At St Josephs we have many great opportunities for students to be involved in Extracurricular groups of their interest. Our Enviro Team raises our collective knowledge about better ways to recycle, reuse and give back to our planet. Our Mini Vinnies Team shares the message of St Vincent de Paul to help those in need and sees students engage in ‘faith in action’ activities such as fundraising and raising awareness for the plight of those less fortunate. Our Student Representative Council (SRC) are voted in by their peers, and are the leaders and voice for their respective year groups. 

As well as having the option to join in with these extra curricular groups, students can also engage in different lunchtime activities throughout the week. 

On Monday’s our School Counsellor Ruth Nolan runs Drumming for Stage 2 Students and Thursday for Stage 3 students. Gardening and Enviro Club with Mrs Tarrant runs Wednesdays and Thursdays, and Mrs Abigall, our Student Wellbeing Officer, runs a ‘Colour Me Happy’ Club on Monday’s at Lunch 2. 

This week, Kindergarten and Year 1 students embarked on an exciting adventure to Port Macquarie to experience a live theatre production of The Very Hungry Caterpillar at the Glasshouse. 

From the moment the Show began, the students were captivated by the vibrant puppets, stunning costumes, and animated actors. The performance beautifully blended storytelling with a visual feast, as the characters from The Very Hungry Caterpillar and other classic children's tales took centre stage. 

The production was a fantastic way to introduce young learners to the magic of live performances, while also reinforcing key themes of growth, change, and imagination.

We are so proud of our Kindergarten and Year 1 students for their wonderful behaviour and enthusiasm during the trip. It was an unforgettable experience for everyone involved, and we look forward to future opportunities for our students to explore the world of theatre!

As we enter the season of Lent, we are invited to reflect, repent, and grow closer to God through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. This period of spiritual renewal encourages us to deepen our faith and make sacrifices that draw us closer to others in need.

In support of this, we also take part in Project Compassion, a charitable initiative that encourages us to contribute to those who are less fortunate. Through our donations, we can help improve the lives of people in communities around the world, embodying the spirit of compassion and solidarity that Lent calls us to.

This year’s theme is Unite Against Poverty this Lent, and students from the Mini Vinnies Team will be helping to raise funds with an Easter Egg Guessing Competition. $1 a guess, with all proceeds going to Project Compassion to help communities in need. 

Next week, we celebrate two important occasions that bring our school community closer together. First, we honour the Feast of St. Joseph, the Patron Saint of Workers, Fathers, and Families. His unwavering faith, humility, and dedication remind us of the power of service and love for others.

We also come together to celebrate Harmony Day, a day to reflect on the importance of inclusivity, respect, and cultural diversity. It’s a time to embrace the rich variety of backgrounds that make our school community so special.

As we celebrate these two meaningful occasions, let us be inspired by St. Joseph’s example of selflessness and commitment to family, and by the spirit of unity and respect that Harmony Day encourages. To make these important celebrations extra special, our wonderful Canteen put on some special treats to help us celebrate. Thank you Mrs Hagger.

Protecting children in their digital worlds is an ever-evolving task for Australian families. Now more than ever, parents are looking for guidance in managing screen time and navigating the world of games and social media.

We are therefore pleased to help our parent community by offering a crucial and engaging education session with ySafe, Australia’s leading provider of online safety education. This session will be packed with practical, strategy-rich content that covers the most important points all families need to know about online safety. It will include key information about social media and gaming, screen time recommendations, and step-by-step instructions on how to set up a cyber safe home for children of all ages.

If you’ve ever struggled to get your children off their games and into bed, worried about the content of the games they play, or felt concerned that your child was spending too much time in the digital world, this workshop is for you!

On the 25th of February, some of our students joined our wider community to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Freedom Ride visiting Kempsey celebrating unity and strength in our community.

We enjoyed some dancing, a new song by Kempsey High School students and the unveiling of a new beautiful mural at our swimming pools. Our students learnt from elders local and statewide including a few seconds of fame on 7news!

This week, Year 4 had the exciting opportunity to host Jess and Chase, the program facilitators from Kempsey Shire, who introduced them to the Macleay Eco Explorers Enviro Stories Program. During their visit, the children engaged in thoughtful discussions about the environment, climate change, and the importance of managing and protecting the biodiversity and natural resources of the Macleay Valley Region.

In class, our students will transform into Macleay Eco Explorers as they delve into local environmental issues. Through their research, they will gain valuable insights that will culminate in the creation of a storybook aimed at educating others about the magnificent Macleay Valley.

We are thrilled to be part of this meaningful project and eagerly anticipate the opportunity to have our work published and presented at the upcoming book launch. Stay tuned for more updates on our journey as Eco Explorers!

Bookings for Semester One Parent Teaching Learning Conversations are now open on Compass.