Week 8 - Term 2 Newsletter 2025

Principal's Message

Dear Parents, 

Thanks for another great fortnight of learning and building community in our school. As Term 2 begin to wind down we still have a number of school events occurring in the coming weeks.

School Athletics Carnival

We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the families who joined us for our School Athletics Carnival this week at Wherrett Park. Your enthusiastic support and cheering truly lifted the energy of the day, helping to create a joyful and memorable experience for all involved.

It was a pleasure to witness students, parents, and guardians coming together in celebration of our school's sporting spirit. The sense of community and belonging was palpable, with students displaying outstanding determination, talent, and sportsmanship across every event.

A special congratulations to the students selected to represent our school at the Clarence Zone Carnival in Coffs Harbour (Week 10). We are proud of your achievements and wish you every success as you take on this exciting next step.

Finally, a big thank you to Mr. Gilchrist for his outstanding organisation and leadership in delivering such a well-run and enjoyable carnival. His commitment ensured the smooth flow of the day and the success of this much-loved school event.

NAIDOC Day Celebrations

In the final week of Term 2, our school community will gather to celebrate NAIDOC Week, embracing this year’s theme: The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy. Our NAIDOC Celebration Day will take place on Thursday, July 3rd at Brooms Head Caravan Park. While NAIDOC Week officially falls during the school holidays, we are marking the occasion earlier to ensure our whole community can participate meaningfully.

The 2025 theme, "The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy," honours the resilience, wisdom, and contributions of those who have gone before us. It reminds us that their legacy lives on in the values we uphold and the communities we nurture. This theme calls our students to be people of strength—grounded in character, guided by vision, and committed to making a meaningful difference. Together, we look to the future with hope, confident that the next generation will carry forward a legacy of compassion, leadership, and faith.

The day will begin with a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony, followed by engaging cultural activities such as Dreamtime storytelling, dot painting, traditional Indigenous games, and exploration of significant cultural landmarks. These experiences will deepen students’ understanding and appreciation of the richness and diversity of First Nations culture within our local area.

We warmly invite parents and families to join us in this special celebration. Further details, including transport and permission information, will be communicated via Compass early next week.

Semester 1 Reporting

Semester 1 student reports will be sent home next Friday 27th June and will also be accessible via the Compass App. These reports provide a clear snapshot of your child’s learning progress and achievements throughout the first half of the year.

Each subject area includes a grade from A to E, which reflects your child’s level of proficiency in meeting the expected curriculum standards. Please note that this grading scale may differ from what some parents experienced in their own schooling. A grade of C indicates that your child is meeting grade-level expectations and progressing as expected. Grades above or below C show whether your child is working beyond or may need additional support to meet these outcomes.

I would like to sincerely thank our dedicated staff for the time and care taken to ensure these reports provide an accurate and meaningful summary of each student’s progress. If you have any questions or would like to discuss your child’s report in more detail, please don’t hesitate to arrange a meeting with their classroom teacher.

Staff Development Days

Just a reminder that on Friday, 4th July & Monday, 21st July we will be having 2 of our allocated Staff Professional Learning Days, which means the last day of Term 2 will be Thursday 3rd July & students return Tuesday, 22nd July.

Whilst we understand the implications these Pupil Free Days may place on our families, we appreciate your support for these days, as they are vital to the upskilling of our staff. Our end of Term 2 PL Day will be focusing on our work around number of key initiative aligned to our School Improvement Plan, and following the holiday break, our staff will undertake their Spirituality retreat, allowing staff to further form in their own faith journey. 

Kind regards

Dale

Upcoming School Dates

• Tuesday 24th June - Winter Appeal Pyjama Day (Week 9)
• Thursday 26th June - Maclean Music Eisteddfod (Week 9)
• Friday 27th June - S2 Excursion - Whiddon (Week 9)
• Monday 30th June - S3 History (Week 10) 
• Wednesday 2nd July - Clarence Zone Athletics (Week 10)
• Thursday 3rd July - NAIDOC Day - Brooms Head (Week 10)
• Thursday 3rd July - Last Day of Term 2 for Students (Week 10)
• Friday 4th July - Pupil Free Day/Staff Development Day (Week 10)

Leader of Learning

Walking the Walls: Classrooms That Teach

At St Joseph’s, we believe teaching is a rich, dynamic process involving teachers, students, and the learning environment. Just as we carefully design what we teach and how we assess learning, we also design the spaces where learning happens. That is why we’ve been focusing on activating what educational expert Lyn Sharratt calls the third teacher: the classroom space itself.

