Term 1 Week 8 - March 26th, 2025
- From The Principals Desk
- Sharing the Gospel
- "S.O.L.E Superstar" Awards
- Curriculum News
- Year 6 Taster Day at Mt St Patrick College
- Crazy Outfit Day Fundraiser
- Welcome Disco Fun
- Sports News
- Library News
- General News
- Canteen News
- School Fees
- Compass Help for Parents
- Lost Property
- Parish News
- Health & Wellbeing
- Parent News
- Community Sports News
- Our Sponsors
From The Principals Desk
Dear Parents and Carers,
Week 8….already! The partnership between the home and school is a most important factor when improving the outcomes of your children. To develop the child in the most successful manner, focussing on their social emotional wellbeing and academic learning, it is imperative that we work in unison to maximise our impact on their growth.
So, may I begin today by thanking you all, parents/carers and staff, for the manner in which the partnership between home and school is being enlivened this week during the parent teacher interviews. We have 92% of our students being carefully analysed and discussed in a formal manner this week.
It is my hope that every conversation throughout these meetings is a positive one, with information being shared, each participant engaged in careful listening and questioning taking place in an allied process focussed on the goodness and potential of each child.
May we continue to work together and support each other throughout the year, fostering our relationship, as we strive to provide maximum benefit to the children in our care.
There is excitement in the air with our current improvement works on the school site. Our students will soon have the benefit of a hard court space on the bottom oval for their beloved passion - handball! It is all framed and ready for the concrete pour once the weather clears.
There will be further concreting over the holidays inside the school to improve the aesthetics around the undercroft and improve the usable space for students and staff.
Cross Country - this Friday
It is with every optimistic hope that we will be running our cross country carnival here at the school this Friday as scheduled. In the event that predicted rain prevents us from doing so we will call it early Friday morning. We will run it if at all possible and if it is safe enough to do so! All information about the cross country is in today's newsletter.
School Photos - Wednesday next week
Please remember to have your child in complete correct day uniform, looking their best, next Wednesday for our school photo day. Sibling photos will commence from 8.10am. More information regarding school photo ordering is available in today’s newsletter or from the school office.
School Open Day - Tuesday 8th April 9am-12pm.
Please spread the word to any families who might want to have a look at our great school during our Open Day. A great chance for new families to experience our school! Year 6 tour guides and meet and greet with myself.
It was great catching up with families last night during parent teacher interviews, I look forward to catching up with more families tomorrow evening.
Peace and blessings,
Jason Clarke
Principal
Sharing the Gospel
ST JOSEPH'S DAY CELEBRATIONS
On the 19th of March, we celebrated our patron saint, St. Joseph, with hearts full of gratitude. 
Starting with a beautiful Mass led by Fr. Peter and our Stage 1 students, we felt truly blessed
.
Then, the St. Joey's Tournament brought out everyone's competitive spirit! Congratulations to Mackillop for taking out the afternoon. A huge turn out from our parents made the afternoon extra fun. Thank you families. 
It was a day of faith, fun, and friendship. We also had a visit from St Joseph who popped in for some photos with the students! We’re so proud of our St. Joseph's community.
Wishing you all a very happy and blessed St. Joseph's Day!"
St Joseph came to visit us!
Team Leonard
Team Parker
Team Mackillop
GOD MOMENTS
We saw a God moment when our dedicated staff came together to restore St. Joey’s for our beautiful school community. We were reminded of Jesus’ call to love and care for one another in their kindness, teamwork, and service. A true reflection of His presence in our school, bringing hope and joy to those around us.
The sportsmanship shown by every student during the St Joey’s tournament. It was great to see students cheering each other on, playing by the rules and having fun!
ICE CREAM FUNDRAISER
Tomorrow, Thursday 27th March, is our ice cream fundraiser, held by Stage 2.
$1.00 per scoop of vanilla ice-cream
50 cents for sprinkles
(Dairy free options are available)
Please send your child in with correct change if possible.
🎉🐣 Announcement: St Joseph's Monster Easter Raffle! 🐣🎉
Attention, St. Joseph's community! It's that egg-citing time of year again, and we're thrilled to announce the kickoff of our annual St. Joseph's Monster Easter Raffle! But we need your help to make it a hopping success!
🥚 Easter Egg Donations: We are now accepting donations of Easter eggs for our raffle. Your generosity will make this event egg-straordinary! Please drop off your donations at the school office. For example, eggs, fluffy toys or anything Easter related. Thank you in advance for your kindness!
