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- Message from the Principal
- Mission & Learning at Joey's
- Principal's Appraisal Process
- Student Awards
- Sports News
- News from the Enviro Team
- Health & Wellbeing
- LEGO Masters Competition - Week 8, T2
- Catholic School Parent Australia's Free Family Engagement Resources
- Canteen News
- St Joseph's OOSH & Vacation Care
- NSW Premier's Reading Challenge 2024
- eSAFETY PARENT WEBINARS
- What is the NCCD?
- School Fees
- How to Purchase your child's School Uniform
- How to Apply for a Bus Pass
- Learn more about COMPASS- School Communication Platform APP
- Child Safety Handbook
- BILLBOARD
Dear Parents, Caregivers and Families,
STAFF PROCLAIM
Last Friday, every Catholic School in the Hastings Region closed for the day in order to allow all staff in the Region to experience Staff Proclaim. Staff Proclaim looks to building a stronger Catholic Community within the Mission of Catholic Schools. The day's aim was to ensure that Catholic education is strategically placed to enable the promotion of schools that are truly Catholic in their identity and life, achieving high levels of Catholic religious literacy and practice.
YEAR 4 HOLY COMMUNION
Last Sunday, several of our students celebrated the Sacrament of First Holy Communion, the Sacrament which completes the process of Christian initiation. It was great to see many of our wonderful families and staff help our students celebrate this event along their spiritual journey.
BEING PERSISTANT AND HAVING A GROWTH MINDSET
At our last school assembly, I spoke to the students about, Perseverance, explaining that perseverance is what drives you to keep working even when you want to quit. I outlined how having perseverance, or being persistent, will help you learn all through life, and how this is similar to having a Growth Mindset. People with a growth mindset believe their abilities and intelligence can be developed and improved through dedication, determination and perseverance. Having a growth mindset can help you learn, improve, and overcome problems.
I then reminded the students that they all have the potential to be anything they want, however, they have to work hard in order to achieve it because nothing comes easy and you only get out of anything, what you put into it.
I would love it if you could continue this conversation at home.
GRIP LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
Tuesday last week I was fortunate enough to accompany our School Captains to a Leadership Conference in Port Macquarie. Our Leaders took on the challenge to ensure they left the conference as better people with a better understanding of leadership, by fully participating in the day and getting as much from each session as possible.
The first session, titled ‘How Everybody Can Step Forward and Lead’, taught students the importance of being prepared, getting involved, and stepping up by using your talents to do something good.
Session two, ‘The Sacrifice of a Student Leader’, discussed giving up something for the sake of something more important. This session saw Jason play the role of a cheer leader from a losing team, who had to sacrifice a personal preference for the good of the team.
Session three, ‘Stepping Forward with New Ideas’, discussed the importance of always trying to improve and make good things better. Heshma stood up and shared her thoughts with everyone, regarding something we do at St Joseph’s to make a good thing better. Heshma discussed the charity work completed through the School, such as the Vinnies Winter Appeal.
The final session of the day was ‘The Extra Steps - Doing the Things that Leaders Often Forget’. This session outlined the important steps that must occur after the first step of any process had been decided. This we learnt, is appropriately explaining the decision and enacting the decision, in order to ensure the original idea continues.
Again. It was an honour to spend the day with our Captains, who represented the school with the maturity and respect that I expect from all of our St Joseph’s students.
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
GOSPEL REFLECTION
1% BETTER EVERY DAY
This weekend’s reading from Genesis is so very human. It wasn’t my fault! The other person made me do it! Adam blames Eve, Eve blames the Serpent.
Sadly, some of us grow well into adulthood, still unable to accept responsibility and/or accountability for our behaviours. Is the Responsorial Psalm for the week an accidental choice? “With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption”. Probably not. A reminder perhaps that it’s ok to own up when we’ve messed up. Our God is merciful and forgiving, and ideally, we are with one another as well.
The message of the Gospel seems to be about unity. If a kingdom or a house is divided, it can’t stand. A family, a community, a Society divided won’t last. As human beings, we often seem to be preoccupied with putting one another in boxes –according to various factors – our professions, our family situations, our financial circumstances, our religion, our politics – and then dividing along those distinctions.
From a Society perspective, whatever our involvement – be it paid or unpaid – providing food and companionship, assisting a homeless person or family to secure and maintain a roof over their head, to raising funds, working in stores, managing compliance to ensure the Society’s work continues, we are one unit, striving for the one goal – our Mission – serving Christ in the poor with love, respect, justice, hope and joy.
It can feel overwhelming, to accept that possibly we ourselves are not blameless, that maybe we have made mistakes, or have attitudes that are unChristian, that we may be in need of God’s (and our fellow humans’) mercy and forgiveness.
