Principal's News
Dear St Joseph's Parents, Carers and Families,
What a week at St Joseph's! What an exciting end to our school year! I really don't think we could have fit another activity or school event in, even if we tried!
The Season of Advent
As we complete the second week of Advent, we find ourselves in a beautiful season of hope, anticipation, and preparation as we journey towards Christmas. Advent invites us to pause amid the busyness, to reflect on the gifts of the present, and to prepare our hearts for the celebration of the birth of Jesus. It is a special time for our school community to come together in faith, strengthening our relationships and deepening our sense of gratitude. Through acts of kindness, generosity, and reflection, we are reminded of the true spirit of Advent and the joy that comes from living with hope and love during this special season.
During the past week, each class across our school community has led us in prayer as we celebrated the season of Advent and with the Preps today so beautifully presented the Nativity- the birth of the baby Jesus. These liturgies were prepared and presented so thoughtfully by our students, with the wonderful support of their teachers and the guidance of our Religious Education Leader, Ms Donnella DeVisser. The liturgies provided meaningful opportunities for reflection and helped us to pause, pray, and prepare our hearts during this season of Advent. It was lovely to welcome families who joined us to share in these special moments of faith, and we are grateful for the sense of community and reverence that was present throughout the week.
Principal and Deputy Principal for a Day- Take 2
Earlier this week, we were delighted to welcome two new leaders at St Joseph’s Primary School - Archie (Year 3) as ‘Principal for the Day’ and Frankie (Year 2) as ‘Deputy Principal for the Day’. Their day was full of exciting and meaningful experiences, from purchasing gifts for the birthday box, to enjoying lunch at Charcoal Charlies followed by Yochi. They had the opportunity to introduce the Year 5 Captains’ speeches, oversee Moving Up Day, and lead our first Advent Liturgy. Archie and Frankie also participated in a P&F meeting to help prepare for next year’s school fete and had the special privilege of attending our Leadership Team meeting on Monday. It was wonderful to see their confidence, enthusiasm, and leadership shine throughout the day!
"I loved wearing my principal badge an saying hello to everyone at the gate. I even got to wear Mrs Marinelli's key. The lunch and Yochi the best!" - Archie
"It was a fun day with Mrs Marinelli!. We got to do lots of things and buy the presents for birthday box. Yochi was the best!" - Frankie
2026 Classes - 'Moving Up' Day
On Monday we will hold our 'Moving Up Day'. Students were informed of their new class teacher for 2026 and spent time in their new classroom with their teacher and classmates. This gave them a chance to form connections, explore their new learning environment, and ease any uncertainties about the year ahead. Moving Up Day helps students feel prepared, confident, and excited as they transition into their new classes. It was a positive way to finish the school year and we look forward to the next chapter of learning at St Joseph’s in 2026.
We also welcomed new students who will be joining St Joseph’s at the beginning of next year.
A great deal of thought and care goes into the formation of these classes, with staff and school leaders considering each child’s learning needs, social connections, wellbeing, and the overall balance of each group. Our goal is always to create the best possible learning environment for every student. We appreciate the trust you place in us as we make decisions that best meet the needs of every child.
St Joseph's Leadership Speeches
On Monday, our Year 5 students presented their leadership speeches to the students and teachers. Over the past few weeks, they had spent valuable time reflecting on our school values and considering how these would guide them as they take on their roles as school leaders in 2026. Their preparation showed maturity, thoughtfulness, and a genuine desire to contribute positively to our school community.
We were incredibly proud to hear their speeches and to witness the confidence, creativity, and leadership potential they brought to this important moment in their learning journey. The quality of their speeches was outstanding, and they represented themselves, and our school, beautifully.
We thank our Year 5 teachers Ms Kirsten Daws and Ms Lauren O'Grady for their preparation with the Year 5s and for leading our Year 2 to Year 5s through the preferential voting process.
We are very proud of our Year 5 students and the outstanding speeches they delivered. Following the student voting, we congratulate our Year 5 students on their 2026 leadership positions:
School Captains & Social Justice Leaders- Xavier and Cooper
Fire Carrier Leaders - Nicholas and Spencer
Sustainability Leaders - Alex, Benji and Daniel
STEAM Leaders- Alex, Benji, Nicholas, Spencer and Daniel
Red House Leaders- Daniel and Spencer
Green House Leaders - Benji
Yellow House Leaders - Nicholas and Alexander
Christmas Carols and Picnic at St Joseph's
What a fun and festive way to come together as a school community to celebrate the joy of Christmas.
