Principal's News

Week 9 

Dear Families,

The days seem to be flying by as we near the end of the school year. With just ten days left for students (a bit longer for teachers!) it has been a busy week: during our school closure on Monday, the staff evaluated the Annual Action Plan and analysed the most recent whole school assessment data, we planned our topic overview for next year and had a detailed handover session between the teachers. 

The day was also an opportunity to reflect on the year and celebrate the achievements of our students.

Moving Up Day

On Monday 5th December, we will hold our ‘moving up’ morning, where our students will meet their 2023 teacher. The day will run as a normal school day and students will go to their current class upon arrival at school, then at 9am they will go to their new classroom and teacher. I know the staff are excited to meet their new grades and I hope the children are equally as excited!

Our staffing list for 2023 is as follows:

We Farewell...

At the end of this year, we will farewell Mahla Davies, our current Physical Education teacher, after 13 years at St Joseph’s. During that time, Mahla has worked across all year levels, with a focus on the junior levels in recent times and prior to her sports role. I know Mahla has had such a positive impact on students, families and staff during her time with us and she will be very much missed next year. Mahla has accepted a classroom position at a school closer to home and we wish her the best of luck with her future endeavours.

We also farewell learning support officer Navinka Curtain, who has been on leave this semester. ‘Vink’ has been a key member of our LSO team for 7 years and has been valued for her support of students and flexibility in assisting with various endeavours across the school. We wish Vink the best of luck for the future and I am sure we will see her around as she will provide casual cover for our LSO team.

We Welcome...

• Christie Birch will be returning from parental leave and resume her role as Physical Education teacher. 
• Edel Cleere will be joining the teaching team as our Performing Arts teacher, and will also take up the position of English and Maths support across the school.
• Vanessa Keane, who worked with us as sports teacher in Term 3, will be joining the Year 6 team next year, and will also take on the position of Interschool Sport Coordinator.
• Chiara Gallo will take up the position of Italian teacher, to replace Laura who is on maternity leave.
• Dean Butler will join the St Joseph's team in Prep.

“The Peas in the Pod”

Siobhan O’Dwyer is almost at the nesting phase, with the baby due mid-January. Siobhan will take a year’s maternity leave and has handed some aspects of her sustainability work to Georgie Carman. We wish Siobhan and Jarrod all the best for their new parenting journey. 

We also wish Jess Chan and her partner Danny the best of luck for the future, with their baby also due mid-January. We thank Jess for her contributions this year in all things musical, especially with the choir and our music ensemble. 

Congratulations to Laura Saladino and Michael!

From Laura:

"Peek a boo! 

Hi family and friends. It's Valentina Lachina. I made my quick, grand appearance into the world on Monday the 28th of November at 7:23pm. 

My parents Michael and Laura are so excited and happy, and have given me many hugs and kisses already.

I look forward to saying hello when the time is right, and I especially hope I've made your day "

You certainly have Valentina! How beautiful and we cannot wait to meet her in person. Congratulations Laura and Michael.

Building Project and Master Plan

After a rigorous interview and presentation process, we are delighted to announce that we have appointed Kennedy Nolan architects to draw up our master plan.

http://www.kennedynolan.com.au/education

The team are well underway with their preparations and would dearly like input from key stakeholders, obviously including our parent community.

We would be very grateful if you could take a minute to complete the following survey as soon as possible:

 https://h6qcn9pzd4c.typeform.com/to/CO14qS7F

Our students and staff will complete their surveys next week, and this will give Kennedy Nolan valuable insight into the needs/ wants of our community.

The basic remit of this project is to:

• Link the two school buildings
• Maintain and protect all current playground space
• Add an additional 4 classrooms to a first floor
• Install a lift
• Build a new indoor toilet block, which needs to also be accessible from the playground
• Add new meeting and break-out rooms.

In 2023, and as discussed at the SAC/ P+F on Tuesday, we will have a strong focus on fundraising for our building project in order to supplement any capital grant that the school attracts.

Watch this space!

SAC/ P+F AGM

We enjoyed a delightful evening on Tuesday with the joint AGMs from two key parent groups in our school.

Thank you to all those who were able to attend, including Monsignor Stuart and Fr Stephen.

What a joy to reflect on the achievements of the year, not least of which was the ‘reconnection’ and ‘reinvigoration’ of our parents following two years of disruption.

A key indicator of this reconnection was noting the number of parents who have already volunteered their time in various P+F roles.

