Newsletter 13, 21st August 2025
- Principals Report
- Important Dates
- DOBCEL Strategy to 2035
- 2026 Enrolments Now Open
- New Sand in the Sandpit
- Students of the Week
- Foundation/1 Class Report
- Grade 2/3 Class Report
- Grade 4/5/6 Class Report
- Wellbeing with Mrs Wright
- St Joseph's School TV
- Child Safety
- Child Safety - digital images
- Community News
- Acknowledgement of Country
Principal's Report
Hello to Families and all in the St Joseph's School Community,
I write this Principal’s Report from Cairns, where I currently have the privilege of attending the Australian National Education Conference. Educators and leaders from across the country, and abroad, are gathered to share ideas and explore the future of teaching and learning. The sessions so far, have been both inspiring and practical, covering statistics, new strategies and approaches that will help strengthen the way we support our students. Beyond the learning, it is also providing the chance to connect with colleagues and build networks that will benefit our school community. I look forward to bringing back fresh insights and opportunities that will hopefully enrich the work we do at St Joseph’s School. I am joined by over 1,400 colleagues, and regardless of school size, it is an amazing opportunity to expand my knowledge learning with and from each other. This morning’s opening Mass was special highlight with approximately 1,500 in attendance. Around 400 of these were school students from Cairns and the surrounding areas, who brought the ceremony alive with their delightful singing!
Congratulations to all the students who participated in the Calder Athletic Sports, representing St Joe’s and successfully being the overall winners on the day! They were winners all round with active participation, effort, energy and excellent behaviour. Many thanks to all staff who practised with the students to help prepare them for the day. We were also lucky to have Garnet, from Bendigo Athletics, work with the students over four sessions. All the hard work and training paid off - well done, everyone!
Last week staff and students celebrated Science Week with an afternoon of experiments and activities. Students worked in mixed multi-age groups to complete three rotations. Special printed pictures, magical liquid separation and dancing fire snakes had our mini-scientists working very hard! Again, many thanks to staff for their organisation of these fun and engaging activities.
On Tuesday, we had some very special little visitors to the Prep and One Classroom. The Kinder students enjoyed some reading, games and drawing before time spent outside in the sandpit and playground. Some of the school students had the treat of having their siblings spend time with them at school – how special!
And yesterday, it was Book Week dress up day at St Joe’s! I have seen some great photos come through, of both staff and students. Thank you to families for getting involved and taking the time to organise costumes for the day. I look forward to hearing all about the books, activities and visit to the Nursing Home, where the students paraded their costumes!
Take care and I look forward to seeing you all when I return next week.
Warm regards in faith & learning,
Mary
Important Dates
August 19th-22nd- Mrs Hogan attending the National Catholic Education Conference
August 27th - SAC Meeting at 4:00pm
August 28th - Kinder Come & Try Day #1 10:00-11:30am
September 5th - Father's Day Breakfast
September 12th - Flying Bookworm Show at St Joseph's (Prep-2)
September 17th - School Performance "The Time Machine"
September 18th - Footy Colours Day (wear your favourite sports gear to school)
September 18th - 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
**Monday 3 November - Assessment and Reporting
**Note added date above
DOBCEL Strategy to 2035
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 supportA welcoming community celebrating diversityLiving our values everyday- we are safe, responsible & respectfulStructured LiteracyAuslan Language CurriculumEvidence based data-driven practicesNo 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/
New Sand in the Sandpit
A huge thank you to Bradley Getley who removed all of the old sand...and made us a long jump pit with it....and then spread the new sand when it arrived on Wednesday. Thanks Bradley, we really appreciate it.
Students of the Week
Foundation/1 Class Report
What a busy few weeks it has been here at St Joseph's!
We had Science Week last week and the students got to participate in science activities and had a great afternoon learning and creating.
We had the Calder Sports last Thursday and I spent the day with the Foundation students. I was so impressed with how each child participated on the day - giving their best efforts at all of the events so a big well done to them! They should be very proud of themselves.
This week we got to “Book an Adventure” for Book Week. We have been busy with book week activities and on Wednesday, the students got to dress up as their favourite character from their favourite book and the effort put in was amazing! Well done to everyone!
We visited the Nursing Home and the students made book marks and read books to the residents.
We are in full swing with the production, learning songs and rehearsing lines….
Have a great week and please remember to contact myself or the school if you have any questions or concerns about anything.
Katie Brown
Kinder Visit
Book Week
Nursing Home Visit
Grade 2/3 Class Report
Hello all,
What a busy and exciting few weeks it has been in Grade 2/3! The students have been working hard and showing fantastic effort in all areas of their learning.
In Literacy, we are focusing on Geography and Australia. Students have been exploring our country, learning about different places, landscapes, and the unique features that make Australia special. In Numeracy, we are moving into 3D shapes, looking at their features, properties, and how they connect to the world around us.
Our school concert practice is in full swing! Students are learning lines, songs, and dance moves with enthusiasm. We can’t wait to see all their hard work come together on stage.
A huge congratulations to all students who participated in the Calder Athletics at Charlton Park last week. We are so proud of the great attitude, determination, and cooperation shown by everyone. To top it off, our school came away with the win - well done!
Yesterday we celebrated Book Week with a wonderful dress-up day. It was fantastic to see so many creative costumes and to have the chance to visit the residents at the Charlton Hospital, spreading joy and sharing our love of reading. Students also enjoyed a Book Week treasure hunt – a big thank you to Mrs Hogan, Mrs Fitzpatrick, Mrs Lanyon, and Mr Heenan for setting up such a fun and engaging activity.
Well done Grade 2/3 on another amazing fortnight of learning, teamwork, and creativity!
Miss Thompson
Grade 4/5/6 Class Report
Grade 4/5/6 have had a very busy fortnight with students participating in the Calder Athletics Carnival. Everyone had a great day and the student’s excellent behaviour and sportsmanship shone bright throughout the day with St Joseph's being the overall winner of the carnival.
We have been celebrating Bookweek this week with students reading a range of award winning children’s books each day. On Wednesday, everyone came dressed up as a character from one of their favourite books. We had unicorns, super heroes, sports heroes and other amazing characters. The children then visited the elderly at Charlton Nursing home, showing off their costumes and having a good chat with the residents there. The day finished with an awesome treasure hunt with students looking for clues all over the school. The year six students particularly showed great leadership skills looking after all the members of their team.
Well done Grade 4/5/6!
Mr Lanyon
Wellbeing with Mrs Wright
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. Students will choose an emotion and describe and draw what this looks like.
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.
St Joseph's School TV
Anxiety & Young People
Anxiety is a natural and expected part of growing up. In fact, it plays an important role in helping young people prepare for challenges, stay alert to potential dangers and adapt to new situations. It can motivate them to study for a test, practise before a performance, or tread carefully in unfamiliar settings. However, for many children and adolescents today, anxiety can shift from being a helpful response to becoming intense, persistent and disruptive.
The world young people are growing up in is fast-paced and often demanding. Academic pressures, social expectations, family changes and the constant presence of digital media can all contribute to heightened stress and worry.
When anxiety is left unrecognised or unsupported, it can begin to affect a young person's wellbeing, learning, friendships and self-confidence. That's why it's so important for adult carers to understand how anxiety may present in children. Everyone experiences anxiety differently, and there's no one-size-fits-all solution.
This edition of SchoolTV raises awareness and provides families with practical strategies to help young people manage anxiety in healthy, constructive ways.
Here is the link to your Edition: http://sjcharlton.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/anxiety-young-people-au
Start exploring SchoolTV today! https://sjcharlton.catholic.schooltv.me/
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
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.