Principal's News

Dear Parents and Carers, 

Congratulations to Mr Tom Hartney!

We are delighted to share that our Deputy Principal, Mr Tom Hartney, has been appointed Principal of St Agnes Primary School, Highett, commencing in Term 1, 2026. This is a wonderful recognition of Tom’s leadership and contribution to Catholic education. We are so proud of him, and wish him every success as he takes this exciting next step in his career. The process to appoint a new Deputy Principal / Teaching and Learning Leader for 2026 has begun and updates will be shared in due course.

World Teachers Day

Today, for World Teachers Day, we recognise the incredible efforts of our greatest asset - our wonderful teachers. There are many elements that come together to make a school like St Joseph's so great. While the buildings, community spirit, Catholic ethos, rich curriculum and extracurricular activities all play a part, it is our teachers who are the glue that binds it all together. Their passion, hard work and care shines so brightly and we're immensly proud of all they do. And so, we say thank you to our valued teachers, not only today, but every day. 

New School Fence

We’re delighted to share that St Joseph’s will be receiving a brand-new perimeter fence in January 2026. This much-needed upgrade will replace the existing cyclone fence with a modern black vertical blade fence along Sandham Street and Staniland Grove. To further improve our student experience, posts will also be installed to support netting above a portion of the fence, helping to prevent balls from going onto the road. The works are scheduled to take place in January, ready for the start of the 2026 school year. 

On the topic of fences, in a few weeks one of our lovely neighbours will begin a small extension to their property. As part of this work, a section of our shared fence near the bike racks will be temporarily removed and replaced with child-safe hoarding for the duration of the project. The hoarding will not impact our students’ play experiences, but families are asked to please be aware of this temporary change.

Playground Redevelopment Concept

In partnership with our wonderful P&F, we are excited to share that St Joseph’s has engaged ACLA Landscape Architects to prepare a concept design for the existing playground site along the southern boundary of the school (adventure playground and garden space on the back playground). 

The concept will explore the removal of the current play equipment and other elements that restrict flow and movement, with a view to creating a nature-based sensory playspace. This project aims to enhance the play experience for our students by providing opportunities for creativity, exploration, and connection with the natural environment. 

All monies raised from P&F fundraising will go towards this wonderful project, and we sincerely thank our P&F for their tireless efforts in raising funds for our school throughout the year. 

We look forward to sharing the concept design with our community once it has been developed.

The Festive Season is Here – and so is our Christmas Raffle!

• 1st Prize: $7,500 Travel Voucher from Elwood Flight Centre
• 2nd Prize: $2,500 Jackalope Hotel Gift Voucher

All proceeds will go towards upgrading outdoor play areas at St Joseph’s - a wonderful way to give back to our school community. Plus, every time you or your child sell 4 tickets, you’ll go into the weekly draw to win a Yochi voucher! The more tickets you buy or sell, the more chances you have to win these amazing prizes. Let’s come together to raise funds for our kids and our school this Christmas! Please contact pandf@sjelst.catholic.edu.au if you have any questions.

Year 4 Eucharist 

Congratulations to our Year 4 students for proudly making their First Eucharist last Thursday evening. Supported by Father Pat, Father Leenus, Miss Coldebella, Miss Crawley, Miss Dillon and staff, our families enjoyed a truly beautiful celebration with the children. We all managed remarkably well celebrating in a church without power - no lights, no music, but plenty of spirit! Well done, Year 4, on taking this special next step in your Sacramental journey.

Lost Property 

After a big clean out and clean up today, all lost property has now been returned to all students. The many items that were not named have been placed in the P&F shelves, ready for circulation amongst the Second Hand Stall. Families, we remind you to please ensure all items are clearly named and, if you purchase items from the second hand stall, re-label items with the correct name. 

Prep Orientation 2026 

On Wednesdaywe hosted our Prep 2026 cohort for their first orientation session. The orientation program provides a wonderful opportunity for the students to meet one another and spend time playing together, as well as engaging with the staff who will work with them next year. During these sessions, the staff observe the emotional and social interactions, and look for ways to best support these little ones with their transition to school. 

We are acutely aware that some students can easily transition (i.e. like a duck to water), while for others, this can be quite an emotional and tricky time. Rest assured, these little hurdles are all part of the school journey and, in time, the students will become better equipped with the skills to overcome these challenges. We thank Miss Nardella and Miss Dillon for their work in preparing for these 3 vital sessions. 

Classes - 2026

It’s that time of year when teachers begin the careful process of organising classes for 2026. This involves reviewing each student’s academic, social, emotional and behavioural needs to create balanced and effective class groupings. As part of this process, students will be asked to name one friend they work well with, and each child will have one nominated friend placed in their class next year.

