St Joseph's Primary School South Grafton eNewsletter

From our Leadership

Welcome

Dear St Joseph’s Community,

We celebrated Pentecost last week - a very special feast day in our Church! We remember that God sent the Holy Spirit to the disciples, just as Jesus promised.

They were filled with courage and wisdom, empowering them to go out and share the Good News of Jesus with the world.

As we prepare for Pentecost, let us pray for the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts too, helping us to be more loving, kind, and brave in sharing God's message in our own lives.

Come Holy Spirit,

Fill the hearts of your faithful,

and kindle in them the fire of your love.

To celebrate Pentecost here at St Joseph’s, our students created a beautiful prayer feature for display in our school Library. Each student wrote a prayer, asking for the gift of grace from the Holy Spirit.

You are most welcome to visit our Library next time you are passing to view our students display.

Jubilee of Hope Liturgy

Our school joined St Mary’s Primary School at St Mary’s Church last week to celebrate the Jubilee Year with a lovely Liturgy filled with prayer, song and a strong sense of community. Students were also able to view the Jubilee Boat, the travelling symbol of hope, which reminds us that we are part of a wider journey of something greater. It was so wonderful to see our students engage in this liturgy in a reverent and prayerful manner.

Tinnies For Vinnies

St Joseph's will again be raising awareness of those people in our local community doing it a little tough this Winter. With our Tinnies for Vinnies fundraiser, our students are helping the vulnerable by giving them food this Winter so they dont go hungry. On Tuesday, 1 July students are encouraged to wear their pyjamas to school and bring a tin of canned food to donate to this cause. Please see the flyer in our School Notes section of this newsletter for further information.

Tell Them From Me

A huge thank you to everyone who took the time to complete the 2025 Tell Them From Me survey. We are thrilled to have received so many responses —a fantastic level of engagement from our school community.

Your feedback is incredibly valuable to us. Once we receive the data, we will take time to reflect on the results and use them to identify areas for growth and improvement within our school. Our goal is always to enhance the experience for our students and families, and your input helps guide that journey.

Many, many thanks for your continued support and partnership in making St Joseph’s the best it can be.

Parent Community Group

Our Term 2 Parent Community Group meeting was held on Tuesday, 3 June. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us to support our school and strengthen parental engagement—it was wonderful to see such enthusiasm and commitment!

We had a 20 minute session from Chrissie, who works for the Parent Assembly, regarding the 5 big rocks for Happy Kids. A flyer is provided below, explaining those hints. Those present also gave feedback on our revised School Behaviour Guide and confirmed our next fundraiser, which is the Colour Fun Run.

Looking ahead, our next meeting will be held in Term 3 on Tuesday, 26 August at 7:00 pm. Remember children are MOST welcome. Let’s aim to grow our numbers even further—we’d love to see more parents getting involved in this fantastic opportunity to connect, share ideas, and support our school community!

Staying_Strong_The_5_Boundaries_Children_Teens_Need_to_Thrive.pdf

School Student Behaviour Guidelines

Thank you to the families who attended our recent parent group meeting to discuss and provide valuable feedback on our Behaviour Guidelines. We are currently reviewing the guidelines and welcome ongoing feedback to help us improve our processes.

Here are our Behaviour Guidelines , which are also available on the School Website.

Please take a moment to complete the Feedback Survey, to share your thoughts. Your input is important to us!

Semester 1 Student Reports

School Uniform

Each year the cold snap catches us by surprise. The only addition to the uniform over winter is our school polo. Please ensure that ALL other clothing is navy and unbranded.

Teaching and Learning

5 Questions to Ask Your Child About Their Learning

At school, we use Dr. Lyn Sharratt’s “5 Questions” to encourage students to become independent, thoughtful learners who understand their own progress. These questions come from the Assessment Waterfall Chart, a tool that supports meaningful reflection on learning for both teachers and students.

You can also use these 5 questions at home to support your child’s learning, for their groups Learning Intentions and Success Criteria below. Here they are to guide your conversations:

Learning Intentions: Writing and Mathematics

Principal-Danny Rankin

Assistant Principal-Anne Forwell

Leader of Learning - Brooke Donoghue

Leader of Evangelisation - Matthew Green

Sport Coordinator - Caitlin Crispin

On Friday, 6 June we held our school Athletics Carnival at Junction Hill. It was a great day seeing the students having a good time and cheering each other on.

Congratulations to our 2025 Age Champions.

