School News

Happy Birthday

Wishing all our students a very happy birthday who celebrated their special day over the last fortnight.

23 May - Georgia H Year 4 & Elle A Year 6

24 May - Daisy W Year 3 and Brodie A Kinder

25 May - Patrick L Year 3

26 May - Allie H Year 2 & Lacey A Year 3

27 May - Archer T Year 5, Lennox B Kinder & Rosa H Kinder

28 May - Marsden M Year 1 & Morgan C Year 5

29 May - Arielle C Year 6 and Peyton B Year 2

30 May - Edwin Z Year 5 and Alia B Kinder

31 May - Adelaide P Year 2

1 June - Thomas M Year 4, Toby M Year 5 and Ruby D Year 6

3 June - Zali M Year 5, Zane C Year 5, Conor M Year 5 & Will G Year 6

5 June - Marley M Kinder

Important: Let's Talk Bus Travel!

For many of our students, travelling to and from school by bus is an important part of their day. We want to take this opportunity to highlight the importance of safe, respectful and responsible bus travel, as we all play a role in making it a positive experience for everyone on the bus.

From time to time, we've received information that some students aren't consistently following our bus travel expectations. We're asking for your support in reinforcing a few key points with your children at home. Discussing these can make a big difference in ensuring a smooth and enjoyable ride for all:

• Safety First: Please remind your child to always wait for the bus in a safe spot, away from the road, and to board and exit in an orderly way. While the bus is moving, they should remain seated with their bags stored safely out of the aisle.

   

• Respectful Behaviour: Encourage quiet voices and appropriate language on the bus. It's vital that students show respect, keeping hands and feet to themselves. Personal electronic devices, such as phones or iPads, should remain packed away in bags and not be used during bus travel. 

   

• Responsibility for Property: Help your child understand the importance of keeping their belongings tidy and looking after the bus itself. If they see any damage, they should report it to the driver immediately.

These expectations are in place for the well-being of all students and to support our bus drivers, who work hard to get our children to their destinations safely each day.

Your partnership in discussing these important points with your children is truly valued. Please know that if concerns regarding your child's bus travel arise, we will be contacting parents directly to discuss them. Conversely, if you ever have any concerns or notice something that needs addressing, please don't hesitate to reach out to the school.

Thank you for helping us ensure safe and pleasant bus journeys for our school community.

Miguel Aguilera

Assistant Principal

St Joseph’s Choir Shines at the City of Wollongong Eisteddfod

This week, our talented school choir proudly represented St Joseph’s at the City of Wollongong Eisteddfod—and what an outstanding performance they gave! Competing against other local primary schools, our choir received a Highly Commended for their beautiful singing, a testament to their hard work, commitment and dedication.

Our students also displayed exemplary behaviour throughout the event, proudly representing our school with respect and enthusiasm. It was a moment of great pride to be part of the St Joseph’s community, supported by our wonderful staff and the many families who encouraged and celebrated with us. Thank you for helping make this such a special and memorable experience!

Ms Angela Boyd-Skinner

PB4L Expectations and Reminders 

Setting clear expectations for behaviour and uniform is essential to ensure all students are Respectful, Responsible, and Safe. To reinforce these standards, we are regularly re-teaching our school's expectations within individual classes and across the whole school, making sure every student is well-informed.

We appreciate parents' support in promoting these high expectations with their children.

Bicycle Policy and Permission Form

At St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, the riding of bicycles to and from school is encouraged and is the responsibility of parents and carers outside of the school. St Joseph’s aims to support parents and carers by providing a shared understanding of road safety education, school procedures and the safe riding of bicycles to ensure the health, safety and welfare of our students.

Before riding a bicycle to school students must have a signed Bicycle Riders Parental Permission Form. By signing the form, parents also acknowledge: responsibility for their child riding to and from school, that they have spoken to their child about bicycle safety, and that they have explained the St Joseph’s Bicycle Policy to the child (see below).

It is recommended that students under 10 years of age, DO NOT ride bicycles to or from school unless accompanied by an adult accepting responsibility for the student and identifying the safest route to and from school. 

ACTION:

If your child rides a bike to school, read the policy and if you haven't already done so sign the attached permission form. Please do this even if you have signed the previous form.

Remember - Ride safely to and from school

Please ensure that your children:

are not going to the bike track at Bulli Park on their way to or from school unsupervised

• wear a helmet when riding their bike to and from school

• are not leaving home too early in their enthusiasm

• know to ride on the footpath and off-road away from vehicles

• take special care at driveways where vehicles may be driving in or out

• STOP! LOOK! LISTEN! THINK! when approaching an intersection

• dismount and wheel the bicycle across the road as a pedestrian

If you have any questions please contact me at any time via the school office.

Illawarra/Shoalhaven Information for parents if a child is discharged from hospital

If a student attends or is admitted to hospital for a health (including mental health) reason it is the parent/carer’s responsibility to ensure that necessary information on the care of their child is relayed to the school.