Parents who wish to make an educational request are asked to email the Principal (not the classroom teacher) by Friday 7 November. We thank all families for their trust and support as we work to meet the needs of every student.

Prep 2027 Enrolments

Enrolments for new and current families for 2027 are now open. We require all current families to please ensure they submit a sibling application for 2027 prior to Friday 27 March 2026 to ensure a placement in our Prep intake for 2027. The enrolment application form can be found on our website here. Please do not hesitate to contact the school office should you have any queries. 

School Operations Updates

In the new school year, we will be expanding our use of the nForma platform to include most of our school communication functions. While we already use nForma for the daily roll, first aid notifications and student reports, this transition will allow us to make full use of the additional features available within the system.

This change has been prompted in part by Operoo ceasing operations in Australia, making it timely for us to consolidate our processes within one integrated platform. Having the majority of our operations in nForma will streamline communication with families, allowing easier management of medical information, permission forms, updates and general correspondence. 

Our families to not need to take any action yet. Further updates will be provided in due course. We are confident this will make communication clearer, more consistent and more convenient for families in the long term. 

Playground Access After School

We love seeing our students and families enjoying the playground after school. To help us keep our grounds secure, we ask that all families finish up their playtime and leave by 4.30pm each day so the doors can be locked. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Principal for the Day - Perry (Prep LM) 

It was an absolute joy to hand over the reins to Perry for Principal for the Day! He hosted assembly, toured the classrooms, corrected Year 6 homework, handed out stickers and gave Mr Hartney and I some excellent feedback over our business lunch ("this school is very nice!") Below is a small sample of his day: 

I liked getting up and down at assembly. I also liked saying nice things to people. We went to visit the classrooms and and I enjoyed going up and down the stairs. It was good to hear how hard all the children were working! We went out for lunch and had pancakes, they were yummy. 

School Camps 

Later this term, our Year 3 (Zoo Snooze), Year 4 (Camp Wyuna), and Year 5 (Forest Edge) students will head off on their annual school camps. These experiences provide wonderful opportunities for students to connect with their peers and teachers in a relaxed and engaging environment. Camps play an important role in developing students’ personal, social and emotional capabilities, fostering independence, teamwork, and resilience.

• Strengthening Relationships: The extra time spent away from the structure of the school environment enables students to strengthen relationships with one another and their teachers. This connection not only benefits them socially when they return to school but also supports greater confidence and collaboration in the classroom.

• Self-Management and Independence: As the old saying goes, “never do for children what they can do for themselves.” As a mum, I often fall into the trap of helping my little boy at home because it’s quicker and easier. On school camp, students have many opportunities each day to further develop their independence and self-management skills by completing tasks such as rolling sleeping bags, tidying rooms, and contributing to shared responsibilities like setting tables or cleaning up after meals.

• Resilience: At times, students will find camp challenging. They may be tired, homesick or simply ready for a rest. With the support of their teachers, these moments become valuable opportunities for students to develop resilience and problem-solving skills, learning to navigate challenges with increasing independence.

As a school, we are very proud of the camp program we offer. The Year 3 Zoo Snooze provides a wonderful introduction to overnight experiences, followed by a two-night stay at Camp Wyuna in Year 4. Extending this further, our Year 5 students participate in an outdoor adventure camp at Forest Edge before our Year 6 students head off on a four-day educational tour of Canberra.

I would like to thank Elly Dillon and Elaine Shanahan for their work in organising these rich experiences for our students, as well as the classroom teachers and part-time staff who accompany them on camp. We are fortunate to have such dedicated and enthusiastic staff who make these opportunities possible for our students.

Little Gems

The store room has never looked better! I cannot thank Miss Coldebella, Miss Shanahan, Miss Mclean, Mr Hartney and various Year 6 helpers for their incredible efforts today. I wish I had taken a 'before' photo to truly highlight the transformation... 

Ava and Emmy (Year 4) both came first in beam and floor at the Victorian Junior State Gymnastics Championship on the weekend! Their squad also placed third overall, an incredible achievement. Congratulations, girls!

Last term, Maddie (Year 5) achieved her Junior Diploma in Leadership and is now working towards her Junior Bachelor at Shine Academy - a fantastic accomplishment!

Mr Sandler’s Prep PE class was briefly derailed by the surprise return of our two resident rainbow lorikeets! Productivity hit an all-time low as the children rushed over to admire the colourful visitors, before quickly getting back to work, of course.

And finally...

Wishing our students, staff and families a restful and well-deserved mini break over the Melbourne Cup period. We can't wait to see you on Wednesday, as we prepare for the final sprint to the end of the year.

Claire Tobin | Principal