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- Message from the Principal
- Mission & Learning at Joey's
- Student Awards
- Sports News
- Kempsey Eisteddfod - Vocal & Instrumental | Speech & Drama 2025
- News from the Enviro Team
- 2025 NSW Premier's Reading Challenge
- Health & Wellbeing
- Canteen News
- St Joseph's OOSH & Vacation Care
- School Fees
- Keeping School Funding Fair - What you need to know
- Learn more about COMPASS - School Communication Platform APP
- How to Purchase your child's School Uniform
- Travelling to School by Bus
- Catholic School Parents - Resources
- Supporting Diverse Learning
- Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD)
- Child Safety Handbook
- Billboard
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Learning Happens Here Everyday
Dear Parents, Caregivers and Families,
This term, our focus on ensuring excellent instruction, every day, for every student, has been lived. Even with the interruption of a cyclone, we have continued to build the knowledge and understanding of our Catholic faith traditions across our school community, and maintain our pledge to work towards improving student outcomes for every student.
Throughout the term we have participated in many spiritual, curricular and non-curricular events. This term, our students have experienced several sporting opportunities including, swimming, Rugby League, Rugby Union, cross country and winter sports trials. It is great to see our children compete in these events and more importantly, be good sports and have fun.
In February the school attended its first whole school mass of the year with our Opening School Mass, which saw our 2025 School Captains commissioned. Throughout the term, we also celebrated Parish Masses as class groups, Ash Wednesday to begin Lent, and this weekend the Parish will celebrate Palm Sunday to begin Holy Week. NAPLAN testing was completed by our Year 3 and 5 students, and our Year 2 students went on an excursion to Timbertown, and our Kinders and Year 1 saw the Very Hungry Caterpillar at the Glasshouse in Port Macquarie.
To celebrate Harmony Day on the 21st of March, our fantastic canteen ladies extended the menu to include yummy treats. This was a great celebration by the whole school and the kids had a great lunch.
As we conclude this term and head into the Autumn Holidays, I realise how quickly the term has flown, and how much has been achieved. When I reflect over the last ten weeks, I am so thankful for the relationships made, and for the happy smiling children I see at the gate, both in the mornings and afternoons. We are truly a team which I am grateful for each and every day, and I thank you for your ongoing support of this great school.
Looking Towards Easter
With the end of Term One now upon us, we are quickly moving closer towards our Parish Easter celebrations, which this year falls within our Autumn school break. Holy Week begins with our Palm Sunday Mass on Sunday the 13th April, beginning 9:30am at the All Saints Catholic Church Kempsey. Palm Sunday falls on the Sunday before Easter, marking both the first day of Holy Week and Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem.
We would love to see many of our St Joseph’s families participating in this Mass. Whether you are Catholic or still questioning the presence of Christ in your life, sharing such moments together with your immediate family as well as with your St Joseph’s community is a way to acknowledge the importance of family and faith in our wider community. Family and faith is what stabilises a community, shapes who we are and instils us with values that define what we consider to be normal and abnormal. There are several Easter Masses scheduled over the Easter weekend, I hope to see you at one of them.
Winter warmth
As we head into Term 2 and the colder weather, we usually see a few non uniform items, such as beanies, scarfs, jumpers and jackets worn into school.
In order to keep the high standards of St Joseph's a matter of pride within our community, I ask that all students begin the new term wearing the school uniform Track Jacket or Fleecy Jumper. Both of these items, as with all St Joseph's uniform, are available from Team Spirit. Please note that beanies and scarfs are not school uniform and therefore are not to be worn.
It is my expectation that all students not wearing the correct uniform will have a note explaining why, and when the issue will be rectified.
New Assembly and Newsletter schedule
Beginning Term 2 2025, St Joseph’s will hold School Assemblies in term weeks 3, 6 & 9. Newsletters will also follow this schedule.
The purpose for the Newsletter change is a response to the change in the way the school distributes information, including good news stories, to our community. Utilising Compass, emails, the school calendar, and Facebook, removes a lot of the need for a more consistent news source. It is hoped that three newsletters per term will produce a more robust and engaging product, more worthy of the time put into its production.
The purpose for the assembly change is to increase in-class learning time and decrease disruption across learning weeks.
