2025 Tm 3 WK 9
From the Principal
Dear Parents and Carers,
As Term Three comes to a close, we would like to thank you for your continued support throughout another busy and rewarding past few weeks. From school events to classroom activities, there has been plenty to celebrate and we are grateful for the strong sense of community that continues to thrive at St Joseph’s School.
Father’s Day Breakfast & International Literacy Day
It was a delight to welcome so many dads and special male role models to our Father’s Day Breakfast. Thank you to Sally and Rachel for organising the barbecue, and to the Unwind team for providing us with hot drinks on the morning. We hope all dads enjoyed being spoilt for Fathers day as they deserve!
The morning was made even more special as we celebrated International Literacy Day, with our guests joining students in classrooms for shared reading time. The joy on the children’s faces said it all. Thank you for being part of such a meaningful experience.
Grenfell Show
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who supported our School Community Council’s fundraising efforts at the Grenfell Show. With your help, we catered the luncheon room with an incredible spread of cakes, slices, biscuits, sandwiches and soups, and also ran a busy BBQ outside.
We have received wonderful feedback on the food, presentation and service, all of which reflects the heart of our community. Special thanks to our Show Planning Team - Davina, Andrew and Sheridan - for their leadership and dedication.
Thank you also to Mrs Green and our dedicated staff for preparing a beautiful school display that proudly showcased our students’ learning and creativity.
Students worked hard in class to prepare exemplary handwriting samples, artworks and hangers.They were all fantastic but a special congratulations goes to the following place winners:
- Rosie R - 3rd in Art
- Sadie W -1st in Art
- Georgina N - Highly Commended in Art
- Harry F - Highly Commended in Art
- Aidan M - Encouragement in Art
- Ian T - Encouragement in Art
- Willa M - 2nd in Handwriting
- Darcy R - 1st in Handwriting
- Harry D - 3rd in Handwriting
- Noah K - 3rd in Handwriting
- Heidi R - 2nd in Handwriting
- Jack F - 2nd in Handwriting
- Georgina N - 1st in Handwriting
- Jed M - 2nd in Handwriting
- Henry H - Highly Commended in Handwriting
- Eedie F - Highly Commended in Handwriting
- Maya W - Encouragement in Handwriting
Congratulations to all our students on their participation and effort. Please see some of the amazing displays featured below.
Kindergarten Enrolment 2024
A reminder that Kindergarten enrolment forms for 2026 are due. We encourage you to share the word with family and friends. We are always happy to welcome new families for a school tour or a conversation about joining the St Joseph’s community.
Compass Reminders - Absences and Positive Affirmations
Please remember it is a parent’s responsibility to record reasons for your child’s absences through Compass. If you are unsure how to do this, please feel free to contact us.
Also on Compass:
- Rolls and Attendance: Rolls close at 10 am daily. If your child is absent after this time, you will receive an automatic notification.
- Positive Affirmations: Teachers are regularly sharing encouraging notes about student behaviour and learning. Remember to check your Compass feed to celebrate these moments!
Coming Up at St Joseph’s
- Mondays: Music Lessons (individual tutoring available)
- Tuesdays and Thursdays: Breakfast Club
- Monday mornings: Mick’s Bakery Lunch Orders due (for Tuesday lunch)
- Wednesday mornings: Unwind Lunch Orders due (for Thursday lunch)
Key Dates:
- Friday 19th Sept, 9:30am - Final Playgroup for Term 3
- Friday 19th Sept, 11:40am - PCYC Cyber Safety Info Session (Years 2–6)
- Wednesday 24th Sept, 10 am - Year 3/4 Prayer Service for the Feast of St Catherine McAuley
- Thursday 25th Sept - Last day of Term 3 for students
- Friday 26th Sept - Staff Professional Development Day (Office Open)
- Monday 13th Oct - Staff Professional Development Day (Office Open)
- Tuesday 14th Oct - First Day of Term 4 (Full Summer Uniform)
- Week 1, Term 4 - Book Fair!
Stay Connected
Never miss a moment - from assemblies to carnivals, it is all in one place:
👉 St Joseph’s School Calendar
💛 Remember to save it to your favourites!
Summer Uniform Reminder
A reminder that in Term 4, students are to wear their full school summer uniform. For any uniform enquiries, please contact the office.
We look forward to welcoming students back to school on Tuesday, the 14th of October, for Term 4! We hope you enjoy a safe, relaxing, and joyful break filled with sunshine and special moments together as a family.
Warm regards,
Chelsea Harveyson & Danielle McFarlane
Co-Acting Principal
Grandparents Day Celebration
We warmly invite all grandparents to join us on Wednesday, October 22 for a special day honoring the wonderful role they play in our school community. The day will begin with a special Mass at St. Joseph’s Church at 10:00 AM, where we will come together to celebrate and give thanks.
Following the Mass, grandparents are welcome to visit their grandchildren’s classrooms to share in their learning and experiences. We will conclude the morning with a shared morning tea, offering a lovely opportunity for fellowship and community connection.
