PRINCIPAL'S NEWS

Miss Jaclyn is always busy keeping our socials up to date and sharing the terrific things happening at our school.

🥳 🎈FETE 

A Special Thank You to Kathryn – Behind the Scenes and Beyond!

I realised after our last newsletter that, despite taking the time to acknowledge the many people who contributed to the success of our Fete, I had inadvertently overlooked someone who was very much a key part of making it all happen – Kathryn in the office!

Kathryn played an enormous role behind the scenes, taking on a significant amount of additional work in the lead-up to the event, managing the organisation and countless details, and putting in extra hours on the day itself to ensure everything ran smoothly. 

So much of this work happens behind the scenes that is over and above, and it certainly doesn't go unnoticed. I am incredibly grateful for her commitment, generosity and willingness to go above and beyond. We are very lucky to have Kathryn as part of our team.

I also want to thank all of our staff who gave up their time to attend the fete and be part of the day. Your willingness to contribute beyond the school day is genuinely appreciated. 

While we celebrate the success of our fete...  I wanted to take the opportunity to remind our community what we are working towards. The funds raised will contribute to the ongoing development of our courts area at St Joseph’s.

Our vision is to transform this space into a more vibrant, versatile and engaging outdoor sporting area for our students. Plans include improvements to the existing tennis courts, a basketball area, and more opportunities for cricket and soccer, creating spaces that encourage participation, physical activity and enjoyment.

This project represents an exciting opportunity to make a real difference to the experiences of our children, both now and into the future.  Every dollar raised brings us a step closer to making this vision a reality. Thank you again to everyone who contributed to the fete and continues to support our school community. We are excited about what we can achieve together!

To view the proposed development, please click on the following link

🏫 School Review 2026

Next week, we commence our School Review process, an important part of our four-year review cycle. The review provides an opportunity to reflect on our school's progress, celebrate our achievements and identify areas for continued growth and improvement.

As part of this process, an external School Reviewer will spend two days onsite, meeting with and gathering feedback from a range of members of our school community, including staff, students and a parent/caregiver focus group.

In preparation, we have already provided extensive documentation and evidence relating to many aspects of school life, including our learning and teaching practices, student wellbeing, school improvement priorities, policies, procedures, facilities and infrastructure.

The onsite visit will allow the reviewer to gain a deeper understanding of our school, hear different perspectives and develop a picture of the experiences of our community. We see this as a valuable opportunity to celebrate the wonderful work happening across our school, acknowledge how far we have come and consider how we can continue to strengthen the learning and wellbeing experiences we provide for every child.

The diagram below provides an overview of the School Review process and the key stages involved.

https://cevn.cecv.catholic.edu.au/Melb/Document-File/School-Improvement/SIF/SIF-Poster-A1-FA.PDF 

👼 🌟Calling for a Nativity Play Coordinator – We Need Your Help! 🕊️ 🌟

We are hoping to include a special Nativity procession as part of our St Joseph’s Christmas Eve Family Mass on Thursday 24 December at 5:00pm, and we are looking for someone who might be willing to coordinate this for us.

The role would involve organising a small group of children to dress in Nativity costumes (provided) and process into the church, taking on the various characters as part of the Gospel reading during Mass.

It is a lovely way for our children to be involved in the Christmas celebrations and bring the Christmas story to life.  We are really hoping someone in our community might be able to put their hand up to help! It's not an elaborate production – simply organising the costumes and children would make all the difference.

If you are able to help, or would be happy to take this on, please contact Mary.

LAST CHANCE!!  2027 CLASS PREFERENCES 

Please make an appointment with me if you wish to discuss any concerns you may have that may impact your child/children’s class placement for next year. 

This may include particular social nuances with other students or any other extenuating circumstances. 

Please be aware that this is not an opportunity for ‘teacher shopping’ or to discuss a preference for a teacher, but rather an opportunity to share genuine concerns about your child’s learning environment for 2027.  I am currently finalising the staffing schedule for 2027 and will share this with you once it has been confirmed.

If you are not intending to return to St Joseph’s in 2027, please contact the office as soon as possible

🎒🌟Welcoming our 2027 Preps

This week we had the pleasure of welcoming our 2027 Prep children to St Joey’s for their transition sessions. It was wonderful to see so many excited little faces beginning their journey with us. The children had the opportunity to spend some time in the classroom, meet some of their new friends and become familiar with their surroundings.

Starting school is a big milestone, not just for the children but for their families too. These transition opportunities are an important part of helping our newest students feel comfortable, confident and connected as they prepare for the exciting adventure ahead.

We look forward to welcoming our 2027 Prep families into the St Joey’s community and sharing many wonderful experiences with them in the years to come. We are so excited to have you joining us! 🎉

📅 School Closure Day – Friday 27 November

A reminder that Friday 27 November will be a School Closure Day as our staff come together for a dedicated 2027 Planning Day. This will provide an opportunity for our team to reflect, collaborate and prepare for the year ahead.

There will be no school for students on this day. We appreciate your support and understanding as our staff take this time to plan for another successful year at St Joey’s. 

🎄🎁 End-of-Term Christmas Market

Get into the Christmas spirit at our End-of-Term Christmas Market on Thursday 10 December from 3:15pm! 🎅

There will be a wonderful selection of Christmas goodies and gifts for sale – the perfect opportunity to pick up a gift or two (or perhaps a little something for yourself!)

We’ll also have our regular sausage sizzle, and our school choir will be spreading some Christmas cheer with a selection of much-loved Christmas carols. 🎶

Come along, enjoy the festive atmosphere, grab a bite to eat and help us celebrate the end of another wonderful year at St Joey’s. We look forward to seeing you there! 🎄