Week 10 - Term 3 Newsletter 2025

Principal's Message

Thank you for a lovely last week of Term 3, I trust that everyone will be able to have a restful break with their families.

Term 4 Pupil Free Day

Just a reminder that the start of next term, Monday 13th October, will be a Pupil Free Day. On this day, staff will be engaging in important professional learning, reflecting on the insights gained through staff, student, and parent feedback this year. This will also be an opportunity to begin shaping our 2026 Annual School Improvement Plan, alongside other school priorities.

We acknowledge that Professional Learning Days can be disruptive for families, and we are grateful for your understanding and support. These days are vital in helping our teachers prepare, plan, and strengthen classroom practice, ensuring the very best outcomes for our students.

Students return to school on TUESDAY 14TH OCTOBER. 

School Fees
Please note that all outstanding school fees for Term 3 must be finalised by Wednesday, 15th October (Week 1, Term 4). Thank you to those families who continue to pay their school fees on time. It is greatly appreciated. Whilst I acknowledge fees can sometimes place financial stress on families, school fees are our main source of income and necessary for our school to be a sustainable organisation.

Please understand that if there is an overdue debt and little evidence of contributions or payments received, that Fee Collection staff from the Catholic Schools Office will be reaching out to organise a more formal payment plan early next term. 

If any family requires an extension on their term fees, please contact me to discuss a suitable payment arrangement or an approved payment plan that acknowledges your circumstances. To assist with the payment of school fees and other costs (i.e excursions/sporting events), the school accepts payment via Compass Pay, and Direct Debit. The School Office has an Eftpos Merchant Facility available, allowing families the opportunity to pay using a Credit/Debit Card.

School Spelling Bee

Congratulations to all the students who competed in our School Spelling Bee; it was wonderful to see the immense talent in our students regarding spelling. The finals were held last Thursday in front of parents and the whole school, with the following students being crowned our Spelling Bee Champions for 2025:

• Kindy Champion: Ella O'Connor
• Stage 1 Champion: Luna Wood
• Stage 2 Champion: Kahiah Cook
• Stage 3 Champion: Oli Ward

Well done to all our finalists who competed on the day: Spencer Hyland, Macy Martin, Charlii O'Connor, Torah Kelly, Luna Wood, Alby Anderson, Evie Upston, Elyse Upston, Max Anderson, Lawson Bell, Owen Moss, Byron Ellis, Cooper Want.

SRC Talent Quest

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us for the 2025 St Joey’s Talent Show. It was a wonderful afternoon filled with joy, laughter, and awe-inspiring performances that showcased the incredible gifts and confidence of our students.

Congratulations to all who bravely took to the stage — every act brought something special and reminded us of the many ways our young people shine. A special thank you must go to Miss Juana and our SRC Captains for their dedication, organisation, and creativity in making the Talent Quest such a memorable event for our community.

Finally, we are delighted to congratulate our Talent Quest Winners:

• 1st Place – Kahiah Cook & Dottie Kemp

• 2nd Place – Rose McLennan

• 3rd Place – Torah Kelly & Gemma Buckley

Well done to all involved — we are so proud of the talent and school spirit on display!

Again, thank you for a lovely term. I trust you will have a safe and rewarding break with your families, and look forward to seeing you again in Term 4.

Kind regards

Dale

Upcoming School Dates

• Thurs 25th Sep - Last Day Term 3 for students (Week 10)
• Fri 26th Sep - Staff Development Day (Week 10)
• Mon 13th Oct - Staff Development Day (Term 4 Week 1)
• Tues 14th Oct - First Day of Term 4 (Week 1)
• Tues 21st-Thurs 23rd Oct - Musical performance for Preschools - daytime (Week 2)
• Thur 23rd Oct - School Musical - Alice in Wonderland - Evening (Week 2)
• Mon 27th Oct - Grandparents Day (Week 3)
• Tues 28th Oct - Parent Info Night 6pm (Week 3)

Leader of Learning

Staying Connected with Learning Over the Holidays

As we come to the end of a busy and successful term, it is wonderful to reflect on how much our students have achieved. From daily classroom learning to special events and competitions, they have shown persistence, creativity and confidence.

On Monday, four of our students represented St Joey’s at the Clarence Regional Schools Public Speaking Competition in Coffs Harbour after winning our school finals. Congratulations to Rose Mclennan (Year 3), Max Anderson (Year 4), Lila Salter (Year 5) and Owen Moss (Year 6). Their performances reflected the high standard of preparation and dedication at St Joey’s, with Rose achieving second place in her division.

Last Thursday, we celebrated our school Spelling Bee finals. Congratulations to all students who took part. It was fantastic to see such focus, determination and enthusiasm for spelling. Special congratulations to our winners:

• Kindergarten: Ella O’Connor

• Stage 1: Luna Wood

• Stage 2: Kahiah Cook

• Stage 3: Oliver Ward

As the holidays begin, we encourage families to keep learning alive in simple ways: reading together, playing number games, cooking, exploring the outdoors and having conversations that spark curiosity. These small but meaningful experiences help students return to school refreshed and ready to build on their progress next term.

