Recent Building Inspection

During a recent routine building inspection, the presence of asbestos was detected in the archives room.

An exclusion zone has been established and will remain in place until professional advice on the appropriate course of action is received and a clearance certificate provided. Please note that St Joseph’s Primary School remains a safe environment and operational during this period.

We are working with ENV Solutions to plan the remediation works and these works will be completed as soon as possible and in accordance with SafeWork NSW regulations and the Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools Asbestos Management Plan. All work will be completed by licensed and accredited asbestos contractors and monitored by occupational hygienists in strict accordance with all applicable legislations, regulations, policies and guidelines. You will also find attached the Department of Education ‘Managing Asbestos in NSW Public Schools’ Factsheet for further information. Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools adheres to these same standards.

Of course we are committed to the Health and Safety of our school community as our highest priority and we will keep you informed of the scheduled timing and progress of the remediation works.

Sacrament of Reconciliation

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is one of two sacraments of healing (the other being the Anointing of the Sick). Reconciliation, or Penance as it is also known, is a sacrament of forgiveness and celebrates God’s love and mercy towards us.

The preparation time for each sacrament marks another important step in your child’s formation in the Catholic faith and continues to be a very important period in your family’s life too, with Jesus Christ and his Church. It is a great privilege for us to accompany you and your child throughout this special time.

This week we welcomed families from our Parish to our Reconciliation workshop. 

We are praying as a community for our Sacrament of Reconciliation Candidates and look forward to our Reflection Day next Friday 8th March. You are warmly welcome to join us for our Prayer Assembly devoted to our candidates next Friday at 2:20pm, hosted by Year 4.

Sacrament of Reconciliation Dates

Welcome Picnic

What a blast we had at this weeks Welcome Picnic! Face painting, ice cream, live music, games and more. Thank you for joining us. Join our Parent Community Group to organise more amazing community events this year.

The PCG's next meeting is Week 8 - Wednesday 20th March, 5:00 - 6:00pm in the school library. Let’s get together for our kids Joeys!

Parent Community Group (PCG)

Concussion

Parents are reminded to advise the school if their child suffers a concussion outside of school hours (eg. while participating in community sport). Children should not participate in school or physical activity until they are completey symptom free and cleared by a doctor to do so. 

Click here for Fact sheet on Mild head injury and concussion

Our school has moved from Digistorm to Compass for online enrolments.  

As existing users of Compass, you will find a new Tile in the Compass App called 'Family and Enrolments'. You can create a new application from here and update your personal and contact details anytime.

Please check that your contact details are up-to-date in Compass. If you will be using the new enrolment module and you have students in more than one Diocese of Lismore School, these details will update across schools automatically.

Applications for new enrolments can be completed immediately.  For new families to our schools, or for families applying for Kinder in 2025, please see our website for additional information, how to enrol and where to seek help if it is needed. If you have already applied via our old system, rest assured we have your application; there is no need to reapply.

Due to the upcoming closure of Emerald Dr at Ocean Dr, Port Macquarie; multiple School Bus and Route Service changes will be commencing Monday 4^th March 2024. Detailed information regarding how these changes will impact students travel to and from School are noted in the attached letter.

The completion of these works is weather dependent however, when completed a traffic switch will occur resulting in the closure of Matthew Flinders Dr at Ocean Dr, therefore additional changes to services may be required of which Busways will provide further notification for students, parents, and School administrators.

For additional information, please refer to our schools timetabled services at: https://www.busways.com.au/nsw/school-services/school-timetables and select the link adjacent to our schools’ name; “New timetable | 04 March 2024”, we have also attached a copy for your convenience. Alternatively, you can contact Busways Customer Service on 1300 69 2929 or infoline@busways.com.au.

Student Medical Appointments and Early Departure

We strongly encourage parents to organise medical appointments outside of school hours (Start 8:55am and Finish 3:10pm) but are conscious that this is not always possible.  For your convenience if you have to make a medical appointment for your child during school time please be aware of our breaks for your planning as there will be a delay in getting your child to the office if they are out at lunch play:

Lunch 1 is at 11:00am-11:40am

Lunch 2 is at 1:40pm-2:10pm

Hometime messages

If there is a change to your child's hometime 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" (homelines) or a "B" (buslines) on their child's hand.  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. 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.

Medications

Please be mindful of informing the school of any diagnosis or change in medical condition for your child so that school plans and records are current and accurate. This is especially important for those students with Asthma, Anaphylaxis, Diabetes, and other medical illnesses. 

Contact Details

Please also let the school know if any contact details including phone numbers, address and emergency contacts have changed for your child. 

