Week 4 - Term 2 Newsletter 2025

Principal's Message

Dear Families and Friends,

Thank you for another great week of learning, and a sincere thank you to all the families who took the time to complete our Annual School Improvement Survey last week. We greatly value the partnership we share with parents and carers, and the feedback you provide plays an important role in shaping the future direction of our school.

The survey remains open until Friday, 30th May, so if you haven’t yet had a chance to complete it, we would genuinely appreciate your input. Your voice is vital as we continue to strengthen student learning and wellbeing across our school community.

For those interested, the results from this survey will be shared at our Term 3 Parent Forum Meeting.

Attendance  - Early Departure Concerns

We’ve recently noticed a growing trend of students being collected between 2:15 pm and 3:00 pm—prior to the official end of the school day at 3:15 pm. While we understand that after-school care commitments or occasional appointments may require an early pickup, we kindly ask all parents to be mindful of the importance of allowing children to complete their full school day.

Regular early departures can significantly impact your child’s learning. During the final part of the day, classes often engage in key learning experiences across areas such as Science, History, Geography, and the Creative Arts. When students consistently leave at 2:30 pm or 2:45 pm, they may miss up to 30 minutes of valuable instruction. While twice a week may not seem like much, over time this can add up to as much as eight full days of lost learning.

We encourage all families to reflect on the frequency and necessity of early pickups, and the potential long-term impact on their child’s educational progress.

Winter Uniforms 

As we begin to feel the cool change of winter, we have started to notice students wearing non-school jumpers and other attire. This a reminder to all families of our Winter Uniform options outlined below. Whilst I understand that sometimes uniform items either go missing or need washing, we ask that if your child is out of uniform, a note be provided to the student to present to the class teacher. 

GIRLS Winter Uniform

• Maroon & white check top
• White plain long-sleeve shirt under check top (optional)
• Maroon skort with maroon/black tights (optional) OR Maroon/Black Pants 
• Black lace-up shoes/joggers (low cut)
• White socks
• School jacket or jumper
• School hat
• Maroon, white or yellow ribbons/headbands

BOYS Winter Uniform

• Maroon school shirt with white and gold trim
• Plain Black shorts OR Maroon/Black pants
  
• Black lace-up shoes/joggers (low cut)
• Black socks
• School jacket or jumper
• School hat

NCCD - What is this?

Each year, our school participates in the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD). At the moment, our school and classroom teachers are currently moderating and collaboratively working together to clarify what adjustments are being provided for our students. The NCCD is a collection that counts:

• the number of school students receiving an adjustment or ‘help’ due to disability
• the level of adjustment they are receiving to access education on the same basis as other students.

Students are counted in the NCCD if they receive ongoing adjustments at school due to disability. This ‘help’ allows them to access education on the same basis as a child without a disability. The NCCD uses the definition of disability in the Disability Discrimination Act 1992.  In early August, this information is provided to both the Catholic Schools Office and Catholic Schools NSW.  Attached below is a Fact Sheet that explains this process in more detail. 

Have a lovely weekend.

Kind regards

Dale

Upcoming School Dates

• Wednesday 28th May - Year 6 GLOW retreat (Week 5)
• Thursday 29th May - Dio Cross Country (Week 5)
• Thursday 29th May - S2 & S3 Netball Gala Day (Week 5)
• Monday 2nd June - Stage 1 Excursion (Week 6)
• Monday 9th June - King's Birthday Public Holiday (Week 7)
• Thursday 12th June - School Athletics Carnival (Week 7)
• Wednesday 18th June - Athletics Back Up Date (Week 8)
• Sunday 15th June - School Parish Mass (Week 7)
• Thursday 19th June - School Photos (Week 8)
• Thursday 26th June - Maclean Music Eisteddfod (Week 9)
• Wednesday 2nd July - Clarence Zone Athletics (Week 10)
• Thursday 3rd July - NAIDOC Day (Week 10)
• Thursday 3rd July - Last Day of Term 2 for Students (Week 10)
• Friday 4th July - Pupil Free Day/Staff Development Day (Week 10)

Leader of Learning

Strengthening Writing, One Sentence at a Time

At St Joseph’s, we are committed to building confident, capable writers; students who can express their ideas clearly, creatively, and with purpose. One of the key ways we support this is by strengthening sentence-level writing skills.

This term, our teachers have participated in professional learning focused on supporting students to construct simple, compound, and complex sentences. This explicit teaching is based on strong evidence showing that understanding how sentences are built is essential for developing writing fluency and sophistication. When students learn how to manipulate sentence structure, they gain powerful tools to express more precise and nuanced ideas in their writing.

In classrooms, you might see students breaking down and rebuilding sentences, experimenting with conjunctions, or stretching a simple idea into a more detailed complex sentence. They are learning not just to write more, but to write with purpose and control.

This work is closely aligned with the Creating Texts learning progression, which outlines the development of students' writing from basic sentence construction to more complex and varied structures. As students move through the progression, they begin to understand how grammar, vocabulary, and sentence structure work together to shape meaning.

