Dear Parents and Friends,

It is hard to believe that we are already more than halfway through term two!

Students continue to be engaged in great learning in classrooms and teachers are currently preparing student semester one reports, and their assessments will show how students have demonstrated growth in their learning.

National Reconciliation Week – All In

The theme for National Reconciliation Week 2026, All In, calls on all Australians to commit to reconciliation not just for a week, but in our everyday actions.

Being All In means each of us takes responsibility for building understanding, justice, and healing. As people of faith, reconciliation is central to who we are, acknowledging the past while actively choosing to work together for a more just and united future.

As part of our focus on National Reconciliation Week, our students have shared their own commitments to being All In. These are displayed in our foyer for families to read and reflect upon. The installation stands as a visible reminder of our shared journey and the voices of our students leading the way forward.

At today's assembly, students united to sing Beds Are Burning as an act of solidarity, using music as a powerful way to reflect on justice, land, and shared responsibility. This collective moment reinforced the message that reconciliation is something we all actively participate in.

Celebrating Sacramental Milestones

It has been a very busy few weeks in our school community as we have celebrated several significant sacramental milestones.

Congratulations to our Year 3 students who recently received the Sacrament of First Reconciliation. We also extend our congratulations to our Year 6 students on receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation, and to our Year 4 students who celebrated their First Eucharist last Saturday.

We are incredibly proud of all our students, who demonstrated thoughtful preparation, reverence, and respect throughout each of these special occasions.

A sincere thank you to our MLA and SLA staff for their dedication in preparing our students so well for these important steps in their faith journey. We also extend a very special thank you to Kate Hart, our Religious Education Leader, for her outstanding work in overseeing the organisation and planning of these events.

Staffing Updates – MLA Applications and Physical Education and Health

Applications are now open for the MLA position, as Rhoe will be departing at the end of this term. Once this position has been filled, further information will be shared with the school community.

We extend our sincere thanks to Vanessa for her dedication and contribution to our students and the school’s Physical Education and Health program. We wish her all the very best during this special time as she prepares to welcome her new addition.

Prep 2027

Prep enrolments closed at the end of May. If you have a child to be enrolled for Prep 2027, l ask families to complete the enrolment form and hand it into the office as soon as possible. Families who have enrolled their child will have received an email inviting them to attend an interview in coming weeks.

Meeting with families individually provides us with the opportunity to get to know your child better. We want all our new preps to thrive academically, emotionally, and socially when their school journey begins. We know from experience that if children are not ready for school, they can really struggle and sometimes fall behind. When students are very young, they can often benefit from spending another year in kindergarten to strengthen their foundational knowledge, improve their social interactions, and enhance their readiness for the challenges of not only prep, but also the higher grade levels. This is not a reflection of children’s abilities or potential. On the contrary, it is a proactive measure intended to ensure that they have a solid foundation upon which to build their academic and social skills. If you have any questions about your child commencing school next year, please contact Michele.

Child Safe Standard 4 – Working in Partnership

Child Safe Standard 4 highlights the importance of families and communities being informed and actively involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing. Children are safest when families, schools, and the wider community work in strong partnership.

Research, including findings from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and UNICEF, consistently emphasises that effective collaboration between families, carers, and schools supports the early identification of risks, promotes cultural safety and inclusion, and strengthens both wellbeing and learning outcomes.

When schools, families, and communities work together, children benefit from a strong sense of connection, safety, and support.

As a school community, we are committed to fostering strong, respectful partnerships with our families to ensure every child feels safe, supported, and able to thrive.

Cross Country

Today a number of students represented St Joseph the Worker Primary School at the Division Cross Country Championships at Bundoora Park. Congratulations to our students who participated today and gave their best in a strong competitive field of participants.

Thank you to Cara, Josie and the parents who attended and supported our students on the day, with a special thanks to Cara for preparing our students so well.

School Absentee

Just a reminder that if your child is going to be absent from school, you must submit the Absentee eForm via Audiri. If your child is absent from school and you have not submitted an eForm, your child will be marked as unexplained, and you will receive an SMS notification about this.

We also ask that you avoid picking up your child early from school as this disrupts their learning. Early pickups should only be for an emergency or for an appointment that cannot be scheduled out of school hours. Thank you for your support in this matter.

The Importance of Arriving on Time

Being on time for the start of the school day is an important part of setting our students up for success. Arriving promptly allows children to settle in, unpack their belongings, and prepare themselves for a calm and positive start to learning.

We have noticed that some students are regularly arriving late to school. This can make the beginning of the day feel rushed and, at times, unsettling for them. When students arrive after the day has begun, they may feel anxious, which can impact their confidence, focus, and engagement in learning.

We encourage all families to support their children in arriving at school on time each day, so they can begin their learning in a settled and positive way. A calm, organised start helps our students feel confident, connected, and ready to learn.

Maintaining Safe and Clean Play Spaces

We have recently experienced an increase in bird droppings on our basketball courts, which has impacted student access to these important play areas. Over the weekend, the courts were thoroughly cleaned and sanitised to restore them to a safe condition for student use.

Unfortunately, this remains an ongoing challenge. To address this, we have organised the installation of a new tap behind the hall, along with a long hose, which will enable us to regularly clean and maintain the area.

Ensuring a safe and hygienic environment for our students is a key priority, and we will continue to take proactive steps to support their wellbeing and access to play space.

Wishing everyone a restful long weekend and please remember that next Tuesday 9th June is a pupil free day.

We ask St Joseph the Worker to continue to bless and keep safe, our wonderful Parish and School Community.

Kind regards,

Maria Barnes

Principal

Prayer for Reconciliation

God of love,

We pray for your Church, guide our leaders to be people of reconciliation, walking humbly, listening deeply, and acting justly alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

We pray for our nation, that all Australians may be All In on the journey of reconciliation, building relationships grounded in truth, respect, and shared responsibility.

Strengthen us to be All In, to acknowledge the past, to act with justice in the present, and to work together for healing and hope.

Amen.

Child Safety Standard 4