PRINCIPAL'S NEWS

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

Sacrament of Reconciliation

Congratulations to the following students who received the Sacrament of Reconciliation last week.

Thank you to Bernadette Harney and our wonderful classroom teachers for facilitating such a reverent and spiritual ceremony. A special acknowledgment to our students, whose respect and heartfelt participation made the occasion even more meaningful. Their sincerity and engagement truly reflected the spirit of the ceremony.

🏊‍♂️Our Swimming Champions👏

Last week, three of our students - LEO KATSOULAKOS, NOAH ELLIOT & HAMISH SMITH -  proudly represented St Joseph's at the Regional Swimming Championships. Competing at this level—just one step away from the State Championships—is an incredible achievement, and we are so proud of their efforts.

I’m pleased to share a heartfelt summary of the event, provided by Andrew Elliot. Thank you, Andrew, for capturing the dedication and success of our students so beautifully.

Our 3 boys from St Joeys have swum brilliantly today at the Regional Swimming Championships representing their school, suburb and division. Each race had 2 finals with the best overall swimmer progressing to state.

Leo fought really hard to finish 4th place in his 50m Freestyle final, and placed 7th fastest overall between the 2 finals races.

Noah swam brilliantly after just missing the start to come in 4th place against kids all 1 year older than him in the 9/10 50m Backstroke. He’s in the Top 10 fastest for his region.

Leo dug deep in his 11 yo, 50 backstroke final to finish 5th with incredibly strong competition.

Hamish was incredible finishing in 3rd place in his 9/10yo 50m Breastroke final. Between the 2 finals races, he is the 7th fastest kid in 9/10 50m Breastroke.

Our boys were flying the St Joey's flag high today against incredibly stiff competition from some of the elite private schools of Melbourne with swimming coaches and squads, which makes these boys' achievements today all the more remarkable. Unfortunately, none of our kids are progressing to State but a huge accomplishment for these kids nonetheless.

#stjoeysproud

Family Fun Night – A Wonderful Celebration! 🌍

A huge thank you to all the families who joined us for our Family Fun Night last Friday! It was a fantastic way to wrap up our Harmony Week celebrations at St Joey’s, bringing our community together in such a joyful way.

A special shoutout to Bella Zacharioudakis for coordinating the incredible African Drumming Experience—it was an absolute hit! The energy, rhythm, and fun shared by all made for a fantastic evening.  🎶🥁✨

🚴Ride2School Day🚴

What an incredible Ride2School Day we had! The energy and enthusiasm from students, families, and staff made it a truly special event, showcasing the wonderful school spirit of St Joseph’s.

A huge thank you to Ms Jaclyn and Ms Bella for their hard work in organising such a fantastic day.  Your efforts made the event both fun and memorable!

I would like to also acknowledge the parents who helped coordinate gathering points—your support ensured a smooth and safe ride for all.  And of course, a big well done to all the students who rode or scooted their way to school.  It was fantastic to see so many happy, active participants!

Let’s keep the wheels turning and continue embracing active travel to school! 🚴🛴💨

🏃‍♂️ St Joey's Inaugural Cross Country Event 🏃‍♀️

This week, we held our very first St Joey's Cross Country Event, and what a fantastic day it was! All students from Grades 3-6 took part, demonstrating determination, resilience, and great sportsmanship.

The results from this event will help us form our St Joey's Cross Country Team for the upcoming District Championships—a wonderful opportunity for our runners to showcase their talent on a larger stage.

A huge congratulations to the following students who have qualified to compete at the district level:

9/10 yr old GIRLS

Sophie Sturrock        Mila Barker        Joumana Andrawes        Ada Ryan        Freya Wilby

Solyana Gobena       Mary Pullen       Zara Haddad

9/10 yr old BOYS

Biagio Minca              Kyrin Kouloumendas            Harry Spence          Nash Jervois

Charlie McGuire       Hudson Woolf                         Rocco Arico             Hamish Smith

11 yr old GIRLS

Colour Domange      Sophie Brunton      Elektra Karamoutzas      Stella Cerantola

Zelia Barker

11 yr old BOYS

Noah Ryan      Leo Katsoulakos      Joshua Wright      Archer Weinzieher

12/13 yr old GIRLS

Amelia Brown      Elise Jones

12/13 yr old BOYS

Christopher Nico      Joshua Tame      Pascal Ughetti

Toys at school

Just a gentle reminder that we kindly ask students not to bring toys to school. This helps ensure a safe and enjoyable environment for everyone. 

We have noticed that toys can lead to several issues, including:

• Safety concerns: Toys can be easily broken or damaged during the school day, which could lead to accidents or hurt feelings.
• Sharing and conflict: While sharing is encouraged, bringing personal toys to school can sometimes lead to disagreements or misunderstandings between children.
• Lost or expensive items: We want to avoid the stress of having valuable or sentimental toys go missing, which can be upsetting for both the children and their families.

Thank you for your understanding and support!

Head Lice

We have had quite a few cases of head lice throughout the school, predominantly in the junior classes.  If you discover that your child has head lice, please contact the school office so that we can inform other families to be cautious.  While I understand that this news is sometimes shared on WhatsApp groups, it is important that this information is also communicated directly to the school.

See the link below for more information about head lice.

https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/head-lice-nits

Premier's Reading Challenge

See the Learning and Teaching section of this Newsletter for information on this year's Premier's Reading Challenge, which is underway!

Wellbeing News...

See the Wellbeing section of this newsletter for more information on how we acknowledged and celebrated Neurodiversity Week at St Joseph's.  See also information on April School Holiday Phonics Workshops run by Spelfabet.

🌟 Wrapping Up a Fantastic Term! 🌟

As we head towards the end of another wonderful school term, I'd like to take a moment to reflect on the incredible learning, growth, and achievements of our students. It has been a term filled with deep learning and engagement, where curiosity has been nurtured, challenges embraced, and successes celebrated.

The term will conclude next Friday, April 4, at 1:30pm.  On this day the children may wear casual clothes.

A heartfelt thank you to our dedicated teachers, whose expertise, passion, and commitment to their craft continue to provide an enriching learning experience for all students.  Their ability to create engaging and meaningful lessons ensures that every child is supported and challenged to reach their full potential.

To our students—well done!  Your enthusiasm, perseverance, and willingness to learn make St Joey’s such a special place.  To our families, thank you for your ongoing support in fostering a strong and connected school community.

Wishing everyone a well-deserved break, and a very happy Easter.  

Enjoy the holidays! 😊🎉