We recognise that parents and carers enjoy photographing and recording the progress of their child at school and on school activities. We recognise that many of you like to share these personal memories online and on social media. We ask for your cooperation and care concerning the use and distribution of photographs of other children at our school. Some families have very real legal and safety issues which could put a child at risk if an image is made public online. More generally, it is respectful of the privacy of other members of the school community to ask permission before posting an image online. Even if your social media settings are private, it is easy for images to become public, particularly if they are tagged or shared by others. Please see the school website under “Policies and Forms” for the Photography Guidelines for parents and carers, mandatory policies and further resources.

When we run activities and hold events here at school that families are invited to we often take photos to share with our community through the school newsletter and our social media platforms. Please note that for adults attending public events there is assumed permission for their image to be able to be published on our platforms.

Calling all Students and Staff!

It is time to dive into creativity with the 2024 A4Art Prize! The 2024 A4Art Prize aims to spark the flames of creativity among young artists and staff across our six St Agnes’ Parish Schools. Unleash your skills on a single A4 sheet of paper and stand a chance to win over $5000 in prizes! 

Selected artworks from the finalists will be showcased in a travelling exhibition, offering emerging artists a unique platform to display their talents. Once again, you will have the chance to cast your vote for your favourite pieces during the exhibition at our school.

Boasting a prize pool exceeding $5000, thanks to the support of both new sponsors like Port Macquarie Surf School, Twotriplefour, and Antonjia Gros Studios, and returning sponsors such as Seed Creative, Drawn to Art, The Wauchope Creative Hub, Innervision Surf and Skate, Sunset Gallery, Alice in Paperland, Wildnets, and Stoney Aqua Park, this competition presents an exciting opportunity for artists to win some fantastic prizes.

The A4ART Prize is now officially open! For more details on categories, prizes, and terms and conditions, visit artsnest.com.au. 

Let your imagination run wild – it's time to turn a simple piece of paper into a masterpiece! 

Click on the image below to head to the ArtNest website

Primary Swimming Carnival

Well done to all of the students who attended our recent Swimming Carnival, where Year 3 to 6 and competitive Year 2 came together for a day of spirited competition and camaraderie. The vibrant atmosphere was filled with cheers and laughter as students showcased their swimming prowess in various events. The sense of sportsmanship was truly heartwarming, with students cheering for their peers and celebrating each other's achievements. Our dedicated staff ensured a safe and enjoyable environment, fostering a sense of pride and accomplishment among our students. The Swimming Carnival was not just a day of competition but also a testament to the strong sense of community that defines our school. We look forward to more events that bring us together and celebrate the wonderful spirit of our school community.

Hastings Zone Swimming Carnival

We are overjoyed to announce that our school has emerged victorious at the Hastings Zone Swimming Carnival for the first time in over 20 years! Our incredible swimmers showcased exceptional talent and determination. We are immensely proud of our team's success. Congratulations to all involved in this outstanding achievement!

Joey's Zone Representatives (Bold names have progressed through to the Diocesean Championships): Frederick Agland, Noah Alchin, Georgia Bell, Lucas Clarke, Cjay Connor, Hannah Cooper, Lana Crook, Max French, Oliver Godwin, Lily Hillier, Archie Holloway, Santi Isaacs, Islah Kingsmith, Harry Lawrence, Zoe Lawrence, Ellie Lawrence, William Mackenzie, Harper Maher, Morgan Marlowe, Amelia Matthews, Lincoln Mostran, Eden Pope, Harvey Porter, Lily Skinner, Sunny Stapleton, Mack Steels and Amelia Zimny. 

Hastings Zone Winter Sports Trials

Three cheers to all the dedicated student athletes who participated in the Winter Sports Trials for Netball, Rugby League, Soccer and Rugby Union. We are immensely proud of each one of you for showcasing the values of resilience, humility and courage. Well done, and we look forward to witnessing your continued success in sports.

Joey's students who trialled at Zone Winter Sports (Bold names were selected to attend Diocesean Trials): Dustin Clement, Marcus Cramp, Rafael D’souza, Taz Gawith, Jacob Gluckstern-Hill, Toby Hamilton, Jake Kaandorp, William Mackenzie, Izakk Partridge, Kooper Salan, Sunny Stapleton, Talon Swaysland, Harry Slater, Jack Cunneen, Rhys Cutler, Archie Holloway, Santiago Isaacs, Hudson Jones, Harlow Maher, Zarlia Mangafas, Josephine Shipp, Emily Smith, Georgia Bell, Tahya Collins, Georgina Anne Dela Rosa, Leah Donovan, Nevaeh Fletcher, Ivy-Lea Harris, Keilah Long, Indii Love, Ella Roach, Bronte Wood, Annetta Yewdall, Noah Alchin, Harry Lawrence, Archie Rex, Spencer Searle, Cjay Connor, Kalani Berry, Jade Hanks, Indhi Kingsmith, Amelia Matthews, Lylah Robinson, Lucas Single, Byron Thompson-McLeish, Layla Porter, Lilly Smith.

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.