Semester 2 student reports were sent home yesterday.  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.

Yesterday students had the opportunity to spend some time with their 2024 teachers and classmates, getting to know each other and getting a feel for how their new class group will operate.  Unfortunately, due to some late staffing changes, we are still in the process of appointing our remaining Year 3 / 4 teacher.  This information will be passed on as soon as possible.

Teaching and specialist staff for 2024 are as follows:

Leadership Team

Teaching Staff

A full list of all staff, including Curriculum and Administration Education Support Officers, will be provided in the new school year.

The Annual General Meeting of our School Board will be held at 6:15pm on Monday 12 February 2024.  This will include elections for our new Board Members. This will be followed at 6:50 pm by an opportunity to meet your child’s class teacher. A further session will occur at 7:20pm for those who have more than one class to visit. The evening will conclude at 7:50pm.

Based upon feedback received from the community in relation to uniform satisfaction, the School Board has recognised that there is appetite for some closer consideration of our school uniform policy in the coming year.  In the interim we wish to clarify some aspects of the current uniform that are causing confusion, and advise of some slight changes that have been agreed by the School Board.

Of note is the following:

• Either the school zip up sports jacket or navy woollen jumper may be worn as a part of the formal summer and winter uniform.
• Sports shoes must be either predominantly white or predominantly black. Fluoro or bright neon colours are not permitted.
• Either black or navy closed shoe sandals can be worn instead of the black school shoe when wearing the summer formal uniform.

By way of reminder, it is our expectation that:

• The uniform is worn correctly, respectfully, is clean and in good repair
• The sports uniform, included sports shoes, is only to be worn on the days designated by the class teacher 
• Shoulder length or longer hair is tied back at all times
• Nail polish, make up, jewellery, temporary tattoos are not permitted at school. Exceptions are only plain stud or sleeper earrings, subtle religiously symbol worn on a chain around the neck, a medic alert bracelet and analogue or digital watch (no smart watches).

At this stage we do not have someone who is willing to take over the coordination of our Parents and Friends Committee in 2024. As communicated in my letter earlier this term, Bek Walton is stepping down from this role after several years of wonderful service. Thankfully, we have a number of people in our community who are willing to help out at P&F supported events such as the Mother’s and Father’s Day Stalls, catering for special days etc.  Unfortunately, these services cannot occur without a committee to plan, purchase supplies and coordinate volunteers.  If you are considering joining the committee to take leadership in this space – please contact the front office as soon as possible.

Wishing all of the St Joseph’s School families a very blessed Christmas season.

Our commitment to Nature Education at St Joseph’s School Hindmarsh, began a few years ago when Deidre transformed our school garden into a biodiverse habitat for butterflies, bees, birds and frogs. Many small hands across several classes, helped Deidre create a much loved and carefully designed school garden and respected biodiverse environment for children to enjoy.  

Sadly, we say farewell to Deidre Knight, our school’s Sustainability Educator, who has been diligent and instrumental in her work at St Joseph’s with the ‘Bring Back the Butterflies’ project and more recently, the Kaurna Food & Fibre project spanning two years.

Deidre has been working within and outside our school community for approximately 5 years.

 While Deidre has had the opportunity to work with a number of children across the year levels in our school’s garden, she has, over the past two years, devoted her time and commitment to leading, guiding and patiently teaching twenty five keen and interested Year 5/6 students, on  weekly basis, about endemic plant species and the skills of cutting, propagating, designing, seed collecting  and planting through the ‘Kaurna Food & Fibre’ project in 2022 and 2023.

Whilst it has been a tremendously long and productive 2-year journey, Deidre’s gentle nature and passion for visualising and planning around sustainable management of endemic plant species and their ecosystems on Kaurna country, has proven to be an invaluable educational experience for the Year 5/6 students, who one day, we hope, will be able to impart their knowledge and skills with those around them.

We would like to extend our deepest gratitude and appreciation for Deidre’s outstanding work in our school’s native garden and wish her well in her future endeavours as she continues to make a positive difference towards maintaining a healthy and sustainable environment.

We are very lucky to be involved with a very welcoming and busy Parish Community. Below are some upcoming events with the Church that are being held over the weeks leading up to Christmas.

Parish Christmas Carols in the Courtyard

Christmas Eve

** Children are encouraged to dress in costumes appropriate to the season e.g. angels, shepherds, wise men/women- etc.**

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.

Yesterday our Back to School Information went home to families with your child's school report.

If you haven't done so already, please scan the QR codes or head to the digital form using the links below, to provide the school with valuable insights about your child, express interests in our instrumental tutoring and after school sports programs for the 2024 academic year.

• Students Insights Survey  - Tell us about your child
• 2024 Instrumental Tutoring Program - Would your child like to learn an instrument?
• 2024 After School Sports Program - Would your child like to play an after school sport?

If you haven't already could you please return your child's 'Student Update Form' by Wednesday 13th December.

Please check the information and make any corrections that are necessary on the form. It is important that student records are kept up to date throughout the year. Should there be any change to address, contact, medical or access restriction details please advice the school as soon as possible.

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

After the last day of term we will be archiving all classroom learning journals to get ready for 2024. 

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