Principal's News   

Dear Parents, Carers and Families,

I sincerely thank you for all that you contribute to our school community. I am especially grateful to the parents and carers who generously volunteered their time to support our swimming program, and to those who have been working hard behind the scenes preparing for our upcoming Family Fun Day. Your willingness to give your time and energy helps make these experiences so special for our children and our school community.

I would also like to thank all of our families for the care, encouragement and support you show our staff each day. Teaching and caring for children is truly a partnership, and we deeply value the trust you place in us and the kindness you extend to our teachers and support staff. Together, we create a warm and supportive community where our children can grow, learn and thrive as joyful and flourishing young people.

We Pray...

As we hear the very sad and disturbing news coming from parts of our world this week we pray for the families and the many children who live in fear or who have lost their lives.

Loving God,

We come before You with heavy hearts as we hear daily of the conflict and suffering in the Middle East. We pray for peace where there is violence, calm where there is conflict, and hope where there is uncertainty.

We lift up the families and friends of those in our community who may have loved ones directly affected. Surround them with your love and protection and keep them safe from harm. Bring comfort to those who wait anxiously for news and strength to those facing fear and loss.

As a school community, we join together in prayer for peace. Help us to support one another with compassion, understanding and kindness, especially those who may be feeling worried for family and friends far away.

Guide the hearts of leaders and decision makers, that they may seek justice, wisdom and lasting peace.

May peace rise above conflict.

May compassion overcome hatred.

May Your light shine in the darkest places.

Amen

Pope Leo XIV:  "Let us continue to pray for peace."

Reconciliation Retreat Day and the Sacrament of Reconciliation

Next week our Year 3 students will participate in a Reconciliation Retreat Day as part of their preparation for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Throughout the day, students will take part in prayer, reflection and learning activities that help them deepen their understanding of forgiveness, compassion and God’s love. This special time will support them as they prepare to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time and continue to grow in their faith. We thank Fr Gallacher and our religious Education leader Ms Donnella DeVisser and  for their faith leadership in preparing the children. All members are very welcome to come along and support the students in St Joseph's Church on Thursday evening. We keep the children in our prayers over the coming week.

International Women's Day Assembly

Today Mr Butler and our SRC students beautifully led the assembly, acknowledging the wonderful women in our school community in recognition of International Women’s Day. It was so lovely to hear the personalised messages written for each teacher and shared so thoughtfully by the students. Their words were truly heartfelt and very much appreciated.

Thank you to Mr Butler and the SRC for making the occasion so special for all of us.

St Joseph's School Assembly

This morning we also gathered to celebrate students who received STAR Award we  joyfully sang Tanti Auguri for those children who celebrated birthdays this week. It was such a lovely way to finish our week. 

Swimming Lessons

This week, our students from Prep to Year 6 completed their intensive swimming program with Maccabi Aquatics at Bialik College. From the moment they arrived poolside, their energy and enthusiasm were evident.

Throughout the program, students built confidence, refined their swimming technique, and strengthened essential water safety skills under the guidance of experienced instructors. It was wonderful to see every child embrace the opportunity to challenge themselves, support one another, and celebrate their progress.

We are incredibly proud of the resilience, determination and teamwork shown by all students. Many children stepped outside their comfort zones, trying new skills and encouraging their peers along the way. It was a joy to see their confidence grow each day, along with the smiles and sense of achievement as they recognised how much they had improved. Experiences like this not only build important life skills but also strengthen students’ independence, perseverance and willingness to keep trying.

On the final day of the program, all students also participated in a water safety session, learning important strategies to help them stay safe in and around water. These lessons are an invaluable part of helping children develop lifelong awareness and responsibility when enjoying aquatic environments.

Enrolments for 2027

Enrolments for current (and new) families for 2027 are now open. We encourage all current and new families to submit an application to ensure a place in our Prep intake for 2027. The enrolment application form can be found on our website. Please contact our school office if you have any queries. Current families please get your applications in asap as we we like to prioritise our offers for families already in our school. 

Open Days at St Joseph's

On Tuesday 10 March we will host our second Open Day at St Joseph's from 9am to 11am. We look forward to welcoming many prospective families through our gates, warmly greeted by the students, staff, and current parents of our St Joseph’s community. It is always such a joy to share our school and showcase what makes our community so special.

Our official Open Days for 2026 are being held across the following dates:

 If you have family or friends who are exploring school options for 2027, our Open Days are a great opportunity to see our beautiful school in action, meet our staff, and learn more about what makes our community at St Joseph's so special. Please spread the word to any prospective families who may be looking for a school for 2027. Our families are our greatest advocates, so please share your thoughts with your friends and family about our beautiful school .

