Newsletter No.12- 20th November 2024

Message from the Principal

Dear Parents & Carers,

At St. Joseph’s, we are deeply committed to fostering a community where every child is valued as a unique individual, created in the image and likeness of God. We strive to uphold the dignity and worth of all, reflecting on our Catholic values of love, justice, compassion, and forgiveness. Our students deserve a learning environment that respects and nurtures their growth, where kindness and accountability are central to everything we do. We aim to build a culture where all students are empowered to be upstanders, supporting each other in creating a safe, inclusive school community.

Our school community—led by strong student role models—continues to emphasize maturity, responsibility, and respect for one another. We are committed to promoting a culture where every individual feels safe and supported.

As we move forward, we remain focused on ensuring our school is a place where respect, care, and compassion flourish.

Thank you to all the parents and P&F members who attended our PB4L and Mission/Vision afternoon meetings last week. We truly appreciated your positive feedback and thoughtful contributions.

Next year marks a significant milestone as we celebrate 40 years at our current site. Yesterday, our Parish and school teams came together to start planning the celebrations for this special occasion. Below, we’ve included a historical snapshot of our unique Catholic community.

PB4L (Positive Behaviours for Learning) Update

Our school is excited about the upcoming changes to our PB4L framework, which are set to be implemented in 2025. This process has been carefully considered, with input from staff, parents, and community members. We are committed to ensuring that our PB4L model aligns with our Catholic values and fosters a culture of care. This year, we have actively engaged with families through surveys and feedback sessions, with the goal of creating a unified vision for our school community.

We are also reimagining our school’s Vision and Mission to reflect the core values that guide us as a Catholic community. Our strategic goal is to create an authentic Catholic culture of care, which is foundational to the PB4L framework and to the relationships we build with one another.

Student Leadership
In line with our vision, we are introducing new house names that reflect the charism of our school and the rich history of St. Joseph’s Catholic School. The transition has been well received by the community, with parents, staff, and students eager to embrace the changes. Leadership roles for students, particularly in Year 5, have sparked enthusiasm, as many are excited to take on responsibilities as house leaders.

Enrolments & 2025 Classes
Enquiries for 2025 enrolments continue to grow, with some grade levels already reaching full capacity. We encourage families to contact the school early to avoid disappointment. We will hold an Open Day with school tours on Wednesday, 26th February 2025, for prospective families.

Class placements and staffing for next year are in progress, with one position remaining to be advertised. We will confirm class structures and teacher assignments by the end of Week 9.

We are approaching a very busy end to the term, and I encourage you to take some time to review the term planner for families to stay informed about the upcoming events. I look forward to celebrating the many achievements of this year with you all and sharing the joy of the Christmas season.

With every best wish,

Nikki Norley

(Principal)

Period Positivity Initiative
Period Positivity is about making periods normal. From free period care products to more informative discussions, the initiative aims to promote greater accessibility, equity and dignity for all.

In 2022 a pilot program was conducted at St Paul’s Catholic College Booragul, trialling the installation of sanitary dispensing machines with the provision of free sanitary products at the school. The trial was very successful – with strong survey results in addition to positive student engagement and feedback.

Due to the success of the trial, dispensers were rolled out across all Diocesan Secondary schools in 2023. This is being followed up with a rollout across Primary schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle across 2024.

As part of this diocesan-wide initiative, St. Joseph’s is taking steps to promote period positivity. Menstrual hygiene product dispensers have been installed across the school, with staff training and communication already underway. In the New Year, we will roll out in-class education for students, ensuring all are equipped with the knowledge and resources they need. We will provide parents with plenty of notice prior to the dispensers being stocked in case of further questions at home.

Message from the Assistant Principal

Congratulations to Adelyn F, Eve B, Carys, Phoebe E, Ivanna, Phoebe C, Isabella P and Rylee for their recent performance in the ASPIRE Voiceworx production at the Civic Theatre. You all sang with confidence and pride. Keep sharing your talent!

Semester 2 Student Reports

Teachers have been writing end of year student reports that will be accessed via compass in week 9. Teachers put in an enormous amount of effort to provide accurate and meaningful student reports. They have continued to assess and evaluate student progress throughout the year, to provide parents with the most accurate account of student abilities.

Each student’s report in stages 1- 3 will continue to have an “A-E” rating scale to evaluate a child’s achievement against the state-wide standards, not against other students in your child’s class.

