Filter Content
- Message from the Principal
- Catholic Identity and Mission in Our School
- Learning & Teaching in Our School
- Joey's School Spectacular - 15th September - Buy Your Tickets Now!
- Father's Day Breakfast Photo Gallery
- Student Awards
- Sports News
- End of Year Schedule 2022 & Start of School 2023 Schedule
- eSafety at Home
- Library/iHUB News
- Diversity at St Joseph's
- The Wellbeing Team
- News from the Enviro Team
- Canteen News!
- School Terms & Pupil Free Days for 2022
- St Joseph's OOSH & Vacation Care
- COMPASS- School Communication Platform APP
- How to Purchase your child's School Uniform
- Applying for a Bus Pass & Bus Safety
- BILLBOARD
FOREFRONT OF LEARNING & TEACHING
Over this term, St Joseph’s has been visited by several groups of educators, including the Assistant Director Learning and Teaching from the Lismore Diocese, Deputy Executive Director of the National Catholic Education Commission, many Primary School Principals, Leadership teams and Teachers from other schools, in order to witness and to learn from us the way we have changed how we teach reading, spelling and writing to our students.
Currently we are at the forefront in the Lismore Diocese in regards to this learning and teaching, which sets us up to be ready for the implementation of the new English K-2 Syllabus in 2023. In these areas (reading, spelling and writing), our students are showing us very pleasing growth, far beyond what we have seen in the past. One of our visitors, Mrs Sally Egan, the Deputy Executive Director of the National Catholic Education Commission, highlighted the collaboration, transparent agenda and the way in which our School has led change in learning and teaching.
As Principal of this great school, I am very proud of all of our staff for the way they have accepted this new learning, in order to ensure our students achieve continued academic growth, and our school continues to Drive Excellence.
CELEBRATING FATHER'S DAY
Last Friday the St Joseph’s Staff put on a special Father’s day BBQ Breakfast to acknowledge our fathers and father figures. The morning was very busy with many of our dads, grandfathers, uncles and families friends turn up for a bacon and egg sandwich and a freshly brewed cup of coffee from our coffee shop. It was great morning, and I thank all of our families who were able to participate. The kids love seeing mum and dad and their families members at school.
UNIFORM REMINDER
A reminder that it is my expectation that all students wear full school uniform every day. I understand that there are always occasions when wearing full school uniform just isn’t an option. On these days, I simply ask that the school is notified of the incorrect item of clothing and when it will be rectified. This could be through a note, email or phone call to the school or class teacher, or a conversation with myself at the gate in the morning.
Sports Uniform is only permitted to be worn on sports and PE practical days, and skins are not allowed. Can we please ensure that students are wearing either full sports uniform or full academic uniform on the appropriate day, not a mixture of both.
A reminder as well about our hair policy. Hair accessories should be a plain design, small in size and in black, blue or white. Hairstyle is a matter that invites good taste and judgement as to appropriateness.The School has particular expectations in regards to hairstyles, which are to be adhered to, and parents/carers are asked to ensure that their child’s hairstyle conforms to the following;
- Hair should be neatly groomed and maintained at all times
- Extremes in hairstyles are unacceptable.
- Dramatic layered effect of levels are not permitted.
- Hair should not be overly styled by the use of hair products.
- Hair is not to be tinted or coloured in any colour. Natural hair colour only.
- Long hair must be kept neat and off the face.
- Hair styles like rattails, dread locks, spikes, mow hawks, mullets and shaved patterning are unacceptable.
As always, I thank you for your ongoing support in ensuring St Joseph’s maintains its high standards.
To all of our families, I thank you for your support in regards to your child’s ongoing
learning.
Guy Campbell
Driving Excellence in the Macleay
It is interesting that the Story of the “Merciful Father” falls on the anniversary of one of the greatest tragedies in human history, 9/11. Who would ever forget those scenes of devastation 21 years ago. Two of the tallest buildings in New York City were struck by two commercial airlines causing unprecedented damage and the fall of these massive concrete structures, taking the lives of nearly 3000 people in only a few hours. Two other planes took lives near the US Pentagon and in a field in Pennsylvania.
At the heart of this desolation were 19 members of a fanatical interpretation of one of the World’s faith traditions. They “gave” their lives to something that they truly believed was just and right but that which all faiths, including the Islamic faith tradition, abhor.
