Dear Parents and Carers,

Celebrating Excellence: 2026 School Review

Over the past few months, St Joseph’s has engaged in a thorough and rigorous school improvement process as part of our 2026 School Review. On Thursday, 27th August, we held our Dialogue and Engagement Day, facilitated by our school reviewer, Dr Judi Gurvich, alongside Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) staff, including Mrs Jennifer Hawkins (Senior Manager, School Excellence) and Ms Madeline Kelly (Learning Partner, School Effectiveness).

We were fortunate to work with Dr Gurvich, who brought deep research, evidence, and exceptional professionalism to the review. She took the time to explore our teaching practices thoroughly, ensuring every achievement was supported by clear evidence. Time and again, Dr Gurvich elevated our ratings on the evaluation scale—a true testament to the collaborative, evidence-based practices embedded across St Joseph’s.

Our recent review rated St Joseph’s in the top 5% of schools across numerous categories, recognizing our outstanding outcomes. We are immensely proud of these results and extend our heartfelt gratitude to our dedicated staff for their exceptional work, as well as our parent community for walking in partnership with us.

I look forward to presenting these results and recommendations to the Parent Advisory Committee at our meeting this Tuesday. Additionally, we have begun drafting our 2027–2030 School Improvement Plan, which I will share once finalised and approved.

Father’s Day Celebrations

We had a wonderful community turnout on Friday, 4th September, to celebrate our fathers and father figures. The event showcased the warmth and strength of our St Joseph’s community and highlighted the importance of gathering to celebrate our children.

A special thank you to our Prep community, who led the afternoon with great spirit and care.

District Athletics

Congratulations to our senior students for their fantastic performances at the District Athletics last Thursday. We are proud of your sportsmanship and determination, and we wish the best of luck to those advancing to the next level. Thank you to Emily Reed for her excellent leadership and organisation as District Secretary.

Upcoming Events: Science Expo & Learning Showcase

We are excited to host the Little Scientists, Big Ideas Expo on Tuesday, 15th September. Catholic schools from across our zone will join us in the hall from 10:00 am – 1:45 pm to present creative solutions for making a positive impact on the world. Parents are warmly invited to attend and view our students' brilliant presentations.

Sincere thanks to our learning leaders—Ebony Jenkins, Georgie Dunn, and Ashleigh Gledhill—for coordinating this wonderful initiative.

Following the Expo, from 2:30 pm onwards, we invite all families to our Term 3 Inquiry Showcase. Students have been exploring the concepts of Creativity and Innovation, and this afternoon is a fantastic opportunity to view their projects and celebrate their learning.

MACSIS Parent Survey

Please remember to complete your MACSIS survey. Your feedback is vital in helping us shape the future of St Joseph's. To encourage full participation, parents who complete the survey will enter a draw to win special prizes. The survey link was recently emailed to all families.

Pathway2Participation Project

In partnership with Melbourne University and Deakin University, we are currently participating in the Pathway2Participation project, which focuses on student attendance and engagement. Punctuality and consistent attendance are critical to your child’s academic and social development. We will soon share more details on how we are addressing late arrivals, early departures, and unnecessary absences.

As a reminder, if your family plans to take a holiday during term time, prior approval is required. Please email requests directly to principal@sjcribpoint.catholic.edu.au.

End of Term Wrap-Up

As this is our final newsletter for Term 3, I want to express my deepest gratitude to our entire school community. Working together to support our students is a true privilege. Thank you to our remarkable staff, who go above and beyond every day to ensure every student feels valued, connected, and supported in their growth.

Last Day of Term 3: Friday, 18th September
End of Term Assembly: 1:00 pm
Dismissal Time: 1:30 pm
Term 4 Commences: Monday, 5th October

A Personal Note of Thanks

Finally, I want to extend my sincere gratitude to our staff, parents, and parish community for the overwhelming kindness and support shown to me following the passing of my dear father, Brian Stahl. Dad was a passionate supporter of St Joseph’s, our parish, and the wider community, and he cherished his connection with our school. Your sympathy and prayers have meant the world to my family and myself.

Wishing you all a safe and restful break.

Yours in partnership,

Gab

Principal

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