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Dear Parents,
As I mentioned in the last newsletter, we recently had what is called an Annual School Visit (ASV) from Catholic Schools Office (CSO) staff and the Diocesan Shared Services leaders. As part of this day, several CSO staff visited classrooms and spoke with groups of children about the school and their learning. Their observations and the children’s’ comments were then shared with us.
A common theme that came through from the children, is that life is challenging as they have a lot on in their lives and it’s difficult to juggle everything and this is leading to simmering anxiety and stress. The panel said they recognised that often they are the ones wanting more or to do more as this is how they grow and develop but they were also expressing that they wanted more time and space for themselves. As a result of this we, as a staff, are making a more concerted effort to ensure that throughout the week we are building in more moments for mindfulness. We ask that you do the same with your children. They do not need to have every minute of their lives planned and organised.
The Importance of Downtime for Children
Downtime for kids is unstructured time where they can relax, recharge, and engage in activities of their own choosing without external direction. It's essential for their cognitive development, emotional well-being, and creativity. Downtime allows children to process information, regulate emotions, and develop essential life skills like problem-solving and independence.
Benefits of Downtime:-
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Cognitive Development: Downtime allows children's brains to consolidate memories, which is crucial for learning and retention.
- Emotional Regulation: It helps children manage stress, process emotions, and prevent burnout.
- Creativity and Imagination: Unstructured play during downtime fosters creativity, imagination, and self-discovery.
- Problem-Solving and Decision-Making: Downtime provides opportunities for children to explore, experiment, and learn to make their own choices.
- Independence: It allows children to pursue their interests and passions autonomously.
- Reduced Stress: Downtime helps kids step away from obligations and find time for relaxation, reducing stress levels.
A little boredom isn’t a bad thing—it actually sparks imagination and problem-solving. By protecting quiet, unstructured time in their week, we help children feel more balanced, happy, and ready to learn. Regular unscheduled time helps maintain mental health and supports balanced achievement.
Sometimes, saying no to one more activity is a gift. Let’s remember that being busy isn’t always better—and that rest is part of healthy growth.
Practical Tips for Parents:
- Assess total weekly activity load—prioritise sleep and one "do-nothing" afternoon.
- Watch for signs of stress: irritability, mood swings, exhaustion.
- Discuss with your child. Ask how they feel, not just how they perform.
Why not take a look at this Cleveland Clinic article that talks about how relying too heavily on structured calendars may deprive children of essential downtime needed to thrive.
Council of Catholic School Parents
Did you know that there is group of parent volunteers across NSW and Canberra who provide leadership, advocacy and support to all parents and carers of students in Catholic schools in dioceses in NSW and the Archdiocese of Canberra-Goulburn, and represent their interests at state and national level? This council of Catholic school parent offers support and resources to families and schools as well as interested in engaging with fellow parents. Check out their website
Next week they are offering two free parent workshops facilitated by Michelle Mitchell. At the Parenting Tweens session, she uses the results from her recent survey of more than 2000 parents and tweens, as well as 20 years’ experience working with families, to help trusted adults capitalise on the years between 9 and 12.
For the Parenting Teens session she will offer parenting insights into the developing brain which will guide a discussion about effective communication, setting healthy boundaries, managing emotionally charged moments and championing strengths.
PARENTING TWEENS: WHAT KIDS NEED NOW, BEFORE THE TEEN YEARS
For parents and carers of primary school students 8+
Tuesday 24 June 7pm - 8pm
Register here
PARENTING TEENS: STAYING CONNECTED THROUGH THE TEEN YEARS
Parents of high school kids 12+
Wednesday 25 June 7pm - 8pm
Register here
CELEBRATE! Choirs at the Civic
Last Wednesday, our school choir took part in the Celebrate! Choirs event at the Civic Theatre—and what a performance it was! While all the schools involved gave truly impressive performances, we couldn’t help but feel that our choir was something extra special.
Our girls sang beautifully in tune, kept perfectly in sync with their body percussion, and radiated joy and enthusiasm throughout their performance. It was clear to everyone just how much they love what they do.
A huge thank you to all the choir members for giving up their break times to rehearse, and to Mrs Butler for her musical expertise and dedication in preparing the group to such a high standard and to Mrs Roberts for her support on the day, as well. We are incredibly proud of what they achieved.
We’re already looking forward to next year’s event—and hopefully to seeing an even bigger choir, with some boys joining the fun too!
