Principal's Page

Dear Parents and Friends,

During the previous school holidays, my family and I enjoyed a wonderful four week holiday to England, Italy and Paris. This was an incredibly special time for us and was made possible by the leadership of Mr Aguilera and Mrs Grose who competently stepped into the Acting Principal and Acting Assistant Principal roles. I am extremely grateful that I was afforded this time and would like to thank not only Mr Aguilera and Mrs Grose but all members of the Leadership team and our office staff for their leadership during this time.

Grandparent's and Great People Day

On Friday, 25 October, we hosted Grandparents and Great People Day and what an uplifting and joyful day! This day is one of the absolute highlights on our annual calendar and this year’s celebration was very special. Our students get so much out of having their grandparents and great people visit for the day. We shared a beautiful liturgy, celebrated our learning in classrooms and enjoyed a picnic lunch together. A very special part of our celebration was Mrs Gabriel Tyrpenou’s insights into being a grandparent. Mrs Tyrpenou is a grandparent of our school, and I am very grateful that she agreed to address those gathered last Friday and share what being a grandparent means to her. I had a number of people express their appreciation for her engaging and sincere words and I am very pleased to be able to share these with our community. Thank you, Gabriel!

The Gift of Grandparents

Taking on the role of being a grandparent is something that I didn’t apply

for or aspire to. It just happened, and I’m glad it did. If I’d known

grandchildren were going to be so much fun, I would have had them first.

Yes, Grandparents are gifts but I also feel that being a grandparent is one

of life’s most rewarding gifts and one I will treasure forever.

I’m not the most experienced grandparent but we have been gifted with

5 grandchildren in the last 7 years. And as I look out at the people here

today others may have a greater number of grandchildren and more

years of experience but I’m happy to share my perspective so far. I

believe I’m on a steep learning curve and more often than not learning

from our grandchildren, especially the 3 year old who can work the smart

TV better than I. Since becoming a grandparent I’ve honed my skills in

many areas including negotiation, distraction, interrogation and

manipulation and would probably make a very good MI5 agent.

I see grandparents as part of a support act to the main event, parents.

The rules of the parents must be upheld at all times or at least until they

leave the house and then rules may become a little more flexible. Ice

cream for dinner. Why not? 9.00pm bedtime instead of 7.00pm. All good.

Grandparents can get away with this, on occasion, because we can give

our grandchildren back to their hard-working, stressed parents to sort

them out.

Grandparents are true believers in your skills, talents and abilities. They

encourage you to pursue your dreams and ambitions and to achieve your

goals. Grandparents are openly biased, one-eyed and proud of our

grandchildren. We see our grandchildren as being the best, often

superior to other children, including our own. Grandparents are like stars.

You don’t always see them, but you know they’re always there

supporting your every effort.

Although we, as grandparents, have busy and fulfilling lives, we are not

time poor like our adult children. We are not frustrated by the pressures

of the multitasking lives they lead.  Yet, even among these pressures our

children do an amazing job of parenting. What we have to offer our

grandchildren is a unique perspective, one with many years of life

experiences.  Grandparenting is a fine balancing act between sharing

wisdom, experience and time. Grandparents can be a major support for

families. Sometimes they’re playmates for their grandchildren, role

models and mentors. They are also historians, teaching values, instilling

ethnic heritage and passing on family stories and traditions.

Grandparents are also in a unique position to reinforce limits and lessons

from parents while also listening, wiping away tears and showing our

grandchildren, they are understood and unconditionally loved.

We relish the opportunity to teach our grandchildren, whether it be a

task or a life skill or a value that will hold them in good stead throughout

their lives.  We see their beautiful faces and their curiosity for life as a

sponge ready to take in knowledge. We can help shape our grandchildren

into being loving and caring human beings that make a difference in the

world.

Grandparents know how quickly time goes by, so they don’t wish any

of it away. I’m well aware that I will not always be needed the way I am

with young grandchildren. And so, it is important for our grandchildren to

know, that grandparents hold your hands for just a little while, but your

hearts forever.

You are our gifts to treasure.

