Dear Parents and Carers,

We are already into Week 3 of Term 3, and it has been a great start to the term! It has been lovely to enjoy a little sunshine again. Classrooms are buzzing with energy as students dive into new topics and learning experiences. There is plenty happening across the school in the coming weeks, so be sure to keep an eye on upcoming dates and events. Thank you, as always, for your continued support.

Public Speaking Succes

 Last week, we were proud to host students and families from St Mary’s School, Young, for the School Public Speaking Speak Offs. 

Congratulations to Charlie Knight, Emily Protheroe, Aldhin Prathesh, Isabelle Protheroe,

Claudia McCarthy, Lettie Hunter, and Gus Conron, who represented St Joseph’s with confidence and enthusiasm. The students delivered thoughtful and entertaining speeches, and it was a fantastic event showcasing their public speaking skills.

Following a fair and well-contested competition, Charlie Knight (Year 6) and Claudia McCarthy (Year 4) were selected to progress to the Western Region Public Speaking Finals held at St Patrick’s School, Gundagai. Both students represented St Joseph’s with pride and can be very proud of their efforts and achievements at the regional level.

Congratulations to Charlie, who has made it through to the Archdiocesan Finals at Sacred Heart Central School, Cootamundra.

Staff Professional Learning

Mr Martens recently attended a Professional Development program in Canberra, focusing on the implementation of High Impact Teaching Practices (HITP) in schools. We look forward to Mr Martens continuing to support our staff in refining and enhancing their teaching practices through this valuable framework.

This week, Mrs Best and Mrs McFarlane also travelled to Canberra to attend Professional Development and the Key Leaders Day, further strengthening their professional expertise.

Jump Into Joey’s - Learning Journey

Our most recent Jump Into Joey’s session took place on Wednesday, July 31, and was a wonderful success. Led by our enthusiastic Year 5/6 class and Ms Washbrook, the session embraced the theme “Connect It!” Children from the Grenfell Preschool Star Room joined us and eagerly participated in hands-on activities, including creating marble races. It was a joy to see students of all ages learning together and building meaningful connections through play, curiosity, and collaboration.

By all accounts, the morning was filled with smiles, laughter, and rich early learning experiences. We are so proud of our Year 5/6 students for the leadership and care they demonstrated in welcoming our youngest learners.

Our final Jump Into Joey’s session for the term will take place on Wednesday 13th August from 10:30-11:30am. The theme “Learn It!” will focus on exploring literacy through fun and engaging reading and writing experiences. We look forward to another morning of discovery and connection.

Science Week and Science Fair - Get Involved!

Next week is National Science Week, and we are excited to celebrate with a range of fun and educational activities across the school. We will be kicking things off on Monday with some hands-on robotics sessions led by Mr Simon Maher, our ICT support staff - sure to spark curiosity and excitement among our students!

On Friday during the day, students will also have the opportunity to participate in a series of engaging science activities led by Sally Russell from the Lake Cowal Conservation Centre. These hands-on sessions promise to be both fun and informative, helping students explore science in a practical and interactive way.

As part of our celebrations, we would like to remind all families about the Science Home Challenge. Students are strongly encouraged to complete and submit their projects to be included in our upcoming Science Fair display. This is a fantastic opportunity for students to extend their learning at home, explore scientific concepts, and showcase their creativity to the wider school community.

We warmly invite all families and community members to attend our Science Fair on Friday 15th August, which will take place just prior to the school assembly at 2:15 pm. We are looking forward to seeing the amazing ideas and experiments your children have explored. Thank you for supporting their learning journey!

Kindergarten Information Night
Tuesday, August 28
5:30 pm

We warmly invite parents of children starting Kindergarten in 2026 to join us for our Kindergarten Information Night. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about our programs, meet key staff members, and explore our learning spaces.

Please feel free to share this invitation with any families who may be interested - we would love to welcome them!

Healthy Harold Visits St Joseph’s Next Week

We are looking forward to welcoming Healthy Harold back to St Joseph’s next Wednesday as part of our ongoing student wellbeing program. Healthy Harold’s visits provide valuable lessons on health, safety, and positive lifestyle choices in a fun and engaging way. We are excited for our students to participate and continue learning important skills that support their overall wellbeing.

PCYC Police Cyber Safety Session for Years 2–6

Finally, next Friday, students in Years 2-6 will participate in a PCYC Police Cyber Safety Session focused on promoting safe and responsible online behaviours. This important program aims to equip our students with the knowledge and skills they need to navigate the digital world confidently and responsibly. By engaging in this session, students will learn practical tips to protect themselves and others while using technology, fostering a safer online community.

As always, thank you for your ongoing support of the many rich and varied learning opportunities offered at St Joseph’s. We are proud of the way our students continue to engage, grow and shine.

Warm regards,

Danielle McFarlane and Chelsea Harveyson