Dear Parents,

As we begin the final term of 2024, there's a wonderful sense of excitement in the air! We have many engaging events planned for our students in the weeks ahead, and we're delighted to welcome four new families to our school community. Our new students, Bea, Leo, Elliot and Florence who have joined Years 1 through 3, have already settled in beautifully and are making new friends. We extend a warm St Joseph’s welcome to these families and look forward to walking alongside them on their educational journey.

Halloween Disco Highlights

Wednesday night's Halloween Disco was a spectacular success! The school hall was transformed into a spooktacular dance floor filled with creative costumes and joyful laughter. Our students showcased their best dance moves to fantastic music, while their poses for the camera were next level!  The sausage sizzle and Zooper Doopers went down a treat. A special thank you to our dedicated Parents & Friends Association for organising this wonderful event, and to all our parent volunteers who helped with setup, serving food, supervision, and cleanup. Your support makes these memorable events possible!

Welcome to Our 2025 Kindergarten Students

Thursday marked an exciting milestone as we hosted our first Kindergarten transition day. Our 2025 Kindergarten students took their first steps into 'big school,' exploring their future learning spaces and making new friends. While the little ones were busy discovering their new environment, parents attended an informative session in the hall focusing on our play-based learning approach and Successful Foundations program. There were both tears and laughter, particularly during the heartwarming video featuring our current Kindergarten students sharing their precious advice for new parents. It was touching to see the mix of emotions as families begin this significant journey.

World Teachers' Day

Today, we celebrate World Teachers' Day and acknowledge the incredible dedication of our teaching staff. Every day, our teachers at St Joseph’s go above and beyond, to nurture, inspire, and guide our students. They create engaging learning environments, provide individual support, and help each child discover their unique potential. Their commitment to excellence in education and their genuine care for our students' wellbeing makes our school community truly special.

We thank the P & F for their support and providing morning tea and organising an e-card. Both were greatfully received and we truly appreciate the time taken to write special messages to our teachers.

Let us take a moment to pray for our teachers:

Loving God, 

We thank you for the gift of our teachers who dedicate their lives to educating and nurturing our children. 

Bless them with wisdom, patience, and strength as they guide young minds and hearts. 

May their dedication inspire our children to love learning and grow in knowledge and faith. 

Grant them joy in their vocation and help them see the fruits of their labor in the success of their students. 

We ask this through Christ our Lord. 

Amen.

Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend,
Karen

Student Leadership 2025 

The process of selecting our Student Leaders for 2025 will begin on Monday 18th November. Please see the proposed timeline below: 

Monday 18 November  

• Year 5 complete Leadership Reflection sheet 

• Leadership Parent letter & student nomination form sent home 

Thursday 21 November 

• Nominations need to be returned  

• Absent students to email their nomination form 

Monday 25 November 

• Year 5 students vote and determine 10 girls and 10 boys 

Tuesday 26 - Friday 29 November 

• Staff vote to narrow 20 children to 10 - 5 boys and 5 girls – the Student Leadership Team of 2025 

Monday 2 December 

• Student Leadership Team for 2025 announced 

• Nominees for Sports House Captain to complete speech at House Team Meeting 

• Students 2-6 vote for Sport House Captains 

Tuesday 3 December 

• Sports House Captains announced 

Wednesday 4 December 

• Student Leadership Team will write a short speech at school 

• Speeches presented to the whole school in the hall 

• Year 2-6 vote 

• Captains and Vice Captains and their parents are informed  

• Captains and Vice Captains for 2025 announced 

Graduation Mass – Date TBC 

• Passing of light between 2024 Leadership Team and 2025 Leadership Team at the End of Year Mass.  

Progressive Achievement Testing (PAT)  

PAT testing will be completed by all students in Years 2-6 in over the next few weeks, in Mathematics, Spelling and Reading. PAT is completed each year and looks at student growth across the year. The results from these tests assist us to organise flexible groups for 2025 and ensure that teaching and learning programs are targeted to the needs of all students. There is no need for students to “study” for PAT. 