By Gabriel Tyrpenou

Fete Planning 2025

Our biannual School Fete is scheduled for 20 September, 2025 and we need the support of our parent community to get it up and running. 

When: Wednesday, 13 November, 2024

Time: 6pm - 7pm

Where: Woonona Bulli RSL

Who: All parents and friends

We would appreciate your time and presence on Wednesday to share ideas and discuss the various roles required. In previous years we have had varied roles including, Fair Lead Coordinator or Team of Coordinators, Treasurer and coordinators for Sponsorship, Marketing, Rides, Stalls, Safety, Chocolate Wheel, Entertainment, Safety. The students love the Fete and it raises significant funds for the school. We are desperate for helpers so that we can continue providing this wonderful event.  

We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday.

Annual School Report

Each year, schools are required to complete and publish an Annual School Report. An important component of this report is a summary of the perspectives of parents, staff and students about the education and general functioning of the school. Your perspectives are greatly valued and we would appreciate you taking the time to complete this survey by Friday 22 November 2024. 

Survey link: 2024 Annual School Report Parent Survey

Formation of Classes for 2025

In our previous newsletter, the St Joseph’s formation of classes policy was shared as staff prepare to form classes for 2025. Whilst teachers have the knowledge to best place students into classes, there may be extenuating circumstances where parents may make a request regarding class placement. 

It is not appropriate to make a request for your child to be with their friends or your preferred teacher. Teachers will ensure your child is placed with a friend.  

All requests regarding a child’s placement should be in writing and addressed to the Principal by Friday, 22 November. After this date, classes will be formed and changes will not be possible. 

Whilst parental requests are considered, there is never a guarantee that they will be granted. Please be aware that there may be circumstances surrounding requests that prevent them from being granted.

Wollongong City Council Road Safety Report

Members of the Wollongong City Council’s Transport team have recently visited our school and observed the routes to school as part of the Safer Routes to School initiative.

 They are seeking feedback from the community regarding areas around the school that we feel could be improved to improve the safety of students and the community during daily arrival and dismissal. 

We have identified areas from a staff perspective and we are inviting parents to email the school to share their feedback. All of the feedback will go towards the Council developing a Road Safety Report for St Joseph’s Catholic School as part of the Safer Routes to School initiative. 

Please email any feedback to the school office by  Friday 22 November.

Captain's Report

Welcome to this week's Captain's Report. We have been busy supporting our 2025 Kindergarten students and their parents. Let's have a look at some of the interviews we have conducted during the recent Transition to Kindergarten Playgroup.

Parents

How are you finding the transition program?

My child is finding it great and having heaps of fun. It’s an awesome program and it helps my child transition into primary school and create new friendships.

How is your child feeling about the program?

My children are nervous about primary school but hopefully this program will help them to interact with other students and make friends early.

Students

What was your favourite part of the program?

Many students said their favourite part of the program was going to the library, playing with the duplo and colouring in. 

What was different about this transition program compared to preschool/ 

daycare?

Students said that St Joseph's was bigger than their daycare/preschool but it was so much fun meeting new people who are going to be at the same school.

That's all for now. Stay tuned because we’ll keep you updated!

Year 6 Captains

Annual Improvement Plan Update 

Goal: Students will achieve excellent growth in Mathematics as a result of shared curriculum expectations and collaborative processes ensuring alignment of curriculum, teaching, learning and assessment.     

• students continue to learn from units of work designed by teachers, aligned to the NSW Syllabuses and in response to ongoing assessment practices.
• teachers have routinely engaged in co-teaching cycles to reflect on and refine practice in response to feedback                        

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:

28 October 2024 - Learning In Leadership course

Mr Aguilera

30 October 2024 - Instructional Coach Network Meeting

Mrs Grose

31 October 2024 - Appreciative Inquiry participation at CEO

Mrs Duffin

1 November 2024 - Principal Network Meeting

Mrs Duffin

School Assembly

Our next school assembly will be held tomorrow, 8 November at 2pm. Everyone is 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, Friday 8 November 2024.

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.