Filter Content
Matthew O'Brien, Principal
Dear Parents, Guardians, Staff, Students and the wider St. Joseph’s Primary School Community,
Catholic Education Week
Catholic Education Week is an annual opportunity for Catholic schools in the Diocese of Ballarat to celebrate their distinctive ethos and mission with their school and wider communities.
In 2025, 52 primary schools and 11 secondary Colleges educate more than 18,500 students and employ almost 3,000 teachers and staff across the diocese from Mildura in the north, Portland in the south, and west to Edenhope and Nhill.
2025 is the Jubilee Holy Year, the 2025th anniversary of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The concept of "Jubilee" originates in the Book of Leviticus (chapter 25) as a special year of reconciliation, pilgrimage, and coming home. Jubilees are now celebrated every 25 years. Pope Francis has designated the 2025 Holy Year as a time to renew ourselves as "Pilgrims of Hope." Our theme is built on the Jubilee while drawing on the gift of scripture where St Paul writes to the community of believers in Rome.
The context of the greater passage of St Paul’s letters to the Romans is to provide direction, encouragement, and guidance to the community of believers in Rome, a community that Paul had not met personally. In the Ballarat Diocese today, as a community of communities from the Murray to the Sea, we are also tasked to uplift and guide those within our Catholic Christian educational community.
We draw on the inspiration of Pope Francis and the wisdom of St Paul as we strive to bring the peace and joy that God offers to the people of our communities.
Loving God,
May the God of hope fill you with joy and peace as you guide and nurture the minds and hearts of the young.
May the God of hope grant you wisdom to teach with truth, patience to lead with compassion, and faith to inspire with love.
May you always find strength in the mission to reflect Christ’s light in your service, and may your work bear lasting fruit in the lives of those you serve.
Amen.
30 Years of Service Award
Congratulations to Fran Lindsey who receives an award on Friday night in recognition of her 30 years of service in Catholic Education. 30 years with an average of 25 children per year means that there have been about 750 lucky children who have experienced the gentle, joyful and loving care that comes with having Ms Lindsey as a teacher.
Spirit of Catholic Education Award
Yuichi Deguchi has been nominated for a Spirit of Catholic Education Award in recognition of his incredible commitment to the teaching of the Japanese language and culture across all of the schools in our area. Much was said about the astonishing career of Yuichi at the end of last year and this nomination is justly deserved. The winners of these awards will be announced on Friday. Good luck Yuichi.
Matthew O'Brien, Principal
Happy Birthday to children celebrating their birthday this week.
Lily Stewart, Kiara Subasinghe, Elizabeth Fitzgerald, Ollie Welch, Indi McLaurin, Jack Parker, Tobias Haberfield, Tilly Beechey, Charlie Biemans, Sophie Morris, Grace Densley, Herbie Neagle and Ezra Smith.
Winter Sports Day
Our District Winter Sports Day was held on Thursday 22nd May, as a school we fielded two AFL 9’s boys football teams, one girls netball team, one mixed soccer team, and one mixed tee ball team.
Soccer was played at Jones Oval, where our team showed great skill and determination, finishing second overall.
Netball and Football were held at Reid Oval - and we’re thrilled to announce that both teams won their competitions! They will now progress to the Division Competition on Friday 13th June, which will be played at Walter Oval.
Tee Ball took place at Walter Oval and our team played brilliantly, also finishing second overall.
Well done to all our athletes - your effort, sportsmanship and school pride were on full display.
Regional Cross Country
A huge congratulations to the seven students who represented our school at the Regional Cross Country event on Monday 26th May. Competing against students from across the region, they gave it their all and did a fantastic job. We are very proud of their efforts.
Upcoming Events
Mixed Netball Trials
Lunchtime, Thursday 29th May
We’re holding trials for the Mixed Netball Team this Thursday. Come along if you’d like to be part of the team.
Girls Football
Thursday 12th June
Our girls' football team will be heading to Dennington Football Oval for their upcoming competition. Good luck to the team.
Mixed Netball Competition
Friday 13th June, Reid Oval
Boys Football
Friday 13th June. Walter Oval
Girls Netball
Friday 13th June. Walter Oval
St. Joseph’s Big Walk for Water – This Friday at 11:30 AM!
