Newsletter No. 3 - 26th March 2025

Message from the Principal

Dear Parents and Carers,

As we move into Week 9, I am filled with gratitude for the fantastic start to the year. Walking through the school, I am continually impressed by the way our students engage in quality learning, collaborate in their classrooms, and enjoy our learning spaces and natural play areas. Their happy smiles and respectful greetings are a true reflection of the positive culture we nurture at St Joseph’s.

Thank you to all those who attended our St Joseph’s Day Liturgy last Wednesday (19th March). We take inspiration from St Joseph the Carpenter, a humble and hardworking man chosen to be the earthly father of Jesus. His life was one of quiet strength, dedication, and faith. As a carpenter, he worked with patience and skill, providing for his family through honest work. More importantly, he was a man of deep trust in God, always listening and responding with courage and love. At St Joseph’s, we strive to follow his example by working diligently, showing kindness to others, and placing our trust in God’s guidance. On this special day, we have the opportunity to reflect on the values St Joseph lived by—humility, service, and perseverance—and how we can bring them into our daily lives. May his example continue to inspire our school community to build a world of faith, love, and respect.

We also celebrated Harmony Day last week, a time to recognize and embrace the rich diversity within our school community. This special day reminds us that everyone belongs, encouraging respect, inclusion, and understanding among all cultures. Through activities, discussions, and shared experiences, we reinforce the importance of kindness and unity. Let’s continue to build a school where every student feels valued and celebrated.

Last week our students gathered in their House meetings, and it was truly inspiring to see our student leaders rise to the occasion. We’re all eagerly anticipating the results of the Joey tally next week to see which House will come out on top and earn the privilege of selecting the end-of-term reward.

With a mix of excitement for her future in the vibrant city of Melbourne, known as Australia's hub for eating and shopping, and deep sadness as we prepare to say goodbye to someone we will miss dearly, I want to share that, at the end of this term, our much-loved Mrs. Garreffa (Linda) will be stepping down from her role as Office Administrator at SJKB. This decision has been in the works for some time, and Linda is eagerly looking forward to her big move to Port Melbourne, where she and her husband, Frank, will be closer to their two sons.

With immense gratitude for her dedication and service, we wish Linda all the best in this exciting new chapter of her life.

Please take a moment to read through our newsletter and review our Term 2 planner. I look forward to seeing you at our end-of-term community event on the last day of Term 1, Wednesday, April 9th, which will feature open classrooms, our annual Easter Hat Parade, and a raffle.

With every best wish,

Nikki Norley

(Principal)

2025 School Improvement

At St Joseph’s, we are committed to continuous improvement and growth in all areas of school life. In 2025, we will be focusing on our three School Improvement Goals, which will guide our efforts to enhance student learning, well-being, and engagement, ensuring the best possible outcomes for all.

FACE: Family and Commmunity Engagement Forum

Over the years, St Joseph’s has benefited enormously from the generosity and enthusiasm shown by so many of our parents and friends who have worked in partnership our staff to ensure all students are nurtured to their potential.

As you may be aware, this will be the final year P&F Associations will operate in schools across the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle, including at St Joseph’s. However, family engagement in schools will still remain a core focus.

In place of P&F Associations will be Family and Community Engagement Forums (FACE Forum). The decision to transition all schools to the newly developed FACE Forum model came on the back on an independent review into Catholic Schools in 2022, and was endorsed by the Trustees of the diocese.

If you are interested in the FACE Forum Guidelines, you can view them here. The Guidelines were developed over a period of 18 months and in consultation with parents, staff and clergy across the diocese- with members of our own P&F invited to have input.

In short, many of the things parents and carers enjoy about a P&F including the ability to work in partnership with the school to create fun events and activities can still happen under the FACE Forum model. However, in the new model parents and carers are not required to put their hand up to take on executive positions such as president, vice president, treasurer and secretary- which consultation showed was a key reason many people avoided attending P&F Association meetings.

The decision on when St Joseph’s officially transitions to the FACE Forum model has been discussed at our P&F meetings during 2024 and at our most recent P&F meeting earlier this year. A decision was made to start this transition to the new model at the beginning of Term 3.

When this time comes for St Joseph’s to transition to the FACE Forum model, I will consult with parents and carers around how you would like it bought to life in our school community- including whether you would like to set up sub-committees, host fundraisers, what topics you might like discussed at the forum etc.

I am looking forward to working with you to continue to enhance our school community through the FACE Forum; your involvement and support will be invaluable.

If you have any questions about the FACE Forum, or the transition to this new Diocesan-wide model of family engagement, please feel free to email me or the Catholic Schools’ Professional Officer-Family Engagement, Lizzie Watkin. lizzie.watkin@mn.catholic.edu.au

Bus Safety & Behaviour

This year, the school has received an increased number of emails and calls regarding student safety and behavior on the bus. I urge parents to discuss bus behavior expectations with their child.

The school will assist with ensuring students are safely seated when departing. Once the bus trip begins, responsibility is transferred to the bus company and its driver.

