2025 TM 3 WK 7
From the Principal
It is hard to believe we are already in the final weeks of term. Our staff remain committed to helping every student finish strongly. As Spring begins, we also mark National Child Protection Week. This is a timely reminder of the importance of safe and supportive environments for all children.
Grenfell Show This Friday Night & Saturday
The Grenfell Show is fast approaching, and our students have been working hard on their art and handwriting entries for display. We are also preparing our school’s pavilion display, which promises to showcase the wonderful learning and creativity happening at St Joseph’s.
A special thank you to Mrs Green for her support with our show preparations, and to our dedicated School Community Council for organising the catering events. We are sure Grenfell Show patrons will be very well fed, thanks to their incredible effort!
National Child Protection Week
As mentioned earlier, this week is National Child Protection Week, a time to highlight the importance of keeping children safe and supported. It serves as a reminder that protecting children is a shared responsibility - families, schools, and communities all have a role to play.
At St Joseph’s, we are dedicated to creating a nurturing and respectful environment where every child feels valued, heard, and secure. This week is an opportunity for us all to reflect on how we can contribute to the wellbeing and safety of every child in our care.
Official Opening of Taylor Park - Saturday, 1 November 2025
Weddin Shire Council is pleased to announce the official opening of the newly redeveloped Taylor Park in Grenfell. This exciting project, proudly funded by the NSW Government’s Stronger Country Communities Fund and the Crown Reserve Improvement Fund, has created a modern, inclusive, and accessible space for the whole community to enjoy.
Event Details:
Location - Taylor Park, Grenfell
Date - Saturday, 1 November 2025
Time - 10:00am
Following the formalities, there will be a light morning tea and sausage sizzle. All members of the community are warmly invited to attend and celebrate this wonderful new space.
Kindergarten Information Night Thank You!
A big thank you to our amazing school captains (and their parents who accompanied them) for representing St Joseph’s so proudly at our recent Kindergarten Information Night. They looked smart in their uniforms and spoke with pride about what makes our school so special. Our thanks also go to all teaching staff and our School Community Council for your involvement and support of this very important event. It was a wonderful evening, and we appreciate everyone’s efforts in welcoming our 2026 families.
Father’s Day Breakfast & International Literacy Day - Monday 8th September
We are looking forward to celebrating our fathers, grandfathers, and significant male role models at our upcoming Father’s Day Breakfast.
Event Details:
Date - Monday, 8th September
Time of Breakfast - 8:30am
Shared reading time in classrooms - 9:15am
To celebrate International Literacy Day, we will also be inviting fathers and father-figures to join their child/ren in their classrooms for a short reading session after the breakfast. This is a lovely opportunity to share a story together and model a love of reading.
Compass Reminder - Attendance & Positive Affirmations
Just a reminder about a few important Compass features already in use:
- Rolls & Attendance - Class rolls are marked and closed by 10:00am each day. If your child is marked absent after this time, you will automatically receive a notification via Compass.
- Positive Affirmations - Teachers are using Compass to share positive messages about your child’s efforts and behaviour. Keep an eye on your Compass feed!
Wishing you all a safe and happy end to the week, and we look forward to seeing many of you at the Grenfell Show and our upcoming events.
Kind regards,
Danielle McFarlane & Chelsea Harveyson
Co-Acting Principal
REC News
It is with sadness that we share news of the recent house fire in Orange that affected the Biddle family, who were a big part of our school family in recent years.
The family tragically lost everything in the fire, but local community groups are now coming together with kindness and generosity, offering support, donations, and prayers to help them through this incredibly difficult time. If you would like to offer your support, please contact the school and we will assist with directing your support appropriately.
We know this will bring concern and worry to many in our community, especially those who remember the Biddle family from their time here at St Joseph’s.
During this time, as a faith-filled school community, we turn to God for comfort and strength, so that we may also offer the same to one another.
