Term 1 Week 11

Principal Message

This is our final week of Term 1 and there has been much to celebrate so far this year! Across all 3 areas of our School Improvement Plan - Catholic Identity, Learning & Wellbeing, we have taken positive steps towards achieving our goals. The main theme of our work has been to create a place of learning that is safe and supportive of students to take risks in their learning; to give and receive feedback and accept the vulnerability that comes along with making mistakes so that students learn the skills and knowledge they need to develop new understandings. 

Across all three areas of our plan, staff have been focused on creating this safe environment for our students. In the area of Catholic Identity, we have been working on the student assessment information and what that tells us about how successful we have been through our teaching of concepts with students and the experiences we provide. Along with our work in other Key Learning Areas, teachers have been developing common assessment practices and records to ensure that the information they gain is used to adapt and adjust learning programs to meet the needs of students.

Our student wellbeing focus has highlighted the importance of understanding 'bullying behaviours' and how our words and actions impact those around us. This work will continue throughout the year with a focus on the education of students in the social and emotional skills they need to form positive relationships with their peers. We have introduced a platform called PIVOT that allows us to track the wellbeing of students and therefore the impact of our work to improve student wellbeing across the school. We have continued our work with Craig Moore, a psychologist who leads the review of Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L) across the Diocese and he is providing training for staff in student management practices that align with the PB4L Framework. 

Our 'culture of feedback' is a focus across all areas of our school improvement plan as we seek the voice of students, families and staff to build the positive learning environment at St Joseph's. Next term, we commence with a focus on the next stage of our School Vision & Mission review and will be hoping to get a draft to families for review. We will continue our focus on assessment to drive instruction and extending our culture of feedback to include the Professional Practice and Development of teachers. 

I am always grateful for your support of our work and welcome your feedback and engagement with our improvement goals. I have included an article for parents from our SchoolTV resource on the topic of bullying for your interest. Check out the SchoolTV resource to access videos and articles on a range of current and important topics to support you in your role as a parent. SchoolTV has done all the hard work to build a platform that addresses the content from areas of common concern among parents and carers within communities.

Don't forget that this Friday 11th April and Monday 28th April are Pupil Free days. We've received some feedback requesting that the dates for Pupil Free days each year be advertised outside of the Compass and School Calendar accessible via this newsletter. Please see these dates below.

Pupil Free dates:

• 11th April
• 28th April
• 4th July
• 21st July

Students' last day in Term 4 is Wednesday 17th December.

I wish you all the joys that the Easter season can bring.

Yours sincerely,

Brooke Stephens

St Nicholas OOSH Autumn Vacation Care

St Nicholas OOSH Autumn Vacation Care programs are out now, offering a range of fun and engaging activities for children these school holidays!

Families can view their local program here: https://stnicks.org.au/oosh/vacation-care/

Enrolled families can make a booking by navigating to the ‘Bookings’ tab in the Xplor Home app. Families who are not yet enrolled can submit an enrolment request here: https://stnicks.org.au/oosh/vacation-care/enquire-now/

Assistant Principal

Dear Parents/ Careers,  

Welcome to Week 11! 

It’s hard to believe we’ve reached the final week of Term 1! The term has flown by, and we have had many wonderful celebrations and successes across our school community. I hope you enjoy reading about these highlights in this newsletter. 

End of Term Attendance Update 

This week, we completed our End of Term Attendance Report with the Catholic Schools Office, and we are pleased with the results. Our overall attendance rate is 91.6%, surpassing our school-wide goal of 90%. 

While this is a great achievement, we remain committed to further improving attendance and will continue implementing attendance strategies throughout next term. 

A reminder that Catholic Schools Maitland-Newcastle will provide you with your child’s Term 1 attendance feedback during the break. 

Thank you for your ongoing support—we look forward to working together next term to continue strengthening student attendance and engagement. 

Safeguarding Children at St Joseph’s

At St Joseph’s, the safety and well-being of our students are our highest priorities. To support this, we have a Safeguarding Promoter role, which I am currently fulfilling. This role ensures that families receive important information about our school's approach to child safety, our compliance with both Church and State Child Safe Standards and promotes a safe and supportive environment for all children.

