Principal's Page

Principal's Message

Dear Parents and Carers,

This will be our final newsletter for 2020. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to parents and carers for your support of the school over this difficult year. Your words of encouragement for staff have been greatly appreciated as we have strived to continue to provide a quality Catholic Education for your children. 

I congratulate all of our students for their resilience and ability to adapt to a COVID-19 world and school life.  They have kept focused on learning and followed our requirements for keeping everyone safe at school. Despite missing out on many school community events, they have taken great joy in what we have been able to provide.

I am so grateful to the staff of 2020 who has worked as a very collaborative and professional team throughout the year. They always have the students at the forefront of the work and genuinely care for their learning and wellbeing. 

Since COVID-19 began, the physical presence of parents within the school has very much been missed by students and staff. I hope that 2021 brings better news in regard to parents being onsite and involved in the school on a day to day basis. 

As we prepare for Christmas, I pray that the hope Jesus' birth brings to the world, will sustain us, and that joy is in our hearts as we celebrate God's presence in everything of this world. I wish every family a wonderful Christmas filled with the love of family and friends. 

I look back on 2020 with gratitude for this community of St Joseph's.  And look forward to the blessing of what is to come in 2021.

This week, Emily B and Kealan J share with us their art and reflections on the Christmas story.

The Journey of the Three Wise Men

Kealen J

Year Five 

The sandy colour resembles the desert that the three wise men walked across while following the star to visit Mary, Joseph and Jesus. The wise men wore robes and crowns. They carried gifts that they would present to baby Jesus.

I used a marbling technique by mixing colours in a cup and pouring paint onto my canvas. I chose to make the sky bright with lots of different shades of blue. I was inspired by the beautiful blue of the sky and ocean where I live, where sometimes the nights are so clear we can see every tiny star in the sky. I wanted to show that the star lit up the sky, to guide the three wise men. This led them to the stable where Jesus was born. 

The three wise men are painted in white because they are a very important part of the story and I wanted them to stand out as special figures. White is symbolic of faith and purity.

Silent Witness 

Emily B

Year Five 

This donkey was inspired by the scripture ‘The birth of Jesus and the visit of the Shepherds’.

I have chosen to paint a donkey because it watched the birth of Jesus. After carrying Mary for the long journey to Bethlehem, the donkey was one of the witnesses to the birth. 

The donkey is an integral yet silent character. The donkey's hard work was rewarded with witnessing the birth of Jesus. I can relate to this, as after I work hard and, I enjoy a special reward for my efforts. 

I made the donkey gaze gently with its dark eyes toward the viewer. Its fur is painted in a myriad of light to dark brown hues. Using a pallet knife, I have expressed the texture of the donkey's dusty, dishevelled coat. 

The sky is painted in midnight blue to show the dark and lonely night on which Mary and Joseph travelled. I used a pallet knife to create a blended and well textured sky and a fine brush to add the detail in the eyes and mane.

My donkey has love in its heart and compassion in its eyes, which is symbolic of the love and compassion that Jesus would bring to the world.

Thank you Kealan and Emily.

For all things at St Joseph’s, give thanks!

Jen Charadia

Principal

Staff 2021

After completing the recruitment process, and careful consideration of class teacher placements. I am pleased to announce staffing for 2021 

Parish Priest

Fr Patrick Vaughan

School Leadership Team

Principal: Mrs. Jen Charadia

Assistant Principal: Mr. Miguel Aguilera

Religious Education Coordinator: To be advised

Middle Leader: Mrs. Cathy Lantry

Middle Leader: Mrs. Anne-Marie Clarkson

Middle Leader: Mrs. Kylie Gross (Instructional Coach)

Class Teachers

KJ: Mrs. Anne-Marie Clarkson and Mrs. Melanie Brooks (Fridays)

KM: Mrs. Angela Despotovic

1J: Mrs. Emma Rollestone and Mrs. Annie Harris -from Term 2. (The term 1 teacher is to be advised)

1M: Miss Pamela Di Domizio

2J: Miss Taylor Gemmill

2M: Mrs. Michaela Fursey

3J: Mrs. Christine Smith and Mrs. Kylie Grose (Fridays)

3M: Mr. Gareth Cox

4J: Miss Nicole Redmond

4M: Mrs. Fabiola Walls

5J: Mrs. Cathy Lantry and other teacher to be advised (Thursdays)

5M: Mrs. Janice Matthews (Monday and Tuesday) and Mrs. Judith Parker (Wed to Friday) 

6J: Miss Sally O’Donoghue

6M: Mr. Samuel Matthews

Learning Support Teachers

Kindergarten: Mrs. Liliana Carter

Year 1: Mrs. Hayley Greenwood

Year 2: Mrs. Shannon Stanizzo

Year 3 and Year 4: Mrs. Melanie Brooks

Year 5 and Year 6: Mr. Michael Barr

Diverse Learning Support Teacher

(for students with a disability)

Mrs. Alex Van Gemert

Creative Art Teachers 

Mrs. Paola Birac

Mrs. Zoe Van Akker

Senior School Support Officers 

Mrs. Karen Gallagher and Mrs. Margot Riley

School Support Officers

Mrs. Neicha Malys (school office)

Mrs. Cassie Vincent

Mrs. Cathy Bailey

Mrs. Cath Woods

Mrs. Leigh Laxton

Mrs. Nadia Johnson

Mrs. Nicole Parker

In 2021, we welcome three new teachers, Mrs. Pamela Di Domizio, Miss Nicole Redmond and Mrs. Janice Matthews. All are experienced teachers and we look forward to all they with bring to St Joseph's and the students they will teach.

We also welcome back from parental leave, Mrs. Emma Rollestone, and in Term 2 Mrs. Annie Harris.

Mrs. Madolyn Clark will begin parental leave in 2021. She will be missed at St Joseph's and we wish her well for the healthy birth of her first child.

Mr. Nathan Sherry who has been at St Michael's Mittagong in 2020 will continue in his role there in 2021.

Learning Leap into 2021

The classes for 2021 have now been finalised. Students will spend time in their new class on Tuesday 15 December and teachers are looking forward to meeting with their new students. This is an opportunity for students to take a Learning Leap into 2021.

Thank you to those parents who have made written requests, addressed to the Principal, regarding any information that may affect the placement of their child into a class for 2021. Wherever possible efforts have been made to accommodate concerns and requests. No further requests can now be considered.

Allocating students into classes for 2021 is a complex process and what may seem like a reasonable request for a parent, may have unintended consequences for your child or other students. The academic, social and emotional needs of all students are considered, and teachers have a very good knowledge of their students and how they operate in the learning environment.

Classes will be announced to students on Tuesday 15 December. I know that parents will understand that no requests for a change of class will be considered once announced. Changing classes will affect other students and create an imbalance across the grade.

School Handbook

The following student will be presented their End of Term 4 Achievement Awards on Friday 11 December.

Academic Achievement Awards

Habit of Mind Awards

Mary of the Cross Awards

Acknowledgement to Country

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