Welcome

Welcome to the 2025 school year! This year promises to be a busy and exciting one. A special welcome to our new families, you now belong to our St Joseph’s school community and we’re very pleased that you’re here journeying with us. Our children are exceptionally fortunate to be part of such a special environment. We look forward to a successful and happy year of learning and fun together.

Student Council

Last week, Students in Years 2-6 had the opportunity to nominate themselves for the Semester One Student Council. Student Council members represent their peers in their class and bring suggestions forward on how, together, we can make St Joseph’s an even better community. The Student Council meets each fortnight with Ms Rozenfeld and looks forward to being an active presence in our school.

This semester the council will continue to support our PB4L, as well as involving themselves in projects that serve our school community. 

Student representatives were presented with their badges at our assembly this week. Congratulations to the following students!

Positive Behaviours for Learning (PBL) 

St Joseph’s is a Positive Behaviour for Learning school (PB4L). PB4L is a comprehensive, integrated whole school approach to student wellbeing and behaviour. It is a process that supports school leadership teams to create positive learning environments that enable student learning and wellbeing. 

Successful implementation of PB4L is underpinned by the support and commitment of the whole school community.  

PB4L is based on a three-tiered continuum of prevention and intervention: 

• Tier 1 - Universal prevention: school-wide and classroom systems for all students, staff and settings. 

• Tier 2 - Targeted interventions: small group systems for students at-risk behaviourally and academically. 

• Tier 3 - Intensive interventions: systems for students with high-risk behaviour and/or learning needs. 

Across our school community we have identified four expectations for positive behaviour. These are 

• Act Safely 

• Be Respectful 

• Care for All 

• Do your Best 

 Dash the Dolphin is our specific school PBL mascot.  

Each fortnight across our community we have a fortnightly PB4L focus area. The focus area for the fortnight will be shared with parents via the newsletter. We ask that parents reaffirm the message at home with their children. The current focus area is Be Respectful: Include Others.

Students will continue to receive ‘Dash tokens’.  These tokens will be given out by staff as they see students doing the right thing.  Fortnightly tally updates will be given regularly. Twice a term, as the tokens are gathered in sporting houses, we’ll be rewarding the colour house which has the most. These rewards might be as simple as a picnic lunch on the field, extra playtime or an ice block.  

Being a PB4L school, we have formulated a flowchart to follow if students do not keep to one of our expectations.  This flowchart asks staff to define ‘minor’ and ‘major’ behaviours and details a consistent procedure for all to follow.   

Please take the time to read over the flowchart here 

The flowchart details how minor and major misbehaviours are recorded on the student’s file in Compass. The purpose of this is to have a consistent way of keeping track of student behaviour and identifying ways we can support students in developing positive behaviour. For minor misbehaviours, teachers use their professional judgement in deciding if parents need to be informed or not. Be assured that teachers will communicate with parents about their child’s behaviour if required. 

Together, through the partnership between staff, students and parents, we have this great opportunity to focus on the positive behaviours children display. This is something we really wish to celebrate as a community! 

Safer Internet Day

On Tuesday 11^th February many classes in our community marked Safer Internet Day. Safer Internet Day is a global day of action that brings together communities, families, schools, and organisations from more than 180 countries to raise awareness about online safety and work toward a safer internet.

In Australia, the eSafety Commissioner leads this important day, and this year, called on all Australians to help make the internet a safer, more positive place.

Here are 5 tips to help create a safer internet experience:

1. Be kind: practise respect, empathy and kindness online
2. Be mindful: balance your time online and consume and share positive and respectful content
3. Speak up: report online abuse and harmful content
4. Start the conversation: talk about online safety with your networks and communities, family, friends and colleagues
5. Share online safety resources: promote online safety tools and tips with your community

To access additional resources suitable for parents from the eSafety Commissioner click this website below:

https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents

See below photos from Year 6 taking part in a live webinar hosted by the eSafety Commissioner.

Allergy Aware

An important reminder that we are Allergy Aware at St Joseph’s and we have many of our families that rely on our vigilance. This means we all need to be aware of possible life-threatening allergic reactions at school. Please be mindful as you pack your child’s lunch box each day. If your child has a known allergen food, please remind them to dispose of any wrapping appropriately and to wash their hands and face afterwards.

Safeguarding - ‘It’s everyone's responsibility’

Safeguarding in all schools in the Maitland-Newcastle Diocese

The Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle has an absolute and abiding commitment to promote the safeguarding of children.

Our previous Bishop, Bill Wright established the Office of Safeguarding, whose director answers to the Bishop’s Office and is charged to oversee the whole of the Diocese’s safeguarding of children, including the students in our system of schools.

As a parent sending your child to a Diocesan school, you are expected to be an active participant in safeguarding your child’s wellbeing. To do so, it’s important that you have the best information available to you. The Office of Safeguarding website offers comprehensive details of the Diocese’s approach to safeguarding children. You are also encouraged to be an active participant in the life of your school.

As a parent of a diocesan school student, if you are concerned for:

• the safety, welfare or wellbeing of one or more children in the school
• the conduct of a member of staff, a volunteer, contractor or other adult associated with the school

… you are able to:

• discuss your concerns with a teacher, Assistant Principal or Principal
• talk to an investigator at the Office if Safeguarding (Ph. 4979 1390, during office hours)
• report your concerns to the Department of Communities and Justice’s (DCJ) Child Protection Helpline (Ph. 132 111, 24 hrs/7 days) if your concerns constitute a risk of significant harm
• report to NSW Police if you believe a crime has been committed.

In consultation with the Diocese’s Office of Safeguarding, St Joseph’s has implemented a school-based Safeguarding Plan. This plan incorporates the 10 National Catholic Safeguarding Standards. These standards are designed to keep children and vulnerable adults safe from institutional abuse of any form and to develop habits of safety across all levels of the community.

Bus Safety Week (17-23rd Feb 2025)

Bus Safety Week aims to raise awareness for all road users on how to stay safe on and around buses.

School-aged children might seem independent, but they still need a hand. It is important to remember:

• Always meet your child at school or the bus stop. Never wait on the opposite side of the road and call them across.
• Always supervise your child and hold their hand when walking to and from the bus stop/interchange and when crossing the road until they're at least 10 years old.
• Wait until the bus has gone then use a safe place to cross the road.
• Encourage your child to take a seat quickly when they get on the bus and to buckle up if the bus has seatbelts.

Talk to your children about using Stop! Look! Listen! Think! every time they cross the road.

• Stop one step back from the kerb.
• Look continuously both ways.
• Listen for the sounds of approaching traffic.
• Think whether it's safe to cross and keep checking until you're safely across.

Further information for parents and carers can be found here: https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/roadsafety/road-users/drivers/be-bus-aware

Renata Rozenfeld
Assistant Principal