Newsletter No.8 - 27th August 2025

Message from the Principal

Dear Parents and Carers,

It has been another busy and productive few weeks here at St Joseph’s, and I continue to be inspired by the energy and resilience of our school community. Despite the challenges brought on by the constant rain, our students and staff have shown incredible flexibility—adapting plans, routines, and learning opportunities with grace and positivity. Their commitment to learning and growth never ceases to amaze me.

Excitement is building as we prepare for our upcoming school musical. The enthusiasm among students is contagious, and it has been wonderful to see their creativity and joy shine through movement and performance. Last Thursday, we welcomed Anna Kerrigan, Aspire Director for Catholic Schools, who spent the day with our staff and students. She was deeply impressed by the students’ dedication to learning their lines and dances. We are thrilled to showcase their talents on Thursday, 18th September, and we thank Mr Nick Wickham (School Principal) and the Creative Arts and Languages team (Staff & Students) at St Paul’s for their generous support in hosting this event.

Last Friday, I had the privilege of attending the System Leaders Day, where principals from across the Diocese gathered with CSO Leadership and Shared Services teams. These gatherings are invaluable opportunities to connect, collaborate, and share ideas that strengthen our schools. The day reaffirmed the incredible work happening across our Diocese and provided insight into exciting system-wide initiatives.

Today, our Year 6 students attended their first St Paul’s transition day. We are grateful for the strong partnership we share with our feeder high school and appreciate the collegiality shown by the St Paul’s staff. These transition days play a vital role in ensuring a smooth and confident move to high school for our students.

A special congratulations to our Lakes Regional Public Speaking representatives—Madeline R, Scarlett T, and Matilda D. I had the pleasure of attending the competition last week, and it was wonderful to see all schools from the Lakes region represented in such a warm and welcoming venue at St Paul’s.

As we approach upcoming building works, I kindly remind all families to be mindful of bus and car safety. Please follow road signs and pedestrian guidelines to ensure the safety of all members of our community.

Looking ahead, we are excited to celebrate Father’s Day. Please don’t forget to RSVP, and thank you to the parents and grandparents who have already volunteered to assist with the BBQ and stall. Your support is greatly appreciated.

In line with our commitment to family engagement, I want to highlight the upcoming FACE Forum. As the leader of our school, I deeply value the role of parents and carers as first educators and am committed to partnering with families to nurture each child to their full potential. To this end, I invite nominations for Federation Representatives for our school—ideally, two representatives will be elected.

If you are interested in this role and would like more information, please email us. Our first meeting will be held on Tuesday, 14th October at 5pm in the library. If you wish to nominate but cannot attend, please email me at KBJP - admin@kilabenbay.catholic.edu.au. I also welcome any questions you may have about the role.

An agenda will be shared closer to the date, following feedback from families via a short survey in Week 10.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership. Together, we are building a vibrant and nurturing learning environment for all.

Warm regards,
Nikki Norley
(Principal)

Message from the Assistant Principal

NRMA visit

On Tuesday, our school was pleased to welcome representatives from NRMA, who delivered an engaging and informative science-based presentation on road safety. The key message, “Be Safe, Be Seen,” was emphasised throughout the session and provided a valuable learning opportunity for students from Kindergarten to Year 6.

The interactive nature of the presentation ensured students remained actively involved, and it was wonderful to see them leave the hall with smiles on their faces and a stronger understanding of how to stay safe on and around roads.

We encourage all families to continue the conversation at home by discussing road safety with your child, helping to reinforce the important messages shared during the session.

Message from the REC

Feast of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop

On Friday 8^th August, we celebrated the feast day of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, Australia’s first saint and the foundress of the Sisters of St Joseph. St Joseph’s Kilaben Bay was first opened by the Sisters of St Joseph in 1950 at our original location in Cary St, Toronto. Which is why Mary Mackillop holds a special place in our heart.

Mary believed in the power of education for all children, especially those who were poor or living in remote areas. Her motto, “Never see a need without doing something about it,” continues to inspire us to live with kindness, generosity, and courage each day.

To mark this special occasion, our students and staff, together with the parish join for a beautiful Mass, celebrated by Father Paul. We are proud to carry on the values of St Mary MacKillop in our school and community. May we continue to follow her example of faith, service, and love. Thank you to Mackillop House for organising and leading the Mass.

Feast of the Assumption of Mary

On 15^th August, we celebrated the Feast of the Assumption of Mary by joining together with our parish community at the Friday Parish Mass.

The Assumption of Mary is a very important feast in the Catholic Church. It teaches that at the end of her earthly life, Mary, the mother of Jesus, was taken up into heaven, both body and soul. This day is important for Catholics because it affirms the belief in life after death and the hope of resurrection for all believers. It also emphasises Mary's unique role as the Mother of God and her closeness to Jesus.