Lyn challenges us to see the learning environment not as decoration, but as an active contributor to student learning. The first teacher is the parent, the second is the classroom teacher, and the third is the space students learn in, one that reflects their thinking and supports them to take the next step. It is not about making a room look perfect; it is about making learning visible and meaningful.

As part of our ongoing commitment to effective practice, and aligned with our School Annual Improvement Plan goal of collaboratively renewing and aligning whole school teaching practices, each class has been working to ensure that their walls support learning in clear and purposeful ways.

Across the school, each classroom now features a thoughtfully designed learning space that supports student growth. These environments include:

• Bump it up walls, anchor charts, and co-constructed learning intentions and success criteria that make learning clear

• Student work samples and learning goals that reflect personal progress and effort

• Displays that build belonging and celebrate identity, including prayer spaces and representations of Indigenous culture

• Clear, consistent behaviour expectations developed with students

Each element has a purpose: to make learning visible, support independence, and help students understand where they are going and how to get there.

Our teachers have embraced this work thoughtfully and consistently, creating classrooms that are not only warm and welcoming but rich with meaning. These walls do not just display learning; they support it, extend it, and celebrate it.

I hope you enjoy looking through these photos of our vibrant learning environments in action. These spaces are not just backdrops. They are active partners in every child’s learning journey.

Mrs Mclennan

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Leader of Mission

Year 4 Accendere Retreat - Monday, 23rd June.

"Love one another... As I have loved you, so you must love one another." – John 13:34

On Monday 23rd June, our Year 4 students will take part in the Accendere retreat, focusing on the theme of friendship. Inspired by Jesus’ commandment to love one another, students will explore what it means to be a good friend through games, stories, and reflection.

They’ll learn how Jesus treated his friends with kindness, shared in their joys and struggles, and showed love through his actions. Through the Parable of the Good Samaritan, students will discover how we can be good neighbours and make a difference through simple acts of kindness.

This special day is a chance for students to grow in their understanding of what it means to follow Jesus by loving others in their everyday lives.

School Parish Mass – Thank You

Last weekend, our school community gathered to celebrate our Parish Mass, and it was a truly special occasion. The Mass was a beautiful expression of faith and unity, and we are so grateful to all who contributed to its success.

A big thank you to all the students who attended and participated so respectfully. We especially thank those who served as readers and those who presented the gifts during the Offertory — your involvement added to our celebration and was a wonderful witness of faith.

We also sincerely thank Fr Roland for leading us in our celebration of the Eucharist. We are especially grateful for the warm hospitality and delicious morning tea he provided following Mass, which was very well received and appreciated by all who attended.

Thank you to all families who supported this special event — your presence and encouragement help strengthen the bond between our school and parish.

Mercy In Action Award

This week, we are proud to present our esteemed Mercy in Action award to Artemis Jones, in recognition of consistently demonstrating courage each and every day. Arty stands up for what is right, helps her friends solve problems with kindness, and shares powerful messages like: “You’re the boss of your own choices!”

By showing courage in her words and actions, and by encouraging others to do the same, Arty lives out our Mercy value of Courage each and every day. Well done Arty!

Mrs Senz

Class Awards

Congratulations to the following students recognised at this fortnight's Awards Assembly:

Principal Awards

Class Awards

Class News - Stage 2

As we dive deeper into Term 2, it's wonderful to see our students continue to thrive across all areas of their learning. Our Stage 2 students have been particularly engaged in their English lessons, where they've been exploring the exciting world of figurative language and poetry.

