Principal's Update

Good Afternoon all ...

I hope all of our families enjoyed a restful and enjoyable break and had the opportunity to spend some quality time together. It has been wonderful to welcome everyone back for Term 3 and to see the children return with such enthusiasm and energy. One of the greatest joys of the first few days has been hearing the laughter, conversation and excitement in the school yard as students reconnect with friends and teachers.

We are also delighted to welcome back Rebecca Perry, who returns from family leave this term. Rebecca will be teaching Auslan two days each week, and we are pleased to have her back as part of our school community. 

A very special congratulations also to Liam and Milly Barrett, who were married during the holidays. On behalf of the St Joseph’s community, we wish them every happiness as they begin this new chapter together. 

Our School Athletics Carnival will be held this Friday at the Lar Birpa Athletics Complex, Retreat Road, Flora Hill. We are looking forward to a fantastic day. The current forecast is for a cool, partly sunny day with a top of around 13–14°C and only a very low chance of rain, making it ideal weather for outdoor activities. We encourage students to dress warmly for the morning and wear their house colours with pride. Please see the Sports Update page in this newsletter for further information regarding the day’s events and arrangements.

A reminder that our PF&A Trivia Night will be held this Friday evening. This promises to be a fantastic night of fun, laughter and community connection, while supporting our Parents, Friends and Association. We thank the PF&A and the many volunteers who have worked so hard to organise the event. I look forward to seeing many families there and encourage everyone to join in for what is sure to be an enjoyable evening. The silent auction for the beautiful artwork generously donated by Elise Hogan will also open on the night, providing attendees with the first opportunity to place a bid on this special piece.

Please note – Assembly has been rescheduled to Thursday July 23, 2026 due to the student free day on Friday July 24, 2026. 

Learning Conversations

Learning Conversations will be held next week, and I encourage all families to take the opportunity to meet with their child’s teacher. These conversations provide a valuable chance to celebrate learning successes, discuss progress and growth, and work together to support each child's goals for the term ahead. If you have not already done so, please book your Learning Conversation as soon as possible. We greatly value the strong partnership between home and school and look forward to connecting with families next week.

While visiting the school for your Learning Conversation, I also encourage you to take the opportunity to visit our Art Show, which will be on display in the Arts Centre. This is a wonderful chance to view and celebrate the creativity, talent and effort of our students. The exhibition showcases an impressive collection of artwork from across the school and is well worth a visit. 

Families are also invited to place a bid on the beautiful artwork generously donated by Elise Hogan. We are incredibly grateful for Elise's support of our school community, and this special piece will make a wonderful addition to a lucky bidder's home. Bidding will open at this Friday night's Trivia Night and will remain open throughout the Art Show, closing 12pm on Friday, 24 July. I encourage families to take the opportunity to view this stunning artwork and support this special fundraising initiative.

Uniform Update

I am pleased to advise that our school uniform will be available from our new supplier, Lowes at Bendigo Marketplace, by the end of this week. An email containing all the relevant information, including purchasing details and available uniform items, will be sent to families on Friday. Thank you for your patience and understanding throughout this transition. In the meantime, my priority is that students are warm, comfortable and ready to learn. If children need to wear alternative clothing items while uniform supplies become available, this is absolutely fine, and I appreciate your support and flexibility during this period.

A message from Karen Brown

To the St Joseph's School Community,

I do regret not being able to say what I wanted at the end of last term ... but I would like to sincerely thank the wonderful St Joseph’s School Community for their kindness, support and friendship shown to me over the years.

It really has been a privilege to work alongside such dedicated staff, supportive families and incredible students.  

I am so grateful for the many lovely memories shared and for the kind wishes and generosity shown to me as I retire (yes, I can actually say that word now!).

Thank you for making my time at St Joseph's so enjoyable and rewarding.  I truly feel blessed and I leave with a full heart and wish everyone all the very best for their future.

With love and warm regards,

Karen Brown

Wishing you all a wonderful fortnight ahead. As always, thank you for your ongoing support, partnership and commitment to our school community. I look forward to seeing many families at our Athletics Carnival, Trivia Night, Learning Conversations and Art Show over the coming week as we continue to celebrate the learning, growth and achievements of our students.

With warm regards,

Julie Cornwall, Acting Principal