All primary-aged students are best seated at the front of the bus. Students are encouraged to report any concerns or inappropriate behavior to the bus driver. To best support our students, teachers will ensure that all students are seated towards the front of the bus before leaving our site. Like parents, our school staff are not on the bus with students, and we aim to set them up for a trouble-free and safe trip home.

Please note : Students must be seated properly and behave in a sensible and responsible manner, not causing concern for the driver or other passengers. Children from St Joseph’s are to behave in a manner, which does not discredit the school, and which abides by the State Transit’s Code of Behaviour.
In the case of misadventure the bus company has a direct contact number to the school leadership team 
personnel.
The school will collaborate with the bus companies to support positive outcomes for bus behaviour concerns and 
misadventures.

The bus company that runs all the routes other than Bus 9 is Hunter Valley Buses and their contact number is 4935 7200. 

Bus 9 is run by Port Stephens Coaches, their contact number is 4982 2940. 

Message from the Assistant Principal

PB4L Update

As we move through this term, I am excited to share the wonderful progress we’ve made with our Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L) programme.

We’ve continued to see a growing sense of respect, responsibility, faithfulness and resilience within our school community. Students have been consistently demonstrating our PB4L values—respecting one another, engaging positively in learning, and trying their best. Our recent focus on responsibility and being accountable for our actions has been particularly successful, with students trying hard to accept consequences and see that mistakes are a natural part of learning.

We’re also seeing excellent results from our school-wide rewards system. Students are earning ‘Joey’s’ for demonstrating these positive behaviours, and we’ve had several house meetings to teach these values and encourage our students to be the best that they can be! Our student house leaders are doing an outstanding job teaching the students about their house charism and unpacking the PB4L student matrix.

Special PB4L Assembly - You're invited

To celebrate our progress and highlight some of the outstanding achievements of our students, we will be having a special PB4L assembly (week 10 Friday). During the assembly, we’ll be recognizing students who are consistently displaying our values, and we'll also take the opportunity to announce which house is the winning house for term 1!

Will it be McAuley, MacKillop, Francis or Joseph?

The winning house will have a special meeting in week 11 with Mrs Norley and myself to discuss their reward and will celebrate this achievement in the same week.

Thank you for your continued support in helping us create a positive and inclusive school environment. We look forward to seeing you at the assembly and continuing to work together to ensure every student thrives.

Please see our PB4L student matrix, detailing our values and how we can live like Jesus each day.

Message from the REC

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday marks the solemn beginning of Lent, a season of reflection, prayer, and renewal in our faith. This year, our school community gathered at the church to celebrate this significant occasion together with our parish family.
 
We were grateful to Father Paul for leading us in the Ash Wednesday Mass, where we received ashes on our foreheads as a visible reminder of our commitment to spiritual growth and repentance. This sacred ritual invites us to reflect on our lives, embrace humility, and prepare our hearts for the journey ahead.
 
As we embark on this Lenten journey, let us support one another in our efforts to grow closer to God through prayer, fasting, and acts of kindness. May this season inspire us to deepen our faith and strengthen our community bonds.

The Way of the Cross - 6th April 3pm

Once again The Way of the Cross will be held at our church on Sunday, April 6th, at 3pm. This important tradition, also known as the Stations of the Cross, commemorates the journey of Jesus to His crucifixion on Good Friday.
 
Join us as we walk together with Bishop Micheal, in prayer and reflection, remembering the significant moments of Christ's passion. This is a great opportunity for our Diocese community to come together and deepen our faith as we prepare for Easter.

St Joseph's Feast Day

On the 19^th March we celebrated the Feast Day of St Joseph, spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary with a liturgy in the church and our school’s patron saint. Thank you to our St Joseph House for leading the liturgy!
 

Congratulations to the winners of our St Joseph’s Day Art competition! Each year all students complete a St Joseph’s Day artwork and the lucky winners this year were;

Kindergarten: Sophia

Year 1: Memphis

Year 2: Madeline

3 Blue: Alexis

3 Maroon: Mason

4 Blue: Juliana

4 Maroon: Luca

Year 5: Lucy

Year 6: Matilda

Sacramental Program

On Wednesday 15^th March Father Darryl met with some families regarding the Sacramental Program (preparing young people for the Reception of the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Confirmation and First Holy Communion). If you are interested in your child joining the Sacramental Program at our St Joseph’s Church please contact the Parish Office on 4943 4153.

Message from the Primary Coordinator

Chess News

St. Joseph’s students showcased their chess skills at the recent Interschool Chess Competition, where 14 enthusiastic players represented our school with pride. It was a day filled with intense matches, learning experiences, and plenty of camaraderie.

Throughout the competition, our students demonstrated remarkable teamwork, supporting and teaching each other new chess moves. Their dedication and love for the game were evident as they secured many well-earned victories. However, the competition was fierce, and there were also moments of challenge where our players had to show perseverance and grit.

The event was a fantastic experience for everyone involved. The students returned with not just improved chess skills but also valuable lessons in resilience and sportsmanship. A huge congratulations to all our participants for their effort and enthusiasm—St. Joseph’s is proud of you!

