Term 1 Week 11

What's on at St Joey's

Principal's Messages

Dear Parents and Carers,

I trust you enjoyed the beautiful Easter weekend and shared special moments with your family and friends, whilst remembering the special celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. The resurrection brings us eternal life, love and hope. We are now in the season of Easter which lasts 50 days and ends at the Feast of Pentecost. Happy Easter! Alleluia!

Today we held our Cross-Country races and were so grateful that the sun was out and had dried up the track. We are fortunate at St Joseph’s to be able to use our amazing grounds for an authentic cross-country event. Well done to all our students and huge thanks to Mrs Paff And Mrs Dan for all the organising. We will be having our weekly assembly on Thursday this week not Tuesday and will award ribbons then.

On Wednesday Bishop Michael Kennedy will be visitng our school. This will complete his visits to every school in the diocese during his first year as Bishop of Maitland Newcastle. The children will meet him during a whole school assembly and he will tour our site and join staff for morning tea.

Congratulations to all our athletes who have competed in recent Diocesan and Polding trials, we are so proud of each of you! Swimmers, Avalon, Kalani, Jermey, Billie Sophie and Leni were outstanding at the Polding Swim trials last week. Huge congratulations to Billie who has advanced to the Polding Swim team to compete at the NSWPSSA Swimming Championships, on Thursday & Friday, Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre.

Congratulations to the following students who have advanced to Polding trials in their respective sports to be held at Tamworth on 3^rd May. We wish you all the very best!

Netball – Alice

Soccer – Flynn & Sophie

Hockey – Frankie

Rugby League – Kobe & Tanner

Last week we hosted Dr Lyn Sharratt from Canada, who we have been working with in school improvement for the past 4 years, utilising her research on using data to know ‘the faces’, to know each child and how to improve outcomes for them. Also, her work in the 14 Parameters is now our work, in which we hold shared beliefs and responsibility as educators to ensure all students are given the right time and the right support to achieve high standards. We were proud to showcase our beautiful school, hosting not only Lyn but 40 colleagues from other schools and the Catholic School’s Office. The students were amazing and could talk about their learning so confidently. Here is some feedback we received:

From Maree Karaka – Education Officer Gifted Education

During our visit, I was particularly touched by the students' remarkable ability to articulate their learning journey. They not only demonstrated a clear understanding of where they are academically, but also showed a profound awareness of where they are going and how to get there. Their insights went beyond subject-specific knowledge, reflecting a deep understanding of broader concepts and personal goals.

Furthermore, the students' ability to draw connections beyond the classroom was truly heartwarming. They effortlessly linked their learning to real-world applications and personal aspirations, showcasing a level of maturity and thoughtfulness that is truly commendable.

I appreciate that this by no means is a fluke but rather an explicit and targeted effort and approach by the collective team. Your staff need to be congratulated on the way their craft is filtering into impactful learning.

Once again, thank you for your warm hospitality and openness during our visit. Your commitment to excellence in education is evident, and I am confident that your efforts will continue to positively impact the learning journey of your students.

From Bridie Stranger - Ed Officer Early Learning

I wanted to send a huge thank you for the time and effort that went into hosting today's Learning Walk and Talk for other schools in our diocese. The work you have been doing over the years is evident when you enter your school environment and classrooms. The children were also amazing! 

Please pass on my gratitude to your whole staff, the work they are doing is incredible and it was a privilege to witness it today ❤️

From a colleague principal

I heard today was brilliant! My staff loved it! They did acknowledge that it must have been a lot of work! 

From Dr Lyn Sharratt

Hi Kate and Team

Thank you so much for sending me this picture and also for the opportunity to witness the amazing work that you are doing at Charlestown together! I loved being at your school! 

I am very grateful to each and every staff member who help to make St Joseph’s the wonderful place it is for our students and each other. I take this opportunity to wish everyone a wonderful holiday, a time to recoup, refresh and reenergise for the next term of learning.

I am personally looking forward to a trip to Japan to visit our eldest child, Jack and his 

fiancée, Sari, in Tokyo.  I’m hoping the cherry blossoms/sakura will still be blooming next week.

God bless,

Kate

Assistant Principal

We are thrilled to share the exciting news of Dr Lyn Sharratt’s recent visit to our school from Canada. Dr. Sharratt, a renowned educator and author of “Clarity: What Matters Most in Learning, Teaching and Leading.” The Catholic Schools office have been working in partnership with Lyn since the beginning of 2020.

During her time with us, Dr. Sharratt engaged in dynamic discussions with our staff as well as over 40 principals and executive members from across the Diocese, sharing insights and strategies to enhance teaching practices and student outcomes. Her wealth of knowledge in educational leadership and instructional strategies has provided valuable guidance to our St Joseph’s staff, empowering us to continue fostering an environment of academic growth and achievement.