🎟️ Raffle Tickets: Look out for the book of tickets coming home today! Tickets are priced at 3 for a dollar. Get ready to grab yours and try your luck at winning some egg-cellent prizes!
📅 Deadline for Returns: Please ensure all tickets and money are returned to the school office no later than Monday, 7th April. Let's keep the momentum going and make this raffle one for the books!
🎁 Prizes Galore: Remember, the more donations we receive, the more fabulous prizes we can offer! Let's aim high and make this Easter unforgettable for everyone involved!
🎉 Raffle Draw Date: Mark your calendars for the big day! The raffle draw will take place on Thursday, April 10th. Don't miss out on the chance to win some fantastic goodies!
👫 Run by the SRC: This event is proudly organised by the Student Representative Council (SRC). Let's show our support and make this a raffle to remember!
Thank you for your enthusiasm and support. Let's make this Easter egg-ceptional!
Feel free to contact the school if you have any questions.
🐰🥚✨
Minnie Vinnies Meeting 2025
The first Minnie Vinnies meeting of 2025 saw a remarkable turnout, demonstrating a strong commitment to our mission. Our deep appreciation to Isla and Noah for their leadership. We anticipate a year of impactful work in defense of human dignity.
"S.O.L.E Superstar" Awards
Week 6 Term 1
Kinder
Liam Culnane
Delilah Walsh
Year 1
Luca Jandura
Henry Conroy
Year 2
Leo Robinson
Darcy Ahern
Year 3
Fynn Holliday
Macy Baker
Year 4
Meadow Chapman
Kobe Robinson
Year 5
Ella Hunt
Aria Dunning
Year 6
Will Hoffman
Mica Rempis
Week 7 Term 1
Kinder
Blake Really
Skyla Bannister
Year 1
Florence Wilkinson
Taj Arane
Year 2
Jacob Hoffman
Zephyr Walker
Year 3
Nate Jarman
Revie Cambridge
Year 4
Eli Reed
Eden Kleindienst
Year 5
Amelia Bedser
Shelby Walsh
Year 6
Lyla McMahon
Owen Watts
Curriculum News
NAPLAN 2025: A Week of Focused Effort
Last week, our Year 3 and Year 5 students participated in the National Assessment Program—Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) tests. These assessments provide a snapshot of students' skills in key areas of literacy and numeracy, and we're proud of the focused effort demonstrated by all our students.
What is NAPLAN?
NAPLAN is a nationwide assessment that measures students' skills in:
- Reading: Understanding and interpreting written information.
- Writing: Expressing ideas effectively in written form.
- Conventions of Language: Spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
- Numeracy: Mathematical skills and understanding.
It's important to remember that NAPLAN is just one tool we use to understand student progress. It complements the ongoing assessments and observations made by our teachers throughout the year.
How Our Students Performed
Our students approached the NAPLAN tests with a positive attitude and demonstrated their best efforts. We are incredibly proud of their resilience and dedication.
What Happens Next?
- The results from the NAPLAN tests will be processed and provided to schools later in the year.
- Once we receive the results, we will carefully analyse them to identify areas of strength and areas where we can provide additional support to our students.
- Individual student reports will be provided to parents, offering insights into their child's performance.
- It is important to remember that NAPLAN is a point-in-time assessment and that children grow and learn at different rates.
Important Considerations:
- NAPLAN results are one piece of information about a child's educational progress.
- Our teachers use a variety of assessment methods to gain a comprehensive understanding of each student's abilities.
- We encourage parents to view NAPLAN results in the context of their child's overall learning journey.
We thank our students, teachers, and parents for their support during the NAPLAN testing period. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact your child's teacher.
Year 6 Taster Day at Mt St Patrick College
Our Year 6 students had an incredible opportunity to experience a day in the life of a high school student at Mt St Patrick College. From the moment they arrived, they were immersed in engaging, hands-on learning across a range of subjects.
They explored the world of Science through exciting experiments, cooked up some tasty creations in the kitchen, got creative in Plastics and Design, and got moving in a fun and active PE session. Each experience gave students a taste of what high school learning looks like and helped build their confidence for the journey ahead.
A big thank you to the staff and students at Mt St Pat’s for such a warm welcome and for creating such a positive, inspiring day for our students. They left feeling excited and ready for what’s next!
