Filter Content
- Message from the Principal
- Mission & Learning at Joey's
- Student Awards - New Time - 12.35pm Friday
- Term 4 Event Schedule
- Sports News
- News from the Enviro Team
- Canteen News
- St Joseph's OOSH & Vacation Care
- Health & Wellbeing
- Supporting Diverse Learning
- Learn more about COMPASS- School Communication Platform APP
- School Fees
- How to Purchase your child's School Uniform
- How to Apply for a Bus Pass
- Term 4 eSAFETY PARENT WEBINARS
- Catholic School Parent Australia's Free Family Engagement Resources
- Child Safety Handbook
- Billboard
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Dear Parents, Caregivers and Families,
As we move closer to the final weeks of the Term, we have many events scheduled, including our Year 6 Farewell Camp and farewell celebrations, Giving Mass, Community Day, and of course our Awards Ceremony. St Joseph’s remains a very busy place and looks like it will remain that way up until the last day of the year, Wednesday 18th December. Learning for our children remains focused on reaching outcomes, and won’t slow down until the end of week 9, after which I will allow the children to let their hair down and enjoy our journey into the Christmas season.
Video Game Ratings
Parents, families and caregivers, from time to time we see behaviours in some of our children which are well above their age level, or even well above the age level of primary students. I wonder where these students learn these behaviours. One of these areas where students can be innocently exposed to inappropriate language, actions and behaviours is when watching programs and playing video games. Several popular games such Grand Theft Auto, and other similar titles have a classification of MA15+ or R.
I ask all parents, ‘do you know the games your children are playing, do you know the programs your children are watching and downloading, and do you know their classifications?
An R-rated film may contain "adult themes, adult activity, hard language, intense or persistent violence, sexually-oriented nudity, drug abuse or other elements." While, titles given an M rating may have content that includes "intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content and/or strong language."
Titles rated AO (Adults Only) have content that should only be played by persons 18 years and older. Titles in this category may include prolonged scenes of intense violence and/or graphic sexual content and nudity.
Due to the interactive nature of computer games and the active repetitive involvement of the participant, computer games may have a higher impact than similarly themed depictions of the classifiable elements in film, and therefore greater potential for harm or detriment, particularly to minors.
Classifications
M - MATURE
Material classified M is not recommended for persons under 15 years of age.
MA 15+ - MATURE ACCOMPANIED
Material classified MA 15+ is considered unsuitable for persons under 15 years of age. It is a legally restricted category.
R 18+ - RESTRICTED
Material classified R 18+ is legally restricted to adults. Some material classified R 18+ may be offensive to sections of the adult community.
Please see the links below for more information;
Guidelines for the Classification of Computer Games 2012
As always, I thank you for your support in regards to your child’s ongoing safety and learning.
Guy Campbell
Driving Excellence in the Macleay
DO SMALL THINGS WITH GREAT LOVE
Father Andrew Greeley, the great sociologist from Chicago, says that Christ's Second Coming should be happening today and every day, and he gives examples of what he means. At a soup kitchen, a woman volunteer gave a hungry man a hot meal, and as he was leaving she noticed he had no shoes. She got some from a cupboard and tried them on till she found a pair that fitted; and in that encounter, Christ in his second coming was present. At a McDonald's restaurant, a bus of hungry school children treated their overwhelmed waitress with kindness. Please and thank you were more plentiful than the burgers. The Lord was present. A young man pulled up in his car when he needn’t have, to allow an elderly woman to cross the road. Christ was present. A single mother came home from a stint in hospital, and on her kitchen table were a dozen carnations, placed there by her teenage son. Christ was present.
As Andrew Greely says, the answer to the ‘when’ of the second coming can be readily given. The Lord is present anywhere people treat each other with gentleness, generosity and thoughtfulness. A man spent his holidays with Mother Teresa and was so impressed by the way she cared for the sick and dying that he told her, ‘I want to remain here with you,’ but she said, ‘no, go home and bloom where you're planted.’ The message that each one of us is a member of God's family is as much needed where you came from as it is here. We must do small things for one another with great love. And Christ's second coming is present in a student who is about to assist the poor in Cambodia. And Christ's second coming is present in the kindness and generosity of those who are assisting her in her work, by their financial support. The Gospel isn't meant to be frightening. It offers an image of hope even in the worst of times. No matter how tough things get, Christ has brought us salvation and, as his followers, we can be part of that new life. A homily by Fr Jim Reilly. St Mary’s, Bellingen. (RIP: 1942 – 2015)
‘Do small things for one another with great love.’ Mother Teresa
PRAYER
Lord, may I reflect your goodness and love and be your hands
and voice to all those I meet each day.
