Dear Parents,

What an amazing experience we all had last Thursday with the truly remarkable performance of our school musical, ‘Tree Tales’.  We couldn’t have asked for anything better.  The students were incredible at remembering their lines, dance moves and positions on stage. The staff were equally incredible in their creativity of costumes and in practising with the children and giving them great encouragement. We appreciate the use of ‘The Factory’ theatre and the various rooms that St Pius gave us throughout the day and night.  We thank our audience members who came to the performances to support our children and are very grateful for the team of parents who served as car parking attendants.

We announced at the end of the evening performance that Michael Nolan will no longer be our musical director as he feels we are now in the position to manage it ourselves.  We have learnt so much from Michael and we will be forever grateful for everything he has shared of himself with both the students and staff. 

It was so rewarding to receive such positive and affirming feedback following the musical and my appreciation goes to all those families who took the time to send cards, emails or verbal messages. Please see below for some of this wonderful feedback.

“I wanted to take a moment to express my thanks for the extraordinary work you put into this evening’s musical production. It was truly a joy to witness the collaborative efforts of staff and students coming together in such a memorable way. 

The students’ smiles and choreographed moves were contagious, and I couldn’t help but reminisce about my own school musicals, which brought back such fond memories. These are the kinds of experiences your students will carry with them for years to come, and no doubt they will reflect on them with the same warmth and joy that I felt tonight.

Thank you to the entire team for going above and beyond to create such a special experience for everyone involved. Your dedication is deeply appreciated, and the impact on the students is immeasurable.”

“I can see how much hard work everyone put in to make it so amazing. Thanks and congratulations to all staff and kids.”

“I want to thank all the staff at St Joseph's for an amazing musical. It was incredible and brought us so much joy.”

“I must say it was a wonderful experience attending Tree Tales last Thursday night. I was blown away by the acting, singing, lighting, costumes and all the work that must have gone into it. You all have a lot to be proud of and I’m sure the parents will have been most impressed.”

“Congratulations on an amazing musical! 'Tree Tales' was the most enchanting story.

Each act was so thoughtfully planned out and completed. Your acting, singing and dancing was of the highest quality. To the students who had speaking parts, I was amazed with how you remembered your lines! Thank you to each of you for putting in the time and effort to rehearse! It came together spectacularly well!!”

“I just wanted to pass on my congratulations to the entire staff for a wonderful school musical yesterday. All the children were so impressive, as were the costumes, props, music, lighting, stage etc. I can only imagine how much 'behind the scenes' effort & organisation was required, however it was all truly worth it. My son, who is usually quite shy, had an amazing time, and I was so proud to see him on stage doing his best. I also wanted to note how touched I was to see a couple of older students quietly jump in and whisper forgotten lines to their peers who were possibly suffering from a little stage fright. A great team effort by all.”

Library and Quad Project

Last Thursday afternoon, after the musical, I  shared with the staff and students the Library and Quad Project presentation that was shared with parents the Friday morning before. As the ‘now’ photos changed to the ‘future’ ones, right  across the hall there was a massive collection of ‘WOWS! Oohs and Aahs!’ expressed.  Everyone is very eager to see this project unfold over the next twelve months.  If you were unable to see the presentation there are design boards n the Library. Please feel free to go in and view them.  The images are also included here, but please note that they are artist’s impressions only of the design plans and can be subject to change, and that these are also dependent on DA approval from the council.

Staff Update

Mrs Emily Butler, our Music teacher, will be returning from leave next term. She is very much looking forward to this.  Our thanks and appreciation go to Mr Scott Wright who has been filling Emily’s position for the last two terms. Scott has made music lessons a great experience for all children, and we know they have enjoyed his lessons.  We will hopefully continue to see Scott at St Joseph’s as one of our regular casual teachers. 

May there be lots of fun and restful experiences over the next two weeks with your children.

Karen

Safeguarding - ‘Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility’ 

Bike Safety 

We have recently had communications from the public with concerns about student and community safety, citing several examples of St Joseph's students riding to school in an unsafe manner. As we approach the upcoming school holidays, we ask that you please remind your children about the importance of riding their bikes safely to and from school. Please consider using the following resources to support your conversations with your children. 

https://www.safetytown.com.au/families/ 

https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/roadsafety/bicycle-riders/safe-riding 

Positive Behaviours for Learning (PBL)  

Our students are continuing to be rewarded for their positive behaviours in the classroom and on the playground, with our Dash tokens. All four Colour Houses are doing their best to be crowned winners for the second half of Term 3. Our house captains have today completed a token count and the progress results are as follows: 

Red House:  662 tokens 

Gold House: 539 tokens 

Green House: 723 tokens 

Blue House: 716 tokens 

Congratulations to the Green House on their win. The Green House will vote on their prize in Week 1 of Term 4. 

