School News

 Happy Birthday

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

12 May - Logan R Year 6

13 May - Andie M Year 1

16 May - Fred L Year 2 and Nina C Year 4

19 May - Hannah L Year 3 and Cristiano H Year 6

20 May - Matilda W Kinder and George W Year 6

21 May - Freddie B Kinder, Kyan S Year 2 and Max T Year2

23 May - Georgia H Year 5

24 May - Brodie A Year 1 and Daisy W Year 4

25 May - Patrick L Year 4

Walk Safely to School Day 

St Joseph's participated in the 'Walk Safely to School Day' last Friday May 22. Staff, students and parents enjoyed a beautiful walk to school, and definitely felt the benefits of an early morning walk. Thank you to all students who walked safely from home to school. What a great initiative to create healthy bodies and a healthy environment. Well done St Joseph’s on walking safely to school!

Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week

This week we acknowledged Sorry Day 26 May and the beginning of Reconciliation Week 27 May - 3 June. Students will also acknowledge these significant dates in their classrooms. The theme for Reconciliation Week is "All In".  It is a powerful call to action for all Australians to commit to reconciliation wholeheartedly every single day, making it clear that reconciliation is not a spectator sport or solely the responsibility of First Nations peoples.

What "All In" Means

• Shared Responsibility: The weight of championing reconciliation should not fall solely on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

• Beyond Symbolic Action: It challenges individuals, schools, and workplaces to move past just observing a single week and actively participate in creating meaningful, everyday change.

• Active Engagement: It is a reminder that advancing human rights and true reconciliation requires each of us to step away from the sidelines, stay curious, and listen to understand

School Photo Day - Wednesday 10 June

School Photo Day will be held on Wednesday 10 June 2026.  Group and portrait photographs can be purchased by following this link .

ONLINE CODE: LY9LKXN18

Important Information:

• School photos are to be purchased online 

   

• Sibling Photos - sibling photographs must be ordered online prior to the day of photography.  A photograph will not be taken without an order. Sibling photographs only apply to children enrolled at the school. 

   

• Late fees/additional charges will be applied for purchases after photo day

   

• Photos will be returned to our school for distribution approximately six weeks after photos are taken

   

Lunch Time Activities - Terms 2 & 3, 2026

Once again we will be running lunchtime activities for the students commencing in the coming weeks. These structured activities give students the opportunity to join in play where they feel connected and part of a group that share similar interests. We are blessed at St Joseph’s to have such dedicated, enthusiastic and talented staff at our school willing to share their time, skills and expertise with our students. 

There are a number of activities and clubs on offer for students to be involved in. These activities will be facilitated by classroom teachers and conducted across the week, open for all students from Kindergarten to Year 6.

If your child would like to take part in these lunchtime activities, please complete the form attached by Thursday 28 May 2026.  

If you have any questions please contact Mr Aguilera.

(If you have more than one child at the school, please complete a separate form for each student)

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

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.

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.

Miguel Aguilera

Assistant Principal

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

Afternoon Dismissal 

A big thank you to all parents and carers for your understanding and cooperation during  afternoon dismissal. We really appreciate your support.

As a reminder, all students gather and sit 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.

The aim is 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.

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.

Week 8's newsletter will have more information regarding registration, payment and the sitting window. 

Miguel Aguilera

Assistant Principal 

Premier Reading Challenge

The Premier's Reading Challenge is up and running. Here are a few quick updates about the challenge

K-2 will complete their challenge with stories read throughout the year at school. Although if you would like to add in your own reads from home please contact the office and I will send home your child's login details.

3-6 will complete their own challenge online. If your child is interested in completing the challenge and is in grades 3-6 please email the office and I will send home their login and a link to the website where the reading lists and self login page can be found.

The challenge ends on the 18th of September. You are welcome to add in any books your children have read from the beginning of this school year. 

Happy Reading!

Mrs Pirie

Libarian

2027 Kindergarten Enrolments - Siblings

We are well and truly in Kindergarten Enrolment season. If you have a child who is due to begin school in 2027 and have not as yet completed the online application, please do so as soon as possible.

The online application form will be accessible from the home page of our school website

Sport

Term 2 Sports Uniform Days

Milk Crate Circus -Sport Uniform Changes - Years 1 & 2 - Week 5, 7, 9 and 10

We are excited to share that Years 1 and 2 will be participating in a mobile circus gymnastic program run by Corie Hurry, a 2015 graduate of Australia's National Institute of Circus Arts and Advanced Gymnastics with over 15 years of coaching and performing experience. 

This will take place at school during Weeks, 5, 7, 9 and 10 on a Monday. As a result:

Students will need to be in sports uniform on these days to participate in the gymnastic program and timetabled PE program with Mrs Mitchell.

Please note that students will be required to remove and put their shoes back on independently during the gymnastics sessions. We encourage families to support children in practising this skill at home to help them feel confident and prepared.

