Term 2 Week 4, 2025
From our Leadership
Welcome
Dear St Joseph’s Community
The Feast of Mary Help of Christians is celebrated in Australia on 24 May. This feast day is a commemoration of the assistance and protection that Mary, the mother of Jesus, provided to Christians in times of need. The devotion to Mary Help of Christians has a special significance in Australia because it is closely associated with the early history of the Catholic Church in the country.
Mother's Day Celebration
It was wonderful to come together as a school community at our Mother's Day Celebration. A big thank you to all the mother's and significant women who were able to join us. We appreciate everything you do for your children and the nurturing presence and guidance you provide them.
Welcome
We warmly welcome Azahlia in Year 1 and her family to our St Joseph's community.
Learning and Teaching
Introducing: ‘Spotlight On…’
We’re excited to launch a new initiative at our school called "Spotlight On", designed to bring you closer to your child’s learning journey and provide a window into what’s happening in our classrooms during Writing.
Every fortnight, Spotlight On will shine a light on one stage of learning, giving you a rich, behind-the-scenes look at the incredible work our students are doing during their most recent learning cycle. This is more than just a snapshot — it’s an in-depth exploration of the teaching and learning process in action.
Here’s what you can expect in each Spotlight On feature:
🎯 Learning Intention
Each cycle begins with a clear Learning Intention that is unpacked and explored with students. This helps them understand what they are learning and why it’s important.
✅ Success Criteria
Co-constructed with students, these are the benchmarks that define success. Students use them to guide their work and reflect on their progress. By involving students in building the criteria, they develop ownership and clarity in their learning goals.
📌 Anchor Charts
To support understanding, students and teachers create Anchor Charts — visual references that break down each point in the success criteria. These remain on display in classrooms and serve as an ongoing resource for students.
⬆️ Bump It Up Wall
The Bump It Up Wall showcases student work samples that reflect increasing levels of quality. These examples help students self-assess, set goals, and understand what their next steps could look like as they improve their own work.
🎥 Student Voice – The 5 Questions
Each edition will also include a short video featuring a few students discussing their learning. They’ll answer The 5 Questions using their own work samples and referring to the classroom’s “Third Teacher” — the Learning Intention, Success Criteria, Anchor Charts, and Bump It Up Wall. Hearing students speak about their learning helps us see not just what they are doing, but how deeply they understand their work.
The Learning Intention and Success Criteria:
Anchor Charts: Nouns, Action verbs and Sentences
Bump It Up Examples:
5 Questions to Ask Your Child About: Their Learning
In class, we use Dr. Lyn Sharratt’s “5 Questions” to help students become thoughtful, independent, and assessment literate learners. These questions come from the Assessment Waterfall Chart, which helps teachers and students reflect on learning in meaningful ways.
Here are some of our wonderful Kinder students answering the ‘5 questions’ about their most recent learning cycle that you can see evidence of above.
Kinder- 5 Questions. Term 2, Week 3.mp4
You can use the ‘5 questions’ at home too! Here are the 5 questions you can ask your child to support their learning:
We hope Spotlight On gives you a clearer picture of the rich learning experiences happening in your child’s classroom and helps spark meaningful conversations at home. Our parent display cabinets in our ‘parent pick-up area’ will also display the information featured from each fortnights ‘Spotlight’.
Learning Intentions: Writing and Mathematics
Below are the Learning Intentions and Success criteria for each group for the upcoming learning cycle. You may like to ask your child about their learning using the ‘5 questions’ above.
Mathematics
Principal-Danny Rankin
Assistant Principal-Anne Forwell
Leader of Learning - Brooke Donoghue
Leader of Evangelisation - Matthew Green
Sport Coordinator - Caitlin Crispin
Zone Cross Country
On Monday, 19 May, the Clarence Zone Cross Country was held. Congratulations to all students who participated.
Well done to Kendall who came 6th in the 12 year old girls 3km race. She is off to the Diocesan Cross Country which will be held on Tuesday, 27 May.
Our school Athletics Carnival is set to be held on Friday, 6 June, at Barnier Park, Junction Hill. Our back up date is Wednesday, 11 June.
Please keep an eye out on Compass for the event.
Stage 1 Learning
Year 2 have been learning about the place value of three-digit numbers. They have explored how three-digit numbers are formed, regrouped, and renamed in different ways.
