Week 8, Term 2 2025

Tomorrow we will celebrate the many different cultural backgrounds of our students and families through our International Day. Whilst we learn the Italian language at St Joseph’s School, many of our students are bilingual with 23 different languages other than English being spoken in their homes. Around 15 of our students were born in a different country and many, many more of our student’s parents and grandparents travelled from another country to live here in Australia. Our cultural diversity brings a great richness to our community, and it will be a joy to celebrate this together through a parade of colour, performance, activities and food! Many thanks to Celine Grandioso and Antoinette Di Paolo who have coordinated the celebration.

Reception to Year 6 students’ Semester 1 reports will go home on Wednesday of Week 10. In keeping with the Education Act, schools are required to provide a formal, written report twice per year showing A-E grades for student in Year 1 and above. Reception students’ progress is reported on a 3-point scale – working towards, working at and working beyond.   

Our preschool educators use the Early Years Learning Framework to plan for and evaluate learning and primary teachers use the Australian Curriculum to plan, teach and assess student learning. Each learning area has achievement standards which describe what students should typically know, understand and be able to do at the end of a given year of learning.  Semester 1 reports focus on what aspects of the curriculum have been taught and assessed in Semester 1, however many of those understanding and skills will be continued to be developed throughout the year. Find out more on the Australian Curriculum website. As we are a Catholic School, we also plan, teach and assess Religious Education using the Crossways Curriculum.  

Formal written reports are just one of the ways we communicate with parents and caregivers regarding learning progress.  As well as ongoing communication through meetings and Seesaw posts, there are two opportunities for Learning Conversations each year and this opportunity will again be offered early next term should you wish to further discuss your child’s report or ongoing learning.  

Families of our graduating preschool students will each receive a Learning Statement as a summary of their learning during their 12 months of Preschool.  

This week has seen the last of our transition to school visits for our soon to be newest Preschooler and Reception children. Over the past weeks, these children have developed familiarity with their new educators and learning areas and gradually build their confidence to explore, build new friendships and immerse themselves in St Joseph’s School and Preschool.  To our 21 new Receptions and our 17 new Preschoolers, we are so excited to welcome you officially next term!

As we come closer to the end of Term 2, a friendly reminder that our school and OSHC will be closed on Monday 21 July. This is to enable our staff to engage in a retreat experience at the Mary MacKillop Precinct in Kensington where we will learn more about, and reflect upon, the Josephite tradition of our school and how this can continue to shape our school community as we approach our 100-year celebration in 2028! Mary Hemmings, dear friend of the school and past Principal, will facilitate our retreat.

Marianne Farrugia
Principal

We have officially kicked off our Vinnies Winter Appeal and are welcoming food and clothing donations for those less fortunate in our community. Families can bring in donations to their classroom or the front office up until the end of term. Any items (provided they are in in date/good condition) are welcomed, however the six items listed have been identified by Vinnies as the highest priorities. Please give generously.

Last week, 1/2I led our special Pentecost Mass. Pentecost is a special day in the Christian calendar that is often called the “birthday of the Church” because it marks the beginning of the Church’s mission in the world. Celebrating a Mass at our school for the first time was Fr Rajashekar, who recently joined our parish after moving here from India. We look forward to having Fr Raja celebrating with us in the future.

This week marks the commencement of the next stage of the Sacramental program for six of our students. Over the next two months they will be preparing to celebrate the Sacraments of Confirmation and First Holy Communion, thus becoming fully initiated into the Catholic Church. We wish these students all the best in their Sacramental journey.

Expressions of interest are now open for the 2025/26 Sacramental program, which will start in Term 4 with preparation for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This is for students currently in Year 3 or above. Please email me at joshua.rouse@sjsh.catholic.edu.au to register your interest or for any further information. 

I pray that you all have a wonderful week.

God bless.

Josh Rouse
Assistant Principal Religious Identity and Mission

Last week our Year 4/5 cohort went to Adelaide Oval for an interactive excursion to support their HASS and Literacy learning.

In class, students are exploring the impact of British colonisation on people and the environment.

Through the Adelaide Oval Educational Tour and a guided architecture walk, students were able to deepen their understanding of Australia’s colonial history and how it has shaped our identity.