Uniforms
Recently, there have been some requests made for the students to wear long sleeve t-shirts under their uniforms during the colder weather. We would recommend singlets or camisoles, as they provide great warmth but are not too excessive, as you need to consider that all classrooms have air conditioning and children can get easily overheated. If your children wear a camisole, singlet or long sleeve t-shirt it needs to be white or flesh coloured if it’s going under the white shirts and a light colour under the boys’ shirts. We ask that these undergarments are not to be visible and that there are to be no long sleeve t-shirts worn under the sports polo shirts, please.
Enrolment Opportunities for 2025 and Kindergarten 2026
We currently have some vacancies available for this school year, across various year groups, and are happy to accept mid-year enrolments. If you know any families considering a move—whether inside or outside our catchment area—please encourage them to contact us for more information.
Additionally, offers for Kindergarten 2026 places have been sent out. If you know anyone still looking for a Kindergarten spot for next year, we have some spaces available and would love to hear from them.
Please feel free to reach out to our school office for enrolment details.
We look forward to seeing you at the upcoming parent-teacher meetings. If you haven’t booked in a time please do so as soon as possible.
Enjoy your weekend and some downtime with your children,
Karen
Principal
Reports
Reports will be made available to parents on Friday 27th June (Week 9). Please see the information below regarding booking for Parent Teacher Interviews
Parent Teacher Interviews
You are invited to book your parent teacher interviews via the Compass App or a computer by following the instructions attached below.
Bookings are now open on the Compass App and will close on Friday 27th June.
Thursday, 3rd July is our designated Parent/Teacher interview evening, however, you will see that other times during Week 10 are also available. Due to staff leave and study commitments, families in Kinder Blue, 2 Blue and 4 Blue will complete their interviews in Week 9, while families in 6 Gold will have interview times available for Weeks 9 and 10 of this term.
Please come to these meetings to listen, acknowledge your child’s efforts and progress at school. We also ask that prior to the conference you have read and discussed the report with your child/children.
This year, interviews will take the following format:
Kindergarten, Year 1, Year 2 – Parent/Teacher Interview
Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 – Parent/Teacher Interview. Student attendance is optional (parent choice).
Year 6 – Parent/Teacher/Student Conference: This approach includes the parent/s, teacher and student in the conference. During this time students will share 3 goals. These goals will align closely to the ‘areas for development’ within the student reports. Students will select one of these goals as their main area of focus for development in the coming weeks. Parents will then be asked to select a goal for their child. This could be one of the outlined teacher goals, or one that the parent has identified as a further area of growth for their child.
Diocesan Spelling Bee
As a school community we wish Harriet H (3G) all the best for her upcoming participation in the Diocesan Spelling Bee. This will take place on Thursday 27 June at Rosary Park, Branxton. Good luck, Harriet!
Positive Behaviours for Learning (PB4L)
Our final PBL focus this term is Do Your Best – Be A Team Member. This is an important focus area as children learn the importance of contributing to a group goal, rather than an individual goal. They will be discussing the qualities of being a good team player such as sharing tasks equally, being fair, including others, encouraging others, demonstrating focus and displaying a commitment to the task. By evaluating several different scenarios, students will identify how they can become even better team players. If you have an opportunity, please discuss these concepts with your children at home.
Being halfway through the token 5-week block, we look forward to giving students a progress report on a token count at our School Assembly on Monday morning.
Refugee Week runs from Sunday 15 - Saturday 21 June. This year the theme is, Finding Freedom. But you may ask yourself, what does it mean to be free? It is to live without the fear of war, to have your basic human rights upheld, to live in equality and without the fear of persecution are just some of the examples of what freedom can entail. Everyday millions of people across the world embark on dangerous journeys for the sole purpose of finding safety and freedom. From Australia to nations across the globe, settling into a new environment after experiencing the perils of a refugee’s journey can also provide the opportunity to live, to love and to dream.