It’s wonderful to see students growing as confident, expressive writers.

Mrs Mclennan

Leader of Mission

Confirmation

Congratulations to all 27 candidates from our parish, 12 from St. Joseph’s, who received the Sacrament of Confirmation on Monday night at St Mary’s Church.

Phoenix, Isabella, Cooper, Oliver, Talia, Claire, Rose, Phoebe, Kaia, Marco, Albie and Maeve approached this important step in their faith with sincerity and reverence, and it was clear how well they had prepared. It was a meaningful occasion for their families, sponsors, and all who came to support them.

A sincere thank you to Fr Roland for preparing the candidates and guiding them through this part of their faith journey. His support and teaching helped the children understand the significance of the Sacrament and what it means to live a Spirit-filled life.

We are also very grateful to Bishop Gregory, who confirmed the children during a beautiful Mass. In his homily, Bishop Gregory spoke about the importance of love — both knowing that we are loved by our families and God, and sharing that love with others through our words and actions. It was a message that touched many hearts and will stay with the candidates as they continue to grow in their faith.

Please keep these young people in your prayers as they move forward, guided by the Holy Spirit and supported by the love of their parish community.

Save the Date – School Parish Mass

We warmly invite all families to join us for our School Parish Mass on Sunday, 15th June at 8:30am at St Mary’s Catholic Church, Maclean.

This is a wonderful opportunity for our school and parish communities to come together in prayer and celebration. We encourage all families to attend and be part of this special occasion.

I’ll be reaching out soon to invite children to assist in the Mass by doing a reading or providing hospitality at the doors. Please take a moment to discuss this with your child, and keep an eye out for further communication from me in the coming weeks.

We look forward to sharing this joyful celebration with you all.

Mercy In Action Award

This week, we are proud to present our esteemed Mercy in Action award to Lila Salter. Lila recieves this award in recognition of her kindness, generosity, and inclusive spirit. Lila consistently offers her time and support to others through both big and small actions - whether through a listening ear, a helping hand, or a simple act of kindness. She makes a conscious effort to ensure that everyone in our school feels seen, valued, and welcome. Well done, Lila!

Mrs Senz

Class Awards

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

Principal Awards

Class Awards

Class News - Year 1

We have had a wonderful start back this term with lots of learning! Miss Keys has joined us for her final practicum and is already a valued part of our classroom community. 

The past few weeks, Year 1 students have been busy building an understanding of Information texts. They have been planning, creating, and revising elements of such texts, using their growing knowledge of vocabulary, sentence structure, and text features such as paragraphs and titles to produce wonderful published pieces. 

In Religious Education, we have been exploring significant events in Jesus’ life, focusing on the Easter story. Students have enjoyed retelling the Journey to Emmaus and expressing their understanding of the Resurrection through creative artwork.

Miss Stokes

Pastoral Care - School Counsellor

Supporting Our Children with Worries

It’s completely natural for children to experience worries from time to time. These might be about friendships, schoolwork, changes at home, or things they’ve seen or heard. Some worries pass quickly, while others might take a little longer to settle.

As adults, we can’t take every worry away—but we can help children feel safe, listened to, and equipped with ways to manage how they’re feeling. Here are some strategies and activities that can support your child when worries arise.

Ways to Support 

Start with Listening

Often, simply being there and listening without rushing to solve the problem can make a big difference. You don’t need all the answers—just showing that you care and understand is powerful.

Name the Feeling

Helping children put words to their emotions (“It sounds like you’re feeling worried about tomorrow”) gives them a sense of control and makes the feeling less overwhelming.

Keep Routines Reassuring

Structure and predictability are comforting when children feel uncertain. Regular routines—especially at bedtime—can help children feel more secure.

Encourage Small Steps

If a worry is about something specific (like speaking in front of the class), support your child in taking small, manageable steps. Celebrate progress, even if it feels tiny.

Helpful Activities to Ease Worries

Draw or Write About It

Sometimes it’s easier for children to show their thoughts than to say them. Drawing a picture, writing a short story, or even just scribbling their worry on a scrap of paper can help externalise what's going on in their mind.

Make a Worry Jar or Box

Children can write down their worries and ‘post’ them into a jar or box. This doesn’t make the worry disappear, but it gives it a place to sit—outside of their head.

Practice Mindful Breathing

Slow, deep breaths can help reset the body’s stress response. You might try placing a hand on the tummy or using a soft toy to help guide the rhythm.

Take a Walk or Move Together

A change of scene, fresh air, or even light exercise like stretching or dancing can help shift anxious energy and open the door to conversation if your child feels like talking.

Create a Calm Space at Home

Having a quiet corner with cushions, books, or soft lighting can give children a place to relax when things feel too much.

Read Together

Books like Ruby Finds a Worry or The Huge Bag of Worries can help start conversations about feelings and let children know they’re not alone.

