Week 5 Term 3 - Friday 22nd August 2025

FROM OUR LEADERS

Principal's Message

Build the Habit of Regular Attendance - What makes coming to school great?

Even small absences from school can add up, leading to significant gaps in knowledge and understanding over time. Consistent attendance is essential for academic success, as every school day provides valuable opportunities to learn and grow. Izaiah stated:

‘I believe what is great about coming to school is that I am in a supportive and strong community. I love playing with loving friends and learning with the class. I have a caring teacher who helps me when I’m stuck.’

Bullying. No Way! Week 

For Week 4 from 11th to 15th August, our school community embraced the national Bullying. No Way! theme: Be Bold. Be Kind. Speak Up. 

We began the term with a powerful day of Anti-Bullying Professional Learning for staff focusing on creating safe, inclusive environments where every student feels seen, heard and supported.

Throughout the week, classroom learning centred around the theme, encouraging students to act with courage, kindness and empathy every day.

✔️ Liberty House delivered Respectful Relationships sessions to Years 4, 5 and 6, exploring concepts like Power and Control, and helping students understand healthy interactions.
✔️ Courage to Care worked with our Year 5 and 6 students, deepening their understanding of the importance of standing up against injustice.
✔️ Our wonderful Year 6 Peer Support Leaders led a session for all students titled “Be Kind, Be Brave”, reinforcing our shared commitment to a safe and welcoming school culture.

💬 Let’s continue the conversation at school and at home about what it means to be bold, kind and to speak up when it matters most.

#BullyingNoWay #BeBoldBeKindSpeakUp 

Joey's Music and Ministry Night

Focusing on Reading Fluency

Reading fluency is much more than simply “reading fast.” It’s about reading smoothly and accurately, with natural expression so it sounds like talking. When children read fluently, their brains don’t have to work as hard to figure out each word. This frees them up to focus on understanding the meaning, building vocabulary, and enjoying reading rather than finding it hard work.

This term, we are placing a special focus on strengthening our students’ reading fluency. Fluency is the bridge between word reading and comprehension. The two go hand in hand: fluent reading supports understanding, and good understanding supports fluent reading. Skilled readers combine their ability to recognise words, use punctuation effectively, and apply oral language skills to make their reading flow naturally.

Fluent readers have moved beyond “sounding out” every word. They can recognise many words instantly (their sight vocabulary), which takes the pressure off their working memory. This means more brainpower is available for thinking about what the text means, rather than using all their energy on decoding. The best way to build this fluency is through regular, purposeful oral reading practice - because, like any skill, the more children practise, the more confident and capable they become.

There are three core components of fluency:

• Rate (speed) – When we talk about speed in reading fluency, we are talking about how quickly your child can recognise words within a text. If they are often pausing to sound out words or asking for help with identifying words, then they likely need to work on their speed. However, speed also relies on another skill, accuracy. 
• Accuracy (correctly decoding words) – Accuracy has to do with actually being able to recognise words in a text correctly. This skill relies on the amount of vocabulary that your child has built as well as their skills in phonics. Speed and accuracy are closely related skills that work together in order for your child to read smoothly. 
• Expression (prosody: intonation, stress, volume) – Expression is your child’s ability to read texts like spoken language. They are able to recognize when to change their tone, accent, and pitch when they read aloud. This is a reflection of their reading comprehension as well.
  

You can help improve your child’s reading fluency at home by practicing some strategies every day that can help them build the different skills needed to achieve fluency:-

• Read aloud every day (10 minutes is plenty). Consistency beats length.
• Use familiar texts - Rereading a just-right book or decodable text strengthens accuracy and speed.
• Echo reading - You read a sentence/paragraph first; your child “echoes” it back, matching your pace and expression.
• Choral reading - Read a page together, in unison - great for building confidence.
• Phrase it - Lightly run a finger under groups of words (not every single word) to model natural phrasing.
• Spotlight tricky words - If a word trips them up, pause and revisit it together, then reread the sentence smoothly.
• Pair print with audio - Listening to a quality audiobook while following the text can model expression and pacing.
• Celebrate progress - Notice smoother reading, better phrasing, or fewer pauses - specific praise motivates!

For more helpful information please visit our COMPASS portal Parent Resources (go to School Documents, Parent Resources, Reading Resources).

Prayer Focus

FOR ACTION

Book Week Celebrations - New Date

Parent Community Group (PCG)

Special PCG Parent Tech Information Session - All Welcome!

Join us for our next extra special PCG meeting on Wednesday, 22nd October (Week 2 Term 4) from 5:30pm – 6:30pm here at Joey's.

See the flyer for details and booking link - We'd love to see you there!

We’ve attached the minutes from our last meeting, feel free to have a look.