Health Services are unable to contact the school upon discharge for a variety of reasons including confidentiality and workload but in the Illawarra/Shoalhaven, Emergency Department Health provides parents with a flyer called the Emergency Department Postcard reminding them to contact their school. They also provide parents with a discharge form, which will include the outcome of the health visit including referrals to community services for follow up.

Information for parents discharging from Hospital

Reminder: Afternoon Dismissal Location Update

A big thank you to all parents and carers for your understanding and cooperation with our recent change to the afternoon dismissal location! We really appreciate your support as we've transitioned to this new system.

As a reminder, all students now gather and are seated under cover on the grassed area facing the basketball court at the end of the day. We ask that all parents and carers, no matter which gate you usually use, make your way to the basketball court to wait for your child/children.

This change was implemented to enhance student safety through improved visibility and supervision, ensure a more organised and efficient dismissal, and support our staff in managing student movement smoothly.

We're committed to making this process as smooth as possible for everyone. Your feedback is always welcome as we continue to refine our procedures.

Miguel Aguilera

Assistant Principal 

Lost Property - Does this belong to you?

We have a number of items in the school office that have be lost their owners.  

If any of these items belong to you please come collect.

ICAS Assessments

Years 3-6 students at St Joseph’s have the opportunity to participate in the University of New South Wales ICAS Assessments this year.

ICAS is designed to target students’ higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills in English, Mathematics, Science, Spelling and Digital Technologies and is not compulsory.

If your child is interested, parents must register and pay online by  28 July 2025 through the Parent Payment System, NO payment will be taken via the school office.

Access details for parents: 

Book Club Issue 4 2025

Students received our Book Club Issue 4, 2025 today.

Issue 4 will close for orders on Friday 20 June 2025 for delivery in the week commencing Monday 30 June 2025.

Every order over $19.50 receives a $5 promo code to spend on the next issue. Thank you for supporting our Book Club during 2025. Over the first three issues this year we have earned $508 in Rewards to be used on resources for our Library.

2025 Premier Reading Challenge 

Premier's Reading Challenge 2025 has begun. If your child would like to participate in the challenge this year, there are two options available for how you can log your children's reading.

Blank Reading Logs are available for pick up from the library any morning before school starts. You can fill these in at home as books are read and then drop back off at the library and Mrs Pirie or Mrs Parker will enter these books into your child's online reading log.

Alternatively, you can email the school to request your child's digital login details and enter their reading at your own convenience.

For any further questions please do not hesitate to contact Mrs Pirie.

Sport

SJB Athletics Carnival

Our school Athletics Carnival will be held on Wednesday 2 July, at the Kerryn McCann Athletics Track (Beaton Park), Gwynneville. All students will participate in events as part of a rotation grid.

The athletics carnival requires the support of our parents to run smoothly. Any parents who are able to assist with the carnival's running are asked to indicate this in the question tab. As always, your time and assistance on the day of the carnival will be very much appreciated, so thank you in advance if you are able to act as a carnival official. 

Please see the COMPASS event on the Parent Portal.

Cross Country News - Wollongong Diocesan Selection Trials

On Tuesday 27 May the Wollongong Diocese held its Cross Country Selection Trials at the Illawarra Criterium Track, Unanderra.  All of the students from St Joseph’s who attended showed great determination and displayed true competitive spirit on the day. To progress through the pathway,  the students needed to finish in the top 8. We congratulate the following students who were selected in the Diocesan Team to attend the MacKillop trials which will be held at the Sydney Equestrian Centre next Wednesday 11 June 2025: 

Hudson B, Indigo P, Tommy M, Zoe C and Will G.

Special mention to three of our students who achieved a podium finish: Hudson B - 1st, Indigo P - 2nd and Tommy M - 3rd. 

We wish these students the very best and know that they will do themselves and St Joseph’s proud at the next level. 

Thank you to students, parents and teachers for their commitment to training over the past month. 

Kylie Grose / Christine Smith 

Sport Co-ordinators 

Sports Days @ 5 June 2025 for Term 2

Change for Wk 7 - 

Yr 5 - Wednesday & Friday 

Yr 6 - Tuesday & Friday

Canteen

Open Monday to Friday for recess and lunch.

Cash purchases for snacks and drinks can be made at recess and lunchtime. Snacks and drinks can also be ordered via the new platform FlexiSchools.

Lunch orders

Orders for lunch can only be made through Flexischools.  Please note that orders close at 9.15am daily.  Orders cannot be placed after this time.

Flexischool Parent Support Line - 1300 361 769 (Hours: 7.00am-12.00 noon)

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Handbook

2024 Bus Timetable (Premier Charters)

PB4L (Positive Behaviour for Learning)

Ask your child about the weekly focus for students.

This week's focus:

BE RESPONSIBLE:   Use your words or ask for help when you are feeling angry or frustrated.