Dear Parents,

I’ve recently returned from an incredible 11 weeks of professional renewal and holiday leave—an experience that was both refreshing and deeply meaningful. I was lucky enough to witness the Up Helly Aa fire festivals in the Shetland Islands, explore current Maths teaching approaches in England, experience deeply moving Catholic Easter traditions. A true privilege was volunteering during the Year of Jubilee in Rome, which included assisting pilgrims at St Peter’s Basilica, visiting all four Holy Door basilicas, and being at the funeral of Pope Francis—an experience I’ll never forget.

Along the way, I visited historic monasteries like those at Subiaco, Loreto and Monte Oliveto, wandered through stunning Italian countryside, and ended with a breathtaking train journey through the Swiss Alps. I feel incredibly blessed to have had this time, to reflect, pray and rejuvenate and I’ve come home with many treasured memories.

I would like to express my deep gratitude to Nicole Charnock, who led the school with professionalism and care in my absence, and to the wider leadership team for their dedicated support. It was reassuring to know the school was in such good hands while I was away.

Catholic Schools Week

This week, St Joseph’s had a wonderful time celebrating Catholic Schools Week with a variety of meaningful and joyful activities that truly brought our school community together.

Tuesday afternoon saw an incredible turnout of parents for our open classrooms. Teachers were delighted not only by the number of families who visited but also by the enthusiastic participation and engagement during the activities. It was wonderful to see our school community so connected and involved.

We began Wednesday with a special prayer assembly attended by staff from the diocese. Our students shared heartfelt reflections on what it means to be part of a Catholic school family, and especially what St Joseph’s means to them. The diocesan guests were deeply impressed by the genuine care and warmth displayed between students — a beautiful example of living out our school motto every day.

The week’s celebrations culminated in a beautiful Mass led by Fr Greg. The children took an active role in the service, supported by our dedicated parents and parish members. Following Mass, parents and parishioners joined us for a lovely morning tea, strengthening the bond between school and parish.

To wrap up the week, our Year 6 students organised a fun and exciting session of games and activities for everyone, celebrating the spirit of Catholic Schools Week with energy and joy.

Throughout all our events, we kept close to the themes of “Pilgrims on a Mission” and “Hope,” reflecting the goals of this special Jubilee year. It has been a memorable week filled with faith, friendship, and community spirit.

Thank you to all who joined us in celebrating what makes St Joseph’s such a special place to learn and grow.

Inaugural Awards Evening

Last  Friday evening the Catholic Schools Maitland-Newcastle community gathered at NEX in Newcastle to honour excellence in Catholic education.

The evening commenced with the recognition of top-performing 2024 HSC students from across the Diocese. Followed by the 25 Years of Service Awards which acknowledged staff members who have devoted 25 years to Catholic education. We then celebrated The Emmaus Awards recipients.  These awards recognise staff members who have made significant contributions to Catholic education within the Diocese. A key moment of the night was when our very own, Angela Samuels, received the Emmaus Award for Schools Services Support.

Angela’s husband and daughter were present for this special occasion as were Nicole, Renata and me.  We had a terrific evening celebrating all the recipients but were thrilled when it was Angela’s turn to receive her award.  Our school would not be the school it is today, without Angela, and we are so grateful for all she is and all she does.

Annual School Visit

On Wednesday the diocesan Chief Operating Officer, Lisa Tierney, and the Director of Catholic Schools, Jacqueline Wilkinson, led a team of other key CSO and diocesan Shared Services staff in our Annual School Visit.  The purpose of this team visiting our school was to build a shared understanding of our context. Conversations, presentations, classroom visits and discussions with staff and students took place to identify the school’s strengths, challenges and next steps based on data and evidence. We anticipate a formal report in the coming weeks, that we will share with you, however, throughout the day we received lots of positive affirmations around what we are doing and what we have achieved and for the strong, welcoming community that we are.  Suggestions were given along the way in regards to some things and the greatest news we received was the confirmation that the QUAD/Library building project, though it has been delayed, is definitely going ahead!