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Attendance

Regular attendance at school is essential for students to achieve quality life outcomes.  Every day counts, as regular attendance helps students:

• Develop a sense of belonging
• Develop and maintain friendships
• Be more engaged at school
• Progress with their learning

Library News

Class News -4 BLUE

This term in Class 4 Blue, we've been exploring the narrative The Thing About Oliver by Deborah Kelly. We have learnt all about tension and how events in the story can lead up to a big explosion, just like a volcano! Students are thoroughly enjoying the emotional plot of Tilly's dream of becoming a marine scientist, her perspective of living with her younger brother Oliver, who is autistic, and the never-ending changes that keeps building and building tension till someone explodes!!  

Students demonstrated their understanding of the tension throughout the narrative,  through the diagram of a volcano. The students used their understanding of tension and writing skills to articulate their understandings.  

We can't wait to hear more about The Thing About Oliver and what causes our volcanos to explode further! 

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Diverse Learning Team News

Many students at SJBK enjoy Lunch Club. Lunch Club is opened for all students during second hand lunch and is the perfect spot for students to come, chill out, and enjoy some quiet and passive play options.

What is Lunch Club?

Lunch Club is a welcoming space where students can take a break from the playground. Some students just want to play a quiet game, while other do drawing, or just sit and chat with friends.

What students enjoy.

• Board Games & Puzzles
• Drawing & Colouring
• Reading Corner
• LEGO & Building Blocks
• Mindfulness Activities

School Holiday Programs

School holidays are fast approaching! Check out the links below for some great holiday programs:

• Motiv8sports – Offers a variety of clinics designed to inspire kids through fun, teamwork, and creative gameplay. Kids Sports Events at Lake Macquarie - Motiv8sports
• Red Frog for Families – Holiday programs focused on building teamwork, social skills, and resilience. What we do - Red Frog for Families
• Awaba Art Gallery – See what's on at the Museum of Art and Culture | Yapang. What's On - Museum of Art and Culture | Yapang
• Lake Macquarie PCYC – Runs a variety of safe, fun, creative, and inclusive school holiday activities, including boxing, gymnastics, painting, and dance classes.

Rock and Water

At SJKB our Year 1 students are engaging in a program called Rock and Water, designed to build social-emotional resilience and self-regulation. Led by Mrs. Porter, this program helps students develop essential life skills through interactive games and physical movement.

The Rock and Water program teaches students how to manage their emotions, make positive choices, and interact respectfully with their peers. Through fun and engaging activities, they learn to be both strong like a rock—firm and confident—and flexible like water—adaptable and understanding. These valuable skills lay the foundation for healthy friendships and positive relationships, both inside and outside the classroom.

Students love participating in this program. The combination of movement, teamwork, and social learning makes it an enjoyable experience that fosters growth in a safe and supportive environment. As our Year 1s continue their journey, they are gaining the tools they need to navigate challenges with confidence and kindness.

We are proud of our students for embracing this learning opportunity. Keep up the great work, Year 1! 🌟

Pastoral Care

Garden Club

We’re excited to share the latest updates from our school’s Garden Club! As we continue our mission to create a sustainable and vibrant space, we’ve made some wonderful strides in caring for our environment. Here’s a look at what we’ve been up to:

🌿 New Tree Additions:
Our garden is growing taller with the addition of an olive tree and a lime tree! These trees will not only beautify our space but also serve as valuable learning tools for our students. We’re looking forward to watching them thrive and perhaps even enjoy their fruits in the future!

🌸 Flowering Plants for Bees:
In support of our local pollinators, we’ve planted a variety of flowering plants that will attract bees and other pollinators to our garden. These plants are an important step in maintaining biodiversity, and it’s been wonderful to see how the bees have already started visiting our garden!

🌱 Composting Progress:
Our composting efforts are in full swing! We’ve been composting daily, turning food scraps and garden waste into nutrient-rich soil for our plants. It’s been a rewarding process, and we’ve learned so much about reducing waste and supporting healthy garden ecosystems.

As always, we encourage everyone to come by and see the progress for yourselves. The garden is open for visits, and we welcome your support and involvement in any way you can. Whether you’re interested in learning more about composting or helping us care for our trees, there’s always something to do!

Aboriginal Education News

School Fees Information

Statements have been emailed out, please check your junk folders if you haven't received anything.

Any Health Care Cards (form and photo of physical card) need to be emailed to admin@kilabenbay.catholic.edu.au as soon as possible for the discount to be applied.

If you have any questions regarding fees please phone the school office on 4959 1355.

Thanks

Linda and Susie

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

We are urgently in need of Volunteers for the PLUS shop! 

If you have any time to help at the shop situated in the school hall or fill in orders that come through on the online ordering system, the P&F and the school community would be very grateful.

Please contact the school office or the P&F through joeyspandf@hotmail.com.

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.  

In the meantime you can order by sending an email to joeyspandf@hotmail.com and we will send your order home with your child as soon as we are able to fulfil it. 

Hats can also be ordered through the email or alternately via the school office.

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