Dear Parents,

Thanks to Trish Brennan, Rick Stubbins, Maria Milan and all staff who contributed to such a wonderful beginning of the year Mass and community BBQ on Friday. Building a strong community around our students is at the heart of everything we do as it provides a wonderful landscape for everyone to thrive, flourish and build a sense of identity. It is then that we can all make a difference and enrich the world around us.

Congratulations to our student leaders who received recognition for the exciting leadership journey they have commenced in 2026. All of our Year 6 students work collaboratively in teams leading house spirit groups, sustainability, technology, social justice and Indigenous fire carrier groups and we look forward to all that our wonderful Year 6 students will achieve in 2026.

Congratulations on a wonderful week of learning last week. Students have been working really well in their new learning communities and are setting learning goals to achieve the very best in all they set out to do.

As Principal, I am very proud of the scaffolds, routines and supports in place ensuring safe environments that are consistent and automatised, allowing our working memory to learn new things and reach the highest of academic standards.

Set expectations, routines and rules.
Calm, orderly and positive classroom environment
Strong student teacher relationships
Being responsive to behaviour

I thank staff for the dedication they demonstrate ensuing our Positive Behaviour Approach is consistent and embedded in all learning communities and the excellent preparation our teachers have done ensuring a safe and supportive learning environment for all.

If you have any incident your child comes home with that requires a follow up please email me on principal@sjcribpoint.catholic.edu.au and I will ensure it is investigated and resolved.

We strive to achieve excellence for every student in their learning. We have the highest priority on ensuring every student reaches their full potential in the basic skills in literacy and numeracy.

Home learning has commenced so please ensure your child is reading every night and bringing their signed diary in each day.

On top of our high priority on Literacy and Numeracy we strive to provide engaging opportunities for every student to shine and flourish in inspiring ways. We had a number of exciting events happening over the past fortnight at St Joseph’s. Our mangrove warriors and Dolphin Research ambassadors worked with Oz Fish to plant mangroves at Woolleys Beach. We are passionate stewards of God’s earth and continue to raise awareness of the important ecosystem Westernport Bay is. Our 3/4 learning community highlight this through our Sea is our Best Friend theme.

Last Thursday, students in Years 3-6 participated in the St Joseph’s swimming sports. The event was held at Crib Point pool and it was a day full of positivity, teamwork and students showing great stamina and persistence.

To see our kids all jumping into as many events as possible, cheering and encouraging each other on and putting all of their learning powers and tool kit into action was brilliant. What a great team spirit in action! Many thanks to our Phys Ed teacher Emily Reed for her excellent organisation of the day and to all parents who were able to come along and assist on the day.

This week we commence the Lenten season. Tomorrow students will celebrate Shrove Tuesday which is the traditional feast day before the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday. The Lenten season is the 40 days leading up to Easter where we self reflect on ways we can change and grow to be more like Jesus. On Wednesday we invite all of our community to our Ash Wednesday Liturgy at 2.45pm in the hall.

This Thursday we will welcome our Foundation students and families to the Prep and Pasta Welcome night.

This Friday 20th, we have our first Cafe for the year. This is a wonderful program in our school and we wish our Year 6 students all the best on Friday. Please try to come along to the Cafe and support our Year 6 community. The Cafe is a student-led initiative where students connect their Literacy, Numeracy and Science skills in a practical way and we invite parents, friends and outside community to come along.

Friday afternoon we have our first Family Fun Friday for the year. This is held from 2.45pm till 3.15pm. It is a time where parents, family and friends can come into the classrooms and experience some learning with the students. You are all welcome to walk around to each class and engage with the students in their learning.

Finally, we are starting a professional choir at St Joseph’s for students in years 1- 6. We are offering this as a free trial for Term 1 and will re- evaluate at the end of the term. The choir will offer students the opportunity to immerse themselves in new musical styles, cultures and techniques. Students will learn pitch, rhythm, beat, aural skills and beat with a mix of body percussion, movement and games.

Students will be part of a performance group with a focus on teamwork, collaboration and commitment. The choir, at its heart, is about the joy of singing as group, feeling a sense of belonging and purpose. Students need to commit to the term of choir which will be held on a Thursday from 1pm- 1.45pm. Meg’s professional performance work as a freelance soprano, including with the Australian Chamber Choir, engagements with the London Philharmonic, and recordings for the BBC has developed the technical and stylistic strengths she brings to teaching. Aiming to model professionalism, musical curiosity and a genuine love of singing for her students.

Yours in Partnership,

Gab

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