Father's Day Breakfast, Liturgy and Colour Run

Your Parent Community Group (PCG), supported by the school, are hosting a Father’s Day Breakfast to celebrate our special Dads and Lads on Friday 5th September from 7:30am. Areas to sit and enjoy breakfast with your family will be available in several places in the school. We hope you will share this memorable experience with us whilst enjoying a yummy breakfast before school and work.

Orders for your family can be placed online by logging into your account at https://www.flexischools.com.au/ OR download, print and complete the order form below. Return it in an envelope marked ‘Father’s Day Breakfast’ to the school office together with payment by Friday 29th August (for catering purposes we are unable to accept late orders).

Please feel free to invite all family members including Fathers, Grandfathers and Uncles – and remember to order their breakfast on Flexischools or the order form below also.

Following the breakfast, there will be a Father’s Day prayer service hosted by Kindergarten in the MPA, beginning at 9:15am and then our Colour Run spectacular. We hope you can stay for as little or as long as you are able to.

To help ensure our Dads and Lads can fully enjoy their experience, we are asking for Mums and friends to lend a hand in hosting this event. If you are available to help please let us know by completing this online google form - https://forms.gle/gnbbtsWf8sUYeKqaA and one of our wonderful PCG volunteers or staff will be in touch with you in the coming week to confirm the details for you.

Parish News

St Agnes' Foundation Raffle - Drawn 26th September

FOR INFORMATION

Hometime Arrangements

Hometime Messages - How am I getting home?

To alleviate any stress or worry for your child we encourage you to discuss your child’s travel arrangements with them each day (particularly if it changes).

If there is a change to your child's home time travel arrangements please let your child know before they leave the house or write a note to your child's teacher. Some parents also write a "H" (home lines) or a "B" (bus lines) on their child's hand. Home Time Routine Bag Tags may also be helpful in managing travel arrangements (please speak to the Office Aunties if you are interested in purchasing some).

We understand that plans may change during the day and ask that you phone the Office Aunties on 6583 3848 between the hours of 8:30am and 2:30pm if this is the case. This enables us to ensure that your child gets the message in a timely manner.  Please DO  NOT email the school or message your child's teacher directly as it may not be seen in the timeframe you require. 

If an emergency occurs or there is a late change to your child's home time plan we will do everything we can to get the message to your child after 2:30pm. Please be aware that a school bell sounds at 3:00pm for classes to prepare to leave the class for hometime at 3:10pm which makes it difficult to guarantee that a message will get to your child.

Thank you for your support in making sure everyone gets home safely.

Parent Education

NSW CCSP Parent Conference

A Conference for Parents and Carers of Children in Catholic Schools in the Jubilee Year of Hope. On Saturday, 25th October, the Council for Catholic School Parents (CCSP) is hosting a special anniversary celebration conference for all NSW/ACT parents and carers with children in Catholic schools! Expert presenters will support parents bravely in a modern world:

Find out more information on our website here.

Buy a ticket: Supporting Families: Working Together in a Modern World Registration, Sat 25/10/2025 at 8:30 am | Eventbrite

Date/Time: Sat, 25 Oct 2025 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM AEDT. Doors at 8 am

Location: Novotel Sydney, 350 Church Street, Parramatta, NSW 2150

Contribution: $30

Contact CCSP at the office on office@ccsp.catholic.edu.au or 02 9287 1514

Raising Body Bright Children (5-12 years)

Parents of primary age children are invited to register for Butterfly's virtual seminar on supporting children's positive body image and healthy relationships with healthy eating and physical activity.  

With a focus on preventing body dissatisfaction and serious eating issues, this session provides information and practical tips to help parents better understand and promote positive body image and healthy relationships with eating and physical activity in the home. It provides practical strategies to be a positive role model, reduce the impact of risk factors in a child's environment. The session also explores when to be concerned and what you can do, including referral and support information.

Date: 1st September 2025
Time: 7:00 pm - 8.15 pm (AEST) 
Via: Zoom (Time-limited recording)
Cost: $15 pp

TO REGISTER CLICK HERE

CCSP - Nurturing Strengths - Primary Parent Webinar

This webinar empowers parents to recognise and nurture their child’s unique strengths and talents, guiding them toward greater confidence, motivation and resilience. Learn how to observe your child’s natural abilities, encourage self-expression, and create hands-on opportunities that align with their interests
Date: 10th September 2025
Time: 12:30 pm - 1.15 pm (AEST)  

TO REGISTER CLICK HERE

Canteen Information - How to Order and Volunteer

SPORT

A Huge Term of Sport Ahead!

Term 3 is set to be a busy and exciting time for sport at St Joseph’s, with students participating in a wide variety of events. From netball to touch football, futsal to rugby league, it’s a fantastic opportunity for students to build skills, show sportsmanship, and represent our school with pride.

