PRINCIPAL'S NEWS

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

Grandparent's Mass

Thank you to the families who attended our Grandparents Mass on Sunday. 

Unfortunately, I was caught up with my own grandparenting responsibilities and unable to attend, but by all accounts it was a lovely celebration. 

A special thank you to our senior students and teachers and to Ms Bernadette for preparing and leading the liturgy, and to the students who participated so thoughtfully. These moments serve as a meaningful reminder of the important role grandparents play in the lives of our children, and in the life of our school.

Later in the year, on October 24, we will be inviting Grandparents to school to visit their Grandchildren's classes and share a morning tea.  More information regarding this will be sent home closer to the date.

Sacrament of Eucharist

Please refer to the Education in Faith section of this newsletter for important information regarding the Sacrament of Eucharist. This includes key dates, upcoming events, and essential details for families with children preparing to receive the sacrament this term.

Working Bee

We’re excited to be holding our first Working Bee in several years, and we’d love your help!

Join us on Saturday morning, 16th August from 8am to 12pm as we freshen up our garden and outdoor spaces. There’s plenty to do—including mulching, refilling the sandpit, planting, repairing and painting the teepees, and assembling a brand-new boat for the sandpit—and many hands will make light work.

Please bring along any shovels, wheelbarrows, gloves, and willing children who don’t mind getting their hands dirty. Morning tea will be provided as a small thank you for your time and effort.

We know weekends can be packed with sport, parties, and family events, but if you can spare even an hour or two, your contribution will make a big difference. Let’s come together and show the strength of our school community!

Please add your name and time to the live roster here

Mad on Music Awards...

CONGRATULATIONS to the following students who received Mad on Music Awards in Term 2...

Leila Vicariotto: Encouragement Award

Hana M. Khorassani: Great Progress Award

Cleo Awad: Quick Learner Award

A Message from St Vincent de Paul...

"We just wanted to pass on our thanks to you and your school community for the much-needed donation of blankets collected in Term 2.  Our team of volunteers have already begun distributing the blankets via our Soup Van programs that run 7 days a week rain, hail, or shine.  We couldn’t do what we do without the support of school communities like yours!"

Art Show 

🎨 Save the Date – St Joseph’s Art Show! 🎨

Wednesday, 27th August – 5:30pm to 7:30pm

Mark your calendars! Preparations are well underway for our much-anticipated School Art Show, and we can’t wait to showcase the incredible creativity of our students.

This year’s event promises to be extra special, with some exciting new additions including a Silent Auction, the launch of our very own “Archie”-bald Prize, (in honour of our beloved school therapy dog - Archie) and many more surprises that celebrate imagination, expression, and community spirit.

A huge thank you to Louise and Jaclyn, who are coordinating the event and working closely with staff and students to bring this colourful celebration to life.

Stay tuned for more details—but for now, save the date and get ready for an inspiring evening of art, fun, and connection.

Book Week

📚 Book Week 2025 – “Book an Adventure!” 📚

We’re excited to celebrate Children’s Book Week from Monday, August 18 to Friday, August 22!

This year’s theme, “Book an Adventure!”, invites children to dive into the pages of a good book and explore exciting new worlds, characters, and ideas. Whether it’s a journey through time, space, or imagination, there’s no limit to where stories can take us!

2025 also marks the 80th anniversary of Children's Book Week, making this year’s celebration extra special. Across the week, students will engage in fun, book-themed activities that inspire a love of reading and highlight the joy of storytelling.

📖 Our Book Week Parade will take place on Thursday, August 21.

Students are encouraged to come dressed as a favourite book character or a creative interpretation of this year’s theme.

Stay tuned for more details—we can’t wait to celebrate the magic of books with our school community!

School Closure Days

Please note that there will be no school closure days this term.

Looking ahead to Term 4, I wish to advise families of the following school closure dates:

• Monday 3rd November – Cup Eve
• Tuesday 4th November - Public Holiday Cup Day
• Wednesday 5th November – Staff Professional Learning - Mission and Identity
• Friday 28th November – Staff Planning Day (2026 Curriculum & Strategic Planning)

We encourage families to note these dates in advance. Thank you for your understanding and support as we plan for the continued growth and improvement of our school.

Just another reminder about the cold and flu season...

As we move through the colder months, the health and wellbeing of our students and staff at St Joseph's remains our top priority.  Each day, we continue to uphold strong hygiene practices to help keep our school community safe and healthy, including:

• Hand sanitising before and after eating
• Washing hands thoroughly after using the toilet
• Using tissues and disposing of them correctly
• Coughing and sneezing into elbows - not hands.

To help protect the health of our school community, we kindly ask that children showing any cold-like symptoms — such as a runny nose, cough, sore throat, or fever — remain at home until they have fully recovered.  Keeping unwell children at home helps reduce the spread of illness and ensures a safer environment for all.

If your child begins to feel unwell during the school day, we will contact you so they can be collected.  

Thank you for your continued support and understanding.