Assembly start times will be adjusted from 1:05pm to 1pm.
As always, I thank you for your support in regards to your child’s ongoing learning and growth.
Guy Campbell
Driving Excellence in the Macleay
HUMILITY - PALM SUNDAY
Today we begin the journey with Jesus into Jerusalem. Today the people are excited to see Jesus. He enters the city similar to royalty but not in fine garments and beautiful steeds but as a rabbi and on the humblest of animals, the donkey.
Jesus knew his time was “at hand” and he knew that this jubilation will turn very sour in a few moments. How does Jesus lovingly wave to a crowd who will deny and discard him so lightly and call for his death before the palms which they wave have dried up.
He “emptied himself”; “He humbled himself by being obedient unto death”. He empties himself of all claims to divine glory and honour to become a human being — not a human of high status and honour, but a lowly slave serving other human beings. He humbles himself even to the point of dying a slave’s death, for the shameful and tortuous form of execution by crucifixion was reserved for slaves and rebels against Roman rule.
Jesus is not a passive victim rather he enters fully and willingly into his mission. On this Sunday marking Jesus’ passion, we might ask ourselves does our life together reflect “the same mind that was in Christ Jesus”? Are we looking to the interests of others rather than our own interests?
Jesus emptied himself and took on a human; incarnate, he was not just wearing a human mask but entering into our humanity in all its fullness and sometimes bitterness.
Fr Ronald Rolheiser puts it beautifully; “To “self-empty” in the way Jesus is described as doing means being present without demanding that your presence be recognised and its importance acknowledged; it means giving without demanding that your generosity be reciprocated; it means being invitational rather than threatening, healthily solicitous rather than nagging or coercive; it means being vulnerable and helpless, unable to protect yourself against the pain of being taken for granted or rejected; it means living in a great patience that doesn’t demand intervention, divine or human, when things don’t unfold according to your will; it means letting God be God and others be themselves without either having to submit to your wishes or your timetable….that’s the invitation”.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, help us: to be present without demanding our presence be recognised; to give without demanding; to be invitational rather than threatening, to be vulnerable; living in a great patience that doesn’t demand intervention, divine or human, when things don’t unfold according to my will.
Amen
Sourced from: https://cms.vinnies.org.au/media/esollqua/1124-spiritual-reflection-guide-jan-2025-web.pdf?folder=nsw__publications-nsw__spiritual-reflection-guides&path=esollqua%2F1124-spiritual-reflection-guide-jan-2025-web.pdf
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
What a wonderful term of learning, growing and achieving we have had for all our students. Thanks to our wonderful teachers who go above and beyond to create great learning experiences for our students, and support every child to be the best they can be. We wish all our students and families a wonderful Easter and end of term break, and we look forward to seeing all our students return safe, well and rested for another fantastic term.
Easter Prayer for Families
Lord, as we gather together as family and friends; we invite you once again into our lives. May the hope of your resurrection color our days. May the promise of your spirit working in us light up our lives. May the love you revealed to us shape our giving. We ask this through Christ our Lord, Amen.
HOLY WEEK
This week our students during their Religion lessons have been learning about the events of Holy Week that commence this Sunday with Palm Sunday and then continue on next week with Holy Thursday and Good Friday in the lead up to Easter Sunday when Jesus resurrected from the dead.
Today we held a Holy Week Prayer Liturgy to signify and mark the importance of this special time in our Churches calendar. As part of the liturgy that was led by our students, we heard the Easter Story and the events of Holy Week, leading up to Jesus’ Resurrection on Easter Sunday.
EASTER EGGSTRAVAGANZA!
We also ended our Term with a wonderful Easter raffle, congratulations to all the lucky students who won prizes!



























PROJECT COMPASSION
Thank you again to our wonderful school community who generously donated nearly $600 towards our Caritas Lenten Project Compassion Appeal. We know this will go towards improving the lives of school students in Samoa, by providing water tanks for fresh running water supplies.
FIRST RECONCILIATION - SAVE THE DATE
Next term, Tuesday 20th May, some students in Year 4 will be making their Sacrament of First Reconciliation. More information to follow. We keep these students in our thoughts and prayers as they prepare, and make this sacrament. Please return notes to class teachers. If you have any questions regarding Reconciliation please don’t hesitate to contact the class teachers or Mrs Erin McGovern.