Refugee Week is a unique opportunity for us all to experience and celebrate the rich diversity of refugee communities through theatre, music, dance, film and other events which take place all over Australia and highlight the aims of the Week, as outlined in this link: https://www.refugeeweek.org.au/
Renata Rozenfeld
Assistant Principal
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Year 3 – Encountering the Word of God |
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Students have been exploring the notion of story: their own and other people’s, and the great Christian story that is the Bible. This module also develops the concept of the Bible as sacred, telling us about God and God’s relationship with people. There will be a particular focus on stories about God and his relationship with people in the Hebrew Scriptures. Students will also focus on the importance of praying with the Scriptures as a way of encountering God and building a relationship with Him. Specifically, students will be introduced to the experience of Lectio Divina as a way of reflecting on God’s Word. |
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Year 4 - The Spirit at Work in the World |
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Students have been exploring the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. They have examined the work of the Holy Spirit present in the Church and in the world. Students came to understand the role of the Holy Spirit in the sacraments, especially the Sacrament of Confirmation, and how the Gifts of the Holy Spirit were strengthened in Confirmation. They also investigated the symbols and rituals associated with the Sacrament of Confirmation. The students reflected on how the Holy Spirit had strengthened them to be Christ for others and to live out the mission of Jesus. Students recognized that Christians were empowered by the Holy Spirit to act like Jesus and continue Jesus’ work of witness and service. At the conclusion of this module, students appreciated the role of the Holy Spirit in guiding and shaping human activity in the Church and in our world. |
St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal
Your generous support of the St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal will make a real difference. Together, we’re providing warmth, shelter, and hope to those facing hardship this Winter. Many thanks for your kind and generous donations and thank you to the SJSJ team who worked together to make it happen!
Bishop's Flood Appeal
World Refugee Day
The celebration of World Refugee Day is an international day observed annually on June 20 by the United Nations.
It is designed to celebrate and honour refugees from around the world.
Lord, Give me eyes that see
the needs of those around me.
Give me ears that hear
the meaning behind the words.
Give me hands that reach out
to make a difference.
We pray for those who need to flee to escape from danger and for those who carry the scars from the trauma of fleeing their homeland.
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
Embracing AI in Education: Enhancing Learning and Teaching
Paul Kelly Cup
On Thursday, June 12th, our Year 5 and Year 6 students proudly represented Joeys in the Paul Kelly Cup in Warners Bay with one girls’ team and one boys’ team. Both teams showed incredible enthusiasm, sportsmanship, and teamwork throughout the day. They celebrated each other’s successes and supported one another through every challenge, truly embodying the spirit and character of our school.
The girls team had an outstanding day, remaining undefeated and demonstrating impressive growth—especially considering many were new to AFL. Their joyful smiles and personal achievements - including every player scoring a goal, made the day unforgettable. We are thrilled to announce the girls will now advance to the Regionals!
The boys’ team also had a fantastic performance, winning four out of five games. Their determination and fight for every ball and every mark was inspiring to watch. They never gave up and showed such great skill in each game. Again, for many, they were new to AFL, but you would have thought they had been playing for years!
A big thank you to Grant Vickery and Marty Dineen for coaching and supporting our teams—Joeys is so lucky to have such dedicated parents!
Boys, please remember to wash and return your jerseys and socks to the school office.
NSWPSSA Championships Rugby Union
On 5th and 6th June, Ellie V travelled to Blacktown to represent the Polding team at the NSWPSSA Rugby Union Championships. Competing against 13 strong teams from across New South Wales, Ellie demonstrated outstanding skill, resilience, and teamwork across the two-day event. Her efforts contributed to a series of team successes, culminating in an impressive 3rd place finish. Beyond the competition, Ellie formed valuable friendships and embraced the opportunity with enthusiasm and sportsmanship. We are incredibly proud of Ellie’s achievements and the way she represented our school with pride, determination, and spirit.
Polding Cross Country
On 11th June, Eve D and Alice K travelled to Sydney to compete in the Polding Cross Country Championships, tackling a challenging course with determination and perseverance. Both students ran exceptionally well, showing great resilience as they navigated the demanding terrain. We congratulate Eve on her strong performance, placing 34th against a highly competitive field, and Alice on her outstanding achievement, finishing in 3rd place. Alice’s result sees her progress to the NSW State Championships, and we wish her all the best as she prepares for the next stage. Well done to both girls on representing our school with pride and determination.
Polding Rugby Union trials
On 5th June, Vincent M and Digby W travelled to compete in the Polding Rugby Union Trials. Both boys demonstrated impressive skill, commitment, and a genuine passion for the game as they competed alongside talented players from across the region. We extend our congratulations to Vincent on his selection to the Polding team — a well-deserved recognition of his performance on the day. Well done to both boys for representing our school with determination and pride.
Upcoming Events
Regional Athletics Carnival – Tuesday 24th June
Shannon Bailey
Sports Coordinator
What’s on?
Next week is Wellbeing Week at St Joseph’s. The Student Wellbeing Team have been busy planning daily recess activities that focus on the wellbeing, mental and health of our students.
Monday: Families are welcome to join us at our morning Assembly where the Student Wellbeing Team will launch Wellbeing Week.
Tuesday: Students may bring their favourite board or card games to play with their friends at Recess.
