27 May 2025 (Week 5 Term 2 2025)
Dear St Joseph’s Community
As we approach the midpoint of the term, I want to take a moment to acknowledge and celebrate the incredible efforts of our students. It’s been inspiring to see how hard they are working and how engaged they are in their learning across all year levels.
Equally, I want to sincerely thank our wonderful teachers. Each day they bring energy, expertise, and deep care to their classrooms. They work tirelessly to implement the most effective, evidence-based teaching and learning strategies to ensure every student can thrive. We are truly fortunate to have such a dedicated and passionate team.
Last week and this week, we were fortunate to welcome DJ from All Access Wheelchair Sports to deliver powerful and engaging sessions to our students. His visit was and is a wonderful opportunity for our school community to deepen our understanding of inclusion and resilience through sport. Thank you to Mr Seymour for organising this opportunity.
This Thursday, our Year 6 students will be participating in the Glow Retreat, joining peers from across the Diocese for a day of faith formation, reflection, and shared experience. It promises to be a meaningful and memorable day for all involved.
If you’ve been near the Administration area recently, you may have noticed our beautifully restored St Joseph statue. A huge thank you to Mr Wardrop for the outstanding care and craftsmanship he has brought to this project. We are pleased to announce that the Bishop will visit on Friday, 25 July at 2:00pm to lead a prayer service and bless the newly installed statue. Families are warmly invited to attend.
At our next assembly on June 6th, families may also notice our school hall getting a fresh new look! A new coat of paint is currently being applied and the refresh is expected in the coming weeks.
Thank you to those who have already responded to the Tell Them From Me survey. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us shape the future direction of our school. The survey will remain open for a few more days, and we encourage anyone who hasn’t yet completed it to take a few moments to do so. See below for more details.
We’re also right in the middle of enrolment season and have been busy meeting with families interested in joining us for Kindergarten 2026. It’s been a delight welcoming both new families and familiar faces as siblings of current students prepare to begin their own school journey.
Finally, we're hoping to replenish our food bank, after a mishap during the holidays, where our freezer lost power and we lost all of our frozen meals! There are some details below if you are able to help with sharing your gift of cooking!
Thank you for your continued support and involvement in our school community.
Tell Them From Me Survey - Seeking your voice!
Over the next week or so, we will be inviting students, teachers and parents to provide feedback on their experience of our school using an online survey. The surveys are an important part of our whole-school evaluation and planning process.
We would like to invite you to complete the Tell Them From Me (TTFM) Partners in Learning survey. As we value the role of parents and carers within our school community, we would greatly appreciate your feedback. The information you provide will be used to continue our commitment to working together in partnership to further improve student learning and wellbeing at St Joseph's Primary School.
The survey is anonymous and will take approximately 20 minutes to complete. Note that most responses are multiple-choice using a scale from Strongly Disagree to Strongly Agree. It can be quite easy to mix this scale up when completing the survey. Please take your time to read the questions carefully, so we have the most accurate data we can attain. You are able to access the parent survey on your computer or mobile device by using this URL: tellthemfromme.com/alstp2025ttfmparents
Term 2 School Community Group Meeting
Our Term 2 School Community Group Meeting is coming up. We have the start of our agenda below and would love your feedback on additional agenda items.
The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 17th June 6:30 - 7:45pm.
At this stage, the school would like to present on:
NAPLAN Results
- Sharing our recent Year 3 and 5 NAPLAN Results
At this stage, the school would love parent feedback on:
The Uniform Refresh
- Feedback from initial conversations with School Locker regarding uniform supply
- Exploring the uniform artworks provided by School Locker for parent feedback
- Examining the uniform samples provided by School Locker for parent feedback
Scripture Reflection - Learning from Pope Leo
In these first weeks of his papacy, Pope Leo XIV has already offered the Church a gentle but stirring example of what it means to lead with humility, unity, and hope.
From the very beginning, he has reminded us that the role of the Pope is not one of power, but of service. His message has been clear: the Church must be a home for all, especially those on the margins. In a divided world, he speaks often of peace, listening, and walking together—words that resonate deeply with our mission as a school.
As a community shaped by faith, we are invited to reflect this same spirit. Whether we’re in the classroom, the playground, or at home, we too are called to be people who bring others together, who care for those in need, and who live the Gospel not only in words, but in action.
May Pope Leo’s example encourage us to lead with compassion and to build a community grounded in love, learning, and welcome—for every person, every day.
ICAS 2025
What is ICAS?
ICAS is an online academic competition that gives students the opportunity to challenge their higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills in English, Mathematics, Science, Writing, Spelling Bee, and Digital Technologies.
ICAS results are in-depth and meaningful, and ICAS evaluates student performance against other competition entrants across the state and nation. The data reveals student strengths and weaknesses and can help you recognise and support your child's academic journey.
Learn more about ICAS here: icasassessments.com/products-icas/
How to participate in ICAS
If you wish for your child to participate in ICAS this year, please go to the Parent Portal to register for your chosen subjects.
Direct login link
Use this link to log directly into the shop and start registering:
Insert school’s access code: XFV264
Year 4 Save the Date: School Sleepover – July 3 & Accendere Retreat
We are excited to be preparing for the Year 4 School Sleepover on Thursday, July 3! Students are invited to stay overnight at school, where they’ll enjoy a fun-filled evening with pizza for dinner, a movie, and popcorn with friends.
The next morning, students will share breakfast in the staffroom before participating in the Diocesan retreat day, Accendere—a name that means “to spark the flame.” This special retreat builds on the joy and connection of the night before, inviting students to grow deeper in friendship with each other and with Jesus.
Mrs McCall and Mrs Jones will provide more details and consent via Compass soon.
Positive Behaviour Focus
This fortnight, we are focusing on celebrating our students who transition quickly to class and between lessons. This includes lining up quickly after the bell and entering class with everything they need to start the day.
Year 6 finally managed to finish their Term One STEM unit last week by cooking up a storm. Students selected their own recipes and provided the ingredients to cook a dish of their own choosing. A huge thank you to all of the parents for helping their child to supply the ingredients and especially to the parents who went above and beyond to deliver ingredients to school even though their child was ill. Very special thanks also goes to Mrs Roberts and Mrs Lowe for coming in to help.
Kindergarten Learning Celebrations
We love seeing our Kindy learners taking pride in their hard work. Great work Alex, Xavier, Maverick and Lucy!
Year 2 - Persuasive Texts (Component B)
Expect your child to be at school every day.
Setting the expectation for your child to be at school every day is a fundamental aspect of fostering a positive attitude toward education and establishing good attendance habits.
Clearly communicate to your child that attending school regularly is a top priority. If your child faces challenges related to attendance, such as reluctance or anxiety about going to school, address these issues promptly. Open communication with the school can help identify and resolve any underlying concerns.
You can seek advice free from NSW ParentLine 1300 1300 52.
Gardiner Chess Comp Term 2 - Registration Open
The Term 2 Gardiner Chess Tournament will be held on:
When: Monday 23rd June
Where: Alstonville Public School
Time: Registration from 8.30am to 9.15am. Start at 9.30am and finish around 2.15pm.
Cost: $24.00 per player
This tournament is open to students in Stages 1-3. We will walk to and from the event.
Registrations are due by Friday, 12th June.
Please complete this form to indicate your child's interest in this event.
