When We Sing, We Pray Twice!

This week we were visited by Proclaim Lismore Wildfire Worship Team, well-known for their original new worship music and local Mission Assistants.

Ten:Ten is a high-energy experience focused on enabling students to achieve the fullness of life. Inspired by the words of Jesus in the Gospel of John, “I came so that they may have life, life to the full” (John 10:10).

This experience has provided an opportunity for all our students to celebrate life with their peers and hear the relevance of the Gospel from a team of faithful youth ministers. Each Ten:Ten session gave students the opportunity to encounter Jesus through music, talks, interactive activities and prayer.

Podcast - Dr Jennifer Buckingham in conversation with Mr Baker

Conversations across the Diocese of Lismore Podcast - “InitiaLit in Practice: A Principal’s Perspective”. In this episode listen to Dr Jennifer Buckingham in conversation with Troy Baker (Principal, St Joseph’s, Port Macquarie) discussing school-based strategies developed to support the implementation of InitiaLit. They discuss how the NSW Curriculum reform has led the school to dive deeply into learning about the Science and Reading, the Science of Learning and how this learning can help teachers understand what explicit instruction is and why it is so effective. The learning enabled teachers to develop a deep understanding of how InitiaLit is used as a tool to support teachers in developing sustainable, concise practice that enhances student learning and growth.

Our Deepest Sympathy

Our sympathy goes out to Hudson and Emerence Young for the recent loss of their Grandfather on their Mum's side and Grandmother on their Dad's side.
Both grandparents passed away
over the weekend.

Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are
with you. 

The safety of our students, families and staff is our highest priority. In order to best ensure this, the St Joseph's Primary School leadership and staff, supported by the Catholic Schools Office, plan for a number of possible incidents, emergencies or natural disasters that could take place at school or during the school term. The events of recent years have reinforced how important this planning is and we all have a role to play when it comes to emergency management, including families. Our students participate in various safety drills and staff participate through training and safety drills. We’d like to share with you the role of parents and families in emergency management.

School Lockdown

A number of the situations we plan for include a school lockdown as one of the immediate safety actions to ensure the safety of our students and staff. We understand that some may understand the word ‘lockdown’ to mean there is an immediate safety risk to all students. It is important to understand that when a school initiates a lockdown this may not be the case. Depending on the situation, the purpose of a school lockdown will differ. A school lockdown may be a preparation step for an evacuation, or a school lockdown may allow emergency services access to an area of the school without having to navigate past students. Regardless of the purpose of a school lockdown, no one can be admitted to the school grounds other than emergency services.

Should we initiate a school lockdown, parents and families will be informed via text message and Compass notification. We will also inform parents and families as soon as the school lockdown has been lifted or if there are any actions required of parents and families. It is important that you do not attempt to attend the school during a school lockdown. We understand that you may be concerned however attending the school may also add risk to a possible emergency situation, block emergency services or impede an evacuation.

Natural Disaster

In the event of a natural disaster, such as flood or bushfire, the school leadership, supported by the Catholic Schools Office, will determine if it is safe for the school to open. If there is a probability the school may have to close part way through the day, the school will not open for that day as it is extremely difficult to evacuate a school site and ensure all students are able to go directly home safely.

In a bush fire or flood event it is important that parents and families have a plan to get your child/ren home from school, or into your care, at short notice. Please be aware that school buses may not be running and the school can not allow your child/ren to go home to an empty house or home with another parent without your permission.

Family Preparedness

How can you help us prepare for emergency situations? Please ensure that:

• You have downloaded the Compass App and have allowed notifications.
• Any changes to your contact details or custodial arrangements have been updated with the school.
• You have a bush fire/flood plan in place that all members of your family understand.
• In the event of a school lockdown or evacuation, directions in the parent notifications are followed.

It is always our hope that these measures will never be needed but it is also our responsibility to ensure our school community is prepared and informed should the need arise. We thank you in advance for your support and cooperation.

Troy Baker, Principal and
Nigel McIntyre, Work Health and Safety Manager, Catholic Schools Office

News of significant world events can cause distress to children and young people. Here is a resource to help you have positive and supportive conversations about concerning world events.

Students will visit next year’s classrooms in the middle session of Tuesday Week 10 (12th December) and learn who their year and class teachers will be for 2024. 

Class groupings have been carefully allocated by the current teachers, considering many relevant factors as we aim to have the most productive groups possible. It is important to note that in our contemporary learning environment, a team of teachers collaborate together to formulate the best learning experiences, so your child will benefit from the team of teachers, who will teach them next year. 

October was Mental Health Month and during that time students were invited to design a poster which showed what they did to help improve or maintain their wellbeing. We received an overwhelming number of submissions and held our Inaugural Wellbeing ArtWalk on Tuesday 7th November. All students had the opportunity to view the creativity of their peers throughout the day and were encouraged to think about all the things that they do to help maintain their wellbeing. As an extra special treat, all students had an icy pole to sit and enjoy with their friends.

Kelly Russell
School Counsellor

Over the last few months, a dedicated group of students from Years 5 and 6 have been engaging in the Design Thinking Process to design a prototype of a product or service that would make a difference in the lives of others. Two of our teams received Highly Commended at Diocesen level and were chosen to submit their entry digitally to the STEM MAD National Competition. We would like to acknowledge the work of both these teams and extend an additional congratulation to Gemma Cooper and Marielle Obeid for the following achievements; Finalist - Best Demonstration of Science - Primary and Finalist - STEM for Habitat Conservation - Primary.

Take a look at our entries into the National Competition.

Save our Koalas Resource Bag 

My Friend Stanley

Emma Francis and David Lynch 
STEM MAD Leaders

Joel

Wow, 3rd in the entire world!

Check out the video to hear Joel talk a little bit about his journey and catch a peek at his trophy!  Well done Joel, we are proud of you.

Futsal

Congratulations to the Joey's girls futsal team who competed in the Australiasian Futsal Tournament in Brisbane. They showed the rest of the country the true Joey’s Way with their grit, determination and teamwork.

Taekwondo

Excitement and discipline are colliding each week as the Jayu Dojo continues to bring the ancient Korean martial art of Taekwondo to life for students from Year 6 to Kindergarten. The initiative aimed to instil not only physical fitness but also mental resilience and self-discipline among the young learners. With experienced instructors at the helm, the Jayu Dojo are delivering an engaging and educational experience, promoting values like respect and perseverance. 

Basketball

For the past two weeks, the Port Macquarie Basketball Association has brought the dynamic world of basketball to life for students ranging from Year 6 to Kindergarten at Joey's. With a focus on fostering physical activity, teamwork, and coordination, the basketball lessons provided a unique opportunity for our young learners to engage in a sport that combines skill, strategy, and camaraderie. Students not only honed their dribbling and shooting techniques but also developed essential skills such as communication, sportsmanship, and resilience. 

David Lynch
Sports Co-ordinator

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 2023 school term dates are listed below. They are also located on our website. Click on the words “TERM DATES” on the home page.