Friday: Out of uniform day. Please let us know if your child/ren have any sensitivities to face paint by emailing admin@merewether.catholic.edu.au ASAP.
Joey’s Biggest Morning Tea
We are so proud to let you know the final amount raised at our Joey’s Biggest Morning Tea was $2083, smashing our original goal of $500. Thank you so much for your contributions.
SchoolTV – Navigating AI Relationships
As AI technology continues to shape social dynamics, it's important for us all to stay informed and involved. AI has the potential to enrich educational experiences and foster creativity, but it also poses challenges related to privacy, mental health, and misinformation. By maintaining an open dialogue and promoting a balanced approach, we can help young people navigate this new digital landscape, allowing them to benefit from AI's advancements while protecting them from its potential risks. Click here to view SchoolTV’s special edition report on navigating AI Relationships.
Chloe Coe
Wellbeing Coordinator
Premier’s Reading Challenge
Another nine students have completed the challenge in the last few weeks. Congratulations to Ellie (K Gold), Lottie (1 Blue), Ava (2 Blue), Alice D (3 Blue), Beatrice (3 Blue), Lawson (3 Blue), Alice K (3 Gold), Adelaide (5 Blue) and Juliette (6 Gold). More than 50 students have now completed the challenge.
Keep reading and recording those books.
Book Week
Book Week will be celebrated in Week 5 of next term. We have started our planning and can’t wait to let you know more details. The theme for this year is “Book an Adventure”, so let the adventure begin.
Keep your eyes open for more news about Book Week celebrations.
Overdue books
Some students have received reminders recently to find books which were borrowed during Term 1. If the books cannot be returned, for some reason, the replacement cost should be paid at the office.
A Celebration of Song and Spirit: Thank You, St Joseph’s Choir!
Last Wednesday evening 27 talented students from St Joseph’s proudly represented our school at Celebrate – Choirs at the Civic, a vibrant showcase of musical talent involving ten schools from across the region. With hearts full of joy and voices united in harmony, our students took to the stage and delivered a performance that was nothing short of extraordinary.
Our choir sang three beautiful pieces: the rhythmic and spirited "Sansa Kroma", the nostalgic classic "This Old Man", and the uplifting anthem "Pilgrims of Hope (Singing Jubilee)". Each song was brought to life with energy, passion, and incredible teamwork, captivating the audience and truly showcasing the strength of our school community.
Watching from the audience, Mrs Skinner, Mrs Temple, and Mrs McGinlay were moved and inspired by what they saw. They described feeling awe at the confidence, presence, and joy radiating from our students on stage. It was clear that these young performers had worked hard, supported each other, and poured their hearts into the music.
Our choir didn’t just sing—they shone. Among nine other schools, our students stood out not only for their musical excellence but also for their school spirit, pride, and positive energy. They were wonderful ambassadors for St Joseph’s, and we could not be prouder of each and every one of them.
To our choir: thank you. Thank you for your dedication, your courage, and your willingness to share your gifts with others. You reminded us all of the power of music to connect, uplift, and inspire. You’ve left a lasting impression on everyone who had the privilege of hearing you sing.
Let’s continue to raise our voices with confidence and joy—because when we sing together, we shine together.
Bravo, St Joseph’s Choir!
Emily Butler
Music Teacher
P&F Meeting
Come along to our next P&F meeting on Wednesday 25 June at 6pm in the Staff Café. It’s a great chance to contribute to upcoming events and hear about the next steps around our P&F transition planning.
Parent Mixer
Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Cricketers Arms Hotel at the end of May for our Parent Mixer.
It was great to see so many parents enjoying a relaxed environment and getting to know one another. A special thank you to Nat Butler for organising such a great evening and to the Mansfield family for hosting us. We’d love to keep the conversations going at the P&F Meeting.
School Fees
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.
Term Planners
Term 2
Please note dates and times are subject to change at any time. Any changes will be communicated to families via Compass
Term 3
Please note dates and times are subject to change at any time. Any changes will be communicated to families via Compass
Unless otherwise stated, the advertisements placed in this newsletter are placed by independent third parties who have no legal relationship with the Diocese. The activities or services of the advertisers are not supervised or controlled in any way by the Diocese. The Diocese is not in a position to endorse the advertisers or the services provided and makes no representation about those matters. Accordingly, the Diocese cannot accept any responsibility for the advertisers or the activities or services that are the subject of these advertisements.
PLEASE NOTE VACATION CARE WILL BE HELD AT HOLY FAMILY PRIMARY SCHOOL, MEREWETHER BEACH