What would the Merciful Father do? This weeks Gospel parable, the parable of the Merciful Father, gives hope.
“If you wish to receive mercy, show mercy to your neighbour”
(St John Chrysostom)
Prayer
Eternal Father, open our hearts of limitations to Your divine and very embracing love. Amen
Sourced from: https://www.vinnies.org.au/icms_docs/331712_Spiritual_Reflection_Guide_May_2022.pdf
Catholic Identity and Mission in Our School
WITH MRS ERIN MCGOVERN
GRATITUDE & HAPPY KIDS
Gratitude and gratefulness has been getting a lot of attention lately and for good reason. Research has shown that teaching children the importance of being grateful, can lead to happier, more positive children with better social interactions and health outcomes. Here is a great article that unpacks this concept further and shares some great practical tips at the end of how we can help our kids practice gratitude.
Thriving Kids
We all know that when kids are happy, they tend to thrive at school and in life. Thus parents are generally very dedicated to promoting their child’s happiness. It comes from our love for them and is an admirable goal. The problem is that many parents think that thriving comes from happiness whereas in fact, it’s the other way around: happiness is the result of a thriving child.
So the question for parents is: how do we help our kids to thrive?
How can we set them up for life, so that they are not just happy and content, but also people of virtue, able to engage with the community and contribute to it?
Gratitude
One of the simplest and most effective things parents can do to promote wellbeing is to foster a habit of gratitude in their children. Like a pair of X-ray glasses, gratitude transforms the way we see our situation; instead of feeling overwhelmed and hopeless, gratitude highlights the positive and mobilizes our resources to make the best of any situation. Thus, people of gratitude are more resilient, more optimistic, more joyful.
The Science of Gratitude
We’ve all heard of the saying “count your blessings”. It’s simple, practical advice that fosters gratitude and optimism. Turns out, that science now backs up this age-old wisdom.* Here are some of the reported benefits when subjects kept a gratitude journal:
- They exercised more regularly
- They had fewer physical symptoms
- They felt better about their lives
- They felt more optimistic about the upcoming week
- They were more likely to have made progress toward important personal goals (academic, interpersonal and health-based)
- They had higher reported levels of alertness, enthusiasm, determination, attentiveness and energy
- They were more likely to report having helped someone with a personal problem or having offered emotional support to another
- They had a greater sense of feeling connected to others
- They had longer sleep duration and better sleep quality
The Gratitude Journal
One of the tools used by scientists studying the impact of gratitude is ‘the Gratitude Journal’ – a simple habit of reflecting on and recording the positives in your life. To kick start a habit of gratitude in your children, try one of these ideas…
- Gratitude Calendar. Buy or make a calendar to record your daily or weekly ‘gratitude moment’.
Download CathFamily’s template: Click Here - Gratitude Jar. Regularly write down on a slip of paper the date and something for which you are grateful that day. Collect them all in a large jar. On New Year’s Eve, take turns to draw a ‘gratitude moment’ from the jar and re-live the joy together.
- Gratitude Board. Use a pin board or magnetic board to display written gratitude moments or mementoes such as movie tickets, dried flowers, birthday cards, photos etc.
- Windows of Gratitude. Use dry erase markers to write or draw your gratitude moment on a window or mirror. It can be erased each week and started over.
- Photo Journal. Take a photo each day and ‘post’ it into your Gratitude journal – it can be a digital or paper version.
Gratitude in Prayer
Fundamentally, Christians are people of gratitude. Central to our faith, is the experience of salvation through Jesus, the Son of God who suffered and died for us in perfect love. Gratitude and an overwhelming awe for God’s immense love are foundational to our prayer life. How appropriate that the central prayer of the church is the Eucharist which means ‘thanksgiving’ in Greek.
“When I was a teenager, I got this book called “Gratitude – the Heart of Prayer”. It inspired me to be more consciously thankful to God, to not just take the blessings in my life for granted. As a person who is inclined towards cynicism, gratitude doesn’t come naturally to me, so I’ve just made it a routine of my prayer life – I always start with prayers of thanks and praise before I go to my petitions.” -Sarah
Teaching your Kids Gratitude
Gratitude is not a skill that you can teach like writing or adding up. It’s a virtue. That means that children are formed in it by observing adults living by it and by the discipline of practicing it. So the first step to effective formation for your children is to consolidate gratitude in yourself and then help them practice it. Here are a few practical tips:
- Say “please” and “thank you” when you talk to your children and remind them to say it too.
