Dear Parents and Carers,

As we approach the end of Term 2, it is wonderful to look back at everything our vibrant community has achieved. We have so much to celebrate, from environmental milestones to deep spiritual connections and strong student growth.

🌊 Caring for Our Common Home

We are incredibly proud of the work being done through our "Sea is our Best Friend" program. This alignment with our Catholic social teaching to act as stewards of the Earth was beautifully captured recently for World Ocean Day.

A huge thank you to Savanah, Ned, and Lincoln for showcasing our efforts, and to Julia from the MACS communication team for producing our video. We also extend our gratitude to our Sustainability Leader, Dom Taylor, and the Year 3/4 community for their dedication to this vital area.

Click to view Video

🕊️ Faith, Connection, and Community

Last Wednesday, our Year 4 community gathered for a wonderful community dinner focused on celebrating the Eucharist. It was a beautiful evening filled with faith, connection, and a deep sense of belonging for our families. Thank you to Maria Milan our Faith Leader, Father Shymon, and our Year 4 team for leading this event and Rick Stubbins, Kerry Colliver and Yr. 6 students and staff volunteers for providing a wonderful two course dinner.

Upcoming Eucharist Sacrament

We invite our entire community to join us as we celebrate the Sacrament of the Eucharist:

When: Sunday, 22nd June at 8:00 AM
Where: St Peter’s, Shoreham

As we prepare for our upcoming school review, events like these truly highlight our identity. Grounded in Catholic tradition, St Joseph’s grows stronger with every student, staff member, partnership, and liturgy, keeping Jesus Christ at the centre of our mission.

🌱 Supporting Student Engagement and Wellbeing

Our ultimate goal is to ensure every student shines and thrives. As outlined in the MACS Vision for Engagement, every child should be known, valued, and engaged in their learning. Strong relationships—where students feel safe, cared for, and a sense of belonging—are foundation blocks for positive mental health.

At St Joseph’s, this is a shared commitment across leaders, teachers, wellbeing staff, and families. By building a proactive, whole-school approach, we actively create the conditions for all students to flourish.

👣 Mid-Year Reports & Upcoming Conferences

This year, our theme is "Footprints," highlighting our collective journey of listening and taking action together. We are looking forward to celebrating this journey at our upcoming parent-teacher conferences.

What to Expect from Mid-Year Reporting:

Data Slideshows : During your conference, teachers will share detailed data slideshows. These are a wonderful, comprehensive snapshot celebration of your child's growth and goal-setting for next semester.
Written Reports : Because the data slideshows provide such a rich, detailed picture of your child's learning, the mid-year written report via NForma will be minimal.
Action Required: Please ensure you have booked your interview time. Written reports will be accessible on the NForma platform following your conference.

Click here to book a time

Thank you to our dedicated teachers for their significant work in preparing these insights. We hope these slideshows bring you much joy!

🚗 Parking Fines Update

I have recently spoken with Mark Stoermer, the Chief Executive Officer of the Mornington Peninsula Shire, regarding the high volume of parking fines our families have received on Martin Street.

I expressed our strong disappointment over the lack of signage, unclear communication, and the previous lack of action from the Shire. Mark was very open to this conversation and is currently working toward a resolution. I will keep you updated as soon as I hear more.

Annual Report to the community

For a comprehensive look at what we have achieved together, we invite you to read our Annual Report to the School Community 2025, and we look forward to building on this foundation throughout 2026.

Annual Report to the School Community 2025

🗓️ Important Dates & End of Term

Finally, as this is our final newsletter for Term 2, I want to thank you for working in partnership with us to ensure every child at St Joseph's knows they are valued and is motivated to do their best.

Last Day of Term 2: Friday, 26th June
- End-of-Term Assembly: 1:00 PM
- Dismissal Time: 1:30 PM
Term 3 Commences: Monday, 13th July

Have a wonderful, safe break, and we look forward to continuing the journey with you next term.

Yours in Partnership,

Gab Espenschied

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