Week 8 - Term 3 Newsletter 2025

Principal's Message

Dear Families & friends,

Primary Public Speaking Finals

This week we held our Primary Public Speaking Finals, in which students from Years 3-6  competed to be selected to participate in the Clarence Schools Public Speaking Competition at St John Paul College . Congratulations to Rose Mclennan (Year 3), Max Anderosn (Year 4), Lila Salter (Year 5) & Owen Moss (Year 6), who took out our finals and will be representing our school in Week 10 against students from 12 other Clarence Catholic Primary Schools. No doubt if they perform similarly to this week 's final, they will do a wonderful job showcasing their speaking skills and representing our school.

Public Speaking Finalists

• Year 3 - Roxy Bailey, Marco Quarello & Rose Mclennan
• Year 4 - Ted Marshall, Isabella Camilleri & Max Anderson
• Year 5 - Theo Knight, Sophia Wright & Lila Salter
• Year 6 - Owen Moss, Phoenix Schwenke & Jimi Lennon

Staff Development Days - Friday 26th September & Monday 13th October

Just a reminder that Friday 26th September (Week 10) will be a Pupil Free Day. On this day, our staff will be involved in a curriculum planning day, focusing specifically on the implementation of the new NSW PDH/PE and Science syllabuses.

These planning days are an important opportunity for teachers to work collaboratively, ensuring they are well prepared to deliver high-quality learning experiences that align with the updated curriculum requirements. By dedicating this time to professional learning and preparation, we can best support student engagement and achievement as the new syllabuses are introduced across our classrooms.

We thank you for your support and understanding, and ask families to please make alternative arrangements for student supervision on this day.

Also upon return to Term 4, Monday 13th October will also be Pupil Free Day, with staff engaging a number of whole-school sessions around our current 2026 priorities. Students return to school on TUESDAY 14th OCTOBER. 

STEM MAD Team - National Showcase

We are thrilled to announce that our STEM MAD Team – Project EMU – has been selected to progress to the National STEM MAD Showcase! This is the second year in a row that our school has made it to the national stage — a remarkable achievement and a testament to the creativity and commitment of our students. As the national event will be held in Adelaide, our team will be Zooming in to present their project to judges and schools from across the country.

This success is the result of an amazing display of innovation, teamwork, and dedication at the 2025 DLCS STEM MAD competition. We were blown away by the passion our students poured into their work — from problem-solving and design, to the empathy woven through their ideas, each project showed how STEM can be used to “Make A Difference,” and truly reflected our Catholic values in action.

The confidence and clarity shown by students during the ‘shark tank’ interviews was outstanding, and they represented our school community with pride. A heartfelt thank you also goes to the teachers and staff who mentored and supported the teams, with special thanks to Mrs Kinsella for her ongoing guidance and encouragement throughout the year. Your support has been central to the success of our STEM MAD journey.

Congratulations again to our Project EMU team on this well-deserved recognition — we can’t wait to cheer you on at the Nationals!

Year 1 Classroom Teacher - Staffing Change 

For those who may be unaware, our Year 1 Teacher, Miss Ellie Stokes, finished at the end of last week as she begins her maternity leave. We are delighted to announce that Mrs Kristy Phillips has been appointed as the Year 1 Classroom Teacher for the remainder of the 2025 school year.

Kristy is already a familiar face within our community, having worked with us in a relief teaching capacity as well as at St James, Yamba. Prior to relocating to the Clarence Valley, Kristy taught Year 4 at Holy Trinity School, Inverell, where she was highly regarded for her care, professionalism, and commitment to student learning. Kristy has now joined the Year 1 classroom and has been working closely with the students to ensure a smooth and positive transition.

On behalf of the school community, I would like to once again extend our warmest best wishes to Miss Stokes as she enters this exciting new chapter of her life, and to warmly congratulate Mrs Phillips on her appointment. We look forward to supporting Kristy and the Year 1 class throughout the rest of the school year.

