Principal's Page

Principal's Message

Dear Parents and Carers,

This coming weekend, the Church celebrates Pentecost Sunday and the coming of the Holy Spirit fifty days after the Resurrection of Jesus. This abundant pouring out of the Holy Spirit allows us to continue Christ’s mission as a church. 

Dr Laurie Woods (Australian Catholic University) writes,

This Sunday’s gospel reading is taken from the Last Supper discourse where Jesus is reassuring his disciples that he will send the Spirit as a comforter and advocate. One of the effects of the Spirit will be to enable the followers of Christ to be witnesses to the values that Jesus put so much emphasis on. By being authentic Christians we are Christ to the world around us and we continue the work of Christ as we bring goodness to those we meet.

Following Christ is not about avoiding trouble or sin, it’s about being positive,

it’s about taking initiatives and giving ourselves to enlarge, elevate, purify, deepen and make happy the lives of those around us. We can do this if we are fired by the Spirit – the spirit of enthusiasm and positive energy, the spirit of encouragement.

Being enthusiastic, positive, bringing goodness to those they meet, and encouraging others, is what we hope for all of our students as they grow in their faith. These are not always easy to embody for children or any of us for that matter, but they are worth striving for. Children need to be affirmed when we see these qualities in their developing characters. At St Joseph’s we work with you as parents and caregivers to make good people for our world, people with hearts and minds fired by the Holy Spirit.

We pray, 

Alleluia, alleluia!

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful

and kindle in them the fire of your love.

Alleluia!

This Week at St Joseph’s

This week I have returned from long service leave and am feeling refreshed and energised. Thank you to Miguel Aguilera who stepped up as Acting Principal, and Christine Smith and Kylie Grose who shared the Acting Assistant Principal position. I thank them for their professionalism, leadership, and care of students and staff during my leave. 

NAPLAN: This week we encourage our Year 3 and Year 5 students as they complete their assessments. Thank you to the teachers and staff who have supported these students and to parents for your support and encouragement of your children.

Book Fair: The school library hosted a Book Fair last week which was well received and attended by students. Thank you to parents and carers for your support of the Book Fair and your children’s love of reading. 

Year 4 will head off on their excursion to the Rocks on Thursday as part of the current history unit of work. We hope they enjoy the day of learning and fun.

Kindergarten 2022: Can you believe it? Enrolment interviews will begin this week with most on Saturday. Our numbers of applications for enrolment is a little low this year so if you know anyone who is considering enrolling their child at St Joseph’s please encourage them to do so as soon as possible. 

School Assembly: Please join us for our school assembly and prayer on Friday after 2:00pm. COVID check-in is still required and will be set up in the basketball court area. Feel free to bring a chair.

Staff Activities this Week

Week 5 Staff Meeting

This week staff will begin the work of re-engaging our school community in our vision and mission. Over the next 18 months, this will also include developing our school charism around the life of St Joseph and St Mary of the Cross MacKillop.

On Tuesday and Wednesday Mrs. Despotovic attended a Phonics and Phonological Awareness course and our K-2 teachers will also benefit from her learning to improve our Letters and Sounds program for students.

Thursday 20 May 

Teaching Reading Strategies professional learning- Miss O’Donoghue and Mrs. Grose.

Tuesday 25 May 

Learning In Leadership course- Mr. Aguilera  

Kinder Speech Pathology and Occupational Therapy course- Mrs. Despotovic

Wednesday 26 May 

Educating Mathematical Understanding course- Mrs. Walls and Mrs. Fursey.

St Joseph, pray for us.

Jen Charadia

Principal

Principal Awards and Merit Awards

The following students will receive their Principal Awards at our afternoon assembly on Friday 28 May  2021(Week 6) at 2.00pm.

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.