School News

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Handbook

2024 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 about how you react

Happy Birthday

We wish the following students a very happy birthday who celebrate their special day during the the past 2 weeks.

24 May - Daisy W Year 2

25 May - Patrick L Year 2, Leo S Year 6, Ned S Year 6 and Lorelei G Year 6

26 May - Allie H Year 1 and Lacey A Year 2

27 May - Archer T Year 4

28 May - Marsden M Kinder and Morgan C Year 4

29 May - Peyton B Year 1 and Arielle C Year 5

30 May - Edwin Z Year 4

31 May - Adelaide P Year 1

1 June - Thomas M Year 3, Toby M Year 4 and Ruby D Year 5

3 June - Conor M Year 4, Zali M Year 4, Zane C Year 4 and William G Year 5

Illawarra/Shoalhaven Information for parents if a child is discharged from hospital

If a student attends or is admitted to hospital for a health (including mental health) reason it is the parent/carer’s responsibility to ensure that necessary information on the care of their child is relayed to the school.

Health Services are unable to contact the school upon discharge for a variety of reasons including confidentiality and workload but in the Illawarra/Shoalhaven, Emergency Department Health provides parents with a flyer called the Emergency Department Postcard reminding them to contact their school. They also provide parents with a discharge form, which will include the outcome of the health visit including referrals to community services for follow up.

Information for parents discharging from Hospital

Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week

Sorry Day Mass 22 May 2024 - Holy Trinity Church, Minto

By Elka and Nieve R

Kindergarten

Year 1

1M learned about What National Sorry Day is and why it is commemorated. We discussed the symbols and emblems associated with National Sorry Day and then we recreated our own Hands of the Sea to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community.

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Each of our classrooms at St Joseph’s have their own Yulunga  signage to ‘Welcome’ all those who enter.

Year 5

Year 5 reflected on the true meaning of the Acknowledgement of Country and how we should be respectful towards elders who inhabited the land we stand on.

Malakai recreated Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s formal apology to Australia’s Indigenous peoples.

Year 5 representing the Aboriginal flag with LEGO.

Year 6

Sorry Day Poem

Tearing us all apart,

Tears welled from deep inside.

The suffering, and despair lying deep inside my heart,

Mothers, fathers cried, and cried.

Longing to be home with family,

I miss them more than anything.

All I remember is wanting to be free,

I remember only being little but wishing, awaiting, believing.

Years and years later I still remember that day,

Scarred from that scene.

Where I saw those men and felt betray,

Finally after all of that,

Reunited with family.

By Celie S

Bicycle Policy and Permission Form

At St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, the riding of bicycles to and from school is encouraged and is the responsibility of parents and carers outside of the school. St Joseph’s aims to support parents and carers by providing a shared understanding of road safety education, school procedures and the safe riding of bicycles to ensure the health, safety and welfare of our students.

Before riding a bicycle to school students must have a signed Bicycle Riders Parental Permission Form. By signing the form, parents also acknowledge: responsibility for their child riding to and from school, that they have spoken to their child about bicycle safety, and that they have explained the St Joseph’s Bicycle Policy to the child (see below).

It is recommended that students under 10 years of age, DO NOT ride bicycles to or from school unless accompanied by an adult accepting responsibility for the student and identifying the safest route to and from school. 

ACTION:

If your child rides a bike to school, read the policy and if you haven't already done so sign the attached permission form. Please do this even if you have signed the previous form.

Remember - Ride safely to and from school

Please ensure that your children:

are not going to the bike track at Bulli Park on their way to or from school unsupervised

• wear a helmet when riding their bike to and from school
• are not leaving home too early in their enthusiasm
• know to ride on the footpath and off-road away from vehicles
• take special care at driveways where vehicles may be driving in or out
• STOP! LOOK! LISTEN! THINK! when approaching an intersection
• dismount and wheel the bicycle across the road as a pedestrian

If you have any questions please contact me at any time via the school office.