Amen
Sourced from; https://cms.vinnies.org.au/media/5mjf0s5q/srg_sept_dec_2024_web.pdf?folder=nsw__spiritual-reflectionguides&path=5mjf0s5q%2Fsrg_sept_dec_2024_web.pdf
With Mrs Krystal Brady, Assistant Principal, Learning & Teaching and Mrs Erin McGovern, Assistant Principal, MissionYEAR 6 NOON OF THE NOTABLES
Year 6 students have been learning to write biographies of notable people who have made an impact on society.
Students were required to write a biography, dress up as their notable and be able to write and answer well-researched open-ended questions as well as create an interactive presentation about their chosen person.
As a culmination of this English Unit, students presented to their families, staff and peers.
REMEMBRANCE DAY
On Monday 11/11, Year 6 led by Mr May held a very beautiful and moving Remembrance Day Service. The students assembled in the Primary playground in silence, out of respect for this significant day in our history. Teachers had spoken with students about the importance and reverence of the day, and the students displayed wonderful respectful behaviours throughout. Standing still and in silence can be tricky for lots of students, especially when in a large group, but it is also an important skill to learn and to be able to observe. Thanks again to our wonderful Year 6 leaders and Mr May for playing the Last Post and Reveille live for the service on his bugle.
BRANDAN LEE -
School Education Consultant Visit
On Monday 18th November, we had the terrific educational specialist and schools consultant Brendan Lee back in our school working with teachers and staff. Throughout this year we have been working with Brendan to continue to build and enhance teaching instruction and best practice in evidenced based instruction principles. Brendan modeled some mathematics lessons, met with staff and unpacked practices and teaching strategies that we are using to improve student growth and outcomes. It was a fantastic day of learning and we look forward to continuing our work with him and research based Maths instruction strategies into next year.
SAVE THE DATE - 2024 AWARDS CEREMONY
THE INTERNET AND YOUR FAMILY
Practical tips for what you can do to keep your kids safe online and build good habits
Often navigating the internet and social media with kids can feel like we only have two options; banning all internet, devices, phones, and social media accounts on one hand, and leaving your kids wide open to all the risks associated with the online world including cyberbullying, inappropriate sexual content, violent graphics, and simulated gambling products. Neither is a viable option so we must work with our children to develop, guide and encourage safe internet usage. Here are some practical tips you can follow.
What you can do with your kids:
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Communicate with them. From the moment they start using the internet, use age-appropriate candid language that will ensure they are aware of the dangers. Don't be vague or generalise; use examples to get your point across. Teach them about what to do when bullied, what to do when inappropriate material comes up, what information to give out online, and where to get help.Reiterate that what they do on the internet is permanent and public.
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Monitor their internet use. There are many apps available that can inform you how much time they spend on the internet and what apps they are using.
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Get them to show you what they do. Many children are happy to share their knowledge, and this will give you an idea of what particular risks they are facing.
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Limit screen time. Being online and accessible all day leaves children open to many dangers.
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Put limits on social media apps and enforce user set age limits. Many apps like TikTok and Snapchat state that the app is intended for users aged 13 years and over.
On your devices:
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Check your settings. Make sure your internet filters are up to date, and your children don't know the passwords.
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Passwords. Don't use the same 4-digit password on all your devices and restrictions.
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What Parental Controls have you enabled? Check your Family Sharing and get to know your restrictions for Apple music, Spotify, Guided Access, personal hotspot, Bluetooth sharing within apps, location services, microphone access, and in-app purchases.
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As always, staying vigilant is imperative as your kids navigate their online world, knowing that many children try to find ways around the limitations imposed by adults, as they naturally take risks through their growing years.
Educate yourself - Be the go-to person for your children when it comes to advice about the internet.
Model good online behaviour yourself - Put the phone down when your kids are talking to you or during dinner. How often do you check Facebook? The average is 17 times a day!
