Week 6, Term 2 2025

It has been an action-packed fortnight since our last newsletter with our students engaged in many different experiences to support and enhance their learning. 

Our Receptions and Year 6 students have both recently visited the Adelaide Zoo. Our Year 6 students focused on furthering their understanding of habitats as a part of their Science learning, and our Reception students focused on their Science learning about Australian animals and also their Geography learning about maps. 

Our acknowledgement of National Sorry Day last week saw our whole school engaged in a reflection and prayer where we acknowledged the hurt that has been caused to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people over many years. In prayer we asked God to help us live out reconciliation in our everyday life with the following words:

Loving God,

Let us be more respectful towards and accepting of each other; let us use more words of and show more acts of kindness towards each other and let us be more forgiving of one another by saying ‘sorry’ when we’ve hurt others.

This week our Year 1/2 RR assembly helped us to focus on the meaning of National Reconciliation Week, and following this we all took part in a walk for solidarity which took us outside our school gates and into the local community with a meaningful walk around the block. 

Particular thanks to the students of Year 1 /2 RR, the RAP staff members, and Antoinette Di Paulo who is our Aboriginal Education focus teacher.

Continuing this week are the transition visits for our soon to be brand new Receptions and Preschoolers. It is always exciting to welcome new children and families into the St Joseph’s School community because they each bring wonderful, unique qualities that enhance our community.  For many of our new students, transitioning into Reception is quite easy when they have spent the last 12 months in our Preschool where they get to know the school environment, staff, and some of the older students through our buddy program.

Places in our Preschool fill up fast, so if you have a little one, or know others who would like to attend our Preschool, we encourage you to start the process soon by contacting our Enrolment Officer, Jasmine Zawitkowski, on 8424 6406 or via email (JZawitkowski@sjsh.catholic.edu.au).

Click here to view photos from our first Transition Day.

We have recently farewelled Vince Fusco, Marketing and Communications Coordinator who has left the role to further pursue his own business interests.  In the short time that Vince was with us, we most definitely benefited from his fantastic expertise and skills as well as his very positive, energetic manner and ‘can do’ attitude.

We have now welcomed Isabella to our staff who has been appointed as our Marketing and Community Engagement Coordinator.  Isabella has had previous experience in other Catholic Schools and brings great skill and insight to the role. Following a handover period with Vince, Isabella is now managing all aspects of the role including our newsletter publication, social media channels, advertising, oversight of our enrolment procedures, and communication and engagement within our school community.  I am sure you will come across Isabella at our school events in the near future and I know you will join us in making her feel welcome.

The Australian Government recently announced an Anti-Bullying Rapid Review. The Review will look at current approaches to addressing bullying in schools, what is working and what needs strengthening, with the aim of providing options for the development of a consistent national standard for responding to bullying and its underlying causes in schools.

The Review co-chairs, Dr Charlotte Keating and Dr Jo Robinson AM, are seeking views from students, parents/carers, teachers, and those involved in school education across the country. To provide feedback through the submission process, please click here. This page contains instructions on how to participate, along with the Review’s Terms of Reference. Submissions can be made anonymously if preferred. I encourage you to share your experiences as a parent/carer or speak to your children and help them share their stories. The Bullying No Way website, which is an initiative of Australian education authorities, may aid you with practical tips and strategies that may assist you in talking to your children about bullying. If you have any questions or concerns, please email ABRRConsultations@education.gov.au.

Marianne Farrugia
Principal

On 11 June, 1/2I will be leading our special Pentecost Mass. Pentecost is a special day in the Christian calendar that celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit to Jesus’ disciples. The symbolism of flames and a dove are often used to signify how the Holy Spirit looked to the disciples. It happened 50 days after Easter Sunday, when Jesus rose from the dead. On this day, the disciples were filled with courage and began to share the Good News of Jesus with people from many different countries and languages. Pentecost is often called the “birthday of the Church” because it marks the beginning of the Church’s mission in the world. At school, we talk about how the Holy Spirit helps us to live with love, kindness, and courage every day.

Over the last few weeks our Mini Vinnies group (supported by our school counsellor, Margaret, and ESO Rose) has been preparing to kick off the Vinnies Winter Appeal. Sandra from the St Vincent de Paul Society came and spoke to the group about what Vinnies specifically needs in order to best help those who are disadvantaged in our community. The group will be going around to classes to deliver baskets to collect donations for the rest of this term and share with students information about why we are helping. Our Mini Vinnies are truly living out our school vision of being a “faith community, inspired by love, empowered through learning to make a difference.” A big thank you to Lila and the rest of the Mini Vinnies for creating the graphic below. Please give generously. 

I pray that you all have a wonderful week.

God bless.

Josh Rouse
Assistant Principal Religious Identity and Mission

To acknowledge National Reconciliation Week in Preschool, both the Blue and Gold groups worked with Nikki Carabetta, an Aboriginal artist from the Northern Territory and Western Australia. Nikki shared stories about her life and artwork with the Preschool children and what reconciliation means to her. To celebrate reconciliation, we talked about the importance of kind hands, for shaking, high fiving and greeting with handshakes, and how these can be used a symbol of reconciliation. 

The children traced their own hands and were supported by Nikki to decorate their handprints with dot painting. Each handprint will now be displayed in the Preschool, creating a sea of hands, symbolising our reconciliation journey.

On Thursday 19 June, we will be celebrating International Day.

To highlight the amazing multiculturalism within our community, students are invited to wear cultural clothes or colours to represent their culture on this day. Families are warmly invited to join our school in the hall from 9:00 - 9:30am to watch our cultural dress parade. 

Throughout the day, students will be engaging in a range of cultural experiences and will also have the opportunity to try new foods by pre-ordering through QKR. Food options include: penne pasta with sauce, mini gelati cups, and Jelebi (an Indian dessert).