One of the highlights of Dr Sharratt’s visit was her feedback on the “Precision in Practice” that she witnessed from our teachers and how our students are “assessment capable learners” which she commented is a rarity in a primary school setting. Dr Sharratt was in such awe of our school that she would like to continue working with our school and write a case-study for her next research book, around the educational impact we are having here at our school. This is such exciting news, as Dr Lyn Sharratt works with school systems and universities across the globe. Furthermore, Dr. Sharratt noted the obvious positive relationships between our staff and between the teachers and the students, creating a culture of trust.

As we reflect on Dr. Sharratt’s visit, we are filled with renewed optimism and determination to continue our journey towards educational excellence. We are grateful for the opportunity to learn from such a distinguished educator and look forward to implementing her insights into our daily practices.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Dr. Lyn Sharratt for her inspiring visit and to our dedicated staff for their unwavering commitment to providing the best possible learning experiences for our students. Together, we will continue to strive for greatness and uphold the proud tradition of continual improvement at St Joseph’s.

Warm regards,

Kathryn Hill

Assistant Principal

Office of Safeguarding

News from the Religious Coordinator

Celebrating Easter

Last Tuesday we celebrated the Easter liturgical season at school with a liturgy. Easter Sunday marks Jesus’ resurrection and fulfilment of the scriptures providing a promise of hope, new life and mercy. As Christians we recognise that the season of Easter continues from Easter Sunday until Jesus’s ascension into heaven and the sending of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost 50 days after Easter Sunday.

Fundraising for Project Compassion

Thank you to our St. Joseph’s community. This Lenten period we raised $852.95 for Project Compassion. This was raised through Pancake Day sales, ice block sales and class- based Project Compassion boxes. The theme this year was For All future Generations and money raised will greatly assist vulnerable communities across the world to have a better and sustainable future.

ANZAC Day

On the last Thursday of the School holidays, the 25th of April, we will commemorate ANZAC Day with the community. Students are welcome to attend the Charlestown 11am service at Lions Park or the Dudley Service at the monument at 5:45am and represent our school. If you are able to come to the Charlestown service please email Kathryn Hill at Kathryn.Hill@mn.catholic.edu.au and for the Dudley service Clare Paff at Clare.Paff@mn.catholic.edu.au. Further details will follow. Students who attend are asked to wear full summer uniform.

Some dates for your calendar next term

Mother’s Day Breakfat and liturgy

This year we will celebrate Mother’s Day on Friday, May 10th. We will start with breakfast at 8:00 am and continue with a liturgy led by Year 3 at 9am.

Catholic School’s Week

We will celebrate with a liturgy at school Wednesday 15th May at 10:30am followed by open classrooms.

God Bless 

Clare Paff.

Primary Coordinator

Our PBL focus for Week 11 continues with the value to Live Like Jesus by Playing Fairly.

What is fair play and why it matters?
Fair play is more than just a set of behaviours or following rules—it's a cornerstone of healthy relationships, effective communication, and emotional wellbeing. We emphasise fair play in our school community to equip our students with life skills of cooperation, respect and empathy and to help create a happy and inclusive school culture.

Fair Play on the playground - Playgrounds are active places where students learn important social and emotional skills. Fair play on the playground encourages positive interactions, fosters friendship, and enhances overall wellbeing. Recently we have implemented proactive strategies such as timetabled soccer, assisted team selection and added a teacher referee to some lunchtime matches to help students experience games aimed at fairness and fun. We encourage students to be inclusive, make positive decisions, and when there is conflict or challenges, ask for help in play.

Fair play in the school day - Students embody the spirit of fair play in school life and engage in healthy competition while celebrating each other's growth and success. Whether it's collaborating on group projects, participating in class discussions or games, we value the importance of cooperation, sharing roles, valuing different perspectives and treating each other with kindness and fairness. Our buddy system pairing Kindergarten with Year 6 students, provides mentors and role models for Kinder students, promoting positive interactions and fair play skills as they begin school.

Extra Curricular Activities – In upcoming sport events in Term 1 and 2 such as Cross Country, Athletics Carnival, our Spelling and Maths Bees and gala days, we encourage our students to embody the spirit of fair play. When they represent St Joseph’s Primary School, we want our students to respect the other participants and teams, have fun, and uphold the values of honesty, pride, and good sportsmanship that define our school culture.

Catholic Initiatives - Through our Catholic Social Teachings and fundraising efforts for various charities, such as Caritas’ Project Compassion and St Vinnie’s Winter Appeal, we demonstrate our school commitment to fairness, equality, and social justice. By actively engaging in these initiatives, it promotes inclusivity, compassion, and fairness for humanity.

Parent Partnership - We extend our gratitude to our parents for your ongoing support in reinforcing the values of fair play at home and school. Your encouragement and guidance plays a vital role in shaping our kids into responsible, just and kind individuals.

Have a wonderful school holiday with lots of rest and play!
Frances Courtney - Primary Coordinator

Sports News

Congratulations to Billie on these amazing results at the Poldingf swim trials. She now competes in the Polding Swim team at Homebush on Thursday and Friday. Best wishes! 

