News from the Deputy Principal

Dear Parents and Carers,

What a whirlwind of a week we have had at St Joseph’s! Following our wonderful Wellbeing Expo last week, our students have enjoyed a busy week filled with swimming, orienteering and, of course, our much-anticipated School Disco. There is certainly plenty to talk about around the dinner table, and I think we will all be ready for a restful weekend!

Wellbeing Expo – Thank You!

A heartfelt thank you to all the local services, community organisations and families who joined us for our Wellbeing Expo last week. It was wonderful to see our school community come together to celebrate the importance of wellbeing and to connect families with the many services and supports available in our local area.

We are grateful to everyone who generously gave their time, shared their knowledge and provided engaging activities and valuable information for our students and families. Events like these strengthen the connections between our school and the wider community, helping us to support the wellbeing of every child and family. Thank you for helping to make the Expo such a positive and successful event!

We would also like to extend a special thank you to David from ThinkUKnow for sharing his knowledge and expertise with our school community. His valuable contribution helped raise awareness of online safety and provided important information to help families keep children safe in the digital world. We appreciate the time he took to support our community and help us navigate the challenges of keeping children safe online.

School Disco – A Fantastic First Event!

What a fantastic success our very first School Disco was! A huge congratulations and thank you to our newly formed Parents and Friends (P&F) Committee for organising such a wonderful event for our students.

It was lovely to see so many smiling faces, enthusiastic dancing and students enjoying time together with their friends in such a fun and welcoming environment. Organising an event like this takes considerable time, effort and teamwork, and we are incredibly grateful to our P&F members and everyone who helped bring the evening to life.

We look forward to seeing what else our P&F has in store for our school community. Thank you for helping to create such wonderful memories for our students!

Foundation 2027 Pizza Night

We are looking forward to welcoming our incoming Foundation students and their families to our Foundation 2027 Pizza Night next week!

This will be a wonderful opportunity for our newest students to begin building friendships, become familiar with our school community and enjoy some fun, hands-on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) activities.

Families will also have the opportunity to meet other parents and carers who will be beginning their St Joseph’s journey in 2027. Starting school is an exciting milestone for children and families alike, and we hope this evening helps everyone feel connected, comfortable and excited about the year ahead.

We look forward to sharing some pizza, creativity and conversation with our future St Joseph’s families!

Mental Health in Primary Schools

At St Joseph’s, supporting the mental health and wellbeing of our students continues to be an important part of our work. We recognise that children learn best when they feel safe, connected, supported and ready to learn.

Through our ongoing Mental Health in Primary Schools (MHiPS) work, we continue to strengthen the ways we recognise and respond to students’ wellbeing needs. This includes promoting positive relationships, developing emotional literacy, building resilience and helping children learn practical strategies to manage their feelings and navigate challenges.

We also recognise the important role that families play in supporting children’s mental health. By working together, sharing information and maintaining open communication, we can help ensure that every child feels a sense of belonging and has the support they need to flourish.

Our commitment remains focused on creating a caring, inclusive school environment where every child is known, valued and supported to reach their full potential.

Children’s Week in the Yarra Ranges

Children’s Week is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate children, recognise their rights and acknowledge the important role they play in our families, schools and communities.

Across the Yarra Ranges, Children’s Week provides opportunities for children and families to connect, participate in activities and celebrate the joy, creativity and curiosity of childhood. We encourage families to explore the local activities and events available through the Yarra Ranges Council and other community organisations.

At St Joseph’s, we are proud to celebrate our students every day and to provide opportunities for them to have a voice, develop their interests, build friendships and contribute positively to their community. Every child deserves to feel safe, respected, included and encouraged to be the best version of themselves. Please see below the link to activities that are being held from the 24th October for Children's Week.

Thank you, as always, for your ongoing support and for being such an important part of our St Joseph’s community. It has been a busy and rewarding few weeks, and we are grateful for the enthusiasm, generosity and connection that our families bring to our school.

Wishing all our families a happy and restful weekend!

Warm regards,