Dismissal Arrangement - Walkers

Should you need to contact the school requiring your child to change their dismissal arrangements, please ensure you include in your email your child's destination to enable the school to direct them to the correct dismissal area.

Three walker assembly options are as follows:

WALKERS - BASKETBALL COURT/PARK ROAD

• For students who cross Park Road at school crossing
• For students who walk down the pathway on Park Road towards beach.

WALKERS ROWAN STREET

• For students exiting west on Park Road and cross over Rowan Street.
• For students who walk down Rowan Street towards Hutton Avenue

WALKERS HUTTON AVENUE

• For students who exit the back of the school on Hutton Avenue.

Book Club Issue 4 2024

Students received our Book Club Issue 4, 2024 earlier this week.  Issue 4 will close Friday 21 June 2024.

Books will be delivered in the week commencing Monday 1 July 2024.

Library News

Kindergarten will borrow on Fridays and will be visiting the library on alternating Tuesdays.

Premier Reading Challenge

Our SJB Premier Reading Challenge has begun.

In 2024 St Joseph's will be running a school wide challenge. All students will participate. 

Kinder-Year 2 books will be lodged by Mrs Pirie.  Years 3-6 students will log books they have read, both class reading and home reading will be included, during library lessons.

National Simultaneous Storytime

National Simultaneous Storytime is an annual event held Australia wide. It is a celebration of great Australian picture books and the importance of reading aloud to children.Across Australia Bowerbird Blues by Aura Parker was read simultaneously. St Joseph’s participated in this event by sharing a reader’s theatre in the hall. This was followed activities held across the school. Here are a collection of pictures of the students enjoying engaging with Bowerbird Blues.

Sports News

Sports Uniform Days - Term 2

Students are required to wear sports uniform as outlined below.

Please be advised that students will be required to wear their sports uniform the following days.

SJB Athletics Carnival 

Our SJB Athletics Carnival will take place in Week 9, Monday 24 June 2024. We will once again be seeking the support of our wonderful parent volunteers to assist with the successful running of the carnival. Please indicate in the questions tab on Compass if you are available.

Please complete the online consent by Monday 10 June 2024.

Years 2-6 have began high jump preparation and age competitions in class. Due to time limitations, it is necessary for us to begin the competition at school. We also use our high jump event on the day of the carnival to determine our high jump placings.

AFL Gala Day

Last Thursday, both Year 5 and 6 students were lucky enough to have the opportunity to participate in the AFL gala day at Thomas Dalton Park, Fairy Meadow. We learned a lot of things about the game and there were many great participants. 

It was so great to meet other schools and represent St joeys. We also learnt a lot  about sportsmanship, teamwork, respect and safety while having a lot of fun.

Thank you to Mr Mathews, Mrs McMahon and Mrs Walls for going out of their way to come and help support our teams!

MacKillop Football (soccer) Trials

Congratulations to Lorelei G in Year 6 who was selected in the MacKillop Football (Soccer) team last Friday. We wish her every success as she competes in the NSW PSSA Championships. 

Well done Lorelei!

Rugby League Gala Day - Friday 14 June 2024

The Rugby League Gala Day is Friday, 14 June, for nominated students. Please ensure outstanding permission is completed by tomorrow, Friday 7 June 2024, to finalise teams and replacements. Teams will be playing in the experienced category, though there are no scores and the competition is to be played in the right spirit! Thank you to parents who have indicated they can assist on the day, further communication will be provided next week when the draws are finalised. 

Tackle Clinic - Tuesday 11 June 2024

A tackle clinci run by the NRL development team will take place on Tuesday 11 June 2024 to provide any students who have been nominated to play at the gala with tackling tips and put them through a skill development practice. Please ensure they wear sports uniforms if they are attending the gala day and would like to participate. 

Netball Gala Day  - Tuesday 25 June 2024

The Compass event for students who have been nominated to attend the Netball Gala Day is now awaiting on your consent and payment. We once again require parent assistance to support with team managing and or umpiring on the day. If you are available, please indicate this in the questions tab on Compass.  

