Newsletter No.1 - 12th February 2025

Message from the Principal

Dear Parents, Carers, and members of the St. Joseph’s community,

I hope you are enjoying a restful holiday, creating special memories with your loved ones, and embracing the joy and possibilities of the New Year. On behalf of St. Joseph’s, I extend a warm welcome to all our families as we prepare for another exciting year ahead. A special welcome to our new families who are joining our community for the first time. We are delighted to have you with us and look forward to walking this journey together.

This newsletter is packed with important information. We will continue to use Compass alerts for parents throughout the term and send out our Week at a Glance.

To our new families, I encourage you to embrace the opportunity to connect with our warm and welcoming community as we partner with you to help your child grow and develop into the best version of themselves. Here’s to a year filled with collaboration, growth, and success.

With every best wish,

Nikki Norley

(Principal)

Communication Channels

We recognize the vital partnership we share with parents in supporting each child’s learning journey. Clear and open communication is essential to ensuring this partnership thrives. For matters related to your child’s learning, we encourage you to communicate directly with their respective teacher. For concerns outside the classroom, please contact the relevant staff member, who will work with you to address these matters. If you are unsure who to contact, please give our office team a call, and they will direct you to the best person.

As Compass is our primary communication platform, we kindly remind parents to use it to stay informed and connected. If your child is absent, please notify the school through a permission note in Compass, via email, or by contacting our office directly.

Parents as Partners in Learning

Teachers will send home class information notes at the start of next week. Included in this information will be contact details and a Term 1 Learning Overview of what students are learning in each Key Learning Area. You will also receive a “Meet the Teacher” profile introduction.

Next week, we will hold our Welcome BBQ & 40th Year Celebrations, and in Week 6, we will have parent-teacher meetings. All dates are on the Parent Planner in this newsletter, and a hard copy will be sent home today.

Building and Facilities Update

As we move into this new year, I’d like to share an update on our buildings and grounds:

• Fencing and pathways to courts are near completion.
• New signage and line marking for carpark and entrance areas is completed.
• Administration block refurbishment is near completion.
• Preparation for amphitheatre seating for netball courts is completed.
• Traffic 40 zone safety is in consultation with the property & facilities team.
• Classroom breakout spaces in all classrooms are approved and at tender.
• Roof replacements for all school buildings are approved and at tender.
• Solar panel replacements are approved and at tender.
• Window refurbishments for all school buildings are approved and at tender.

Uniform 

We take pride in maintaining high standards in uniform. As we prepare to welcome students back, we kindly ask for your support in ensuring your child returns in the correct uniform, including polishable black leather school shoes. Shoulder-length hair should be tied up using school-colored bands and clips that align with the School Uniform Policy. Your partnership in upholding these standards helps foster a sense of pride and belonging within our community. Thank you for your ongoing cooperation.

Deepest Sympathy

We offer our condolences to the Redwin and Sarawal families on the loss of their grandfather, father, and father-in-law, Barry. May he rest in peace.

Car Park Safety

Student supervision commences at 8:13 AM. If you arrive before this time, please reverse park and wait for a staff member to open the kiss and drop zone, or alternatively, wait with your child in front of the reception area.

Staffing

We welcome Khaylidd Brown to our SJKB team in 2025. Khay is our school counsellor and will be on-site Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Khay has a vast background in supporting students thrive during their Catholic Education, and it is with great joy that I announce her commencement. Having worked with Khay at a previous school, Mrs. Albury and I know she will be instrumental in supporting our Diverse Learning Team.

We will also farewell Mrs. Stephanie Baker at the end of Week 5, and I am pleased to announce that Miss Bianca Rufo will be replacing Steph for the remainder of 2025 in 4Blue. We wish Steph the very best and for the safe arrival of her second child.

Pupil Free Days and Term Dates

This year, Diocesan schools have been allocated three additional professional learning days to support the implementation of the new curriculum and to complete child safeguarding training, bringing the total to nine pupil-free days throughout the year. I encourage you to take note of these dates and add them to your calendar.

Message from the Assistant Principal

Welcome back to another exciting school year! I hope that you had had a joyful and restful break, filled with cherished moments with family.

This year promises many wonderful opportunities for learning and community building. As part of our ongoing commitment to delivering a high-quality and engaging educational experience for every student, our school improvement goals continue to focus on enhancing student achievement and strengthening wellbeing.

This year, I am particularly excited to announce the launch of Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L) at our school. PB4L is a whole-school approach designed to create a positive, inclusive, and respectful learning environment where every student can thrive.