St Paul’s words to the Corinthians then can be comforting: “Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day”. Reflection in part by Leonie Duck.
Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning - Benjamin Franklin.
PRAYER
Lord, remind me daily of your boundless mercy and give me
the grace to share mercy to others.
Amen
Sourced from https://cms.vinnies.org.au/media/aeudns1a/srg_may_sept_2024_web.pdf?folder=nsw__spiritual-reflection-guides&path=aeudns1a%2Fsrg_may_sept_2024_web.pdf
With Mrs Krystal Brady, Assistant Principal, Learning & Teaching and Mrs Erin McGovern, Assistant Principal, MissionFIRST HOLY COMMUNION
STUDENTS SUPPORTING EACH OTHER
RECONCILIATION WEEK
To celebrate Reconciliation Week, Ms Shirley created a beautiful Reconcili-ACTION Tree. Together with students and teachers from across the whole school, Ms Shirley led lots of learning in this area and students were able to contribute an intention for Reconciliation. The messages were beautiful and heartfelt, and highlighted the kind, respectful and knowledgeable students we have here at St Joseph’s.
Ms Shirley and Mr Michael also accompanied out year 6 Indigenous students to the local Sorry Day event, held at the Kempsey Railway Station and attended by many local schools and community groups. We look forward to our NAIDOC celebrations in Week 10.
SORRY DAY CELEBRATIONS
CYBER SAFETY TALK FROM LOCAL POLICE
our Stage 3 students to give a very important talk about Cyber Safety. They covered lots of important issues, including; the dangers of social media, apps to be wary of, safe practices online, respectful posting, posting with consent, where to go to for help, and answered lots of questions the students had. 
2H ENGINEERING THEIR FUTURES
BUILD A HABIT OF GOOD ATTENDANCE
Learning growth can occur
when your child attends school
every day.
By attending school every day, students maximise their exposure to educational opportunities, engage in meaningful learning experiences, and lay the foundation for continuous academic
progress. Regular attendance provides students with the opportunity to ask questions, seek clarification, and collaborate with others, enhancing their understanding of the material.
Parents and educators play important roles in fostering an environment that promotes and values regular attendance, contributing to the overall success and wellbeing of students.
Dear Parents
During Term 2 on 27th June 2024, Guy Campbell will be involved in a principal appraisal process as part of his contract of employment. The appraisal process seeks information from a variety of people associated with the school and uses a number of tools to ensure effective consultation. The process aims to highlight the positive aspects of the leadership offered and identify areas for further development.
A timeline is currently being arranged to suit the needs of the school community. The appraisal will be conducted by an External Chair nominated by the Catholic Schools Office.
The full principal appraisal process involves:
• a survey and self-appraisal statement completed by the Principal
• an interview with the Principal
• input as arranged with the Parish Priest
• surveys of parents, school staff and Catholic Schools Office personnel
• interviews with the Schools Leadership Team
• interviews with a random selection of staff who request an interview with the Chair
• interviews with a random selection of parents who request an interview with the Chair.
The preferred method of survey completion is by the online survey form. A link to this form will be forwarded to your email address. Please ensure your current email address is registered at the school as this survey link will be sent to you two weeks prior to the appraisal. Parents may express their interest to be interviewed via this electronic form. Not all those who express an interest to be interviewed will be contacted. If not contacted, then parents may wish to email their comments. Anonymous comments and emails will not be considered.
In writing the appraisal report, use of the information gathered will remain confidential and not identify sources. Every family in the school is encouraged to complete a survey, which will close on 16th June.
Your support of the appraisal process is appreciated.
Yours sincerely
Michael Mullaly
Chair
Term 2 - Weeks 5 & 6
Awards will be presented on
Friday 7th June at 1.05pm
Parents/Carers Welcome
|
CLASS |
MARY MACKILLOP AWARD Recognises Catholic attitude, behaviours & helping those in need |
ST JOSEPH Recognises positive actions witnessed within our school community |
CATHERINE McAULEY Recognises a growth mindset & effort in learning |
THE VALUES AWARD
PERSEVERANCE |
|
KHonour |
Mieke Schutte | Christy Wood | Quinn McMeekin | Bonnie Jones |
|
KSpirit |
Alby Gray | Amarlee Orr | Harper Dyet | Billee Delforce |
|
KTruth |
Shiloh Higgins | Parker Murphy | Cullen Pereira | Ireland Cudlin |
|
1Honour |
Poppie Rose | Eliza Te Rito | Aria Northey | Tobias Tuck |
|
1Truth |
Lachlan Mann | Azaleia Donney | Marshall Jordan | Ahren Browne |
|
2Honour |
Azariah Akee | Leah Barman | Jack Sproule | Hudson Woods |
|
2Truth |
Brooklyn Duff | Evelynn Russell | Blake Micallef | Xavier Roache |
|
3Honour |
Isaac Fairhall | Isla McIver | Connor Swan | Hughe Lyttle |
|
3Truth |
Ryda Carroll | Tony Jerin | Oliver Strachan | Maya Browne |
|
3/4 Spirit |
Tyler Quinn | Jazmin Crilley | Gus Meehan | Frankie Thurlow |
|
4Truth |
Benji Browne | Gregory Horgan | Scout Moorehead | Mia Greenslade |
|
5Honour |
Bailey Smidt | Ella Frewen | Izabelle Rose | Belinda Rudder |
|
5Truth |
Saoirse Kennedy | Amber Drew | Ryder Sproule | Isabel Toms |
|
6Honour |
Laura Lockman | Londyn Sutton | Finley O’Donnell | Hunter Glass |
|
6Truth |
Hannah Drayton | Heshma Lingamneni | Ethan Shore | Zavier Gill |
With Mr Watts
NETBALL SCHOOLS CUP
The big event for last week was the Netball School Cup for the local region. We entered ten teams for this day - five from Stage 2 and five from Stage 3. Two of the Stage 2 teams competed in the competitive rounds and all other teams played social games.