Diocesan Cross Country 2024

24 students from St Joseph’s participated in the Wollongong Diocesan Cross Country Carnival On Tuesday 28 May 2024. We were lucky enough to have some glorious weather on the day after being postponed from earlier in the month. The course proved to be a tough challenge this year, especially for our age groups running 3km for the first time. Showing great strength and determination, the students pushed through and gave their absolute best on the day. The usual Joey's spirit shone through with all students cheering each other on and encouraging everyone until the end. 

There were some impressive results from the carnival with 4 of our students finishing in the top 8. (Special mention to Indigo Payten for gaining a podium position and coming 3rd). The following students gained selection in the Diocesan team to compete at the MacKillop event on Wednesday 5 June 2024.

We wish them all the very best of luck at the NSWCPS Cross Country! 

The girls team collectively placed extremely well in their age groups and their combined effort resulted in them coming 2nd overall. Well done girls!

Our success at the carnival was a collective effort, and we are immensely grateful to the parents who volunteered their time and energy to support our students. A special thank you to Mrs. Bailey for her role as an official and to Mrs. Greenwood for her assistance with the tent. Your contributions were invaluable.

Mrs Melanie Brooks

NSW CCC & CPS Cross Country

Congratulations to our SJB students who participated in the NSW CCC Cross Country Championships yesterday, Wednesday 5 June. There were 60 competitors in each event, and our amazing athletes were extremely competitive, finishing in the top 16 places in all race events.

Congratulations on these outstanding achievements! 

Their great results impacted on their Wollongong Team champion age group results.   

 Wollongong champion age group teams: 

Canteen

Open Monday 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.

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

Catholic Care

July Vacation Care 2024 - St Michael's Thirroul

Both Thirroul OSHC and Bulli OSHC are looking at joining forces to provide a fun and engaging program for our upcoming July Vacation Care period at our St Michaels OSHC service. First, we need to gauge what our numbers will be to ensure we are viable to operate. Please take the time to complete the survey so we can best identify the needs for our wonderful community and families. 

To register, please click on the link below.

OOSH, Out of School Hours care at St Joseph's 

Email:   bullioosh@catholiccare.dow.org.au

Mobile:  0437 713 067

Booking Information

Enrolment Form

CatholicCare Website

Service hours

Before School Care

7:00am – 8:30am

After School Care

2:45pm – 6:00pm

If you require the use of OOSH for your child/ren you need to be enrolled in the service prior to commencing. 

Casual bookings

If your child already uses the service and you requireacasual booking please do this viathe Xplor app. 

Before School Care: Bookings are to be made no later than 5:30 pm the night before

After School Care: Bookings are to be made no later than 9:00 am that morning

Casual booking must be made as per the times above to ensure enough staff. If notice is not provided within these time frames and the service does not have sufficient staff your child/ren will be sent to the office for collection. This is something that we all wish to avoid, so please keep in mind the time frames to help support the service.

If there is an emergency and care is needed please phone and leave a message and we will see what we can do.

If you do have any questions, need clarification, or have any feedback please feel free to contact the service mobile during operating hours on 0437 713 067 or Jacinta, Team Leader – 0407 759 720.

New Service Offerings

CatholicCare's Families and Communities Program has developed a new stream of service offerings to complement our current group work programs, with single sessions now available.

• Professional Development Sessions: These single sessions focus on a range of topics to support professionals working with individuals, families or within communities. 
• Parenting, Relationship, Wellbeing Sessions: These individual psycho-educational sessions focus on a range of topics related to strengthening relationships and supporting individuals and families. The sessions can be facilitated to a group of clients, within the community, or from other venues. 

The sessions can be adapted to suit different audiences and the needs of your clients and the community. CatholicCare welcomes any ideas for further sessions to suit your needs. 

Click below to find out more about the latest service offerings from CatholicCare. 

We currently have the ability to offer a limited number of the Individual Parenting, Relationship, Wellbeing sessions for free up until the end of June.

For more information or to register your interest, please complete the online enquiry form.

Community Notices

PCYC Bulli - Expression of Interest