PRINCIPAL'S NEWS

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

Sacrament of Confirmation

This week will be a busy one for our Confirmation candidates.  

This Thursday, June 12, the Candidates will have the chance to meet the new Bishop, Rene Ramirez, at the Cathedral.  He will speak with the children about the meaning of the sacrament and what it represents as they take this next step.  This is a great opportunity for the students to connect with him and ask any questions they may have.

On Saturday at 3:00pm, the candidates will receive the Sacrament at St Patrick’s Cathedral. This is an important moment in their journey, and we’re proud of the preparation and thought they’ve put into getting ready for this special occasion.

We wish all our Confirmation candidates the very best for Saturday’s ceremony and thank families and staff who have supported them along the way.

School Photos

School Photo Day is TUESDAY JUNE 17.  

Children are to wear their full school winter uniform on this day.  

Although Middle and Senior students have PE on this day, they will still be required to wear their academic uniform.  They are welcome to bring runners to change into for their PE lession.

Long hair must be tied back with only school-coloured hair ties, and students should not wear jewellery or nail polish. Please see the School Uniform section of this newsletter for clarification around uniform requirements.

Thank you for helping us ensure students are looking their best for this important school event.

Cultural Day!

During Inquiry lessons this term, students at St Joseph’s have taken a dive into the Intercultural Capability curriculum, which enables students to learn about different cultures, create intercultural connections and cultivate mutual respect. In some classes students have been focusing on their own cultures and of those in the local Northcote community, whilst other classes have been exploring and learning about a culture that is different from their own.

We are inviting parents/carers and other family members and friends to pop in and see what our students have been learning about this term in Inquiry.

Date: Thursday June 26th

Time: 2:30pm – 3:15pm

Location: Your child’s classroom

Semester One Reports

Our teachers have been working diligently behind the scenes to prepare end-of-semester reports. This process may involve one-on-one interviews and assessments with each child in English and Mathematics, analysis of data collected at the end of units of work, as well as the collection of evidence on behaviour, effort and classroom engagement. A great deal of time, work and thoughtful consideration goes into these reports to ensure they accurately reflect each student’s growth and learning journey.

We are incredibly fortunate to have such a dedicated and professional teaching team. Their deep knowledge of each student, strong commitment to learning, and genuine care for every child ensures that our reports are meaningful and insightful. We thank them for the enormous effort they put into this process and for the outstanding work they do every day to support and inspire our students.

This year you will notice a change in format for our reporting on Mathematics.  This year all Victorian schools are implementing a new Mathematics curriculum, Version 2.0, across all classes from Prep - Year 10.  The new curriculum is designed to improve mathematical understanding and problem-solving skills across all levels and places a much stronger emphasis on Number. 

In past reports, your child received three separate achievement standards for Mathematics:

* Number and Algebra

* Measurement and Geometry

* Statistics and Probability

These three standards have now been combined into a single overall Mathematics score. This score is based on the teacher’s professional judgement, supported by a range of data that reflects what your child has demonstrated they understand and can do across the Mathematics curriculum.

This new report format focuses on where your child is currently performing within the curriculum.  You’ll notice there is no achivement standard (dot point) indicating growth—this will be included in future reports, once there is enough data to track and compare progress over time.

Semester One reports will be shared with families on Wednesday July 2.   Parent Teacher Interviews will be held later in term three.  If you have any questions or would like to discuss your child’s report before then, please don’t hesitate to contact their classroom teacher.

From the SRC... Winter Blanket Appeal

We are coordinating the Winter Blanket Appeal this year at St Joseph’s.

St Vinnies has identified the Winter months as a very hard time for families in poverty. If you are cold it is very hard to keep well and healthy and stay safe from colds and flu.

The St Joseph’s Winter Blanket Appeal will continue until June 25. Someone from St Vinnies will come to school to collect the new warm blankets and take them to people who are struggling to keep warm. 

Please bring your new warm blanket donations to school.

Thank you for your kind donations.

Members of St Joseph’s SRC

Mannix House Rewards Day

To celebrate the term 1efforts and achievements of Mannix House, we’ll be holding a (belated) House Rewards Day next week. Students in Mannix House will enjoy a movie and pizza treat on Monday June16.

Please note that while each child will receive a slice of pizza during the movie, it’s still important they bring their usual lunch on the day to ensure they’re well fed and ready for the afternoon.

Well done, Mannix!

Youth myki Card design competition

OVERVIEW

Are you a wiz with a pen, pencil or paintbrush? Between the ages of 5 and 17? Well, now you’ve got the freedom to make something for all of Victoria to see – and make some extra cash while you’re at it.  

From 1 January 2026, young people aged 17 and under will be able to explore Victoria for free on public transport. That means kids and teens can hop on a train, tram or bus anywhere across Victoria at no cost.   

To celebrate this, there’s a brand-new Youth myki coming, and a new canvas to get your art in the hands of young Victorians. 

Submit your original artwork and you could see your creation featured on the official Youth myki card. Plus, the winner will also receive a $1000 Visa gift card. 

Get creating! Entries open 6 June and close 15 June 2025.  Be free to imagine, create, and explore!  

Ms Louise will chat further about this in upcoming Art classes...

In the meantime - click on the following link for more information https://engage.vic.gov.au/youthmyki

Dental Van Visit

The Australian Dental Health Initiative is due to come to St Joseph's this week. They have a list of children's consents that were completed last term.

For any other information about the dental van, please see the FAQ's link here:

Australia Dental Health Van FAQs

Cyber Safety Information Evening - Preston Police

SAVE THE DATE | Free Event

When: Monday 23rd June 2025

Time:  6-7pm

Location: St Joseph’s School. Northcote

Senior Constable Andy Moreton will attend St Joseph's to support our families with online Cyber Safety. The session will run for approximately one hour. The presentation will:

• Provide information on what young people SEE, SAY and DO online, challenges they might face and how to get help if something goes wrong.
• Highlight and promote safe and responsible online behaviours.
• Empower parents with the tools to be confident in managing the challenges associated with technology use.
• Focus on the challenges that can impact online safety for young people, as well as providing tools to take action

Please contact Bella Zachariouakis at: bzacharioudakis@sjnorthcote.catholic.edu.au if you have any questions.

Senior's Hooptime

Unfortunately, the Senior Hooptime event scheduled for June 25 has been cancelled. Basketball Victoria has advised that there were not enough schools registered to provide adequate competition on the day.

We understand this may be disappointing and appreciate your understanding. We will explore options to reschedule the event later in the year if possible.