Principal's News   

Dear St Joseph’s Families,

What a brilliant week at St Joseph’s!

Congratulations and heartfelt thanks to our entire school community for the many contributions that have made this week such a memorable and meaningful one.

We have celebrated a number of significant events across our community, including our biennial Art Show, our very treasured Grandparents and Special Friends Liturgy and Celebration Morning, and the Sacrament of Confirmation for our Year 6 students this evening.

Each of these occasions has provided a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the gifts, talents and achievements of our children, strengthen the connections we share as a community, and honour the important role that faith, family and friendship play in the life of our school.

A sincere thank you to our dedicated staff, our wonderful parent community and all those who contributed their time, generosity and enthusiasm to make these events so special. Most importantly, thank you to our students, who continue to fill our school with joy, curiosity, creativity and a beautiful sense of belonging.

It is weeks like this that remind us just how fortunate we are to be part of such a vibrant, caring and connected St Joseph’s community.

We warmly and sincerely thank you all for being part of our St Joseph’s community and for helping make this week so incredibly special!

St Joseph's Art Show – A Celebration of the Arts!

Last Wednesday evening, our St Joseph’s community came together for a truly special celebration of creativity, imagination and artistic talent at our annual Art Show. It was wonderful to see so many students, families, friends and members of our wider community enjoying the incredible artwork on display and celebrating the many talents of our young artists.

The evening was a wonderful reflection of the creativity, dedication and collaboration that make our school community so special. From the classroom artworks and our Art in the Dark exhibition to the silent auction, musical performances and whole-school dance, there was so much to celebrate and enjoy.

A very special thank you goes to our amazing Art Teacher, Ms Marta Cummings, whose vision, passion and dedication brought this year’s Art Show to life. Inspired by famous artists, this year’s theme opened up a world of possibilities for our students, encouraging them to explore new ideas, experiment with different styles and develop confidence in their own artistic abilities. Marta’s commitment to nurturing creativity in every child is truly appreciated.

We would also like to acknowledge the many people who contributed their time, energy and generosity to make the evening such a success.

Thank you to our wonderful team

A heartfelt thank you to Fleur, our parent Art Show lead, for working so closely with Marta and helping bring Art in the Dark to life. Your enthusiasm, generosity and initiative helped create a wonderful opportunity to celebrate local artists while supporting our school.

Thank you to Jess G, our P&F lead for the event, and her wonderful team of parent and carer volunteers for coordinating the food and refreshments, managing the social media communications and helping organise the silent auction. We are also incredibly grateful to Angela N. for her significant contribution behind the scenes, including photographing the artworks and helping bring the online auction together.

We extend our thanks to parents and staff Nichole R, Stef B, Angela N, Rachael K and Marta C, who generously reached out to their artist contacts to encourage participation in Art in the Dark. Thank you also to Liv H and Debbie V for helping package the artwork, and to Lynnette and Isabelle in our school office for preparing the artist biographies and providing support on the evening.

We are also grateful to Annie K, Evelyn F, John F and Marta C, who helped secure generous donations for the silent auction. Thank you to everyone who assisted with the auction, event preparations and set-up. Your willingness to give your time and energy ensured the evening ran so smoothly.

Celebrating our Contributing Artists

One of the highlights of the evening was Art in the Dark, which brought together more than 80 contributing artists and 120 artworks. We extend our heartfelt thanks to every artist who generously donated their work and supported our school community. This included members of our own St Joseph’s parent community, whose involvement made the exhibition even more meaningful. The generosity of our contributing artists helped create a truly special exhibition, showcasing an incredible range of artistic talent while providing an opportunity for our community to come together in support of our students.

Acknowledging our Sponsors

A special thank you goes to our Art Show sponsors and supporters: LCC Ceramics, Forman Art and Framing, Circle, Kinderplay, Sarah Nedovic and Studio Gallery, along with everyone who contributed to Art in the Dark and our silent auction. Thank you for helping us create such a vibrant celebration of the arts while supporting our students and school.

Thank you to our staff and school leaders

Our wonderful staff played an important role in bringing the Art Show together. Thank you to our classroom teachers, education support staff, administration team and school leaders for supporting Marta, and designing and helping students create their class art pieces. You would agree that they all look fantastic - a lot of time and work went into creating these with each student across the school.

A special thank you goes to our leadership team for supporting Marta with the music, decorations, displays and many other details that helped transform our school into such a wonderful exhibition space.

We particularly acknowledge our teachers Ms Niki Liolios and Ms Marta Cummings for working with children from our local kindergartens to create artworks for the exhibition. It was lovely to see the work of children from Malvern Memorial Kindergarten, John McKenzie Kindergarten and Little St Margaret’s displayed alongside the work of our St Joseph’s students. We were also delighted to welcome our 2027 Prep children and their families to share in the celebration.