PB4L is about teaching and reinforcing positive behaviours to help students succeed socially, emotionally, and academically. Through clear expectations and positive reinforcement, PB4L promotes a safe and engaging learning atmosphere. Schools using PB4L see improvements in student engagement, learning outcomes, and overall well-being. When students know what's expected and are recognized for meeting those expectations, they feel more motivated and supported.

What does this mean for students?

• Students will be taught clear behaviour expectations for different areas of the school (like the playground, classroom, and library).
• From 2025, ‘Gotchas’ will be replaced by ‘Joeys’
• Joey’s will be given out based on our new school values- e.g. Respectful, Resilient, Responsible, Faithful and reflect the desired behaviours.
• In addition to individual Joey’s, students will receive a token for their house. The house with the most tokens at the end of each term, gets a special reward! This means that students will work together to create a school environment where Respect, Resilience, Responsibility and Faith thrive.
• Houses now reflect the charisms reflected at our school. McAuley, MacKillop, Joseph and Francis. We can’t wait for the PB4L launch, this coming Friday! Remember to send your child in their house colour for a day filled with education and fun learning about their charism.

Please visit our school website to view the draft version of our PB4L policy and procedures, under ‘About us’- ‘Policies’ or visit the following link: 

SJKB Homework

St Joseph’s Primary School, Kilaben Bay aims to be a place of quality teaching and meaningful learning, where young people are supported in their development and growth. The staff at our school are constantly responding to best educational practice and pedagogy to provide your child with the finest learning experiences. Our commitment to student learning has seen our staff review our homework policy and procedures.

SJKB’s 2025 School Improvement Learning goal is ‘To improve reading and writing through differentiated teaching practice’. This is why our teachers encourage reading at home every night as homework. Infants’ students will receive a decodable text each week to practice phonics and phonemic awareness skills. Our Primary students, should be reading for enjoyment, reading the book they have borrowed from the school library or reading a book from home. In addition to reading each night, students will be expected to talk with their family in preparation for the Big Write process.

Holidays and homework

We believe that holidays are an important time for students to recharge and relax. After weeks of structured learning, this break allows them to reset, which is essential for maintaining their enthusiasm and focus for the next term. The focus for holidays is to promote the student's wellbeing, therefore the school does not provide homework during holiday breaks.  

For further information please visit our school website to find this policy.

Beginning of year events on Compass

A reminder to please complete the beginning of year permissions on Compass ASAP if you haven’t already.

Message from the REC

Welcome Back!

It has been great to chat to many of the students about their holidays and see their smiling faces again!

Here is a beginning of the year prayer for our school community:

Dear God,

As we gather to welcome a new school year at St. Joseph’s School, we thank You for the gift of education and the vibrant community we share. We are grateful for the joy of returning to school, the friendships we cherish, and the opportunities to learn and grow together.

This year, as we celebrate our Jubilee Year with the theme "Pilgrims of Hope," may we walk together on this journey, filled with faith and courage. Help us to be beacons of hope for one another, supporting each other through challenges and celebrating our successes.

Guide our teachers as they inspire and nurture our hearts and minds. Bless our students with curiosity and a love for learning. May our families and community come together in unity, fostering an environment of kindness and respect.

As we embark on this new adventure at St. Joseph’s, let us remember that we are all pilgrims on a path of discovery, seeking knowledge and wisdom. May we carry hope in our hearts and share it with those around us.

We ask for Your blessings upon our St. Joseph’s School community this year. May it be filled with joy, growth, and endless possibilities.

Amen.

Opening School Liturgy

Thank you to those who were able to attend our Opening School liturgy om Tuesday of this week, and a big congratulations to the School Leaders and House Leaders who received their leadership badges. I can’t wait to see you shine in your leadership positions this year!

2025 Jubilees Year - ‘Pilgrims of Hope”

It’s an exciting year this year as we celebrate the Church’s 2025 Jubilee Year!

Every 25 years, in the Catholic Church, we celebrate a Jubilee or Holy Year. It is a special year of forgiveness and reconciliation, in which people are invited to come back into right relationship with God, with one another, and with all of creation. The theme this year is Pilgrims of Hope. Pope Francis has invited Catholics to renew our hope and discover a vision that can "restore access to the fruits of the earth to everyone". We are also invited to rediscover a spirituality of God's creation in which we understand ourselves as "pilgrims on the earth" rather than masters of the world.

If you want to learn more about the Jubliee and what is happening in our diocese to celebrate the Jubliee, here are some links:

Jubilee Walk

One of the main events in our diocese will happen on Sunday 2^nd March.

You are invited to walk with us from Nobby’s foreshore to the Sacred Heart Cathedral. A day that will include free food trucks, ice cream, amusements, entertainment, and an obstacle course taking over the Cathedral Precinct.

