Newsletter 12, 7th August 2025

Principal's Report

Dear Families and the St Joseph's School Community,

We are well and truly in the thick of winter, and with it comes the usual wave of seasonal illnesses. Colds, influenza, and various viruses are currently making their way through our community, affecting both students and families. We sincerely thank all parents and carers for keeping unwell children at home to rest and recover. Your consideration helps protect the health and wellbeing of everyone in our school. Attached below is an informative fact sheet on Influenza from the Royal Children’s Hospital for your reference.

In the past two weeks, we’ve enjoyed two wonderful community events. Our Prep/1 class celebrated the significant milestone of 100 Days of Prep — congratulations to our little Joeys! It has been a joy to watch their growth and enthusiasm for learning over the past 100 days. In addition, all students took part in the House Athletics at Charlton College — a fantastic day of participation, team spirit, and effort. Congratulations to our age group champions: William, Shepherd, Ivy, Lila, Eadie, Flynn, Sophie, and Toby. Well done to all students for their positive attitude and sportsmanship throughout the event.

Next Thursday and Friday, I will be attending Diocesan Principal meetings in Horsham. During this time, please contact the school office if you need assistance.

Take care and enjoy your weekend.

Warm regards in faith and learning,
Mary

Feast of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop

St Mary MacKillop lived with courage and faith. She did not seek wealth or comfort, but instead gave her life to serving others, especially the poor and those in remote communities. Mary trusted in God’s providence, even when resources were few or when her path was difficult. Her life reminds us that being “rich” means being generous, humble, and committed to the needs of others. In our school community, we can follow St Mary MacKillop’s example by sharing what we have and helping those in need. Like Mary, we can try to follow her motto of “Never see a need without doing something about it”. Mary is Australia's first only canonised saint. Her feast day is celebrated tomorrow, 8th August.

Important Dates

August 14th - Calder Athletic Sports Day Charlton
August 19th-22nd- Mrs Hogan attending the National Catholic Education Conference
August 20th - Book Week dress up day
August 27th  - SAC Meeting at 4pm
August 28th - Kinder Come & Try Day (10am-1:30am)
September 5th - Father's Day Breakfast
September 12th - Flying Bookworm Performance (P-2)
September 17th - School Perfomance at 7:00pm
September 18th - Wear your Footy/Sports colours to school     
                                  - End Term Three for students
September 19th- Staff professional learning - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Perspectives

DOBCEL Student-Free Guidelines and Procedures
Student-free days are days where students do not attend school within the gazetted attendance period but are designated for staff professional development, school professional development activities, planning and/or report-writing. Each year, the first day of term one and the last day of term four will be a student-free day in all schools. PLEASE NOTE THE STUDENT-FREE DATES remaining FOR 2025. 
Friday 19th September - Staff professional learning - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Perspectives
Monday 27 October - Staff professional learning - Structured Literacy

DOBCEL Strategy to 2035

Parents & Friends Catch Up

2026 Enrolments Now Open

A place to belong. A place to thrive. A place where every child matters.
At St Joseph's School we are proud to offer a nurturing environment where children grow in mind, heart and spirit.
Inspired by our Catholic tradition, we walk with each child on their unique journey - celebrating who they are and guiding who they are becoming!
Commitment to child safety & well-being
Learning that inspires - explicit instruction and individualised support
A welcoming community celebrating diversity
Living our values everyday- we are safe, responsible & respectful
Structured Literacy
Auslan Language Curriculum
Evidence based data-driven practices
No fees for Prep enrolments
Experience the St Joseph's difference! We invite you to discover what makes our school a truly special place.

https://www.sjcharlton.catholic.edu.au/

Students of the Week

Wellbeing

Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships Lessons

P - 2 - Emotional Literacy - What causes these emotions. Students will match emotions with experiences that can cause those emotions.

3 - 6 - Emotional Literacy - Emotions across the school day. Students will name positive or comfortable emotions and negative or uncomfortable emotions that children may feel at school. They will also describe actions that children can take to help others feel happy in class and in the playground.

Mindfulness

We have been practicing 'Belly Breathing'  and 'Figure 8 Breathing'.

Tammy Wright

Kinder to School transition 2025-2026

Ms Brown, Mr Heenan and the Prep/1 students had a very enjoyable visit to the Kinder this week. Time was spent catching up with friends, building, creating and conversing! The Kinder students are coming to visit us at St Joe's during Book week on Tuesday 19th August.