It's a joy to watch them discover how authors use tools like similes, metaphors, and personification to paint vivid pictures with words. Even more exciting is seeing them experiment with adding and using figurative language in their own writing

Ms Zietsch & Mr P

Pastoral Care - School Counsellor

HELPING YOUR CHILD MANAGE BIG EMOTIONS

Emotional ups and downs are a normal part of growing up - especially for primary school-aged children who are still learning how to express and manage their feelings. As parents and carers, we play a key role in helping our children build emotional regulation skills that will serve them for life. Here are a few simple tips to support your child:

1. Name It to Tame It
   Help your child put words to their feelings. Use everyday moments to build emotional vocabulary—“It sounds like you’re feeling frustrated because your toy broke.” Naming feelings helps children feel understood and gives them a starting point to manage them.
2. Model Calm Responses
   Children learn by watching us. When things get tough, try to stay calm and talk through your emotions. For example, “I’m feeling overwhelmed, so I’m going to take a few deep breaths.”
3. Create a Calm-Down Space
   Designate a quiet, comfy spot at home where your child can go to reset when they feel overwhelmed. Stock it with books, sensory toys, or calming music.
4. Practice Coping Skills
   Teach and practice calming strategies like deep breathing, stretching, drawing, or counting to 10. The more these are practised in calm moments, the more likely your child will use them when needed.
5. Acknowledge Efforts
   Praise your child when they try to manage their emotions, even if it doesn’t go perfectly. “I saw you took a deep breath when you were upset - that was a great choice.”

Building emotional regulation takes time and practice. With patience, support, and a calm presence, we can help our child feel more in control of their emotions and confident in managing life’s ups and downs.

Jess Jones - School Counsellor

Pastoral Care - School Chaplain

Vinnies Winter Appeal

We are excited to once again support the St Vinnies Winter Appeal here at St Joseph’s. This year, the appeal will take place on Tuesday, 24th June.

To raise awareness and funds for this important cause, students are invited to wear their pyjamas to school and enjoy a hot dog lunch. This much-loved event has been a tradition at St Joseph’s for over seven years, and we are so proud of our community’s ongoing generosity and compassion.

Every dollar raised helps make a real difference in the lives of those experiencing homelessness and poverty.

Thank you for your continued support and for helping us live out our faith through action.

SRC Funday- Week 10

The Student Representative Council (SRC) has been busy planning a fun and exciting event to wrap up Term 2!

We’re thrilled to announce that SRC Funday will be an afternoon of movies and ice cream! Students will have the chance to:

Choose from 3 different movies
Enjoy a delicious ice cream treat
Dress up as their favourite movie character

It’s a fantastic way to celebrate the end of term together.
More information, including movie choices and event details, will be shared via Compass, so keep an eye out!

We can’t wait to see everyone getting into the spirit of the day!

Ms Juana Mead - School Chaplain

School Sport

As always, it has been an action-packed few weeks of sport at St. Joey’s.

We’ve now transitioned into teacher-led tennis lessons, and they have been a real highlight for many of our students. We hope all families received the July Holiday Program from the Maclean Tennis Association. This is a fantastic, no-obligation opportunity to get children involved in a new sport in a relaxed and encouraging environment. We encourage as many families as possible to take part.

For further information, please contact the school office or the Maclean Tennis Association directly.

Student Spotlight
Congratulations to Sam Kirkland in Year 5, who recently competed in the Country Championships over the June long weekend in Terrigal. Sam played up an age group in the Under 14s and really held his own. His team came away with two wins and two losses, and it was a valuable learning experience. Well done, Sam.

Paul Kelly Cup – AFL Introduction
Selected Stage 3 students recently represented the school at the Paul Kelly Cup in Iluka, trying AFL for the first time. It was wonderful to see students stepping out of their comfort zones and giving it their all. For those who enjoyed the experience and are interested in playing more, we recommend reaching out to the Lower Clarence Suns or the Grafton Tigers for junior playing opportunities.

Athletics Carnival Wrap-Up
Our recent Athletics Carnival was a huge success. A heartfelt thank you to all of the parent volunteers and staff who helped make the day run so smoothly. Most importantly, thank you to our students, who demonstrated courage, determination, and exceptional teamwork throughout the day. It was especially moving to see so many students supporting and encouraging one another.

Thank you for your ongoing support of sport and active participation at St. Joey’s. We are incredibly proud of our students for their enthusiasm, sportsmanship, and willingness to have a go.

Anthony Gilchrist - Sports Coordinator

Community Notices