Science and PDH Curriculum Update 

During 2023 and 2024, St Joseph's successfully implemented the new Mathematics and English syllabi from K-6 as part of the NSW Curriculum Reform. Building on this achievement, the school community is now preparing for the second phase of this educational transformation, which incorporates Science, Human Society and Its Environment (HSIE), Creative Arts, and Personal Development and Health (PDH). 

What is curriculum reform? 

The NSW Curriculum Reform aims to strengthen and streamline what is taught in schools. The curriculum reform is an opportunity to engage and reenergise what we teach and how we teach it. It focuses on making clear what is essential in the curriculum to give more time for deep learning, establish stronger foundations in English and mathematics, and provide stronger links between HSC subjects and career pathways. 

Implementation Timeline 

The Maitland-Newcastle Diocese is following a thoughtful approach to these curriculum changes: 

• 2025: Our teachers will participate in professional development focusing on Science and PDH. 

• 2026: Professional development focusing on HSIE and Creative Arts with optional implementation of the new Science and PDH syllabus 

• 2027: Mandatory implementation across all schools in NSW 

This phased approach allows our school to carefully prepare while ensuring your children receive the full benefits of these educational advancements. 

What's New in Science Education? 

The Science and Technology K–6 Syllabus (2024) aims to foster a sense of wonder about how the world works while developing essential knowledge and scientific skills in students. 

Key improvements your children will experience include: 

• More hands-on learning opportunities to develop observational skills and use data as evidence 

• New content about human body systems including skeletal, respiratory, and circulatory systems 

• The study of electrical circuits in Years 5-6 

• More connections between mathematics and science learning 

• Enhanced writing activities to help students explain scientific concepts 

• Greater emphasis on digital literacy skills at each year level 

Enhanced Personal Development and Health Education 

The updated Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE) curriculum recognizes the importance of preparing young people for today's complex world. 

Students will benefit from: 

• More balanced teaching time between personal development/health topics and physical education 

• Age-appropriate lessons on respectful relationships from Kindergarten onward 

• Enhanced skills for staying safe both online and offline 

• Comprehensive safety education covering road, water, fire, and sun safety 

• New learning experiences in outdoor environments to promote wellbeing 

• Development of social skills for building positive connections with others 

• Improved vocabulary and communication skills related to health and wellbeing 

Supporting the Educational Journey 

At St Joseph's, we are enthusiastic about integrating these curriculum enhancements with programs already benefiting your children. Our recent implementation of the Second Step program aligns with the new PDH curriculum, providing a strong foundation for social-emotional learning and wellbeing. These complementary approaches will help your children develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to thrive in today's world. For Science, this means creating engaging, hands-on learning experiences that will inspire curiosity and critical thinking. Students will benefit from enhanced practical investigations and real-world applications of scientific concepts. 

We look forward to sharing more specific details about these exciting curriculum developments as our implementation plans progress. As always, we value our partnership with you in supporting your child's education and are enthusiastic about the transition to these new learning frameworks for the benefit of every student at St Joseph's. 

Lost Property at St Joseph’s Merewether: Let’s Work Together to Keep Items Safe! 

At St Joseph’s, we’ve noticed that many lost items find their way into the black lost property box outside the office. While it's great that we have a place to gather these forgotten items, we’re seeing a concerning trend—many of them are brand new! Items such as Frank Green drink bottles, hats, jackets, and lunch boxes are often left behind, and unfortunately, many aren’t clearly labelled with names. 

An ongoing issue we face is that some items, particularly those purchased from the clothing pool, still have the name of an ex-student visible. This can make it even harder for us to reunite items with their rightful owners. 

We want to help our students become more organised and responsible for their belongings. However, we need your support in making sure that every hat, jacket, drink bottle, and lunch container is clearly labelled with your child’s name and surname ( not initials or mobile phone numbers). This small step will make a huge difference in helping us return lost items to their rightful owners quickly. 

Let's work together to keep our school’s lost property to a minimum and encourage responsibility in our students. Thank you for your cooperation! 

Zoe Parish 
Primary Coordinator