Kind regards

Dale

Upcoming School Dates

• Tue 16th Sep - Stage 3 History Excursion (Week 9)
• Thur 18th Sep - Spelling Bee Finals (Week 9)
• Fri 19th Sep - Year 1 Whiddon Visit (Week 9)
• Fri 19th Sep - Yamba Touch Gala Day - Stage 2 & 3 (Week 9)
• Tues 23rd Sep - PRC & SRC Fun Day (Week 10)
• Thurs 25th Sep - Last Day Term 3 for students (Week 10)
• Fri 26th Sep - Staff Development Day (Week 10)
• Mon 13th Oct - Staff Development Day (Term 4 Week 1)
• Tues 14th Oct - First Day of Term 4 (Week 1)

Leader of Learning

Finding Our Voice and Looking Ahead

This week, we celebrate the achievements of our Public Speaking finalists. Congratulations to Rose Mclennan, Max Anderson, Lila Salter and Owen Moss, who will represent St Joseph’s at the Clarence Schools Regional Finals in Week 10. We also want to acknowledge all of our finalists, who did a fantastic job sharing their ideas with confidence and courage. Standing up to speak in front of others requires preparation and bravery, and we are proud of every student from Years 3 to 6 who has embraced this challenge.

At St Joseph’s, we know that developing a strong voice does not happen only on special occasions. Every day, our teachers create opportunities for students to share their thinking, test ideas and build confidence in front of others. Sometimes this looks like speaking to the whole class, other times it might be working with a partner, presenting to a small group or participating in structured discussions where every child contributes. These experiences help ensure that all students, not just the confident few, learn to find and use their voice.

As we move into the final weeks of Term 3, students will also be undertaking a range of end-of-unit assessments. These are not just about marks; they provide valuable information that helps teachers plan for next term and ensure every child is supported to keep moving forward. We are proud of the persistence and confidence our students are showing in their learning, and it has been a joy to watch them grow across the term.

Warm regards,

Mrs Mclennan

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Leader of Mission

School Parish Mass & First Holy Communion

Two weeks ago, our school community came together for a very special School Parish Mass, where we had the joy of celebrating with Cooper, Oli and Kahiah, along with some other children from our parish community, as they received their First Holy Communion. It was such a lovely moment in their faith journey, as they took this important step closer to Jesus.

A very big thank you to Fr. Roland for celebrating this Mass with us and for his guidance and support of our students in preparing for this sacrament. His care made the day even more memorable.

We are also grateful to the wonderful ladies who put together the beautiful morning tea afterwards. It was such a lovely way for families and friends to gather, celebrate, and share in the joy of the occasion.

Father’s Day

A big thank you to all the parents who joined us for our Father’s Day liturgy. It was such a special occasion for our school community to gather and celebrate the love, care, and guidance that fathers and father figures bring into the lives of our students. We hope the liturgy showed just how much we value and appreciate all those who share this important role.

I would also like to acknowledge our wonderful school leaders— Jack, Hugo, Brock, Bella, Caide and Alex. With only a short time to prepare, and feeling very tired after school camp, they stepped up with dedication and heart, helping to create a liturgy that was meaningful and memorable for everyone.

A very special thank you goes to Miss Juana, Melissa and Tayla, whose effort and energy in preparing our Father’s Day burger lunch never go unnoticed. It was a big task, but as always, it was done with such care and attention, and it was a wonderful way for us to share the day together.

The Father’s Day liturgy was a reminder of the strong community we are blessed with at our school. Your support, presence, and involvement make such a difference, and we are truly grateful to have shared this celebration with you.

Thank you once again for being such positive role models for our students and for all that you do.

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Service in the RE Classroom

This term, our students have been living out the Mercy Value of Service through meaningful projects in their Religious Education lessons. Each class has designed a Community Service initiative that links both to their RE learning and to our Mercy Values.

