Dear St Joseph's Parents, Carers and Families,

It was an absolute delight to be back at school today to see you all after returning from my principal pilgrimage. Seeing the children’s bright smiles at the gate and at assembly this morning brought such a sense of joy and energy to the day. It was equally wonderful to reconnect with staff and families, at the gates and in classrooms, sharing stories and catching up after my time away. Our school community truly feels like a family, and it’s wonderful to be back among you all.

My time away was a deeply reflective and faith-filled experience, allowing me to pause, pray, and reconnect with the values that guide our work as a Catholic school community. The pilgrimage reminded me of the importance of walking alongside others - just as we do each day with our students, families, and staff. Returning to St Joseph’s, I feel renewed in my purpose and grateful for the warmth and welcome that make our community so special. I have shared some of my journey in today's newsletter, and I look forward to sharing some of my experiences with our students and staff in the weeks ahead.

Prayer- The Rosary

The month of October is primarily dedicated to praying the Rosary. During this time, we are invited to slow down, reflect, and draw closer to Mary, who gently leads us to her son. The Rosary is a prayer, and a journey through the life of Christ, seen through the eyes of his mother, Mary. Whether prayed with others, or in the quiet moments of daily life, the Rosary offers peace, perspective, and a deep sense of connection to the heart of our faith.

Whilst on pilgrimage, we were invited to attend a very special prayer celebration where we prayed the Rosary in Italian with thousands of other pilgrims inside and outside the Papal Basilica of St Mary of the Angels Assisi. We were asked to pray for peace. This was a very moving experience for us.

Throughout October, Catholics are encouraged to pray the Rosary, which involves meditating on the 'Mysteries of the Rosary' - Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, and Luminous.

Praying the Rosary is a way to ask Mary to intercede for you and for the needs of the world, as she is seen as a powerful intercessor for her son, Jesus. Pope Leo XIV has encouraged Catholics to pray the rosary daily during October for peace.

While I was in Rome, I purchased rosaries for each of our staff and classes, which have been blessed by Pope Leo XIV. These will be placed on each of the prayer tables in our classrooms.

Here is some guidance for praying the Rosary at home with your families:

St Joseph

While I was away on pilgrimage, I came across this beautiful painting of St Joseph in the Basilica of Saint Rita in Cascia.

We are reminded of St Joseph as our patron saint, and for the love that he had for Mary and Jesus. "We pray that God may direct, and that St Joseph's humble spirit may guide".

Parents and Friends - St Joseph's Trivia Night

What a success! Our Trivia Night Major Fundraiser was a spectacular event, bringing our wonderful St Joseph's community together for a brilliant evening of fun and connection. Additionally, it was a massive fundraiser for our school, raising a phenomenal $18,000!

This incredible total will make a real difference, supporting key initiatives that benefit every student. Events like this truly highlight the special spirit we share at St Joseph's, proving that when we come together, we can achieve amazing things.

A heartfelt thank you to Jess Dennis and our dedicated P&F Committee. Their tireless work, energy, and countless hours of preparation in the lead-up, and on the night, were instrumental in making the Trivia Night such a fantastic success. They are a shining example of community commitment here at St Joseph's.

We are also deeply grateful to every single person who contributed:

Those who attended and brought the laughter and community spirit
Everyone who purchased raffle tickets
The generous individuals and businesses who donated prizes
And everyone who contributed in any way to the evening’s success.

Your support and generosity is truly valued. Thank you for making our major fundraiser a night to remember and for investing in the future of our school.

Here are a few pics from the Trivia Night Photo Booth. It looks like our parents had a lot of fun!

Skipping Club

It was such a wonderful start to the day to see so many of our children at skipping club with Ms Freeman, who is a skipping expert and enthusiast. Skipping Club will run every Friday morning from 8am in our school grounds. Skipping ropes are provided. We thank Ms Freeman for giving her time and sharing her love of skipping with our students.

Beachside Division Athletics

Congratulations to the following students who participated in the Beachside Division Athletics at Duncan McKinnon Reserve last week:

Maximillian - 12/13B 100m

Callum - 12/13B 800m/1500m

Evelyn - 9/10G 1500m

Emilio 9/10B Long Jump

Wolf 9/10B 100m/200m9/10B

100m Relay Team - Wolf, Emilio, Harry B and Ari

We are so proud of these students and their efforts on this day!

Invitation to Grandparents/Special Friends Day

We warmly invite you to a beautiful celebration of community and love, at our annual Grandparents and Special Friends Day Liturgy on Friday, October 24th.

This special celebration is a time to give thanks for all the wonderful people who show care, guidance, and love in our children’s lives - grandparents, relatives, neighbours, family friends, and all those who play a special role in nurturing them. Our Year 1 students will be hosting and leading us in the Liturgy.

Please note the earlier start time of 8:50am for the Liturgy.

Time	Activity	Location
8am	Gates open for our Grandparent Morning Breakfast (Light refreshments provided)	School Grounds
8:20am	Years 3–6 Class Visits: Grandparents are warmly invited to visit these classrooms with their grandchild.	Years 3–6 Classrooms
8:45am	Students will assemble on the grass area and head to the hall.	Grass Area
8:50am	Grandparents Day Liturgy & STAR Awards	School Hall
9:10 – 10:00am	Prep–Year 2 Classroom Activity: Grandparents are invited into the classrooms for a planned activity with their grandchildren.	Prep–Year 2 Classrooms

We look forward to sharing this beautiful morning with our grandparents and special friends.