Child Protection and Reporting Concerns

Under the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998, certain concerns about child safety can be reported to the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ).

If staff members have reasonable grounds to suspect a child is at risk of significant harm, they can report concerns to the Child Protection Helpline. This risk may result from a single act or a pattern of behavior.

When considering a child’s level of risk, factors such as age, physical disabilities, developmental delays, social isolation, cultural background, gender diversity, or lack of a trusted caregiver should be taken into account.

If you are ever uncertain, please speak with a staff member—it is always better to be safe than sorry!

Additionally, parents can contact the Office of Safeguarding (Ph. 4979 1390, Mon–Fri) if they have concerns about a child’s safety or feel that a school-related matter involving reportable conduct or abuse is not being adequately addressed.

Thank you for working together to keep the children in our community safe.  Further on in the newsletter there will be additional safeguarding information.

Kind Regards 

Mrs Kia May Wall 

Assistant Principal 

Parent reminders

Please see some reminders for parents given the change of season.

• With the cooler weather setting upon us, please ensure all Asthma action plans are current with a copy provided to the front office.
  
  
• Children are still required to wear summer uniform; we will notify families when we make the switch to Winter uniforms. Previously this has been around Mothers day but we will continue to monitor the weather and will advise. All uniforms order can be ordered through our school website.  Please contact if you need help. 
  
  
• School fees have been set for 2025 . There is an expectation that you have resumed your payments by 31st March 2025.  Kara will be contacting debtor's  who have not yet made a payment. If you have a current health care card, please ensure to provide the office with a copy.  If you are experiencing financially difficulty, please arrange an appointment to see Mrs Stephens via the administration office.
  
  
• Please label all uniforms.  We have a large number of uniforms without any names on them. 

Religious Education Coordinator

Holy Week Liturgy and Easter Hat Parade

We’ve got a very special morning planned for this Thursday, and we’d love for you to come along and be part of it!

We’ll be starting the day at 9:30am with an Easter Hat 'Eggshibition' Parade followed by our Holy Week Liturgy. It’s a beautiful way to reflect on Jesus’ journey to the cross and prepare our hearts for Easter. The students have been working thoughtfully to bring the story to life, and it’s sure to be a moving and meaningful time together.

We are inviting students to make their own Easter hat with materials they can find from home (with only a little help from adults). Students may decide to create an Eggshibition instead of a hat. This may be a diorama which can be carried around in the parade.

Students are encouraged to include Christian symbols as part of their display. Eg. Crosses for Good Friday, Jesus’ tomb etc

Andrew Chinn's Concert

What a fantastic day we shared when Andrew Chinn visited our school in Week 9 to lead a whole-school concert!

Andrew, a well-loved composer of faith-filled children’s music, brought energy, laughter, and meaning into our school as he led students in song, movement, and reflection. His engaging presence and authentic connection with students made this a memorable formation experience.

It was beautiful to see students not only singing along but also understanding the messages behind the songs — celebrating God’s love, kindness, community, and joy. We thank Andrew for inspiring us and reminding us that faith can be celebrated through music and movement!

Concert

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Sacramental Program

Congratulations to the students who are preparing to celebrate their First Reconciliation this Tuesday!

On Sunday, 6th April, these students attended their Reconciliation Workshop led by the Sacramental Team at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church:

🌟 Sara and Alfred Ajay
🌟 Johann Cometa
🌟 Phoenix Ferguson
🌟 Kaelyn Jimmy
🌟 Kweli Matonhodze
🌟 Steve Shaibu
🌟 Angelyn Ros Sheen
🌟 Raphael Shoemark
🌟 Heart Torio
🌟 Lully Mia Tuazon

We are so proud of each of them as they take this important step in their faith journey. Please keep these students and their families in your prayers as they prepare to encounter God’s forgiveness and love in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We look forward as we journey with them throughout this year making their Confirmation and First Holy Communion.

Easter Mass Times

Primary Coordinator

The first term draws to a close and we have much to celebrate around our school. The staff and students have worked hard to create positive and encouraging learning spaces, where students have begun to take risks in their learning. 