- Daily debrief – ask your child as part of the dinner time or bedtime routine, “what were the good things that happened today?”
- Get your kids to help you with a chore. Even if it’s only for five minutes it helps to build their appreciation of the work you do. When old enough, give them their own chores.
- Grace before meals – thank God for the blessing of your food before the family eats.
- Take note – help your child write thank you notes to friends who have hosted them to a play date or given them a gift.
- Build the desire. Children who get toys and treats too quickly don’t develop the desire nor do they experience the fullness of joy on finally acquiring it. Insist that your child wait for dinner instead of snacking and get them to save for substantial toys.
- Practice charity. Involve your children in giving to those in need… get them to pack up their out-grown clothes and old toys and encourage them to give some of their pocket money to collections. Use the occasion to talk about your blessings.
- Complaints to gratitude. When children complain about someone or having to do something unpleasant, help them to see the good in the person or situation and express it in words or prayer
Learning & Teaching in Our School
WITH MRS KRYSTAL BRADY
NAPLAN RESULTS
NAPLAN letters went home to all families in Year 3 and 5 with their NAPLAN results yesterday. We are very proud of the achievements of our students across the NAPLAN domains. If you did not receive your letter please contact the School. If you would like to have a conversation about your child’s learning please contact your class teacher to arrange a suitable time.
CONGRATULATIONS - COMPETITION WINNERS
COASTLINE EDUCATION WEEK ART EXPO
Congratulations Amailia, Chelsea and Lexi.
BUDDING POETS
POETRY WEEK
Students where asked to write a four line poem on the topic of "anything to do with animals". Here are a few more notable entries:
Dirt-digging
Bone-chewing
Sock-stealing
Mischief making dogs
Bonnie Frewen
Small animals.
Crawling in your roof at night.
Little rat whiskers.
Petite pets.
Lucy Judd
Running wild near the tree
Always free
Far away from everything
Wild Horses doing their thing
Charlotte Hegerty
Joey's School Spectacular - 15th September - Buy Your Tickets Now!
Term 3 - Weeks 7 & 8
Awards will be presented at our School Assembly on
Monday 12th September at 9.00am.
Parents/Carers Welcome!
CLASS |
MARY MACKILLOP AWARD Recognises Catholic attitude, behaviours & helping those in need |
ST JOSEPH Recognises positive actions witnessed within our school community |
CATHERINE McAULEY Recognises a growth mindset & effort in learning |
KTruth |
Sunny Lainey | Xavier Roache | Mack Harman |
KHonour |
Archie Wade | Evelynn Russell | Blake Micallef |
1Truth |
Wyatt Donney | Kiera Goodman | Veronica Button |
1Honour |
Sartaj Tagger | Jay Toomey | Charlotte Edwards |
2Truth |
Jackson Cameron | Matthew O'Connor | Liam Reynolds |
3Truth |
Nevaeh Lewthwaite | Jack Brett | Evie Brady |
3Honour |
Ella Frewen | Charlotte Mainey | Brylee Romer |
4Honour |
Noah Davies | Keeley McManus |
Jordan Bradley William Clarke Ruby Sinclair Anabel Smee |
4Truth |
Jay Preston Hope Weston |
Sianna Dickson Gemma Rayward |
Caleb Fairhall Jake Potts |
5Truth |
Lily McConnell | Kye Males | Thomas Prior |
5Honour |
Lucy Judd | Bonnie Frewen | Orla Kennedy |
6Truth |
Patrick Smith | Zarli Kirkman Dates | Ethan Layton |
6Honour |
Adeline Crilley | Rory McManus | Steffano Vinas |
WITH MR MICHAEL WATTS
POLDING ATHLETICS
Today, Oliver Tamblyn, Hamish Davies, Jordy Kirkman Dates, Lachlan Betts, Astin Mackay, Lleyton Kemp and Noah Davies put in some great performances at the Polding Athletics Carnival held in Newcastle. The Junior Boys Relay Team (pictured below - Astin, Noah, Lleyton & Lachlan) won their heat and ran a fantastic final to win the Gold Medal. This now qualifies them for the PSSA State Carnival. Congratulations!
