Week 2 - Term 4 Newsletter 2025

Principal's Message

Dear Families and Friends,

Welcome back to what is our final term for 2025. It is always so lovely to see the children return to school and reconnect with teachers and friends.  Everyone has settled back in and had a fantastic first two weeks.

Staffing News - Retirements & Babies

As we enter our final term for the year, I felt important to acknowledge the upcoming retirement of our most long-serving staff member, Mrs Smith, who informed me that she intends to retire at the end of this year.

Mandy has been an absolutely foundational part of our team and our journey over an extensive number of years. During her remarkable tenure, she has worked across all year levels and learning spaces, sharing her expertise from the early years right through to the upper primary. More recently, she has made a significant impact in vital roles focusing on intervention and Infants RFF. Her dedication, wisdom, and countless contributions have shaped our school community in lasting ways, particularly in supporting students in the Literacy space.

While we celebrate this well-deserved next chapter for her, we will deeply miss her presence, expertise, and the unwavering commitment she has shown every single day. We look forward to celebrating her legacy properly before she officially departs, later in the term at some of our school community events.

Also, we are absolutely thrilled to share the wonderful news that our colleague, Miss Ellie Stokes, welcomed her beautiful baby girl, Luella Anne Roberts, into the world on Tuesday, September 23rd! We send our warmest congratulations to Ellie and her family on this joyous occasion. Becoming a parent is such an incredible adventure, and we couldn't be happier for Ellie as she begins this special time. We particularly look forward to her bringing Luella in to meet her Year 1 students when the time is right. We wish Ellie and her family all the very best during this precious newborn period!

Grandparents Afternoon

Just a reminder that next Monday 27th October, we will hold our annual Grandparents Afternoon from 1:20 pm. We invite all of our Nans, Pops, Grandpas, Grandmas and friends for a wonderful afternoon of celebration & activities alongside the students. 

Grandparents Day celebrates the diversity of grandparent relationships across age groups, cultural backgrounds, and geographical locations. Grandparents, grand-friends, kin, and those who take on the role of a grandparent in their family or community are recognised for their contributions.

The day will begin with afternoon tea out in the playground with the students, followed by activities in the classroom. We hope to see you there.

School Musical - Alice in Wonderland

A sincere thank you goes to Miss Zietsch for her dedicated work in producing our school musical, Alice in Wonderland. Overseeing a production like this takes considerable effort, organization, and vision, and Phoebe’s steadfast guidance and commitment ensured the show was a genuine success from opening night to the final curtain call. Her leadership helped transform our stage into the whimsical world of Wonderland, and for that, we are incredibly grateful.

We also want to extend our deepest appreciation to the hard work and talent of every student involved. Their commitment in rehearsals, outside of regular school hours & giving up lunch times and on stage truly brought the story to life. Whether they were learning their extensive lines, managing props backstage, or providing crucial support to their peers, their energy and enthusiasm were the heart of the show. Thank you, Phoebe, for successfully leading our students to achieve such a wonderful and memorable performance that brought joy to the entire school community.

Enrolments for 2026

We are currently looking at enrolments in all year levels and staffing for 2026. If you know of any families looking to enrol, please encourage them to make contact, even if it is to have an opportunity to walk through our classrooms and school grounds and see our students' engagement and the safe & supportive environment we provide.  

Some of our spaces next year will have a 'waiting list', if you know any families considering St Joey's in 2026, I encourage you to let them know to enquire at the School Office as soon as possible.

Warmest regards,

Dale

Upcoming Dates

• Grandparents Day 1:20pm- Monday 27th October
• Parent Learning Night 6pm - Bullying - Tuesday 28th October
• T4 School Parish Mass - Sunday 9th November
• Yr 7 McAuley Orientation Day & Parent Info Night - Tuesday 11th November
• Year 5 Leadership Speeches - Thursday 20th November
• 2026 Kindy Orientation Night & Dinner - Monday 24th November
• School Christmas Concert - Tuesday 2nd December
• Last Day of Little Joeys - Friday 5th December
• End of Year Mass, Awards & Prize Giving - Thursday 11th December
• Year 6 Graduation 6pm - Thursday 11th December
• Year 6 Fun Day - Friday 12th December
• End of Year Fun Days - Monday 15th - Wednesday 17th December
• Last Day of 2025 - Wednesday 17th December
  

Leaders of Learning

Putting Faces on the Data: Collective Responsibility for Every Learner

Welcome to Term 4. It has been wonderful to see students return ready to learn as we begin our final term of the year. At St Joseph’s, we believe that every student’s progress matters and that growth happens best when we work together. So far this term, our teachers have been analysing student writing samples as part of our whole school cold write assessment process. After moderating these pieces, teachers have set new writing goals and formed focused writing groups designed to target each child’s next steps.

Next, we will come together for our Data Wall meeting, where staff review the progress of every student across the school. This is more than a discussion about numbers; it is about putting faces on the data. By analysing student work, sharing insights, and identifying areas for growth, we ensure that every child is known, valued, and supported.

This collaborative approach reflects our belief that we own all students. Whether a child is extending their skills or needs extra support, every teacher contributes ideas and strategies to help them succeed. Together, we design targeted interventions, celebrate growth, and plan the next steps for learning.

These conversations are central to our School Annual Improvement Plan goal of renewing and aligning whole school practices through evidence based teaching. They reflect the culture of shared expertise and collective responsibility that continues to strengthen learning at St Joseph’s.

We are incredibly proud of the professionalism and commitment our teachers bring to these discussions, always focused on one goal: ensuring every child continues to learn and grow. I look forward to sharing students’ success and progress throughout the term.

Warm regards,

Mrs Mclennan 

Mission & Values

Jubilee Mass Celebration

On Wednesday, 15th October, our school community joined with St Joseph’s Maclean, St James Yamba, and parishioners from across our parish to celebrate a special Jubilee Mass. It was a wonderful occasion that brought everyone together in faith, thanksgiving, and hope.

A highlight of the celebration was the unveiling of the beautiful Jubilee Boat, a symbol of our journey together as pilgrims of hope. Ann and Dale, with the help of our school captains, proudly revealed the boat before our school emblems were added—reminding us that we all travel together as one community of faith.

During the Mass, Fr Roland shared that we are all pilgrims of hope, strengthened by the gift of the seven sacraments. His message encouraged us to continue walking in faith, trusting that God journeys with us each step of the way.

Before the celebration, our Stage 3 students took a special pilgrimage of their own—walking from St Joseph’s School to the church—as a meaningful way to prepare for this Jubilee Year of Hope.

A big thank you to Fr Roland for bringing us all together and leading this wonderful celebration. Thank you also to the students who helped lead the Mass so reverently, to Kathryn and Ros for the beautiful flower arrangements that brightened the altar, and to Colleen for her thoughtful preparation of the altar.

It was a wonderful day that was enjoyed by children and adults alike, and reminded us of the strength, unity, and hope we share as a parish community.

School Parish Mass

Our final School Parish Mass for the year will be held on Sunday, 9th November at 8:30am in St. Mary’s Church. All families and friends are warmly invited to attend. If there are any students (Kindy to Year 6)  who would like to assist with the Mass, please contact me at louise.senz@lism.catholic.edu.au.

We look forward to sharing this Mass with you.

Mercy in Action Award    

The recipient of our first prestigious Mercy In Action Award for Term 4 is Poppie Weedon. Poppie receives this award in recognition of consistently demonstrating Compassion, Respect, Courage, Justice, Service, and Hospitality, this award is presented to Poppie.

Poppie is a true leader whose actions make our school better. She shows Courage and promotes Justice on the playground, while her Service and Compassion ensure that no one is left out. Poppie's consistent Respect and natural Hospitality create a welcoming environment for everyone. Thank you, Poppie, for being a shining example of our school's core values.

Mrs Senz

Class Awards

Our Principal's Award winners are:

Our Class Award winners this week are: 

Class News - Kindy

We can hardly believe how quickly the year has flown by and the incredible growth and learning our Kindy students have experienced! It’s been such a joy to see their confidence and curiosity continue to shine. Here’s a glimpse into what we’ve been exploring this week.

In English, our learning has been inspired by the delightful picture book Clancy & Millie and the Very Fine House. Using this story, students are discovering what makes a narrative special - from the characters we connect with to the sequence of events that build a story’s beginning, middle, and end. They’ve also been learning how stories can be told in different ways and are now creating their own imaginative narratives through drawing and writing.

In Mathematics, we’ve been diving into the concept of halves - understanding that two equal parts make a whole. The children have used symbols to communicate their ideas and have had lots of hands-on fun exploring this through activities like creating colourful “starbursts” to show equal parts.

Adding to the excitement, we recently received a very special letter from Santa himself! He’s asked for our help in designing new toys for Christmas, sparking a wonderful scientific inquiry full of creativity and problem-solving.

Our budding artists have also been celebrating the beauty of God’s creation. Through painting and drawing, the children have expressed their appreciation for the world around them, and we’re thrilled to be working together on a class mural to showcase their amazing artwork. It’s shaping up to be a wonderful and creative Term 4!

We also have some very special news to share - we’ve had an exciting addition to the St Joey’s family! We are delighted to announce the birth of Leki, the newest member of the Tasi family. Congratulations ! He is absolutely adorable, and we wish the Tasi family all the best during this special time.

Mrs Bennett & Mrs Mclennan

School Sport

It is only Week 2 of Term 4, but the sports are all happening!

Student Spotlight: Millie (Stage 2)

We are incredibly proud to kick off our newsletter with a spotlight on Millie from Stage 2!

Over the recent school holidays, Millie traveled to the Armidale Eisteddfod to perform six solo dances. She achieved outstanding results, bringing home a First Place Trophy, four Superstar Ribbons, and a Highly Commended! What an amazing display of dedication and talent—congratulations, Millie!

Term 4 Sport Programs Update

We’ve jumped straight into our Term 4 sports, starting with the Water Familiarisation and Safety Program this week. There was so much excitement in the air! Students currently enrolled in the surfing program were also assessed for their water comfortability before they embark on their Surfing Program starting in Week 3.

Upcoming Tournaments & Gala Days

Basketball Regional Tournament

We are thrilled to announce that eight selected students from Stage 2 and 3 who successfully trialed for the BNSW team will represent St. Joseph's at the Regional Basketball Tournament in Coffs Harbour on October 30th. After trialing hard across multiple sessions, these students will participate in four training sessions before the "big dance." They will compete against schools spanning from Tweed Heads to Kempsey with hopes of securing a spot in the State Championship in Penrith later this year!

Yamba AFL Gala Day

Mark your calendars! All Stage 2 and Stage 3 students will be attending the Yamba AFL Gala Day on November 6th. This event uses Paul Kelly Cup rules, making the game fun, accessible, and inclusive, including modified tackling (bear hug rules). This is a wonderful opportunity for all students to try the sport of AFL and get involved. We look forward to an excellent day and invite families to attend!

As always, thank you for your continued support of the Sports, and I encourage and welcome all student achievements to be shared for recognition.

Mr Gilchrist

Pastoral Care - School Chaplain

Socktober
A huge thank you to everyone who supported Socktober this year! Your generosity helped raise awareness and much-needed funds for vulnerable families in Zambia. All funds raised will be electronically transferred to Catholic Mission, where they’ll go directly to supporting vital projects.
We loved seeing the wild and wonderful socks,  what a fantastic effort from our families. Your enthusiasm truly made a difference!

Grandparents and Grandfriends Day
We’re so excited to welcome our grandparents and grandfriends for this special celebration. It’s a time to honour the important role they play in our lives and our school community.
Monday 27th October
1:20 – 3:00pm
We can’t wait to share this memorable afternoon with you!