PB4L 

Hero, Hardship and Highlight 

In the last two weeks of term we have been practicing the discussion prompt- Hero, Hardship and Highlight with our students before they go home. 

The purpose of this prompt is to help your children share more detailed accounts of their day when you ask about school. It can also encourage students to recognize and appreciate the positive aspects of their day, whether they involve learning or play experiences. 

Cyber safety on SchoolTV 

Some parents may not be aware of the excellent resources available called SchoolTV. 

Parenting doesn’t come with instructions, SchoolTV is a wellbeing resource that can support you in the challenges relating to modern-day parenting. 

This award-winning resource helps build relationships, foster connections, enable understanding and break down barriers to navigate a pathway towards better mental health and wellbeing for young people. It can assist in starting conversations on topics that are sometimes awkward or difficult to tackle. 

The link to School TV is on our school website under the parent tab. It is easy to navigate through the library of resources. 

In this edition of SchoolTV - Cyber Safety 

Young people today are growing up in an increasingly connected world where technology is part of their everyday lives –– for learning, socialising, and entertainment. While the digital world offers enormous benefits, it also comes with serious risks. From cyberbullying and online predators to inappropriate content and screen time concerns, navigating the online environment can be challenging for young people and their families. 

Cybersafety is not just about blocking access –– it's about empowering young people with the knowledge and skills they need to use technology responsibly and safely. This includes understanding privacy settings, recognising scams, and developing healthy digital habits. At the same time, it's important for parents and caregivers to stay informed, have open and judgement-free conversations with their children, and lead by example through positive online behaviour. 

In today's digital age, safeguarding a child's wellbeing must also include protecting their online life. This edition of SchoolTV will help you better understand the digital landscape your child is navigating and offer practical strategies to help them stay safe, confident and in control online. 

We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this edition of SchoolTV and we always welcome your feedback. If you have any concerns about your child, please contact the school counsellor for further information or seek medical or professional help. 

https://tareesj.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/cybersafety-au 

Term 2 PB4L 

As we have had a focus on identifying the types of bullying behaviours for the last half of this term, we will be turning our attention to the prosocial behaviours that underpin healthy relationships. Relationships that Rock will be our Term 2 theme. Next term St Josephs will focus on teaching self regulation in the first fortnight. 

Self-regulation is the ability to manage your emotions and impulses, staying calm and composed even in challenging situations. Then move onto making good decisions, empathy, following social rules and teamwork and then finally, managing conflict in friendships. 

Our school Counsellor, Rebecca Sams, will be running a session with each year level in years 3-6 to discuss the impacts of bullying on mental health and then the power of the protective factor of having healthy relationships with peers. 

We are all excited about the upcoming term and the opportunities it brings. With everyone's dedication and hard work, we anticipate a productive and successful period. Let's make the most of it and achieve great things together! 

Loretta Riddiford  

Primary Coordinator 

Sports Coordinator

Cross Country 

Due to wet weather the school cross country carnival has been postponed until Tuesday 14 April. 

Winter Sports Trials 

Congratulations to the following students who represented the Manning Region in netball, soccer and Rugby League 

Netball - Piipa, Kweli and Jaz 

Soccer - Flynn, Robbie and Millie 

Rugby League - Lachlan, Lucas and Anton 

A massive congratulations to Lachlan and Lucas Campbell-Wrigley on their selection for the Maitland/Newcastle Diocesan Rugby League team! Wishing them all the best as they travel to Bathurst to compete at the Polding level.

Danny Buderus Legends 7’s Gala Day 

In Rugby League and League Tag, the players showed exceptional commitment today. They gave their all, playing with heart and determination. Their sportsmanship was outstanding, and their efforts were rewarded with some well-deserved wins.  

Soccer Gala Day 

The Soccer Gala Day has been postponed to Term 2. We will inform you of the new date once it's confirmed. 

Boots 

We have a wonderful assortment of boots for the students to borrow for carnivals, but we need to replenish the tub. If you have any football, soccer, futsal, etc boots that you would like to donate to the school or know someone, I am sure the students would greatly appreciate it.

Catholic Primary School Sport Pathways  

At St Joseph’s we are committed to the development of the whole student. Sport and physical activity are an integral part of the school curriculum, and our school environment provides opportunities to build a dynamic and inclusive culture.  

