Principal's News
Dear Parents, Carers, and Families,
Despite only having three days at school this week, we certainly made the most of every moment! In true St Joseph's spirit, our school, classrooms and playgrounds were filled with learning, laughter, enthusiasm, and we demonstrated once again the strength in our parish and community connections. From engaging learning experiences to special prayer celebrations, fun whole school events, and opportunities for students to enjoy new experiences and further develop their friendships, it has been another enjoyable and rewarding week. Our students have continued to demonstrate enthusiasm fo everything school life brings.
How lovely it is to see the changing colours of the beautiful trees in our school playground as the sunny winter mornings settle in. It was even more beautiful watching two of our youngest students walking into school together sharing their stories. These simple moments remind us of the joy, friendship, and sense of belonging that make our school community such a special place.
Prayer
This week, we remember Michelle Moore, former Principal of St Joseph's. This week on Wednesday marked the first anniversary of Michelle's passing.
Mrs Moore was a deeply loved and respected principal, colleague, friend, and member of our school community and a true inspiration in the wider MACS community. Her warmth, kindness, leadership, and unwavering commitment to the students, families, and staff of St Joseph's touched the lives of many. Her legacy continues to live on in the relationships she built, and the positive impact she made on our school especially in her passion for the best learning outcomes for all students.
As we pause to remember Michelle, we give thanks for the gift of her life and the many ways she enriched our community. We hold her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her in our thoughts and prayers during this time of remembrance. To all who loved Mrs Moore, go gently and remember her warmly.
Loving God,
We thank you for the life of Michelle Moore and for the care, compassion, and dedication she shared so generously with others.
May we remember her with gratitude and continue to be inspired by her example of kindness, service, and passion for exceptionally high standards. Comfort all who miss her, and grant them strength, peace, and hope.
May Michelle rest in your eternal love and peace, and may her memory continue to be a blessing within our St Joseph's community.
As we remember Michelle Moore on the first anniversary of her passing, we pray:
Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace. Amen.
School Disco - P&F Event
A highlight of the week was our whole-school disco this evening, proudly organised by our wonderful P&F Executive Team.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Jess G and the entire P&F team for the incredible time, energy, and dedication they invested in creating such a special event for our students. Their commitment to fostering community spirit, and opportunities for some fun for the children is greatly appreciated. Events like these simply would not be possible without their enthusiasm, hard work, and generosity.
We would also like to sincerely thank the many parent and carer volunteers who generously gave their time throughout the afternoon and evening to set up, serve popcorn and juices, packing up after the event and many other jobs! A special thank you also to those who attended the Child Safety Induction sessions and assisted with supervision, helping to ensure the event ran smoothly and safely for everyone. Your support of our students and school community is deeply valued.
Thank you also to our staff who stayed back after school on a Friday evening to join in the fun. Your willingness to give up your time and share in these special moments with our students is greatly appreciated.
The disco was a sensational evening filled with music, dancing and joy. It was wonderful to see our students celebrating together with such energy, enthusiasm, and school spirit. The smiles on their faces was a reminder of the importance of these opportunities to connect, have fun, and create lasting memories.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to making the evening such a memorable and successful community event. I'm sure the children will remember this evening for quite some time- there were many who said it was their best night ever!
Feast of the Sacred Heart Mass
As a school community, we gathered to celebrate the Feast of the Sacred Heart Mass, joining with our Parish community for this meaningful occasion, celebrated by Father Gallacher. This special feast reminds us of the deep and unconditional love of Jesus who loves everyone and whose heart is full of love, compassion and kindness.
We extend our sincere thanks to Ms DeVisser our Religious Education Leader for her planning and preparation of this celebration. We also thank our staff for guiding the children in prayer and reflection, helping to make this Mass a prayerful experience for all. Our children prayed and sang beautifully and our readers did a fabulous job as well as the Sid and Chessie who carried the gifts to Father Gallacher in the Offertory Procession.
It was wonderful to see so our families joining us as we gathered in faith to celebrate the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Together, we were reminded of the importance of living out Jesus' love through kindness, compassion, and service to others.
HOLT Lightning Premiership- Netball and Football
We are incredibly proud of the students who represented our school at the HOLT Netball and Football competitions across Thursday nd Friday this week. They displayed outstanding sportsmanship, teamwork, determination, and school pride throughout both events. Whether on the court, on the field, or supporting their teammates from the sidelines, our students were wonderful ambassadors for St Joseph's.
We congratulate all participants on their efforts, achievements, and positive attitudes. A special thank you goes to Mr Prowse for his dedication to our HOLT competitions and for the countless hours of organisation and preparation behind the scenes. His commitment helped make these events enjoyable, successful, and memorable experiences for our students.
We would also like to thank our wonderful teachers, Ms O'Grady, Ms Milly, Mr Butler, and Mr Hudson, who supported Mr Prowse and enthusiastically cheered on our students across both days. Their encouragement and support helped create a fantastic team spirit and made the experience even more special for everyone involved.
Well done to all our students - we loved seeing your enthusiasm and St Joseph's spirit shine through!
Staff Faith Formation
On Tuesday, our staff participated in a Faith Formation Day, joining colleagues from St Roch's and St Mary's schools within the Parish of Malvern. This special gathering provided a meaningful opportunity for staff across our parish schools to come together in prayer, reflection, professional learning, and faith formation.
The day was led by our Parish Priest, Father Gallacher, and supported by our Parish Seminarians, Patrick Harris and Anthony Wright. Together, they guided staff in deepening our understanding of faith, with and the important role we play in nurturing the spiritual growth of the students entrusted to our care.
We had the privilege of hearing from one of the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) Religious Education curriculum writers, who provided valuable insights into the new Religious Education curriculum. His presentation offered important context and a deeper understanding of the vision, purpose, and opportunities that the curriculum presents for our schools and students.
As a Catholic school community, opportunities such as these are invaluable in strengthening our shared commitment to Catholic education and fostering meaningful connections between the schools within our parish. The day provided time for reflection, prayer, discussion, and learning as we continue to grow in our shared mission of bringing the Gospel to life and supporting the faith development of every student.
We are grateful for this enriching experience and returned renewed in our faith, inspired in our vocation as Catholic educators, and strengthened in our commitment to serving our students, families, and parish community.
Parish News and Invitation to Parish Luncheon
Please take a moment to read the Parish News page in this week’s school newsletter.
All members of our community are warmly invited to join the Parish for the Parish Luncheon on Sunday 28 June, from 12:30pm to 3:00pm at Malvern Town Hall.
This special gathering will be a wonderful opportunity to come together as a community, and hear Fr Gallacher share a keynote address on the Mission of the Parish in the Catholic Church. His reflections promise to inspire and encourage us as we continue to grow in faith and service together. We would love to see many of our families and parishioners there. Please find the link to this week's Parish Bulletin:
What's on Next Week
Staying Connected...
At any time, if you have questions or concerns regarding the wellbeing, care, or learning of your child, please do not hesitate to reach out. We encourage you to contact your child's class teacher in the first instance, or alternatively, one of our school leaders, Dean Butler (Deputy Principal), or myself, Annabelle Marinelli (Principal). Working in partnership with our families is incredibly important to us, and we are always happy to listen, support, and work together to ensure the best possible outcomes for every child.
I wish you a lovely weekend with your beautiful families.
With warmest regards,
Annabelle Marinelli
Principal