Erin McGovern
Assistant Principal Mission
ST VINCENT DE PAUL CHRISTMAS APPEAL
MACLEAY VALLEY CATHOLIC PARISH CHURCH | CHRISTMAS SAVE THE DATES
SAVE THE DATE - YR6 2025 | YR7 2026
Term 4 - Weeks 5 & 6
Awards will be presented on
Friday, 22nd November at 12.35pm
Parents/Carers Welcome
|
CLASS
|
MARY MACKILLOP AWARD Recognises Catholic attitude, behaviours & helping those in need |
ST JOSEPH'S Recognises positive actions witnessed within our school community |
CATHERINE McAULEY Recognises a growth mindset & effort in learning |
THE VALUES AWARD
PATIENCE |
|
KHonour |
Adira Salmon | Logan Griggs | Bonnie Jones | Amelia Simpson |
|
KSpirit |
Carter Dallas-Morgan | Evie Beecham | Reef Lainey | Winter Buck |
|
KTruth |
Edie Battle | Zarli Tammjarv | Jensen Vidler | Sage Davies |
|
1Honour |
Finnly Clay | Irin Eldho | Amelia Carroll | Casey Smee |
|
1Truth |
Alexi Lipscombe | Harriet Downing | Savannah Barker | Anya Lunn |
|
2Honour |
Colby Duff | Dustin Buck | Alisha Meeudnoon | Stella Swan |
|
2Truth |
Abigail Watson | Xavier Roache | Brooklyn Duff | Zavier Batterson |
|
3Honour |
Casey Miller | Eden Passmore | Flint Barnett | Isla McIver |
|
3Truth |
Ryda Carroll | Kiera Goodman | Kara Miller | Tony Jerin |
|
3/4 Spirit |
Cohen Davies | Safiah Gill | Brax McManus | Wyatt Workman |
|
4Truth |
Liam Fulford | Max Delforce | Maddison Huxley | Asher Van Hugten |
|
5Honour |
Thomas Lockman | Mason Gagnuss-Vale | Asher Higley | Madeline Battle |
|
5Truth |
Amber Drew | Quinn Swan | Saoirse Kennedy | Kiara Scott |
|
6Honour |
Jason Micallef | Ella Orr | Drew Edwards | Terrence Liang |
|
6Truth |
Keeley McManus | Spencer Atkinson | Amelia Latham | Heshma Lingamneni |
With Mr Watts 
JUMP ROPE FOR HEART
Jump Off was on a daily basis this year. Each class did thirty minutes of skipping totalling approximatley 3/12 hours for the whole school. Thank you to all parents and extended family for your generosity and thanks to all children for great participation. With Year 6 students helping out as rope turners and tutors, everyone had a go at the five skipping challenges.
Overall the school has raised $616 with online donations and cash donations to be finalised. Children have been invited to donate a gold coin if they wish but needs to be in by Monday.
Thank you for getting involved in Jump Rope for Heart!
RIDE N SCOOT
Children had a great time with Ride and Scoot and hopefully more will be inspired to get out and about on their wheels in their spare time. Road safety was included in health lessons.
We did note that some bikes and scooters were in need of some maintenance and some helmets needed adjusting.
Overall, wonderful participation by the children and thank you to parents/carers for delivering and retrieving bikes and scooters.
DANCING | GYMNASTICS
We have concluded 5 weeks of our dancing block which the students thoroughly enjoyed. We have now started 5 weeks of gymnastics which has proven to be equally as popular.
SWIMMING
As Stage 3 elective sport has finished all children in Years 5 and 6 will be going to the pool each week for sport until further notice. Be prepared with hat, swimmers, rash shirt and towel.
NATIONAL RECYCLING WEEK 2024
10c RETURN AND EARN RECYCLING
UPDATE:
School drop off is no longer available.
We have recently updated our account details for our 10c Return and Earn Recycling
Program.
Families are asked to conveniently take their 10c drink containers straight to the High Speed Depot Drop Off at 47 South Street, South Kempsey whenever it suits you.
The School Office has small cards with our NEW Crunch Account details on it to keep in your car (or use this bar code).
All proceeds are used to assist with our St Joseph’s veggie garden and related learning activities.
Collection bags are still available in the Canteen Foyer. Children who recycle by visiting the High Speed Drop Off will still receive a prize from the Enviro Prize Box (see Mrs Hagger in the Canteen). Just be sure to bring in your docket to Mrs Tarrant.
SUSTAINABILITY HUB
old phones, batteries, used stamps, prescription glasses, toothpaste tubes/brushes and plastic writing implements.
Please feel free to drop these into the bins located in the canteen foyer.
If you have other items that you think the school may be able to use for art/craft etc please contact us.
With Mrs Hagger and Mrs CroweMENU CHANGES
- Still in stock we have Raspberry & Orange/Passionfruit Chillj's at a discounted price of $2.00 whilst stock lasts.
- Juice Bombs priced at $2.50 with various flavours to choose from.
FRIENDLY REMINDER ABOUT CUTLERY
Dear Parents and Caregivers
2024 CANTEEN MENU
OFFSITE BAGGED LUNCH
This special lunch bag will be an option for any offsite events that are held locally (no hot lunches will be delivered offsite).
The Offsite Lunch Bag consists of chicken & salad wrap or sandwich, bottle of water, muesli bar, pkt plain chips and a piece of seasonal fruit for $15. Select "Offsite Bagged Lunch" from the Compass Canteen Menus.
STUDENT BIRTHDAY BUNDLES
Should you have any queries please contact our Canteen ladies, Mrs Hagger & Mrs Crowe.
VOLUNTEERS APPRECIATED
WHY JOEY'S OUT OF SCHOOL HOURS CARE?
We have two dedicated classrooms on the St Joseph's Catholic Primary School campus in Kemp Street, West Kempsey. The classrooms are filled with resources and games to suit children from Kinder to Year 6.
