Miss Jaclyn is always busy keeping abreast of our socials and sharing the terrific things happening at our school.

OUR SWIMMING CHAMPIONS...

What an incredible day for St Joseph’s at the Swimming Carnival last Wednesday!! We had five dedicated swimmers representing our school, and every single one of them placed in their races, earning well-deserved ribbons for their efforts. The parents who were present reported that the enthusiasm, determination, and sportsmanship displayed by our students made the whole school community proud.

OUTSTANDING RESULTS...

Mila B – 3rd place 50m Freestyle

Leo K – 2nd place 50m Freestyle (qualifies for Regionals)

James E – 3rd place 50m Freestyle (after leading for three-quarters of the race!)

Noah E – 2nd place 50m Backstroke (qualifies for Regionals)

Hamish S – 1st place 50m Breaststroke (qualifies for Regionals)

Leo K – 1st place 50m Breaststroke (qualifies for Regionals)

Hamish S – 3rd place 50m Butterfly (just missing out on a ribbon, but a fantastic effort!)

In every race, St Joey’s students were competitive, giving their best and making their mark in the pool. Their hard work and commitment were evident in every stroke, and the support from teammates and families made the day even more special.

We are thrilled to announce that Leo, Hamish, and Noah will be progressing to the Regional competition on Thursday, March 20th, at Watermarc in Heidelberg. We wish them the best of luck as they take on the next level of competition!

Congratulations to all our swimmers – your efforts have made St Joseph’s proud!

PARENT INFORMATION SESSION

I warmly invite all parents and carers to an information session on Tuesday, March 18 at 6:00pm.

Sarah Parry, General Manager of the Northern Region at MACS (Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools), will be presenting on my new role as Lead Principal and will be available to answer any questions you may have.

An AUDIRI notification was sent out today, giving you the opportunity to submit questions for Sarah in advance. To help ensure a focused and productive discussion, please use the SurveyMonkey link provided in the AUDIRI notification to submit your questions.

This is a wonderful opportunity to connect, gain insights, and ensure our community is well-informed moving forward.

We look forward to seeing you there!

NAPLAN

This week, our year three and five students will complete the NAPLAN tests. Kate has provided some great information for families about NAPLAN, (and how to manage what might be a tricky time for some of our students) on the Learning and Teaching page of this newsletter.

Ms Julia, Mr Rooney, Mrs Thwaites, Ms O'Flynn and Mr Joey have all worked towards

de-escalating any anxieties our children may have towards completing these tests. We encourage all of our students (regardless of NAPLAN) to focus on what their strengths are, to focus on their individual growth as a learner, and to focus on the special qualities that make them the unique and wonderful person that they are.

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION

Reminder: Parent Faith Night

For families of students preparing for their Reconciliation, a Parent Faith Night will be held on:

📅 Thursday, March 13

⏰ 6:30 PM

📍 Multi-Purpose Room

We look forward to seeing you there!

Harmony Day takes place in Australia every March 21. It is a day to celebrate all the different cultures that are a part of Australia.

Orange is the colour chosen to represent Harmony Week. Traditionally, orange signifies social communication and meaningful conversations. It also relates to the freedom of ideas and encouragement of mutual respect. Children are invited to wear 'a splash of orange' (with their school uniform) on this day - 'a splash' being orange...

🧡 shoelaces – orange shoelaces or ribbons as makeshift laces.

🧡socks,

🧡hair ties

🧡bandana

🧡ribbon

🧡scarf

or anything else you can be inventive with...

National Ride2School Day – Friday 21st March!

National Ride2School Day is just around the corner and this year, it coincides with Harmony Day! This fantastic initiative, run by Bicycle Network, encourages students to get active on their way to school while promoting a safer, healthier community. It’s a great opportunity for students to experience the benefits of riding, walking, or scooting to school while having fun with their peers.

At St Joseph’s, we are excited to take part by having our wonderful school community of parents and carers organising a group ride to school. Currently, we have one meeting location, at Caddayes Corner (Google Maps link) between 8:25 and 8:30am before cycling together with peers and parents/carers to school. We’d love to see as many students as possible joining in!

Parents who have e-bikes, or who simply want to support the ride, are encouraged to volunteer and help on the day. If you’re interested in setting up another meeting location for our students to ride together please contact Bella Zacharioudakis at bzacharioudakis@sjnorthcote.catholic.edu.au.

For those who won’t be riding, there are still plenty of ways to get involved. We encourage everyone to support active travel by being mindful of how we share our streets. Small changes, such as: keeping footpaths clear, ensuring bins are not left in the way, taking care of the trees and plants in your garden to ensure they are not overgrown, blocking the path and view for those using the footpath. All of these things contribute to making our community safer for young cyclists. Let’s work together to create a school environment where active travel is a fun and safe choice for all!

Staff will be in the yard as students arrive at school to distribute oranges to students who arrive by bike, scooter, or skateboard, and to those who supported Ride2School in other ways as part of our Harmony Day celebrations.

We encourage everyone to embrace the message of unity and diversity as we kick off the day with this bright and refreshing gesture. So, ride in, grab an orange, and start the day with a smile! 🍊🚲🛴

FAMILY PICNIC EVENING -African Drumming Experience...We are excited to invite families to our FAMILY PICNIC on Friday, March 21, in celebration of Harmony Day!

Bring your picnic blankets and a bite to eat, and join us on the school grounds for an afternoon of community, connection, and fun.

✨ Special Highlight:

To honour the spirit of Harmony Day, we will be hosting an AFRICAN DRUMMING EXPERIENCE — a vibrant and interactive performance sure to entertain both children and families!

Let's come together to celebrate diversity, inclusivity, and the many cultures that make our community so special. 💛🧡

📅 Date: Friday, March 21

🕒 Time: 5:30pm

📍 Location: School Yard

We can't wait to see you there! 🎶🌿

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