Have a lovely long weekend,
Karen
Principal

Curriculum Spotlight

Year 1 - Belonging to God’s Family

Year 1 are learning about belonging to God’s family. Students will learn that being in the family of God means to be accepted for who we are, and being loved, cherished, celebrated, and fully forgiven. They will wonder about and explore their place in God’s family. Students investigate ways that Jesus was part of his family and community. Students listen to some of the stories about Jesus' family, naming the key people in Jesus' life.  They will also consider how the Church is like a family and how the parish is a special part of this family.

Year 2 - The Story of the Catholic Community

Year 2 are exploring the story of the Catholic community. They are focusing on key events, people and groups that have shaped the identity and growth of this community both over time and today. The module assists students to recognise what it means to belong to the Catholic community as the people of God. It will also develop the students' understanding and appreciation of some significant characters and events that have shaped the identity and growth of the Catholic community in Australia. As part of the learning, they will learn about the early Church communities in Australia and contemporary Australian Catholic communities.

Confirmation

We are delighted to share that 35 of our students received the Sacrament of Confirmation recently. This was a special milestone in their faith journey, and we are incredibly proud of each of them.

A heartfelt thank you to Anne-Maree Mantach, Helene O’Neill, Olivia Duggan, and Denise Stephen,who, along with Leanne Skinner attended the liturgies in support of our students and their families. Your presence and dedication are deeply appreciated.

This occasion was a wonderful example of our parish, school, and families working together to nurture and support the spiritual development of our children.

We now look forward to continuing this partnership as these students begin preparing to receive First Eucharist. May we continue to walk alongside them with encouragement and prayer.

Catholic Schools Week

This week we celebrated Catholic Schools Week: “Pilgrims of Hope: One Call, One Mission.” This theme called us to walk together in faith, to be people of hope, and to live out our shared mission as a Catholic school community.

Throughout the week, students took part in a variety of meaningful activities including whole-school prayer, Mass, shared classroom activities, and tabloid games that brought joy and connection across year levels. It was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our faith, learning, and community spirit.

As ‘Pilgrims of Hope’, we were reminded that our journey is one of faith—supported by God’s love and guided by the teachings of Jesus. Our mission continues as we strive to learn, grow, and serve together with open hearts.

Thank you to our parents, carers, parish members, and staff for your ongoing partnership and support. Many thanks to Dr. Anne Millard and Catherine Mahony for singing and accompanying us in our Catholic Schools Week Mass. Together, we help our students grow not only in knowledge but also in faith, compassion, and hope.

St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal Launched

At Monday morning's assembly, the SJSJ team proudly launched the St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal. To support this important initiative, the team created posters to display around the school and visited each classroom to speak about this worthy cause. Every donation helps make a difference in the lives of those in need this winter. Thank you for your generosity and thank you to our students and staff in the SJSJ team who are making things happen to support others!

Bishop’s Flood Appeal

The Bishop’s Flood Appeal launched last week to help the Manning community recover from the devastating floods.

Thank you to everyone who has donated so far, your generosity shows great kindness and brings real hope to those who have been impacted.

Please keep giving, praying, and standing with our communities as they rebuild.

https://mn.catholic.org.au/bishopsappeal/

World Environment Day

World Environment Day, observed on 5 June each year, encourages worldwide awareness and action to protect our environment. This year’s theme, Beat Plastic Pollution, focuses on the impacts of plastic pollution and promotes efforts to refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle, and rethink plastic use. To learn more about how the Diocese are committed to contributing to Jesus' mission by actively promoting care for creation and encouraging sustainable practices that protect the environment for future generations visit: https://mncatholic.sharepoint.com/sites/Homesite/SitePages/World-Environment-Day(1).aspx

Click here to see an aerial view of our recently installed solar panels: Merewether PE Logo.png

Source: https://t3.ftcdn.net/jpg/14/54/70/44/360_F_1454704463_p1rxnaY3wNGdlEnOuxqcf2iJ9ritWRim.jpg

Week 7: Pentecost Liturgy – Led by Year 4 – 2:20 pm at St Joseph’s Church with students who were recently Confirmed leading ‘Hearts on Fire’ to conclude the Liturgy.

Week 8: Parish Mass @ 10:15 am with Kinder and Year 6

Week 9: Parish Mass @ 10:15 am with Year 1 and Year 5

Week 10: NAIDOC Week Liturgy Friday 9:00 am

Parish Bulletin: https://www.newcastlecatholic.org.au/weekly-bulletins/

Leanne Skinner 
Religious Education Coordinator 

Learning Walks and Talks 

At St Joseph’s, we believe that students are not just the learners but also the learning evidence. One of the ways we honour student voice and ensure high-impact teaching is through Learning Walks and Talks, based on the work of educational expert Dr Lyn Sharratt. 