Here’s what’s coming up, in date order:

• Zone Netball and Soccer Gala Day (including the Paul Wilson Cup) – Wednesday 27th August
  A great day of competition with students competing in netball and soccer, including the prestigious Paul Wilson Cup. Always a highlight on the sporting calendar!
  
  
• Diocesan Athletics Carnival – Tuesday 26th August
  Our strongest athletes will compete at the diocesan level.
  
  
• Ian Schubert’s 7s Rugby League and League Tag – Thursday 28th August
  A fun and fast-paced day of rugby league and league tag, focused on participation, teamwork and developing game sense in a safe and supportive environment.
  
  
• NSW Touch Football Gala Day – Wednesday 3rd September
  Selected students will represent our school in this exciting gala day full of fast play, quick thinking and great teamwork.
  
  
• NSW Schools Netball Cup (Years 3–4) – Wednesday 10th September
  Our Year 3 and 4 netballers will take part in this fun and competitive day, learning valuable skills while enjoying the carnival atmosphere.
  
  
• Mid Coast Futsal Tournament (Years 3–4) – Thursday 11th September
  This indoor soccer tournament is a great way for younger students to develop confidence and teamwork in a fast-paced game setting.
  
  
• Mid Coast Futsal Tournament (Years 5–6) – Thursday 18th September
  Our senior students will have their turn to compete in the futsal arena, bringing energy, strategy, and great sportsmanship.
  

We are incredibly proud of our students’ commitment to sport and look forward to a term full of effort, growth, and team spirit.

Good luck to all involved!

Samuel Taylor
Sports Coordinator

Sport Spotlight

What an incredible year it’s been for Zeke, who has achieved remarkable success on the basketball court both locally and internationally.

Most recently, Zeke returned from Korea, where he competed in the 12th Asian Basketball Club Tournament as part of the Joflow Academy Australia U12s. His team finished as 1st runner-up, and Zeke was proudly awarded “Most Improved Player of the Tournament” - a huge accomplishment for his first international tournament.

Earlier this year, Zeke also played in several major tournaments across Australia, including:

• Easter Classics 2025 in Adelaide – Champions
• Nunawading Tournament 2025 in Melbourne (June)
• NAIDOC Tournament 2025 (July) – 3rd Place
  

In addition to these events, Zeke is a representative player for the Port Macquarie Dolphins and trains as part of the Elite Squad for North Coast Academy.

We are incredibly proud of Zeke’s hard work, dedication, and sportsmanship. Congratulations, Zeke!

OUR LEARNING JOURNEY

Year 2 Glasshouse - Josephine Wants to Dance

On Wednesday of Week 4 our Year 2 attended a fabulous performance at the Glasshouse based on the picture book 'Josephine Wants to Dance' by Jackie French and Bruce Whatley. This hilarious musical was about the importance of believing in yourself and realising your dreams and… a dancing kangaroo! The concert was engaging, full of dance, music, drama and wonderful costumes and was thoroughly enjoyed by the students.

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WHAT'S ON

Dates for your Diary

Please note these dates can change from time to time due to unforeseen circumstances and we will endeavour to advise you of any changes at the earliest possible opportunity. Our school Google calendar can be accessed via this link for additional advanced dates -

For your convenience 2025 school term dates are listed below. They are also located on our website. Click on the words “TERM DATES” on the home page.

Term 3 2025

Kindergarten to Year 6 last day of classes Term 3 – Friday 26th September

Term 4 2025

Staff Development Day (Pupil Free) - Monday 13th October

Kindergarten to Year 6 commence classes for Term 4 - Tuesday 14th October

Kindergarten to Year 6 last day of classes for Term 4 - Wednesday 17th December

Staff Development Day (Pupil Free) - Thursday 18th December

Staff Development Day (Pupil Free) - Friday 19th December

Other Holidays in 2025

Labour Day – 6th October (Public Holiday)

Christmas Day - 25th December (Public Holiday)

Boxing Day - 26th December (Public Holiday)

FROM OUR COMMUNITY

Billboard

Port Macquarie Little Athletics 

We are approaching the start of our Little Athletics Season and are asking all the schools in our area to include the following short paragraph in your newsletters.  We have kids from all schools attending our club and a lot of these kids, through the guidance they receive at our club, go onto compete at higher levels at a school level, representing your school with pride.

Registrations have opened for the 2025/26  season for Little Athletics in Port Macquarie for children ages 3 through to 17.  We are a very inclusive sport, and we accept all children, no matter what their ability is.  We also encourage families with children that have a disability to come along as we can adapt many of our events to suit the child.  Our first club night is the 17^th of October, 2025 just after the school holidays.  For further information go to the following website. https://www.revolutionise.com.au/portmacquarielac/home 

Any questions can also be directed to the club at email pmlac40@gmail.com  

Port Macquarie Little Athletics Club
Committee