Principal's Page

Dear Parents and Friends,

On Sunday, we move into the third week of Lent and we are reminded that the purpose of Lent is to grow closer to Jesus. One of the best ways of doing this is by following the Church’s three Lenten pillars - prayer, fasting and almsgiving. These all lead us and keep us focussed on and in communication with Christ.

I trust your own Lenten journeys are progressing and that you are in fact growing closer to Jesus.

Prayer 

Loving God, help us to remember that there is always more to discover about you and about ourselves. May we open our hearts and eyes to the wonders of your presence in our lives, just as the disciples witness the glory of Jesus. Inspire us to seek the Elijah’s and Moses’ in our lives, recognising the ways you affirm and guide us through others. 

Let us carry the flame of your love into our daily lives, igniting a deeper understanding and connection with those around us. As we journey through this Lenten season, may we strive to become all flame, reflecting your light and love into the world. 

We ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ. 

Amen.

School Cyclic Inquiry - Invitation to an Parent Listening Session

Last Monday’s Staff Development Day, which focussed on the School Cyclic Inquiry process, saw the staff analyse a number of data sets collected over the past four years which led us to identify celebrations and implications. The use of the School Improvement Tool (SIT) was then used to identify areas that may have contributed to our successes over the past four years as well as areas that we need to develop over the next four years. 

Our inquiry requires further data analysis, discernment and consultation and we are committed to hearing the voice of our Parent Community as an important part of this process. As such, we are inviting parents to a Listening Session on Thursday 10 April beginning at 6pm. We would love to see parents either attend in the School Hall or via Zoom. 

So that we are able to cater for this Listening Session, please indicate your attendance via this link by Wednesday 9 April.

Parent - Teacher Interviews - Term 2

Historically, we have held Parent-Teacher Interviews at the end of Semester One after Semester One Student Reports have been made available to parents. This year, we have made the decision to trial holding these interviews early in Term 2. The reason for this is based on feedback and insights from members of our parent community, feedback that we value and understand. We heard a strong voice for parents having a formal conversation with teachers regarding their child’s progress earlier in the year, prior to the Semester One Reports being issued. Feedback indicated parents wanting to know earlier how their child was progressing, behaving and the effort they were demonstrating. 

Parents will be invited to attend Parent-Teacher Interviews in Week 2, Term 2, beginning Monday 5 May. Booking information will be forwarded to parents by the end of Term 1.

2025 Annual Improvement Plan 

Goal: Through quality assessment, students will be challenged in their learning, to ensure continual growth and achievement.

• At our Professional Learning Community meeting last week, teachers shared their learnings and impact on student engagement and achievement as a result of their Teaching Sprint to date. The photos below show some of the Worked Examples teachers and students have been using in the classroom to improve writing achievement: 

• This week, teachers have completed the third and final stage of our Teaching Sprint: Review. In Professional Learning Team meetings this week, teachers reflected on how the use of Worked Examples has improved their teaching practice, how they will continue to embed this High Impact Teaching Strategy into their teaching repertoire and how the impact on student and achievement and engagement in Writing has resulted through the Teaching Sprint process.

• Additionally, teachers evaluated the effectiveness of the Teaching Sprint as a collaborative process to improve teaching practice. The teachers noted the timeframe of the Teaching Sprint, the focus on High Impact Strategies as highly successful in improving their teaching practice and the mentoring, coaching and feedback provided to teachers throughout the process as contributing to the success of the process

Recent Staff Professional Learning

Research tells us that the quality of the teacher is the greatest in-school influence on student achievement. Therefore high quality professional learning for teachers must be a priority to ensure improved teacher practice that leads to improved student learning growth. Professional learning undertaken by our staff over the past fortnight includes:

11 March 2025 - Catholicity Stuff

Miss Williams

18 March 2025 - The Gospel of Luke

Mrs Fursey

18 March 2025 - Mathematics Curriculum Professional Learning

Mrs Walls

School Assemblies

School assemblies are held fortnightly (even weeks) at 2pm in the school hall. Our next school assembly will be held tomorrow, Friday 21 March at 2pm. This assembly will also include a prayer for Harmony Day. All are welcome!

Kaylene Duffin

Principal, 

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School

Principal Awards

Our Principal awards are presented to students fortnightly on the even week.  

The following students received their Principal Awards tomorrow's assembly Friday 21 March  2025 (Week 8).

How does my child receive a Principal's Award?

Class teachers nominate students for Blue Merit Awards which are presented at the weekly assembly.  When five Blue Merit Awards have been received, students send them to the school office to be recorded and are then eligible for a Principal’s Award. When students attain their 4th Principal Award, they are awarded a Principal’s Medallion at an assembly. End of Term awards can be included as part of the 5 awards.  Please see the "School Handbook" for a full list of eligible awards.

Acknowledgement to Country

St Joseph's Bulli acknowledges and pays respect to the Dharawal people past, present and emerging the traditional custodians of the land on which our school is built