Student reports will be sent home today.  Please take the time to read the report and to discuss it with your child/ren. I urge you to remember the formal report is just one way that we communicate with you about your child’s learning progress. Across the year, families have the opportunity to meet with the teacher at any time, as well as at the formal parent teacher interview meetings. You also receive ongoing information about your child’s learning through Seesaw, and through incidental conversations throughout the year. Should you have any queries regarding your child’s report, please contact your child’s current class teacher. 

Information about class placements will be sent home today with your child’s report. Much careful consideration has been put into these class structures to ensure there is a balance of student learning needs, year levels, genders and social connections across each class.  Today, students from Pre-School to Year 5 will spend some time with their new teachers for 2023. Many are excited for new beginnings, but others are apprehensive and a little sad to leave their previous cohort and teachers.  Please support your child over the break to help them understand that change is a normal part of life, often opening new possibilities, connections and experiences.  

We look forward to gathering this evening as a whole school community at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 252 Port Road Hindmarsh to give thanks to God for the 2022 school year and to farewell staff and our Year 6 students. Please arrive at 6:15pm for a 6:30pm start.  Students will be sitting in class groups for the Mass. 

We will combine these two events on February 8, 2023. Please join us at 6pm for our Annual General Meeting then move to classrooms to meet your child/ren’s teachers. Please note, we will not be scheduling times for you to collect stationery and meet teachers in the week before school goes back next year. Stationery will be kept in the classrooms and distributed to students when required. 

As Cate Halbert is going on Leave in Term 1, Julie Bottger will be available for a Meet and Greet for new and existing Pre-School families on Tuesday 24 January from 1:30-3:30pm.  Julie joins us from St Margaret Mary’s Pre-School and is currently working with Cate and Tori to ensure a smooth transition into Term 1. She will be joined by Kim Williams who will also join the pre-school as an educator next year.

I would like to take this opportunity to formally thank those who have represented the school and parish community on the 2022 School Board.  The AGM on February 8 is the last official meeting for the current School Board and the new School Board will meet for the first time on 21st February 2023. 

Nominations remain open for the 2023 School Board as more nominations are required.  Please don’t hesitate to speak to myself or any Board member if you are seeking more information about this important and rewarding role. Click here to submit a nomination.

Many thanks to the 2022 School Board: 

Ex-Officio Members 
President:  Fr Lancy
Executive Officer: Marianne Farrugia 

Nominated Members 
Staff Representative: Joseph Colella
Chairperson: Craig Costello
Finance Committee Representative: Laura Morris
Parents and Friends Representative: Rebekah Walton
Board Members: Francis Ben, Leath Margrie, Liam Parker 

We particularly thank Francis Ben, Laura Morris and Craig Costello who have come to the end of their two-year elected term on the Board, and Leath Margrie whose family will leave the school at the end of this year. 

At St Joseph’s School the role of P &F is to: 

• build and strengthen community 

• support families in their faith journey 

• build school enthusiasm and pride 

• promote effective communication between home, school and community 

• strive for ongoing positive learning and life outcomes for our children 

• fundraise for continuous school improvement transparently and in line with school policy 

Our P & F this year has been a very small but mighty team. Next year we are looking at a different model where roles can be more evenly distributed across the community, thus requiring less time and commitment from all. After all, every family in our school community has a role to play in ensuring our community is a strong and connected community. Early next year a calendar of events will be shared with all families.  Parents and friends who have their volunteer credentials in place with the school will be invited to nominate for at least one event where they can assist in a small or large way.  If you would like further information about our P&F, please speak to Rebekah Walton, Graziella Panazollo, Marianne Farrugia or Katie Downie.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone in the St Joseph’s School community a joy and peace filled Christmas. I hope that you can find some time to slow down, enjoy each other’s company and be grateful for the many blessings that we each have. I look forward to working with you to build upon the strengths of the St Joseph’s School community in 2023 and beyond. 

May the blessings of the Christ child be upon you. 

Marianne Farrugia 

Keep a look out this afternoon for the 2023 Back to School Information Sheet in your child's report pack.

It includes the name of your child's teacher and important dates for 2023.

Please take the time to scan the QR code and complete the Parent Questionnaire at your earliest convenience. This information helps the teachers get to know your child, read their aspirations and what their goals will be for the year.

In recognition for the donations to the Vinnies Christmas Appeal students may wear Christmas themed Casual clothes on the last day of school. 

Still haven't found your missing hat, container or jumper? It might be in our Lost Property.

Our Lost Property is located on the left of the MacKillop Centre of Learning entrance. Be sure to have a look and hopefully you find what you're looking for. 

Any uniform items that remain after the last day of term will be added to the school's spare clothes collection. Any containers or other items will be donated to Vinnies.

If you haven't done so already, please return your child's 2023 Documents & Information pack in the plastic sleeve to the Front Office.

The pack contains the following:

• Student Information Sheet
• School Fee Information
• QR Code to the Student Multiple Consent Digital Form

Recess pre-orders via Qkr will not be available on the last day of school (Thursday 15th December). 

👛 The canteen will be open at recess for over the counter sales as usual.

✅ Lunch can be ordered as normal as well as over the counter sales as well.

Don't miss a memory! Save your child's learning journal from Seesaw today.

After the last day of term we will be archiving all classroom learning journals to get ready for 2023. 

Saving your memories is easy, click here and follow the steps