All enjoyed the day with skills and knowledge of the game improving as the day went on. Joey's Gold and Joey's Purple came second in their respective pools and entered finals games, but were unsuccessful in progressing to the next carnival.
Well done to all who committed, practiced and took part. Also thanks to all the staff for monitoring teams and umpiring.
SOCCER
With inspiration from the Matildas and refereeing help from Years 6, Stage 1 have been playing soccer in their sport sessions.
CROSS COUNTRY
Noah and Cohen Davies travelled to Western Sydney (International Equestrian Centre) earlier this week to run in the Polding Cross Country Trials. A great effort from both boys with Noah coming in 25th in the 12 years and Cohen coming in 24th in the under 9s.
WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY
World Environment Day was held on Wednesday 5th June. This day is celebrated annually and encourages awareness and action for the protection of the environment. This year’s campaign focused on land restoration, desertification and drought resilience under the slogan “Our land. Our future. We are #GenerationRestoration.” 
10c RETURN AND EARN RECYCLING
All proceeds are used to beautify our school grounds and assist with lunchtime gardening activities. Collection bags are available in the canteen foyer. Children who bring in a full bag receive a prize from the Enviro Prize Box (see Mrs Hagger in the Canteen).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.
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.
The SRC will be running a 'LEGO Masters' competition, commencing in Week 8 of this term, and are looking for any LEGO donations.
If you have spare and/or unused LEGO at home and are happy to donate it to the School, could you please drop it into the Office at your convenience.
Thank you in advance, all donations are greatly appreciated.
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.
With Mrs Hagger and Mrs Crowe2024 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.
WHY JOEY'S OUT OF SCHOOL HOURS 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/
The NSW Premier's Reading Challenge (PRC) is an initiative of the NSW State government. It aims to encourage in students a love of reading for leisure and pleasure and to enable them to experience quality literature. It is not a competition but a challenge to each student - to read, to read more and to read more widely.
This is an optional challenge that can be done at home. Students are welcome to borrow challenge books from the library during their class lessons, which our teacher librarians will identify for them. Throughout the year your child’s teacher may also log books for your child that have been read in class. Students can include any books read from the end of the 2023 challenge on their 2024 reading record. Key dates for the 2024 challenge are:
- 26 February 2024 - challenge opens for student entries
- Friday 23 August 2024 - challenge closes for student entries
- Friday 6 September 2024 - final date for coordinator validations of completed reading records.
Term 2 PRC booklists are now live - 158 new books have been added (please click booklist update to view).
In order to complete the Challenge, students must read the following number of books based on their Challenge Level:
|
Challenge Level |
Number of books you must read |
Minimum number of PRC books |
Maximum number of Personal Choice books |
PRC book lists you can read from |
|
K-2 |
30 |
20 |
10 |
K-2, 3-4, 5-6 |
|
3-4 |
20 |
10 |
10 |
3-4, 5-6, 7-9 |
|
5-6 |
20 |
10 |
10 |
5-6, 7-9 |
|
7-9 |
20 |
10 |
10 |
5-6, 7-9, 9plus |
|
3-9 (see rules on PRC site) |
20 |
10 |
10 |
All booklists |
Book lists can be found when your child logs into their account via this link; using their unique username and password. Each child has a unique username and password, if you would like this please contact your classroom teacher. Please take the time to explore the site.
If you are having trouble logging your own books online, please download the online PRC Reading Log, once complete return to school ensuring your child’s name is on the top, and we will upload the information for you. If you have any questions feel free to contact us for more information.
Happy Reading!
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
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.