Safeguarding - ‘Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility’  

Children’s Week 

This week is National Children’s Week. Children’s Week is
a national celebration of children’s rights, talents and citizenship. The Children’s Week National Theme for 2024 is based on Article 24 of United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC): Children have the right to a clean and safe environment.  

Acknowledging and celebrating Children’s Week aims to highlight children and young people’s right to play, rest, engage in cultural life, the arts and recreational activities and the fundamental role it has in their learning. This project was initiated to support the implementation of the Wellbeing Framework and Early Learning philosophy that advocates for student voice and agency in the diocese of Maitland-Newcastle.  

Positive Behaviours for Learning (PBL) 

During Term 4, we will continue focusing on our four PBL expectations: 

Act Safely 

- Be Respectful 

- Care for All 

- Do Your Best 

Our PBL focus this fortnight is Act Safely – Be Sun Safe, which we are linking to our continued focus of Caring for our belongings. Students are expected to wear their hat to school each day. It should be clearly labelled on the inner rim with their full name, to ensure if it does end up in lost property, it can be easily returned.  

During PBL lessons, students are identifying: 

• What is meant by “Sun Safe”? 

• Why is being Sun Safe important? 

• How can we be Sun Safe at school? 

Below you will find a couple of links to videos which reinforce these concepts. Hopefully they are useful and may be a conversation starter for you and your child/ren. 

Whole School PowerPoint 

Kindergarten Video 

Stage 1 (Year 1 & 2) Video 

Stage 2 (Year 3 & 4) Video 

Stage 3 (Year 5 & 6) Video 

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

Stella M (KB), Zepher VV (KG), Pip W (1B), Lennox B (1G), Sienna S (2B) Luka R (2G), Bodhi P (3B), Clara LH (3G), Rauri M (4B), Joe C (4G), Emeriss A (5B), Harrison C (5G), Xavier C (6B) & Adelaide M (6G).

Nicole Charnock
Assistant Principal

Cirriculum Corner

In Week 1 our staff worked with Jocelyn Seamer, from Jocelyn Seamer Education to further develop skills in planning text-based units of work to design engaging and purposeful learning experiences for students. Our goal was to begin with the end in mind, focusing on what students need to learn to successfully complete their summative task. The idea is that "all roads lead to the summative task," so every lesson builds key skills that students will use in their final assessments. This method provides specific, tailored learning opportunities for our students.

In Jocelyn’s weekly newsletter she included this affirmation:

Figure 1 https://www.jocelynseamereducation.com/

“Greetings from Newcastle!  I hope that you've had a lovely week. This week I have had the pleasure of spending three days in a school on a return visit to a terrific school. This school's staff is wonderful. Their teachers really know their students. They value them and support them no matter their quirks or challenges. Their leadership team is right there with them.  Our time together this week was about cognitive load-friendly writing instruction and connecting this to the writing of text-based units. During our time together, each team had time to rumble with the challenges of targeting instruction to students' point of need and linking assessment to both curriculum requirements and student learning.  Working with a school like this is so rewarding. Not only are teachers on the bus, but the Principal was right there with in the planning every step of the way. The Principal of this school knows how important it is to lead from the front. She works with purpose and supports with compassion. Ultimately, it is students who will benefit. A huge part of this team's success is that they know why they are doing what they do. They are continually growing their knowledge of research and the 'why' and the 'what' of pedagogical practice.”

As part of their professional learning, teachers focussed 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’s a look at what each stage is working on:

Early Stage 1: are using the text ‘A Year on Our Farm’ write a descriptive recount of the events on the farm in a particular season.

Stage 1: are learning to write an informative text using a variety of stimulus including whales, sharks and octopi.

Stage 2: are learning to create characters and dialogue in a fictional text. They are using ‘The twits’ to develop skills in creating characters and dialogue.

