Week 9 Term 2 2025

Family Dinner Connections

Connecting as a family is important to help your child feel a sense of belonging, safety and that their voice is heard. Family dinners are a great way to regularly check-in with one another, connect with no devices, and set allocated time aside to spend together. To make family dinners a time for meaningful connection, focus on creating a positive and engaging atmosphere by disconnecting from devices, encouraging conversation, and enjoying the meal together.

Tips for connecting over family dinner:

• Disconnect and engage with each other. Make the dinner table a device-free zone to ensure everyone is present and focused on each other.

• Encourage positive conversation. Establish and role model conversation manners. One person speaking at a time, good listening habits and asking questions.

• Go around the table. Have each person share the best part of their day or something they are looking forward to.

• Slow down and enjoy time together. Make it a rule that no one leaves the table until everyone is finished, allowing for conversation and digestion.

For more information on this, please see the link here. 

Semester One Reports

The Semester One Student Reports will be distributed on Monday of Week 10 (30th June). They emphasise the learning that students have demonstrated this semester and aim to give families a clear picture of a student’s educational progress to date, across all areas.

Learning and teaching take place throughout the year and so does the assessment of the learning. I encourage families to look at the ‘Approach to Learning’ (or the effort) section before viewing the grades. It is important to look at reports as a measure of your own child’s individual learning journey and not as a comparison to one another or their friends’ development.

For Reception students, the Semester One Reception Reports do not include an A-E grade. Instead, their achievement is reported as either: working ‘towards’, ‘at’, or ‘beyond’ the achievement standard. Families can use the report to celebrate successes and identify ways to support their child. A student’s report is only one of many ways that schools keep families informed about student progress. I trust all families are aware that if they have questions about what their child is learning or how to help their child learn at home, they can make a time to discuss with the class teacher/s.

Grandparents Day – Friday 1 August

Early notice that Grandparents Day will be held on Friday 1 August. Further details will be communicated before the end of this term.

Staffing News

Physical Education Teacher and Coordinator, Mr Adrian Mastrangelo, will be on leave from 30 June (Week 10 of Term Two), returning 6 August (Week 3 of Term Three). Taking over from Adrian whilst he is on leave will be Mr Joshua Barone. Josh is familiar with our school having spent many days at St Joseph’s as a relief teacher. Additionally, Josh has previously taught Physical Education lessons when Adrian was on leave for a short period in 2024.

Parking, Road Safety, Driver Etiquette and Being Respectful To Our Neighbours

Being safe and courteous at drop-off and pick-up times is key. Therefore, please demonstrate consideration and patience, as well as travelling slowly around the school, especially where marked – no faster than 25 km/h.

As a result of the busyness at drop-off and pick-up, finding a car park next to the school gate is tricky. An idea is to find a park a little further away from the school, where you will not only find it easier to locate a parking space, but also opportunity for some exercise with your child/ren, and an extra chance to ‘connect’, as you walk your child to and from school. The Medical Centre, on the corner of Portrush Road and Marian Road, is not for school parking.

Lastly, please be considerate of our neighbours, which includes not parking your vehicle along their driveway; being respectful keeping out of residents’ properties. Thank you for your anticipated attention to the above.

Condolences

I extend my sympathies to: - Angela Scarpantoni (Year 5 teacher), whose mother, Giuseppina, passed away last week. - the Carbone family (Lily, 3MM, Sienna, 1DC and Frankie, Preschool – Kanga group), on the passing of their maternal great grandmother; and - the Russo family (Antonio, Preschool – Koala group), on the passing of his paternal grandfather.

Congratulations

I offer my best wishes to: - Adrian Mastrangelo (Physical Teacher and Coordinator), on his recent engagement to fiancé, Natasha.

End of Term Two and Beginning of Term Three

Please note that Term Two concludes on Friday 4 July at 3:00pm. The first day of Term Three, is Tuesday 22 July, beginning at 8:40am (Monday 21 July is a Student Free Day – OSHC is available on this day).

Wishing you well!
Simon Mechis

Thank you to our Semester One SRC Members

We’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our SRC Members for their wonderful efforts in supporting our school throughout the past semester. Their leadership and initiative have been greatly appreciated, particularly in their recent work promoting World Environment Day across the school.
Through their creativity and commitment, they have helped raise awareness about the importance of caring for our environment and inspired their peers to take positive action. We’re incredibly proud of their contributions and the example they continue to set within our school community.
We look forward to our last SRC meeting for the semester in Week 10.

Learning Walks & Talks

At our school, we’re committed to continually improving teaching and learning. One way we do this is through ‘Learning Walks & Talks’ – a valuable process where school leaders and educators walk through classrooms to observe learning in action and talk to students about what they’re learning.

The goal is to:

• Understand what students are learning and how well they can articulate their learning
• Ensure there’s a clear understanding of the Learning Intention and Success Criteria
• Identify what’s working well and where we can support improvement
• Celebrate the wonderful teaching and learning happening across our school.