It will all begin with a walk from Foreshore Park all the way to Sacred Heart Cathedral (4km) at 8am with Bishop Michael – our chance to be Pilgrims of Hope!

Walk side by side with families and staff from our parishes, schools, agencies and ministries and then join us for Mass at 10am before the Festival of Hope kicks off at 11am.

We would love you to be part of this day and represent our school community! I will send out further information about where we can all gather, prior to the walk, once I finialise this information. No uniform required.

House Formation Day - Friday 14th February

This Friday students are invited to come in house colours to celebrate and learn more about their new house saint, which our houses are now named after. Our student house leaders and house mentors (teachers) will lead us through a fun filled day of learning, treasure hunts and games. We will work together in our houses to create a team guided by the charisms of our saint and build a team spirit that encourages others to try always try their best!

SJKB Staff 2025

Library News

Class News

Diverse Learning Team News

Welcome back to another fantastic school year at SJKB! The Diverse Learning Team is excited to support all students in reaching their full potential, ensuring every learner is valued, included, and empowered.

This year, we are thrilled to welcome our new school psychologist, Khaalyd Brown to our team. Khaalyd  brings a wealth of experience in supporting student wellbeing and learning, and we look forward to the positive impact she will have on our school community.

Our team is here to provide tailored support, learning strategies, and guidance to help students thrive. If you have any questions or would like to discuss how we can support your child, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Here’s to a wonderful year ahead!

The Diverse Learning Team

Aboriginal Education News

Safer Internet Day

This year Safer Internet Day will be celebrated on Tuesday 11^th February 2025. Indigenous members of our school community may be interested in accessing the latest advice, videos and support from the Office of the eSafety Commissioner. Of particular importance is the advice around screentime for children. For example: too much screentime can lead to tiredness, sleep disturbance, headaches and eyestrain which impact on learning engagement and achievement.

NAIDOC Week 2025

This year we will be celebrating NAIDOC Week from Sunday 6^th July through to and including Sunday 13^th July 2025. The theme for 2025 is: The Next Generation – Strength, Vision & Legacy. This theme celebrates not only the achievements of the past but the bright future ahead, empowered by the strength of our young leaders, the vision of our communities, and the legacy of our ancestors. Parents and Cargivers are most welcome to join us as we celebrate NAIDOC Week in the Parish Hall from 9am on Friday 4^th July 2025.

AB Ed - Cultural Dance Program K-6

This week we welcome Mr. Randall Briggs back to SJKB as part of our Cultural Dance program. Randall will be facilitating and co-ordinating a range of dance programs for our Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander students on eight Thursday afternoons during Term 1 and commencing this week. These sessions will be held in the School Hall, out of peak teaching and learning time, between 12 and 1 pm. The first half hour (12-12:30pm) will be set aside for girls K-6 and the second half hour (12:30-1:00pm) set aside for boys K-6. Our students will attend in school uniform. It is hoped that this experience will assist our students to deepen their own cultural understanding of dance enabling them to utilise what they learn and master as part of our NAIDOC Liturgy and Celebration on Friday 4^th July. Our school is funding this activity with no cost to parents.

It is expected that all K-6 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students will engage in the program. Parents who do not wish their children to participate should contact Mr. Hession asap via the School Office or via email: john.hession@mn.catholic.edu.au .

Pastoral Care

Hello! Welcome back. I trust that you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year. I hope it was restful, and you got to do whatever it was you wanted to do.  

Welcome to our new students and families. It is exciting to have you as part of our SJKB School Community. 

For those that do not know me, I am Mel Dobosz the Pastoral Care Worker here at St Joseph’s Primary School. I am here Monday and Tuesday. A little bit about my role as Pastoral Care Worker- This is a Welfare/Wellbeing position. I am here to help facilitate the emotional, social, and spiritual wellbeing of students, staff, and the school community. This can be done through offering support one on one to students, group work, programs, support to families, assistance or just a chat.  

Pastoral care is defined in the agreement with the Commonwealth as “the practice of looking after the personal needs of students, not just their academic needs, through the provision of general, spiritual and personal advice.” 

I am here to offer support to all students, their families, staff, and the wider St Joseph’s school Community.  

Please feel free to contact me via email at melissa.dobosz@mn.catholic.edu.au or 4959-1355 or please have a chat with your child’s class teacher and they can get you in contact with me. 

I am here to help and support your child and your family wherever possible. 