Junior Girls: Ana
Junior Boys: Byron
11 years Girls: Grace
11 years Boys: Kevin
Senior Girls: Kendall
Senior Boys: Noah

All ribbons and Age Champion medals will be handed out at this week's Assembly on Friday, 20 June.

Date: Wednesday, 2 July 2025

Venue: C.ex Coffs International Stadium, Stadium Drive, Coffs Harbour.

Travel: The bus will depart school at 7amTime: Start: 8.20am arrival to be seated at 8.30am

Finish: Approx 2.45 pm.

Children who are successful on the day will need to be available to compete at the Diocesan Athletics Carnival, to be held at Coffs Harbour CEX International Stadium on Tuesday, 26 August 2025.

Gumbaynggirr Language - Liz Hegedus

Ginnagay Ngujawiny - Hello You Mob,

The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy

We are approaching the end of Term 2, and NAIDOC 2025 is almost upon us.

National NAIDOC Week 2025 runs from 6-13 July and marks 50 years of honoring and elevating Indigenous voices, culture and resilience. The 2025 theme is ‘The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy.

It celebrates past achievements and the bright future ahead, empowered by our young leaders, the vision of our communities, and the legacy of ancestors.

The NAIDOC journey began as a movement for recognition and rights, sparked by Indigenous communities who saw a future built on justice and equality. Over the decades, it has grown into a powerful national celebration, a testament to the enduring strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. As we commemorate this 50-year legacy, we also look forward, honouring the next generation who will carry the torch, shaping the future with courage, insight, and deep respect for our roots. Guided by the wisdom of our Elders and the groundwork laid by our forebears, each NAIDOC Week reinforces our vision for an Australia where Indigenous voices are not only heard but lead the way.

This year, the National NAIDOC Committee takes an important step toward independence, embracing self-determination as a model for the next generation. With every story shared, every act of resilience remembered, and every cultural practice celebrated, we honour a legacy that reaches far into the past and extends into the future. As we celebrate this milestone, we look toward the next 50 years with excitement and confidence, while everyday ensuring that NAIDOC remains a movement grounded in community-led vision and integrity.

From this solid foundation, the next generation will rise—grounded in the strength of our Elders, history, inspired by a shared vision, and committed to building a legacy of unity, respect, and self-determination for all. This NAIDOC Week, we celebrate not just a milestone but a movement that endures, grows, and evolves—driven by the unwavering strength of our communities, the shared vision of our people, and the enduring legacy we pass on to those who will shape our future. Together, we walk forward, honoring where we've come from and looking boldly to the next generation who will carry NAIDOC and their communities into the future.

Every year we have a new poster and this year's artist is Jeremy Morgan Worrall. The title and story of his design is Ancestral Lines. Ancestral Lines is a visual representation of the lines and ties that follow a generation and the songs that come with it.

When I think of the next generation I think towards my Ancestor Lucy Wright, Enoch Wright, Nonie Wright, all the way from my Nanna Audrie to my Mother Vanessa.

When I look back at my mob it helps me see towards the future, it gives me hope and strength knowing what my mob have survived through and accomplished amid adversity.

Each person in the painting depicts a series of lines akin to songlines, that represent what they know, who they were and what they have passed on, the first being that of lore (interpretive), hunting, protecting, and tracking, the second of care, weaving, fishing, and love.

The third is when we see the two combine into one, and the last two take unfinished elements of them all, to show the passing down of knowledge and care.

Above them is the essence of the land they live and protect/care for. It is a depiction of my home the cold skies of Tenterfield with the swirling clouds and giant moon, a place around the fire is where the next Generation find their strength, vision and legacy.

I am known to many as Miss Liz. I am an Aboriginal woman, who has lived her whole life in the Clarence Valley and attended Catholic schools (St Joseph’s Primary, South Grafton and St Mary’s College). I come from a very large family and am honoured to acknowledge being Aboriginal.

My ancestors fought a hard fight for rights and equality. I am continuing their hard work and I would like to believe through my position as the AEW (Aboriginal Education Worker) I am teaching everyone that yes we do have an Indigenous history, yes we do need to recognise and own up to it. We now need to work together to accept each other’s differences and create a world with peace and harmony.

We only have one world, one life. Let’s make it the best we can.

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

Uniform_Price_List_2025.pdf

School Calendar

TERM 2 2025

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)

TERM 3 2025

Week 1

Monday, 21 July - Students return, first day of Term 3

Week 2

Monday, 28 July to Friday 1 August - NAIDOC Week

Friday, 1 August - School Assembly 2.15pm

Week 3

Friday, August 9 - Saint Mary Mackillop Feast 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: