Week 2 - Term 1 Newsletter 2025

Principal's Message

Dear Families and Friends,

Welcome back to another enriching year of learning at St. Joseph's. These past two weeks have unfolded as a period of transition for both students and staff, offering a conducive environment for settling into our routines. It has been a joyous time witnessing our students establish connections with their classroom teachers and acquaint themselves with their new learning environments.

Thank you to everyone who was able to attend our Beginning Year Mass today. This Mass was a wonderful time where we acknowledged our School Leaders (Year 6 Captains & SRC Leaders) for 2025 & officially welcomed our new Kindergarten students into our school Community. We are thrilled to extend a warm welcome to our new Kindergarten students, who have brought an abundance of enthusiasm and smiles to our school community. Witnessing their bright and cheerful faces radiating with excitement each day has been truly heartwarming. As we embark on this journey together, the entire school is eager to foster a supportive and nurturing environment for each student, ensuring a smooth transition into their schooling life.

In addition to our Kindergarten students and their families, we are delighted to welcome the Lavis family (Eliza - Year 5 & Koa - Year 1), Gallagher family (Addie - Year 1 & Gus - Kindy), Radford family (Lola - Year 5) and Williams family (Summer - Year 1) into our school community. We trust that you will swiftly integrate into our close-knit community and experience a profound sense of belonging that is at the core of our school ethos.

Parent Information Night - Tuesday 18th February

Just a reminder that our Parent Information Night is scheduled for next Tuesday, February 18th, starting at 5:00 pm.

We will be conducting two separate classroom sessions at 5:00 pm and 5:45 pm, each focusing on providing insight into your child's learning environment for the upcoming year. By offering these sessions at different times, we aim to limit the number of adults present in each session and accommodate parents with children in multiple classes who may wish to attend other sessions.

During the break between sessions (5:45 - 6:15 pm), we will gather under the shelter for refreshments and platters, fostering a sense of community among attendees. Additionally, babysitting services will be provided on the premises for your convenience.

To assist us with catering and babysitting arrangements, we kindly request that you indicate your attendance via the "EVENTS" tab in Compass as soon as possible. Please note that the number of attendees for each session will be capped.

If you are unable to attend either of the sessions due to after-school commitments, rest assured that all materials shared during the event will be made available to you either through Compass or in hard copy.

Road Safety & End of Day Procedures

As children return to school, it's important to prioritise their safety on the journey to and from school. Please take the time to discuss these key safety tips with your child as well as taking note of some expectations regarding our End of Day procedures:

Getting In and Out of the Car:

• Always use the door closest to the curb to prevent stepping into traffic.
• Make sure your child waits until the car has completely stopped before exiting.
• Please use our allocated Kiss n Drop or our Parent Carpark, please try and avoid dropping students on residential side of Stanley street and if parking the afternoon, please understand your child will not be able to leave the school grounds until you get out of your vehicle and cross over to the school side.

Walking Safely:

• Encourage distraction-free walking by asking your child to remove headphones and put away devices while crossing streets.
• Teach your child to stay alert, follow traffic signals, and use designated pedestrian crossings and walk the dedicate path alongside your child prior to allow them to do it independently.
• All students who walk home or to other afternoon activities are to report to myself at Parent Pick Up before leaving the school grounds
• The Front Office must receive written permission for all students walking at the End of the Day

Using the Bus Safely:

• Wait at the bus stop together, standing at least one step back from the edge of the road.
• Always meet your child at the bus stop on the same side of the road—never call them across from the opposite side.
• Wait for the bus to leave before crossing the street, ensuring it is safe to cross.
  
  

Term 1 - Parent Forum Meeting - Tuesday 4th March

Please be aware that  our Term 1 Parent Forum AGM will  be held on Tuesday 4th March (5:00pm-6:30pm). This meeting will not only be an opportunity to elect our Parent Forum Exec for 2025 but to plan out the year ahead as a group, making sure it is focused on 'Parent VOICE, Parent COMMUNITY & Parent LEARNING'.

I would like to reiterate that ALL PARENTS are welcome to attend our Parent Forum Meetings each term, it is not a closed meeting, so please if you are even interested in finding out more, make sure to attend our Term 2 meeting.

Strengthening our Parent Partnership is one of our goals as a school and part of doing this is ensuring we are able to provide regular opportunities for parents to meet and share their insights into the ways our school can continue to improve and develop.

School Uniforms

Just a reminder as we begin our school year to ensure your child is in the correct school uniform, particularly socks and footwear (black shoes). Wearing the correct uniform sets high expectations for our students and develops a sense of pride in our school. I could ask that all student belongings are labelled, not only uniforms but also hats, drink bottles, lunch boxes etc. Please check labels regularly to ensure they are still visible, as many tend to wear/come off over time. Labelling everything ensures minimal upset for the child, teacher and parents.

Lastly, please refer to the attached Parent Handbook for all important information and guidelines for 2025.

Again, welcome back to our 2025 School Year and as always if you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate in contacting me. 

Thanking you,

Dale

Upcoming School Dates

• Tuesday 18th February - Parent Information Night 5pm-7pm (Week 3)
• 19th-21st February - Zone Winter Sports Trials (Week 4)
• Monday 24th February - Zone Swimming Carnival (Week 4)
  
• Tuesday 4th March - Shrove Tuesday (Pancake day) (Week 5)
• Tuesday 4th March - Parent Forum Meeting 5pm (Week 5)
  
• Wednesday 5th March - Ash Wednesday (Week 5)
• Friday 7th March - Diocesan Winter Sports (Week 5)
• Wednesday 12th March - NAPLAN Begins (Week 6)
• Tuesday 19th March - St Joey's Celebration Day @ Brooms Head (Week 7)
• Wednesday 20th March - St Joseph's Feast Day Mass (Week 7)
• Tuesday 25th March - Silent Disco & Welcome BBQ (Week 8)

Leader of Mission

Mercy Values 

Welcome to 2025!

For our new families, I’d like to take a moment to share a little about the history of our school and the values that guide us each day. You may have noticed our Mercy Values displayed around the school.

Our school was founded in 1898 by the Sisters of Mercy, making us a proud ‘Mercy School.’ This means that we embrace the Mercy Charism and follow a set of values that help shape our thoughts, words, feelings, and actions—what we refer to as our Head, Heart, and Hands. These are known as the Mercy Educational Values, and they include:

1. Service
2. Hospitality
3. Justice
4. Compassion
5. Courage
6. Respect

Throughout the year, you’ll hear both students and staff referencing these values in various ways. As part of the Lismore Catholic Diocese, we also embrace the foundational values of:

• Evangelisation
• Community
• Tradition
• Worship
• Witness
• Service

These values are proudly displayed alongside our Mercy Values throughout the school, accompanied by a quote from Catherine McAuley, who believed that all challenges could be overcome while sharing, “A comfortable cup of tea.”

Sacramental Program

Baptised students are able to undertake Confirmation in Year 3, and students who have also been confirmed are able to complete Reconciliation and their First Holy Communion in Year 4.  This year, the Sacramental program will be run with Fr Roland and will involve an initial parent and student meeting to get an overview of the sacrament. More details will be shared at a later date. If you are interested in your child receiving any of these sacraments please email me so I can add their name to the list. For anyone wishing to have their child baptised, please contact Kathryn at St. Mary's Parish office on 66451188. Office hours are Mon, Wed and Fri, 9am to 2pm.

Beginning Year Mass and Leadership Induction Ceremony 

Today, we celebrated our Beginning of Year Mass to warmly welcome our Kindergarten students and their families, followed by the presentation of badges to our school leaders. A heartfelt thank you to Fr. Roland, who so kindly presided over the Mass, guiding us with his prayers and wisdom. We are truly grateful for his presence and spiritual leadership. Thank you to everyone who joined us in marking the start of the new school year and in asking for God's blessings as we live, love, and learn together throughout 2025. A special thank you to our Year 6 leaders who guided the Mass by reading and greeting everyone at the doors.

Mercy In Action Award

Congratulations to our first Mercy in Action Award winner for 2025, Cooper Want. Cooper recieves this award in recognition of demonstrating our Mercy Value of Service at the school swimming carnival, providing invaluable support to our younger students in the pool, ensuring they felt safe and encouraged to participate in their races. His efforts truly embodied the spirit of service, making a significant impact on those he helped and contributing to a memorable and enjoyable day for all. Congratulations and well done, Cooper!

Mrs Senz

Class Awards

Congratulations to the following students recognised at this fortnight's Awards Assembly:

Class Awards:

Leader Of Learning

Welcome back!

The start of the year is always a time of excitement as students reconnect, set fresh goals, and settle into new routines. It has been wonderful to see classrooms buzzing with energy as students build relationships with their teachers and peers, laying the foundation for a positive and productive year ahead.

As part of our commitment to supporting every student’s learning journey, students have been completing beginning-of-year English and Maths assessments. These assessments provide valuable insights into each child’s strengths and areas for development, allowing us to tailor our teaching to meet individual needs. They also help identify students who may require additional support or extension opportunities. This data informs our evidence-based approach to classroom instruction, ensuring that all students are challenged at their level and supported to achieve growth. 

A strong start to the year isn’t just about assessment—it’s also about creating a sense of belonging. Our teachers have done a fantastic job of fostering welcoming, engaging learning environments where students feel confident and ready to learn. A special mention to our Kindergarten students, who have embraced school life with enthusiasm—we are so proud of how well they have settled into new routines!

We look forward to working together to make 2024 a year of growth, learning, and success for every student.

Mrs Mclennan

From the Front Office

Afternoon messages

For all messages regarding changes to pick up/after school arrangements, please contact the front office by 2:45pm to ensure they are received before message bags are sent to classes. If corresponding by email, please phone the school if you have not received confirmation of your email.

Canteen

Canteen is held on Mondays and Fridays. Orders must be placed via the Compass app. Ordering will close at 8:30am. You can also cancel your order up to 8:30am on the day of the order within the app. Compass will process a credit and this will sit in your "compass wallet" to use at a later date. 

Medications

All medications are to be bought into the front office, and a medication permission form is to be signed by the parent guardian - this form can be completed electronically from Compass: School Documents>Parent Resources>School Forms>Medication Administered.

Contact Details

Please ensure all phone numbers, email, and addresses are up to date in Compass

Late arrivals/Early Pick-ups

Students who arrive late to school must present to the front office to be marked present. A reminder that school finishes at 3:15pm. Early pickups are discouraged as it is disruptive to the remainder of the class. The exception is when there are unavoidable appointments which require an early departure.

School Fees

2025 Fees have now been applied to your account. Bpay is our preferred method of payment. Your Bpay details will be on the statement you receive at the end of the month.
For families with outstanding balances from last year please settle at your earliest convenience.

Absence Notes

Please advise the Front Office of student absences. This can be done via submitting an Absence Note from Compass.  You can also phone the office to advise of student absences. An SMS will be sent to families to advise of unexplained student absences. 

Mrs Bell & Mrs Roach

Class News - Kindy

What an amazing start to the year we’ve had! In our Kindy classroom, we've explored the fascinating world of animals, worked creativity through portrait painting, and discovered hidden treasures in the playground while engaging in maths classification activities.

The transition from Little Joeys to Kindergarten has been incredibly smooth. It's been so wonderful to see our school community warmly welcome our new Kindy students. Buddies, families, siblings, and friends have all stepped up, helping our Kindy’s by guiding them through the playground and ensuring they always have a companion during mealtimes and play. This truly highlights the special sense of community we share here at St. Joseph’s!

Mrs Bennett

Pastoral Care - School Counsellor

Settling into the School Year

Now that school is back in full swing, many young children (and parents!) are still adjusting to the new routine. Here are some practical tips to help kids settle in smoothly:

1.Stick to a Routine

Consistency helps young children feel secure. Set regular wake-up, mealtime, and bedtime schedules. If mornings feel rushed, try packing school bags and laying out clothes the night before.

2. Make Homework Fun

Create a quiet, comfortable space for homework and keep it short and engaging. You can use stickers, timers, or small rewards to make learning more enjoyable.

3. Check In Emotionally

Ask open-ended questions like, “What was the best part of your day?” to encourage conversation. Watch for signs of tiredness or anxiety, and reassure them that it’s okay to have big feelings.

4. Stay Organised Together

Use a family calendar or visual checklist to remind your child about school events, library days, and special activities. Involving them builds independence and responsibility.

5. Encourage Friendships

Help your child navigate social situations by talking about kindness, sharing, and including others. If they’re struggling to make friends, arrange playdates or talk to their teacher for support.

6. Keep in Touch with the School

You can stay connected with St Joseph’s through social media, Compass, parent class messenger groups and by reading the bi-weekly newsletter. Knowing what’s happening in class helps  support your child’s learning and well-being. Reach out to your class teacher via email if you have any concerns or would like to arrange a meeting.

It’s most likely your child will feel more settled and confident as the school year progresses. Keep the focus on fun, learning, and growth!

I'll be at the school on Wednesdays and Thursdays this year and I'm looking forward to another year of working with the wonderful St Joseph’s students and families. I can be contacted via the school office or via jessica.jones@lism.catholic.edu.au

Jess Jones - School Counsellor 

Pastoral Care - School Chaplain

LAP Program Back in Action

We’re excited to announce that the LAP Program (Learning Assistance Program) has started back for this term. LAP is a student-centred and volunteer-based mentoring programme designed to assist schools to implement one-to-one learning that supports, guides and enriches the wellbeing and learning outcomes of their students. 

A big welcome back to our amazing volunteers, whose dedication and support make this program possible. We’re thrilled to have you all back!

Stage 3 Seasons for Growth – Reminder

A quick reminder to our Stage 3 students and parents about the Seasons for Growth program. It’s a fantastic initiative designed to support students through personal challenges and help build resilience. Make sure to check with your teacher or coordinator if you have any questions about participating. Please see compass for participation by today.

Congratulations to Our New SRC Representatives

A huge congratulations to our newly elected Student Representative Council (SRC) members! These student leaders will be working closely with staff to ensure our school community continues to thrive. We're looking forward to seeing the positive impact they'll make this year.

Shrove Tuesday- Pancake Day

Shrove Tuesday is fast approaching, and we are excited to celebrate this tradition at school on Tuesday, 4th March. To make the day even more special, we will be offering a chance to order pancakes and wear purple to celebrate the beginning of Lent. Please keep your eye out for more information over the coming weeks.

Ms Juana Mead - Student Wellbeing Officer

School Sport

What a fantastic start to the term! We’ve hit the ground running, beginning with an action-packed Swimming Carnival. It was incredible to see our students excel both in and out of the pool. They gave it their all in the water, showcased sporting smiles, and displayed remarkable sportsmanship throughout the day. A huge congratulations to the winning house, Yuraygir, whose students fought hard for every point – from swimming to dancing to house spirit. The competition was incredibly close, and we’re so proud of everyone’s effort.

Congratulations to our Swimming Age Champions:

• Senior Girl - Penny Chapman
• Senior Boy - Archie Patten
• Junior Girl - Talia Tasi
• Junior Boy - Albie Patten

Our 2025 Zone Swimming Team consists of:

Ben Kirkland, Millie Patten, Arlo White, Albie Patten, Phoebe Senz, Talia Tasi, Lawson Bell, Bella Camilleri, Noa Chapman, Ted Marshall, Byron Ellis, Sam Kirkland, Eliza Lavis, Archie Patten, Koa, Tasi, Sophia Wright, Penny Chapman, Jessika Dalton, Jack Kirkland & Jimi Lennon.

Polding Basketball Trials

Also in Student Spotlight this fortnight is the amazing feat of Year 6 student Jack Kirkland, who has excelled in basketball, advancing through Zone and Diocesan trials to earn a spot on the Polding team. Jack will now travel to Bankstown to compete against top representative teams for a place in the PSSA side, where he’ll face the best basketballers from Catholic and public schools across Sydney to Tweed Heads. Congratulations, Jack—your dedication and talent are truly inspiring!  

Student Spotlight

A special mention this fortnight to the Patten brothers. These two have been putting in the hard yards, training at 6:30 am for two hours every morning during the holidays and competing in the Swim NSW Speedo Sprint Series. They went head-to-head with swimmers from Coffs to Evans, and Albie placed 2nd and 3rd! 

Friday sport has kicked off with football, and it’s off to a cracking start. We’re excited to see how our students develop their skills throughout the term in all aspects of the game.

Looking ahead, we’re excited to launch our lunchtime Netball Club and the upcoming Netball After-School Clinic, delivered by the fantastic team at Netball NSW. We hope our Infants students enjoy learning the fundamentals of the game, and maybe even feel inspired to join a local club!

AFL Girls Under 12's  - All Schools Trial: Trials will be held in Woolgoolga on Wed 26th Feb. See the attached flyer for more info.

As always, if any of our students are involved in external sports and you’d like to share their achievements, please don’t hesitate to email me so we can celebrate their success here.

Let’s make it another amazing term!

Anthony Gilchrist- Sports Coordinator

Library News

Welcome back to Term 1!

Welcome to the library for 2025.It has been lovely hearing all of the students sharing their visits to the local libraries and the books they had the pleasure of reading over the summer break. Listed are the days of the week that students will be visiting the library with their class. Please come prepared with their library books and any outstanding books.

Kindy - Thursdays

Year 1  - Tuesdays

Year 2 - Thursday

Stage 2 - Wednesday

Year 5 - Tuesday

Year 6 - Wednesday

You will have also received your first issue of book club for the year. Purchasing a book club is not only a great way for your child to try new books, but every dollar spent gets our school library more books to enjoy. Your support this year is greatly appreciated. Please submit all orders through the LOOP link provided in the magazine.

Mrs O'Brien – Librarian

Bullying & Friendships

At St. Joey's, we are committed to fostering an environment where respect, responsibility, and safety are a priority at all times. To support our students in this, each year, classrooms engage in discussions about bullying to help them understand what it looks like and how to respond if they experience it. As parents of young children, it's also important for you to understand what bullying is. This resource will help you distinguish between typical disagreements, conflict, and bullying, and includes discussion prompts to guide conversations with your child.

Parent Forum

On behalf of the Parent Forum, I’d like to welcome all new and returning families along to the first Parent Forum Meeting for 2025 on Tuesday 4th March at 5pm-6.30pm in the school library.
Parent Forum is a wonderful chance to have your parent voice heard in our school. There is no obligation to take on a formal role.

If you have any questions don’t hesitate to contact the front office.

Canteen Volunteers!
Would you like to get involved in helping in our wonderful Canteen? Canteen Volunteers are always needed and hugely appreciated. Fridays from 9am-11am once or twice per term. If you would like to get involved, please let the front office know.

Lauren Kirkland
Chairperson, Parent Forum.

Community Notices