1st  🥇 Backstoke
1st.  🥇 Breaststroke
3rd  🥉 Fly
4th.   free
5th  Senior IM

Congratulations to these students who advance to POLDING sport trials in Tamworth on Friday 3rd May:

Netball – Alice

Soccer – Flynn & Sophie

Hockey – Frankie

Rugby League – Kobe & Tanner

We are so proud of you all!

Hall of Fame

Frankie attended the NSW little athletics state championships over the weekend. Frankie had a great experience engaging in this level of competition and enjoyed cheering on her club mates and meeting new friends. She earnt a 10th place for Discus and 20th in Shot Put.  

Seasons for Growth

Garden Group

This month in garden group we harvested our sun flowers and then planted out our Autumn crops of snow peas and marigolds.

Many students were curious to try eating raw sunflower seeds straight from the garden as well as cucumbers and zucchini.

Some of our senior students constructed structures made of netting and stakes for snow peas to grow on.

Thank you Eddie, Ari, Archer, Cruze, Julian, Maya and Evelyn.

After the structures were built, students planted seeds, ready to getminiate and climb as they grow.

Within one week students noticed seedlings and will now water and watch as they climb the structure.

Marigolds were planted as companion plants to deter pests.

Thank you to all the students who have attended and helped in the garden this month

Mrs McAlister welcomes all students to garden group on Tuesday at lunch time and Friday at recess.

Happy Birthday to the following students

We wish the following students a very happy birthday.

School Fees.

School Fees statements for the 2024 school fees have now been issued.

There are several payment options however, Compass Pay is NOT our preferred method due to the large fees that Compass charge the school. Direct debit is an easy option, and these can be set up to be weekly, fortnightly or monthly. A form to do this is available from the office. Fees can also be paid via BPay with your bank, over the phone using a credit card or in person at the office.

If you have a health care card of pension card you can apply for a concession on your fees. Please contact the office if you have not already done so. If you are experiencing financial hardship and require assistance, please also contact the office.

Thank you to those families that have started payments towards this year’s school fees. Our preferred payment methods are BPay, direct debit or credit card. If you choose to use Compass Pay, please double check the amount before you submit the payment. Refunds can no longer be given for incorrect amounts paid unless your account is in credit.

Thank you, 

Amale Yi

Canteen News

Kelly our Canteen Officer would love to see you if you have a spare couple of hours to assist in the canteen. Volunteers need to be registered with our CSO, by following this link: https://www.mn.catholic.org.au/people/volunteer/

Once cleared please sign up for a shift. The children love to see you here!

https://signup.zone/Qw4zoS2aGaYyYspRn

Uniform Shop.

Softshell jackets have arrived at school – remember to get your order in while stock is available.

Sports shorts, polos and skorts – we are still waiting for delivery of some sizes and apologise to those families who are still waiting. As soon as they arrive we will send any outstanding items home with the children. Please email chl.uniformshop@mn.catholic.edu.au if you have any questions about these orders. These are coming from a brand-new supplier and will include an improved make of our school sports shorts.

Volunteers – we are always on the lookout for anyone who is interested in helping in the uniform shop. Anyone who can spare a small amount of time on Tuesday or Friday mornings 8:30 -9:15am please get in touch!

Winter uniform: St Joseph’s will transition into winter uniform in Term 2 (usually the end of May). Limited stock is available now with more arriving early in Term 2 – please allow extra time for all winter uniform orders as we manage deliveries of stock and space. Get in touch early for any custom sizing.

Girls Winter:

Option 1:

Navy tunic (three box pleated)

White long sleeve blouse (cotton or brushed material)

School Tie (straight or pre-tied loop style)

Navy tights/stockings

Option 2:

Navy slacks

White long sleeve blouse (cotton or brushed material)

School Tie (straight or pre-tied loop style)

White socks

Boys Winter:

Long dark grey trousers

Blue long sleeve shirt (cotton or brushed material)

School Tie (straight or pre-tied loop style)

Grey school socks

Jumpers:

Fleece pullover with emblem

Fleece zip up jacket with emblem

Softshell jacket with emblem

All enquiries to email: our volunteers. Shop open Tuesday and Friday at 8.45- 9.15am

chl.uniformshop@mn.catholic.edu.au

ORDER via the QKR App

P & F

Thank you for supporting our EASTER raffle. Over $1600 was raised. 

Thank you to Nicola, Brooke and Lisa for sorting the tickets and prizes!

Our term 2 meetings will be:

Monday 13th May 6pm

Monday 17th June 6pm

All are welcome to join us!

OOSH

The before and after school care at St Joseph’s is provided by St Nicholas OOSH, Diocese of Maitland Newcastle.  Open form 7am-8:30am and 3:00pm-6:00pm. 

Please contact Michelle for further information.  

MICHELLE BIRCH 
NOMINATED SUPERVISOR | ST NICHOLAS OOSH    
P 0429 435 571     M  0429 435 571   
Email michelle.birch@stnicholasmn.org.au   Visit us online www.stnicholasoosh.org.au  

Nutrition Snippet

Charity Run