Principal News - Part 2

Grandparents & Special Friends

We are delighted to once again host our traditional Grandparents' Day on Friday October 17th. This day is always such a highlight for our community.

The schedule will be as follows:

9:15am Gates open for arrival

9:45am Assembly hosted by our Year 5 students (inside)

10:15am Students and grandparents can tour the classrooms and school, with morning tea served (inside or outside, weather depending)

11:15am Morning tea concludes 

Please RSVP to the Grandparents' Day on Operoo for catering purposes. 

Congratulations Ruby & Nina! 

We are delighted to share that Ruby (Year 2) has been awarded Best in her Age Group (5–9) at the Glen Eira Youth Art Exhibition. This special event celebrates young people and their ability to express ideas and emotions through art, with this year’s theme being Time and Space. Ruby’s artwork stood out among many outstanding entries, and she was recognised for her creativity and interpretation of the theme. We are so proud of Ruby’s achievement and the way she represented St Joseph’s at this wonderful community celebration.

In Term 2, our Year 3–6 students were invited to enter the My Brother Jack Short Story Competition, run by Glen Eira Council. We were delighted by the response, with more than 100 entries from St Joseph’s, each showcasing imagination, creativity and perseverance.

With over 1,000 entries in each category, the competition was highly competitive. We are thrilled to share that Abi (Year 3) has been selected as a finalist in the Junior Primary category. Abi and her family will attend the awards night at Glen Eira Town Hall, and we are so proud of her achievement.

Student Success!

We are thrilled to congratulate Ava and Emmy (Year 4), who won the Melbourne Metropolitan South Regional Gymnastics Championship over the weekend. Competing against 12 other squads, this is an outstanding accomplishment that reflects their dedication, skill and teamwork. By securing first place at the regional level, Ava and Emmy now progress to the State Championships. We are so proud of their achievement and wish them every success!

Over the weekend, a number of St Joseph’s families took part in Connor’s Run along the Yarra, raising awareness and funds for brain cancer research. This event is close to our community, with Anna Skelton (parent) also working for the foundation. The students showed great spirit as they completed the 3km course, supporting one another and celebrating a wonderful cause. We are proud of their efforts!

Visual Arts - Term 4

I am delighted to share that Lauren Doran will be returning from maternity leave to resume to the Visual Arts/Sustainability role from Week 3, Term 4. We will organise a replacement teacher for Weeks 1 and 2 in readiness for Lauren’s return. Upon her return, Lauren will be onsite Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. 

Dogs at School

For the safety of all students, staff, and families, dogs are not permitted inside school buildings at any time. If you walk your dog to or from school, please ensure it is securely tied up outside, away from the foyer and/or main doors. On school property, dogs must remain on a leash and under the control of an adult at all times - children are not permitted to hold the leash or walk dogs around the playground before or after school.

Student Mobile Phones / Smart Watches

We ask families to remind their children that all mobile phones and Smart Watches (i.e. any device with cellular capacity) are to be handed in to the classroom teacher at the beginning of each school day. This aligns with the Victorian State Government Legislation. Parents who need to contact their child can do so by contacting the school office and a message will be passed on.  

School Advisory Council - Expressions of Interest

Our School Advisory Committee (SAC) meets 6-8 times per year to explore ways to strengthen and improve St Joseph’s, and to guide school strategies and projects. We are now calling for nominations to fill vacancies for the 2026–2027 period. Membership is voluntary and runs for a two-year term.

The Advisory Council acts as a supportive voice to the Principal, offering feedback on areas such as school improvement, financial governance, community engagement, communication, and the wellbeing and learning of our students.

How to Nominate: Please send an email to Claire Tobin principal@sjelst.catholic.edu.au stating your wish to nominate for a seat on the Advisory Council. Include a brief outline of your background and areas of interest. Applications close Friday October 3rd. 

The Council will consider all applications and. should it be required, a vote on new members will take place at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Tuesday, November 11th. Members who wish to be elected must attend this meeting. Successful candidates will be confirmed at the meeting and invited to attend the final SAC meeting of the year on Tuesday, December 5th.

Term 4 School Uniform

We will have a two week grace period at the start of Term 4, to allow the students to transition into their full summer uniform. There are strictly no variations to the school uniform e.g. non-school hat, alternative sock colours, sneakers.  School hats and sunscreen must be worn from day one and "no hat, no play" will apply. Sunscreen must be applied before school, and students are responsible for reapplication throughout the day. 

Term 4 Assemblies

And finally...

This is our final newsletter for Term 3. We want to thank the entire St Joseph's community for what has been an incredibly successful term. The efforts of our students, staff and parents have been remarkable, and you have all given us so much to celebrate.

Have a wonderful break, see you all on Monday 6th October.

Claire Tobin

Principal