Students from all schools in the Macleay Valley and surrounds are welcome at Joey's OOSHC.
Joey's OOSHC has a proud history of providing high quality out of school hours care for than ten years. Joey's dedicated and experienced staff plan and manage programs that offer both fun and educational opportunities.
To find out more and to explore the enrolment process visit our website at https://www.joeyskempsey.org.au/
HEALTHY LUNCH BOX WEBSITE
The Healthy Lunch Box website is your one-stop shop for recipe inspiration and information to help you add more fruit, veg and wholegrains into your child's diet to improve their health.
Lots of quick and easy recipes and snack ideas.
Informative blogs about healthy eating.
Healthy swaps.
Interactive lunch box builder that helps parents and kids plan and pack a healthy lunch box with foods they like.
Please find below a download to the
"Supporting Diverse Learning in Catholic Schools" resource.
To learn more about the COMPASS Platform please click here
About the Compass Platform
The Compass platform is a web-based system that is accessible on any modern web browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome & Safari) or by using the Compass School Manager iOS or Android App.
Parents have the ability to;
- Receive notifications about school events, news and information
- Enter an explanation for absences
- Communicate with your child’s teachers,
- Update your family contact details (mobile phone & email)
- View your child’s timetable and the school calendar
- Download and view your child’s academic reports
- Book parent-teacher conferences (parent/teacher interviews)
- Pay and provide digital consent for events (No more permission slips)
- Order lunches from the Canteen
- Pay school fees
In Week 5 of this term, the Diocese Fees team we will be writing to all families with students enrolled for 2025, asking them to nominate a payment frequency from the following options:
Families who do not nominate a frequency will default to quarterly payments.
Payment for events and excursions will continue to be managed through Compass.
Available payment methods are Bpay, Compass Pay, Centrepay Deduction or cash/EFTPOS at the school office. Your Bpay details appears on your monthly statement emailed at the start of each new month.
We recognise the financial pressures that families may face and strive to offer
flexible payment options to accommodate different circumstances. For more
information and to contact our Diocesan Fees Team, please visit the Diocese of
Lismore Catholic Schools website.
GETTING TO SCHOOL BY BUS IN 2025
Bus passes
- All students catching the bus in 2025 will need a school travel pass.
- Under the School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS), eligible students can apply for free or subsided travel between home and school.
- For more information about the School Student Transport Scheme and how to apply for a school travel pass, visit https://apps.transport.nsw.
gov.au/ssts/#/ from a desktop computer.
Students who need a School Bus Pass for 2025 can apply here. A new application will need to be submitted if they are applying for the first time, or if they are requesting additional travel entitlement because of a new shared parental arrangement (e.g. joint custody).
If a student’s distance eligibility has changed based on their grade (i.e. grade two to grade three), the system will automatically update their entitlement if they meet the new criteria. If they do not meet the new eligibility criteria, we will send them an expiry notification via email.
Students living in rural and regional (R&R) areas should receive their travel pass at the start of the new school year from their nominated transport operator. It may be given to the student as they board the bus for the first time in 2024 or be sent directly to them at home.
Catholic School Parents Australia has 
developed free resources to strengthen the home-school partnership! The new video workshops help guide primary and secondary parents, principals, and school staff to take a holistic approach to their children’s well-being and educational
experience.
The resources also include guides for local facilitators to run through the video workshops in collaborative sessions with principals, staff and families. Insights from experts like Andrew Fuller, John Hattie and Donna Cross inform the workshop’s research-backed strategies.
The resources can be found on the Gearing Up for Parent Engagement website.
WHEN YOU HAVE A MEDICAL CONCERN - CONTACT NORTH COAST HEALTH CONNECT
North Coast Health Connect is a free (bulk billing) new service providing health support and advice from registered nurses 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including public holidays. If you are a resident or visitor to the North Coast, you can speak or live chat with a nurse. The nurse will ask some questions to understand what’s troubling you and then provide advice on what your next step should be.
This may include self-care advice to help you to manage your health (or that of a loved one) from home, or the nurse may recommend a GP appointment or a consultation with a pharmacist. The nurses are able to book an appointment for you directly with a local general practice or pharmacy or if appropriate, can transfer you to a 24/7 GP telehealth service. If the nurse believes you need to attend an emergency department or see a different health service, they will let you know.
Visit https://northcoasthealthconnect.org.au/ for more info and save as a contact for when you need it
https://northcoasthealthconnect.org.au/communication-resources/ (1)
This incredible service will help families access ‘on the day’ healthcare which is bulkbilled and is a vital and important service in this area.
Currently we have 220 GP appointments each week, supported by 23 GP clinics, across the entire North Coast region to access.
Visit https://northcoasthealthconnect.org.au/ for more info and save as a contact for when you need it by visiting https://qrco.de/bdkiJm or by scanning the QR code below.