Principal's Report

Happy New Year and welcome to an exciting new school year!

It has been a wonderful start to the year, and our school is already buzzing with energy, enthusiasm, and positivity. I would like to extend a very warm welcome to all of our new students, families, and staff who have joined our community in 2026. We are so pleased to have you with us and look forward to building strong partnerships together.

Our students have settled exceptionally well into their new classes, learning spaces, and routines. It has been fantastic to see them reconnecting with friends, forming new friendships, and developing positive relationships with their teachers and peers. Classrooms are already filled with purposeful learning, curiosity, and engagement.

A very special congratulations goes to our Prep students, who have made a remarkable start to their schooling journey. Beginning school is such a significant milestone, and they have approached it with courage, resilience, and big smiles. We are incredibly proud of how well they have adapted to new routines and expectations.

Thank you to our Prep parents and families for your support during these important first weeks. Your encouragement, preparation, and trust have made a real difference in helping your children transition so smoothly into school life.

As we look ahead, we are excited about the many learning opportunities, events, and experiences planned for the year. Our focus remains on nurturing every child’s academic growth, wellbeing, and sense of belonging. We are confident that 2026 will be a year filled with achievement, discovery, and celebration.

Thank you for being part of our wonderful school community. We look forward to working together throughout the year ahead.

From 2026, you will also notice some new inclusions to our newsletter:

Wellbeing (not called PBL) - Student wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do. Throughout the year, our Family Engagement newsletters will provide insight into the approaches we use to create safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environments for every child. Families will learn more about our implementation of Positive Behaviour for Learning, which builds consistent expectations and recognises positive behaviours across the school; the Respectful Relationships curriculum, which explicitly teaches emotional literacy, resilience, and healthy relationships; and the Berry Street Education Model, which strengthens student regulation, engagement, and connection through relationship-centred practice. Together, these approaches ensure students feel safe, valued, and ready to learn — because when wellbeing is strong, engagement and achievement naturally follow.

Specialist Update  -  Our Specialist program provides students with rich opportunities to explore creativity, communication, movement, and innovation beyond the core classroom. Throughout the year, families will receive subject overviews outlining what students are learning in Innovative Technology, Visual Art, Performing Arts, Oral Language Play, Italian, and Physical Education. These updates will highlight key skills, focus areas, and upcoming learning experiences, helping families understand how each specialist subject supports confidence, collaboration, critical thinking, and personal growth. From developing digital creativity and artistic expression, to building physical literacy, language skills, and performance confidence, our Specialist program plays a vital role in nurturing well-rounded learners.

Family Engagement - Throughout the year, our Family Engagement newsletters will share clear, practical insights into how we support student wellbeing, engagement, and learning at St Joseph’s. You’ll learn about the approaches we use in classrooms, how relationships and routines support learning, and how families can reinforce these at home. Topics will include wellbeing and resilience, positive attendance habits, respectful relationships, effective teaching practices, and ways students are supported to feel connected, confident, and ready to learn every day. Our goal is to ensure families understand not just what we do, but why it matters for your child’s growth and success.

Please also see below our 2026 Staff listing.

Warm regards,

Julie McDougall