Our PBL focus area for this term has continued to be Care for All: Care for belongings and equipment. As part of this focus, we have been encouraging all students to have their belongings clearly labelled. This has resulted in a marked improvement in lost property across this school. The student council have also been running a competition for the last 3 weeks to support a minimisation of lost property. We congratulate our class winners, Kinder Blue and 6 Blue, who had no lost property over the 3 weeks of the competition! Today they will be rewarded with ice blocks and extra play time. We encourage everyone to keep up their great efforts into Term 4. 

Congratulations to the following students who received a PBL Award this fortnight:

Camilla FT (KB), Evie D (KG), George B (1B), Olive M (1G), Charles W (2B), Liam McG (2G), Maroula J (3B), Will DW (3G), Indiana W (4B), Ellie V (4G), Bonnie McK (5B), Tom A (5G), Bailar G (6B), Adelaide M (6G)

Nicole Charnock
Assistant Principal

We're kicking goals for good in 2024! 

Once again, the Diocese of Maitland Newcastle is participating in Socktober to make a difference for children in need. We'll be learning about a community in Mongolia this year and kicking goals to support children's health, wellbeing and education needs. We would love for our St Joseph’s community to help support this initiative by accessing our school’s donation page https://www.socktober.org.au/fundraisers/StJosephsPrimarySchoolMerewether and donating there. 

Early next term we will be organising a fundraising event to also support Mongolia. Every class will learn more about the place through directed learning opportunities using the mission packs that focus on teaching the whole child through the head, heart and hands module in conjunction with the Catholic Social Teachings. 

As stated on the Catholic Mission Socktober website, the head, heart and hands model is as follows; 

• Head: Expand students' understanding of global issues by immersing them in the reality of children in developing countries using our rich resources and learning pathways. 

• Heart: Inspire love and compassion in students through 360 virtual reality experiences, first-hand storytelling, and formation activities that connect them with the people we support. 

• Hands: Encourage students to take action by praying, advocating, and providing financial support to children in need, using their hands to make a real impact. 

Money raised this year will help support the people of Mongolia and the Don Bosco caring centre. Mongolia is a land of vast steppes, rugged mountains, and nomadic culture. It is one of the most fascinating and unique countries in the world. Nestled between Russia and China, Mongolia boasts a rich history dating back to the era of Genghis Khan. Its people are known for their warmth, resilience, and deep connection to their land and traditions. From the bustling capital of Ulaanbaatar to the serene expanse of the Gobi Desert, Mongolia offers a blend of ancient heritage and modern development. I encourage you to visit https://www.socktober.org.au/about/mongolia and meet Otgonbayar to learn more about his story and his quest to become a superhero. 

Donna Morgan 
REC 

Professional Learning for Teachers on Developing English Units of Work 

On Wednesday 16 October our staff will engage in professional development on writing English units of work to support the learning needs of our students. Our teachers will engage in developing high-quality English text-based units of work aligned with the New South Wales English Syllabus. This training is part of our commitment to providing the best possible education for our students. 

The NSW English Syllabus emphasises the importance of students developing a deep understanding of a variety of texts, including novels, poetry, media texts, and informational materials. To ensure our students meet these learning goals, teachers are building their skills in designing engaging and comprehensive English units. These units will enhance students' reading, writing, listening, and speaking abilities while also encouraging critical thinking and creativity. 

What is a Text-Based Unit of Work? 

A text-based unit of work is designed around a central text or a series of texts that provide rich learning experiences. These texts serve as the foundation for activities that help students explore themes, language features, and the writing styles used by authors. By using texts that align with the syllabus and students’ learning needs, our teachers create meaningful and purposeful lessons. 

What Are Our Teachers Learning? 

As part of their professional learning, teachers are focusing on: 

• Selecting appropriate texts that match the learning outcomes for each stage of the syllabus. 