2026 Senior Students Information Session - for our Year 4 and 5 Parents/ Carers

Next Tuesday evening, on the 21st of October, we will be holding an information session regarding our 2026 senior students. This session is relevant to our current Year 4 and 5 parents, however, all families are welcome to attend. We will share how we plan to deliver learning excellence and a strong wellbeing and leadership program for our senior students. The meeting will run from 6pm to 6:30pm (which is then followed by our SAC meeting at 7pm).

Celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation

We are looking forward to celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation with our senior students on Thursday evening, 30th October, at St Patrick’s Cathedral. This is a very special occasion in their faith journey, as they take the next step in confirming their commitment to the Catholic faith. In preparation for this important sacrament, our students will participate in a Retreat Day on Friday, 24th October, where they will spend time in reflection, prayer, and discussion, about the meaning of Confirmation and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. We thank our Religious Education Leader, Donnella DeVisser, our senior teachers and parish team for their support and guidance as our students prepare for this significant milestone.

World Teacher's Day- "Hats off to Teachers"

Our school will joyfully celebrate World Teachers’ Day on Monday, 27th October, with the theme “Hats Off to Teachers!” This special day is normally celebrated on Friday, the 31st of October, but as we have a school closure on this day, we will celebrate it earlier. This will be a wonderful opportunity to express our heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated teachers who inspire, guide, and nurture our students each day. Students will be invited to wear their favourite or most creative hats to school, symbolising a collective “hats off” to our incredible educators who make learning meaningful and enjoyable. The day will be filled with appreciation, and school spirit, as we celebrate the hard work and passion of our teaching staff.

School Advisory Council

Our next School Advisory Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, 21st October from 7-8pm.

At each meeting, the School Advisory Council engages in conversations regarding school improvement. At no time are personal or private matters regarding families or students discussed. All discussions are conducted with professionalism, respect, and a focus on what is best for the whole school community. Some of the items on the agenda for our next meeting will include class structures for 2026, school fees, and senior student leadership.

School Advisory Council 2026 – Expressions of Interest

The School Advisory Council (SAC) plays an important role in supporting the Principal and strengthening our school community. Acting as a consultative voice, the SAC provides advice on school improvement, finance, communication, community engagement, and the well-being and learning of our students.

For the 2026–2027 period, we are seeking new members to join the SAC as some of our current SAC members' tenures will come to an end. This is a voluntary three-year commitment, with the group meeting around 6–8 times per year. Serving on the SAC is a wonderful way to contribute skills, share your perspective, and help shape the future of St Joseph’s.

How to Nominate

If you would like to put yourself forward, please email Annabelle Marinelli (annabelle.marinelli@sjmalvern.catholic.edu.au) with your nomination before the end of Monday 20th October. Include a short outline of your background and how you feel you can contribute. All expressions of interest will be considered by the principal, the SAC Chair - David Stegehuis and Fr Gallacher.

We warmly encourage parents and carers to consider this opportunity to be actively involved, to contribute to St Joseph’s, share your perspective, and make a difference for our students and community. If you have any questions, please contact David Stegehuis (SAC Chair) or Annabelle Marinelli.

For more information about the SAC and the process of applying, please refer to the Terms of Reference:

Successful candidates will be confirmed at the final SAC meeting this year.

SAC Meetings for the remainder of 2025:

2026 SAC Member Expressions of Interest Close on Oct 20
Next SAC Meeting Oct 21
SAG AGM and Dinner Nov 25

Parents and Friends Meeting

Our next P&F meeting will be held on Wednesday, 22nd October, from 6:30-7:30pm. We look forward to seeing our P&F members then. All members of our community are welcome to attend this meeting. We look forward to discussing Term 4 events, and we will begin to plan for our community events for 2026.

School Closure Day

Our next School Closure Day takes place on Friday, 31st October. This date has been marked on our family calendar, as well as in our school newsletter's calendar of events. This day is a professional learning day for our staff, where we will take a deep dive into MACS' Vision for Instruction and Vision for Engagement, as well as analysing student and school data, so that we have a strong focus on learning, as we begin to plan for 2026. The date of this school closure is timely, as families are afforded an extra long weekend with the Melbourne Cup Public Holiday the following week.

The school will be closed on:

Friday 31st October	School Closure- Professional Learning for Staff
Monday 3rd November	School Closure Day - Report Writing TIL
Tuesday 4th November	Melbourne Cup Public Holiday

School Review

Today, Friday 17th October, we commenced the first stage of our school review process. On this day, the school reviewer met with me, our leadership team and Fr. Gallacher. He also spent some time in our classrooms and had a look around our school. School Review is a wonderful opportunity to discuss our successes over the last 4 years and to plan for our next 4 year school improvement cycle. The reviewer will be with us again in Week 4, where he will spend two full days in our school, meeting with students, staff and parents. I look forward to keeping you updated when we receive the reviewer's report with his recommendations for our school later this year.

What's On Next Week

Staying in Touch

Together we work in partnership to support and nurture the children at St Joseph's.

If you have any concerns or worries about your child's wellbeing, learning, or friendships, please do not hesitate to have a chat with your child's teacher as your first point of contact, or a member of our school leadership team. For more serious concerns, I encourage you to reach out to me directly, either by making an appointment through the office or contacting me via my email.

With blessings and warmest regards,

Annabelle Marinelli

Principal

annabelle.marinelli@sjmalvern.catholic.edu.au

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