Term 4 Week 4, 2025
From our Leadership
Welcome
Dear St Joseph’s Community,
Remembrance Day
We acknowledge our fallen women and men who served our nation on 11 November. Our school student leaders will join other school leaders at the South Grafton cenotaph for the RSL service
School Uniform
We would appreciate it if our families could please complete this short Uniform Survey to provide some feedback on the school uniform, allowing us to make any alterations if needed.
All Saints Day
On Friday at St Joseph’s, we celebrated All Saints Day, a day where we recognise the Saints of the Catholic Church who have gone before us. The men, women and children who have availed themselves of God’s love whilst here on earth. It was wonderful to see the creativity and reflection of our staff and students who dressed up as Saints on this day.
End of Year Mass
Our 2025 End of Year Mass will be held on Thursday, 11 December at St Patrick’s Church, South Grafton commencing at 9.30am. Everyone is welcome.
Social Media and our Children
New social media age restrictions will take effect on 10 December, we are sharing resources with our school community regarding these changes. The core message is that this legislation is a delay, not a ban, designed to give young people under 16 more time to develop crucial digital skills and maturity before facing the pressures of age-restricted platforms.
Year 6 Fundraiser
Get your scoop and support our Year 6 students to raise money for the St Vincent Appeal.
Cost is $4.00 per cup.
There are 3 yummy flavours, supplied by I Scream to choose from:
- Cookies & Cream
- Rainbow
- Mango Sorbet (gluten & dairy free)
Pre-order by completing the return slip on the note being sent home with students, before 17 November. Orders will be enjoyed during lunch on 20 November.
A copy of the note is also attached under the School Notes section of this Newsletter.
Teaching and Learning
🌟 Spotlight On… Stage 1!
We’re excited to bring you the latest edition of our Spotlight On… series — a behind-the-scenes look into the inspiring learning happening in our Writing classrooms. Now in its fourth round, this initiative offers a meaningful glimpse into the writing journeys of our Stage 1 students and the powerful teaching practices guiding them.
Each term, we shine a light on a different stage of learning, showcasing how students engage with writing through purposeful teaching, collaboration, and reflection. Here’s a reminder of what you can expect in each Spotlight On feature:
🎯 Learning Intention
Every unit begins with a clear learning goal, helping students understand what they’re learning and why it matters — laying the foundation for deeper thinking and engagement.
✅ Success Criteria
Co-created with students, these criteria define what success looks like. They encourage ownership, self-reflection, and clarity in the learning process.
📌 Anchor Charts
These teacher-student-created visuals unpack the Success Criteria. They remain on display in classrooms as helpful reference points for students as they work.
⬆️ Bump It Up Wall
This wall features real student work showing a range of achievement. It helps students see progress, set goals, and strive for quality in their own writing.
🎥 Student Voice – The 5 Questions
In each edition, we highlight student reflections in a short video where they respond to The 5 Questions. You’ll hear them explain their learning using tools like the Learning Intention, Success Criteria, Anchor Charts, and Bump It Up Wall — showing not just their finished work, but their growth along the way.
We hope you enjoy this deeper dive into Stage 1’s writing experiences — and we can’t wait to turn the spotlight back to Kindergarten in our next edition!
Mrs Vidler’s Writing Group:
Learning Intention: Success Criteria:
Anchor Charts:
Bump It Up Examples:
Mrs Forwell’s Writing Group:
Learning Intention: Success Criteria:
Anchor Charts:
Bump It Up Examples:
Mrs Hayward-Bryant’s Writing Group:
Learning Intention: Success Criteria:
Anchor Charts:
Bump It Up Examples:
🎯 Learning Intentions and Success Criteria in Action
In our Writing and Mathematics classrooms, students are actively engaging with Learning Intentions and Success Criteria - key strategies inspired by the work of educator Lyn Sharratt. These tools help students clearly understand what they are learning and how they can be successful.
Learning Intentions explain the purpose of the learning — what students are expected to know or be able to do.
Success Criteria describe what success looks like — the specific steps or elements needed to achieve the learning goal.
By using these strategies, students are supported to:
✔️ Take greater ownership of their learning
✔️ Receive focused feedback from teachers and peers
✔️ Reflect meaningfully on their progress
You can support this approach at home by asking your child questions like:
👉 “What was your learning intention today?”
👉 “What was added to your success criteria today?”
👉 “How did you know you were successful?”
These simple questions can lead to rich conversations about your child’s learning and help reinforce classroom goals at home.