The diagram below explains the pathways available at our school. 

Maitland-Newcastle Diocesan Sport Website 

This website is new to the Diocese and is designed to assist parents in registering their child at Diocesan level. Please follow the information below. 

Yours in Sport 

Tarnya Jones  

Sport Coordinator 

Awards

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Gifted Education Mentor

First off, a big thank you to the St Joseph’s Taree community for making me feel so welcome. As the new Gifted Education Mentor (GEM) Project Officer, I absolutely love working at Taree with the amazing staff and students every Friday. 

This year, we’re excited to share that four of our Year 5 students have been chosen to join the Virtual Academy. This online program connects high-potential and gifted students every week with peers who share their interests, allowing them to dive into fascinating topics and explore their passions through research and real-world projects. 

The Virtual Academy is a great example of our commitment to academic excellence and providing opportunities for our students to grow and thrive. We’re proud to celebrate the unique strengths of our students through programs like this. 

Earlier this term, our 2025 Virtual Academy students attended their first Virtual Academy Connect Day at the University of Newcastle, Callaghan Campus. They had a wonderful day participating in engaging learning activities, making new friends, and getting an exciting preview of their upcoming journey in the Virtual Academy. Parents and families also enjoyed a guided tour of the university, offering them a glimpse into the promising future that awaits their children. 

CogAT News

In Term 2, students in years 2 and 4 will participate in the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT). This test evaluates students' reasoning abilities in three key areas essential for success in school: 

1. Verbal Battery: Assesses students' ability to reason with words and concepts, crucial for reading comprehension, critical thinking, writing, and verbal learning tasks.
2. Quantitative Battery: Measures students' ability to reason with quantitative symbols and concepts, which are vital for problem-solving in mathematics and other disciplines.
3. Nonverbal Battery: Evaluates students' ability to reason with geometric shapes and figures, requiring them to implement strategies for solving novel problems.

These batteries provide a comprehensive view of each student's learned reasoning abilities, identifying both strengths and areas for improvement. CogAT aims to support differentiated practice in education by helping teachers adapt instruction to meet the unique needs and abilities of each student. 

It's important to note that CogAT scores are not integrated into report grades or other conventional measures of school achievement. The focus is on tailoring instruction and fostering a supportive, inclusive learning environment based on each child's ability. 

If you have any concerns or questions about your child's academic progress or specific educational needs, please schedule a meeting with your child's teacher. They will discuss your child's strengths and areas for growth based on various assessments. Additionally, you can contact our Gifted Education Mentor Terri Cornish-Allen (terri.cornish-allen@mn.catholic.edu.au), or Leader of High Potential and Gifted Education, Maree Karaka (maree.karaka@mn.catholic.edu.au), for further assistance. 

Thank you for your continued support in ensuring the best educational outcomes for our students. 

St Clare's news

Check out the St Clare's Newsletter using this link.

Enrolment for Kindergarten 2026

Safeguarding

The Promoters of Safeguarding continue to endorse a culture of protection within our Diocese. This week, your attention is drawn to the role of Australian Catholic Safeguarding Ltd (ACSL).

ACSL has been created to promote and oversee a nationally consistent, comprehensive and sustainable framework for the protection of children and at-risk adults within the Church in Australia. The ACSL has zero tolerance of abuse and works to ensure a safe Church for all. This includes our Catholic Primary Schools.

The findings of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse place responsibility on the Catholic Church to demonstrate greater respect, care and protection for everyone who places their trust in the Church and to comply with legislative obligations in safeguarding and professional standards.

ACSL develops integrated safeguarding services to promote safe environments for children and vulnerable adults, including:· providing advice to Church Authorities and schools about their safeguarding responsibilities· providing tailored education and professional development programs· training of Professional Standards and Safeguarding Officers· monitoring the implementation of the National Catholic Safeguarding Standards· managing databases related to Church safeguarding· overseeing the management of complaints against Church Authorities· providing independent audit and review certification of safeguarding programs

Holiday Kids Club 2025

School Holiday Fun- Hunter Wetlands Centre

Sree Ram Navami Celebrations