CRICKET GALA DAY &
SYDNEY SIXERS
All children from Years 3-6 participated in the Cricket NSW Gala Day held last week at Kemp St Fields.
Everyone was able to have a bowl as they rotated around the field and everyone was able to bat for two overs each game. Boundaries were short so there were plenty of 4’s and 6’s and additional runs.
Sydney Sixers stars were present (Kurt Patterson and Maitland Brown) and they were very accommodating with their autograph signing.
ZONE SOCCER & NETBALL GALA DAY
This was held at Laurieton last Thursday and involved a competitive division in both Soccer and Netball where winners progress to the Diocesan Finals.
Both Soccer and Netball teams did very well with close games all day and both finished up 3rd in the Hastings Zone. A big thank you to Miss Dillon for preparing the competitive soccer team and looking after them on the day, and also thank you to Mrs Duncan for looking after the top Netball team in the lead up and during the day.
There was also a social division in which we had two soccer teams and two netball teams. These teams had a fantastic day and improved their skills as the day went on.
TOUCH FOOTBALL GALA DAY
It was so good to see 90+ children sign up to participate in the NSWTouch Gala Day held at Macksville. Ten mixed teams from Years 3-6 took part and events like this are a great introduction to community sport.
All have been practicing the game leading up to this event and a range of abilities were on show. Thanks to all staff that supervised the teams.
LOWER PRIMARY FOOTBALL CLINICS
WITH MS TRACEY DUNCAN
PARENT TALK NEWSLETTER
Parent Talk newsletter aims to provide parents and carers with relevant and timely information about developments in education, wellbeing, CCSP advocacy program and significant Catholic news and events.
WONDER WHITE BREAD BAG COMPETITION
Please bring your collection of breadbags in to school before the end of this term.
10c RECYCLABLE BOTTLES & CANS
Please bring in any full orange bags with your child's name to go into the draw each term. Extra bags are available from the Canteen/ Sustainability area.
COLGATE COMMUNITY GARDEN CHALLENGE
St Josephs is a collection point for oral care waste such as old toothbrushes and empty toothpaste containers. Each year between 24 February - 31 October we send away our recycling to earn Garden Points. The more units of oral care waste recycled and the more votes per school, the better our chance of winning.
For the cold mornings, before school (8.30-8.50am), grab a cup of Cadbury Hot Chocolate for $1.
Hot Chicken & Gravy Rolls & Hot Roast Beef & Gravy Rolls freshly made in the Canteen available to order from Compass Online ordering (please find under "Chicken"& "Roast" -) OR order over canteen counter
Don't forget to order online via the COMPASS APP prior to 8.45am.
St Joseph's OOSH & Vacation Care
Joey’s welcomes students from Kindergarten to Year 6 from all schools in the Macleay Valley and surrounding areas. We provide high quality Before School, After School and Vacation Programs.
Joey’s is located in two dedicated classrooms on our St Joseph’s Catholic Primary Campus. The Program is headed by a qualified teacher and is supported by dedicated and experienced staff who plan and manage programs that offer both fun and educational activities.
The Before and After School Care may cost as little as $3 per day after the child care subsidy and Vacation programs as little as $8 per day. You can make both casual and permanent bookings.
To find out more and to explore the enrolment process visit our website at https://www.kmpplism.catholic.edu.au/out-of-school-hours-care
COMPASS- School Communication Platform APP
To learn more about the COMPASS Platform please click here
About the Compass Platform
The Compass platform is a web-based system that is accessible on any modern web browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome & Safari) or by using the Compass School Manager iOS or Android App.
Parents have the ability to;
- Receive notifications about school events, news and information
- Enter an explanation for absences
- Communicate with your child’s teachers,
- Update your family contact details (mobile phone & email)
- View your child’s timetable and the school calendar
- Download and view your child’s academic reports
- Book parent-teacher conferences (parent/teacher interviews)
- Pay and provide digital consent for events (No more permission slips)
- Order lunches from the Canteen
- Pay school fees
Click here to view the latest edition of the Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools Newsletter
SCHOOL HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES
Get ready for School Holiday fun at Kempsey Library.... click here for information andbookings.
FAMILY FUN DAY - 18TH SEPTEMBER VERGE ST KEMPSEY
For Colouring Competition Forms see the School Office.
Inter-Schools Horse Extravaganza -Register Now!