23rd October, Week 2, Term 4

From Our Principal - Mrs Kristie Coster

Dear St Joseph’s Community,

Welcome back to our final school term for 2025! We are so proud of the wonderful start our students have made this term. It has been a calm and positive return to school, with children across the school consistently showing our St Joseph’s school expectations of Safety, Effort, Respect, and Self-Responsibility. Whether in the classroom or in the playground, our students continue to model the values that make our school such a supportive and caring place to learn. Well done to all our learners for setting such a fantastic example and giving 100% effort for our first two weeks of learning – keep up the great work!

School Attendance

This term, we are continuing our strong focus on increasing student attendance across the school. Every day counts when it comes to learning, and regular attendance is key to helping students build strong friendships, develop important skills, and stay on track with their education. Coming to school each day helps children feel connected, confident, and ready to learn.  Regular school attendance is classified as being above 95%. At St Joseph’s we are aiming to achieve an attendance rate for EVERY child of at least 90%. We appreciate the support of our families in promoting positive attendance habits and working with us to ensure every student has the best opportunity to thrive. Let’s keep aiming high with attendance this term!

We understand there can be a variety of reasons why students don’t attend school. We ask that parents please respond to the automated text messages to provide an explanation for the absence as we are required to follow up with families if there are numerous unexplained absences.

2026 School Fees

Communication from Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools

We are writing to inform you of the school fees for the 2026 academic year. Fee levels have been set to sustain high-quality Catholic education, taking into account rising operational costs and shifts in government funding. We recognise the financial pressures that families may face and strive to offer flexible payment options to accommodate different circumstances. More information is available on the Enrolment and Fees page of the Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools website. We appreciate your understanding and continued support as we work together to provide an exceptional educational environment for your children and young people. Please see the fee schedule attached below.

Year 6 Captains 2026

We’re very excited to invite our Year 5 students to present a speech for a Year 6 Captain leadership position for the 2026 school year.

As a school community, we are looking for leaders who show kindness, responsibility, and a willingness to serve others — just as St Joseph did through his quiet strength and faith-filled actions. True leadership at St Joseph’s means leading with compassion, listening to others, and working together to make our school a warm, welcoming and supportive place for everyone. We encourage our future leaders to follow St Joseph’s example of humility, courage, and dedication, using their gifts to make a positive difference in our community.

Year 6 Captain speeches for 2026 will take place on Tuesday, 18th November, at 2:00pm. Parents and families are warmly invited to join us as our Year 5 students share their speeches and demonstrate their leadership qualities.

Mrs Kristie Coster

Assembly Awards

Mission News

Gospel Reflection- Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

This Sunday we hear the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. Jesus shows that true humility, not self‑righteous pride, opens us to God’s mercy. Like the tax collector, we must acknowledge our sinfulness and plead for compassion, while rejecting the Pharisee’s boastful self‑approval. Humble prayer leads to justification; arrogance leads to downfall. We are called to sincere repentance daily always.

The Mission of Jesus Christ in our School

Service

St Vincent de Paul hamper buckets will go into classrooms very soon. This year we are setting a class challenge for the students- the best hamper wins a prize! The judge will be looking for the hamper with items that meet the criteria and will take into consideration the number of students in the class!
Criteria

• Non perishable food items which will help a family have a celebratory Christmas celebration (maybe leave the baked beans in the cupboard!)
• Toiletry items eg shampoo, conditioner, toothbrushes, toothpaste, body wash
• A variety of items (demonstrating some communication between the students so that the hamper doesn’t have 8 packets of chips!)

Hampers will be judged on December 10 prior to being collected by St Vinnies.

                                                            Stay tuned for Socktober Sprinkle Sunday order forms!

Term 4 Save the Date

Wednesday November 5 9:30am-  Whole school Mass for the Jubilee Year of Hope 

Tuesday November 11- 1045am Remembrance Day Liturgy

Monday December 15 Graduation Mass

Sports News

Intensive Swimming Week

Instructors from Richmond Valley Aquatics Swimming school will provide 40 minute intensive swimming sessions for each student. 

The first of these sessions will be on Monday 17th November and will continue each day until Friday 21st November. Students will change into swimmers at school before walking to the pool and will change back into school uniform once they return to school.

The cost per student is $10 this is heavily reduced due to the Sporting Schools Grant. 

Please see Compass for Event details and payment.

Stage 1 News

Stage 1 mathematics lesson,  'Pin the tail on the donkey" learning distance and measurement in a fun, hands on way. Well done Stage 1

Library News

General Business

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

Mrs Maginnity, William McElligott 

Please support our Mango Fundraiser, we have a minimum order that we need to reach......please ask your families, friends, neighbours.

Canteen News

Special Pizza Pack $10 - Friday 24th October

1 x homemade pizza

1 x popper (juice or milk)

1 x paddle pop (choc or rainbow)

1 x chips