ANZAC DAY SERVICE
YEAR 2 CREATING HISTORY
















UDDERLY FANTASTIC SHOW ENTRIES





















STONE RE EASTER COLOURING IN WINNER!
Term 1 - Weeks 9 - 10
Awards will be presented on
Thursday, 10th April at 1.05pm
Parents/Carers Welcome








CLASS
|
I CARE for self, others and my enviornment |
I GROW through positive actions witnessed within our school community |
I LEARN by demonstrating prositive learning behaviours |
TRUTH & HONOUR AWARD I am resilient, responsible and accept challenges |
KHonour |
Indie Green | Jessica Kerr | Zoe Holtmann | Rawley Dillon |
KTruth |
Lunar Duncan | Hendrix Clay | Ava Ford | Grace Argue |
1Honour |
Ireland Cudlin | Harrison Edwards | Frankie Edwards | Carter Dallas-Morgan |
1Spirit |
Evie Beecham | Ma Theresa Kemp |
Eldho Ajosh | Charlie Lane |
1Truth |
Hallie McMurray | Adira Salmon | Alby Gray | Billee Delforce |
2Honour |
Archer Kerr | Savannah Barker | Isla Higley | Harrison Zaccazan |
2Truth |
Annabella Lomas | Noah Malcolm | Allira Holdaway | Harriet Downing |
3Honour |
Sophia Reichel | Josephine Klower | Hudson Woods | Jimi Whitley-Berrigan |
3Truth |
Brooklyn Duff | Ari Tolman | Hudson Tolman | Stella Swan |
4Honour |
Daisy Abigall | Tate Buckley | Veronica Button | Mackenna Dillon |
4Truth |
Kara Miller | Flint Barnett | Ashlyn Mathew | Hugh Atkinson |
5Truth | Joan Eldhose | Liam Fulford | Jessie Atkins | Amelia Reichel |
6Honour | Buddy Moorehead | Bailey Smidt | Asher Higley | Belinda Rudder |
6Truth | Thomas Lockman | Evie Brady | Mila Tolman | Grace Harman |
With Mr Owens
SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY
DIO SOCCER & RUGBY LEAGUE UPDATE
After bad weather and many postponements, students from Joey's made it to the Diocesan Soccer and Rubgy League trials held in Grafton this week. Well done to all those who attended.
Congratulations to Mila Tolman who has been selected for the Dio Girls Soccer team.
RUGBY UNION DIO TRIALS
Rugby Union Dio Trials were also held this week. The boys all played competitively and had a great day at Verge Street.
Congratulations to Mason Gagnuss-Vale and Buddy Moorehead who have been selected for the Zone Rugby Union team.
Kempsey Eisteddfod - Vocal & Instrumental | Speech & Drama 2025
25th - 30th May 2025
- Lots of classes nominating for class sections but have a look at the individual or duet items you could go in.
- Syllabus now out, please click the link to view the Programs and details on how to enter for Speech & Drama and Vocal & Instrumental.
- Entries now open and closing soon.
- Individual entries.
- See Mrs T for a copy of individual poems etc. or the website for more info.
10c RETURN AND EARN RECYCLING
We have recently updated our account details for our 10c Return and Earn Recycling
Program.
Families are asked to conveniently take their 10c drink containers straight to the High Speed Depot Drop Off at 47 South Street, South Kempsey whenever it suits you.
The School Office has small cards with our NEW Crunch Account details on it to keep in your car (or use this bar code).
All proceeds are used to assist with our St Joseph’s veggie garden and related learning activities.
Collection bags are still available in the Canteen Foyer. Children who recycle by visiting the High Speed Drop Off will still receive a prize from the Enviro Prize Box (see Mrs Hagger in the Canteen). Just be sure to bring in your docket to Mrs Tarrant.
SUSTAINABILITY HUB
old phones, batteries, used stamps, prescription glasses, toothpaste tubes/brushes and plastic writing implements.
Please feel free to drop these into the bins located in the canteen foyer.