ES1 have a working above, at or below scale grade. For more information, regarding reports please visit:

A-E Grading Scale:

A: Outstanding achievement

B: High achievement

C: Sound achievement

D: Basic achievement

E: Limited achievement

Swimming Carnival

We are having our swimming carnival at Speers Point Pool on Monday 9th December. 

This is a compulsory event for students who will be in years 3-6 next year. Students who will be in year 2 next year, have also been invited if they are a competitive and competent swimmer and if they are turning 8 (or older) in 2025.

Current year 1 students only: Please decline the event IF your child is NOT a competitive and competent swimmer and if they are NOT turning 8 (or older) in 2025. All other students are required to attend the swimming carnival, 


Please note: Students will be swimming in the 50m pool.

Please complete the online consent on Compass and answer the questions online regarding your child's swimming ability ASAP.  

SCHOOL TV

As the school year ends, transitioning to a new classroom or to high school can bring a mix of excitement and nerves for students. This is a time of growth and opportunity, and we’re here to ensure it’s a positive experience for your child.

To ease the transition, we bring to your attention 2 special reports on school TV: ‘Transition to high school’ and ‘Transition to school’

These reports can also be accessed on our school website under the ‘Parent information’ tab.

Message from the REC

Socktober

What an amazing day we had celebrating mission at our Socktober Mission Fun Day! Many students tell me it’s their favourite day of the school year. Thank you to all of the families who donated to make it such a fun and memorable day!

We raised over $2100!!! This money will go towards Catholic Mission’s Socktober fundraiser to help support children in need in Mongolia.

Photos from the day can be found on our school Facebook page.

A special mention to Alexander in Year 4. He was so moved by the day and the ideas we spoke about during our liturgy regarding mission; that he took it upon himself to give a testimony about Socktober at his church. Alexander spoke in front of all of his community about what we were doing at school, how Socktober donations are going to help children in Mongolia and asked them to donate to our fundraising cause. What a great example of living out God’s mission!

Alexander received a Spirit of St. Joseph Awards for his efforts.

First Holy Communion

Congratulations to our second group of students who received their First Holy Communion.

First Holy Communion is a special event in the Catholic Church where a child receives the Eucharist for the first time. The Eucharist is the bread and wine that Catholics believe become the body and blood of Jesus. When children receive First Holy Communion, they are taking an important step in becoming full members of the Church community.

Congratulations to Lachlan, Emma, Imogen, Adelyn, Piper from SJKB, and Addison, who joined us from another school!

I have also had some interest and questions in the community about the Sacramental program for students, and also adults.

If you, or anyone in your family are interested in learning more about any of the Sacraments please click on the link below or call the parish office on 02 4943 4153.

If adults are not baptised and are interested in learning more, there is a program called The RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) Program. This journey would take place within the Toronto parish community but more information on this can be found on the Catholic Diocese of Maitland Newcastle website. Please click on the link below for further details.

You can also contact me if you have any questions, taylor.james@mn.catholic.edu.au.

Year 5 Leadership Day

Year 5 students had a great time at the Year 5 Leadership Day and are very excited about the leadership roles for next year! At the Leadership Day, we spoke about Servant Leadership, and how sometimes a small gesture of kindness can often make a big difference in the lives of others. The day was about encouraging students to think about how they can support and care for those around them, just like Jesus taught us to do. The current Year 6 leaders also came to give the students insight into the role and what to expect.

Upcoming Notices

Catholic Care Hamper Drive

Please help us in donating to families who need a little extra support during the  Christmas season.

Food donations will be given to a representative from Catholic Care at the End of Year Liturgy on 5^th December (Liturgy starts at 9am).

Christmas Play

Message from the Primary Coordinator

Library News

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Class News

Diverse Learning Team News

Transitions

As the 2024 school year comes to a close, we are preparing our students to transition into new grades. This is an exciting time as we welcome new faces into kindergarten and across the classes, while also farewelling our Year 6 students.

To support students through this period, we have several strategies in place, including our Bump It Up Day. In the coming weeks, social stories will be sent home for some students. Reading these stories can help prepare students for their new teachers and grade, easing any anxious feelings they may have.