Our students participated reverently in the Mass and it was a wonderful opportunity for our young people to reflect on Mary’s faith and say “yes” to God in their own lives, just as she did.

Celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation

On the night of the 15^th August, several of our students received the Sacrament of Confirmation. The celebration took place during a beautiful Mass, presided over by Bishop Michael, who encouraged the children to live with courage and faith as witnesses to Christ in their daily lives.

The candidates were supported by their families, sponsors, and parish community, making the occasion a true celebration of faith. Each student reaffirmed their baptismal promises and was sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit, marking an important step in their faith journey.

We are very proud of our students for their preparation, reverence, and commitment. We thank Bishop Michael, Bernard (Sacramental Leader) and families for their support and guidance. Please continue to keep these young people in your prayers as they live out the gifts of the Spirit in their lives.

Their sacramental journey will continue with the celebration of First Holy Communion on Sunday 12^th October.

Message from the Primary Coordinator

Lakes Region Public Speaking

St Joseph’s were proud to send three of our students to the Lakes Region Public Speaking Competition held at St. Paul’s - Madeline from Year 2, Scarlett from Year 4 and Matilda from Year 6. Madeline wrote a prepared speech on the day which she presented, while Scarlett and Matilda wrote a prepared and an impromptu speech on the day which they presented. Our girls did a phenomenal job with their speeches and should be extremely proud of their effort!

Library News

Book Week Parade

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Class News - 3M

What a great Term 3 we are having! Sport this term is Soccer skills with a Jets coach, we are having fun and learning new skills. In Maths we have been using shapes to create tessellations and discover which shapes tesselate and which ones don’t.

Bookweek was so much fun! We dressed up as our favourite characters and got to go to the book fair in the library.

We can’t wait for you all to come and see our performance for the School musical. We are so excited for you to see our talents. See you all on the big night!

Angela Fuller and 3M

Diverse Learning Team News

Lunch Club and Passive Play

At SJKB we are lucky to be able to host both passive and Lunch Club Play at lunch times.

When we think about play, we often picture children running, climbing, or building. But passive play—quiet, restful play without lots of physical movement—is just as important for children’s development.

Passive play might look like:

• Reading or looking through picture books
• Drawing, colouring, or doing puzzles
• Playing with Lego
• Meditation or engaging in imaginative “quiet play”

Why is passive play important?

• Rest and recharge: After busy, active play, children need calm time to restore their energy.
• Focus and concentration: Activities like puzzles and drawing help develop attention span and persistence.
• Imagination and creativity: Quiet play encourages children to create their own stories and explore ideas.
• Emotional wellbeing: Passive play gives children space to relax, reflect, and regulate their emotions.

A healthy balance of active play and passive play supports both the body and the mind. Encouraging time for both each day helps children grow into well-rounded, resilient learners.

Why Lunch Club is Important in School

For some children, the playground at lunchtime can feel overwhelming. Busy spaces, lots of noise, and unstructured play can sometimes make it hard to join in with others. A lunch club provides a safe, welcoming alternative.

Benefits of Lunch Club:

• Safe social space: Children can make friends in a smaller, calmer setting.
• Builds confidence: Structured activities help children practise conversation, turn-taking, and teamwork.
• Supports inclusion: Lunch club ensures that children who may struggle socially still have a place to belong.
• Emotional wellbeing: Having a quieter option reduces stress and helps children feel secure at school.
• Positive relationships: Staff can get to know children better and provide extra support where needed.

Lunch clubs don’t replace the playground but offer children choice—so every student can find a space where they feel comfortable, valued, and included.

Aboriginal Education

Coolamons

As previously reported, Henry, Aylah and Xavier have been working away at tidying up their coolamons. Since the coolamons were cut, they have been covered in dry sand. This assists to draw out the moisture as an alternative to heating them up with fire.

The edges of the coolamons have been carefully sanded in preparation for oiling. Traditionally fat from emu and kangaroo/Wallabies was rubbed in to the wood to protect it from drying out and cracking.

Our students will then have to choose whether they would like the coolamon to remain natural or create a design that can be painted onto it.

Seasonal Calendar Notes

According to the Awabakal Seasonal Calendar, we can expect the return of the whales from up north as the Gymea Lily flowers. At this same time, we can expect to see some snakes out and about “looking for a mate” and if we are really lucky, we may start hearing the male koalas (kowalowain) barking and growling for females as their breeding season commences. Not sure whether we all are aware of the big koala news up here, but we have become aware of a newly verified colony of koalas up on Mount Sugarloaf. See information in the link below:

Gifted Education News

Minecraft Education Competition

SJKB has entered two teams of Stage Three Students in the 2025 Australian Open Schools Block Buster Tennis Challenge – a Minecraft Education competition. Team One includes Zac Budden and Audrey Tuck, our Stage Three GEM Students. Team Two includes Xavier Wallace and Henry Gomez, two of our Stage Three AB Ed Students.