A reminder that this Friday at 11:30 AM for St. Joseph's Big Walk for Water – a meaningful event where our students will walk in solidarity to raise awareness and funds for communities in need of clean water.
Every dollar counts! Your generous donations will help support life-changing water projects.
Please click on our QR code to donate – every contribution makes a difference!
We also need your help collecting buckets for the walk! If you have a bucket at home please send it in with your child clearly labeled with their name by Friday morning.
All water carried will be used to water our school gardens at the conclusion of the event.
Thank you for supporting this important cause
If you can help, please donate to our St. Joseph's page to raise all that we can for this cause. Feel free to send the QR code to family and friends.
What is National Reconciliation Week?
The dates for NRW remain the same each year; 27 May to 3 June. These dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey – the successful 1967 referendum, and the High Court Mabo decision respectively.
Reconciliation must live in the hearts, minds and actions of all Australians as we move forward, creating a nation strengthened by respectful relationships between the wider Australian community, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
We all have a role to play when it comes to reconciliation, and in playing our part we collectively build relationships and communities that value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories, cultures, and futures.
A brief history
National Reconciliation Week (NRW) started as the Week of Prayer for Reconciliation in 1993 (the International Year of the World’s Indigenous Peoples) and was supported by Australia’s major faith communities.
In 1996, the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation launched Australia’s first National Reconciliation Week.
In 2001, Reconciliation Australia was established to continue to provide national leadership on reconciliation.
In the same year, approximately 300,000 people walked across Sydney Harbour Bridge as part of National Reconciliation Week-and subsequently across bridges in cities and towns-to show their support for reconciliation.
Today, National Reconciliation Week is celebrated in workplaces, schools and early learning services, community organisations and groups, and by individuals Australia-wide.
Enrolments for Foundation students for 2026 are now OPEN.
All applications are to be submitted by 4:00pm on Wednesday 11th June, 2025.
Enrolments
All of our enrolments are completed online, via the Enrolment/Online Enrolment Form page on the schools website.
You will need to make sure you have your child's documentation loaded onto your device, either by taking a photo or scanning and uploading.
- Birth certificate
- Immunisation Statement
- Baptism certificates
- any specialist reports
Discovery Tours and Information Sessions
Our Discovery Tours and Information session dates have also been set and can be booked via the Enrolment/Tour Registration page on the school website.
- 11:30am, Wednesday 28th May
To provide opportunities for social meetings between parents, and promote a spirit of union and good fellowship. The PSA runs and supports several events throughout the year to raise money for the school and to support our school community.
What do we do? Mother’s Day Stall, Hot Cross Bun Drive, Father’s Day Breakfast, Mother's Day Stall, Pizza Days, Art Activities and Canteen support
Next Meeting Date: Tuesday 3rd June 2025 at 7:00 pm.
How can I help? Come along to the meetings, contribute to the discussion, share ideas, support events that enrich the school community.
Pizza Day: Tuesday 3rd June, 2025
Orders Close: 3pm Friday 30th May, 2025
Once per term the PSA run a Pizza Day as a "special occasion" lunch option and to raise money for the PSA.
Children can choose from either Garlic or Hawaiian pizza (Gluten Free options available) which are provided by Pepper's Pizza (formerly Pinkies Pizza) who are one of our school sponsors.
Orders are now open via CDFPay (Canteen ordering system)
There are no canteen orders on Pizza Days and children not wanting to order pizza should bring their lunch from home.
Sorry, no late orders can be accepted.
Bunnings BBQ
We are looking for volunteers to work on the Saturday 7th June - cooking or selling split over several shifts
BBQ Shift 1 - 8:30am to 10:30am
BBQ Shift 2 - 10:30am to 12:30pm
BBQ Shift 3 - 12:30pm to 2:30pm
BBQ Shift 3 - 2:30pm to 4:30pm
Cake Stall Shift 1 - 8:30am to 10:30am
Cake Stall Shift 2 - 10:30am - 12:30pm
Bunnings BBQ Cake Stall
We are looking for people to cook cakes/muffins/slice etc to sell on Election day. Items can be dropped off at school on Friday 6th June or at Bunnings on the morning of Saturday 7th June.
Please complete the form to indicate how many cake boxes your require.
Cake boxes will be sent home early this week.