Writing:
Mathematics:
Principal-Danny Rankin
Assistant Principal-Anne Forwell
Leader of Learning - Brooke Donoghue
Leader of Evangelisation - Matthew Green
Sport Coordinator - Caitlin Crispin
Swimming Carnival Program 2025
Our School Swimming Carnival will be held at the Grafton Pool on Wednesday, 12 November.
Students turning 8 years and older in 2026 will be eligible to swim in races. Students are to bring their lunch, recess, water bottle and hat.
- 9:00am Buses depart for Grafton Pool
- 9.20am Students assemble in the grandstand. Welcome to country, prayer and carnival format overview
- 9:30am-12:30pm Swimming events
- 10:00am-11:30am Kindergarten, Year 1 & Year 2 Novelty events
- 12.00pm Kindergarten, Year 1 & Year 2 students return to school
- 2.00pm Primary students return to school
Gumbaynggirr Language - Liz Hegedus
Ginnagay Ngujawiny - Hello You Mob,
Kindergarten students are learning about the location of places (mainly maps), and First nations places (more than just land, voices of places, special places in our community).
We had a look at the map of Gumbaynggirr country. Gumbaynggirr Country is an area on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, Australia, covering approximately 2,300 square miles (6,000 square kilometers), stretching from the Nambucca River in the south to the Clarence River in the north, and extending west to the Great Dividing Range.
- Location: Mid North Coast of NSW, encompassing areas around Coffs Harbour, Urunga, Bellingen, South Grafton, and Glenreagh.
- Boundaries: From the Nambucca River (south) to the Clarence River (north), and inland to the Great Dividing Range.
- Features: Includes coastal strips, beaches, rivers, estuaries, mountains, and floodplains.
- Cultural Significance: The land is deeply connected to the Gumbaynggirr people's Dreaming (Yuludarla) and their language.
- Historical Presence: Archaeological evidence suggests Gumbaynggirr people have occupied this area for at least 6,000 years.
We also spoke about how Gumbaynggirr country is so big there are many different resources available, in the different areas of the country. Therefore, we are known as the ‘sharing people’ as we can share different resources with each other, from inland to the ocean.
There are over 6oo Aboriginal tribes in Australia with 250 distinct language groups. Gumbaynggirr country is just a very small tribe within these groups. To understand how we all live together in one country with the oldest living Indigenous culture in the world we listened to the story ‘Somebody’s Land’ by Adam Goodes and Ellie Laing.
The story is written to recognise the first peoples of Australia and acknowledging our culture. Also, to help parents and carers have the conversation and a better understanding of the injustice of the past. Educating readers about First Nation Culture and connection to Country. Adam and Ellie want all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to know their culture is a gift to this country. They want everyone else to know that too.
Darrundang Ngiinda - Thankyou
Miss Liz Hegedus - Aboriginal Education Worker
Merit Awards
Congratulations to the following students who received a Merit Award.
ES1: Evelyn, Roman, Alexander, Joziah
Stage 1: Olivia
Stage 2: Aylee, Caden, Mason, Amelia
Stage 3: Joy, kevin, Pippa, Aaliyah
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
Canteen
Canteen open every
Wednesday and Friday
Canteen orders are placed through the Compass portal prior to 8.30am.
Volunteers are needed, please leave your details with the School Office if you're able to assist.
School Calendar
TERM 4 2025
Week 4
Thursday, 6 November - Year 3 -6 Elective Sport
Friday, 7 November - Junior Joey's Transition
Friday, 7 November - School Assembly 2.15pm in Mercy Hall
Week 5
Tuesday, 11 November - Remembrance Day
Thursday, 13 November - Year 3 -6 Elective Sport
Friday, 14 November - Junior Joey's Transition
Week 6
Tuesday, 18 November - Parent Group Meeting 6.00pm to 7.00pm
Thursday, 20 November - Year 3 -6 Elective Sport
Friday, 21 November - Junior Joey's Transition
Friday, 21 November - School Assembly 2.15pm in Mercy Hall
Week 7
Thursday, 27 November - Year 3 -6 Elective Sport
Friday, 28 November - Junior Joey's Transition
Week 8
Friday, 5 December - Junior Joey's Transition
Friday, 5 December - School Assembly 2.15pm in Mercy Hall
Week 9
Tuesday, 9 December - Year 6 Graduation 5.30pm to 8.30pm
Thursday, 11 December - End of Year Awards Evening 5.30pm to 7.30pm
Friday, 12 December - Junior Joey's Transition
Week 10
Tuesday, 16 December - Last Day of School for Students
Wednesday, 17 December - Staff Spirituality Day (Pupil Free day)
Community Notices