• Kindergarten have been preparing care packages for new mums attending Play n Yarn sessions by making shower steamers from scratch!. This simple yet thoughtful gesture shows how even our youngest students can share God’s love by demonstrating Compassion and helping new Mum's enjoy some well earned time to themselves.
  
  
• Stage 1 created cards for the “treasures” in our community—firefighters, nurses, physios and more—inspired by Matthew 13:44–46 The Treasure and the Pearl. Through this project, students reflected on the gifts of those who serve and protect, recognising their work as treasures in our daily lives.
  
  
• Stage 2 made compassion cards for members of the Maclean community. Their unit focused on living in right relationship with God and others, and this project allowed them to put that into practice by spreading kindness and compassion.
  
  
• Stage 3 students took action by leading a hygiene package drive. Collecting essential items, they will now work together to put the donations into Hygiene Packs that can be distributed to those most in need in our community—an inspiring example of Respect and Compassion.
  
  

Through these projects, students have not only deepened their understanding of how the Bible can be lived out each and every day, but also experienced the joy that comes from serving others. We are proud of the way each stage has embraced Service as a way of living out our Mercy Values and making a positive difference in the lives of others.

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Mercy In Action Award

In recognition of displaying our Mercy Value of Hospitality. Through her kindness and joyful spirit, Indie has promoted inclusion for all while visiting Whiddon. She helped young and old come together in meaningful ways, creating connections that brought joy and happiness to everyone involved. Her warm and welcoming nature ensured that all felt comfortable, valued, and cared for, shining as a beautiful example of Hospitality in action. Well done, Indie!

Mrs Senz

Class Awards

Congratulations to the following students recognised at this fortnight's Awards Assembly:

Principal Awards

Class Awards

Class News - Stage 2

Mathematics in Action – Year 4 Word Problems

This week, our Year 4 students have been exploring mathematical word problems with a missing quantity. Aligned with the NSW Mathematics syllabus, this learning develops their ability to apply number knowledge to real-world contexts, think critically, and communicate mathematical reasoning. By creating and solving their own word problems, students deepen their understanding of operations, strengthen problem-solving strategies, and practice identifying the relationships between known and unknown values. These skills are essential for building flexibility in mathematical thinking and confidence when approaching unfamiliar challenges.

Students in Year 4 had a lot of fun creating very hilarious names for the characters in their word problems: Baker Jeff, Jimmy Bob, Jimothy Jojo and lots of other hilarious ones. Students then were able to solve others word problems, using a range of different strategies to prove their answers.

Measuring Up in Year 3

Our Year 3 students have been hands-on with measurement, using trundle wheels to explore length and scales to investigate mass. These activities link directly to the NSW Mathematics syllabus, where students learn to estimate, measure, compare, and record using appropriate tools and units. By engaging in practical experiences, students develop a deeper understanding of how measurement applies to their world—whether it’s finding the length of the playground or comparing the mass of classroom objects. These explorations build essential problem-solving skills, accuracy, and confidence in choosing the most effective strategies for different measurement tasks.

Ms Zietsch & Mr P

Pastoral Care - School Counsellor

Happy Families Membership

Earlier this term we shared the exciting news that our school has received a generous gift of a subscription to Dr Justin Coulson’s Happy Families school membership. By now, you should have already received the first few articles through Compass. To make the most of this wonderful resource, we will also be featuring one article from Dr Coulson’s archives in each fortnightly newsletter, included in the School Counselling section.

This week’s featured article looks at the positive habits of happy families - practical tips to help create stronger, more joyful connections at home. If you’d like to discuss any of the ideas from these articles, please feel free to get in touch.

Jess Jones - School Counsellor

jessica.jones@lism.catholic.edu.au

 Available Wednesdays and Thursdays

Pastoral Care - School Chaplain

Jersey Day -Thank You!
A big thank you to our families, fathers, and The Fair Butchers Maclean for your generous support on Jersey Day. Together, we raised over $500 to help raise awareness for organ donation. Congratulations to everyone who contributed to this fantastic cause!

