School News

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

22 September - Aspen G Year 4

23 September - Annie W Year 1 and Darcey W Year 1

24 September - Ewan H Year 1

25 September - Oaklyn Z Kinder and Alyssa H Year 2

26 September - Tilden W Year 1

27 September - Lachlan B Year 4

28 September - Chloe M Year 5

1 October - Oliver C Kinder, William B Kinder, Grace F Year 1 and Mackenzie D Year 2

4 October - Franklin R Year 2, Isabella N Year 4, Max C Year 4 and Jamie L Year 5

5 October - Grace M Year 3

7 October - Connor H Year 1, Luca M Year 1 and Aria H Year 5

10 October - Lillian L Year 5 and William P Year 6

11 October - Noah S Year 4

12 October - Louis P Kinder and Hayden K Year 6

13 October - Ollie L Kinder, Evelyn R Year 4, Riley BW Year 4 and Louie B Year 6

18 October - Dylan W Year 3 and Hannah P Year 4

19 October - Angus E Kinder and Kahu S Year 3

Grandparent and Great People Day - 22 October 2026

We are looking so forward to celebrating our 'Grandparents and Great People' on Thursday 22 October. Please note, this event will begin at 9.15am and will conclude at 11.30am. 

• The Basketball Court will be opened at 8.30am for parking. We ask that these spaces are reserved for our visitors with mobility challenges. 

• All gates will be opened at 8.30am for access into the school. The Park Road Gate will remain open for the duration of the event.

• The event will conclude at 11.30am and students will remain at school for learning.

SJB Book Fair

Book Fair is back at St Joseph’s again this year. 

As always our big Scholastic Book Fair will be held on Grandparent’s and Great People Day, Thursday 22 October 2026. Students will be invited to visit the fair and write a wish list before Thursday and will also be given the opportunity to purchase from the Fair during recess and lunch on Tuesday 20 October through to - Friday 23 October in Week 2.

We can’t wait to see all the happy faces when they see all the amazing books on sale this year.

Mrs Pirie

Librarian

Christmas Story Art Exhibition & Competition

Throughout Term 3, our Stage 3 students engaged in the annual Wollongong Diocese Christmas Story Art Competition & Exhibition. This valuable initiative invites students to deepen their creative, artistic, and reflective skills by immersing themselves in the nativity narrative and bring a chosen Scripture passage to life through art.

At a school level, we are invited to submit six outstanding artworks across Stage 3 for judging at the Catholic Education Office. We are thrilled to announce our 2026 SJB finalists:

We are thrilled to announce that two of our finalists artworks have been shortlisted for display in the Wollongong Art Gallery. Congratulations to:

• Cristiano H
• Zane N

On Wednesday 21 October these students, along with their families, will attend the Christmas Story Art Exhibition & Competition opening night and awards ceremony. We wish them all the best and cannot wait to hear the results of the evening.

If you would like to see the shortlisted artworks, the exhibition is open to the public at Wollongong Art Gallery.

Artworks

Amendments to SJB Bicycle Policy

We have recently updated our Bicycle Policy and there are a few main changes:

• Students are able to ride scooters - hence the policy has been renamed Bicycle & Scooter Policy

• Parents no longer need to sign a Permission form for students to ride a bicycle or soccer. Rather the Policy states that parents are responsible for  ensuring their children understand the contents of the Policy prior to them beginning to ride to and from school

• Students are not to ride e-bikes and e-scooters to or from school

• Students are not to visit the Bulli Park Bike Track on the way to or from school.

This amended Policy will come to effect immediately. Please find a copy of the Policy: 2026 Bicycle Policy  (2).pdf

Parents & Friends Association General Meeting Term 4 - DATE CHANGE

Please note that our previously advertised date for our Term 4 P&F General Meeting has been changed. This meeting will now take place on Wednesday 11 November at 7pm in the school hall. At this meeting, we will be discussing the potential of changing the Girl's Winter Long Sleeve Shirt.

The proposed change:

• Girls long sleeve shirt - Peter Pan collar with navy blue piping (no pocket)

• when wearing trousers, girls to wear the navy blue tab tie rather than long school tie 

The image below captures this change. If agreed upon, the proposed change would come into effect from Term 2, 2027, with a 12 month change over period, thereby full implementation Term 2, 2028. 

NSW Government’s Thriving Kids

The NSW Government’s Thriving Kids website provides information for families and carers, including program information, explainers, and links to relevant resources and supports.

The Australian Government’s Thriving Kids website includes further information about the program, and links to resources and services including:

• Thriving Kids Information and Resources Hub – evidence-based information and resources for families and professionals on childhood development, developmental delay and neurodevelopmental difference.

