of sacraments; including Confirmation at St Patrick’s Cathedral. Other highlights have been - continued progress in our building project planning, ongoing policy review, staff professional learning, wellbeing initiatives, faith celebration days and so much more.

I would like to thank Monica O’Shannassy, Megan Barber, Fr Angelo, Jessie Schmitt, Jessie Hower and Nicole McCormack for the contributions and wisdom that each of them has brought to the St Joseph’s School Advisory Council.

St Joseph’s is a vibrant and thriving community. My hope is that every family remains deeply invested in their child’s education as we continue this shared journey of forming lives to enrich the world.

Principal's Report

Welcome to our Annual General meeting of the 2025 School Advisory Council. 

It is hard to believe another school year has passed. The theme of the year was “Together in Hope,” linking with the Jubilee Year. Many meaningful  learning experiences were shared by all members of the community. It is with great pleasure and pride that I share with you some of the many highlights from 2025:

EDUCATION in FAITH

• Jubilee Year of Hope
• Faith Based Inquiry Units – Connection, Change, Exploration and Participation
• Celebration of Sacraments: Confirmation, Eucharist & Penance 
  • Sacrament of Penance Family Evening
  • Eucharist Family Evening and Reflection Day
  • Sacrament of Confirmation at St Patrick’s Cathedral
• Easter Liturgy, Grandparents Day, Feast of the Sacred Heart, The Assumption, Ash Wednesday, Beginning and End of the School Year Masses
• St Joseph’s Day Mass, activities and colour run
• Catholic Education Week activities including Visual Arts Exhibition
• Whole School Pilgrimage
• Building connections with parish: Community Garden, Parish Banner & Our Lady Star of the Sea boat garden
• Parish Pastoral Council
• FIRE Carriers Program: Indigenous Literacy day, Reconciliation Week, School flags from Zoe McKenzie
• Hope and Gratitude Day
• Social Justice Initiatives: Vinnies Winter Appeal & Christmas Appeal

LEADERSHIP and MANAGEMENT

• New AAP format and we updated our School Improvement Plan to reflect this. Same priorities: Data Literacy, Enhancing Professional Practice, Student Engagement and Learning Communities.
• MACSSIS Data - above MACS average in all domains except student engagement and staff safety (workload). Improved in all domains in the family surveys  and are similar to MACS schools average.
• Engagement and Growth Partner visit
• Building Project
• Wall Boundary
• Professional learning for Leadership Team: Podcasts

• Mental Health in Primary Schools Funding

   

• LEARNING and TEACHING
• Curriculum focus on Writing - Professional Learning Team Meetings and Learning Sprints
• Glenn Pearsal, Writing curriculum and Bunurong professional learning
• NAPLAN results MACS School out performed government schools in all domains at all levels. This includes participation rates.
• Rock Through the Ages Performances
• Spell Ex Program extended to 5/6
• 5 /6 City Camp and 3/ 4 The Briars
• Intervention Programs and Learning Diversity Educational Assessments
• Sports: Swimming Carnival, Athletics Carnival, Whole School Cross Country, Sporting, Schools Grants, Swim Squad, Running Club
• Gymstars
• Bike Education sponsored by Mornington Peninsula Shire
• Termly Parent Support Meetings (NCCD)
• Learning Conferences
• Incursions and excursions: Mitch Tambo, NED’s Resilience Ride, Dance Curriculum, Game design, Mad About Science
• Sustainability Program:Picasso Cow, Sustainable scarecrow, Beach STEAM, Moonah Woodland Restoration Program brochure and street stall, Point Nepean & Whitecliffs Foreshore Rangers, DRI, 
• Special days - Grandparents Day, Italian Day, Book Week, Footy Colours etc.
• Sorrento Writers Festival

• Safer Internet Day/National eSmart Week

   

• STUDENT WELLBEING
• MACS Vision for Engagement
• Respectful Relationships
• Team Teach
• Positive Parenting Evening with Berry Street Education Model
• Seasons for Growth Program
• School Wellbeing Action Team - Fun Food Fridays
• School Counsellor/Creative Arts Therapist
• Student Wellbeing Surveys
• Bullying No Way!
• Buddy program
• Student run activities – Lunchtime sports: soccer, basketball, volleystars
• Lunchtime Clubs 

• Walk to School, Running Club  and Swim Squad Breakfasts

   

• COMMUNITY
• Community Fete
• Open door afternoons
• Parent assistance (P & F model)
  • Easter Raffle
  • Mother’s/Father’s Day Stalls and Morning Tea/Breakfast
  • Oak’s Day Lunch
  • Bunnings Sausage Sizzle
  • St Joseph’s Day, Italian Day, learning areas etc. 
  • St Mary’s & St Joseph’s Care
• Year Six run Canteen
• Playgroup 
• Prep and New Families Welcome Night
• Bluey - the Rotary Community Bus
• Choir performances: Rotary Grand Final lunch, Sorrento Carols & Calvary Rye Sands
• Coffee van
• MND Day

• Local community: RSL (Archies), Rotary Club of Sorrento (Scholarships, Musical Enrichment Program, Bluey, donations - Chrome Books & Musical Instruments etc.), Point Nepean Men’s Shed

   

  Thank you to each and every one of you for your thoughtful contributions to the School Advisory Council this year. Your commitment  and dedication to the St Joseph's School Community is greatly appreciated. Thank you to Assunta for her role as Chairperson and to Fr Angelo and Fr Bill for their continual support.

   

  I feel privileged to be the Principal of this wonderful school and  look forward to working with you all again next year. 

   

  Monica O'Shannassy

  moshannassy@sjsorrento.catholic.edu.au