I congratulate our students for their beautiful singing of Christmas songs and carols. You sang with such joy, confidence, and enthusiasm, and you truly brought the Christmas story to life for all of us this afternoon.
To our teachers and staff, thank you for the care, time, and dedication you put into preparing the students. Your guidance and encouragement made this occasion so special.
Thank you to our parents and families who joined us this and shared in the fun with Christmas picnics. It was wonderful to see so many families relaxing together, enjoying the music, the sunshine, and each other’s company as we celebrate the end of another school year.
A huge thank you to our Parents and Friends, under the leadership of 2025 President Laura Kay, for the amazing job they did in making this end-of-year Christmas picnic so special for our community. We appreciate all of your work in organising the raffle, putting the beautiful hampers together, organising and running the BBQ and all the extra fun activities for our children and families. As a result of their hard work this event raised over $5800 for our school. We are so grateful for their huge effort in creating a welcoming community event as well as fundraising for our school.
We are also incredibly grateful to our wider parent community for your generosity with so many donations that helped make this event such a successful celebration for everyone. Your willingness to give your time and support truly reflects the strength of our community.
Thank you also to Fr Gallacher for joining us and being part of this special end-of-year celebration. We always welcome Fr Gallacher's presence which is reflective of the strong connection between our school and parish.
Transition Program for our Year 4, 5 and 6 students
Our Year 4, 5, and 6 students have continued to engage enthusiastically in their senior transition program. This week, our Year 4 and 5 students, who will soon transition into our senior school as future leaders, enjoyed a fun and purposeful team-building experience at HiJinx Hotel. The day helped strengthen friendships, build confidence, and develop collaboration skills as they prepare to step into their future leadership roles.
Last week, we had the privilege of welcoming our very own Parish Priest Fr Gallacher and St Joseph's Parish Seminarian, Patrick Harris, who spoke with the students about the importance of school values and how these guide them through times of change and growth. Patrick explored how they can continue to deepen their relationship with God, carry their faith into daily actions, lead with kindness and strength, and remain open to God’s presence as they take on new responsibilities. The session enriched the students’ transition program, reinforcing that their values and faith offer a guiding foundation wherever they go.
As part of the transition program, we were delighted to welcome past students from St Joseph’s to speak with our Year 4, 5 and 6 students about their own experiences moving to secondary school. It was very special to hear from Lenny, Rupert, Amity, Alyssia, Myles, and Patrick, and to have these very wonderful former students return to share their insights, advice, and stories about this important time of change and transition in their lives. We are grateful for their time and their enthusiasm to so articulately share their experiences.
Exciting Staff Baby News
We are delighted to share some joyful news from within our school community. Both Ms Siobhan O’Dwyer and Ms Luisa La Rosa are expecting babies next year, and we couldn’t be happier for them. This is such a special time in their lives, and on behalf of the entire St Joseph’s community, we offer our warmest congratulations and best wishes. We hope the months ahead are filled with good health, excitement, and precious moments as they prepare to welcome their little ones.
Preps and Year 5&6 Buddy Picnic at Spring Park
On Thursday our Preps and Year 5s and 6s went to spring park for their end of year buddy picnic. There was so much joy as the children enjoyed their special bonds and friendships they have made across the year.
Year 6 Zooper Dooper Fundraiser Success!
It was wonderful to see our Year 6 students working so enthusiastically this week, selling Zooper Doopers on the warmer days to help raise funds for their Graduation evening. Their teamwork, initiative, and positive attitude were a pleasure to watch, and it was lovely to see the school community supporting them. Thank you to everyone who helped make this fundraising effort such a success.
End of Year Mass and Year 6 Graduation
Yesterday, we celebrated our end-of-year Mass at St Joseph’s Church, marking the conclusion of another wonderful school year. During this special service, we farewelled our graduating Year 6 students, acknowledging their growth, achievements, and contributions to our school community. We also gave thanks for the staff who have supported our students so generously and we prayed for them as they begin new journeys.
We sincerely thanked Fr Gallacher and seminarian Patrick for celebrating this very special Mass. We extend a special thank you to Ms Donnella DeVisser, who organised the Mass so beautifully, making it a meaningful moment of prayer and reflection for all of us.
