Newsletter November 7, 2025
Newsletter November 7, 2025
Embedded Files
Principal's Message
Principal's Message
Paul Dwyer, Principal
pdwyer@sjcarrumdowns.catholic.edu.au
Dear Parents,
It's great to be back at school and to see students, staff and families after my leave. The first part of my leave was a MACS faith formation opportunity for Principals to visit the 4 papal basilicas in Rome, and go through the Holy doors, as part of the Year of Jubilee celebrations. Each day started with morning prayer and reflections, preparation for the day ahead and daily Mass. Overall, this pilgrimage was a unique opportunity for personal, spiritual and professional growth for me, and has strengthened and renewed my understanding of how I can actively live out the mission of the Church as a Catholic school principal.
My thanks to Irene Stewart for her hard work as acting principal in my absence, and to our leaders, Caz, Bec and Zeeta, and all staff, for working together to support students, families and each other while I was away.
It was great to see our 2026 Foundation students and their parents at our second transition session this week. These sessions are an important part of welcoming new students into our school and ensuring that they are familiar, comfortable and ready for school next year.
Congratulations to Leonel (SWD) who has been cast in the role, of “Eric,” for Stage School Australia's upcoming holiday production of Matilda Jr. The Musical!
The season of Advent begins on Sunday, November 30, and concludes on Christmas Eve, Wednesday, December 24, 2025. It is a four-week period of preparation, reflection, and anticipation for the birth of Jesus. During this time we are asked to renew our commitment to the gospel message of Jesus, and Advent encourages us to embrace hopeful waiting, courageous peace-making, resilient joy, and self-giving love.
Some forthcoming dates for your diaries:
Tuesday 11th November – Remembrance Day paraliturgy at school
Sunday 16th November – Bunnings sausage sizzle organised by the P & F
Friday 21st November – Italian Day
Friday 28th November – Fun Run
Friday 5th December – Christmas Assembly 1 (JSE, JMR, JTA, MSM, MLR, SLN, SWD)
Friday 12th December – Christmas Assembly 2 (FRZ, FRF, JDB, MNG, MYK, SHJ, STC)
Please note: The last day for students this year is Tuesday 16th December.
Paul Dwyer, Principal
Car Park
Parents may open the gate and drive their cars into the school grounds at 2:30pm as long as there are no classes playing / working on the asphalt. The car park is a part of the play ground and includes basketball court and volleyball court which needs to be available should a teacher wish to use this with her / his class.Car Park
Remembrance Day Badges available for purchase from the St Joachim's office.
Communication
@ St Joachim's
Communication
@ St Joachim's
At St Joachim’s we believe in the importance of communication between home and school and we have a number of platforms that we use.
Read more.
Maire Macphie, Administration
Office News
Office News
Term 3 fees statements have been issued to all families.
Please do not hesitate to email the office team on office@sjcarrumdowns.catholic.edu.au for any questions or to share information.
Parents - please ensure that your child's Subway order has been submitted before the cut off time. The Subway lunches are organised by Canteen Hub,
To make Zooper Dooper Fridays happen, we need the support of volunteers! Here is the link for the parent roster for zooper doopers.
Religious Education
Religious Education
Zeeta Andrew, Religious Education Leader
zandrew@sjcarrumdowns.catholic.edu.au
Learning About God’s Kingdom in the Junior School
Learning About God’s Kingdom in the Junior School
This term, our Junior School students have been exploring the theme of God’s Kingdom through some of the classic parables of Jesus. They have been reflecting on what these stories teach us about love, kindness, forgiveness, and faith.
This term, our Junior School students have been exploring the theme of God’s Kingdom through some of the classic parables of Jesus. They have been reflecting on what these stories teach us about love, kindness, forgiveness, and faith.
To bring their learning to life, the students created beautiful dioramas that visually represent what the Kingdom of God looks like to them. Each creation is a wonderful expression of their understanding — filled with creativity, colour, and meaning.
