Term 3 Week 10

What's on at St Joey's

ASPIRE 2026 Production – AUDITIONS ARE NOW OPEN!!!

Register TODAY: https://forms.office.com/r/8MEB5G79rA

Further Information: https://www.mn.catholic.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/0008436-CS-ASPIRE-2026-Info-Sheet-A4-INHOUSETRIMF-combined-1.pdf

Billie Eder in Year 6 has excitingly qualified to represent her school at Nationals for swimming. Billie will swim for NSW at the School Sport Australia swimming Championships in Ballarat from the 25th – 30th October 2025. She will be swimming in five events:

50m Backstroke, 100m Backstroke, 4 × 50m Medley Relay, 4 × 50m Freestyle Relay, 4 × 50m Handicapped Relay

We are fundraising to help Billie get to this exciting national event. Your support will make a real difference in helping her dive into this incredible opportunity! Please see the flyer for further details.

Warm regards,

Year 6 Teachers

Principal's Messages

Dear Parents and Families,

Spring has arrived, bringing longer days, fresh energy and a calendar full of moments that show our school at its best. Over the past fortnight we’ve loved the buzz around our school; children learning with joy, staff guiding with care and the friendly faces of our community turning up to support key events. Thank you for the way you show up for our children and for one another; it’s this spirit that makes St Joseph’s such a special place.

Run DIPG Fundraiser: Yesterday many in our community ran or walked our beautiful Fernleigh Track to honour those lost to this awful disease and to work toward a future cure. Thank you to our amazing parent community for your heart, energy and generosity.

The Writing Fair: “The Mysterious Briefcase”- What a day of joyful learning. Our school transformed into a living mystery as students followed clues from teachers, drafted, revised and published writing across different genres, then shared their work with peers and families. The final twist—opening the briefcase to reveal funds earmarked for our new Ninja Park—brought cheers and reminded us that powerful writing can move hearts and lead to real change. My heartfelt thanks to our Pedagogical Mentors, Karen Nolan and Kyla Flanagan, for the vision, planning and coaching behind the scenes. We are also grateful to our generous ex-students from St Mary’s who worked alongside classes and inspired our young writers, and to every teacher, support staff member and parent whose energy turned clues into creative sparks.

Safety Spotlight: “Stranger Danger” Please take a few minutes this week to revisit personal safety with your child. Most people in our community are kind; however, children need clear, simple rules for how to act around anyone they don’t know.

• Never go anywhere with someone you don’t know: not for treats, a puppy, lost directions, if injured or in any “emergency.”

• If you are hurt or feel unwell: do not get into a car with a stranger. Go to a safe adult (parent with children, teacher in uniform, shop staff at a counter) or a safe place (school office, library, reception desk) and ask them to call your parent/carer.

• Most strangers seem friendly. Safety rules apply even if the person looks kind or says they know Mum/Dad.
  

• Know who the safe adults are on and near school grounds.

Finishing the term well: Living our SJC Values
As we head into the final weeks of term we are focusing on living our values each day. Strive High means giving your best effort and finishing tasks with care and pride so that growth continues right to the bell on the last day. Live Like Jesus calls us to everyday kindness and forgiveness, to use respectful words, to include others and to look for quiet ways to help those in need. Care for Our Environment invites us to take responsibility for our shared spaces by keeping classrooms and the playground tidy, reducing waste where we can and recycling thoughtfully. When students, staff and families lean into these habits together, the culture our children learn in every day becomes even more positive and life-giving.

Thank you for your continued support, generosity and partnership. It is a privilege to lead a community that works hand in hand for the good of every child.

Warm regards

Kathryn Hill

Assistant Principal

Curriculum News

Next year, we will be trialling parts of a new PDHPE (Personal Development, Health and Physical Education) Syllabus K–6, and a HSIE Syllabus for History and Geography K-6. The full implementation will occur in 2027.  There is a stronger emphasis on building knowledge and vocabulary, and creating written texts. Teachers will begin to explore the PDHPE and HSIE outcomes, content and resources next term.

Human Society and Its Environment (HSIE) is the part of the NSW curriculum of Geography and History.

In Geography, students learn to understand places and how people interact with them. The focus areas are:

• People are connected to places – exploring how we use and care for the places we live and visit.
• People are connected to places and groups – discovering how communities and cultures link people locally and globally.
• Geographical information is used to understand the world – using maps, graphs and data to investigate environments.
• Geographical information is used to plan for sustainable futures – considering how we can care for the planet for future generations.

In History, students investigate how people and communities have changed over time. The focus areas are:

• People have lived in the past – learning about different times and ways of life.
• People learn about the past by engaging with stories, images, objects and sites – using sources to find out what life was like.
• History uses sources to construct narratives of the past – building historical stories based on evidence.
• Historical sources present perspectives on the past – understanding that people may view past events differently.

