Principal News

 Dear parents and carers, 

This is our final newsletter for Term 2 and it gives us the opportunity to reflect upon what a truly remarkable term we have had, with just so much to celebrate at St Joseph's. We congratulate our students, staff and families for their significant investment during this period - bringing our school alive with learning, laughter, joy and community spirit. 

In particular, we congratulate our Preps for completing their first semester of learning and our Year 6s for the exceptional leadership they continue to show across the school. Both sets of students are doing such a wonderful job under the watchful eye of Miss Nardella, Miss Mclean, Miss Shanahan, Mr Jansson and Mr Sandler. 

Over the break, we hope that you are all able to have some rest and recharge, after what has been an incredible term of learning. It certainly has been a long one. Below is a small snapshot of what we have achieved this term - it is no wonder we are all feeling ready for a break! 

Term 2 Snapshot 

Anzac Day Liturgy

2026 Prep Interviews

Martial Arts whole-school incursion

Year 6 Topic Committee presentation

St Kevin's College Year 10 work experience students

Holt Cross Country competition

Glen Eira Disability incursion

P-2 Glen Eira community walks

Mother's Day stall, breakfast and assembly

Year 6 Interschool Football and Netball

SEL Project ROCKIT

Year 5/6 Sovereign Hill excursion

NCCD Audit

MSL training - Plaxy, Cassie and Elly 

P-2 'Old School' Day

P&F Meetings

Year 3 Victoria by the Park visits 

School Advisory Council meetings

Fire Education for Prep

Mary Poppins JR rehearsals and 

costume working bees

Maths Olympiad

Ethical Olympiad

Da Vinci Decathalon

Holt Interschool Soccer

Sorry Day and National Reconciliation Week 

Smoking Ceremony 

Beachside Cross Country competition

St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal

Year 3 Sacrament of Reconciliation 

Open Learning Sessions

Parent/Teacher Interviews

Open Learning Sessions 

Parents and families play an important role in supporting their child's education. Research has shown that when schools and families work together, children do better, stay in school longer, are more engaged with their school work, go to school more regularly, behave better, and have better social skills.

Wow - what a turn out! It was absolutely wonderful to spend time in classrooms during this morning’s Open Learning sessions. It was truly delightful to see our classrooms filled with families and it was clear how proud our students were of their achievements. This was evident in the joyful and confident way they shared their learning. From digital samples and workbooks to floor-based activities, the students made the most of this precious opportunity to connect with their parents and grandparents.

We cannot thank our parents enough for their commitment to these events and the investment they make in their child’s journey at St Joseph’s. Your presence signals the value you place on your child’s learning and their school.

A heartfelt thank you to our wonderful staff for preparing the students so thoughtfully. Many staff have shared how proud they are of the children, not only of their growth across the semester, but also of their ability to speak confidently about their learning. As teachers, nothing brings us more joy than seeing our students flourish!

Semester One Reports and Parent-Teacher Interviews

Thank you to our wonderful staff who worked so diligently to prepare the Semester One student reports. Your child's student report is now available from the nForma Parent Portal. Please refer to the Operoo notice regarding access. Parent/Teacher interviews will be conducted next week, on Tuesday July 1st from 2.30pm and Wednesday July 2nd from 3.30pm. Bookings can be made via the link provided from your child's classroom teacher. 

Year 3 Sacrament of Reconciliation

We wish to congratulate our beautiful Year 3 students who received the Sacrament of Reconciliation last Friday afternoon. Supported by Father Leenus, Father Andrew, Father Isaac, our families and staff, the students were outstanding and clearly recognised the significance of this occasion.

Year 6 and 5MH School Assemblies

What a joy it was to watch our Year 6 students shine during their assembly presentation last week. Their showcase captured the many rich and rewarding opportunities on offer at St Joseph’s, reminding us why Year 6 is such a standout experience. We are incredibly proud of our students and grateful to Miss Shanahan, Mr Jansson and Mr Sandler for the dedication and creativity they bring to the classroom.

Year 5MH recently presented their (absolutely hilarious!) Chanel 7 News Report on the gold rush, reflecting the learning from their current topic unit of work. Led by news reporters, Seb and Harriet, the students took us through issues facing the miners with a modern day twist. Well done to 5MH and Mr Hayes! 

Year 4 Shrine of Remembrance

Last Friday, our Year 4 students took part in an engaging and meaningful excursion to the Shrine of Remembrance, supporting their exploration into how history is remembered and honoured in Australia. Students explored key areas of the Shrine including the Sanctuary, the Crypt, and the Gallipoli landing boat. They listened to  stories that brought Australia’s military past to life and learned about the various ways we pay tribute to those who served – from poppies and rosemary to statues, flags and music.

A big thank you to our parent volunteers Abi, Tara, Nicky, Jo, Tina and Jess for accompanying the group, and to Mrs Pepper, Miss Murtagh and Miss Lou for leading such a rich learning experience for our students.

Leadership Reports

Please take your time and read Miss Dusting's English News and Mr Sandler's Sports Report from Term Two. Both provide a wonderful insight into the engaging learning and experiences happening across the school in these areas. We’re proud of the rich opportunities our students are offered, and grateful to our staff for their passion and leadership.