• Developing learning sequences that progressively build students' skills in reading comprehension, writing, grammar, and vocabulary. 

• Creating engaging activities that encourage students to think critically, analyse texts, and express their ideas in writing. 

• Scaffolding lessons to support students at different levels of ability, ensuring all learners can achieve success. 

Here are some books that have been used in text-based units of work this year:  

Figure 1https://www.harpercollins.com.au/9781460762141/the-callers/ 

Figure 2 https://www.amazon.com.au/Wild-Robot-Peter-Brown/dp/0316382000 

Figure 3 https://www.penguin.com.au/books/i-wanna-iguana-9780399237171 

By participating in this professional learning, our teachers are enhancing their ability to create dynamic and relevant English programs that not only meet curriculum standards but also engage students in meaningful ways. 

We are confident that this ongoing professional development will further enrich the learning experience in our English lessons, helping our students to thrive as readers, writers, and thinkers. 

Leanne Skinner 
Primary Coordinator and Pedagogical Mentor 

Musical 

Thank you to all our families for your incredible support during our School Musical. Whether you helped with costumes, supported rehearsals, or cheered from the audience, your involvement made all the difference to our little people who care so deeply about what you think of them. The students were so proud to share their hard work with you, and we couldn’t have done it without your dedication and encouragement. 

World Gratitude Day  

World Gratitude Day is celebrated all over the globe on the 21st of September each year, as a reminder of the positive impact that gratitude can have in our lives. Taking the time to acknowledge and appreciate the people, moments, and things that bring us joy fosters a sense of connection with ourselves and others.  

The day encourages kindness, strengthens relationships, and builds a supportive environment where everyone feels valued. This week, in addition to our ‘gratitude grabs’ at Monday's assembly, the students and staff took a moment to reflect on what they're thankful for through a communal gratitude wall. This will stay up for the remainder of the year for the children and staff to add to. 

School Transition 

As we get ready to welcome our 2025 Kindergarten students during their transition visits next term, we want to acknowledge that the transition to Kindergarten is a big step for both children and parents. Our upcoming transition visits are designed to make this process as smooth and enjoyable as possible. These sessions will help your child get familiar with their new environment, meet their teachers, and begin forming friendships with classmates. 

Please visit SchoolTV on our school website to see how parents can prepare their children to enjoy the start to school experience, and how to navigate through challenges and worries. 

Our current Year 6 and Kinder buddies caught up for a post Musical chinwag/play and have some important messages to share with the 2025 Kinder students: 

“Don’t worry about not knowing where to go or where to put your bag, your buddy knows everything”. 

“The playground is awesome, and there’s always someone to play with”. 

“It’s okay to make mistakes here we just try our best”. 

“It doesn’t take long to know your way around”. 

World Smile Day 

World Smile Day falls in the holidays this year on Friday 4th October. It is promoted as an opportunity to devote a day to genuine smiles and acts of kindness. The biggest accessory we can wear each day is a smile and we can never underestimate its impact on others. We hope you can spend the day with your loved ones doing something special. 

I’d like to wish you and your families a safe and happy break together. Enjoy the well-deserved rest, and we look forward to seeing everyone refreshed and ready for an exciting Term 4. 

Chloe Coe 
Wellbeing Coordinator

Knight’s 9s Gala Day 

On Wednesday 4th September, 26 boys and girls from Year 3 and 4, attended the Knights Rugby League 9's Mixed Under 10's Gala Day in Windale. The teams each played 4 games, where they showed outstanding sportsmanship, teamwork, and enthusiasm. They demonstrated great skill and determination on the field, supporting each other and showing respect towards their opponents, shaking hands at the end of each game. Joey’s mixed teams finished the day with many wins, a few losses, a draw and huge smiles on their faces, especially with the bonus of meeting some of the amazing NRLW Knight’s players! We would like to thank Paul Dan, Aaron Watts and James Pryde for coaching the students, alongside numerous other parents who supported the students throughout the day. We can’t wait to do it all again next year! 

PSSA Soccer Championships 

In the last week of August, I travelled to Tamworth to represent Polding at the NSW PSSA Championships for soccer. 

I was fortunate to have six other boys from the Maitland/Newcastle Diocese that I have played with or against at club level and within Northern’s talent support program in my team. It was loads of fun playing alongside my mates and making new friends. 