Anne-Marie Clarkson

Middle Leader

SJB Athletics Carnival 2026

Our School Athletics carnival was a fantastic day held at Beaton Park on Monday 11 May 2026. We enjoyed rotating through athletic events and novelty activities in the sunshine. We are so thankful to the amazing Holy Spirit College students who assisted us on the day, along with our staff and parents who were working tirelessly to ensure events were efficiently run. It was so lovely to see so many  spectators enjoying the day as a school community. Thank you to the school P&F for ensuring delicious food, drinks, and treats were available throughout the day! 

Thank you to the students, parents and family members for contributing to our 2026 carnival. Once again, the competitors' behaviour, attitudes, skill levels, determination, and athleticism were to be commended. The way students supported and encouraged each other and showed enjoyment was a real highlight to witness. 

An enormous thank you to our amazing volunteers who acted in an official capacity. Your support is very much appreciated. Please pass on our gratitude to anyone who assisted in any way, great or small, some for the last time. We also wish to acknowledge our dedicated staff, who started the day extremely early, setting up, supervising and spending the whole day encouraging and supporting students. 

What a great school community we are part of, where everyone goes above and beyond so students get these opportunities. We have appreciated the positive feedback received and as always, we reflect and look for ways to improve our events for the following year. 

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

Congratulations to the 2026 Age Champions:

School Records 

Congratulations to the following children who broke school records on Monday:

South Coast Athletics:  Tuesday 11 August

Our Regional Athletics team will receive a permission note via Compass inviting them to compete at the South Coast Athletics Carnival on Tuesday 11 August.  The age representation for field events at the next carnival is the athlete who jumped or threw the greatest distance in each division. Juniors (8yrs, 9yrs & 10yrs combined), 11 yrs and Senior (12/13s). For track events, there are two representatives for the 100m. The 200m event is again divided into Junior, 11yrs and Senior age divisions to align with MacKillop and PSSA pathways. 

Note: 

Diocesan Selection Trials -Tuesday 18 August The top four placegetters from the South Coast carnival are invited to attend.

MacKillop Selection Trials -  Wednesday 24 September The top 2 place getters from the selection trials will be selected in the Wollongong Diocesan  team for the MacKillop trials. 

Congratulations to the following athletes who will form our Regional Athletics Squad for the South Coast Athletics on Tuesday 11 August 

Allegra B, Edison B, Xanthe B, Zoe B, Pippi B, Arlo B, Maddy B, Oceana D, Summer F, Aleira G, Indiana G, Eleanor H, Isla J, Alba J, Yuna L, Zali M,  Chloe M, Zara M, Grace Mc, Isabella N, Anastasia P, Indigo P, Mia R, Harriet V, Daisy W, Marcello A, Hudson B, Flynn B, Morgan C, Coby C, Theo D, Jack E, Hudson F, Jordan G, Jude H, Patrick L, Thomas L, Tommy M, Toby M, Lachlan M, Zane N, Austin P, Elliot S, Archer T. 

Relay Teams 

Mrs Sally Rogers and Mrs Lauren Mitchell 

Carnival Convenors 

NSWPSSA AFL

A huge congratulations to Grace Mc in Year 6 who was recently selected in the NSWPSSA AFL Team. Her MacKillop team were undefeated throughout the tournament. This is an outstanding achievement and we wish Grace all the best as she represents the State at the National Championship in Canberra from 3-9 August 2026.

Milk Crate Circus -Sport Uniform Changes - Years 1 & 2 - Week 5, 7, 9 and 10

We are excited to share that Years 1 and 2 will be participating in a mobile circus gymnastic program run by Corie Hurry, a 2015 graduate of Australia's National Institute of Circus Arts and Advanced Gymnastics with over 15 years of coaching and performing experience. 

This will take place at school during Weeks, 5, 7, 9 and 10 on a Monday. As a result:

Students will need to be in sports uniform on these days to participate in the gymnastic program and timetabled PE program with Mrs Mitchell.

Please note that students will be required to remove and put their shoes back on independently during the gymnastics sessions. We encourage families to support children in practising this skill at home to help them feel confident and prepared.

Anne-Marie Clarkson

Middle Leader

Canteen

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. 

Note:  Canteen is CLOSED MONDAYS

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

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Handbook

2025 Bus Timetable (Premier Charters)

PB4L (Positive Behaviour for Learning)

Ask your child about the weekly focus for students.

This week's focus:

Wear School Uniform Correctly. 

Let’s be proud to be a St Joseph’s student!

Hats - on heads before and after school and during break times.

Shoes & Socks - correct length socks (crew) & leather shoes polished.

Jewellery - Small plain studs and sleepers in the ears only. 

Hair - Even cut and natural colour. Blue ribbons and elastics.

Shirts - Winter Uniform tucked in.