Celebrating the Appointment of Pope Leo XIV

We joyfully welcome the appointment of Pope Leo XIV as our new Holy Father. His leadership brings a renewed spirit of hope and faith to the Catholic community worldwide. We look forward to a Pope who leads with humility, compassion, and a deep commitment to social justice - guiding the Church to be a beacon of mercy, inclusivity, and love for all.

As a school grounded in Catholic values, we are inspired by his example and hopeful that his pontificate will foster unity, strengthen faith, and encourage us all to live more fully in service to others.

May Pope Leo XIV’s leadership be filled with grace and wisdom, leading us towards a future bright with hope and promise for our Church and the world.

Supporting Our Families Through Flood Recovery

We know that many families in our school community have recently been impacted by the severe flooding across Northern NSW. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those experiencing hardship and loss during this difficult time. If your family has been affected, we want to ensure you have access to the support you need. For up-to-date information on services to help with wellbeing, recovery, housing, financial assistance, and more, please visit the NSW Council of Social Services website: https://www.ncoss.org.au/sector-hub/sector-resources/flood-resource/#school. This is a trusted and comprehensive hub with links to practical support for families and communities navigating flood recovery.  For information about how to look after your own, and your families wellbeing please access our Parent Resource Centre.

First Holy Communion

We wish to congratulate our First Holy Communion Candidates for this term.

Reflecting on National Sorry Day

This week we recognise National Sorry Day, we pause with heartfelt reflection on the experiences of the Stolen Generations — Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who were taken from their families, causing deep and lasting sorrow. We hold their stories and those of their families in our hearts.

Let us pray for healing and reconciliation, asking for strength and guidance to walk forward together with respect, understanding, and compassion. May we honour the resilience of Indigenous peoples and commit ourselves to creating a future where all are valued and cared for.

Reminder: No Dogs on School Grounds

We kindly remind all families that dogs are not permitted on school premises. While we do have a trained therapy dog on site, this animal has undergone the necessary risk assessments and is part of a structured program. Only registered assistance animals are allowed on school grounds.

We appreciate the cooperation of families who respect this policy by keeping pets outside the school grounds. Thank you for helping us maintain a safe and comfortable environment for all students.

Welcome to the Joey's Family

Please note: these competitions and assessments are completely optional and do not form part of school assessments and come with a cost, so there is no school requirement for participation.

Once again this year, students from St Joseph's will have the opportunity to participate in the ICAS Competitions, which are conducted by Educational Assessment Australia of the University of New South Wales.  ICAS is designed to target students’ higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills in English, Writing, Mathematics, Science, Spelling and Digital Technologies.  The assessments are suitable for students wishing to extend themselves academically and take up the personal challenge of competing in an international assessment.  All participants will be awarded a Certificate in one of the following categories - High Distinction, Distinction, Credit, Achievement or Participation.  To learn more about ICAS please click here to visit their website.  

ICAS Assessments are online which allows greater accessibility for students and faster delivery of results.  Competitions are open to students in Year 3, 4, 5 and 6.  Dates students here at St Joseph’s will be able to sit for the various competitions are as follows -

• DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES - Monday 4th August 9:15am
• WRITING  - Wednesday 6th August 9:15am
• ENGLISH  - Monday 11th August 9:15am
• SCIENCE  - Wednesday 13th August 9:15am
• SPELLING  - Monday 20th August 9:15am
• MATHEMATICS - Monday 25th August 9:15am

If any other school based activities coincide with these dates as we move closer, we will provide an alternate opportunity for students to complete them.   

An entry fee of $20.95 each has been set for the competitions other than Writing which is $24.95. Payment of ICAS fees is online via the ICAS website.  To confirm your child’s participation, click here to visit the ICAS parent payment system page and enter our unique school code PBT984 to make direct payment to UNSW Global (NB: please leave student number blank as it is not required). Please note registration and payment closes 28th July 2025.  

Attendance

Build the Habit of Regular Attendance

Ask your child, “What is great about coming to school? What would your ideal school day look like?”

Ebony stated:
‘I believe that what makes coming to school great is having friends who are respectful and kind. I love learning to be a child of God and going to Mass. I also enjoy learning maths in class, and I feel like I’m getting smarter every day with my teacher, who supports me along the way. I like going to my Indigenous meetings and writing the Aboriginal newsletter with the group.’

Artist - Ebony 11 years old. 

 

Bike Safety

Stay Visible:

Bright clothing, reflectors, and lights can make your child more visible to drivers, especially in low light.

Remind your child that visibility is a key to staying safe on the road! Explain to your child the importance of perspective ‘When you're riding your bike, always remember that drivers, pedestrians, and other cyclists may see things differently’.

And don’t forget …. HELMET ON.