Filter Content
Dear Parents,
Who would have thought 2021 would have been another extraordinary year just like last year? Let's hope that 2022 brings lots of extraordinariness to our lives but in a very different way to the previous two years. We are ready for a change!
As our school year draws to a close I would like to take this opportunity to offer my sincere thanks to our staff, for definitely going above and beyond during this most challenging of years. There have been many long hours this year, lots of learning done by them and new skill sets developed, all in order to best support each of the individuals in their care. I also want to thank all our parents, as you hung in there, being co-teachers of your children all whilst juggling your own commitments as well. I thank our children for their resilience, persistence and creativity that was often displayed during lockdown and for their engagement with learning once back at school. Let’s pray that we have a full year of face-to-face teaching and learning next year. What a gift that would be!
Thank you to those families who will be leaving our community this year. Thank you for entrusting the care and education of your children to us. It has been a great honour to care for and educate them and to share this role with you. We wish you all the best in the future and hope you will hold fond memories of St Joseph’s throughout your lives.
I just want to finish off the year by saying what terrific learning experiences our children have had right up until the end of this term and how I have been blown away by what our children are capable of. The Year 3 students have surprised us all with their amazing acting talents as were showcased in last Friday’s performance of “Santa’s Magic Boots”, Year 4 have created the most amazingly beautiful Christmas ornaments that I am sure will adorn your trees for many years to come and Year 5 have captured my attention with their BECOME projects where they held an expo sharing their action research into potential careers for them in the future. I can’t wait to see, if in about 15 years down the track, we do have any vets, Egyptologists, doctors, criminal lawyers, dress designers, bakers and architects. Not to forget our younger students whose reading and writing just keep coming along in leaps and bounds. I can't wait to see what learning at St Joseph’s in 2022 brings!
Year 6 Farewell Liturgy
We were so fortunate to have managed to secure Fr Andrew for the Year 6 Graduation Liturgy and awards ceremony last week and to be able to hold it in the Cathedral. We hope that our Year 6 children will keep the memory of this special occasion with them for a long while to come and that they will keep even longer the message that they will always belong and be welcomed by God, and that they will never be alone. Our children have many challenges and triumphs ahead of them and if we can help nurture in them the realisation that no matter what, Christ will always be there for them, this may give them the strength and support they need to get through those toughest moments as well as help them to give thanks to God for the good that comes their way.
There was a terrific atmosphere throughout this occasion, and we were so glad that families could share in this moment with their children. My favourite moments were seeing the genuine shock and delight on award recipients faces, when they were taken by surprise, along with the moment when the outgoing captains handed over the leadership light to the incoming captains. Thank you to Ivy and Jack for the great work you did as leaders this year and we look forward to Eleanor’s and Luca’s leadership next year.
2022 Starting Dates
28 January | Week 1 - Staff Development Day |
31 January | Week 2 - Staff Development Day |
1 February | Year 1 - 6 Students commence |
Kindergarten teachers - Successful foundations Action Research Day | |
2 February | Kindergarten - Picnic and Play (Centennial Park) |
3 February | Kindergarten students commence (siblings start at 9.00am) (new families start at 9.20am) |
2022 Teaching Staff
Our teachers for next year are:
Kindergarten - Casey Sharman (KB), Gabriele Hawthorne (KG)
Year 1 - Leanne Skinner & Anne Maree Mantach (1B), Felicity Peart & Phoebe Parker (1G)
Year 2 - Alison Collins (2B), Joanne Standing & Carolyn Delore (2G)
Year 3 - Chloe Coe (3B), Nicole Charnock & Belinda Parkes (3G)
Year 4 - Donna McMillan & Sally Casey (4B), Fiona McCalden (4G)
Year 5 - Peter Watson (5G), Laura Slattery & Leah Temple (5B)
Year 6 - Zoe Parish & Leah Temple (6G), Emma Cook (6B)
Learning Support Teacher - Belinda Pearson
EALD - Alice Noble
Teacher Librarian – Dee Milgate
Music, Dance & Drama: Olivia Moss
We welcome Alison, Casey, Emma, Alice & Phoebe to our staff for 2022.
P&F
This year has been an up and down year for our P&F – first we could have meetings, then we couldn’t, then we could… Our hybrid meetings seem to be the way of the future and we will continue with this model for another year. At our recent AGM we got to thank our outgoing president Tony Petersen for his terrific service and support over the last 4 years. Tony gets so much out of being a part of the community in this way and, equally we get so much in return. It would be great to see many more parents join us in the future for meetings and events – don’t worry - if you don’t want a role, that’s okay. We just want your company, your ideas and your connection with us. Thank you to Andrea Sellis who held the role of Canteen Coordinator this year. Andrea was a great help in getting conversations off the ground for future directions for the canteen. It was just unfortunate then, just as we were about to launch some new ideas lockdown hit and we bunkered down. Look out for great things in 2022!
2022 P&F executive roles are:
President – Nici Williams
Vice President – Tony Petersen
Secretary – Karen Stathis
Treasurer – Alyssa Jones
Event Coordinator – Katy Mooney
Communications Coordinator – Renee Mantle
Canteen Coordinator - Vacant
Thank you to all those who have contributed to our P&F meetings this year and especially to our P&F exec team who happily give of themselves and their time for the good of our community.
Calling all Rock n’ Rollers!!
