Week 2, Term 2 2025

Term 2 is well underway with our students back in the swing of their learning activities. At the end of last term, we commemorated the events of Holy Week as the season of Lent came to an end. Upon our return to school, we came together as a community last week to celebrate the Easter season with a Mass lead by the students in Year 4/5 BM. The story of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus is the cornerstone of the Catholic faith, and our students deepen their understanding of Jesus by recognising and commemorating key events in Jesus’ story.

No doubt all would have heard in the media that Pope Francis has died at the age of 88. Pope Francis, as the leader of the Catholic Church, was a humble and compassionate man who walked with the people and cared for those who were marginalised. He called for all people to protect the environment, not just as a religious duty but as a universal one, and he has inspired many people to take action to care for our common home.

As leaders of the Church begin the process of selecting a new Pope to lead the Catholic Church, we pray that the transforming and unifying leadership of Pope Francis continues as the next Pope is appointed.

Matt Baird has become a very proud father over the holiday break as he, and his partner Mia, welcomed their beautiful baby boy, Jasper Murray Baird. I am sure all in our community will join us in sending our love and congratulations to Matt and Mia. 

Many thanks to Andrea Boseley and our team of volunteers who will be facilitating our Mother’s Day stall next Thursday.  This year we are trialling a cashless approach, so please use the QKR app, Parents and Friends, Fundraising/Events to prepay for your child’s purchase. 

Currently we have quite a few therapy providers who come to school to provide sessions, as arranged by families.  Whilst there are many benefits to this occurring at school, we also have limited spaces and cannot always accommodate this. 

If you are looking to have an allied heath professional provide your child’s session onsite please make contact with Rita Garreffa, Assistant Principal Learning and Wellbeing, (rita.garreffa@sjsh.catholic.edu.au) before proceeding. 

As a part of our Visible Wellbeing project, parents/carers are invited to attend an upcoming webinar, presented by Professor Lea Water on the evening of June 4.   

This is another wonderful opportunity for parents and carers to learn about how they can embed elements of VWB at home with their children. This serves to build consistency in wellbeing approaches between home-life and school-life, which is very beneficial to students' wellbeing.  

Follow this link for registration and see the flyer later in this newsletter for more information.  Please note the 6:30pm start is in Melbourne time and so will be a 6pm start if connecting from Adelaide. 

On Thursday the 19th of June (Week 8) St Joseph's School will be celebrating the rich cultural diversity of our community with our International Day. 
As we prepare for this celebration, we invite you, as our family members, to consider sharing something of your culture  with our students on the day, such as:

• Run a small presentation about your culture.
  • ​This may be about sharing customs or celebrations or discussing different types of foods that are eaten on special occasions and the reasons behind this. 
• Run an activity or teach the students about your culture.
  • ​This may be teaching students  a dance or movement that is part of your culture. It may be an activity where the students make a symbol or art that reflects your culture and has meaning.

Depending on the responses we receive, these sessions will engage either a single class or a year level group e.g. 1/2's or 4/5's.

If you are interested in coming into school and sharing your culture with the students, please email Celine Grandioso by the 21st of May with your idea or to find out more information. 

We look forward to celebrating the many cultures within our school community! 

May is a special month in the Catholic Church as we honour Mary, the mother of Jesus. At St Joseph’s, we take this time to reflect on Mary's love, faith, and devotion to God. Through these moments, we remember Mary as a gentle and caring role model who always leads us closer to Jesus.

Throughout Lent we have been raising money for Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion. This began with a gold coin donation on Shrove Tuesday.

I am proud to announce that overall our school community raised $1076.75! A truly remarkable show of generosity and a testament to our school motto, ‘In All Things Love.’ A heartfelt thank you to all who donated to such a worthy cause.

On Sunday, six Year 4 and 5 students were presented at our parish Mass alongside students from Immaculate Heart of Mary, Nazareth and St Michael’s. These students are continuing their sacramental journey and will receive the sacraments of Confirmation and First Holy Communion in Term 3. This journey culminates in confirming the promise their parents made at baptism by becoming full members of the Catholic faith community. Please keep Evie, Sonila, Nathan, Caterina, Bellarosa and Spencer and their families in your prayers throughout this special journey.

Any student currently in Year 3-6 (and has been baptised) that is interested in starting the Sacramental Program in Term 4 for 2025/26 should contact me on joshua.rouse@sjsh.catholic.edu.au or via the front office.

Josh Rouse
Assistant Principal Religious Identity and Mission