Crazy Outfit Day Fundraiser
Last Friday, we held our Crazy Outfit Day here at St Joseph's Primary. We raised money for Project Compassion and boy oh boy... did we have fun.
Our best dressed went to:
KINDER: Leo
STAGE 1: Darcy
STAGE 2: Luca
STAGE 3: Aria
These students won a canteen voucher to be used at school!
We raised some good money and cannot wait to see what we can raise on our Ice cream fundraiser next Thursday, 27th March (Week 8.)
Thank you families for your support and donations!
Crazy costumes everywhere!
Welcome Disco Fun
Sports News
DIOCESAN SWIMMING RESULTS: Last week at assembly 14 students were presented with their certificate of participation and results from the Diocesan Swimming Carnival which was held at TRAC Murwillumbah on Tuesday 4th March. All swam extremely well with fantastic results:
Bonnie Lindsay: 12th Snr 50m Butterfly
Amelia Bedser: 8th Jnr 200IM
Pippa Bourke: 6th 11Yr 50m Freestyle & 10th Opens 100m Freestyle
Carter Alexander: 1st 10Yr 50m Freestyle, 1st Jnr 50m Backstroke, 1st Jnr 50m Butterfly, 1st Jnr 50m Breaststroke, 1st Jnr 200IM, Carter Alexander was awarded Age Champion! Such a fantastic achievement at Diocesan level!! We wish Carter the best of luck as he prepares for Polding next Wednesday 2nd April in Sydney!
AFL NSW AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL ALL SCHOOLS GIRLS 12YEARS AND UNDER TRIALS
Pippa Bourke travelled to Woolgoolga to attended the NSW AFL All Schools trials. The entire state is divided into 6 locations with Woolgoolga being the closest trial for our area. This catchment area would be similar to Diocesan level however twice as difficult with Catholic Schools, Public Schools and Independent Schools all coming together at these trials! Congratulations to Pippa for her selection into the Northern Coastal and Inland team! We wish you the best of luck as you prepare for the following trials in Sydney in June!!
ZONE NETBALL, SOCCER AND NRL TRIALS: Congratulations to all who attended the Netball, Soccer and NRL Tweed Zone trials recently:
NRL: Ace Colleton, Archer Twyford, Misha Reed, Nakoha Heterick, Jaxon Mann, Xavier Workman and Asher Morphett.
Netball: Bonnie Lindsay, Allira Smith and Esther Cambridge.
Soccer: Tahan Heterick, Shelby Walsh, Zoe Lindsay, Peggy Wilkinson, Imogen Rudman, Isla Alley, Pippa Bourke, Will Hoffman, Frank Ahrens, Nate Linkins, Noah Bowley, Kaeden Jandura and Chayse McLeod.
Well done to the following students who were selected into the Tweed Zone Teams:
Rubgy League: Ace Colleton and Jaxon Mann
Soccer: Tahan Heterick, Shelby Walsh, Zoe Lindsay
We wish you all the best of luck this Thursday at the Diocesan trials in Grafton!!
Netball: Bonnie Lindsay, Allira Smith and Esther Cambridge.
Soccer: Tahan Heterick, Shelby Walsh, Zoe Lindsay, Peggy Wilkinson, Imogen Rudman, Isla Alley, Pippa Bourke, Will Hoffman, Frank Ahrens, Nate Linkins, Noah Bowley, Kaeden Jandura and Chayse McLeod.
SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY: This Friday 28th March (week 8) our School Cross Country will be taking place on our school oval! We will be running this event first thing in the morning with Kinder, Year 1 and Year 2 going first then the 3km races followed by the 2km races – Boys then Girls to avoid the longest races hitting the hottest part of the day (a parent information sheet with full details re; timetable etc is attached below).
Students in Year 2 may choose to run in the Year 2 race (which is the loop along the council grassy area) or if they are turning eight this year, they may wish to compete in the 8/9Yr race which is predominately Year 3 students (2km course). Students cannot do both races. Students in Yr2 who choose to race the 2km course are eligible to progress onto Zone if they finish in the top 6 of that age category (8/9Yrs)!
Parents with students in Year 2 who would like their child to compete in the Yr3 race (8/9Yr – 2km race) should contact Miss Quinn to let her know that your child is choosing to race the 2km course and is capable of competing in this distance. She will ensure they do not miss their race.
It is encouraged that most students in Year 2 will compete in the Yr 2 race and only choose the Yr3 – 2km race if they have been consistently training for the 2km distance.