Welcome BBQ and 40 Year Celebration

We are excited to invite you to our Welcome BBQ & 40th Year Celebrations next Wednesday at 4:30 PM. It will be a fabulous evening starting with a liturgy in the church, followed by opportunities to gather, explore memorabilia displays, listen to stories from the past, and enjoy fun activities for all our children, including face painting, a petting zoo, and a magic show.

A BBQ sausage sandwich will be provided, and drinks and snacks will be available from the canteen (CASH ONLY). An ice cream van will also be onsite.

Don't forget to visit the book fair in the library as well!

Sport News

Regional Swimming Carnival - Monday 17th February

Last year, students from Years 2-6 participated in our swimming carnival at Speers Point Pool. Our house leaders were amazing in leading the chants, and our swimmers competed with great enthusiasm, earning points for their house teams.

Ribbons were awarded on the day to swimmers who placed 1st, 2nd, or 3rd in their heats. Congratulations to our 2025 swimming champions and the winning house:

• House winner: Francis
• Senior girl champion: Carys Edwards
• Senior boy champion: Bohdi Simpson
• Junior boy champion: Ollie Simpson
• Junior girl champion: Elliette Sault

These students and the Francis House Leaders will receive their trophies at the assembly in Week 5. Parents will be reminded through Compass.

Swimming champions are determined based on student performances at the school's annual swimming carnival. Points are awarded based on placings in each event (not heat), and at the end of the carnival, the points for each student are tallied. The student with the highest total in each category (Junior and Senior) is awarded the title of Swimming Champion.

Top-performing swimmers may qualify for the next level of competition, such as Regional and Diocesan events, where they will compete against other schools if they continue to succeed.

Good Luck to Our Regional Swimmers:

Finn C, Oliver C, Phoebe C, Darby D, Matilda D, Carys E, Adelyn F, Xavier Q, Poppy L, Elliette S, Bodhi S, Ollie S, Luca T, Seth W, Molly W, Xavier W and Ellie W.

We are incredibly proud of these talented swimmers representing our school at the upcoming Regional Swimming Carnival. Information about this day is on Compass.  

Good Luck!

Sports News including Gala Days

Our calendar is filling up quickly! We have committed to tennis and netball later in the year and are awaiting confirmation on additional sports gala day opportunities. This term, we will also be hosting onsite netball clinics K-6 and holding trials for interested Stage 2 and Stage 3 students who wish to represent our school in the Newcastle Permanent Primary School Soccer Gala Day. Trial information will be sent home via Compass. Students must be present for the trial to be considered for selection. Dates have been added to the Parent Planner.

Enrolment tours for 2026

We are having an enrolment tour on Wednesday 26th February at 9.30am. Please mention to family and friends that may be interested to tour our beautiful school.

School Fees Information

The billing is being finalised at the moment and Statements will be emailed out in early March. 

If you would like to start/continue paying using the Bpay code that you were given last year or phone the school office to find out your code that would be ideal.

Any Health Care Cards need to be emailed to admin@kilabenbay.catholic.edu.au as soon as possible for the discount to be applied before the statement goes out.

If you have any questions regarding fees please phone the school office on 4959 1355.

Thanks

Linda and Susie

Volunteering at SJKB

We regularly need volunteers for various roles within our school. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer at our school, please follow the instructions on the link below:

PLUS

We are urgently in need of Volunteers for the PLUS shop! 

If you have any time to help at the shop situated in the school hall or fill in orders that come through on the online ordering system, the P&F and the school community would be very grateful.

Please contact the school office or the P&F through joeyspandf@hotmail.com.

We have wide selection of secondhand uniforms available. All uniform items are $5 and jackets are available for $10. All payments can be made via Qkr! After your order has been received, we will attach the amount owing to the order.  

In the meantime you can order by sending an email to joeyspandf@hotmail.com and we will send your order home with your child as soon as we are able to fulfil it. 

Hats can also be ordered through the email or alternately via the school office.

PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR CHILD'S NAME AND CLASS in the message as our volunteers do not have access to the different family surnames to make connections to students - therefore use your child's name first, then your name, especially if different surname.  Payment is via the Qkr! app. 

Thank you

THE PLUS TEAM

Canteen News – Including Volunteer Roster

We are seeking new volunteers to help in the canteen.  With our new lunchtime the volunteers are only required to be here between the school drop off time and 11.15am.We ask any new or current Parents or Grandparents if if they could offer a couple of hours once or twice a term in the canteen so that the children can receive this service. They will love you being here too!

Qkr cut off times have been changed recently so please ensure Qkr orders are placed before 8.00 am each day.

If you would like to volunteer please call or email admin@kilabenbay.catholic.edu.au

Term Planner

Good For Kids

Crunch and Sip

Aspire

Guitar Lessons

Community Notices