Spanish Club
This week, we wrapped up our 5-week Spanish Club program with a delicious activity, making churros in the canteen! Students also learned how to say “Estamos en la cantina comiendo churros” (We are in the canteen eating churros).
Interested in joining? A new sign-up sheet is now available for the next 5-week program. All students are welcome!

Talent Show
Our talented students have been working hard rehearsing for the upcoming Talent Show. Don’t miss the fun, mark your calendars for Monday, 23rd September at 2:00 PM. Come along to celebrate and support our amazing performers!

Juana Mead - Student Wellbeing Officer

School Sport

As always, there is plenty of excitement in the world of sport here at St Joseph’s.

We’re proud to share that a group of our Joeys superstars, competing in the Under 11s for the Maclean Bobcats, came out on top in a tough semi-final matchup. They will now progress to the grand final at the end of Week 9. Congratulations to all involved on this outstanding achievement.

Looking ahead, our Stage 2 and 3 students are gearing up for the upcoming Gala Day on Friday of Week 9. This promises to be a fantastic day of sport, teamwork and fun, as students compete against others from across the Clarence Valley. We’re looking forward to seeing great sportsmanship and school spirit on display.

Our Stage 3 students were fortunate to attend an NRL game during their recent camp, watching the Broncos and Storm battle it out in front of a packed crowd. It was an intense and exciting matchup, and even better to see Brisbane get the win at home. A truly memorable experience that gave students the chance to see their sporting heroes in action and raise the bar for their own sporting goals.

On Friday sport, students continue to build on their AFL skills, focusing on kicking and handballing. Our younger students are also developing their fundamental movement skills through AFL-based activities that encourage coordination, confidence and fun.

In addition, our junior and senior students have been taking part in basketball competitions on Mondays and Wednesdays. These sessions are helping develop teamwork, cooperation and adaptability as students play in friendly but competitive matchups with their peers.

Looking ahead to Term 4, we are excited to begin our Water Familiarisation Unit. Registered students will participate in swimming and surfing sessions delivered by the team at Surf Camp Down Under. This program is a great opportunity to build water confidence and safety awareness in a supportive and engaging environment.

As we head into the school holidays, we’re pleased to share a number of valuable opportunities to keep our students active, healthy and engaged. Please see the Community Notices section below for programs in:

• Basketball
• Hockey
• AFL
• NRL
• Soccer

We’re proud of the continued energy and effort our students bring to their sporting experiences each week. Term 3 has been full of highlights, and we’re looking forward to another exciting term ahead.

Go Joeys

Anthony Gilchrist - Sports Coordinator

Parent Forum

Thank you to those that attended our term 3 meeting. Please see the Minutes attached and please know all are welcome to out term 4 Meeting.

Lauren Kirkland - Parent Forum Chairperson

Community Notices

Dauntless is exploring the possibility of running an after-school social program in Maclean for school-age NDIS participants. We would appreciate it if you could forward this to anyone in your network that may be interested in this program.

Details: 

When: Weekday afternoons, 3:30pm – 5:30pm
Where: Maclean

Our Afternoon Social Club will provide a structured, supportive, and engaging space where students can:

• Build friendships and social skills
• Participate in fun, age-appropriate group activities
• Learn and practice important life skills
• Connect with peers in a safe and inclusive environment

Complete our expression of interest form today https://forms.gle/h5M6VM9HC6qMt9xq

Gulmarrad Rural Fire Brigade is holding their Get Ready Day on Saturday 20th September. 

We invite everyone to come along and gain some insight into preparing your property for bushfire season. 

We will be running a free sausage sizzle, with fun activities and give-aways for children plus information for households on what to do to prepare for the bushfire season. There will also be a variety of Fire Trucks to check out. 

Come along to GULMARRAD RFB Station, 341 Brooms Head Rd, Gulmarrad, on Saturday 20th September between 9.00 am and 2.00pm