We tested out the Yr3 (8/9Yr course) last week in PE so students in Year 2 know which distance best suits them.
THIS SATURDAY FINAL RUNNING CLUB: This Saturday the 29th March will be our final Saturday running club session! All runners are welcome (competitive or social). It is our last chance to test out the new course for Zone Cross Country. Meeting in the large grandstand for 8am.
This a community based running group, open to families from all schools in the local area and is a great opportunity for children to run with a range of ages and abilities – all ages welcome! Parents are responsible for their children and must be able to supervise at all times (even if from the stands but we encourage all levels of participation!) Last year we had a great turn out including babies in prams and dogs on leashes so join us for a walk / run and finish with a coffee from our local coffee provider Alistair Gibb!
REPRESENTATIVE BASKEBALL PLAYERS
Congratulations to both Xavier Workman and Nakoha Heterick for making the representative basketball teams!
Xavier is playing representative basketball in the U12’s NEJL competition and Nakoha is in the U14's side.
This is the first round of 5 weekends of basketball and covers teams from Port Macquarie to Tweed Heads and as far inland as Armidale.
What a fantastic achievement Boys!
Library News
The NSW Premier's Reading Challenge is now open and St Joseph’s Primary School is excited to be participating!
What is the NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge?
The PRC is a statewide Challenge that encourages students to develop a love of reading for leisure and pleasure in students and enables them to experience quality literature. It is not a competition, but a challenge to encourage each student to read, to read more, and to read more widely.
All students who complete the challenge and have their reading record validated by the school’s PRC coordinator will receive a certificate signed by the Premier of NSW.
How many books do students need to read?
Students in Kindergarten to Year 2 are challenged to read or experience 30 books. 20 of these books must be from the relevant Challenge booklists, and up to 10 books can be personal choice books. Books can be read with a parent, carer, teacher or another student.
Students in Year 3 to Year 6 are challenged to read 20 books independently. At least 10 of these books must be from the relevant Challenge booklists, and up to 10 books can be personal choice books.
If a book is from an approved PRC series, students can enter up to 5 books as Challenge books, and can read up to 10 other books from the same series as Personal Choice books. More information on the rules of the Challenge can be found on the PRC website.
Books must be added to a student’s online reading record by Friday 22 August 2025 in order for their reading record to be validated and receive a certificate.
How do students log their reading?
Students can access the PRC’s Student Experience site (See link below) using their school username and password, or can log into the site via the Student Portal. A video guide explaining how to use the Student Experience site can be found here.
Students may also record their reading on the Personal Reading Log and submit it to the Mrs Fraser in the Library by 21 August 2025, who will complete the reading log on the students’ behalf.
PRC Coordinator
Melissa Fraser
General News
PBS Shield Results:
Term 1 - Week 6 Term 1 - Week 7
WINNER - MACKILLOP WINNER- LEONARD
Please spread the word of our upcoming Open Day! It will be held on Tuesday 8th April (Week 10).
SCHOOL PHOTOS - WEDNESDAY, 2 APRIL
Dear families,
Our school photo day is coming up on the morning of Wednesday 2nd April.
Day uniform is to be worn.
Please order your photos online using the QR code on the flyer attached.
Sibling photos will be taken first, starting from 8:10am in the Assembly Room.
Canteen News
Cancelling a canteen order
If you need to cancel a canteen order you can do this through Compass up to 8:15am on the day of canteen. Your refund will go to your Compass Wallet as a credit. You can then use the credit in your Compass Wallet any time to pay for a canteen order, school fees, or a school event. Access these funds through the payment method drop down menu
School Fees
Compass Help for Parents
Compass absence notes
Parents can let the school know of student absences in advance through the Compass app using the shortcuts icon at the bottom of their homepage.
Lost Property
Tese items were left after our school disco. If they are yours you can collect them from the office.
Parish News
Wednesday 26 March 5:30 pm - Mass
Friday 28 March 9:30 am - Legion of Mary|Parish Meeting Centre
11:00 am - Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
12:00 pm - Mass
12:30 pm - Stations of the Cross (see note below)
Saturday 29 March 9:00 am - Rosary
5:30 pm - Rosary
6:00 pm - Vigil Mass
Sunday 30 March 8:30 am - Rosary
9:00 am - Mass
10:15 am - Baptisms
Health & Wellbeing
Parent News
Community Sports News
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