Principal's Report

Dear Parents and Carers

I can not believe I am writing the final newsletter for Term 3, 2025!

As we come to the close of Term 3, it is with great joy that we celebrate the many achievements and wonderful learning experiences of our students. This term has been filled with memorable events, from the vibrant celebrations of Book Week and the inspiring Creative and Practical Arts Performances, to the enriching outdoor adventures in Bush Kindy and the stage 3 construction of a Eureka Stockade Village and Ballarat excursion. 

We have been privileged to welcome numerous visitors to our school community who have all commented on how welcoming and friendly our school community is. Our students have also embraced many exciting opportunities in this vibrant and nurturing environment that we continue to build together.

We are extremely grateful for all the support our families and the wider community have given to our school not only over the term but the whole year to date. Our school could not function without all the stakeholders who contribute to our success. Please accept this as our thank you from St Joey’s to you all for all that you do and give for us. 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our school staff for their incredible commitment and care. Our students are so blessed to have such amazing humans who give so much to ensure we are providing quality Catholic Education at St Joseph’s.

Farewell Mr Stankiewicz and Mrs Buchannan

We are saying goodbye to two of our staff members this term. Mr Stankiewicz joined our staff this year working with Mrs Dowell to share the teaching of Year 4. This has been Mr Stankiewicz’s first teaching appointment and he has embraced this opportunity with professionalism, care and service. We wish Mr Stankiewicz all the very best in his new role as a Basketball Development Officer in Katoomba and we are very excited that he has been able to combine his passion for basketball with his teaching to carry out this new job.

We are also farewelling Mrs Sonya Buchanan who joined our school community at the start of this term as acting Assistant Principal whilst Mrs Munn has been on leave. Mrs Buchanan’s kindness, professionalism and unwavering support has been felt by all and we will miss the vibrant energy Sonya has brought to our school. We are so glad we could provide Mrs Buchanan with this leadership opportunity to assist her in her growth as a leader.

St Joseph’s is so much richer in so many ways for having Mr Stankiewicz and Mrs Buchanan on our staff and we are so grateful for their hard work and dedication. 

Mrs Dowell Leave/Ms Moran Year 4 Teacher for Term 4

Mrs Dowell will be on leave for Term 4 and we would like to wish her all the very best for the remainder of her pregnancy. We are so very grateful for all her work this year as Year 4 teacher and she will continue to remain in our prayers.

With both Mr Stankiewicz and Mrs Dowell finishing up this term, Ms Jodie Moran has so willingly accepted the position of full time Year 4 class teacher for term 4. We are all very excited to have Ms Moran in Year 4 and wish her all the very best as she takes the students through to the end of the term.

We are currently engaged in the recruiting process to find a replacement for Ms Moran for Term 4, and will communicate the appointment to parents once it is finalised.

Mercy Week

Over the last week we have been privileged to have Sr Kate, Sr Margaret and Sr Rita who are Mercy Sisters visit our school. The Sisters of Mercy were the Foundational Order that started the school and we are so blessed for this reconnection with the Sisters as we continue our Mission and Vision journey at St Joseph’s.

Our Kinder to Year 4 students visited Cooinda Court and the Hospital to engage with the residents, read to them and sing. This act of kindness was so endearing to those they visited and warmed many hearts.

Stage 3 Excursion to Ballarat

It has been wonderful to listen to the Stage 3 students talk about their excursion to Ballarat this week. Not only have the students enjoyed the excursion but they have loved all the learning they did in the lead up to the excursion. By all accounts, the students were wonderful ambassadors for our school and very respectful. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mrs Gardiner and Mr Pratt not only for their supervision on the excursion, but the exciting teaching and learning that took place in their classes this term. This learning experience has been so engaging, memorable and enriching for our stage 3 students. Thank you also to Mrs Buchanan and Ms Moran for supervising on the excursion.

Working Bee

At our last School Council Meeting in Week 5, we set a date for our first working bee to be held on 10th October at 3pm. The purpose of this working bee is to continue some of the work on our Nature playground and surrounding areas but also for community engagement. Please see the Working Bee tab in this newsletter to RSVP if you will be attending. Children are welcome. Please bring some gardening gloves, extra shovels, wheelbarrows and gardening tools, it would certainly be appreciated. There will be a BBQ and drinks provided in the evening for all in attendance.

Pilgrimage

We wish Father Paddy and his tour group a safe and fabulous pilgrimage to Italy during the holidays. We can't wait to hear all about it upon his return. 

Kinder 2026 Orientation

We welcome our Kinder 2026 students for their first Orientation Day on Friday 17th October. Information will be coming home to those families today around the orientation and preparation for Kinder in 2026.

We look forward to these children joining us next term.

Pupil Free Day

Monday 13th October will be a Pupil Free Day for our students, and staff will be at school for Professional Development. The front office will be opened. Students start on Tuesday 14th October.

Summer Uniform

Students return to school in Term 4 in summer school and sport uniforms. Please ensure that all your children's uniforms are clearly labelled as we have many unmarked uniform items in the school office that need collecting. If not collected, they will be taken to the school clothing pool.

Have a wonderful holiday with your families, stay safe and we look forward to seeing you all back at St Joey’s next term!

God Bless

Angela Scott