Happy Birthday

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

17 March - Zane M Year 4

19 March - Indie L Year 1

22 March - Natalie E Kinder and Edward P Year 1

23 March - Tiana B Year 4

25 March - Harper J Kinder, Jacob M Year 2 and Andy O Year 5

28 March - Xavier H Year 5

Emergency Management Planning - Lockdown and Evacuation Drills

An important component of our school Emergency Management Plan is the facilitation of Lockdown and Evacuation Drills. These help ensure students and staff know how to respond safely in an emergency and helps us refine our response to potential emergency situations.

We conducted a Lockdown Drill last week and will conduct our Evacuation Drill this coming Wednesday.

Traffic Management Inspection

Last week, members of our WHS Team conducted Traffic Management Inspections during student arrival and dismissal times to review the movement of both vehicles and pedestrians. Specific areas of focus were identified. These are captured below as reminders to parents and as teaching points for students.

Reminders to Parents:

Please use the pedestrian crossing at the Church when crossing Park Road
U Turns at the intersection of Rowan Street and Hutton Avenue are discouraged at these busy times
Please do not park across driveways or footpaths that meet the road, in particular the Rowan Street footpath that leads onto Hutton Avenue.

Teaching Points and Reminders for Students:

Take care when crossing driveways - when running across driveways you will not be able to see cars driving out or in
Look carefully before crossing any road - in particular the Park Road/Rowan Street T intersection
When riding bikes, students should cross at pedestrian crossings ie Park Road and Trinity Row.

These teaching points will be included in Road Safety Programs during Health lessons.

Uniform Requirements - Hair Requirements

The school’s Uniform Requirements outlines appropriate hairstyles:

Hairstyles

Students are required to wear their hair in a neat and tidy manner.
Long hair, or hair that touches the shoulders, or covers the eyes, is to be tied back off the face.
Haircuts should be blended and uniform in appearance. Extreme haircuts and excessive variations in length are not acceptable, including undercuts, steps, mullets, mohawks, rat’s tails, lines, and extreme fades.
Hair should be natural in colour. Bleaching, colouring and dyeing of hair is not permitted.
Haircuts should not draw negative comments or attract undue attention.
Navy blue headbands (no sweatbands), ribbons and scrunchies may be worn in the hair.

Students who do not abide by the haircut requirements will be asked to fix the identified problem.

Please be mindful of these guidelines if students have haircuts during the school holidays or before returning to school in Term 2. In particular, hair should remain a natural colour. In the spirit of a respectful partnership between home and school, we ask parents to support and uphold these expectations.

Students will return to school in Term 2 wearing Summer Uniform. The official change over to Winter Uniform is Monday Monday 4 May (Week 3, Term 2).

Parents may use their discretion in the 2 weeks following the change over date particularly on days of extreme heat when it may be too warm for winter uniform.

Parent Teacher Interviews - Week 3, Term 2

Parents will be invited to meet with their child’s teacher in Week 3 of Term 2. Following positive feedback from both parents and teachers last year, these meetings will again be held earlier in the term rather than after Academic Reports are issued. Parents will be able to book an interview time via the Compass Parent Portal in Week 1 of Term 2.

Mother's Day Celebrations - Save the Date

We are delighted to be hosting Mother's Day celebrations on Thursday 7 May. Please find an outline of the celebrations. More information will be forwarded early Term 2:

8am - Breakfast
9am - Open Classrooms
9.40am - Mother's Day Liturgy

The celebrations will conclude by 10am. Students will then have the opportunity to purchase a gift from the Mother's Day Stall.

Mothers, Grandmothers and 'Mother figures' are invited.

Key Dates for Term 2

20 April - Pupil Free Day

4 May - 8 May - Parent/Teacher Interviews

7 May - Mother’s Day Breakfast, Open Classrooms and Liturgy

11 May - School Athletics Carnival (K-6)

25 May - Pupil Free Day

10 June - School Photos

2 July - NAIDOC Week Celebrations - Gummarra - K-2

3 July - NAIDOC Week Celebrations - Gummarra - 3-6

3 July - Final Day of Term 2

Lost Property

If any of these items belong to you, please come and collect from the school office. If not collected by Thursday (last day of Term) afternoon, we will find a new home.

2026 Book Club Issue 2 - NOW CLOSED

Book Club Issue 2, 2026 is now closed.

Books will be delivered in the week beginning Monday 30 March 2026.

Appin Massacre Memorial Ceremony

This year is the 210th Anniversary of the Appin Massacre, and our annual memorial service will be held on Sunday, 19 April, 2026 at Cataract Dam from 11:00am – 3:30pm. The day includes a free sausage sizzle and a chance to connect and yarn with others.

We would like to invite and encourage any teachers, students and their parents to come to the Appin Massacre Memorial as a sign of respect for the Dharawal people who were killed in the Massacre on the 17 April 1816. We owe a great deal to them and it is important that we continue our efforts at truth telling and reconciliation.

The Aboriginal Catholic Ministry, Minto, holds regular Masses, once a month at Holy Family Catholic Church, Minto. All are welcome. See times and dates on the attached flyer.

2027 Enrolments - Online applications now open

Our online applications for Kindergarten 2027 are now open.

