Principal’s News

Dear Families,

I find it hard to believe that I am writing my final newsletter to the St Joseph’s community. When I was asked to join your beautiful school in April of this year the plan was for me to be here for Term 2. How lucky I have been that one term turned into three!

This year, we faced challenges, as any vibrant school does. With Michelle on leave due to her health, the community needed to rally and support Martin in his role as Acting Principal followed by me. Change is always difficult and yet I know Michelle is very proud of her school community and recognises that in overcoming these challenges together we've grown stronger.

As a leader my commitment has always been that every conversation, every decision, and every effort has been centered on what’s best for our students—our reason for being here.

Central figures through this time have been our Deputy Principals Amanda & Dean. They have both stepped into the role of Deputy Principal with grace and courage. They have guided, supported, and encouraged whilst maintaining high standards and expectations for excellence. In my mind, Amanda and Dean are both one of your many St Joseph’s gems. Such precious people and educators embody the mission and vision of St Joseph's.

Looking ahead, I am excited about the opportunities that lay ahead for you. I am confident that your new Principal Annabelle Marinelli will receive the same welcome and level of support that I have been so generously given. Together, I know you will continue to innovate, improve, and create a school environment where every child feels valued and inspired to achieve their best.

To every member of our community, I say thank you. Our school is a better place because you are in it.

I pray that you remain united in your shared purpose of providing the very best for our beautiful children and community.

Parents and Friends

We have been inundated with wonderful offers from our parent community to fill our P&F roles for 2025. Pope Francis emphasised the “indispensable” role of volunteers in the world. He said, “A purely generous and selfless service that people freely choose to offer to those in need, not out of concern for financial remuneration or personal benefit, but out of pure love of their neighbour.”

How fortunate are we to have such a strong community of parent volunteers. All offers for positions on the P&F have been noted as expressions of interest which I will pass on to our new Principal Annabelle so that she can formalise roles and responsibilities for her P&F committee for 2025.

Congratulations and Farewell Year 6

This week brings many mixed emotions as we farewell our Year 6 students. We are excited for our graduating class but also feel sad to say goodbye.

I am filled with immense pride and admiration for each one of our Year 6 students. Though I’ve only had the privilege of being their principal for nine months, it has been more than enough time to witness their growth, resilience, and unwavering spirit.

This year, they have faced challenges with courage, embraced opportunities with enthusiasm, and supported each other with kindness. They’ve shown that they are not just students, but also thoughtful, creative, and inspiring young individuals ready to step confidently into the next chapter of their lives.

As a Catholic school community, we have shared moments of faith, prayer, and reflection that remind us of God’s love and guidance in our lives. I encourage each of our graduating class to carry these values with them, letting their faith be a source of strength and a light that guides their choices and actions.

As they prepare for the journey ahead, I encourage each of our Year 6s to stay close to their families and trust in the love they give them. Their families are their greatest support, and their encouragement and faith in them will be a strong foundation as our children navigate new challenges and opportunities.

My hope is that our graduating class always remembers to believe in themselves, stay curious, and never stop striving to be the best version of who they can be.

I am grateful to have shared a small part of our Year 6's journey.

It has been an honour to watch them shine.

Congratulations, Year 6! The future is bright, and it’s all yours to shape.

A star came to St Joseph’s

Last Friday St Joseph’s came alive with a visit from our star Principal Mrs Moore. The joy on the faces of the staff, students, and parents was a joy to behold. The morning started with coffee on the boss as Michelle bought a coffee for her staff and then opened the gate to a very excited parent and student community.

Cuddles and photo shoots were the order of the morning followed by Michelle leading the school assembly with her typical warmth, humor, and sense of fun. It was such a privilege to see Michelle in her element amongst her community.

Champions of our School

A special thanks to Christie Birch who coordinated a wonderful swimming carnival. Christie’s tireless efforts to create an event for all the students to enjoy is truly commendable. It was a day of fun and participation. Congratulations to Red House who won the 2024 Swimming Shield.

Chris K (Oliver Year 1) for putting together new sports equipment tubs and mounting smoking and vaping signs to keep us compliant as a school for school registration.

We feel so lucky to have such champion dads in our community who generously share their talents and skills for the improvement of our school.

To Mary S (Frankie Year 1), Jess P (Violet Year 1), Angie (Elliot Year 1), and our parent community for our beautiful staff appreciation day lunch. We were surprised with a delicious Mexican feast along with a pinata. The staff felt the love and thanks of our parent community.

The second group of Pran Central colouring comp winners has been announced. Congratulations to Raph in Prep B and Joanna 3O on winning the Judges Award!

Congratulations to our 2025 School Leaders

We had a beautiful candle ceremony at our end of year Mass where our current school captains Alyssia and Patrick handed over responsibility for leading our school to our 2025 school captains Bridget & Callum.

The passing of the candle serves as a symbol of our shared vision and values.

Congratulations to our student leaders for 2025:

School Captains:

Callum & Bridget

Sport Captains:

Red House - Oscar, Pip, and Alfred

Yellow House - Charlotte & Bekim

Green House - Max, Lucy & Victor

STEM Captains:

Jamie & Maximilian

Art Captains:

Stella & Sienna

Stage Left

St Joseph’s is very fortunate to offer many extra-curricular activities. Stage Left is one of those opportunities where the children can learn acting, singing, and dancing under the guidance of industry professionals who are experienced teachers and performers. Stage Left will be commencing classes for 2025 in St Joseph's Parish Hall on Tuesday 4th February 2025 from 3.30pm-4.30pm.

Final dates 2024 and welcome dates 2025

School concludes for our Year 6 students on Friday 13th December at 3.30pm.

School concludes for Prep - Year 5 on Tuesday 17th December at 1.00pm.

School resumes for teachers on Tuesday 28th January.

School resumes for students on Wednesday 29th January. Gates open at 8.30am.

Have a wonderful Christmas & New Year

Cathy Mason

Acting principal

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