Year 2 have also been looking at how skip counting can be used to solve multiplication problems. Their problem that they had to solve and prove was: How many horses will there be altogether if there are 9 stables and 5 horses in each stable?
Gumbaynggirr Language - Liz Hegedus
Ginnagay Ngujawiny - Hello You Mob,
In my section, I love to share with you anything that the classes are learning about Aboriginal Culture. I also love to learn about their hobbies that they like to do outside of school. It is so wonderful to learn about all the different hobbies that students like, for example, horse riding, sport, art and cooking.
This week we feature Sophie in Kindergarten and Emily L in Year 3. Sophie loves to cook with her grandmother. Emily loves raising her chickens.
Last week at the Grafton Show, Sophie entered the ‘Junior Cooking Classes 5 years and Under.’ Sophie made Milo Balls and Chocolate Crackles. Sophie acheived the following results -
- 1st Place - Class 13055 for her Milo Balls
- Highly Commended - Class 13053 for her Chocolate Crackles.
Emily entered the Grafton Poultry Show with her chickens/Brahmas. She goes to poultry shows every second weekend. Emily acheived the following results -
- Champion Junior SF Large
- 1st Prize Junior SF Large Female
- Encouragement Award
- Reserve Junior Champion
Well done Sophie and Emily!
Darrundang Ngiinda - Thankyou
Miss Liz Hegedus - Aboriginal Education Worker
School Notes
SCHOOL OFFICE HOURS
Please be advised our School Office is open between 8.20am and 3.20pm daily.
UNIFORMS
The school uniform is available to purchase through the Compass app.
Orders will be sent home with your child, please advise the Office you would prefer to collect it.
Uniform collection times are Tuesday and Thursday between 8.30am - 8.45am & 2.30pm - 3.00pm.
MEDICATION
If your child is currently taking medication at school, parents are now required to complete the Medication permission form available through the Compass app.
If you have previously provided a paper copy, you will need to complete the online form to meet the new 2025 requirements.
ABSENCES
Only full day absences are to be entered into Compass, for partial absences - arriving late or leaving early please phone the School Office to notify.
Late arrivals - Parents are reminded to accompany your child to the Office to provide the reason for your child's late arrival.
Change to afternoon travel arrangements may be emailed to the school if before 12.00pm sjpgraf@lism.catholic.edu.au
After 12.00pm please phone the School Office on 6642 2899 with any changes.
Please notify the School Office if your child will be absent for an extended period of time, Principal approval may be required.
SCHOOL FEES
BPay is the preferred payment method for school fees.
Scheduled payments can be set up using BPay. The Biller Code and your personal reference number can be found on your Fee Statement.
Paying through BPay ensures that your payment goes directly to your account. Any enquireies please contact the School Office.
Uniforms
Merit Awards
Congratulations to the following students who received a Merit Award.
ES1: Flynn, Matilda, Jayce, Alexander
Stage 1: Alyssa, Teddy, Jack, Sophia, Leonardo
Stage 2: Tiffany, Tyler
Stage 3: Maddison, Ruby, Henri, Connor
School Calendar
TERM 2 2025
Week 4
Friday, 23 May - School Assembly at 2.15pm
Week 5
Tuesday, 27 May - Circus Challenge Show
Thursday, 29 May - Kindergarten attanding Mass at St Patrick's Church 9.00am
Friday, 30 May - Stage 3 attending a musical at McAuley Catholic College
Week 6
Monday, 2 June - Reconciliation Day
Tuesday, 3 June - Parent Group Meeting 6.00pm to 7.00pm
Friday, 6 June - Athletics Carnival at Barnier Park, Junction Hill
Week 7
Tuesday, 10 June - Whole school attending the Jubilee Liturgy at St Mary's Church 9.30am
Week 8
Friday, 20 June - School Assembly 2.15pm
Week 9
Monday, 23 June - Year 4 Accendere Retreat
Friday, 27 June - Semester 1 Reports are available through Compass
Week 10
Thursday, 3 July - Last day of Term 2 for students
Friday, 4 July, - Staff Development Day (Pupil Free Day)
Canteen
Canteen Open every Wednesday and Friday
Canteen orders are placed through the Compass portal prior to 8.30am. Our menu has been updated and the following new items are now available to order:
- Banana Bread (gluten free)
- Fried rice with meat
- Chicken nuggets (gluten free)
- Frozen pinapple rings
- Jelly cup (diet)
Volunteers are always welcome, please leave your details with the School office if you're able to assist.
Community Notices