Some of the new changes are:

• New Aboriginal Cultures and Histories outcomes and content, including languages
• Content about the ancient past for Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2)
• Strengthening civics and citizenship learning opportunities
• Creating written texts content in History.

For more details, visit the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) website. https://www.nsw.gov.au/education-and-training/nesa/about/strategies-and-reforms/curriculum-reform/new-syllabuses

Wellbeing News

Grow Your Mind – the Reticular Activating System (RAS)

The Sifting Sooty is technically known as the Reticular Activating System (or RAS for short). Its function is to sift through and filter important information, helping you to focus and filter out distractions. The name is inspired by the Sooty Shearwater bird, which can travel incredibly long distances with great focus.

Features of the RAS:​

• It helps you wake up and stay alert.​
• It helps you focus and ignore distractions.
• ​It helps you pay attention to which sounds, sights and feelings are most important! ​

We have explored all 6 animals or parts of the brain this term and all are very useful to us!

The students will continue to learn strategies to keep their brain calm and ready to learn.

Knowing about the parts of the brain helps to empower our thinking.  

Parents and Carers Webinars

Don’t forget about the upcoming information sessions for parents and carers next month: https://www.mn.catholic.edu.au/our-community/supporting-parents-and-carers/upcoming-parent-and-carer-information-sessions/ 

• Thursday 9 October, 7pm OR Monday 20 October 7pm  - Teen Mental Health Matters
• Wednesday 15 October 3.30-4.15pm -  Algorithms and adolescents: The rewards and risks of recommender systems for young people
• Thursday 23 October, 7.30pm - Safe Gaming for Kids: Building Boundaries for Positive Play

In addition, parents and carers can access School TV at any time for short videos, fact sheets and special reports on a variety of topics including Cyber Safety, Mental Health, Positive Parenting, School Survival, Diversity and Inclusion and Health Bodies. https://charlestown.catholic.schooltv.me/

Kind regards,

Frances Courtney
Assistant Principal

Office of Safeguarding

School Improvement Plan

2025 School Improvement: At St Joseph’s, we are committed to continuous improvement and growth in all areas of school life. In 2025, we will be focusing on our three School Improvement Goals, which will guide our efforts to enhance student learning, well-being, and engagement, ensuring the best possible outcomes for all.

News from the Religious Coordinator

Socktober: Kicking Goals for Zambia! ⚽

This October is Mission Month, our school community is taking part in Socktober, a fun and meaningful way for students to learn about global mission and take action to help others in need.

This year’s focus country is Zambia – a nation in the heart of southern Africa known for its rich culture, stunning landscapes, and vibrant communities. From the world-famous Victoria Falls to its wildlife-filled plains, Zambia is a place of breathtaking beauty. But despite its natural wonders, many Zambian families face daily struggles. One of the most urgent issues today is severe hunger, which is affecting millions of children and families, especially in rural areas.

Socktober helps our students respond to this challenge in a practical way. Students are invited to:

· Pray for those in need.

· Act by raising funds to support mission projects that provide food, education, and health care for vulnerable children.

Last week, student leaders from across the Maitland-Newcastle Diocese gathered for a special commissioning Mass at St Joseph’s, East Maitland, where they were encouraged to be ambassadors for Socktober in their schools. Our own school leaders returned inspired and ready to help us “kick goals” for children in Zambia.

Throughout October, students will be participating in fun activities, and learning how small actions can make a big difference. Together, we will be helping build a brighter, fairer future for children around the world

🌟 Young Saints Who Inspire Us: Carlo & Pier Giorgio

This month, we look to two incredible young Catholics who show us that holiness isn’t just for grown-ups – it’s for everyone!

Saint Carlo Acutis (1991–2006) was a teen who loved soccer, video games, and technology – but most of all, he loved Jesus in the Eucharist. He created a website sharing Eucharistic miracles around the world and reminded us that “The Eucharist is my Highway to Heaven.” Even when he became sick with leukemia, he offered his suffering for others with joy and faith.

Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati (1901–1925) was an adventurous Italian who loved climbing mountains and helping those in need. He often gave away his own money and time to support the poor and sick. His motto, “Verso l’Alto” (To the Heights), challenges us to keep striving higher – in faith, love, and character.

Together, Carlo and Pier Giorgio inspire us to:

• Use our talents for good – whether it’s technology, sport, music, or study.
• Serve others generously – especially those in need.
• Put God first – through prayer, Mass, and daily acts of kindness.
• Live with joy – showing that faith is an adventure!

Like Carlo and Pier Giorgio, we can make a difference right now. Let’s be young people of courage, kindness, and faith who aim “to the heights”!

St Joseph’s Charlestown Final Liturgy Invitation

Dear Parents, Carers & Friends,

You are warmly invited to join us for our Final School Liturgy as we come together in prayer and gratitude for the blessings of 2025.