This challenge invites teams of students to re-imagine the Australian Open Precinct in Minecraft Education. Our teams will brainstorm, research and begin planning their builds in the coming weeks.

Pastoral Care

Building Resilience in Children

At St Joseph’s Primary School, we often talk about the importance of resilience. Resilience is the ability to bounce back after challenges, disappointments, or setbacks.

 It doesn’t mean that children won’t feel upset or frustrated at times. Those feelings are completely normal. Instead, resilience helps them keep trying, find solutions, and grow stronger through difficult experiences.

For children, resilience can look like:                                                            

• Trying again after making a mistake in class.
• Joining back into a game after being left out.
• Asking for help when something feels too hard.
• Finding another way to solve a problem.
• Keeping a positive attitude even if things don’t go their way.
• Staying calm when plans change or something unexpected happens.
• Asking questions instead of giving up when they don’t understand.
• Trying new things even if they feel a little nervous.
• Managing friendship challenges by talking it out or walking away peacefully.

As parents and carers, you play an important role in helping your child build this skill. Some simple ways to support resilience at home include:

• Encourage problem-solving -Instead of fixing every problem, guide your child to think of possible solutions.
• Celebrate effort, not just results- Praise persistence and “having a go.”
• Model calm coping strategies- Show your child how you manage frustration or disappointment.
• Remind them of their strengths- Help your child recognise the things they are already capable of doing well.
• Normalize mistakes - Remind your child that everyone makes mistakes and that mistakes are part of learning.
• Encourage independence- Give age-appropriate responsibilities (like helping with meals, chores, or packing their bag) so they learn they are capable.
• Teach emotional awareness- Help your child’s name their feelings (“I can see you’re feeling frustrated”) and explore healthy ways to manage them.
• Promote flexible thinking - Talk about different ways to approach a problem or situation, showing that there is often more than one solution.

Resilience is like a muscle – the more children practice it, the stronger it becomes. With encouragement at home and at school, our students can develop the confidence to face challenges, learn from mistakes, and keep moving forward.

Royal Far West have created a Resilient Kids Toolkit guide filled with many easy-to-follow strategies for parents and activities for kids. It’s designed to help develop positive relationships, strengthen mental health, build resilience and self-awareness. You’ll find essential and practical information to support you and your family and help you navigate stressful events and life’s challenges.

Download your FREE copy at:

I am here to offer support to all students, and their families. If you feel there is anything I can do to support your child at school, please feel free to have a chat with your child’s class teacher or our learning support teachers- Mrs Courtney Albury & Mrs Courtney Porter, and they can get you in contact with me, or you can contact me via email at melissa.dobosz@mn.catholic.edu.au or

4959-1355.  

Wishing you a lovely week

Mel Dobosz

Pastoral Care Worker

Garden Club

Garden Club has had a productive start to the term, with the re-launch of our whole-school composting initiative! Each class is now contributing by placing their fruit scraps into designated bins, which are collected and added to our compost system at the end of each day.

Our dedicated Garden Club members chop the scraps to help our hardworking worms break them down into nutrient-rich soil — perfect for feeding our garden beds. A big well done to all our student composters for their commitment to sustainability!

Garden Club is always grateful for donations of seasonal plants. If you have any cuttings or offcuts of fruit or vegetable plants such as cucumbers or strawberries, we would love to grow them in our school garden.

Sport News

School Fees Information

The collection of school fees is crucial to our ability to effectively provide quality education for our students. The fees go directly to paying for new technology, resources for the classroom, experiences for students such as excursions, costs of buses etc.

As always, if a family is experiencing financial hardship, it is imperative that you contact the school to make an appointment to meet and discuss school fees, so that a payment plan can be arranged and families are supported.

Thanks

Susie and Gina

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

The PLUS Second hand clothing shop has been lucky enough to receive some wonderful offers to fulfill the orders. Thank you to the beautiful ladies who have volunteered and sort out the orders once a week.

If you can send an email to admin@kilabenbay.catholic.edu.au with your request and the office will pass it on to the volunteers. If the item is in stock we will send it home with the details for Qkr payment.

We have wide selection of secondhand uniforms available.  All uniform items are $5 and jackets are available for $10, so please make use of this service. 

New hats can also be ordered through the office and paid on Qkr.

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. 

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

Guitar Lessons