Staffing Updates

Next Friday (July 4th) marks Mrs Harrison’s last day at work before she takes some precious time off to prepare for the birth of her first baby. We take this opporunity to acknowledge and celebrate her incredible contribution to St Joseph’s. Alannah wears many hats in our community, leading P-2 Literacy, managing key aspects of Deputy Administration and working so closely with our students and families. Her care and professionalism are evident in all she does, and the positive impact she has made on both staff and students is truly significant. We are deeply grateful for everything she brings to our school and wish her and her husband, Callum, every joy and blessing as they enter this exciting new chapter of parenthood. In Alannah's absence, Mrs Cassie Gleeson and Mrs Sarah Nugent will take over the P-2 Literacy portfolio, working closely with students, staff and teachers. We anticipate Alannah will return to work in Term 3, 2026. 

Many thanks to Mrs Gabe Sheahan, our Learning Diversity Leader, for coordinating our important PSG (Program Support Group) meetings with families. These formal meetings take place each term and bring together families, teachers and LSOs to review student goals and progress. It’s a comprehensive process that requires significant time, planning and coordination of many moving parts. Most importantly, it’s a valuable opportunity to celebrate the progress and efforts of our students, and acknowledge the dedicated team supporting them. It truly takes a village, and we’re lucky to have one of the best.

Last week, we were proud to host the Institute for Multisensory Structured Language Education’s 5-day MSL (Multisensory Structured Language) training workshop onsite at St Joseph’s. The event drew educators from across Australia and abroad, highlighting the cricual role MSL plays in primary education. Two of our exceptional teachers, Miss Dillon and Mrs Gleeson, took part in the training, which is grounded in the latest reading science. This intensive program equips educators with evidence-based strategies for the direct and explicit teaching of literacy, ensuring our students continue to benefit from best-practice instruction aligned with the science of reading.

We are proud to acknowledge that the following staff members are, or will soon be, accredited MSL instructors: Alannah Harrison, Wendy Dugosija, Claire Dusting, Alice Nelligan, Plaxy Nardella, Elly Dillon and Cassie Gleeson. 

St Vincent De Paul 

Our Year 6 Social Justice Leaders – Penelope, Poppy, Jamieson, Liam, Charlotte, Lara and Ava – have done a fantastic job leading this term’s St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal. They’ve worked alongside Adrian from our local Vinnies branch to organise and track donations across the school, and we received the loveliest email from the team below: 

A big thankyou to the Social Justice Grade 6 children for their tremendous help in loading the vehicles. There has been a fantastic amount of goods donated already. The St Joseph’s school community never fails to deliver. The generosity of the families is also much appreciated by the people we help.

Please see the newsletter page for the final updates. 

Year 6 Sacrament of Confirmation 

We are very much looking forward to celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation with our Year 6 students on Thursday August 7th at 5pm (Term 3, Week 3). This special occasion marks an important step in their faith journey, and we know it will be a deeply meaningful evening for them, their families, and our wider school community. Bishop Tony Ireland will be the celebrant on the night, and we are grateful for his continued support, along with Father Leenus. We sincerely thank Miss Shanahan, Mr Jansson and Mr Sandler for their thoughtful preparation of the students in the lead-up to this sacrament. 

Community Illness

Over the past fortnight, various viruses and respiratory issues have been sweeping through our classrooms, leading to a spike in absences and numerous calls for children to be picked up from school. This is a fitting reminder for everyone to remain vigilant during this challenging period. Please ensure that children stay home in the final week of school if they exhibit high temperatures or cold-like symptoms, to ensure this does not impact the wider class or staffing group. 

Final Day of Term Two

Term Two concludes on Friday 4th July at 1pm. School resumes at normal time on Monday 21st July. 

Term 3 Assemblies

Little Gems

Some 'behind the scenes' shots of Hamish and Reuben (Year 6) preparing for their Open Learning expo. I am pleased to report that no fingers were harmed in the process!

Must do - read the P&F page to secure your tickets to the annual parent fundraising event! 

Alfie (Year 1) brought this stunning painting in to show his class - another masterpiece! 

All students in Prep were so focused in their spelling lessons. Low variance curriculum in action - it was a joy to see! 

To celebrate Miss Lougheed's birthday, her Year 2 class threw a 'Fancy Hat' party! It was a hoot!

Thank you to the P&F and our wonderful Year 6 Parent Reps and volunteers - Lisa, Ingrid, Erica, Michael, Sarah, Julia, Liana, Poppy, Ash and Jo for hosting the cake stall last week. 

Jack P (Year 4) proudly thanked Orrong Road Kinder for having the students over for a buddy visit. Unprompted, and unscripted, he stood up and addressed all students and teachers with a very heartfelt thank you speech. Well done, Jack! 

Mr Jansson and Archie (Year 2) were delighted with their win over the Blues on the weekend. Not pictured - Mr Hartney telling everyone how lucky baby Summer is to be born in a North Melbourne 'Premiership Year'. I think he's dreaming! 

Congratulations to one of our Year 1 Basketball Teams for their most recent Grand Final win! 

One loss in the season and taking out the grand final after losing to the same team the week previously made for some very excited boys! 

Today our Year 6s played a 'friendly' game of netball and football against St Agnes. Below are some fantastic action shots from our netball team. 

In closing...

We ask our community to keep Fr Leenus in their prayers.  He recently returned to India after the sudden passing of his brother.  He will return to St Joseph's in August. 

 Thank you to the staff for another amazing term at St Joseph's, and to the students for their hard work and determination. How is it the end of June? The year is flying past. 

Looking forward to seeing you all next week for the final sprint to the finish line. For those families who are off on an extended trip, have the most wonderful time and see you in Term 3. 

Take care, 

Claire Tobin

Principal