 Date: Wednesday, 10th December

Time: 10:15am

Venue: St Joseph’s Charlestown School

 Celebrant: Fr Tony

 A Celebration of Community

• Formal Farewell for our Year 6 students as they prepare for high school.
• Announcement of our 2026 School Leaders, who will guide our community in the coming year.

God Bless,

Clare Paff - Religious Coordinator

Primary Coordinator

FACE - Family and Community Engagement

Volunteers power St Joseph’s: Our recent FACE (Family and Community Engagement) meeting highlighted how vital volunteers are to the life of St Joseph’s. Many of our favourite events and fundraisers only happen because parents step in to lead, organise and help on the day. If you’ve ever considered getting involved even once a year. Your time makes a real difference for our students. We need you: lead or join a fundraiser team:

Have your say: FACE Survey — School Expenditure Priority Areas: Please take a few minutes to complete the FACE: School Expenditure Priority Areas survey. Your feedback will guide how community-raised funds are invested in projects that benefit our students.

https://forms.office.com/r/vnQ54Zm8ms

Our next FACE meeting will be 5pm Wednesday 12th November in our staffroom at SJC. We hope to see you there!

Student BYOD Devices important message

Student BYOD Devices important message: Windows 10 is reaching end of life

Action is required for students with BYOD Windows 10 devices as Windows 10 will soon no longer be supported by Microsoft. To ensure your student device security you should upgrade to Windows 11 as soon as possible. Microsoft has announced that support for Windows 10 will end on 14 October 2025, meaning it will no longer receive critical security updates.

To stay protected and ensure optimal performance, it is strongly recommended that all students with BYOD Windows 10 devices follow Microsoft’s instructions and upgrade to Windows 11 as soon as possible. There is no charge for this upgrade.

• We ask that all families with Student Windows 10 computers complete this process before 15 October 2025 so that students do not experience disruptions to their learning.
• Most newer devices will support Windows 11.
• If the device is too old, you may need to consider an alternative supported device (where possible).
• If you need assistance or have questions about upgrading, please reach out to the IT support team in our school.

Why this matters:

• Microsoft will stop supporting Windows 10 from 15 October 2025.
• Upgrading to Windows 11 ensures your child’s device remains secure and supported.
• Student Work Protection: Staying current helps safeguard assignments, projects, and personal data.

Ways to install Windows 11 - Microsoft Support

Upgrade to Windows 11: FAQ - Microsoft Support

Read our FAQs for more support:

How do I check what version of Windows am I running?

• Select Start > Settings > System, then select About. You then see Edition, Version, and OS Build information.

What if my device can’t upgrade?

If a Student’s BYOD laptop is running Windows 10 and can’t be upgraded to Windows 11 (usually due to older hardware), Microsoft is offering a free security update program to help keep the device safe for one more year.

The Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU) program is designed to keep your current Windows 10 PC protected after support ends, helping you stay secure during the transition.

How to Join Microsoft’s ESU Program

Microsoft has made it easy to enrol directly from the laptop:

• On eligible computers, a setup wizard will appear in Settings > Windows Update.
• There are three ways to enrol:

1. Free – Sync your settings to the cloud using Windows Backup. You must be logged in as administrator and with a Microsoft account.
2. Free – Use 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points.
3. Paid – Buy a one-year license for $30 USD (families cover this cost).

Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for Windows 10 | Microsoft Learn

School Fees

Dear St Joseph's Families,

We hope this message finds you well.

We want to take a moment to express our sincere gratitude for your ongoing support and timely fee payments. Your cooperation means a great deal to us and helps ensure that we can continue providing the best for our school community.

As a reminder, there are only 10 weeks left to have all fees finalised as agreed with the CSO. We kindly ask that you make arrangements to complete any outstanding payments within this timeframe.

Thank you once again for your continued support. If you have any questions or need assistance regarding your fees, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

We hope you all have a safe and wonderful holiday.

Warm regards

Amale Yi

Class News - Kindergarten

The Learning Hub

PRC 2025

Challenge Dates

The PRC has closed for 2025! Congratulations to the 93 students who completed the PRC this year. This is a record number of PRC completions in our school’s history.

An update of students who have completed the challenge so far in 2025:

Congratulations to the following students who have recently finished the PRC. These students have had their names added to the PRC display in the library and received their Gotcha ticket.

Willow M 6B, Ashlyn M 4R, Eden C 4R, Mia S 1R, Asher A KB, Suvi B 1R, Trinity K 1B, Lara A 3R, Evie A 3R, Sofia G 3B, Ethan K 3B, Malakai M 3B, Nash D 4B, Ella P KR, Carter M 2B, Scarlett C KR, Louis J KB, Salvatore M 2R, Ivy F 4R, Ellie O 4R, Daniel B 6R, Owen Keegan 5B and Harper D 3B.