It has been inspiring to see our young learners engage so thoughtfully with Scripture and share their ideas about how we can live as part of God’s Kingdom here on earth.
FRF & FRZ’s Liturgy
FRF & FRZ’s Liturgy
Thursday 6th November
(Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome)
(Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome)
Mass Reflection:
Mass Reflection:
In today’s readings the main focus was about God’s special place and how we can treat and look after it with love and respect. This place is special because we gather here as a community and pray together. As a class we discussed our special place and why it is special to us. We reflected about the way we look after our special place and how Jesus invites us to look after God’s special place.
Prayers of the Faithful:
Prayers of the Faithful:
Loving God,
Help us to look after your Church with love, care and respect.
Lord, hear us.
Loving God,
We pray for those in our community who are sick or lonely.
Lord, hear us.
Loving God,
We ask that you help us to make your church a place of peace and love.
Lord, hear us.
Loving God,
In this Jubilee Year, we pray that we may be signs of hope in all that we do and how we treat one another.
Lord, hear us.
Upcoming Class Mass times
(Yr 3 - 6)
Liturgy of the Word (Yr F-2) for Term 4.
Upcoming Class Mass times
(Yr 3 - 6)
Liturgy of the Word (Yr F-2) for Term 4.
We invite our school community to join in for these special occasions.
From Mrs Stewart
From Mrs Stewart
Irene Stewart, Deputy Principal - Student Wellbeing
istewart@sjcarrumdowns.catholic.edu.au
Transition Website - 2026 New Students
Transition Website - 2026 New Students
Welcome 2026 Foundation Students and their parents, and children in other year levels joining us in 2026.
Welcome 2026 Foundation Students and their parents, and children in other year levels joining us in 2026.
The transition from pre-school to school is an exciting and important time for all children, their families and the school.
Here's our Welcome to St Joachim's 2026 website.
Performing Arts
Performing Arts
Tanya Antolos
tantolos@sjcarrumdowns.catholic.edu.au
Visual Art
Visual Art
Mel Wharton
mwharton@sjcarrumdowns.catholic.edu.au
Year 1 Clay Creations
Year 1 Clay Creations
Our Year 1 students have been exploring clay techniques to create their very own pinch pots!
Our Year 1 students have been exploring clay techniques to create their very own pinch pots!
Each student shaped their pot carefully, added a handle, and experimented with texture to make their designs unique. Once the pots were dry, they painted them in two colours, bringing their creations to life with beautiful contrasting tones. What a wonderful way to combine creativity and hands-on learning!
English
English
Carolyn Yass, English Leader
cyass@sjcarrumdowns.catholic.edu.au
‘The Ant Explorer’ by CJ Dennis
‘The Ant Explorer’ by CJ Dennis
Students in Yr 3 & 4 have begun a writing focus on poetry.
Students in Yr 3 & 4 have begun a writing focus on poetry.
The mentor text ‘The Ant Explorer’ by CJ Dennis has shown students the features of alliteration, imagery, hyperbole, irony, rhyme, repetition and personification. This week students had a focus on expanding sentences in writing. Some MYK students have shared their sentences for this week’s newsletter.
Micah - On a warm Saturday, my family walked the dog to the bakery and back home for exercise and something to eat.
Pedro - In the middle of winter Michael walked slowly to the snowy top of Mount Everest to achieve one of his amazing goals
Benjamin - Maddison was walking on a sunny morning in Frankston because she wanted to walk with Jeremy.
Victoria - One morning Pig ran in the bushes because a bull was chasing her.
Evie - Eva was sprinting on a hot sunny Monday in the afternoon to win first place at a running comp.
Bertin - One warm afternoon my bright orange fish jumped into a glass of water cause somebody tapped on the glass.
Eva - One afternoon Bob jumped on the trampoline in the backyard because he was bored.
Stassi - On a hot sunny day John and Alison were swimming at a waterpark because they were hot and sweating.
The Ant Explorer by C. J. Dennis
The Ant Explorer by C. J. Dennis
Once a little sugar ant made up his mind to roam-
To fare away far away, far away from home.