We were very successful in the “pool of death” as our coach called it. Winning four games, drawing 1 and having one loss, which put us in second place and into the semifinal. We played Sydney East in the semi, who were the defending champions from last year. It was nil all at full time and at the end of extra time. We sadly lost to corner count backs in the end, but as a defender I am incredibly proud of the fact they were unable to score against us. Polding ended up finishing fourth out of fourteen teams overall. 

It was a real privilege to represent St Joseph’s for Polding, playing my favourite sport alongside the best players in the state and I can’t wait to get another opportunity to do it all again soon! 

Evan B 

Polding Cricket Trials 

On Thursday 19th September, Hamish M and Thomas P, travelled to Lismore for Polding Cricket Trials, held at Jim Roder Oval. The conveners had their work cut out for them as only 12 of the incredibly talented 42 hopeful students could be selected to continue. 

The selectors noted that the boys represented St Joseph’s with humility and pride and showed great skill and sportsmanship.  

Thomas and Hamish should be proud of their efforts as they pushed themselves to shine, especially towards the end of the day when it became hot and humid.  

We congratulate Hamish on his selection in the NSWCPS Polding team. He will now attend the NSWPSSA Cricket Championships in Week 1, Term 4 in Armidale. 

Netball NSW Schools Cup 

Last Friday, the Stage 3 girls netball team proudly represented St Joseph’s in the second round of the NSW Netball Cup held in Maitland. The girls showcased exceptional skill and teamwork, finishing the day with only one loss, which secured the team top position on the ladder and a place in the finals. 

In the semi-finals, the girls faced St Therese’s in a thrilling game, finishing with a score of 8-6. This victory propelled them into a competitive grand final, where they battled fiercely but ultimately finished in 2nd place. 

This remarkable achievement reflects the hard work and dedication of the team, and they should be incredibly proud of their performance. Congratulations to the 'SJM Diamonds' on this fantastic result! 

A massive thankyou to Imogen McCulloch (coach), Renee Mantle (manager) and all the parents who cheered and supported throughout the day. 

Hannah Butler 

Shannon Bailey & Emma Cook 
Sports Coordinators

Upcoming Events

P&F Meeting - Monday 21 October

Join us for our next P&F meeting in the staff café at 6pm on Monday 21 October. All welcome!

School Disco -  Wednesday 23 October

As we head into the Spring school holidays, we wanted to let you know the final disco for 2024 will be on Wednesday 23rd October.

Enjoy a fab-boo-lous night of Zombie beats and the monster mash at our spooktacular Halloween Disco.

Each ticket includes a sausage sizzle, a glow stick and a zooper dooper!

Before the event please:

• Book your tickets on QKR. $12 per student (includes sausage sizzle, glow stick & zooper dooper).
• Ticket sales will close at 3pm on Friday 18 October.
• There will be no cash sales on the night.
• Read the attached info sheet, which has all the info you need.
• Print and complete the attached emergency contact form. All students MUST hand this in on arrival at the disco.
• Make sure each student brings a labelled, refillable water drink bottle, as they get very hot and thirsty.

We’re also looking for volunteers to help set up, serve food, supervise and pack up at the end of the night. If you can help and have volunteer clearance, please contact the office on 4961 2827.

We look forward to seeing all the fang-tastic costumes at the dance.

Golf Day - Friday 15 November

Hit the golf course for two great causes

The annual St Joseph’s Merewether P+F and Lifeline Hunter Golf Day is on Friday 15 November.

Whether you’re a seasoned golfer or just looking for a fun day out, we welcome all Mums, Dads, Nans, Pops, friends and family to join in—everyone’s invited to swing into action and support a great cause!

Gather your team, polish your clubs, and join us at the stunning Charlestown Golf Club for a thrilling four-person Ambrose event. Whether you’re aiming for that $20,000 hole-in-one or simply soaking up the friendly atmosphere, there’s something for everyone!

With breakfast, lunch, golf carts, and countless chances to win, this is a day not to be missed. Secure your spot today and support two great causes while you play - Joey’s P+F and Lifeline Hunter's local crisis services.

Get tickets

Tickets can be purchased from  https://stj24.raiselysite.com/ or Lifeline Hunter can invoice you or your business.

What should you expect?
Expect unique holes on the course, try for your chance to win $20,000 at the Hole in One competition and your chance to win prizes for our nearest to the pin and longest drive holes, plus many more opportunities to win throughout the day.