We are reminded of the powerful words in Isaiah 41:10:
“Do not be afraid, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
This verse helps us to remember how God is always with us, especially in times of sadness or fear. It encourages us to show compassion, offer our prayers, and trust in God’s love.
The Bible reminds us also that God’s love for us is like the love of a father — strong, patient, and unconditional. In Psalm 103:13, we are reminded:
“As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.”
This verse teaches us that, just as fathers care for and nurture their children, God also offers us His infinite love and care.
Leon, Father of Loyola
Happy Heavenly Father's Day Dad
As we approach Father’s Day this Sunday, we take a moment to reflect on the important role that fathers and father figures play in our lives.
Father’s Day is not only a time to honour biological fathers, but also the many father figures in our lives - grandfathers, uncles, godfathers, mentors, and anyone who has shown us love, guidance, and care. Every one of these individuals plays a unique and valuable role in shaping who we are, and we are thankful for them.
We encourage families to spend time together on Sunday, offering thanks for the love and support they have received from these special people.
In our prayers, we ask God to bless all fathers and father figures, giving them strength, wisdom, and joy. We also remember those who may be grieving the loss of a father or who are facing challenges in their relationships, offering them our prayers of comfort and peace.
We wish all the fathers, grandfathers, and father figures in our school community a very special and blessed Father’s Day. May God’s love continue to surround and strengthen them as they guide their families with grace and kindness.
Warm regards,
Loyola Best
Religious Education Coordinator (Acting)
Parish News:
Next Week’s Readings: 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time:
Wisdom 9:13-18; Psalm 89(90):3-6,12-14,17; Philemon 9-10,12-17; Luke 14:25-33.
Sporting News
Good Luck at MacKillop Athletics Championships!
We would like to wish Jed. M, Charlie. K, Emily. P and Arabella. B the very best of luck as they represent our school at the upcoming MacKillop Athletics Championships in Sydney, Homebush on Tuesday, 24th September. This is an amazing achievement, and we are so proud of their hard work and dedication. Go team!
Family Recipes
We did it!!
A HUGE thank you to everyone, our St Joseph’s School Family Recipe Cookbook is officially happening! The recipes are in (and wow, they are good!) Now it is my turn to get busy typing, adding photos, and putting it all together.
I will share sneak peeks along the way so you can see it coming to life.
The finished cookbook will be ready to grab towards the end of Term 4. Stay tuned and THANK YOU again for making this dream a reality!
If you have not sent in a recipe yet but would still like to, you are more than welcome to.
🥒 Don’t be in a pickle, get your recipe in now! 💛
Breakfast Club
Breakfast Club is on!
We’re excited to welcome students every Tuesday and Thursday morning before school for a yummy start to the day! Kids can enjoy toast, cereal, juice, and hot chocolate to fuel their mornings.
And every now and then, we’ll have special treats; think hot breakfasts, pancakes, and other fun surprises!
A huge thank you to our amazing parent volunteers your time, energy, and kindness make Breakfast Club possible, and we couldn’t do it without you! 💛
Lunch Order Menu
We are so lucky to have the support of our amazing local cafes and bakeries helping us serve delicious lunches three days a week.
To make sure everyone gets their fresh meal on time, orders need to be in by the day before. This gives our local heroes time to prep, plan, and deliver tasty treats for our kids.
Lately, some orders have been coming in on the morning of and while we love the enthusiasm, late orders cannot be accepted. We know mornings are busy, but sticking to the cut-off helps keep things fair for everyone!
A big thank you to our families and local businesses for making lunch orders a tasty success! 💛
School Birthdays
Birthday cheers to our amazing St Joseph’s kids! 🥳
We hope your day is as bright and wonderful as you are. Eat cake, have fun, and make it a day to remember!
2026 Term Dates
The 2026 term dates and pupil free days have been finalised. Below is a list of the 2026 student attendance dates:
TERM 1 - 2 February – 2 April
TERM 2 - 21 April – 2 July
TERM 3 - 21 July – 25 September
TERM 4 - 13 October – 17 December
Community News