Our gratitude extended to our leadership team, teachers, and staff for their extraordinary work throughout the year, and to our families for their support, partnership, and trust in us.
Most importantly, we thanked our students for the joy, enthusiasm, and commitment they bring each day, living out our St Joseph’s values of strength and kindliness.
Another highlight of the Mass was the warm welcome of our new Year 6 School Captains as they began their leadership journey. As our Year 6s moved forward, we proudly handed over the role of school leaders to our Year 5 students, who we know will continue to lead with our school values of strength and kindliness in 2026. It was my absolute pleasure and honour to announce our St Joseph’s School Captains and Social Justice Leaders for 2026.
We also took a special moment to acknowledge our Year 6 Graduating Class of 2025, celebrating their growth into confident, thoughtful, and compassionate young people, and wishing them every success as they step into secondary school. During the Mass, Fr Gallacher extended his invitation to our leaving students to continue being part of our Parish community.
After the Mass, I presented the Term 4 Principal’s Awards to students who consistently demonstrated our school values of strength and kindliness or excellence in learning:
- Stefan N - Prep
- Henry A - Prep
- William G - Year 1
- Molly B - Year 1
- Anna H Year 2
- Piper H - Year 3
- Harvey C - Year 3
- Tom J- Year 4
- Elsie W- Year 4
- Alexander G- Year 5
Oscar R - Year 6
We also celebrated academic excellence with the annual Michelle Moore Excellence Award, which recognises a Year 6 student who has demonstrated consistent and outstanding academic achievement throughout their time at St Joseph’s. This year, the award was proudly presented to Jamie Hazell. Jamie has shown exceptional dedication, curiosity, and perseverance in all areas of learning. His commitment to excellence, thoughtful approach to challenges, and willingness to support his classmates exemplify the qualities that Mrs Michelle Moore valued so highly. Jamie’s achievement is a testament not only to his hard work but also to the positive attitude and integrity he brings to our school community. Congratulations, Jamie, on this well-deserved recognition.
We farewelled all students leaving St Joseph’s this year, as well as staff members Ms Smith, Ms Stacey, Ms Harrick, and Ms Hansford, thanking them for their dedication and care. We wished all departing students and staff every happiness in their new schools and adventures, encouraging them to carry the values and memories of St Joseph’s with them.
It was a beautiful and meaningful celebration, bringing our community together in gratitude, prayer, and joy as we honoured our leaving students, celebrated our new leaders, and looked ahead to the year to come.
Year 6 Graduation Celebration
On Thursday evening, our Year 6 students celebrated their Graduation Evening with their families, teachers, and Year 6 friends in a special night filled with memories, reflection, and celebration as we marked the end of their time at St Joseph’s. We listened to the students' wonderful speeches, enjoyed the Year 6 montage of photos across their school years, and shared in the joy of this important milestone, with Fr Gallacher joining us to bless the occasion and add to the sense of community. It was a memorable evening honouring the achievements, growth, and contributions of the Class of 2025, and celebrating the start of the next chapter in their lives. We thank our wonderful parents, Amy and Chris Buick and Rachel and George Wilson (parents of school captains Bridget and Callum), who, with the support of senior leader Clare Smith, worked hard to coordinate and organise such a beautiful celebration for our Year 6s. It was also so lovely for so many of our staff to join this celebration with our Year 6 families, making the evening even more special. We thank Stef Brunetti for the beautiful graduation cake that added the perfect end to this celebration.
In honour of their celebration, the graduating students received a special book with letters written to them by our staff, along with some lovely momentos placed on their dinner tables, thoughtfully organised by their teachers. It was a truly beautiful celebration, and we will miss them very much.
I have attached my speech for our graduation class of 2026 - for the children and their families:
Guard of Honour
After the Graduation Ceremony, our Year 6 students ran through a very heartwarming Guard of Honour formed by the St Joseph’s community. This joyful moment celebrated their achievements, allowed the whole school to cheer them on, and created a memorable send-off as they concluded their primary school journey. As the African Blessing song played over the speakers as the children ran out with joy...
Walk tall, walk well, walk safe, walk free. And may harm never come to thee. Walk wise, walk good, walk proud, walk true. And may sun always smile on you. Walk prayer, walk huge, walk faith, walk light. And may peace always guide you right. Walk joy, walk brave, walk love, walk strong. And may life always give you song." – African Blessing
Here are a few pictures that captured the joy...
