School News

 Happy Birthday

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

1 January - Eve M Kinder

2 January - Indiana D Year 2, Evelyn H Year 6

4 January - Jude H Year 4

6 January - James R Year 6

8 January - Evie W Year 1, Rory C Year 1, Owen H Year 3, Samantha T Year 4, Evie P Year 6

9 January - Leo M Year 1, Hamish B Year 6

10 January - Alice P Year 1, Yuna L Year 5

11 January - Elliot S Year 3

12 January - Hazel P Year 3

13 January - Eleanor R Kinder

14 January - Izen S Kinder, Eleanor M Year 5

15 January - Isabelle K Year 2, Benjamin A Year 3

16 January - Isla J Year 5

19 January - Lachlan Q Year 4

20 January - Chloe W Kinder, Merida G Year 1, Savannah F Year 5

21 January - Ella C Year 1, Logan C Year 1, Miles C Year 3

23 January - Harley M Year 2, Vincent O Year 3, Lachlan M Year 5

25 January - Mason R Year 4

26 January - Savannah B Year 3

28 January - Jasper B Year 2

30 January - Benjamin L Year 1

31 January - Aubree H Kinder

1 February - Evelyn P Year 3

4 February - Elijah W Kinder

6 February - Stella B Year 2, Jordan G Year 6

7 February - Zoe C Year 6

9 February - Isla H Year 2, Millie J Year 2, Chelsea L Year 4

10 February - Olive V Year 5, Georgia P Year 6

12 February -  Joseph O Kinder, Harlequin P Year 3 Ginger D Year 4

15 February - Ashlee C Kinder, Amelia W Year 2

Anaphylaxis

To ensure the safety of students with food allergies and anaphylaxis, we ask that students refrain from bringing certain food items to school. These include:

• ALL nuts and nut products

• Whole eggs

Additionally, we exercise a ‘No sharing of Food’ rule.

Students with an anaphylaxis, requiring an EpiPen, must provide the school with an annual Anaphylaxis Medical Plan completed by a ‘General Practitioner’. These students should carry their medication on their person at all times.

SMART Watches at School

We ask that students do not wear Smart Watches to school. Our definition of a Smart Watch is one that can take photos, videos, make calls etc. We understand that often these watches are on 'Classroom Mode' or something similar, however this is very difficult to monitor. We ask that Smart Watches be kept in school bags throughout the school day.

Thank you for your anticipated understanding and support.

Attendance 

Regular attendance at school is vital to students’ overall academic and social development. Attendance is also the legal duty of a parent. The attached information sheet outlines the responsibilities of parents including the process for advising the school of absences and extended absences. 

Road Safety- Pick Up and Drop Off Zone

The eastern side of Rowan Street is a NO PARKING Zone and a designated PICK UP DROP OFF zone, also known as KISS & DROP Zone.

To ensure the safety of everyone in our community, it is important that the rules of this Zone are adhered to at all times:

• Cars may be parked for no longer than 2 minutes

• Drivers must remain within 3 metres of their vehicle 

• No Waiting/Queuing - If no spaces are available in the zone, cars must drive away and circle the block

• Passenger Safety: Children should exit/enter the vehicle on the footpath side.

• These rules apply at all times.

Consistent adherence of these rules will promote a safe and harmonious environment. Thank you for maintaining patience and respect to fellow parents, neighbours and the wider community during these peak times. Safe school drop-off and pick-up here.

Obstructing access to and from a footpath

A driver must not stop on a road in a position that obstructs access by vehicles or pedestrians to or from a footpath ramp or a similar way of access to a footpath, or a bicycle path or passageway.

In particular, please be mindful when parking on the Western end of Hutton Ave/Cnr Rowan St, not to obstruct the pedestrian footpath ramp.

