Principal News

Week 3, Term 2

Dear parents and carers, 

It has been an incredibly busy fortnight at St Joseph's, with multiple excursions and incursions occurring for all students. Notably, our Year 6s had a full week last week, starting with a Business & Economics Incursion ‘The Launch’ on Tuesday, competing in Cross Country on Thursday and competing in round two of the Interschool Sports program on Friday - all in addition to a full and enriching academic program. 

Despite the busy nature of this past fortnight, we commend the students and staff for remaining calm and focused, embracing all before them. Perhaps this has been a good insight (rehearsal) for the years to follow at secondary school. 

Mother's Day Celebrations 

It was another overwhelming success as we celebrated the annual Mother's Day and Special Friend's Breakfast this morning. We sincerely thank our Year 3 and Year 5 Parents for supporting this fabulous day, and acknowledge the tireless contributions of our precious mums, grandmothers and friends at St Joseph's. The generosity of our families reflects greatly on our thriving school community.

After our breakfast, the gorgeous Year 1 students presented a beautiful and incredibly thoughtful assembly for our families. We acknowledge and celebrate the role of 'Mum' can be played by many people - mums, dads, step-mums, grandmas, aunties or special friends. Coupled with many laughs (and a few tears), our students clearly articulated the sentiments of all our students - they love their mums/special people and are grateful for the significant role they play. 

A special mention to Miss Wilkinson and Miss Mand for preparing the children for this assembly. Simply amazing! 

We thank our dedicated helpers, as events such as these would not happen without the assistance of our wonderful and generous community: 

Year 6  Leaders: Zoe M, Domenica, Morgan, Luca, Jack, Allegra, Charlotte R, Freddie, Hugo and Maya J. 

Mother's Day Stall: Year 5 P&F Parent Reps Liana, Tara and Molly, plus the many parent helpers.

Mother's Day Breakfast: Year 3 Parent Reps Steph, Cara, Emma and Lauren plus Year 3 parent volunteers, includingthe parents who were onsite early to set up and serve breakfast and the Dads who were on duty - Xavier, Rylan, Mark, Don, Seathrun, Tim, Ivor, Matt H and others!

School Uniform

We have now transitioned to our winter uniform and remind all families to be mindful of these expectations. School shorts and navy culottes are permitted over this period, however all students must be wearing their long sleeve gold polo or blue shirt. The short sleeve shirt/polo is not a part of the winter uniform. A few gentle reminders:

• No nail polish.

• Hair that is below shoulder length must be tied up.

• White socks on PE days, navy socks otherwise.

• Sneakers only worn on PE day or as instructed by the classroom teacher.

• Students must change their shoes after basketball/tennis lessons. 

• 2026 is the final year the gold polo will be a part of our school unifo

School Fees

A reminder that school fee accounts are now due. We ask families to please ensure payments are kept up to date. For convenience, fees can be paid securely via CDFpay. If you have any questions regarding your account, or require support, please contact the school office.

Staff News 

As a community, we would like to acknowledge two upcoming staffing changes at St Joseph’s. Miss Lougheed will conclude her time at St Joseph’s at the end of May as she relocates permanently to rural Victoria with her partner. We thank Miss Lougheed for her contribution to our school community and wish her every happiness in this exciting new chapter. Her last day onsite will be Friday May 29. 

At the end of Term 2, Mrs Doran and her family will also be returning home to Ireland. We are grateful for Mrs Doran’scontribution to St Joseph’s and know she will be greatly missed by staff, students and families alike. Her last day onsite will be Thursday June 25. 

Staffing replacements and transition arrangements will be communicated to families in due course.

Years 3-6 Cross Country 

Congratulations to our Interschool Cross Country Team for placing 2nd in the Dendy Division! All students in Years 3 - 6 who wanted to participate were able to, and our 147 competing students had a wonderful day, demonstrating exceptional team spirit and good manners. 

Hearing the stories of success made our day - whether it be someone running their best time, friends running together and enjoying themselves, or students being proud that they even pulled on their runners and gave it a shot. When our students look back on their time at St Joseph's, these are the primary school experiences that they will cherish.

Once again, we thank our dedicated staff for supporting the students on the day, Mr Sandler, Mr Jansson, Miss Shanahan, Miss Dusting, Mr Moldrich, Miss Freeman, Miss Stanley, Mr Capp, Miss Lougheed, Ms Bowman and Miss Jen! 

Excursion to the Royal Botanic Gardens 

Our Year 3 and 4 students spent last Friday at the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne participating in the Connection to Country program. This rich learning experience invited students to deepen their understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives, particularly the deep and enduring connection to land, culture and community.

Through guided activities and storytelling, students explored how First Nations Peoples care for Country and the significance of plants, place and sustainability practices that have been embedded for tens of thousands of years. Students were thoughtful and engaged throughout, demonstrating great respect as they listened, observed and asked insightful questions. We thank our wonderful Year 3/4 Teaching Team - Mr Capp, Miss Stanley, Miss Freeman, Mr Hayes, Mrs Pepper and Miss Jen for their care and coordination on the day. 

First Aid Incursion

Our Year 3/4 students recently became 'First Aid Heroes' during an engaging one-hour incursion with St John Ambulance Victoria. The session focused on the vital DRSAB action plan, teaching students how to assess emergencies, check for breathing, and confidently call Triple Zero (000).

The highlight was the hands-on practice, where everyone learned how to correctly place a patient into the recovery position. It was an empowering experience that equipped our students with the skills and confidence to help out in a medical emergency.

Preps in the Kitchen 

As part of their learning in procedural writing, our Prep students recently put their skills into action by making delicious ANZAC biscuits. Students followed a step-by-step recipe, carefully measuring ingredients, sequencing instructions and learning the importance of clear and precise language. The experience was a wonderful way to connect literacy learning with a hands-on activity, and of course, the best part was enjoying the biscuits together at the end!

NCCD and Supporting Students with Disability 

As part of our ongoing commitment to supporting all learners at St Joseph’s, our school participates each year in the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD). This process helps schools better understand and support the needs of students who may require adjustments to access learning on the same basis as their peers.

The information below provides an overview of the NCCD process and what it may mean for your child. If you have any questions regarding your child’s learning needs or support, please feel free to contact Gabe Sheahan, Learning Diversity Leader.

Victorian Premiers' Reading Challenge 

All students are invited to participate in the Victorian Premiers' Reading Challenge this year. Parents are asked to read this page of the school newsletter for further details, and contact Cassie Gleeson (cgleeson@sjelst.catholic.edu.au) or Claire Dusting (cdusting@sjelst.catholic.edu.au) if you have any questions. 

Lego Donations

We are seeking any and all donations of old Lego that families may have at home. If you are in the position to donate, please deliver to the school office. It does not have to be complete sets or in a box. Any donations are welcome. Thank you. 

Little Gems

Teddy (Year 1) played on the MCG last week, much to his delight!

The boys were thrilled to see the Lighthorse brigade, sit next to the Anzac flame and high five their AFL hero’s before playing in their Dees jumpers in the middle of the ground in front of 70,000 people.

Some Year 6 students popped in to visit Mr Daffy and I, to show off their designs from their Mini-Boss workshop. We were very impressed!

Happy Mother's Day to all of the mothers, grandmothers and special women in our St Joseph’s community. We are incredibly grateful for the care, support and love you give so generously each day. We also pray for those loved ones who are no longer with us, but are forever in our hearts. 

I hope the weekend provides an opportunity to slow down, spend time with family and feel celebrated for all that you do. Thank you, as always, for the partnership and support you bring to our wonderful school community.

Claire Tobin | Principal