Thanking you,

Juana Mead - Student Wellbeing Officer/School Chaplain

Pastoral Care - School Counsellor

New Resource for Families: Supporting Children Through Grief and Loss

We know that grief and loss can be some of the most difficult experiences for children to face. To support families in having these important conversations, a series of videos and resources has been created for parents and carers.

These resources, which focus on bereavement, are now available in the Parent Resource Centre Link.

We encourage you to explore these materials and use them to support your child during times of loss. If you have any concerns about how your child is coping, please share them with us so we can work together to provide the care and support they need.

If you would like assistance with additional resources or have any questions please contact me via jessica.jones@lism.catholc.edu.au

We are also excited that our new parent library will be launching next week!

 With the generosity of the St Joseph’s Parent Forum and Australian parenting experts such as Maggie Dent, Justin Coulson and Steve Biddulph, we now have a selection of books for parents to borrow. The books cover a broad range of topics and include parenting guides and picture books you can share with your child.

 You will be able to see the full range of books at the next parent education night on ‘Bullying’ on Tuesday 28th October and also Wednesday 29th October from 2.30 - 3.15pm  Hope to see you there!

Jess Jones - School Counsellor

Library

Book Club

A reminder that Book Club order are due by Friday 31st October, please submit online LOOP orders HERE

All order placed help our school to purchase new books.

ClickView

ClickView is an online educational video library that our school uses to support and enhance student learning both in the classroom and at home. This is a FREE resource, please contact myself or your class teacher if you have trouble logging in. 

Mrs O'Brien - Librarian

Community News

Entitled: Raising Responsible, Respectful Kids Wednesday 5th November 7pm

On-demand gratification has become the modern-day norm, and our children have never known anything different. As a result, parents are noticing a clear pattern of declining levels of resilience and frustration tolerance. We naturally want them to be happy and successful, but we also recognise that a sense of entitlement can hinder their journey. While our hearts yearn to give them the world, we know it’s equally important to nurture gratitude, responsibility, and respect within their hearts.

Our children are growing up in a world defined by instant gratification. They’ve never known a time when things weren’t immediately accessible, which has contributed to declining resilience and frustration tolerance. As parents, we yearn to give them the world and shield them from disappointment, but we also know that fostering gratitude, responsibility, and respect is essential for their true happiness and success.

Entitled with Dr Justin Coulson will dive deep into the issue of entitlement. We’ll explore its root causes, its impact on our children’s development, and most importantly, we’ll equip you with practical strategies to turn things around. You’ll learn how to shift your child’s mindset from “gimme” to “thank you”, and how to foster a sense of appreciation even in an age of abundance.

In this presentation, we will navigate the challenges of parenting in today’s world and discover how to raise children who are not just responsible and respectful, but empowered, resilient, and ready to make a positive contribution to the world. 

Register to receive the webinar link as well as email reminders here:

https://happyfamiliesfamilyeducation.ac-page.com/answers-with-dr-justin-entitled-register-hfs

A new way of preparing teachers comes to our schools

From 2026, our Catholic Schools in Tweed Heads, Pottsville and Coffs Harbour will be part of an exciting new program with Southern Cross University that reimagines how teachers are trained.

The Reimagining Teacher Education (RiTE) initiative will see Master of Teaching students learning in classrooms from the very first week of their studies. Instead of waiting until the end of their degree to gain experience, these Associate Teachers will spend two days a week in schools throughout their training.

What this means for our Catholic schools

• Extra support in classrooms for teachers and students.
• Fresh energy and ideas from aspiring teachers.
• Strong mentoring links between experienced staff and the next generation of educators.

Adam Spencer, Director of Catholic Schools, says our schools are looking forward to welcoming these student teachers. “Our students and staff will benefit from the added support and new perspectives, while these future teachers gain valuable experience in a real school community.”

Thinking of becoming a teacher?

If you’ve ever thought about teaching, this could be the time. Enrolments in the Southern Cross University Master of Teaching opens on 11 November 2025 with classes commencing early March 2026. With the RiTE program, you’ll not only study but also gain practical experience in our Catholic Schools from the start.

Find out more at: SCU Master of Teaching