Dear Parents & Carers,

A Memorable Week!

In last weeks newsletter I mentioned we were excited to welcome our parents and carers to our two presentations, celebrating the successes of all students from Kindergarten to Year 6 in 2024.  

The highlight of the presentations was undoubtedly the memorable singing at both presentations with catchy actions. Beyond the musical performances, we took time to recognise the many achievements of our students over the course of 2024. While not every student could receive an award during these presentations, it was important for us to celebrate those who excelled in certain areas. Whether it be academic excellence, sporting achievements, or artistic talents, each student's accomplishments were acknowledged and applauded.

Moreover, these celebrations served as a reminder of the importance of community. We emphasised that success is not solely measured by individual achievements but also by how we support and uplift one another. Our school prides itself on fostering a sense of belonging and inclusivity among all its members.

Celebrating Our 2024 Major Award Recipients-

• St Joseph’s School Dux-  Arianwen Edwards
• St Joseph’s School Centenary Christian Living Award- Marlee Taylor
• Writing Award - Laila Champion and Arianwen Edwards
• Mathematics Award-  Toby Cooper
• Gannon family Perseverance Award-   
• Angus Connor 
• Excellence in Visual and Creative Arts- 
• Louis Pace and Marlee Taylor
• Mayor’s Community Pride Award- 
• Marlee Taylor
• Barry O Neill Memorial Citizenship Award-  Alicia Bogg and Rupert Whalan
• Library Award-  Arianwen Edwards
• Public Speaking Award - Carter Wykes
• Chess Award-  Olivia Tarnowski
• Tim Hartnett Excellence in Sport Award - Chelsea Cartwright
• Enthusiastic Participation in Sport Award-  Arianwen Edwards
• Overall Winning House for all carnivals-  LORETO
• House Spirit award-  MADONNA

 

Celebrating Our 2024 CLASS AWARD recipients-

Christian Living-  Billie Brook, Willow Calder, Ebony Writer, Thomas Gurr, Sebastian Ariss, Charlotte Brown, Olivia Owen, Gemma Howes and Florence Douglas.  

Academic Achievement - Ruby Baird, Kadie Ramsay, Logan Canty, Jane Wang, Montanna Hewitt, Rupert Whalan, Ariana Grant, Amelia Barnett and Arianwen Edwards.  

Effort and Application-  Michael Smith, Nate McPherson, Adelyn Newby, Mila Garrett, Angus Croker, Charlotte Hurley, Lehansa Ekanayake, Alicia Bogg,  Millie Docker, Louis Pace and Riley Aliffi.

Most Improved-  Gabriel Pearce, Ryan Holding, Parker Small, Mitchell Wade, Archie Anderson, Sophie Quade, Lilly Thompson, Ari Boyd, Scarlett Lang and Billy Martin

  Students who have made contributions to the Catholic Life of the School: -  Alicia Bogg, Rupert Whalan, Marlee Taylor, Gabriel Cilia, Charlotte Brown and Sebastian Ariss.

Sporting honours across the Archdiocese of Canberra Goulburn this year. Congratulations to-

Representing Mackillop at the NSW PSSA in Hockey -Sam McPherson / Bethany Holmes / Gracie Croker / Florence Douglas / Chelsea Cartwright

representing Mackillop at the NSW PSSA in Cross Country -Vahli Charles

representing Mackillop at the NSW PSSA in Swimming -Sophie Quade

Chelsea Cartwright – A Sporting Superstar!

 

The school community was thrilled when Mrs. Scott announced that Chelsea Cartwright was awarded Third Place in the Canberra-Goulburn Junior Female Sportsperson of the Year as well as receiving our Whole School – ‘Tim Hartnett For Sporting Excellence award.’

We received a comprehensive report from the Archdiocesan Sports Convenor, Sheree Bush, which highlights Chelsea's exceptional achievements. It’s a pleasure to share this report with you today as last week we celebrated her incredible year of sporting success across multiple disciplines.

Chelsea’s greatest achievement came in hockey, where her skill and determination set her apart. After excelling at the Canberra-Goulburn trials for the MacKillop team, she earned a spot and represented at the NSW PSSA Hockey Championships in Newcastle. Her standout performance during the championships not only helped her team secure fifth place overall but also earned her selection into the NSW team—the only player from the MacKillop team to achieve this honour. Chelsea then travelled to Cairns for the School Sports Australia Championships, where she continued to shine. Her outstanding contributions helped the NSW team secure a silver medal, affirming her place as a key player on the national stage.

Chelsea’s talents extend well beyond hockey, as she also represented the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn in several other sports:

• Basketball: Competed for MacKillop at the championships in Wollongong.
• Touch Football: Represented MacKillop at the championships in Wagga Wagga.
• Athletics: Showcased her versatility at the MacKillop Athletics Championships in Sydney.

