School News

Happy Birthday

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

4 April - Michael C Kinder, Isabella L Year 6 & Sebastian R Year 2

5 April - Brooks B Year 1, Toren B Year 1 and Stella A Year 2

6 April - Lucas W Year 6 and Cooper N Year 2

9 April - Lynkoln Q Year 4 and Frank T Kinder

12 April - Poppy S Year 6

14 April - Oliver K Year 4

15 April - Autumn B Year 1 and Grace M Year 5

16 April - Arlo M Kinder

17 April - Mila D Kinder

18 April - Arabella G Year 3 and Ellis W Year 1

20 April - Ivy M Year 2

21 April - Zara M Year 4

22 April - Leo S Kinder, Portia M Year 4 and James A Year 3

23 April - Reg M Year 1 and Chloe S Year 1

25 April - May F Year 4

26 April - Phoebe R Year 6

27 April - Eli R Year 6 and Summer F Year 1

28 April - Raine W Year 5

29 April - Maximus M Year 6 and Stella K Year 6

1 May - Charlie H Year 1, Jack H Year 1, Isikeli V Year 5, Mia R Year 5 and Elijah L Year 6

2 May - Sophia B Kinder

3 May - Jude R Year 6 and Matthew C Year 4

4 May - Hayley C Year 1

5 May - Bill C Year 4 and Oscar C Year 4

7 May - Molly M Kinder

8 May - Finnick S Year 2 and Gia S Year 2

Book Club Issue 3 2025

Students received our Book Club Issue 3, 2025, last week.

Issue 3 will close for orders on Monday 19 May for delivery in the week commencing Monday 26 May.

Book Club Issue 3 2025.pdf

National Walk Safely to School Day

St Joseph’s is taking part in ‘National Walk Safely to School Day’ on Friday 16 May 2025, also supporting National Road Safety Week.

Walk Safely to School Day also encourages positive environmental action, better use of public transport with reduced car dependency and encourages parents and carers to walk more, reducing dangerous traffic congestion around schools.

Being active every day, including walking to school, can help make a difference for many Australians. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or carer - everyone has a role to play in helping children to lead active healthy lives.

Remember, Active Kids are Healthy Kids, so start planning your Walk Safely to School Day journey for Friday 16 May 2025!

You’re Invited

St Joseph’s staff will be walking to school Friday May 16 from the grass area near Bulli Beach Cafe. Teachers will assemble at the meeting point pictured below. Parents and students are warmly invited to walk to school with staff. Staff will leave the Bulli Beach Cafe grass area at 8:20am. Should your child require an epi pen or asthma puffer on the walk, please ensure they bring these with them whilst walking. As this is considered a school event, dogs should be left at home or walked 10m away from the children where possible.

St Joseph’s School Choir News

We warmly invite all families to come and watch the choir perform at our Term 2 - Week 2 school assembly on Friday 9 May. It’s a fantastic opportunity to see our talented students in action as they share their love of music with the school community.

Finally we would like to share some exciting news that our choir has been entered into the City of Wollongong Eisteddfod on Monday 2 June! We can’t wait to showcase our hard work and represent our school with pride. Stay tuned for more details as we get closer to the event!

Ms Boyd-Skinner

2026 Enrolments - Do you have a child starting Kinder in 2026?

A shoutout to parents who have a child ready to start Kindergarten in 2026 - Please get your applications in!! Our online applications are now open.

You will be required to use our new online enrolment platform, called Funnel, removing the use of all paper forms. Please take note, particularly for sibling applications. The online application form will be accessible from the home page of our school website

Online Enrolment Application

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

Diocesan Cross Country

The Diocesan Cross Country has been rescheduled for Tuesday 27 May, with the same event details and Compass permission to apply.

Training will continue to be offered on Tuesdays in Week 3, 4 and 5 with Mrs Mitchell and Mrs Grose on 6 May, 13 May and 20 May for the SJB squad.

Diocesan Trials

Congratulations to Arlo B who were selected in the 2025 Diocesan Girls Football (Soccer) team and will travel to Goulburn to compete in the MacKillop Trials later this month. We wish her the very best of luck!

MacKillop Swimming

Congratulations to the SJB students who competed at the Swimming Championships in Week 10 of T1. This pathway allows the top 3 students in each event to qualify for MacKillop selection. SJB students were outstanding ambassadors for our school and the Diocese of Wollongong. Their talents did not go unnoticed with all students achieving fantastic results and times. The Junior Girls relay team finished 1st in the 4 x Freestyle event, and Archer T finished 2nd in the Breaststroke. They progressed to the PSSA Championships in the last week of term.

NSW PSSA Swimming

Congratulations to the Junior Girls Relay team (Isla J, Maddie B, Allegra B and Arlo B) who finished 16th overall at the NSW PSSA Swimming Championships, setting a personal best time. Congratulations to Archer T who finished 6th in the final. Outstanding achievements all round and an exciting way to finish Term 1.

AFL Paul Kelly Cup

On Thursday St Joseph’s had three teams of Stage 3 students participate and compete in the AFL Paul Kelly Cup competition. We were very lucky on the day as the sun was shining down on us for a fabulous day of footy. Some students had never played a game of AFL before, whilst others were able to use their own skills and knowledge to assist their teammates in understanding the game. They showed great commitment to their teams, with persistence and lots of smiles.

“It was fun to learn new skills, and hang out with friends and make new ones from other schools too. We learnt to tackle, and score and I built more confidence than last year” - Issy (Year 6 student)

Thank you to all of our wonderful parents, carers and teachers who gave their time to help coach, and support our students on this day, we know days like this wouldn’t be possible without you.

A big congratulations to our Year 6 Boys Team - coached by Mr Mathews who went through 4 rounds undefeated and progressed into the Final. They played a tough last game in the sun, and worked well together as a team to come out on top as the overall winners of the day. The Boys will progress to the next competition during Term 2 and we wish them all the best for this!!

Catholic Wollongong Legends Tackle Gala Day 2025

Strength, agility, determination, perseverance, and true grit were well and truly on display at the Catholic Wollongong Legends Tackle Gala Day on Thursday, April 10. Over the course of the day, five teams from Stage 2 and 3 took on other Catholic schools from our diocese: one Year 3/4 team, three Year 5/6 teams, and one Year 5/6 girls league tag team.

These students absolutely outdid themselves on the day, both on and off the field. There were displays of great sportsmanship, camaraderie among teams and respectful appreciation for their team managers. For our Year 3 students attending, it was their first experience of participating in a gala day and the students from the older grades really helped to set the example for them in both their behaviour and attitude. We could not have asked for more from these wonderful students representing St Joseph’s.

Each team was able to participate in four games during the day. In between matches, there was plenty of SJB spirit alive as the students encouraged each other and cheered in support of one another. They truly displayed the Gala Day philosophy by enjoying the sport, having fun, and exercising without the pressure of competition and winning.

Of course, these days could not go ahead without the support of school staff, teachers and parent volunteers who managed and supported our teams on the day. We are so very grateful to these parent helpers and thank all staff involved in organising and attending the Gala Day.

Mrs Brooks, Ms Clarkson & Mrs Van Gemert