Pizza Party

The class who had the highest percentage of students who completed the PRC will be rewarded with a pizza party. The winning class is...it’s a tie! Well done Kinder Blue and 3 Blue, with 44.4% of students completing the PRC. The next closest class was 4 Blue with 32% of the class finishing. The pizza party will be held for KB and 3B early next term.

Library Learning Term 3

This term in library lessons, we have been reading books that were shortlisted by the Children’s Book Council of Australia. When K-2 have finished reading all of the texts shortlisted in the Early Childhood category and 3-6 have finished reading the shortlisted texts in the Picture Book of the Year category, students will have the opportunity to vote for their overall favourite. Our ‘favourites’ will receive a special ‘St Joseph’s Choice’ award on the front.

As a response to the shortlisted texts, Stages 2 and 3 created mood boards for ‘A Leaf Called Greaf’ by Kelly Canby and book trailers for ‘The Garden of Broken Things’ by Freya Blackwood. Please see the links below to view a selection of student creative pieces.

Book Trailers:

Lachie C and Bruno book trailer.mp4

Evie N book trailer.mp4

Evelyn M book trailer.mp4

Willow M book trailer.mp4

Eden J book trailer.mp4

Addie D book trailer.mp4

Mayla M book trailer.mp4

Frankie G book trailer.mp4

Ben G book trailer.mp4

Daniel B book trailer.mp4

Mood Boards:

Ruby M mood board.pdf

Arlia V mood board.png

Evelyn M mood board.JPG

Willow M mood board.png

Happy reading!

Mrs Gibson – Teacher Librarian

Mrs Hoffmann – Library Assistant

Garden Group

Aboriginal Education

What a busy term we have had. I have loved working with different grades each Wednesday!

Last week I guided Year 4 on an exploration around how climate shaped the traditional living areas of First Nations peoples and influenced patterns of British colonisation. Did you know that while the entire Australian continent was successfully inhabited and carefully managed by over 250 distinct Aboriginal nations, the largest proportion of Aboriginal communities were concentrated along temperate zones of the east coast, particularly near coastlines and freshwater sources?

It was also fascinating to learn about the detailed knowledge of Country held by Awabakal people, and how this was shaped by thousands of years of cultural practice and observation. We explored how this understanding was passed down through Dreaming Stories, which explained the origins and meaning of landforms and guided how people cared for Country.

Today, we can traverse the continent using satellites, sophisticated technology and mapping. Before colonisation, Awabakal, as well as all Aboriginal peoples continuously criss-crossed our entire continent with their technologies- using songlines, sophisticated astronomical knowledge and Dreaming which gave reference to landmarks. Wow!

Significant Cultural Events

4th September: Indigenous Literacy Day

Indigenous Literacy Day is a national celebration of Indigenous culture, stories, language and literacy. This year’s theme was Strength In Our Stories: For Now & Future Generations.

By getting involved in activities we focus our attention on the disadvantages experienced in remote communities and other places in Australia.

Click HERE for more information

13th September: Anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

This is the anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, adopted by the UN General Assembly on 13 September 2007.

The Declaration is the most comprehensive international commitment in addressing the rights of Indigenous peoples.

It establishes a universal framework of minimum standards for the survival, dignity and well-being of the Indigenous peoples of the world.

Click HERE for more information.

25^th September : Cathy Freeman Gold

On 15 September 2000 First Nations athlete Cathy Freeman from Kuku Yalanji people of far north Queensland and the Birri Gubba people of central Queensland lit the Olympic flame in the spectacular opening ceremony of the Sydney Olympic Games.

Ten days later she won the gold medal in the women’s 400-metre race, achieving her greatest goal.

Click HERE for more information.

Danielle Shaw

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Education Teacher

Happy Birthday to the following students

We wish the following students a very Happy Birthday!

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/ZYkfNzsbws83p9yHM

School Holiday Activities

Lunchbox Snack Ideas

Uniform Shop

Normal Shop Hours: Every Tuesday and Thursday 8am - 10am 

See Elaine and Ian from Wearitto for all your uniform needs. Our uniform shop is run by Wearitto.

We currently have a large tub filled with lost uniform items, many of which do not have names on them and are therefore difficult to return to their rightful owners.

To help reunite these items with your children, we will be placing the tub outside the office today.

Please take a moment to have a look, especially if your child is missing any uniform pieces.

We kindly encourage all families to please clearly label uniforms moving forward, as it greatly helps in returning lost items.

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 OOSH for further information: 

Georgina Beavis:  Georgina.Beavis@stnicholasmn.org.au

Area Service Manager

Phone: (02) 4979 1110  Email: oosh-charlestown@stnicholasmn.org.au

Community News