A huge thank you to Dean Butler who worked tirelessly to support Marta ad myself, helping to assemble a number of easels, assisting with the thank-you gifts and decorations amd so much more! Your practical support behind the scenes was greatly appreciated.

We also extend our appreciation to Ms Wendy Chang, our Performing Arts teacher, who choreographed and led the dance movements for our whole-school performances of A Sky Full of Stars and Shakira’s Try Everything. A special mention goes to our wonderful Year 5 students - Chelsea, Matilda, Navy, Fabien and Pip  who helped lead and support these performances. Their enthusiasm and leadership added so much joy to the evening.

Celebrating our students and Year 6 Art Captains

At the heart of the Art Show were, of course, our students. We are incredibly proud of the imagination, curiosity, creativity and effort they poured into their artworks. It was wonderful to see them sharing their work with family and friends and taking such pride in what they had created.

Thank you to our Year 6 Arts Captains - Benji, Spencer, Alexander and Nicholas - for their leadership and support throughout the year and for helping open our Art Show. Your contribution to this important school event was greatly appreciated.

Michelle Moore Award for the Arts

We also celebrated two students through the annual and very treasured Michelle Moore Award for the Arts, recognising their artistic achievements this year. Our former principal and very loved and admired Mrs Moore loved the arts and each year we remember and honour her by awarding students who have demonstrated excellence and love for the arts. This year we congratulate Davyd, our senior student recipient, and Scarlett, our junior student recipient, who were both nominated by Ms Cummings. We are so proud of you both and look forward to seeing your artistic talents continue to flourish. We hope you enjoy your certificates and use your Eckersley's Art Shop vouchers to support your talents and interest in Visual Arts.

Celebrating our young artist

A special mention also goes to Hugo in Year 1, whose beautiful design featured on the art board at the front of the school. Hugo's artwork provided a wonderful welcome to visitors before they even stepped through our school gates! This is a lovely example of how our students’ creativity can be celebrated throughout our school and shared with the wider community.

Pictured above -  creative artist Hugo (Year 1) whose design was chosen to promote our Art Show!

Artist in Residence

We also extend our thanks to Bayley, our artist in residence, for sharing her beautiful artworks with our community and continuing to inspire our students through his contribution to our school grounds. It was lovely to hear Bayley speak of the meaning behind the indigenous art works which were designed in consultation with our students and staff to bring meaning to our St Josephs; community.

Having opportunities to learn from and engage with artists helps our students see how creativity can extend beyond the classroom, and we are grateful for the inspiration Bayley has brought to our St Joseph’s community.

De La Salle College at the St Joseph’s Art Show

We were delighted to welcome secondary school students from De La Salle College, who shared their musical talents through live performances, adding another wonderful dimension to our celebration of the arts.

Their Year 7 artworks were also on display in our senior learning space, providing a wonderful opportunity for our younger students to see what they can aspire to as they continue developing their artistic skills. It was lovely to showcase the artistic journey beyond primary school and celebrate the ongoing opportunities for creativity and learning.

Thank you to their musical director Luke, senior school art teacher Ryan, and principal Micheal Ilott, for their attendance and support of our art show. It was so wonderful to have the De La Salle students and staff as part of our special evening.

Looking Ahead

The funds raised through the Art Show will contribute towards purchasing new art supplies and equipment, improving our Art Room, and supporting our major P&F fundraising initiative: resurfacing the school oval to include two soccer pitches and a running track.

Marta will share the final fundraising total with our community next week. Thank you to everyone who attended, donated, volunteered, contributed artwork, supported the silent auction or helped in any way. Every contribution helps us continue to create wonderful opportunities for our students.

Art Teacher Marta Cummings’ Art Show Wrap-Up

Please take some time to read Ms Marta Cummings’ Art page in next week’s newsletter, where she acknowledges the many people who contributed to making the Art Show such a success.

Marta, thank you once again for your vision, dedication and passion. The Art Show was a wonderful celebration of our students’ creativity and a testament to the time and care you invest in nurturing their artistic talents.

With Gratitude

Thank you once again to Marta, our staff, P&F, parent and carer volunteers, contributing artists, sponsors, families and students for making last Wednesday’s Art Show such a memorable celebration of the arts at St Joseph’s.

Events like this remind us of the strength of our school community and what we can achieve when we work together. We are so fortunate to have so many people who generously share their time, talents and resources to enrich the experiences of our students.

What a wonderful celebration of creativity, collaboration and community!

Grandparents and Special Friends Morning

What a beautiful morning we shared on Friday celebrating the very special grandparents and special people in our students’ lives!