We look forward to celebrating this special day with our extended school family!
REC News
I was lucky enough this week to attend a Religious Education Leader retreat at St Clement’s Retreat and Conference Centre in Galong. I joined together with approximately fifteen Religious Education Leaders from around the archdiocese, along with the Catholic Education Office Catholic Identity team who facilitated the retreat.
Retreats are a wonderful opportunity to stop and reflect. We took the opportunity to reflect upon the ‘transcendentals’ of GOODNESS, BEAUTY, UNITY and TRUTH with a particular emphasis on truth. In the Catholic faith, transcendentals refer to the unique and ultimate super-special qualities that point to God and that God’s world has a little bit of. When we look for these qualities, they help us feel closer to God.
Truth: This is when things are honest, real, and correct. When we learn something true, we are connecting with God's truth.
Beauty: These is the amazing, wonderful things we see and hear, like a colourful sunset or a beautiful song. God created these beautiful things for us to enjoy and appreciate.
Goodness: This is when things occur that are kind, helpful, and right. Helping a friend or being a good person is showing goodness.
Unity: This is when things are whole, complete, and together. When we work together as a class or family, we are showing unity.
We can find these transcendentals all around us:
When we hear stories and share stories that are true and correct;
When we notice the beauty in a flower or the way a bird flies;
When we help a classmate/colleague who is sad or when parents show love for their children
and finally when we work together to support each other.
When we see, love, and seek out truth, beauty, goodness, and unity, we are connecting with God, who is the source of all these wonderful things. He wants us to find joy in them and to become more like Him!
Have a great end to the term and stay safe over the holidays.
Warm regards,
Loyola Best
Religious Education Coordinator (Acting)
We look forward to welcoming you to next week’s prayer celebration for the Feast of St Catherine McAuley. Thank you to the 5/6 class for preparing this celebration.
Early in Term Four, Kindergarten and Year One will be celebrating mass for Grandparents Day. Please see details below.
Operation Christmas Child
The Year 5/6 Class will be organising and collecting items for the annual Operation Christmas Child. Operation Christmas Child is an activity our class is getting involved in because we are learning about Charity and Wealth and how those more fortunate can help those less fortunate.
We would love it if everyone would help contribute to the cause.
Boy or Girl, Age groups are:
- 2-4
- 5-9
- 10-14
Items that can be contributed:
- A wow item e.g. a soccer ball deflated/doll/soft toy
- Personal Care items e.g tooth brush, hair brush, band aids, eating utensils
- School Supplies e.g. pencils, pens, ruler, textas
- Craft supplies or activities e.g paints, puzzles, play dough, stickers, books, games
- Toys
- Clothing and accessories e.g underwear, sunglasses, hair accessories, watch
Items that can’t be contributed:
- Soap
- Items that leak or melt: including toothpaste, shampoo, bubbles, and lotions.
- Food or Lollie's of any kind: including medicines and vitamins, seeds or organics products.
- Second-hand, used or damaged items: including worn clothing and old toys
- Breakable items: including glass and porcelain
- Scary or war-related items: including toy guns, knives, wearable camouflage clothing, military figures, skull and crossbones, Halloween items.
These kids need our help! It would be great if everyone contributed and we can help those less fortunate.
We are hoping to be able to track our boxes and see where they go.
It’s time to start bringing items into the front office. Make sure to put the gender and age on the items.
The cut off date for collection is 20th October.
Many thanks from the Year 5/6 Class.
Introducing Our School Counsellor: Danielle Hudson
Dear Parents and Carers,
I hope you are doing well! My name is Danielle, and I am the school counsellor at St. Joseph's. I’m available every Tuesday to support our students in their personal development.
I specialise in building self-esteem, addressing worries related to separation and divorce, loss, anxiety, and sleep disturbances, along with other early intervention strategies to help children thrive. I aim to work collaboratively with you to ensure your child becomes the best version of themselves.
Please contact me via the online referral link below to refer your child or discuss concerns. I will always contact you before meeting with your child, and I’m here to help in any way I can.
I appreciate your support!
Kind regards,
Danielle Hudson
Breakfast Club
Thank you for your support during Term 3. The children have loved starting their day with a delicious breakfast. We are now seeking volunteers for Term 4 on Tuesday or Thursday mornings from 8:30–9:00am. If you are able to help a out on a day or two please contact Sheridan. This program can only run with the support of our wonderful volunteers.
Mufti & Pizza day
On Thursday, 25th September, our last day of Term 3, the School Community Council will be hosting a Pizza Party! Each child is asked to contribute $5, with the SCC generously covering the remaining cost. Children are also invited to wear mufti clothes to school. What a fun and delicious way to celebrate the end of term together!
Lunch Orders
Please note that lunch orders will only be available on Tuesday this week, as we will be holding a special lunch on Thursday to celebrate the end of term.
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!
Whats Happening in our Community