Stage 3: are learning to write persuasive speeches using Greta Thunberg’s speech to the United Nations as a stepping stone into writing and delivering their own persuasive speech.

Figure 2 https://twl4parents.com/begin-with-the-end-in-mind/

This method of planning utilised ensures that each lesson is purposeful, supporting the development of skills that students will showcase in their final assessments. By beginning with the end in mind, teachers help students see the clear path toward success!

Leanne Skinner 
Primary Coordinator and Pedagogical Mentor 

Class Masses

We warmly welcome Fr Bob back to Friday morning mass after recovering from a procedure last term and we thank all the visiting priests for celebrating mass with us as a community.

This term Kinder – Year 4 will attend mass in November on a Friday at 10:15am at St Joseph’s Parish on the following dates.

• 8/11 – Year 3
• 15/11 – Year 4
• 22/11 – Kinder
• 29/11 – Year 1
• 13/12 – Year 2

All families are welcome to join us during November and December to celebrate with Fr Bob and the parish community, they love seeing us in attendance.

Liturgies

During Term 4 Year 2 and Year 4 will be leading us in prayer for All Saints Day and Remembrance Day. Once again, these are opportunities to join as a community to participate in the catholic life of the school.

All Saints Day, 1^st November (Week 3), is a day to honour all the saints in heaven. It celebrates and gives thanks to those who have given grace and whose powerful ends have helped to shape human life. It's time for people to follow the example of the saints and recognise that the sanctity of life can stem from ordinary circumstances, not only extraordinary crises of human life. Year 2 will be leading us in this celebration in the COLA at 9am next Friday

Remembrance Day, 11^th November (Week 5), commemorates those who have died serving their country in the armed forces. Year 4 will be leading us in this liturgy as part of our Monday morning assembly

Donna Morgan 
REC 

World Teachers Day 

To support and celebrate World Teachers' Day, NESA is inviting school communities to go on a treasure hunt for teaching gems in NSW. A gem is a teacher you care about, past or present, who motivates and inspires you and others. 

Simply follow this link, click on the ‘message’ button to give a shout out to a teacher in your community. Add your school's postcode to make sure your gem is pinned in the right spot! Type in your teacher’s initials and a short personal message. You will not be asked for your name, email address or any personal information. All submissions are anonymous. 

This World Teachers' Day, let’s honour and appreciate the extraordinary contributions of our teachers at Joey’s, who tirelessly dedicate themselves to making a difference in the lives of their students every single day. 

SchoolTV 

Click here to read SchoolTV’s guide on raising girls. 

Click here to read SchoolTV’s guide on raising boys. 

Big Life Journal 

Children often struggle with moving to a new grade, a new class with a new teacher due to the uncertainty of new expectations, social dynamics, and adapting to different teaching styles. This transition can create anxiety about fitting in and performing well, as they must also let go of familiar routines and friendships from the previous year. Delving into their feelings with them can help ease this process. Click link to read Big Life Journal’s 7 ways to help children cope with big life changes.  

Chloe Coe 
Wellbeing Coordinator

NRL Newcastle Knights visit   

Our school community was thrilled to welcome players from the Newcastle Knights NRLW team this week for an unforgettable three-day visit. Students had the opportunity to participate in dynamic skills sessions and drills, where they not only scored impressive tries but also collected some autographs and photos with sporting heroes. The visit culminated in Wednesday afternoon's special presentation, 'Simply Your Best', where the Knights players shared inspiring messages about developing healthy habits and striving to become the best versions of themselves. Their words have left a lasting impression on our young minds.  

These memorable sessions were made possible through Miss Parish's successful entry in the magic round competition, and Miss Cook's coordination of the event. We thank everyone involved for providing our students with this amazing experience. 