If your child is part of a learning walk, they might be asked simple questions such as:

• What are you learning? Why?
• How are you going?
• How do you know?
• How can you improve?
• Where can you go for help?

We believe in fostering a shared understanding of learning and making sure students can confidently talk about their progress. Learning Walks & Talks help us build a stronger, more connected learning community.

‘Jump Back Up July’ calendar

The ‘Jump Back Up July’ calendar from the Action for Happiness website. We encourage you to share it with your family to help promote kindness at home. One suggestion is to place a copy on the fridge and use it as a conversation starter with your child or children to explore the daily activities together.

To download a copy, click here.

I’d like to take this opportunity to wish all our families a happy and enjoyable holiday break.
Keep well (and stay warm!)

Michael Musolino

Thinking of joining St Joseph's School Payneham community in the future?
With enrolments currently full, we're so proud to be a school of choice for many families, and we're excited to continue growing trogether in the years ahead.

To help secure a place for your child from Preschool to Year 6 in 2027 or beyond, we recommend submitting your Enrolment Application Form at least 24 months ahead of their starting date, in order to secure a place.

Forms are available from the Front Office.

Families interested in our Occasional Care Program (Piccolini) aged 3-4 years, will also need to complete and submit this Enrolment Form.

Playgroup: For children 0-4 years of age, attending with their parent or carer. Book online via QKR app from Mondays to attend on a Wednesday morning.

Occasional Care (Piccolini): For children aged 3-4 years of age. Book online via QKR app 24 hours ahead of each session. Days available are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

Preschool: For children who turn 4 years of age before 1st May. Children who turn 4 from 1st May – 31st October, can commence mid-year.

Book an Adventure with Hairy Maclary and friends by Lynley Dodd.

Do you have a Hairy Maclary, Hercules Morse, Bottomley Potts, Muffin Mclay, Bitzer Maloney or a Schnitzel Von Krumm?

Send in a photo of your dog to the library for our display, along with your dog’s name and a few rhyming words to describe your dog (don’t forget to include your name and class)

Click here to see an example.

Are you a Reading Monster?
The Premier's Reading Challenge plays an important role in promoting the love of reading. This year we are encouraging all students to take up the Challenge!
The challenge is to read twelve books in total, by Friday 5th September and it is open to Reception (including Mid-Year Receptions) to Year 6 classes. Eight of the books must be from the Challenge Booklist; available on the Premier’s Reading Challenge website and four books of their own choice. Books can be from our school library, public library, books at home or e-books.
Student reading records are available from the Library or can be downloaded from the Premier’s Reading Challenge website. A link to the website can be found on the St Joseph’s Student Inranet page by clicking the library icon, to download the form or check if a book is part of the Premier’s Reading Challenge.

Is your child part of the Reading Challenge?
If so, please ensure they fill in their student reading records as they read their books and sign off the form as they go. Once completed, the form should be handed in to their class teacher/library. A list of books your child has borrowed from our library is available on request.
Once the form is received, the child’s name will be placed on a Reading Monster, to appear on the St Joseph’s Premier’s Reading Challenge ‘Wall of Fame’, situated in the Library, in relevant class groups.
Which class will have the most Reading Monsters?

Manuela Ciniglia

The 25th of June 2025, Mid Year Preschool children had a graduation ceremony concluding their year at Preschool. The event was attended by all families of Mid year preschool children and their extended families. Children shared Thank you Prayers, performed to a few songs they have been learning at Preschool and received their graduation certificates from their Principal Mr Simon Mechis. Families also enjoyed a short movie presentation of the year gone by. It was a grand celebration of children’s learning and development and demonstrated their readiness for Reception. We had a great and memorable time.

Please click onto the link below for further information

Out of School Hours Care (OSHC)

Sausage Sizzle

With 20 years of hands-on experience in the electrical industry, Joseph Reppucci is the trusted name behind Pro Connect Electrical Services. Serving both commercial and residential clients, Joseph brings expert knowledge, reliable service, and a commitment to safety and quality on every job. Whether it’s a small home upgrade or a large-scale commercial installation, Joseph ensures each project is completed efficiently and up to code, with a focus on customer satisfaction.

Our latest popular Sausage Sizzle was generously sponsored by PRO CONNECT
Thank you Joe!

Would you like to sponsor our next Sausage Sizzle?

• Does your business need Promoting or Advertising?
• Do you want to get involved and support your child's Canteen?
• Sponsor the Canteen for just $250 (tax deductible)
• By becoming a Sponsor you will receive free advertising for the whole term in the School Newsletter and on the St Joseph's Payneham social media pages.

Any queries please contact Mrs Helen Crosato on 8206 5103.

Soundbar Donation

Thank you to Gayan Dias from The Ci Group who generously donated 2 Soundbars to our school this week. Thank you for your support and adding to the learning experience of our students. 

SJP Sun Protection Policy 2024