If you have other items that you think the school may be able to use for art/craft etc please contact us.
HEALTHY LUNCH BOX WEBSITE
Turkey & Spinach Rissoles
Click here for an easy and delicious dinner idea. You can turn the leftovers into a tasty burger for lunch!
The Healthy Lunch Box website is your one-stop shop for recipe inspiration and information to help you add more fruit, veg and wholegrains into your child's diet to improve their health.
Lots of quick and easy recipes and snack ideas.
Informative blogs about healthy eating.
Healthy swaps.
Interactive lunch box builder that helps parents and kids plan and pack a healthy lunch box with foods they like.
FAMILY CONNECT IN SCHOOLS
The wellbeing of our students and their families is paramount here at St Joseph’s and we are lucky to have some extra support built into our school community through a Program Worker from Family Connect in Schools.
If you have any concerns about or need assistance/support with being linked into specialist services such as, external providers for healthcare, housing, domestic violence, Centrelink, disability/NDIS, counselling services, culturally appropriate supports etc, please contact the front office. More information is attached.

PRICE CHANGES
- All Frozen Treats are now $1.50 each (except for Quelch Sticks which are 50c).
Please ensure your child brings $1.50 to school if they wish to purchase a frozen treat over the counter.
REUSABLE CUTLERY SETS
IF YOUR CHILD DOESN'T HAVE A PACKED LUNCH
Families, should your child happen to forget their lunch, our Canteen can provide them a sandwich, piece of fruit and a drink. Unfortunately, no hot food can be made. Thank you.
2025 CANTEEN MENU
OFFSITE BAGGED LUNCH
This special lunch bag will be an option for any offsite events that are held locally (no hot lunches will be delivered offsite).
The Offsite Lunch Bag consists of chicken & salad wrap or sandwich, bottle of water, muesli bar, pkt plain chips and a piece of seasonal fruit for $15. Select "Offsite Bagged Lunch" from the Compass Canteen Menus.
STUDENT BIRTHDAY BUNDLES
Should you have any queries please contact our Canteen ladies, Mrs Hagger & Mrs Crowe.
St Joseph's OOSH & Vacation Care
We have two dedicated classrooms on the St Joseph's Catholic Primary School campus in Kemp Street, West Kempsey. The classrooms are filled with resources and games to suit children from Kinder to Year 6.
Students from all schools in the Macleay Valley and surrounds are welcome at Joey's OOSHC.
Joey's OOSHC has a proud history of providing high quality out of school hours care for than ten years. Joey's dedicated and experienced staff plan and manage programs that offer both fun and educational opportunities.
To find out more and to explore the enrolment process visit our website at https://www.joeyskempsey.org.au/
2025 FEE BILLING
The schedule of Tuition Fees for 2025 have been uploaded to our website.
The School Services Levy and Term Tuition Fees were billed during February, allowing families to view the full-year fees on their statements. These statements were forwarded via Compass.
The Diocese Fees team have written to all families asking them to nominate a payment frequency from the following options:
Families who have not nominated a frequency will default to quarterly payments. Payment for events and excursions will continue to be managed through Compass.Available payment methods are Bpay, Compass Pay, Centrepay Deduction or cash/EFTPOS at the school office. Your Bpay details appears on your monthly statement emailed at the start of each new month.
We recognise the financial pressures that families may face and strive to offer
flexible payment options to accommodate different circumstances. For more
information and to contact our Diocesan Fees Team, please visit the Diocese of
Lismore Catholic Schools website.
Keeping School Funding Fair - What you need to know
Learn more about COMPASS - School Communication Platform APP
To learn more about the COMPASS Platform please click here
About the Compass Platform
The Compass platform is a web-based system that is accessible on any modern web browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome & Safari) or by using the Compass School Manager iOS or Android App.
Parents have the ability to;
- Receive notifications about school events, news and information
- Enter an explanation for absences
- Communicate with your child’s teachers,
- Update your family contact details (mobile phone & email)
- View your child’s timetable and the school calendar
- Download and view your child’s academic reports
- Book parent-teacher conferences (parent/teacher interviews)
- Pay and provide digital consent for events (No more permission slips)
- Order lunches from the Canteen
- Pay school fees
Effective immediately, all students can only be dropped off at their registered school in the morning, we can no longer drop off in town for sports carnivals etc.