Regional Cricket trials 

Eight of our budding cricketers - Hamish M, Thomas P, Luca O, Max D, Will H, Stella P, Harriet M and Adelaide F - represented St Joseph's at Tuesday's regional cricket trials held at the Warners Bay Indoor Centre. Competing against other talented players from around the region, our students demonstrated skill, determination and outstanding sportsmanship throughout the day. 

We are delighted to announce that Stella P, Harriet M, Adelaide F, Hamish M, Max D and Thomas P have earned a place in the upcoming diocesan trials. We congratulate all the students who displayed great talent and sporting spirit during the trials. 

NSW PSSA Athletics 

Yesterday four of our senior students attended the NSW State Championships for Athletics. They competed against hundreds of the best athletes from around the state, showing their speed, strength and agility. We congratulate Evan B on his 5th place in the long jump – achieving a personal best distance – Archie D on his 8th place in the 800m, and the senior boys relay team – Evan B, Archie D, Toby B and Vinnie M – on their 25th placing. Sadly, Oliver S had to pull out of his events due to injury and we wish him a speedy recovery. 

League Stars is coming to ST JOSEPH'S PRIMARY SCHOOL - MEREWETHER!

This 6 week program is open to all children from 5-12years old. Our program is all play, no contact, appealing to the true nature of kids, in all their messy, high energy, love of fun and play. The program is suitable for all abilities with the focus on practicing fundamental movement skills and having a blast with friends. Please note - this is not a development program and is more suitable for children wanting to have their first Rugby League experience or gain more confidence in their skills.

Day: Wednesday

Dates: 6/11/2024 – 11/12/2024

Start: 3pm

To register for the program – https://www.playrugbyleague.com/league-stars/

Shannon Bailey & Emma Cook 
Sports Coordinators

Our school was honoured to host Jacqui from the Awabakal Language Program last Thursday for a series of special language workshops. Students in each house group learned Awabakal words for local plants and animals that hold cultural significance and connect to their house colours. 

Following the tradition of Australian schools, where sporting houses are typically named using meaningful themes rather than simply colours, we have been working on this project to rename our house groups using Awabakal language. This learning experience empowers our students to be part of an historical change, honouring both our sporting tradition and local Indigenous heritage. Students will vote for their favourite name option, with the most popular choice becoming their new house name. 

We encourage families to discuss these Awabakal words with their children before the voting takes place. The name options for each house will be shared on Compass early next week, followed by the student voting process.  

During Term 2, Year 6 students participated in the 2024 Young Voices Awards in conjunction with Australian Catholic University. 

The YVA theme for 2024 was 'Do good, be good, spread good news'. The competition was open to secondary school and senior primary school students who had a choice of how to complete their own project on an issue that was important to them, and how they could make a positive difference in the world.  

There were three categories to enter: articles, photographs and digital (video or podcast). This year, prizes were awarded for each category and a selection of the best entries will appear in the Young Catholics magazine. 

We are so proud all Year 6 students and the efforts and initiative taken when interviewing, researching and composing their final projects. We are also very happy to announce that St. Joseph’s had winning and highly commended entries in all categories. 

Writing 

The judges were looking for writing that engages readers from the outset, and presents a compelling story or argument around a particular issue.  

Congratulations to: 

Violette A - Winner 

Emelie B – Highly Commended 

Lily G - Highly Commended 

Archie D - Highly Commended 

Photography 

The judges were looking for powerful images that have an impact on how we see a particular issue.  

Congratulations to: 

Evan B – Winner 

Will H – Highly Commended 

Gabe F - Highly Commended 

Alfie O - Highly Commended 

Digital 

The judges were looking for podcasts or videos that understand how these mediums can inspire and influence people.  

Congratulations to: 

Lola M – Winner 

Xavier C - Highly Commended 

Hayden C - Highly Commended 

Ava K - Highly Commended 

Amelie - Highly Commended 

P&F Meeting - Monday 4 November

Join us for our next P&F meeting in the staff café at 6pm on Monday 4 November. All welcome!

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 15 November 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!