Acting Principal's Message

2027 Staffing Update

Our planning for 2027 is underway, and we remain focused on ensuring strong, consistent staffing across the school and continuity of high-quality teaching, learning and student support. From a future staffing perspective, we are well positioned as we prepare for another successful year of learning and growth in 2027.

As occurs in any school from year to year, our community can expect the normal ebb and flow of staffing changes as individual circumstances, professional opportunities and personal decisions naturally arise. At this stage, we expect nothing outside what we would consider the usual staffing movements experienced in a normal school year.

Another action packed term draws to a close...

As another term draws to a close, I find myself wondering how we managed to fit quite so much into just ten weeks! It has certainly been an action-packed term of learning, growth, celebration and new experiences here at St. Joseph’s.

Firstly, I want to say a very heartfelt thank you to our students, staff and families. Our Joeys continue to approach their learning with enthusiasm, curiosity and courage, while our staff work incredibly hard to create engaging, supportive and purposeful learning experiences each and every day. To our parents and carers, thank you for your continued support, encouragement and partnership. It truly does take a village, and we are very fortunate to have such a wonderful one here at St. Joseph’s.

A particularly special moment this term was the celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Congratulations to our students who took this important next step in their faith journey, and to their families for supporting them throughout their preparation. We extend our sincere thanks to Fr. Junjun and Fr. CJ for celebrating this special occasion with us and for Fr. Junjun’s ongoing spiritual guidance and partnership with our school. Thank you also to our staff who supported the students throughout their preparation and helped make the celebration so meaningful.

Last week, we also held our Program Support Group (PSG) Meetings. A huge thank you to Mrs Crawford, our classroom teachers and our parents and carers for such a positive and productive week. These meetings provide such a valuable opportunity to stop, reflect and celebrate the growth of each learner, acknowledge the goals they have achieved and work together to establish their next steps for Term 4. The genuine partnership between home and school was wonderful to see.

Our Foundation enrolment interviews for 2027 have now been completed, and we are very excited to welcome our newest Joeys back next term as they begin their Wednesday Transition Program. We look forward to helping our 2027 Foundation students become familiar with their new school, build friendships and grow in confidence as they prepare for their big first day next year.

Our Foundation–Year 2 students also enjoyed a fantastic Emergency Services Expo, organised by our Specialist Team. Students had the opportunity to learn directly from members of our local emergency services, including the CFA, SES, Victoria Police and Ambulance Victoria. It was a wonderful hands-on learning experience and a great opportunity for our youngest Joeys to learn more about the important people who help keep our community safe. Thank you to our Specialist Team and all of the emergency service personnel who generously gave their time.

Our R U OK? Community Day was another highlight, bringing our school and wider community together around the important message of connection, conversation and looking out for one another. From our whole-school guest speaker and interview panel through to workshops and our Community Expo, the day reminded our students that sometimes a simple question “R U OK?”, can make a very real difference. Thank you to our staff, visiting organisations, guests and community members who helped make the day such a success.

Of course, no year at St. Joseph’s would be complete without a little friendly competition! Our Teachers vs Year 6 Netball Match certainly delivered plenty of laughs, cheering, questionable umpiring appeals and some very determined competitors. Congratulations to the Teachers with a back-to-back win, 23 - 4. Special mention to Tilly, Ella and Sofia for umpiring the match.

We finished the term in true Joey style with Footy Colours Day, filling the school with jerseys, scarves and plenty of passionate team rivalry. A huge thank you to our School and House Captains for leading our Footy Colours Parade and to Miss Ryan for organising the footy clinic led by the Year 6 leaders that kept our Joeys moving throughout the day.

And apparently all that footy works up an appetite… because more than 200 hot dogs were ordered and eaten as part of our Footy Day Hot Dog Lunch! A massive thank you to everyone who helped prepare, organise and serve lunch; we simply couldn’t have done it without you. With more than 200 hot dogs disappearing, it is fair to say the lunch was quite frankly an impressive success!

As we head into the holidays, I hope all of our students, staff and families have an opportunity to rest, recharge and enjoy some quality those nearest and dearest. Thank you for everything you have contributed to another wonderful term.

Please stay safe over the holiday break, take care of one another and enjoy the well-earned rest. We look forward to welcoming everyone back refreshed and ready for another exciting term of learning and growth.