Our annual Grandparents and Special Friends morning was a wonderful opportunity to come together as a school community, give thanks for the love and care our grandparents and special friends provide, and recognise the important role they play in nurturing, guiding and supporting our children.

The morning began with a beautiful liturgy at St Joseph’s Church, where Fr Gallacher offered a special blessing for our grandparents and special friends, giving thanks for their love, wisdom and the important role they play in our children’s lives. It was a meaningful way to begin our celebrations and acknowledge these treasured relationships.

A heartfelt thank you to Ms Donnella DeVisser and our Year 1 teachers, Ms Boyadjian and Ms Wendy, for planning the liturgy, and to Martin for preparing our students, who led us so beautifully in prayer and song.

We then welcomed our special visitors into our school for classroom visits and an art gallery walk showcasing our students’ wonderful creativity. Thank you to our classroom teachers and students for warmly welcoming their special guests into the classrooms, where they were made to feel loved and included as they shared in activities and learning experiences together. It was lovely to see these meaningful connections unfolding across our school.

Our visitors were then treated to a wonderful morning tea hosted by our amazing P&F. A heartfelt thank you to Jess and our wonderful P&F team, supported by Lynnette in our school office and so many generous parent volunteers. From setting up the hall and arranging beautiful flowers to purchasing food, preparing and serving morning tea, and ensuring our guests felt welcomed and cared for, so much time and thought went into making the morning memorable. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who contributed behind the scenes and helped make our grandparents and special friends feel so special.

A particular highlight was watching our Prep students, supported by our wonderful senior students Chelsea, Navya, Pip and Matilda, delight their grandparents and special friends with two special songs from our Art Show celebration. It was lovely to see so many smiles, proud moments and meaningful connections throughout the morning.

Our grandparents and special friends also had the opportunity to purchase books through Readings and generously donate them to our school library. This wonderful initiative was the idea of Jess G, supported by our Literacy Leader, Amanda Jackson, parents Kate T and Angela N, and other generous parent volunteers who assisted on the day. Thank you for bringing this idea to life and helping us further enrich our school library while encouraging a love of reading across our community. We are so grateful for your thoughtfulness, generosity and support!

Days like these remind us how fortunate our children are to be surrounded by so many people who love, encourage and support them. The time our grandparents and special friends give, the stories they share and the memories they create with our children are truly precious.

Most importantly, thank you to all our grandparents and special friends who joined us. We loved welcoming you into our school and sharing this special celebration with you.

Our school community is richer for the love, wisdom and connection you bring to our children’s lives. Thank you for being such an important part of their journey!

Sacrament of Confirmation

We shared in celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation with our senior students on Friday evening at St Mary's Church Malvern East.  This is a very special occasion in their faith journey, as they take the next step in confirming their commitment to the Catholic faith. In preparation for this important sacrament, our students participated in a Retreat Day last  Sunday where they spent time in reflection, prayer, and discussion, about the meaning of Confirmation and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. We thank our Religious Education Leader, Donnella DeVisser, our senior teachers, Fr Gallacher and the parish team for their support and guidance as our students engaged in preparation for this significant milestone. We continue to pray for the Year 6 children - Cooper Xavier Nicholas and Spencer who received the Sacrament of Confirmation on Friday night. 

Year 6 Captains Corner

Crazy Sock Day

As you know, last Friday 16 October was Crazy Sock Day! The day began with a liturgy led by our Year 3 students, who spoke about the importance of Crazy Sock Day. They reminded us that the day is about more than just wearing crazy socks; it is about recognising that not everyone is as fortunate as we are, particularly the children and families living in Malawi. Back in the classrooms, our Year 5/6 students explored a creative sock-themed story, where they were given different options and possibilities to spark their imaginations and develop their storytelling skills. As a school, we are incredibly proud of the money raised through both our online donations and our in-school fundraising efforts. Together, we raised an amazing $1,027 to support people in Malawi! It is a wonderful feeling to know that even a small donation of just a few dollars can make a difference in the lives of children in need. Thank you to everyone who contributed and helped make Crazy Sock Day such a meaningful and successful event!

Xavier & Cooper 

School Captains

Zooper Dooper Day

Weather permitting, tomorrow on Monday, 26 October, our Year 6 students will be hosting a Zooper Dooper fundraiser! Students are invited  bring a gold coin to purchase a Zooper Dooper and enjoy a refreshing treat.  All money raised will go towards supporting our Year 6 Graduation.

We hope everyone enjoys their Zooper Dooper while helping our Year 6 students celebrate this special milestone!

Xavier & Cooper 

School Captains

A Message from Dr Ed Simon Director of MACS

A special message from Dr Edward Simons Executive Director, Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) 

As schools communicate their fees for the coming year, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for your ongoing support of Catholic education and to reaffirm our commitment to keeping Catholic schooling accessible and affordable for families. 