For families with children transitioning to high school, the link below provides valuable information:

Tips for Parents

• Model a Positive Attitude
  Children often mirror their parents' emotions. By showing confidence and positivity about the transition, you can help your child feel more at ease.
• Highlight the Positives
  Focus on the exciting aspects of the change, such as making new friends, participating in different activities, or exploring new opportunities.

External Therapists and Forms

If your child is working with external therapists and they require forms to be completed, please email all requests to:
courtney.albury@mn.catholic.edu.au

Gifted Education News

Naidoc Week Awards

Congratulations to Ruby Matthews of Year 5/6 White on receiving a NAIDOC WEEK AWARD for her poem, “My Voice, My Culture”. Ruby was one of twenty-five students from across Australia to be awarded the NAIDOC Medal. Ruby’s achievement has been documented in a publication to be presented to our Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Pre School Visits - Aboriginal Dance

Students in Stage 2 have been busy rehearsing their dances that they will `be performing at some of the Little Pioneers Pre-schools in our local area. Boys in Stage 2 visited the Little Pioneers Pre-school in Arcadia Vale last Friday to perform some dances for the children and teachers.

Gem Stem

Students from Years 2-6 who are part of our current Gifted Education Mentor (GEM) programme have been busy this term learning about how to safely operate and code our six new Tello EDU Drones. This includes how to conduct pre-flight checks, blocks-based coding via the Droneblocks app, and basic problem-solving challenges.

GEM 2024 Australian eSports League Minecraft Build Challenge Series 2

Two teams of students from Stage Three recently participated in the 2024 AEL Minecraft Build Challenge – Series 2 Mythic Australia. Both Teams submitted a Minecraft World that focused on retelling the story of the Monster of Mount Sugarloaf, an Awabakal Dreamtime Story from our area. 

Some of the feedback on our submissions from the judges is worth sharing:

“This team (Kilabinbin#2) deserves commendation for their dedication to the project, particularly for visiting the mountain in person, taking notes, and applying their findings to the build. This hands-on approach reflects a strong commitment to research and enhances the authenticity of their representation.”

“This team (Kilabinbin#1) deserves immense recognition for their commitment to the project …the actual build offers a great viewing experience, guiding visitors through the environment with the help of NPCs and well-defined paths… this submission stands out not only for its research-based approach but also for its creative execution, making it a remarkable contribution to the challenge.”

Team Kilabinbin #1     Henry Gomez, Aylah Havea & Xavier Wallace

Team Kilabinbin #2    Harry Woolnough, Audrey Tuck, Zac Budden & Kobe Jones

Pastoral Care

Lights Out, Dreams In: Sleep helps you Shine

Newborn babies find it easy. Toddlers sometimes find it daunting. School-aged children often resist it. Teenagers are convinced they don't need it. Adults want it but frequently don't have the time for it. Seniors have time for it but often can't achieve it.

Yet it's a simple fact that whatever your age, getting a good night's sleep is one of the best ways of staying happy and healthy. It's just as important as a good diet and regular exercise.

Sleep is vital for kids' health, development and wellbeing. It helps them to stay healthy, grow, learn and do well in school. Sleep physically restores their body, improves brain function and mental health.

Children of all ages need to get enough sleep so they can play, learn and concentrate during the day.

Not getting enough sleep can have a big impact on children – behaviourally, mentally and emotionally.

Sleep is like food for the brain

Sleep lets your mind recharge and process information. It’s the only part of the day that your body gets to rest and repair.

Sleep problems are some of the most common issues faced by parents. When kids don’t get enough sleep over a period, the following behavioural, cognitive and emotional symptoms can occur:

• Sleepiness during the day
• Issues with study and socialising
• Irritability and moodiness
• Shorter attention span
• Lack of concentration and focus                
• Increased forgetfulness
• Reduced academic performance
• Lack of interest and motivation
• Difficulty learning new information
• Difficulty regulating emotions
• Increased emotional problems
• Reduced immune system
• Poorer memory
• Increased impulsivity
• Higher risk of accidents
• Increased stress
• Higher levels of obesity
• Decline in mental health
  

How much sleep do Children really need?

Good Sleep Habits

• Go to bed at the same time each night. The body has an internal clock and hormones that control sleepiness and wakefulness. This clock works best if there is a regular sleep routine.
• In the hour before going to bed, it is important to have a relaxing sleep routine. This might include activities like taking a warm bath or shower, listening to relaxing music, deep breathing, or light stretching. Anything that helps your child unwind and feel calm could work, and the routine could just be one or two activities.
• Turn off all screens (e.g., computers, gaming devices, tablets, smartphones) 1-2 hours prior to bed, and if possible, not have them in the bedroom.

