22nd May, Week 2, Term 4

From Our Principal - Mrs Kristie Coster

Dear St Joseph’s Community,

Enhancing Our Positive School Environment

At St Joseph's, we are always striving to provide the best possible learning environment for our students. This year, we'll be undertaking the review and collaborative development of our whole-school approach to student behaviour. This isn't about changing what works, but rather about strengthening our practices to ensure every student feels safe, respected, and supported to thrive.

Our current expected behaviours at St Joseph's are firmly centred on our four key pillars: Safety, Self-Responsibility, Respect, and Effort. These fundamental expectations are incredibly important to our community, forming the foundations of a safe and inclusive learning environment for both students and staff.

We have had a recent focus on Self-Responsibility. These expected behaviours include:

• Making expected behaviour choices
• Following all instructions
• Accepting responsibility for your own behaviour and self-management
• Being organised and ready for learning
• Wearing the correct school uniform

Throughout this year, we'll be engaging in collaborative work to further develop our approach. This will include valuable input from our staff, and importantly, we'll be seeking feedback and ideas from both parents and students. Your perspectives are crucial in helping us cultivate an even more positive and productive school culture.

Tell Them From Me Survey

The Tell Them from Me survey opened on Monday, May 12th and closes on Friday, May 30th. This data is vital in shaping our school improvement planning and future directions.  As of Tuesday 20th, we had 0 parents who had completed the survey. If you haven't completed the survey, we would greatly appreciate you taking the time to do it, so that we can continually improve and offer the best education available for our students!  The survey is available from the link below.

HTTP://TELLTHEMFROMME.COM/CORAKI2025

Supporting Good Attendance

Good attendance in primary school will be a skill that will help them succeed in high school. 

Good attendance in primary school is a fundamental building block for academic success and overall wellbeing, and it sets the stage for success in high school and beyond. Primary school is the foundational stage of a child's education. Regular attendance ensures that children build a solid understanding of fundamental concepts and skills that serve as the basis for more advanced learning in high school.

By recognising the long-term benefits and reinforcing the importance of regular school attendance in primary years, students are better equipped to succeed in high school and beyond. Attending school regularly instils a sense of responsibility and work ethic in students and participating actively in class are essential components of success.

We're aiming for all students to achieve at least 90% attendance by the end of the year. To support this, beginning in Term 3, we will communicate directly with families if a student's attendance falls between 70-90% and no justified reason has been provided. We understand that sometimes there are justified reasons for a child being absent from school. Our intention is to ensure families are informed and to work together to improve attendance.

Blessings for a safe and happy weekend!

Mrs Coster

Student Awards - Week 3

Mission News

Gospel Reflection- Sixth Sunday of Easter Year C

In this week’s Gospel, Jesus promises his disciples the coming of the Holy Spirit, it  tells us about how much Jesus loves us and how we can show our love for Him. It's like having a secret code to a super special friendship!

Jesus says that if we love Him, we will keep His word. That means we try our best to follow what He teaches us. When we do that, God the Father will love us too, and Jesus and God will come and make their home with us 1! Imagine having Jesus and God living right inside your heart!

In this moment in the life of the Church, we welcome a new Pope! Another humble servant stepping into the shoes of the fisherman. Popes come and go, but Jesus remains the same: the unchanging cornerstone, the Good Shepherd who leads His flock through every season.

We pray that this new Holy Father may be strengthened to serve with wisdom, compassion, and courage. May he, like Peter before him, say yes, not because the path is easy, but because Christ has called him. Just as Pope Francis once shared how his call came quietly and unexpectedly, we remember that the call to serve is rarely glamorous and often comes when we feel least ready. But we know this truth: God equips those who answer, and blesses those who serve His Church with an open heart.

Let us ask the Lord to bless Pope Leo XIV , guide him with the fire of the Holy Spirit, and to help him lead us in faith, hope, and love.

(From https://proclaimlismore.schoolzineplus.com/soul?nid=22)

Glow Retreat

This year, the Diocese has changed its Year Six student discipleship program. All year six students will travel to Ballina to participate in the Glow experience. 

On Thursday 29th May, all year 6 students will travel by bus to Ballina to participate in this day. If you have not responded to the event on Compass please do so asap. There is no cost for this event. 

If you have not yet responded to the Compass Event for your Year 6 child, please do so. 

Whole school Masses Term 2

We invite all members of the school and parish community to join us for our masses and liturgies. 

Thursday June 5th to celebrate the Ascension  and Pentecost

Friday July 4th End of Term Celebration

Kinder News

Kinder's visit to Coraki Musuem as part of their History unit. 

Sports News

Zone Cross Country, certificates were presented at last week's assembly.

Stage 3 News

Stage 3 Maker-space.

Stage 3 are keen to create a maker-space in their classroom. This is an area where children can design and make creations using recyclable materials.If you have small cardboard boxes (like empty tissue boxes), cleaned pizza boxes, toilet rolls, cling wrap rolls, magazines and newspapers, cleaned milk bottles etc that you would be happy to donate please send them in to school. We obviously do not want rubbish that we would have to then dispose of ourselves so please be selective of what you donate.

Library News

Happy Birthday to the following who have celebrated their birthday since our last newsletter:

John Randall, Mrs Ianna, Alia Sharma, Tyler Williams

School Photos - Monday 16th June

School Photo envelopes have been sent home, cash can be enclosed in the envelope and returned to school prior to the 16th June or online card payments can be made www.theschoolphotographer.com.au

Please ensure that full school uniform is worn on the day.

Canteen News

Special Pizza Pack - Friday 23rd May - $10

1 x homemade pizza

1 x Popper (milk or juice)

1 x paddle pop (rainbow or choc)

                                              1 x chips

                                            Available to order via Compass.