St Joseph’s Primary School students will continue to have the opportunity to learn guitar in 2022. Open to Years K to 6, students will learn everything from Bon Jovi to Billy Eilish to The Weeknd, to Post Malone, to Imagine Dragons, to Guy Sebastian, to Tones and I, to AC/DC, all whilst learning acoustic and electric guitar skills, learning to perform as part of a group and enjoying the excitement and experience of being a real musician with skills that will last a lifetime. All lessons are conducted in small groups, based on age and skill level. If you are interested in your child being involved, please email Ricky at ricky@rickysmusictuition.com.au
Kevin A. Milne said that, "Christmas magic is silent. You don't hear it–you feel it. You know it. You believe it." I hope that you all have much Christmas magic this year and that it is a special time for you and your families. Stay safe, have fun and enjoy the company of those who are special to you.
See you in 2022,
Karen
Christmas Prayer
O God, we have waited in joyful hope for the feast of the birth of Jesus. He comes to us in love, bringing mercy and hope to all the world. May we welcome him and always by being children of compassion and love too. We ask this through Jesus who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen
Wishing all members in our school community a Holy Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year.
Caritas
Christmas Appeal
Thank you to everyone for giving so generously to the SVDP Christmas Appeal. Your kindness will be warmly welcomed by those less fortunate than ourselves this Christmas.
We were very grateful to receive this from Ian Black, St Vincent De Paul Society, Merewether....
On behalf of the St Joseph Conference The Junction I would like to thank you, Donna and the children from Year 4 for your kindness in making this year’s Christmas Cards. In the fortnight before Christmas we shall visit 40 to 60 families, living in inner Newcastle , and give them a gift card , one of your cards and any toys made available to us. We,ourselves, get a thrill when we do this because the gift is usually unexpected and the families always have trouble meeting the costs of Christmas. Your cards help them to perceive that somebody is caring for them
Best Wishes, Ian
Christmas Mass Times
Please note: since Christmas Day falls on a Saturday in 2021, the arrangements below also encompass Masses for Sunday 26 December 2021.
Updated 28 November 2021: Following the announcement by the NSW Government of changes to the Reopening NSW Roadmap, there will no longer be capacity limits in place for the celebration of Christmas 2021 in Sacred Heart Cathedral, Hamilton.
Registration to attend any of the Masses will no longer be required, though attendees will still need to use the QR Code to sign in when attending. Other requirements may still be in place by the time Christmas 2021 arrives and these will be found here. Please check back regularly to stay up to date with these requirements.
Saturday evening |
5.00pm |
Sacred Heart Cathedral, Hamilton |
|
5.00pm |
Christ the King, Mayfield West |
|
5.00pm |
St Joseph's, The Junction |
|
5.30pm |
St Mary, Star of the Sea, Newcastle |
|
6.30pm |
St Peter-in-Chains', Stockton |
|
7.00pm |
Sacred Heart Cathedral, Hamilton |
|
7.00pm |
St Joseph's, The Junction |
|
10.00pm (Polish) |
Sacred Heart Cathedral, Hamilton |
Christmas Day (25 December) |
Midnight |
Sacred Heart Cathedral, Hamilton |
|
7.30am |
Sacred Heart Cathedral, Hamilton |
|
7.30am |
St Mary, Star of the Sea, Newcastle |
|
8.00am |
Mary Immaculate, Tighes Hill |
|
9.00am |
St Joseph's, The Junction |
|
9.00am |
St Peter-in-Chains', Stockton |
|
9.30am |
Sacred Heart Cathedral, Hamilton |
|
11.00am (Italian) |
St Joseph's, The Junction |
|
11.30am (Polish) |
Sacred Heart Cathedral, Hamilton |
|
6.00pm (Vietnamese |
Christ the King, Mayfield West |
Boxing Day (26 December) |
7.30am |
St Mary, Star of the Sea, Newcastle |
|
8.00am |
Mary Immaculate, Tighes Hill |
|
9.00am |
St Joseph's, The Junction |
|
9.00am |
St Peter-in-Chains', Stockton |
|
9.30am |
Sacred Heart Cathedral, Hamilton |
|
11.00am (Italian) |
St Joseph's, The Junction |
|
11.30am (Polish) |
Sacred Heart Cathedral, Hamilton |
|
5.00pm |
Sacred Heart Cathedral, Hamilton |
|
6.00pm (Vietnamese |
Christ the King, Mayfield West |
Swimming Carnival
Congratulations to all the students who participated in our 2021 School Swimming Carnival. It was a quiet carnival compared to other years but just as exciting with some excellent swimming on the day.
A highlight of the day was watching Harrison Coppola, who broke all 3 of the following records this year!!
Event | Record Holder | Record Time | Held since |
Boys 11yrs 50M freestyle | Rory Walker | 33.80 | 2010 |
Boys 11yrs 50M breaststroke | Richard Campbell | 45.41 | 1998 |
Boys 11yrs 50M backstroke | Richard Campbell | 41.13 | 1998 |
Congratulations Harrison. What fantastic results!
Thank you to all who helped on the day and made the carnival a success. Successful students in each event will compete in the Central Regional Carnival on the 7th February. More details to follow about this day.
Please see competitors results below
Diocesan Basketball Trials
Congratulations to Byron Schmidt and Emmy Michillis who were successful at the recent Diocesan Basketball Trials. Both Byron and Emmy will now progress on to the Polding trials to be held in Tamworth on the 25th February 2022. We wish them both all the very best at the next level of competition!
School Fees 2022
2022 School Bus Travel