The philosophy behind this practice is grounded in the belief that students should be able to articulate what they are learning, why it matters, how they are progressing, and what they need to do next. When students have clarity around their learning, they are more engaged, confident, and motivated. 

During Learning Walks and Talks, members of the school leadership team visit classrooms and speak with students using the following six key questions: 

1. What are you learning?
2. Why are you learning it? 
3. How are you going in your learning? 
4. How do you know how you’re going? 
5. How can you improve? 
6. Where do you go for help? 

These conversations give us rich insight into how well students understand their learning and how effectively teaching practices are being implemented across the school. This valuable data is then used to: 

• Inform our Teaching and Learning cycles, ensuring learning intentions and success criteria are clear and purposeful. 

• Guide professional learning for staff based on observed trends or areas for improvement. 

• Support team planning and collaboration, helping teachers align strategies and share successful approaches. 

• Track growth over time, allowing us to see how student understanding deepens across year levels. 

• Celebrate what’s working, acknowledging strong teaching practice and student engagement. 

In a recent Year 4 Religion lesson, students shared: 

• What are you learning? “We are learning about the Holy Spirit and the symbols that represent the Holy Spirit.” 

• Why are you learning this? “Because we don’t know it yet and some of us are making our Holy Communion where we will receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit.” 

• How are you going in your learning? “Well.” 

• How do you know? “Because we are answering the questions, listening to the teacher and using her feedback.” 

• How can you improve? “Write longer, more detailed answers. Listen more carefully to the information provided.” 

• Where do you go for help? “The teacher, other members of our group, another learning group, Religion resources in our OneNote.” 

From this Religion Learning Walk and Talk, we gained insights that will help us: 

• Strengthen students’ theological understanding and vocabulary around key concepts such as the Holy Spirit and the Sacraments 

• Adjust lesson design to support students in providing deeper, more reflective written responses 

• Use student voice to inform faith formation opportunities in line with the Sacramental program 

• Reinforce the use of digital tools like OneNote as meaningful learning supports in Religion 

• Support teachers to provide targeted feedback that helps students connect religious content with lived experience 

This is just one example of the reflective, articulate learners we are developing at St Joseph’s. Through Learning Walks and Talks, we continue to deepen our understanding of student learning and strengthen the quality of teaching across our school.  

Nicole Charnock  
Assistant Principal and Primary Coordinator 

Joey’s Biggest Morning Tea 

Thank you to all who joined us for Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea last week. What a truly beautiful day it was! Blessed with sunshine, laughter, and the warmth of our wonderful school community coming together for a cause close to many hearts. 

It was a joy to see so many families enjoying time together, sharing stories, and making memories on our school grounds. Events like this remind us of the strength and spirit of our community, and how fortunate we are to be surrounded by such kindness and generosity. 

We are proud to share that together, we raised just over $2000 for the Cancer Council, an incredible effort that will go a long way in supporting cancer research, prevention, and support services.  

A very special thank you goes to our Student Wellbeing Team, who were the driving force behind the event. Their organisation during the lead up, sometimes in their own time, and coordination on the day ensured everything ran smoothly. They did an outstanding job, and we are so grateful for the time and care they put into every detail. 

School Therapy Dog – Remi 

There was an excited buzz in the air on Monday morning when our Remi girl returned from her holiday. Students raced through the school gates when they spotted her roaming around with Miss McGinlay on the playground, giving kisses and catching up with her favourite boys and girls at St Joseph’s.  

It was truly heartwarming to see the smiles on the faces of our students (and staff!) as Remi made her way through the school grounds. We’ve certainly missed her gentle presence, wagging tail, and calming energy. Her return brought an extra dose of joy to the start of our week. 

Remi plays a special role in our school community, helping to create a warm, supportive, and calm environment for our boys and girls. Whether she’s listening to students read, joining them for a quiet moment, or simply being nearby during the day, Remi reminds us of the importance of connection, kindness, and care. We’re so glad to have her back with us and look forward to many more happy days ahead with Remi by our side. 