Thank you for choosing to be part of our Catholic education community of more than 120,000 young people across the Archdiocese of Melbourne. Today, one in five Victorian families choose a Catholic education, and in the past year alone almost 2,000 additional students have enrolled in a MACS school. 

Together, we share a commitment to providing an education grounded in faith, where every child is known, valued and inspired to flourish. 

I would also like to acknowledge the significant work undertaken by principals and school leadership teams across MACS as they finalise plans and budgets for the year ahead. Their careful stewardship helps ensure our schools continue to provide outstanding learning opportunities, strong wellbeing support and vibrant faith communities for every student. 

Like many families, our schools continue to face rising costs. We know that cost-of-living pressures continue to place strain on household budgets, and we remain committed to keeping school fees as affordable as possible. At the same time, we have a responsibility to attract, support and fairly reward the teachers and staff who make such a profound difference in the lives of our students each day, including maintaining pay parity with their colleagues in government schools. 

Across MACS, we continue to review the way we operate, seeking efficiencies and making thoughtful decisions so that resources are directed where they matter most: teaching and learning, student wellbeing and the faith formation of young people. Thank you for the trust you place in your school and in Catholic education. 

The continued growth in enrolments across our system is a sign of the confidence families place in Catholic education and the outstanding work of our principals, teachers and staff. As we continue to grow, our focus will remain on responsible stewardship, strong partnerships with families and a shared commitment to excellence. 

In doing so, we can ensure that Catholic education remains strong, sustainable and accessible, offering thriving communities of faith and learning for generations to come. macs.vic.edu.au

St Joseph’s Communications Regarding Changes for 2027- Class Structures and School Fees 

Over the next week, I will be sending out communications to families via school letters outlining the changes that will be taking place at St Joseph’s in 2027. These communications will provide families with a comprehensive level of detail to ensure they understand the changes, the reasons behind them and what they mean for our school community moving forward.

These changes have been made following considerable thought, time and consultation. We have carefully considered feedback from our School Leadership Team, Consultative Committee and School Advisory Council throughout this process.

At St Joseph’s, we are committed to working in genuine partnership with our staff, MACS and parent groups to ensure that the decisions we make are in the best interests of our school community and, most importantly, each individual student. We value the perspectives, expertise and feedback of our community and recognise the importance of working collaboratively to make thoughtful and informed decisions that support the needs of our students and families.

All decisions that impact our families and students have been made with a strong focus on supporting student learning and wellbeing, while also ensuring we meet MACS expectations and the requirements of the Enterprise Bargaining Agreement (EBA).

Over the coming weeks, there will be opportunities for parents and carers to attend information sessions to hear more about the changes, develop a clearer understanding of what they mean for our school community, and ask any questions they may have. I will share the dates and details of these sessions with you this week.

We understand that changes can bring questions, and we are committed to communicating these decisions clearly and transparently with our school community. Our priority remains ensuring that St Joseph’s continues to provide a supportive, inclusive and high-quality learning environment for all students while maintaining the long-term sustainability of our school.

Thank you for your ongoing partnership, support and commitment to St Joseph’s as we continue to work together in the best interests of every student.

Student Learning

It is always a pleasure when students arrive at my office, eager to proudly share their learning achievements. This week, Hadriel and Anna from Year 3 came to share the work they have been doing on location using grid coordinates. It was wonderful to see their enthusiasm and pride in their learning!

Demonstrating Our School Values

It completely warms my heart when students at St Joseph’s demonstrate our school values through their actions. This week Dimitri and Talia  in Year 2 found a wallet containing money that belonged to another student. Both students promptly brought the wallet to the office, concerned about who may have lost it and hoping I could help reunite it with its owner.

I am pleased to share that the wallet and its contents are now safely back in the hands of the student they belong to.

We commend Dimitri and Talia for their honesty, thoughtfulness and integrity. Their actions are a wonderful example of our school values in practice and a reminder that even small acts of kindness and honesty can make a big difference in our community. 

What's On This Term...

Please take a look at our Term 4 Calendar of Events on our 'Important Dates' page in this week's newsletter.

School Closure Days

Please make a note of our school closure days for this term. These dates have been marked on our family calendar, as well as in our school newsletter's calendar of events. 

Our school will be closed on:

What's On Next Week...

Staying Connected...

Together we work in partnership with our families to support and nurture the children at St Joseph's. If you have any concerns or worries about your child's wellbeing, learning, or friendships, please do not hesitate to have a chat with your child's teacher as your first point of contact. For more serious concerns, I encourage you to reach out to me directly.

With warmest regards,

Annabelle Marinelli

Principal 

annabelle.marinelli@sjmalvern.catholic.edu.au