First Round Interviews for Prep for 2027

We have already received a number of applications for enrolments in 2027 and we have many registrations for our Open Days. This week we commenced our first round enrolment interviews for Prep for 2027 for new families. Letters of offer will be sent on Tuesday 10th March.

'Meet and Greet' Interviews for Current Families

Our “Meet and Greets” for current families and siblings will be taking place soon. Isabelle in the office will be in touch shortly via email to arrange a mutually convenient time for you to come in and meet with me. I am truly looking forward to getting to know some very familiar faces - the younger siblings who will be joining our community next year. It’s always so special to welcome the next generation of families into our school, and I can’t wait to connect with you all.

Junior Joey's Playgroup

It is so lovely to see our Junior Joey's Playgroup. back in full swing! We had a full house on Monday -l ed by our wonderful Prep and Junior Transition Leader, Ms Liolios. The room was filled with joyful play, laughter, connection and a beautiful sense of community. We are truly grateful to share this special time together and look forward to many more happy and welcoming mornings throughout the term.

St Joseph's Family Fun Day - Save the Date: Saturday 28th March, 10am -3pm

There is a great deal of planning happening behind the scenes as we prepare for what promises to be a truly exciting and fun day for our school community - our St Joseph’s Family Fun Day.

Please save the date in your calendar! We are so grateful for the wonderful support and involvement of our community. Your enthusiasm and generosity make such a difference.

If you would like to help in any way, we would love to hear from you. Please get in touch with Fleur D’Altera (mum of Andre in Year 3), who is leading this major event on behalf of the P&F for our school.

This is a significant undertaking, and as the saying goes, many hands make light work. Thank you in advance for being part of what will be a fantastic day for our St Joseph’s family.

Child Safe Standards

A few weeks ago our staff reflected on Child Safe Standard 1 as outlined in a previous school newsletter. This standard requires organisations to establish a culturally safe environment where the diverse identities and experiences of Aboriginal children and young people are respected and valued. It mandates actively addressing racism, fostering inclusion, and encouraging children to express their culture. It requires us as a school to create environments that are welcoming and safe for Aboriginal children, families, and staff.

As a staff we have been specific and deliberate in ensuring this standard is evidenced throughout our school and in our classrooms so that there is authentic representation.

Actions that we have already implemented:

• Aboriginal displays established in key spaces
• Aboriginal flags displayed in two highly visible locations 
• Acknowledgement of Country in every classroom and at the beginning of our day, assemblies and meetings
• Investigating a grant for new flags at the front of our school

For more information on Child Safe Standard 1 you can read the MACS Care Newsletter:

This week our staff met to continue our work around the Child Safe Standards, which guide how schools across Victoria ensure that the safety and wellbeing of children are at the centre of everything we do. As part of the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools initiative “11 Standards in 11 Months,” we explored Child Safe Standard 2 – Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture.

 Our discussion reflected on how we continue to build a strong culture of respect, accountability and care so that every child feels safe, supported and heard.

We also discussed ways to strengthen our processes to support child safety, including clearer documentation of risks, improved communication around risk assessments for school activities, and strengthening volunteer procedures to ensure appropriate checks and expectations are in place. Staff were also introduced to updates about Victoria’s Child Information Sharing Scheme, which supports professionals to work together to protect children’s wellbeing. These ongoing conversations help ensure that child safety remains a shared responsibility across our whole school community.

For more information on Child Safe Standard 2 you can read the MACS Care Newsletter:

School Compliance Review (VRQA), Child Safe Standard 2 and Volunteers at St Joseph's.

Last Friday our school engaged in the second stage of our review process, where our policies and procedures were examined as part of our compliance review. We were proud to provide the reviewer with evidence of the strong practices we have in place to support the Child Safe Standards across our school. As part of this discussion, we looked closely at the processes we have for volunteers working within our community. Child Safe Standard 2 requires schools to have clear and robust procedures in place for anyone who volunteers in a school setting. Over the coming weeks we will be refining our processes in this area to ensure we continue to meet these important standards.

All parents and carers who volunteer at school will require a current Working With Children Check and proof of identity if they are assisting in general roles within the school (for example, helping with events such as sausage sizzles or assisting with maintenance tasks). For parents and carers who volunteer in roles where they will be working in closer proximity to children, additional checks will be required. This may include a current Working With Children Check, proof of identity, a brief meeting with the principal, and a reference check. This also applies to members of our School Advisory Council. These measures help ensure we meet the required child safe processes for volunteers within a school community. We also remind all volunteers that they must sign in at the school office upon arrival. We thank you for your understanding and support as we work together to maintain the highest standards of child safety in our school.

NAPLAN 2026

In the coming weeks the students in Years 3 and 5 will have the opportunity to participate in the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is an annual assessment for students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. NAPLAN is a National Literacy and Numeracy assessment which students undertake across the country. NAPLAN assesses the students essential skills in Reading, Writing, Spelling, Grammar and Punctuation, and Numeracy. 

