Principal's Message
In April, I was invited to join the Sandhurst Learning and Teaching Steering Committee, led by our Director Kate Fogarty. This committee includes several key members from the CESL office: Ashley Marsh, Paul Bissinella, and Andrea O’Connor. Additionally, Darta Hovey, the Principal of Galen Catholic College in Wangaratta, and Craig Simpson, the Principal of Elmore Primary School, are also part of the committee.
Over the past six months, the CESL Learning and Teaching Steering Committee has been actively involved in conducting thorough research and collaborating with professionals on both national and international levels. Their efforts are focused on developing a forward-looking roadmap for Sandhurst Catholic Education, being implemented from next term. On Wednesday I travelled to Bendigo for another day of learning and decision making. Next Thursday 29th, August, Kate Fogarty will reveal the new Learning and Teaching Direction for Sandhurst, and I can't wait to share it with you.
One of the major initiatives led by this committee includes introducing systematic synthetic phonics training for all schools within the Sandhurst network. The primary goal of the committee is to improve educational outcomes across the 52 schools in Sandhurst.
It has been a privilege to be part of this inaugural team, and I am thrilled with the direction of learning and teaching at Sandhurst. St. Joseph's is in an ideal position, having already implemented systematic synthetic phonics along with other evidence-based initiatives.
Our 2023 NAPLAN data on the My Schools website shows a significant improvement, with three out of five areas in Year 3 marked in green. This positive trend highlights the effectiveness of our educational strategies and the dedication of our staff and students.
Arriving at school
I would also like to remind families about the importance of ensuring that students are not dropped off at school before 8:30 am. Supervision at St. Joseph's begins when the school gates open at 8:30 am. If your child does arrive early, please remind them to head into the office. For the safety of all our students, it is crucial that they refrain from playing on the footpath or out the front of the school. Thank you for your ongoing support in ensuring our students' safety.
Principal Appraisal
I invite you to contribute your thoughts about myleadership at St. Joseph’s, by undertaking a survey. Please click on the following link to complete the survey: https://forms.office.com/r/c8BDbYQvP4
Closes 30th August
Book Week
This past week has been nothing short of 'Book-tastic' as we celebrated our annual Book Week with the enchanting theme, 'Reading is Magic.' A "Big Magical Thank You" to all our wonderful parents for your incredible support of the Book Week Parade! St. Joseph's School was buzzing with excitement as our students arrived dressed as amazing book characters. Your tireless energy and dedication in preparing your children for this event are deeply appreciated. It was a day filled with positivity and creativity, and it wouldn’t have been possible without your efforts.
I would also like to extend a special thank you to our staff, who went above and beyond by joining in the fun and dressing up for the parade. Your enthusiasm and spirit never fail to inspire our students, and it was wonderful to see everyone so engaged and united in the celebration of literature.
God bless,
Sarah Iddles
Principal