Term1 Week 3 2025

Principal's Message

Welcome to a Fantastic New School Year!

I am delighted to welcome everyone back for another exciting year of learning and growth. It has been wonderful to see how well our students have settled into their routines, embracing new challenges with enthusiasm and positivity.

A key focus for us this year is our RESPECT model, which underpins everything we do at our school. We are committed to fostering a culture where students show Respect for themselves, others, and their learning environment. Through this targeted Well-being program we aim to build a community where everyone feels valued and supported. The key elements our program focuses on are Responsibility, Emotions, Self, Physical Wellbeing, Environment, Community, and Time (See Image below) . 

This year Ryan will send home, through Compass, our focus for each fortnight to keep you informed of what the students are engaging with each week.

Thank you to all those who came to our opening school mass and welcome BBQ. We are so blessed to have an amazing community of parents and look forward to sharing more community experiences with you all. I look forward to working together with students, staff, and families to make this year a great success. Thank you for your ongoing support!

Kind Regards

Tracey 

Assistant Principal- Learning & Teaching

Well, what a busy start to the term! The children have begun school with such eagerness. Teachers have concluded the MAIs (Mathematical Assessment Interviews) and have begun analysing the data. From here they will identify the strengths and weaknesses of each child and plan accordingly to fill any gaps or to extend where needed.

Last week we had a whole school (Years 1-6) writing task where all the children participated in a cold  write (no teacher help or prompting). This is done at the beginning of every term so that the teachers can plan their program for the following term based on the data they get from the children's writing. The children viewed a stimulus titled " A Pathway to Where?". They explored the slides featuring different pathways which are designed to inspire their story. The children then have 40 mins to write a narrative about their pathway. The teachers then moderate these pieces of work as a whole school. Each teacher will then conference with the children and together they will access their writing by identifying where they are on the "Bump It Up Wall" in the classroom. This process allows the child to identify what techniques they are using (current status) and see what they need to do to get to the next level.

Beginning of the year testing for Spelling has also been completed and groups will be organised accordingly. As you can see we have been extremely busy and the children have really worked quite hard in the last two weeks. Let's hope they keep up this enthusiasm.

Thank you for attending this week's Parent /Teacher Information night. It is important to get to know your child's teacher and start to build a relationship with them. We are all working together to help your child reach their full potential. At the end of this term we will have individual Parent/Teaching meetings whereby the progress of your child will be discussed.

Year 6 parents please note that you were sent an Expression of Interest compass message, inviting your child to attend the Year 6 Canberra excursion. Please indicate your acceptance and understand that once you have committed you are financially liable for the trip. There will be no refunds.

Have a great week

Cheers

Chris Mulherin

PARENT COMMUNITY FORUM

Please note change of DATE:

 The date has been changed to Week 6 @ 5pm.  Everyone is welcome. It is an opportunity to come together and provide a parent voice in our school community. 

Assistant Principal - Mission

Dear St Joseph's Community,

Welcome back to another school year where we join the Church around the world celebrating the Jubilee Year.  

Jubilee Years occur every 25 years and are a year of rest and restoration, calling us to return our focus to our faith.  In classes and assembly, we have been exploring what this means and how we can draw closer to God through our focus on hope this Jubilee Year.  On hope, Pope Francis writes: 

Everyone knows what it is to hope. In the heart of each person, hope
dwells as the desire and expectation of good things to come, despite our
not knowing what the future may bring.

Hope is born of love and based on the love springing from the pierced
heart of Jesus upon the cross.

We look forward to walking the journey as Pilgrims of Hope together with you this year.

We have also been very excited to renew our work in our wellbeing program.

Mrs. Loughhead and I love speaking to the classes each week via Zoom and leading conversations to help our students understand their wellbeing and how we can take steps to improve this as part of belonging to our community.  Our first 2 weeks have been spent remembering what each letter in our Respect Model stands for and what wellbeing means to us.  Some examples of class work setting up their class expectations using the model and ideas on building wellbeing are in the gallery below.  We will be regularly sharing our work with you this year to hopefully stimulate some wonderful discussions at home on how we all look after our own and each other's wellbeing.

Thank you once again for a wonderful start to the year at our opening Mass.  We will gather as a faith community once again on Ash Wednesday for Mass at 9:10am and then we will mark our Feast Day this year with a whole school retreat.  We look forward to sharing more details about this with you as the day draws nearer.

God bless,

Ryan O'Connor

DLCS Child Safeguarding Policies

Below is a link to the Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools Child Safeguarding Policies on our School Website. These provide information on child protection procedures, mandatory reporting, and Child SafeguardingComplaints Management. All School policies can be found on our St Joseph's Primary School website https://www.twdplism.catholic.edu.au

NCCD Data Collection

Leaders of Pedagogy

NAPLAN 2025

NAPLAN testing is coming up this Term for all Year 3, 5, 7, and 9 students across Australia. For students in Years 3 and 5, please be aware that NAPLAN testing will take place in the morning sessions on the following dates:  

  Writing: Wednesday 12 March 

• Reading: Thursday 13 March 

• Conventions of Language: Monday 17 March   

• Numeracy: Tuesday 18 March 

Students who are absent on these test days will be caught up later if it is still within the NAPLAN testing window and if time permits.

All testing for Years 3 and 5 is completed online, except for Year 3 writing. Students will need:

• Headphones - bluetooth or ones that are compatible with Chromebook, NOT USB-C port as previously needed for Year 2 iPads)

• Fully charged iPad/Laptop 

Please see the attached  brochure for further information 

• Brochure for parents/carers - Simple English 

• Mrs Atkinson and Mrs Kelly

(Leaders of Pedagogy)

Late To School Procedure

As we begin a new year, this is just a reminder that it is a legal requirement that our students be at school by 8:40 am, as classes begin at 8:45 am.
Any student arriving after this time must be accompanied by a parent or carer to the office and be signed in, it is a government requirement that a reason for being late is given.  No student can be dropped off late on their own.
We understand that unforeseen circumstances happen and being late occurs, however, it is important that they arrive on time so they can begin their school day like everyone else, this helps them feel included and reduces anxiety and avoids interrupting other students learning.

We have also noted that quite a few children are leaving school early for appointments. Please note that appointments should be made outside school hours if possible as it is very disruptive to the children's learning as they miss out on new content.

Thanking you for your consideration.

Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day)

Don't forget Pancake Tuesday - Traditionally pancakes were made to use up stocks in the pantry in readiness for fasting for Lent.  Our Mini Vinnies team are working hard to prepare the pancakes and all profits go to  Project Compassion which is the Catholic Church's international aid and development agency in Australia.  They are committed to working alongside the most vulnerable and addressing the imbalance of power by including the people affected in the decisions impacting their lives.

St Joseph's Primary School Open Morning

2025 Term 1 Weekly Overview

St Joseph's College Banora Point Open Evening

Cyber Safety Event - St Ambrose Pottsville

Free Parent/Carer Webinars- Council of Catholic School Parents

St Joseph's Primary School Band Program

Tweed Coolangatta Junior Football AFL