• A national phone line (1800 882 436 or by video call, 7 am to midnight, 7 days a week) – expert advice from maternal and child health nurses on child development and behaviour.

• Thriving Kids Autism Helpline (1300 654 789, 8 am to 7 pm, Monday to Friday) – autism-specific information and advice for families with children aged 0 to 8 who may be on a journey to an autism diagnosis or have a diagnosis (or visit their website here).

   

The NSW Department of Communities and Justice Thriving Kids webpage will continue to be updated with information for service providers about the Thriving Kids program and upcoming opportunities to be involved. This includes information about service delivery requirements and supporting the sector and workforce with the transition to Thriving Kids.

Stay up to date by subscribing to the NSW Thriving Kids mailing list.

Revised NSW HSIE and Creative Arts Syllabuses

Our Staff Development Day (Pupil Free Day) on the first day of Term 4 focused on building teachers’ knowledge and understanding of the revised NSW HSIE and Creative Arts syllabuses, which will be implemented in all NSW schools from 2027. Throughout the term, teachers will continue to engage in professional learning and collaborative planning to further familiarise themselves with the new syllabus content and requirements.

It was a highly successful day, with staff embracing the opportunity to learn together and prepare for this important curriculum change. Our teachers are excited about the opportunities these contemporary syllabuses will provide to enrich student learning from 2027.

Late Arrivals

A friendly reminder that students who arrive to school after the bell through the school office, must be signed in by a parent/carer.

School Student Travel - 2027

Applications are now open for 2027 School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS) travel.

Students must re-apply or update their details as soon as possible if they:

• are changing schools or campus location

• are changing home address

• are repeating a year

• have received an expiry notification for their school travel entitlement.

If a student has lost their School Opal card, they will need to apply for a replacement card. Note: a new card will not be issued if an existing School Opal card is updated online – you must submit a replacement application if a School Opal card is lost.

School Opal cards

Students in the Opal network applying for an Opal card (including a Term Bus Pass) for the first time will receive their card at their nominated postal address from mid-January 2027.

In the Opal network, students should travel with a Child/Youth Opal card until they receive their valid School Opal card. If outside Greater Sydney, parents should contact their local bus operator to discuss their travel needs.

Terms of use

Students using School Opal cards must tap on and tap off in line with the Opal terms of use.  Not tapping can result in penalties or losing access to free travel. Tap on and tap off data also helps Transport for NSW and operators understand how many students use each service. If students don’t tap, services may appear underused, which can lead to cuts or cancellations.

School Opal cards allow travel between school and home, within the approved times of 6.30am to 7.00pm, Monday to Friday on school days only. Students must use their Child/Youth Opal card for any travel outside these times.

All students are required to comply with the Student code of conduct. The code of conduct aims to ensure the safety and well-being of school children and other passengers. It is important that parents ensure their child is aware of this, as failure to comply with the code of conduct can result in a suspension from travel.

PB4L (Positive Behaviour for Learning)

 PB4L Expectations and Reminders

Setting clear expectations for behaviour and uniform is essential to ensure all students are Respectful, Responsible, and Safe. To reinforce these standards, we are regularly re-teaching our school's expectations within individual classes and across the whole school, making sure every student is well-informed. We appreciate parents' support in promoting these high expectations with their children.

Ask your child about the weekly focus for students.

This fortnight's focus:

LET’S HAVE A GREAT TERM! WE ARE ACTIVE LEARNERS!

*Be ORGANISED and ready for learning each day *Practise using a POSITIVE GROWTH MINDSET

                       Be RESPONSIBLE by listening and showing your understanding 

                                      with RESPECTFUL and SAFE words and actions

“Kind hands…Kind eyes…Kind mouths” 

Term 4 Sports Uniform Days

Sport

Basketball Gala Day 2026

Nine teams from St Joseph’s hit the courts at the Snakepit at Beaton Park for the recent Basketball Gala Day, with our Juniors playing on Thursday 17 September and our Seniors on Friday 18 September.

The event was a fantastic success for everyone involved. For several students, it was their very first time playing competitive basketball, while our more experienced players stepped up brilliantly as leaders. They ensured every teammate felt included, supported, and involved in the play throughout the day.

The stands and courts were filled with high energy, encouragement, and impressive teamwork. True to the spirit of the Gala Day, our students threw themselves into every match, gave it their absolute all, and finished the day with tired legs and huge smiles.

Congratulations to all the players for representing St Joseph’s so proudly with your sportsmanship, determination, and positive attitudes!

Many thanks go to the teachers who helped to prepare the students and to the parent volunteers who managed teams on the day. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Mrs Brooks

Canteen

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

2026 Bus Timetable (Premier Charters)

2027 LOWES Price List - SJB School uniform