The online application form will be accessible from the home page of our school website

Sport

Term 1 Sports Uniform Days

Kindergarten	Tuesdays and Thursdays
Year 1	Tuesdays and Thursdays
Year 2	Wednesdays and Fridays
Year 3	Tuesdays and Fridays
Year 4	Wednesdays and Fridays
Year 5	Mondays and Thursdays
Year 6	Tuesdays and Thursdays

2026 School Cross Country

On 20 March 2026 we had a fantastic day at Bulli Park for our whole school Cross Country carnival. Congratulations to all the students who participated competitively or in the fun event! It was wonderful weather, and the sense of community was alive! It was great to see the persistence and smiles. Creative dancing and outfits added to the fun throughout the morning!

A special thank you to the parent officials and staff especially Mrs Rogers and Mrs Mitchell for their generosity of time and effort before, during, and after the carnival. We appreciate all of the extra assistance and organisation, especially those who assisted from 7:30am and came back to help us pack up our tents. THANK YOU TO OUR WONDERFUL SCHOOL COMMUNITY! For all things St Joseph - we give thanks!

Congratulations to the following Age Champions:

Congratulations to the top 3 place getters in each age division.

Kinder:

Boys: Arthur L (1st), Elijah W (2nd), Thomas L (3rd)

Girls: Ashlee C (1st), Eve M (2nd), Callie C (3rd)

7 and under:

Boys: Jake H (1st), Bowie H (2nd), Leo S (3rd)

Girls: Andie D (1st), Indiana D (2nd), Molly M (3rd)

8 years

Boys: Hudson F (1st), Fred L (2nd), Reg M (3rd)

Girls: Hayley C (1st), Savannah B (2nd), Alyssa H (3rd)

9 years

Boys: Elliot S (1st), Jax VG (2nd), Cooper N (3rd)

Girls: Allegra B (1st), Zoe B (2nd), Evelyn P (3rd)

10 years:

Boys: Hudson B (1st), Patrick L (2nd), Alexander R (3rd)

Girls: Siena B (1st), Daisy W (2nd), Lucy M (3rd)

11 years:

Boys: Tommy M (1st), Theo D (2nd), Caleb L (3rd)

Girls: Indi P (1st), Maddy B (2nd), Arlo B (3rd)

12 years:

Boys: Archer T (1st), George W (2nd), Cristiano H (3rd)

Girls: Grace M (1st), Edison B (2nd), Zoe C (3rd)

The overall winning house was GOLD (O'Reilly) and winning war cry house was GREEN (MCCabe) - WELL DONE!

The top three children in the combined 8/9yrs race, 10yrs, 11yrs and 12s, will form our SJB Cross Country Squad to represent at the Diocesan Cross Country Carnival at Nowra on Tuesday 28th April. Parents are asked to complete the permission in Compass regarding this event as soon as it becomes available. If your child is unable to participate, please contact the school office so we can replace your child.

We wish the squad the best of luck when they represent:

Allegra B, Hayley C, Zoe B, Elliot S, Hudson F, Jax VG, Hudson B, Patrick L, Alexander R, Siena B, Daisy W, Lucy M, Tommy M, Theo D, Caleb L, Indi P, Maddy B, Arlo B, Archer T, George W, Cristiano H, Grace M, Edison B, Zoe C

MacKillop AFL

The inaugural girls MacKillop AFL trial was held on Tuesday 24 March and was by individual nomination (rather than in a Wollongong team) and saw over 60 girls vying for a spot in the very first MacKillop team to participate at the NSWPSSA AFL state Championships in Tamworth from 11-13 May. Congratulations to Grace M in Year 6 who was selected in this team. An outstanding achievement!

Rugby League and League Tag Gala Day

Congratulations to all the students who participated in the Catholic Legends Rugby League and League Tag Gala Day at Albion Park Oval last Thursday 26 March. All students showed great skill, determination and team spirit. A huge thank you to the staff and parents who supported the students on the day. Very much appreciated!

Canteen

FRIENDLY REMINDER: PLEASE ENSURE YOU HAVE CHANGED YOUR CHILD/S CLASS TO REFLECT THEIR CLASS FOR 2026

PLEASE NOTE - NEW OPENING HOURS FOR CANTEEN

Open TUESDAY to FRIDAY for recess and lunch.

Cash purchases for snacks and drinks can be made at recess and lunchtime. Snacks and drinks can also be ordered via the new platform FlexiSchools.

Lunch orders

Orders for lunch can only be made through Flexischools. Please note that orders close at 9.15am daily. Orders cannot be placed after this time.

Note: Canteen is CLOSED MONDAYS

Flexischool Parent Support Line - 1300 361 769 (Hours: 7.00am-12.00 noon)

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Handbook

2025 Bus Timetable (Premier Charters)

PB4L (Positive Behaviour for Learning)

Ask your child about the weekly focus for students.

This week's focus:

Be Respectful!

THINK before you speak and act.

‘One kind word and action can change someone’s entire day.’

Community Services

Sparking Life - Lifeblood Donations

Cricket NSW

AFL - Northern District Tigers

Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts - SHREK The Musical

Edmund Rice College - 2026 Interschool Chess Challenge

North Netball