As students progress through school, it is important to monitor how well they are developing these foundational skills. NAPLAN provides a snapshot of student achievement against national proficiency standards and gives teachers, parents and carers helpful information about their child’s progress. It is just one part of a school’s broader assessment and reporting process and does not replace the ongoing assessments made by teachers. 

Students at St Joseph's are involved in many ongoing assessments which inform teachers as to what students know and what they need to learn next. NAPLAN is just one way that students' learning and progress is assessed. NAPLAN allows parents and carers to see how their child is performing over time and against the national standards.

This year the NAPLAN tests will all be held online, except for the Year 3 Writing Test which is still a pen and paper test. One of the main benefits of an online test is that the tests are 'adaptive' which means the questions can become increasingly more challenging, or easier, depending on the students responses during the test.

At school students will be given the opportunity to access practice tests and we will spend time working through the kinds of questions, problems and writing tasks that they might experience. 

Students do not need to study for NAPLAN. We know that for some students NAPLAN can cause some worry, however we will do everything at school to reassure students that NAPLAN is just part of their school program. They will be encouraged to just do their best.

There are some students who may require some adjustments when completing the NAPLAN tests. Over the next week Amanda our Learning Leader will be making contact with some families regarding additonal support for some students.

For more information about NAPLAN please see the link below and feel free to chat with your child's teacher or myself if you have any questions or concerns.

The NAPLAN Test Schedule at St Joseph's:

• Wednesday 11th March - Year 3 and Year 5 Writing Test
• Thursday 12th March - Year 3 and Year 5 Reading Test
• Tuesday 17th March - Year 3 and Year 5 Conventions of Language (Spelling, Grammar and Punctuation) Test
• Wednesday 18th March - Year 3 and Year 5 Numeracy Test

NAPLAN Parent Information:

Staff News

This Friday we say a fond farewell to Sharon as she finishes her time with us as our Italian teacher. Sharon has brought warmth, enthusiasm and a genuine love of language to her teaching, and our students have greatly benefited from her passion and care. While we will miss her presence in our community, we are excited for her as she begins a new full-time role closer to home. We thank her sincerely for her contribution and wish her every success and happiness in this next chapter. 

From next week Ms Luisa La Rosa will transition to teaching Italian and sharing her lovely Prep class with new teacher Ms Chloe Nashed. Chloe spent the day at St Joseph's on Wednesday getting to know the children and meeting the families in Prep. We look forward to Chloe teaching our lovely Preps from next Thursday.

We are also delighted to warmly welcome our new learning support staff - Milly, Katie and Anne. They will be supporting students across the school from Prep to Year 6, working with individual students to meet their specific learning needs, providing targeted intervention, facilitating small group learning, and extending and challenging students to deepen their understanding. We are grateful to have them join our community and look forward to the care, skill and dedication they will bring to our classrooms. I know you will  join me in making them feel very welcome.

Important Dates for Term 1

I encourage you to take a moment to review the Term 1 dates page in this week’s newsletter so you are up to date with all the important activities and events happening this term. We encourage you to be involved in the life of our St Joseph’s community.

Next Dates for our SAC and P&F Meetings

P&F Fun Day Raffle

Our wonderful Parents and Friends Committee have begun selling tickets for our Family Fun Day raffle, and they are already off to a fantastic start, selling over 100 tickets at the school gate this morning. It’s wonderful to see such enthusiasm and support from our community.

The team will also be selling tickets tomorrow morning at Tooronga Village, continuing their efforts to help make our upcoming Family Fun Day a great success. We are very grateful for the time and energy our P&F volunteers give to support our school and create these special opportunities for our families to come together.

A huge thank you to Sami, Kyle and Annabelle for their hard work and commitment. We truly appreciate everything you are doing to support our community.

What's On Next Week..

International Women's Day- Sunday 8 March

Happy International Women’s Day to all the incredible women in our community - our mums, carers, grandmothers, aunties, and our amazing staff. You are truly inspiring, and we are so grateful for everything you do and the care, strength, and wisdom you share each day.

Staying Connected...

At any time, if you have any questions or concerns about the wellbeing, care or learning of your child, please do not hesitate to reach out to your child's class teacher, one of the school leaders, or Dean Butler, Deputy Principal or myself, Annabelle Marinelli, Principal.

I wish you all a safe and enjoyable long weekend with your beautiful families. And if you are travelling I wish you the safest journeys. We look forward to seeing you all refreshed on Tuesday!

With the warmest regards,

Annabelle Marinelli

Principal 

annabelle.marinelli@sjmalvern.catholic.edu.au