Every child experiences emotions differently, and what works for one may not work for another. The key is to try things gently and consistently—and to let your child know it’s okay to feel how they’re feeling.

If you ever feel that worries are getting in the way of your child’s daily life, please contact your class teacher to discuss.  We’re also in the process of building a resource library for parents so that you can borrow books on topics like managing worries to read together.

Jess Jones - School Counsellor

Pastoral Care - School Chaplain

Receptionist Day Celebration

On this Receptionist Day, we take a moment to recognise the warm, welcoming faces who are often the first point of contact at St Joseph’s.

A heartfelt thanks to Mrs Bell and Mrs Roach for the professionalism, kindness, and care you bring to our school community each day. Your friendly smiles, calm presence, and ability to juggle so much behind the scenes do not go unnoticed.

You play a vital role in keeping everything running smoothly and ensuring everyone, students, families, and staff, feels supported and valued.

Thank you for all that you do!

Honouring Our Volunteers

This week marks Volunteers Week, a special time to honour the incredible individuals who give so generously of their time and talents to help others. At St Joseph’s, we are fortunate to have a dedicated group of volunteers who embody the true spirit of connection and community.

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Sue, Colleen, Mike and our canteen volunteers for the time, effort, and unwavering support you contribute to our community. Whether it’s lending a helping hand, offering a listening ear, or simply being a consistent and caring presence, your contributions make St Joseph’s a more welcoming, inclusive, and thriving place for all.

Your generosity reminds us that even the smallest acts of kindness can have a lasting impact. Thank you for being a vital part of the St Joseph’s family.

Biggest Afternoon Tea Success

On Thursday,  St Joseph’s hosted our Biggest Afternoon Tea in support of the Biggest Morning Tea, raising valuable funds for cancer research and support services.

It was a wonderful afternoon filled with community spirit, conversation, and plenty of delicious treats. We extend our sincere thanks to our generous local supporters:

• Botero for donating the beautiful coffee,and
• Maclean Hot Bread and Bake Kitchen for the delicious sponge cake

A heartfelt thank you to all the families who came along or supported the event, your involvement truly made the day special. Together, we are making a meaningful difference in the lives of those affected by cancer.

Ms Juana Mead - School Chaplain

School Sport

What a few weeks it has been! Despite the rain and some disruptions to our sporting schedule, the spirit and enthusiasm of our students have remained high, and the games must go on!

Clarence Zone Cross Country Success
A huge congratulations to all our determined runners who represented St. Joey’s at the Clarence Zone Cross Country. Students aged 8 and above took to a tough course, competing against peers from nine schools across our Clarence catchment. Their perseverance and school spirit were outstanding.

Special mention goes to Sophia Wright and Maeve Connor, who placed in the top 8 and have qualified to represent both St. Joey’s and the Clarence Zone at the Diocesan Cross Country event this coming Tuesday (Week 5). We wish them all the very best as they take on the next challenge!

Tennis is a Hit!
Our tennis program has been a smashing success! Students have thoroughly enjoyed hitting the court with the incredible facilitators Allan and Sammy, who have brought great energy and skill to each session. It's been heartwarming to hear such positive feedback from our students, and we look forward to continuing this tennis journey with them.

We also encourage our keen tennis players to consider joining the Maclean Tennis Club to keep the momentum going beyond school sport.

Student Spotlight
We are incredibly proud of Year 6 student Jack Kirland, who recently competed at the Polding level for basketball. Jack represented our school with pride, showing exceptional sportsmanship and perseverance. He shared that the experience taught him a lot and left him inspired. Well done, Jack!

Looking Ahead – Athletics Carnival
Mark your calendars! Our School Athletics Carnival is planned for Thursday, Week 7 (19th June). We’re hoping for clear skies and a fantastic day of fun, teamwork, and friendly competition. More information will be sent home closer to the date.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support. Rain, hail or shine — the spirit of St. Joey’s continues to shine bright on and off the field!

Anthony Gilchrist - Sports Coordinator

Parent Forum

What a fantastic disco! Thank you to all the volunteers, staff and families for supporting our event.

We'd also like to invite all to attend our Term 2 Parent Forum Meeting next  Tuesday 27th May, 5pm in the school library.

Lauren Kirkland, Chairperson

Free Parent Webinar

Free Online Webinar for Boys & Young Men

Free Parent Webinar: Boys and Young Men Online 27 May 12.30 - 1.15 pm

For boys and young men, the internet can be a place where they seek connection, validation and guidance as they explore what it means to be a man today. However, it also exposes them to risks like concerning content, online exploitation and the growing influence of harmful ideologies.

This free webinar will help parents understand:

• Social and cultural influences shaping boys and young men.
• How boys engage online, build relationships and how they may be vulnerable to manipulation or exploitation.
• The impact of social media, gaming, and influencers on their attitudes, behaviours and sense of identity.
• Practical strategies to build critical thinking, challenge harmful narratives, and create open conversations that empower boys and young men to navigate the online world safely and respectfully.

Register for this webinar here.

Community Notices