All buses are required to complete their school runs as per contracts.
BUS PASSES
- All students catching the bus in 2025 will need a school travel pass.
- Under the School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS), eligible students can apply for free or subsided travel between home and school.
- For more information about the School Student Transport Scheme and how to apply for a school travel pass, visit https://apps.transport.nsw.
gov.au/ssts/#/ from a desktop computer.
Students who need a School Bus Pass for 2025 can apply here. A new application will need to be submitted if they are applying for the first time, or if they are requesting additional travel entitlement because of a new shared parental arrangement (e.g. joint custody).
If a student’s distance eligibility has changed based on their grade (i.e. grade two to grade three), the system will automatically update their entitlement if they meet the new criteria. If they do not meet the new eligibility criteria, we will send them an expiry notification via email.
Students living in rural and regional (R&R) areas should receive their travel pass at the start of the new school year from their nominated transport operator. It may be given to the student as they board the bus for the first time in 2024 or be sent directly to them at home.
Important Note:-
Students who require a School Opal card or travel pass but have not yet applied need to apply or update their details as soon as possible.
Students living in rural and regional areas will receive their travel pass from their nominated transport operator. It may be issued via their school or be sent directly to them at home.
Catholic School Parents - Resources
SAVE THE DATE
PARENT ASSEMBLY CONFERENCE 2025
STEPPING STONES - FREE WEBINARS
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER for three free webinars for parents of children with an intellectual disability. Learn more about positive parenting approaches, helping your child reach their full potential and changing problem behaviour into positive behaviour. Provided by The Sydney Children's Hospital Network and Triple P Positive Parenting.
Catholic School Parents Australia has developed free resources to strengthen the home-school partnership! The new video workshops help guide primary and secondary parents, principals, and school staff to take a holistic approach to their children’s well-being and educational
experience.
The resources also include guides for local facilitators to run through the video workshops in collaborative sessions with principals, staff and families. Insights from experts like Andrew Fuller, John Hattie and Donna Cross inform the workshop’s research-backed strategies.
The resources can be found on the Gearing Up for Parent Engagement website.
Please find below a download to the
"Supporting Diverse Learning in Catholic Schools" resource.
I AM A GIRL - COME 'N' TRY BASKETBALL!
Come and try basketball, in a fun, safe environment just for GIRLS!
You'll enjoy fun games while developing fundamental and basketball movements. Boost your confidence, spark your imagination, and enjoy being active. Don't miss out—bring a friend for double the fun!
Register now and receive a FREE TSHIRT!!
: Indoor court at Melville High School (Albert St entrance), Kempsey
: Monday 14th April 2025
: 5-17yrs: 10.00am - 12.00noon
Please use the below link to register and select your applicable program:
The I AM A GIRL Program is supported by the NSW Government's Strategic Focus on women and girls in sport.

WHEN YOU HAVE A MEDICAL CONCERN - CONTACT NORTH COAST HEALTH CONNECT
North Coast Health Connect is a free (bulk billing) new service providing health support and advice from registered nurses 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including public holidays. If you are a resident or visitor to the North Coast, you can speak or live chat with a nurse. The nurse will ask some questions to understand what’s troubling you and then provide advice on what your next step should be.
This may include self-care advice to help you to manage your health (or that of a loved one) from home, or the nurse may recommend a GP appointment or a consultation with a pharmacist. The nurses are able to book an appointment for you directly with a local general practice or pharmacy or if appropriate, can transfer you to a 24/7 GP telehealth service. If the nurse believes you need to attend an emergency department or see a different health service, they will let you know.
Visit https://northcoasthealthconnect.org.au/ for more info and save as a contact for when you need it
https://northcoasthealthconnect.org.au/communication-resources/ (1)
This incredible service will help families access ‘on the day’ healthcare which is bulkbilled and is a vital and important service in this area.
Currently we have 220 GP appointments each week, supported by 23 GP clinics, across the entire North Coast region to access.
Visit https://northcoasthealthconnect.org.au/ for more info and save as a contact for when you need it by visiting https://qrco.de/bdkiJm or by scanning the QR code below.