This term we are offering two COME & TRY DAYS for prospective enrolments in 2026. Kinder students are invited to join us at St Joe's on Thursday 28th August from 10-11:30am and Thursday 11th September from 1:30pm-3:10pm. 

Kinder parents are invited to call in or phone the school Office for an individual information session with Leadership and Junior Room teaching staff. This will provide the opportunity to confirm what St Joe's can offer your children, have any remaining questions answered and to tour the school.

Many thanks to those families who have already handed in their enrolment forms for 2026. This is very helpful in confirming funding and staffing for the year ahead. 

Calder Athletics

All students from Prep - Gr 6 will participate in the Calder Athletic Sports at Charlton Park on Thursday 14th August. The first event begins around 10:00am and the day should conclude by 2:30pm. Students will need to wear their St Joseph's sports uniform, bring a packed lunch, water bottle and snacks. There is no canteen at the sports.

Spectators are welcome to come along and cheer the students along. (See schedule below) The age group events will be followed by relays and presentations.

Students will be transported to and from school by Start's Busline. If you are in attendance and want to take your child/ren home at the end of the sports, please ensure the class teacher is informed. 

School Performance - The Time Machine

Please save the date - it's happening!

All students will present our annual school performance "The Time Machine" on WEDNESDAY 17th SEPTEMBER at 7:00pm.

Details regarding costume requirements will be distributed shortly. 

Foundation/1 Class Report

Welcome to Week 3! 

The Foundation and Grade 1 students enjoyed a visit to the kinder this week. It was great to see all the students playing together as we were warmly welcomed in for the morning. 

It was a great day had by everyone. 

We are still running our daily phonics sessions in between production practise which the students are working very hard on. 

Numeracy focus has been Friends of Ten and Addition. 

With the Calder Sports approaching quickly, we are practising our skills in discuss, shot put, sprints and relays this week.  

Have a great week. 

Katie Brown 

Grade 2/3 Class Report

It’s been a great start to Term 3 in Grade 2/3, with students diving into lots of exciting learning.

In Literacy, we’ve started a new focus text: “What is Special About Australia and How Can We Learn About It from a Map?” Students have enjoyed learning about Australia’s unique features and how maps help tell its story.

In Maths, we’ve been exploring patterns and multiplication, and will soon move on to division. Students have shown great persistence and problem-solving skills.

We’ve had our first two Auslan sessions with Renee - students are finding it a bit more challenging now but are still really enjoying the experience learning some new signs and using signs in sentences.

This term brings new Religion topics - Grade 2s are exploring the theme of Imagine, while Grade 3s are learning about Hospitality and how we welcome and care for others.

Athletics practice with Garnet has begun, and students are putting in a great effort. A big congratulations to all who participated in the Charlton College Athletics Day, and a special mention to Ivy and Lila, who were named age group champions - well done! We’re looking forward to Calder Athletics this Thursday.

It’s been fantastic to see students back in the swing of school and we’ve had excellent attendance so far this term - keep it up, Grade 2/3!

Lara Thompson

Grade 4/5/6 Class Report

On Tuesday, the students of Grade 4/5/6 were very excited to receive their roles for the school play that they will be performing later this term. They enthusiastically got straight to work reading their scripts and learning their new songs. Last Friday students attended the sports day at Charlton College and were outstanding representatives for St Josephs. Everyone had a go at everything and participated with a great attitude. In Mathematics this week students have been doing well learning to use the area model to solve real life multiplication problems. In our Integrated Studies unit we have been learning all how to use natural, human and capital resources to manage a school budget.  The students have been asked to practice reading their script each night and to return it to school each day.

Child Safety

The care, safety and wellbeing of children and young people is a central and fundamental responsibility of Catholic Education. St Joseph’s School is committed to strengthened practice for the protection of children in line with the Victorian Government child safety reforms.

Child Safety - digital images

Taking Photos/Video Footage
As we begin a new year a reminder to parents and family members to please ensure, when at school events, to take photos or video footage of your child/ren only. Please do NOT post photos of children, other than your own, at school events or wearing school uniform, on personal social media pages other than your own. Thank you for your cooperation in using social media respectfully helping to keep everyone in our school community safe online.  

Community News

Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge the Dja Dja Wurrung people as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of this land.  We pay respect to Elders past, present and emerging. We thank them for sharing their cultures, spiritualities and ways of living with the land, in this place we all now call home.