Date: Friday 15November 2024

Venue: Charlestown Golf Club, 1a Barker St, Hillsborough NSW

Time: 7am arrival for an 8am tee off. Event concludes 1.30pm.

Team of 4 - $600 – golf, carts, breakfast and lunch.

Hole Sponsorship - $1000 team of 4 with carts; Ability to advertise at sponsored hole both with banners, flags, marquees as well as with staff/volunteers; Logo on the ticketing site; Social media recognition pre and post event; Ability to activate at sponsored hole; Option to put merch/flyers/business cards in all players welcome bags; Breakfast and lunch provided for all players.

For more information

For more information or to sponsor a hole, contact Joshua Schultz Hunter Lifeline on 0405 782 408. If you’d like to donate a raffle prize to the golf day, please email sjpandf@gmail.com.

Don’t miss out on this unforgettable day of golf, camaraderie, and giving back—book your team now and be part of making a real difference in our community!

P&F News

St Joseph’s P&F Spring Ball raised $10,800

The St Joseph’s P & F Spring Ball was held on Saturday 14 September and what a night it was raising $10,800 for the school’s library redevelopment.

Events like this take a lot of planning, styling and hard work to pull off. A huge thank you goes to our amazing events committee - Fiona Denny, Claire Frost, Claire Collins, Penny Heath and Priscilla Officer. This powerhouse team has worked tirelessly behind the scenes for months securing auction items, raffle prizes, organising the event, setting up and ensuring everyone had a wonderful night!

We couldn’t raise this much money without the support of many generous local businesses.

Thank you to the following businesses for donating to our raffle: 

• Alfies Italian
• Sellers Quality Meats
• The Junction Hotel
• Blue Door Merewether
• Commonwealth Hotel
• Bar Beach Bowling Club
• Good Friends Eatery
• Cellabrations Georgetown

Thank you to the following businesses for donating to our silent auction:

• The de Witt Family and Shoalhaven Shoal Bay accommodation
• Tyler Dan, Artist
• McGregor and McGregor Finance and Evoke Shoal Bay accommodation
• Scott McShane, Peter Chapman and Reflections Holidays
• Sanbah Surf Shop, The Junction
• The Junction Hotel
• Principal Karen McGinlay
• The de Witt Family and The Welders Dog
• Beauty and the Fox
• Good Friends Eatery
• Bunnings Warehouse
• Street Property
• McDonalds Jones Stadium

The P&F Ball is held every two years as our major fundraiser. It’s an event to bring parents and friends of the school together for a night of fun and to connect across all year groups. We hope that everyone who attended enjoyed themselves and thank you for the generous support!

Interrelate "Tricky Talks" - Years 3-6

Thursday 24 October 

This year the event will be held on line.  To register your attendance, please click here.   Cost per family is $41.50, payment is made online when registering.

The first session is titled 'Where Did I Come From?' and will begin the discussion on the male and female reproductive systems, as well as placing an emphasis on personal safety and protective behaviours. This session will run between 6:00pm - 7:00pm AEDT.

The second session is titled 'Preparing For Puberty' In this session, we discuss the physical changes of puberty, putting emphasis on the fact that it can be different for everyone. We also build on the first session in enhancing the awareness of a child’s personal safety, as well as inform further on protective behaviour. We develop students’ understanding of periods and sperm production, as well as the physical, emotional, social and intellectual changes associated with puberty for both boys and girls. This session is recommended for children above Year 5, however, in the past mature Year 3 and 4 students have seen this material. This session will run from 7:15 - 8:15pm AEDT.

Interrelate uses an online platform called Big Blue Button to ensure the safety and security for all participants.  

• The link will be available on the ticket once sign up has been completed. No download is required. 
• Only one registration per family is required
• Our Educator will be presenting via microphone and webcam. Registered families are not required to share microphone or webcam. 
• Interrelate educators have a valid Working with children check or equivalent. 
• Teachers will be present for all programs.  
• The Tricky Talks program has content that may be unsuitable for younger children. Parental supervision will be required. 
• You are not permitted to broadcast this presentation as a live event in other platforms. 
• For this program, you will require access to a computer and a stable internet connection. Our programs work best with Google Chrome.

Term Planner - Term 4*

*Please note these dates are subject to change and any changes will be communicated via Compass as soon as they occur.

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