Principal's Page

Dear Parents and Friends,

Last Friday, our school community honoured the start of the 2024 Olympic Games with a Green and Gold mufti day. This day coincided with the inaugural School Sports Australia (SSA) Games on the Gold Coast where our very own Nash was competing in Swimming. Nash was brilliant coming away with 4 medals!! 2nd - Individual 50m Breastroke, 2nd Individual 100m Breastroke, 1st Mixed Medley Relay, 3rd Boys Medley Relay. 

The importance of Sport in our lives is timely to reflect upon. Director of Schools, Peter Hill, recently shared the following sentiments with our community of schools: 

The recent statement by the Bishops Commission for Evangelisation, Laity and Ministry, titled "Open the Way to Christ," highlights the unique opportunity sport presents for spiritual connection. It emphasises how sport fosters character development and growth in virtue, values which perfectly align with our school sports programs. As Pope Francis states, "Sports can open the way to Christ in those places or environments where, for different reasons, it is not possible to announce Him directly."

The Church has a long and proud association with sport, championing its true dignity, value, and purpose. With so many involved in sports nationwide, our entire school community—students, staff, and parents—has a wonderful opportunity to contribute to this mission. By exemplifying virtues such as perseverance, commitment, and teamwork, we can witness the Gospel and open the way to Christ. 

From Kindergarten to Year 6, our diverse sports programs allow students to discover and develop their talents. Sport is more than just competition; it's a valuable learning environment fostering essential values and strong character development. With respect and sportsmanship, athletic fields become classrooms where students strive for excellence, build healthy habits, work in teams and grow as individuals. 

Annual Improvement Plan Update

Goal: Students will achieve excellent growth in Mathematics as a result of shared curriculum expectations and collaborative processes ensuring alignment of curriculum, teaching, learning and assessment.

We have held two Professional Learning Community meetings this term focussed on our AIP goal. During these meetings, teachers reflected on our AIP journey to date. Sharing our celebrations and reflecting on the impact we have had on student learning using evidence is crucial in our Continuous Catholic School Improvement journey. The data collected supports us to continually evaluate our impact and either continue or adjust our plans. I would like to share some of this evidence of impact:

• Teachers’ responses to surveys indicated an increase in knowledge of the revised NSW Mathematics Mathematics and English syllabuses since the beginning of the year as well as increased confidence and competence in delivering and teaching the revised outcomes and content.
• Student assessment data has indicated growth for students in Years 2-6 in the area of Place Value. In term 4 last year, students in Years 2-6 completed the Place Value Assessment Test (PVAT) and the same students recently completed this test again at the end of Term 2. The results have shown excellent progress and is evidence that the professional learning teachers have undertaken is having an impact on student achievement in Mathematics. 
• All teachers shared a celebration aligned to our goal. Some of these include: the increased use of mathematical vocabulary by students, pre tests that have identified starting points for students, students applying knowledge independently, adopting Targeted Teaching (small group instruction model) to address varied needs of students, seeking student voice on how they learn best in maths, use of resources and providing multiple opportunities for students to learn concepts. 

Recent Staff Professional Learning

Research tells us that the quality of the teacher is the greatest in-school influence on student achievement. Therefore high quality professional learning for teachers must be a priority to ensure improved teacher practice that leads to improved student learning growth. Professional learning undertaken by our staff over the past fortnight includes:

24 July 2024 - Year 2 English Curriculum Professional Learning (half day)

Mrs Clarksn, Mrs Rollestone, Miss Gemmill

24 & 25 July 2024 - Phonemic Awareness & Phonics Professional Learning Days 

Mrs Fursey & Miss Loumanis

30 July 2024 - Kindergarten Speech Therapy & Occupation Therapy course

Miss Negus

31 July 2024 - Year 4 Curriculum Planning Day

Mrs Lantry, Mrs Kors, Mrs Greenwood, Mrs Clark, Mrs Pirie, Mrs Grose

1 August 2024 - Year 1 Speech Therapy & Occupation Therapy course

Mrs Fursey & Miss Wragge

Updated Standard Collection Notice 

Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong’s (CEDoW) Standard Collection Notice for parents and students has been updated. This notice explains how CEDoW handles the personal information of students and parents, and replaces the notice previously provided to you in our enrolment package. You can access the updated notice by visiting our website www.sjbdow.catholic.edu.au

Father's Day Celebrations

With Father's Day fast approaching I would like to remind our community how we would like to honour our fathers and father figures:

Thursday 29 August - Father's Day breakfast from 7.45am followed by a specail liturgy

Friday 30 August - The Fathering Project are inviting all fathers and father figures to bring their children to school for a fun afternoon of Handball and Hotdogs. This afternoon will run between 3.30pm & 5.30pm. More details can be found in the School News section of this newsletter.

School Assembly

Our first Term 3 whole school assembly will be held tomorrow, Friday 2 August at 2pm. At this Assembly we will present Principal Awards and Merit Awards. Everyone is welcome.

Kaylene Duffin

Principal, St Joseph's Catholic Primary School

Principal Awards

Our Principal awards are presented to students fortnightly on the even week.  

The following students will receive their Principal Awards at our assembly at 2.00pm,  tomorrow Friday 2 August  (Term 3 Week 2). 

How does my child receive a Principal's Award?

Class teachers nominate students for Blue Merit Awards which are presented at the weekly assembly.  When five Blue Merit Awards have been received, students send them to the school office to be recorded and are then eligible for a Principal’s Award. When students attain their 4th Principal Award, they are awarded a Principal’s Medallion at an assembly. End of Term awards can be included as part of the 5 awards.  Please see the "School Handbook" for a full list of eligible awards.

Acknowledgement to Country

St Joseph's Bulli acknowledges and pays respect to the Dharawal people past, present and emerging the traditional custodians of the land on which our school is built.