Principal's Page

Dear Parents and Friends,

In this final newsletter for Term 1, it is with pride that I reflect on a busy term. Congratulations to our Kindergarten students on completing their very first Term of school and making such a significant transition. I also acknowledge the leadership of our Year 6 students who have taken seriously their roles as senior leaders of the school and for embracing their recent Year 6 Camp experience. I wish to acknowledge the strong commitment of our staff, in delivering care, compassion and quality teaching each day and for the vital support and encouragement from our parents and carers. As principal, I am very well aware of the strong partnership we have between school, home and parish and I am very grateful to all who have worked towards further enhancing this throughout a very rewarding Term.

Parish Family Mass

Last Sunday, we celebrated our first Parish Family Mass for 2025 and it was beautiful. I sincerely thank each of the 70+ students and their families for attending and to Father Patrick and the parishioners for their welcome. We had 50 students in the choir and the music was spectacular! Thank you to Miss Boyd-Skinner and Mr Aguilera for their music ministry which added so much to the celebration. After mass, I spoke with a number of parents and parishioners and everyone agreed how special this mass was. It is timely to remember that as a Catholic parish school, we are all members of the St Joseph’s, Bulli Parish and are always welcome at mass. 

Holy Week & Easter

With Holy Week falling in the first week of the student vacation period, our school community will honour the solemnity of Holy Week next week with daily liturgies. Holy Week allows us to prepare ourselves for the joyful celebration of Easter Sunday – the ultimate high point on the Christian calendar. The Easter story is about the hope that we can see the world as God intended. Pope Francis states that we can only acclaim Jesus as Lord through the loving service of others. The hope that the Easter story gives to people, especially those who are struggling, is what Easter is all about.

I wish the entire St Joseph’s community a prayerful Holy Week and a Happy Easter, where the message of Jesus and His suffering and eventual rising is central to our thoughts and actions as we enjoy some time for reflection and the discernment of what is truly important in our busy lives.

Farewell, Mrs Haritos

On behalf of our school community, I wish Mrs Lena Haritos all the very best as she takes leave at the end of Term 1 to prepare for the birth of her third child. 

School Uniform Term 2

The official change over from students wearing summer uniform to winter uniform is Monday, 12 May (Week 3, Term 2). From this day, all students are required to wear Winter Uniform. 

Please note, students may wear either Summer or Winter uniform during Weeks 1 and 2 of Term 2, at the discretion of parents depending on the weather.

2025 Annual Improvement Plan 

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

• Teachers have engaged in Collaborative Planning sessions (half day) with grade teachers and Instructional Coach to deepen their knowledge of the Revised NSW Mathematics Syllabus. In particular, teachers explored the Big Ideas and the connections that thread throughout content areas. Teachers collaboratively designed tiered assessments to ensure students and challenged in their mathematical learning.

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:

24 March 2025 - High Potential and Gifted Student Network

Mrs Pirie

27 March 2025 - NSW Revised Science and Technology Curriculum 

Mrs Pirie

27 and 28 March 2025 - Vivian Robinson Professional Learning - Virtuous Educational Leadership

Mrs Duffin

31 March 2025 - Early Career Teacher/Mentor Day

Mrs Grose and Miss Williams

2 April 2025 - Mathematics Collaborative Planning (half day) 

Mrs Lantry and Mrs Parker, Mrs Rollestone

3 April 2025 - Mathematics Collaborative Planning (half day) 

Mrs Smith, Mr Walker, Mr Barr, Miss Boyd-Skinner

Mrs Greenwood, Mrs Clarke, Miss Gemmill, Mrs Kors 

3 April 2025 - NSW Revised PDHPE Curriculum 

Mrs Grose & Mrs Mitchell

School Assemblies

Our Final Assembly for Term 1 will be held tomorrow, Friday 4 April at 2pm. Merit Awards, Principal Awards, PB4L Awards, End of Term Awards and our Cross Country Age Champions will all be rewarded. All are welcome!

Students StartTerm 2 - Tuesday 29 April 2025

Kaylene Duffin

Principal, 

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School

End of Term Awards

The following student will be presented their End of Term 1 Achievement Awards on Friday 4 April 2025 (Term 1 Week 10). Parents of students receiving End of Term Awards are welcome to join the assembly.

Academic Achievement Awards

Habits of Mind Awards

Mary of the Cross Awards

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 4 April  2025 (Week 10).

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