Social Media Age Restrictios - Parent Fact Sheet

Seesaw

Following a staff review regarding the use of Seesaw, it has been decided that for the 2026 school year, the platform will be used at the professional discretion of classroom teachers. Seesaw is a digital learning tool that allows students to showcase their progress through a "Gallery" of photos and videos or utilise a "Workspace" for completing digital activities.

If your child’s class is using Seesaw this year to share student work or assign tasks, you will receive login details in the coming weeks (if you haven't already). Should you have any questions regarding the specific use of Seesaw in your child’s classroom, please feel free to contact your child's teacher.

PDHPE Syllabus

In 2026, all NSW schools will implement the NSW Revised Personal Development, Health and Physical Development Syllabus. Led by Mrs Rogers, the PDHPE Curriculum Advisor, our teachers have engaged in a series of professional learning sessions to familiarise themselves with the knowledge and skills that students are required to learn as part of this syllabus. 

Please find the  PDHPE K-6 (2024) Parent and Carer Information to support parents and carers in understanding the new Personal Development, Health and Physical Education K-6 syllabus and its alignment with the Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW) values and Life to the Full Framework. 

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

Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD)

Every year, all schools in Australia participate in the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD). The NCCD process requires schools to identify information already available in the school about supports provided to students with disability. These relate to legislative requirements under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Disability Standards for Education 2005, in line with the NCCD guidelines (2019). For more information, including the data collection, its purpose, legislative basis and to whom NCCD data will be disclosed, please use this link to access the Australian Government Fact Sheet for parents, guardians and carers.

Sport

SJB Swim Trials 2026

On Wednesday the SJB Swim Trials were held at Corrimal Pool. It was a great morning where we were able to complete all events that required selection for our Diocesan Pathways, as well as our beloved house relays. A special thank you to the amazing parent volunteers and the dedicated staff who ensured the swim trials ran smoothly. We are also very grateful to those who remained at school and supported staff and students before or after the event. We give thanks for the wonderful community we have at St Joseph’s! 

SJB Swimming Trial Results 

Fantastic results were achieved, and the students had fun, which is most important. It was a wonderful display of school spirit and participating students are to be congratulated for their representation of our school. 

We will announce our age champions, war cry winning house and overall champion house during our whole school assembly in Week 4, 20 February 2026. We will also celebrate their achievements in our Week 6 newsletter. The following students, who will form our SJB team for the South Coast Swimming Carnival on March 3, 2026, will also be congratulated during this assembly:

SJB South Coast Swimming Representative Squad  

Mya C, Jack E, Chelsea L, Josie M, Grace M, Isikeli V, Allegra B, Hamish B, Theo D, Mia R, Sebastian R, Isla J, Millie J, Alba J, Reg M, Anastasia P, Zara P, Lara S, Elliot S, Archer T, Maddy B, Fred L, Edwin S, Lacey A, Jimmy R.

These students are invited to compete at the South Coast Swimming event as part of the St Joseph’s Bulli team. Information regarding the carnival on March 3, at Corrimal Pool will be sent out via a Compass event, so parents/ carers of the student below are asked to look out for this if you have not seen it already. 

Records 

Congratulations to Archer T who broke the 200m Individual Medley record and the Senior Boys 50m Breaststroke record!

Relay Teams 

(Note: Juniors - Quickest times for 50m out of U8, 9 & 10s / Seniors are the quickest times out of the U11s & 12s)

We wish these students the best of luck as they compete in March! 

St Joseph School Cross Country  - Whole School Carnival K-6 

We look forward to our whole school Cross-Country carnival which will be held in Term 1 on Friday 20 March 2026. Please save the date to spectate, support and/or act as a carnival official! More information will be shared later in the term. 

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

2025 Bus Timetable (Premier Charters)

PB4L (Positive Behaviour for Learning)

Ask your child about the weekly focus for students.

This week's focus:

RESPECT personal space!

Choose games that do not use ‘hands on’; use your words to ask someone to stop doing something that you don’t like; give your friends space (in lines & in games); be aware of your surroundings to avoid accidental collisions; disagree respectfully