I would like to thank David Stegehuis for his invaluable support and input in his role as P+F chairperson, for the past 4 years. Prior to this, David was treasurer and thus has played a significant role in our school community. David will take up a role on our School Advisory Council next year.

Thank you to Michael Hazell for his work as P+F secretary in 2022, and I’m thrilled to announce that he will take up the position of chairperson next year, with Ash Stewart taking over as secretary- thanks Ash!

I would also like to publicly acknowledge the work of Polly Mason (Henry Y6) who has been a parent at our school for 13 years and was the force and brains behind the establishment of the second-hand uniform shop and the Twilight Markets at St Joseph’s. We thank Polly for her contributions to our community over the years.

A sincere thank you to our 2022 School Advisory Council for their support and guidance throughout the year: Peter Piesente (chair), Courtney Jendra (secretary), Alistair Williams, Sascha Pausewang, Kerry Cockburn, David Stegehuis, Monsignor Stuart and Martin Earl.

I’d also like to thank Alistair Williams for his contributions to the School Advisory Council during the past four years, and for his support and wise counsel during this time.

A special thank you to Courtney Jendra in her role as SAC secretary, and I’m very grateful that she will continue in this capacity next year.

There are many more individuals to thank as we near the end of the year, and we will acknowledge those leaving our community in the final newsletter in two weeks.

One more P+F thing…

Thank you to those who contributed/ volunteered your time during Saturday’s State elections. The sweet and savoury stalls raised in excess of $2.5k, which is a fantastic result due to your generosity. Thanks to Polly and Michael for overseeing the day.

The St Joseph’s Elections

Our current Grade 5s have taken to the election trail in preparation for their captaincy speeches. Over the past few weeks, they have been working through a public speaking program to help them prepare for this exciting phase of their leadership journey. Each year we work with our Grade 5s on the specific roles they feel will meet the needs of our school community. This year the students have devised the following captaincies, with some responsibilities outlined below;

• Community Captains (sustainability, social justice, newsletters, school community events)
• Art Captains (Art club, leading the school musical, artistic endeavours in the community)
• STEM Captains (all things technology, continuing our partnership with CSIRO, Science Week organisation and coding club)
• Sports Captains (house leaders, all things sport!)
• School Captains (heading up the SRC, school assemblies, and school representatives)

The Year 5s will deliver their speeches on Monday 5th December at 12pm, and parents are more than welcome to attend. Our Year 2 to Year 6 students will vote, with Mr Earl and I counting the votes.

We will announce the captaincies during our final assembly on Friday 16th December at 12pm.

Well done Year 5, and of course, Mrs O’Dwyer for her exceptional preparation of the students.

Playgroup and Pre Prep

This week marked the final formal orientation sessions for our 2023 preps and also the final session of our extremely successful pre-prep playgroup. We have received so much positive feedback from parents and kinders alike, and I must send a heartfelt thank you to Stacey Farrell, who has done an outstanding job as our transition coordinator. 

Thankfully, Stacey will continue in her role in 2023 as we go from strength to strength with our prep enrolments and transition processes. One of my favourite Friday evening past times is to read Miss Stacey’s weekly playgroup report that goes out to pre-prep parents. What a delight! (example below)

Thank you to the whole St Joseph’s team and our very excited 2023 5s and 6s for assisting with the orientation days, and a special thank you to Mr Butler for coming along to the last two sessions. With 40+. 5s and 6s and 40+ Preps, they are a perfect match!!

The Final Countdown:

Wishing you all a relaxing weekend ahead, hopefully with plenty of rest and sleep for our students. The end of the school year can be tough in terms of stamina, for children and adults alike!

Take care,

Michelle

In the second week of Advent, we light the second purple candle of the Advent wreath and we pray for peace. Our world, our communities and our families long for peace, but the possibility can seem very remote. Praying for peace comes very naturally, but peaceful living can be more of a challenge.

Advent Prayer for Peace

Jesus, Prince of Peace,

banish from our souls

whatever might endanger peace.

Transform us into witnesses

of truth, justice and love.

Enlighten the minds of rulers

that they may care for their peoples

and guarantee them the gift of peace.

Inflame our desires

to break through the barriers that divide us,

to strengthen the bonds of mutual love,

to learn to understand one another,

to pardon those who have done us wrong.

Jesus, Prince of Peace,

through your power and inspiration,

may all peoples welcome each other to their hearts

as sisters and brothers.

And may the peace they long for

ever flower and ever reign among them.

Amen