He had eaten all his breakfast, and he had his ma's consent
To see what he should chance to see and here's the way he went
Up and down a fern frond, round and round a stone,
Down a gloomy gully where he loathed to be alone,
Up a mighty mountain range, seven inches high,
Through the fearful forest grass that nearly hid the sky,
Out along a bracken bridge, bending in the moss,
Till he reached a dreadful desert that was feet and feet across.
'Twas a dry, deserted desert, and a trackless land to tread,
He wished that he was home again and tucked-up tight in bed.
His little legs were wobbly, his strength was nearly spent,
And so he turned around again and here's the way he went-
Back away from desert lands feet and feet across,
Back along the bracken bridge bending in the moss,
Through the fearful forest grass shutting out the sky,
Up a mighty mountain range seven inches high,
Down a gloomy gully, where he loathed to be alone,
Up and down a fern frond and round and round a stone.
A dreary ant, a weary ant, resolved no more to roam,
He staggered up the garden path and popped back home.
Library
Library
Leonie Richardson,
lrichardson@sjcarrumdowns.catholic.edu.au
St Joachim's Library Borrowing
St Joachim's Library Borrowing
As we're quickly moving through Term 4, we'd like families to have a look around their homes for any St Joachim's Library books or Readers.
As we're quickly moving through Term 4, we'd like families to have a look around their homes for any St Joachim's Library books or Readers.
There are a number of children with overdue books: in most instances the library continues to loan books as we like to encourage reading but we would appreciate the books back. Thanks for your support.
Learning Innovations
Learning Innovations
Rebecca Todisco, Curriculum & Educational Leader
rtodisco@sjcarrumdowns.catholic.edu.au
And that’s a wrap from Inform & Empower!
And that’s a wrap from Inform & Empower!
Our Term 4 incursions for Ollie, Adventures, and Thrive Online are officially done, which marks the end of another amazing year however we always need to be aware of how we engage with being online!
Below we have included information for parents so that we can all be working together to keep our students safe online.
690839c4400af6239e2acaad_Foundation - Term 4.pdf68d60c8a9d5e09413b8c3afe_Ollie Online Info for Parents (T4).pdf68d60c43b970c01cd4712406_Adventures Online Info for Parents (T4).pdf68d60bf9e574ff889680f5b4_Thrive Online Info for Parents (T4).pdf
Italian - L.O.T.E
Italian - L.O.T.E
Cathy Colaciello, Italian Teacher
ccolaciello@sjcarrumdowns.catholic.edu.au
Vice President,
Sarah Cruise
Secretary,
Elizabeth Bonner
Treasurer,
Lauren O'Toole
Everyone Welcome!
Everyone Welcome!
All parents and friends of the school are encouraged to come to the P & F meetings and all are welcome.
All parents and friends of the school are encouraged to come to the P & F meetings and all are welcome.
If you are unable to attend meetings but would like to be involved please send an email to pandfpresident@sjcarrumdowns.catholic.edu.au
If anyone is interested in supporting the P&F, meetings are held once a month on a Friday, some in person and some via zoom. New faces are always welcome.
Before & After School Care
Before & After School Care
Camp Australia
Camp Australia
The Camp Australia Outside school hours care program provides a safe environment ain which all can explore and play.
Safety is one of our top priorities here at St Joachim's.
Safety is one of our top priorities here at St Joachim's.
Please help us in keeping everyone safe by heading into the office if you are coming onto the school grounds. You will notice that all road facing internal gates and doors will be locked during learning times throughout the day.
Please enter through the office and inform office staff if you arrive during the learning time.
Operoo
Operoo
Thank you to families who keep their Operoo profiles up to date such as when they change their address, phone number, parents work contact details etc. If you could also email the office@sjcarrumdowns.catholic.edu.au and let us know, so that we can adjust on our system as well.
Uniform
Uniform
St Joachim's Uniform is available from Peninsula Uniforms online shop or by visiting their shop in Carrum Downs.
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