Find all this and more at:

Wishing you a lovely week

Mel Dobosz

Pastoral Care Worker

Garden Club

Last term, our school was involved in the 'Living Smart' festival at Speers Point. We were given the opportunity to design and produce a sustainable garden bed and enter into a competition! Students joined the Garden Club and worked hard to design our garden bed. We asked for donations from parents and families and were lucky enough to receive enough recycled materials to make our garden come to life. 

Our sustainable garden bed embodied the principle of "No Wasted Potential." By creatively utilising materials that are often overlooked, such as tinned cans and old shoes, to demonstrate that even items deemed as waste can be transformed into valuable resources. The different-sized shoes on the fence are a symbol of the growth path that our students are on from the moment they enter our school.

The garden bed looked amazing, and we are so grateful to our community for the donations! Garden Club are so excited to see where this adventure takes us! A special thanks to Amy Reeves for her guidance! 

We are excited to kick off our composting initiative in Garden Club! 

Starting this week, all classrooms  have a food scrap bin. Please see the poster for what food scraps can go in this bin.

Students from 3 / 4 Blue have been collecting the waste daily for our worm farm and compost bin. 

Our gardens look fantastic and we have some lovely mint and basil growing . Some of the children will be bringing this produce home, look out for it to include in your cooking!

Kind Regards,

Taylah Vinson

Year 3/4 Blue Classroom Teacher

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Sport News

Swimming Carnival

We are having our swimming carnival at Speers Point Pool on Monday 9th December. 
This is a compulsory event for students who will be in years 3-6 next year. Students who will be in year 2 next year, have also been invited if they are a competitive and competent swimmer and if they are turning 8 (or older) in 2025.

Current year 1 students only: Please decline the event IF your child is NOT a competitive and competent swimmer and if they are NOT turning 8 (or older) in 2025. All other students are required to attend the swimming carnival, 

Please note: Students will be swimming in the 50m pool.

Please complete the online consent on Compass and answer the questions online regarding your child's swimming ability ASAP.  

We are trialling this event and, if successful, this will become an annual event.

2024 Athletic Champions

Congratulations to the four students below who were the age champions for 2024!

Phoenix - Senior Male Age Champion

Olivia-Skye - Female Age Champion

Molly - Junior Age Champion

Parker - Junior Male Age Champion

School Fees Information

School fees should be finalised by the end of this month, November 30th unless you have an arrangement in place with the Principal.

Collection of school fees is crucial to our ability to effectively provide quality education for our students. The fees go directly to paying for new technology, resources for the classroom, experiences for students such as excursions, costs of buses etc.

As always, if a family is experiencing financial hardship, it is imperative that you contact the school to make an appointment to meet and discuss school fees, so that a payment plan can be arranged and families are supported.

Volunteering at SJKB

We regularly need volunteers for various roles within our school. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer at our school, please follow the instructions on the link below:

PLUS

The PLUS Second hand clothing shop runs on Monday and Friday mornings from 8.20am to 8.50am during school terms. 

We have wide selection of secondhand uniforms available all uniform items are $5 and jackets are available for $10. All payments can be made via QKR! after your order has been received, we will attach the amount owing to the order.  

Alternatively you can order online and we will send your order home with your child via the link/QR code below. 

Hats can also be ordered via our system please specify new or used in the comments.

PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR CHILD'S NAME AND CLASS in the message as our volunteers do not have access to the different family surnames to make connections to students - therefore use your child's name first, then your name, especially if different surname.  Payment is via the Qkr! app. 

Thank you!

THE PLUS TEAM

Canteen News – Including Volunteer Roster

We are seeking new volunteers to help in the canteen.  With our new lunchtime the volunteers are only required to be here between the school drop off time and 11.15am.We ask any new or current Parents or Grandparents if if they could offer a couple of hours once or twice a term in the canteen so that the children can receive this service. They will love you being here too!

Qkr cut off times have been changed recently so please ensure Qkr orders are placed before 8.00 am each day.

If you would like to volunteer please call or email admin@kilabenbay.catholic.edu.au

Term Planner

Good For Kids

Guitar Lessons

Community Notices