Dear Parents,

Welcome Back to Term 2

Welcome back to Term 2! I hope all our families had a restful and refreshing holiday break. It’s been wonderful to see our students return with such energy and enthusiasm for learning. We are looking forward to another term filled with rich learning, exciting events, and opportunities to come together as a school community. 

Mother’s Day Celebration 

Today’s Mother’s Day Celebration was a truly special occasion, with an amazing turnout of mothers, grandmothers, and many special women who enrich our community. A heartfelt thank you to our P&F Committee for their continued support of this beloved event, and to the volunteers who ensured everything ran smoothly. 

The delicious food, generous raffle donations, and joyful atmosphere created such a meaningful celebration. Thank you to our Year 1 students and teachers for their beautifully moving liturgy and to Justine Orton who spoke so authentically about the joys and challenges of motherhood—your words were deeply appreciated. We wish all our mothers a very Happy Mother’s Day this Sunday! 

Building Works Update 

There has been no further progress on our major building project at this stage. We continue to await further direction from the Catholic Schools Office as to when plans will proceed. We will be sure to share any further updates with families as soon as we know more. 

Winter Uniform Reminder

Students will begin wearing their winter uniforms from Monday 12 May (Week 3).  

We ask for your support in ensuring students wear the correct winter uniform, including appropriate shoes for both sports and regular uniform days. Please note: 

• Skorts are not part of the girls’ sports uniform. 

• Students should not wear necklaces, bracelets, long or glittery earrings, or have visible temporary tattoos. 

• Long hair (for both boys and girls) must be tied back and clipped neatly out of their eyes to support both learning and safety. 

If your child is unable to wear the correct uniform on any given day, please notify the school office via email or send a written note with your child to be passed on to their teacher. 

Thank you for your continued support in maintaining our uniform and grooming expectations. These standards help to create a professional and respectful learning environment that reflects the values of our school community.  

Athletics Carnival

Our school Athletics Carnival was a huge success! With clear skies and high spirits, our students gave their all on the track and field. They demonstrated incredible teamwork, sportsmanship, and perseverance throughout the day. 

It was especially wonderful to see our Kindergarten and Year 1 students participate in their very first 100m sprint and novelty events—what a joyful start to their carnival journey! 

A huge thank you to Ms Shannon Bailey, our amazing Sports Coordinator, for her outstanding organisation, and to our dedicated staff, students, and parent volunteers for making the day so memorable. 

Upcoming Information Sessions and Webinars for Parents and Carers 

At St Joseph’s, we value our partnership with families and know that parents and carers are the most important educators in their child’s life. To support you, a range of free upcoming webinars is now available via the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle’s Catholic Schools webpage. 

Here is a snapshot of Term 2 sessions: 

Online Safety-Focused Sessions: 

• Understanding and Using Parental Controls – eSafety Commissioner 

• eSafety 101 – eSafety Commissioner 

• Exploring the Online Experiences of Boys and Young Men – eSafety Commissioner 

• Sexual Extortion: What Parents and Carers Need to Know – eSafety Commissioner 

• The Social Media Guide: What Every Parent Needs to Know in 2025 – The Cyber Safety Project 

Mental Health-Focused Sessions: 

• Anxiety and Depression in Children and Adolescents – Learning Links 

• Teen Mental Health Matters – The Black Dog Institute 

Parenting Sessions: 

• What Kids Need Now, Before the Teenage Years – CCSP NSW/ACT and Michelle Mitchell 

You can view more details and register for any of these webinars at: 
www.mn.catholic.edu.au/our-community/supporting-parents-and-carers/upcoming-parent-and-carer-information-sessions 

The site is updated regularly, so we encourage you to check in often for the latest offerings. 

Nicole Charnock
Acting Principal