We thank our staff, students and families for their hard work and commitment throughout Term 3. We wish you a safe and restful break and look forward to welcoming everyone back for another term of learning and growth.

Warm regards,

Mrs Mclennan

Leader of Mission

Jubilee Mass

Early next term, on Wednesday 15th October, St Joseph’s will be hosting a very special Jubilee Mass under our shelter area. This will be a whole parish celebration attended by students, staff, and many of our parishioners.

The Mass will begin with a procession of the Jubilee Boat, carefully crafted by students of Newman Senior Technical College, Port Macquarie. The boat has been designed and constructed as a powerful symbol of pilgrimage and connection. Its design reflects the rivers, waterways, and ocean that flow through many of the parishes in our diocese, aligning with the international symbol chosen for the Jubilee.

The Mass will begin with the procession at 10:20am, and we warmly invite all families and friends to join us for this very special celebration.

Sisters of Mercy Feast Day

On Wednesday, our whole school came together to celebrate a special liturgy for the Feast Day of the Sisters of Mercy. Students and staff joined in prayer and reflection, focusing on the school Mercy values of compassion, service, respect, and justice.

This day is especially meaningful for our community, as our school was founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1898, in the very building that is now home to the music rooms and parish office. We also took a moment to remember and pray for Sister Anne, whose generosity and dedication enrich our parish, school, and wider communities. We give thanks for the faith, courage, and commitment of the Sisters, whose legacy continues to inspire the way we live, love and learn at St Joseph’s today.

Mercy In Action Award

The recipient of our prestigious Mercy In Action Award this fortnight is Owen Moss, in recognition of consistently demonstrating the Mercy Values of Service and Compassion. As an enthusiastic member of the Service Club, he is always ready to assist. He willingly gives up his playtime to support others and helps younger students with their afternoon jobs. He shows service and compassion by fostering friendships and ensuring everyone has someone to play with. His compassion is further reflected in his genuine empathy and kindness, making him a true role model of service and compassion in action. Well done, Owen!

Mrs Senz

Class Awards

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

Principal Awards

Class Awards

Class News - Stage 3

Stage 3 has been exploring how people can change places, with a current focus on the impact of natural disasters on people and communities. We have looked closely at recent bushfires and floods, considering how these events affect towns and the lives of those around us. Students are also building their knowledge of practical ways we can prepare for, prevent, and lessen the effects of these disasters, developing both their understanding and their sense of responsibility for community safety.

In Writing, Year 6 has been learning how to create their own news articles while also exploring what makes a text trustworthy. Students have been practising how to spot reliable information, comparing different perspectives in news stories, and noticing the language choices authors use to influence readers. To finish the unit, they will be having fun experimenting with writing their own playful “fake” news article, which helps them understand just how easily words can be used to mislead or change meaning.

Year 5 has been exploring characterisation through letter writing. Students imagined themselves as a character from the novel August and Jones and wrote heartfelt letters to an extraordinary person with a disability who has accomplished remarkable things.

Lola's letter to Bethany Hamilton & Byron's Letter to Dylan Alcot

In Maths, we have been deepening our understanding of 2D and 3D shapes by exploring their properties. Year 5 students have been constructing 3D shapes from nets, and Year 6 students have translated, rotated and reflected rectangles and triangles to create interesting compound shapes. Using this knowledge, they have applied their skills to calculate the area of more complex composite shapes, showing great perseverance, creativity and confidence as they solved challenging geometry problems.

Mrs Kinsella & Mrs Connor

Pastoral Care - School Counsellor

MANAGING END OF TERM EXHAUSTION

As we reach the end of Term 3, many families start to feel the wear and tear of a busy school year. Kids are tired, parents are stretched, and it can feel like everyone is running on low batteries. This is really normal for this time of year!

A few small things can help:

• Prioritise sleep -  children cope so much better with consistent bedtimes and a calm wind-down routine.
  
• Healthy food makes a difference -  balanced meals and snacks help keep energy and mood on track.
  
• Screens in balance - keeping screen time in check, especially before bed, supports better rest.
  
• Get moving - a kick of the ball outside or a walk around the block can boost energy and reset moods.
  
• Keep things simple -  it’s okay to scale back extra activities if everyone needs more downtime.
  
• Connect - even a few minutes of undistracted time with your child each day can help them feel settled and supported.
  
  

If your family is feeling a bit worn out right now, you’re not alone. With some extra rest, healthy habits, and a chance to slow down, we can use the break ahead to re-energise. To give you extra support, here is an End of Term Resource Round-Up from parenting expert Justin Coulson with more practical tips for families.