Pivot 

At St Joseph’s, we understand that when students feel safe, supported, and connected, they are more engaged learners and members of our school community. That’s why we have recently begun using the Pivot survey platform for Years 3-6 to gather valuable insights into student wellbeing and to help guide our ongoing efforts to support every child. 

Pivot is a research-backed platform that allows us to collect data directly from students about how they’re feeling in a range of areas, including their sense of belonging, relationships at school, emotional health, and engagement in learning. The surveys are easy to complete and age-appropriate, and students’ responses are treated with care and confidentiality. 

Through utilising Pivot, we are able to:  

• Identify trends and areas of need across different year levels or cohorts 

• Track progress over time to evaluate the impact of wellbeing programs 

• Empower students by giving them a voice in shaping their own learning and wellbeing experiences 

• Inform targeted strategies to support both individuals and groups. 

Already, the data gathered has been instrumental in helping us fine-tune our pastoral care approaches, deliver timely interventions, and strengthen our commitment to a safe and inclusive school environment. Please click here to learn more about Pivot.  

SchoolTV 

Please click here to view SchoolTV’s special report on Shaping Healthy Masculinity. 

This topic has gained renewed attention with the release of the critically acclaimed TV show 'Adolescence', which highlights the complex challenges boys are facing. In recent years, there has been a concerning rise in online spaces that present confusing and often harmful ideas about masculinity. Many boys are exposed to messages that glorify toughness, emotional detachment and dominance, while dismissing empathy, vulnerability, and kindness as signs of weakness. These outdated ideals are limiting boys' emotional growth and shaping how they engage with others. The impact is real - and it's being felt across our schools, homes and communities. 

Chloe Coe 
Wellbeing Coordinator

From the 28th-30th May, our Year 6 students undertook an education tour of the national capital. Students were given the opportunity to participate in a variety of educational programs with a focus on Australia’s history, culture, heritage, and democracy. We had an amazing time exploring the work of former Prime Ministers at the Musuem of Australian Democracy and of our current politicians at Parliament house, as well as learning about and honouring the lives of fallen soldiers at the Australian War Memorial. 

The Australian Government recognises the importance of all young Australians being able to visit the national capital as part of their Civics and Citizenship education. To assist families in meeting the cost of the excursion the Australian Government is contributing funding to our school in the amount of $30 per student under the Parliament and Civics Education Rebate program towards those costs. The rebate is paid directly to the school upon completion of the excursion. 

We are so proud of the respect and reverence the students showed throughout the trip and thank them for their focus and interest in all of the amazing places we had the privilege to visit. A special thank you also to Mrs Skinner, Ms Collins and Mrs Temple who gave up their time to spend with us. 

Yr 6 team 

NSW All Schools AFL championships 

At the start of the week, Maya V competed for the Mid North Coast & Inland team at the NSW All Schools AFL Championships in Blacktown. Maya competed fiercely, kicking goals for her team and had an amazing time making new friends and honing her skills. She was even lucky enough to meet GWS star, Alyce Parker! We are so happy she had this opportunity to represent herself and our Joey’s community and we congratulate her on an amazing win...what a champion!   

Polding Cross Country 

With all the severe weather lately, the unfortunate decision was made to cancel the diocesan event, and as a result the selection process was adjusted. A sporting team spent several days going over all the school results from the diocese to select the most competitive team in a fair and equitable manner. We congratulate Eve D and Alice K on their selection to represent our diocese at the polding cross country event on the 11th June in Sydney. 

Discus selection 

The Discus event is not conducted at the Diocesan PSSA Athletic Carnival and therefore the Diocesan PSSA is providing an opportunity for our students in primary schools to submit certified and validated applications for these events. This then will allow children from the schools in the Maitland-Newcastle Diocese to compete and gain selection in the Polding Carnival. If your child has a current validated achievement for discus from Little Athletics, please contact Ms Bailey for the form that needs to be returned by June 20th. 

Upcoming events 

Regional Athletics Carnival – Tuesday 24th  June  

Shannon Bailey 
Sports Coordinator

If you have indicated you are settling your 2025 fees via a lump sum annual payment - this is due and payable by 30th June 2025. If your circumstances have changed and you cannot meet this due date please contact the school to make alternate payment plan arrangements. 

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