Year 6 Big Day Out - Gumbaya World
Today our Year 6 students enjoyed their 'Big Day Out' at Gumbaya World with their friends and their teachers- a day they had been eagerly counting down to! This much-loved end-of-year celebration was filled with fun, laughter, and unforgettable memories. It was also a special chance for them to celebrate their friendships and the strong bonds they’ve built throughout their years at St Joseph’s. Our Year 6s loved every moment!
Celebrating Student Success – Wolf’s Outstanding Achievement
We are delighted to share some exciting news from our school community. Wolf has recently been selected as one of the top players in the country to represent his State at the Rising Stars Tournament! This is an incredible achievement made even more impressive by the fact that he is once again the youngest player selected.
This recognition is a true reflection of Wolf’s dedication, talent, and commitment to his sport. His hard work and perseverance have certainly paid off, and we know his summer break will be happily spent chasing his dreams as he prepares for this wonderful opportunity.
We are incredibly proud of Wolf and congratulate him on this remarkable milestone. We wish him every success as he represents his state and continues to pursue his passion.
Welcoming new student
This week we welcomed a new student, Hugo, who will be joining us in Year 1 next year. Our wonderful Preps, Greyson and Billy, took him under their wing and looked after him - such a beautiful example of the kindness and care our St Joseph’s students show every day!
P& F Update- 2026 Family Fun Day- Save The Date!
Our 2026 P&F Executive Team - Stef, Angela N, Hayley, Angela L, Jess, and Fleur, have been working busily behind the scenes to plan our St Joseph’s Family Fun Day for 2026. Their dedication and creativity are already shaping what promises to be a fantastic event for our whole school community.
While more details will be shared soon, we encourage everyone to save the date in your calendars: Saturday, March 28 from 10am to 3pm. It will be a wonderful family day of and community spirit, and we can’t wait to celebrate together!
Community Market Stalls- Family Fun Day
If you or a family member have a food or craft business, or even a creative hobby, you would like to share, we warmly invite you to be part of our Community Fun Day. We are currently seeking expressions of interest for stallholders to join our St Joseph’s Community Market, which will be a special feature of next year’s Fun Day.
This is a wonderful opportunity to showcase your talents, promote your small business, and contribute to a vibrant, community-focused event. Whether you bake, sew, paint, craft, cook, or create in any way, we would love to hear from you.
Please send your expression of interest through to Prep parent and Deputy P&F President Angela Lam - angelam71@gmail.com
We’re excited to celebrate the creativity and passion within our St Joseph’s community!
Call for 2026 P&F Grade Representatives
We extend our heartfelt thanks to our amazing 2025 Parent Reps, whose dedication and efforts have been instrumental in supporting and connecting our parent community. Through fostering relationships, sharing information, and creating a sense of belonging, they have made a real difference for all families at St Joseph’s.
The success of our fundraising initiatives and the many positive outcomes achieved this year would not have been possible without their commitment, and the ongoing support of our entire school community.
We are now seeking enthusiastic parents to join us as Grade Representatives for 2026. This is a wonderful opportunity to get involved, support fellow families, and help build an even stronger school community. Your contribution, whether big or small, makes a lasting impact! If you are interested in being a Grade Representatives for 2026, please contact Lynnette in the office or email me directly.
Semester 2 School Reports
You will receive your child’s end-of-year school report on Monday 15 December. We commend our students for their outstanding efforts throughout Semester 2. It is always a pleasure to read their reports and to see the growth and progress they have made during the second half of the year.
We thank our teachers for knowing our students so well and for writing such personalised reports that truly reflect each child’s learning and effort across all learning areas. We are sure you will enjoy reading about your child’s successes this year.
School Fees
A reminder to families who still have outstanding fees. Payment is expected by Tuesday December 16 at the latest. Please contact Isabelle Freeman in the office if you have any questions about this.
What's On Next Week...
End of Year Finish Time
Please note that next Tuesday 16th will be the last day of the school year for our students. The last day of school finishes at 1:20pm.
With only a few days left before we finish our school year, I wish you a wonderful weekend as we enjoy a few festive days next week in the lead-up to the end of the year.
With blessings and warmest regards,
Annabelle Marinelli
Principal
annabelle.marinelli@sjmalvern.catholic.edu.au