Jess Jones - School Counsellor

jessica.jones@lism.catholic.edu.au

 Available Wednesdays and Thursdays

Pastoral Care - School Chaplain

SRC Funday - Talent Show

Congratulations to all our talented participants and our fantastic audience! What an amazing variety of acts, from makeup artistry to whip cracking, enlarging machines to cup rhythms, drumming, K-POP performances, and of course, a tribute to the world’s best artist, Taylor Swift.

A huge thank you to the SRC for organising such a fun and memorable day, and to our wonderful judges, Colleen, Sue, and Mr Randall, for giving their time and expertise to support the event!

Community Connect - LAP

A heartfelt thank you to Sue, Colleen, and Mike for the time, care, and dedication you’ve shown to our students throughout Term 3. We are truly grateful for your support and look forward to seeing you again in Term 4!

Socktober Fundraiser

Get ready for some crazy socks in early Term 4! As part of our Socktober fundraiser, we invite all students to wear crazy socks to school to raise awareness and funds for communities in Zambia.
The aim is to help children access food and education, giving them a brighter future.

Rather than buying new socks, we encourage students to decorate old socks, and donate the money saved to this important cause.

Let’s have fun, get creative, and make a difference! More information will be coming in term 4. 

Juana Mead - Student Wellbeing Officer

School Sport

Student Spotlight
Two of our students, Lawson Bell and Leo Fogarty, proudly represented Maclean Golf Club in recent Northern Rivers District Golf Association competitions. The boys first competed in the Grafton Junior Tim Schaeffer Memorial Golf Classic, where Lawson played strongly to secure 3rd place in the 5-hole division, and then travelled to Yamba on Sunday to take part in the 2025 Yamba Junior Classic, with Leo achieving an impressive 4th place finish. Both Lawson and Leo showed fantastic improvement, recording stronger scores at Yamba than in Grafton and gaining valuable experience against a competitive field. We are excited to watch their continued growth and success in future events.

Jack Kirkland will also be heading to Albury in January 2026 to compete in the Australian Country Junior Basketball Cup. Head on down to Mitre10 this Saturday and buy a sausage sandwich to assist Jack in getting to Albury.

Holiday Sports Opportunities
In the Community Notices section of this newsletter are pamphlets with information on AFL and NRL holiday clinics, hosted in Yamba and Maclean respectively. These clinics are a wonderful way to keep active during the break, and we would love to see some of our Joey’s students take part.

We would also like to thank everyone for their amazing efforts with AFL this term—all students engaged so well and the program was a real highlight. For those interested in pursuing AFL further, we encourage looking into opportunities with the Lower Clarence Suns or Grafton Tigers.

Looking Ahead to Term 4
Next term our focus will shift to swimming and surfing, giving students the chance to develop valuable lifesaving skills, build confidence in the water, and enjoy being active outdoors.

Thank you, as always, for your ongoing support of our students and programs. We wish all families a safe, happy, and well-earned break!

Anthony Gilchrist - Sports Coordinator

Digital Technology News

Project Emu: STEM MAD Team Heads to Nationals!

We are thrilled to announce that our STEM MAD (Making a Difference) team has qualified for the National Finals with their project, which uses artificial intelligence image recognition to help protect emus on our local roads.

Rather than relying on permanent wildlife warning signs, which drivers can often overlook, our students have designed a responsive road sign that is activated only when an emu is nearby. This innovative idea has the potential to greatly improve road safety for both wildlife and drivers.

To help guide their project, the team met with Lia, a Threatened Species Officer, from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. Lia was so impressed by their creativity and commitment that she would like the students to be involved with the potential to be involved in a real-world trial along Brooms Head Road. She also shared how similar AI technology is currently being trialled in Northern Queensland to protect cassowaries - and has been a huge success!

This recognition from an environmental expert is a huge achievement for our students, and it shows just how meaningful their project could be beyond the classroom.

We are incredibly proud of our STEM MAD team and can’t wait to see them represent our school and community at the Nationals in November. Their project is a shining example of how young people can use STEM to make a genuine difference in the world.

Well done Lila Salter (Year 5), Koa Tasi-Loefkvist (Year 5), Bella Grech (Year 6), and Brock Camilleri (Year 6) for your outstanding efforts and commitment this year! Also a big thank you to Miss Ava who has been guiding the project! 

Mrs Kinsella - Leader of Digital Technology

Community Notices

Dauntless is exploring the possibility of running an after-school social program in Maclean for school-age NDIS participants. We would appreciate it if you could forward this to anyone in your network that may be interested in this program.

Details: 

When: Weekday afternoons, 3:30pm – 5:30pm
Where: Maclean

Our Afternoon Social Club will provide a structured, supportive, and engaging space where students can:

• Build friendships and social skills
• Participate in fun, age-appropriate group activities
• Learn and practice important life skills
• Connect with peers in a safe and inclusive environment

Complete our expression of interest form today https://forms.gle/h5M6VM9HC6qMt9xq