Her dedication and exceptional performances across these sports earned her third place in the overall points tally for the Canberra-Goulburn Sportsperson of the Year award—an incredible achievement that highlights her versatility, determination, and talent.

Congratulations, Chelsea, on a truly outstanding year! You are an inspiration to our school community, and we are so proud of your success.

Leaders- 2024 and 2025

Last week we also recognised the outstanding leadership skills of our 2024 school leaders Sam McPherson, Laila Champion, Oscar Rice and Florence Douglas  - We were reminded they demonstrated dedication and commitment to making a positive impact within our community.  

Moving towards next year our school community were reminded how we were very proud of each and everyone of our Year 5 students who put their hand up to be a leader and we took time to announce our new 2025 Leaders.   

School Captains:  GRACIE CROKER  and RUPERT WHALAN

 School Vice Captains: CHARLOTTE BROWN and ELIJAH SHEEKEY                 

Fatima House Captains: ALICIA BOGG and  FLYNN CROKER

Loreto House Captains:  MATILDA MCGREGOR and RAPHAEL TUNKS.

Lourdes house captains: LANA SILVA and LOGAN BELTRAME 

 Madonna house captains: CHELSEA CARTWRIGHT, ARIANA GRANT  and JACK POLLARD  

 We Will Truly Miss Your Fun-Loving Spirit!

Today we farewelled our Year 6 students. This talented group, with their wonderful sense of humour, has brought joy and positivity to our classrooms and school events every single day. They balance hard work with a zest for life, creating a warm and supportive environment that has been a highlight of our time together.

 They have served, created, and contributed to making this school a truly special place.  

May these remarkable students, along with the families leaving our school, always carry this truth in their hearts: they will forever remain a part of the St. Joseph’s community. As they move forward, may they continue to embody kindness, compassion, and the spirit of Making Jesus Real in all they do.

 We  extend our deepest gratitude and best wishes to the families leaving the St. Joseph's community, thanking them for their unwavering support and contributions over the past seven years.  We wish you all continued success and happiness in the future.

As a final note may God bless you and your families with peace, joy, and love throughout the Christmas season. Thank you for being a cherished part of our school community, and we look forward to welcoming back our returning families in 2025 as we embark on another wonderful year together.

Matthew Mullins,

Principal

Religious Life of the School

Loving God, we bring our prayers before you, asking you to grant all that we need to be faithful followers of your gospel as we await the coming of your Son. We ask this in His name, Christ, our Lord.

RE: SCHOOL FEES FOR 2025

I am writing to provide you with notice of school fees for 2025.

School fees for 2025 are shown in the table attached.  The school fee in 2025 will include the tuition fee and all school-based levies (except for excursions). We have also reviewed and updated the arrangements for family discounts, which are also set out in the attached table.

We are very conscious that cost of living pressures are ongoing and have worked hard to keep fee increases to a minimum.  However 80% of our school income comes from NSW and Australian government funding which will not keep pace with rising education costs next year.  In order to provide a reasonable level of resourcing for the coming year, and to ensure our school can continue to deliver excellent learning opportunities, an increase in fees is required.

Our students benefit from a high-quality educational experience and a wide range of learning and co-curricular opportunities. We continue to see improvement in academic achievement of students, particularly in literacy and numeracy. Our approach to high impact teaching has been commended nationally and internationally. Our commitment to learning, combined with knowing each child, continues to nurture the growth and development of every child.

Your school fees are critical to support the delivery of high-quality education, the funding of all staff and the maintenance and improvement of facilities at our school.

It is a policy of the Archdiocese that no student should be refused enrolment, excluded or disadvantaged because their family is unable to afford fees. If you have any concern that the 2025 fees may cause hardship for you and your family, I encourage you to contact me for a confidential discussion on the assistance available to support your child. 

Students are asked to supply their own stationery items and to supply a box of tissues per year. 

School fees can be paid by Bpay, cash or cheque. Payment arrangements will be offered to all families and details will be confirmed when invoices are issued.

We value your partnership and we sincerely thank you for your continued support of our school. If you have any questions about school fees or require assistance on any other matter, please do not hesitate to contact the school.

Sincerely,

Matthew Mullins
Principal

FEE SCHEDULE 2025

NOTE: From 1 January 2025 Catholic Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn Education Limited (the Company) will assume responsibility for the operation of Catholic systemic schools within the Archdiocese.  All of your rights and your obligations under current Enrolment Contracts / Parent Commitment Agreements / Enrolment Forms relating to the enrolment of your child or children at the school, as previously agreed between you and the existing proprietor of the school (ABN 47 824 127 996) are assigned to the Company (ABN 60 675 797 734) from this date. Your continuing rights and obligations, including the obligation to pay school fees and school-related expenses, will transfer to the Company from the commencement of the 2025 school year. You do not need to do anything further for this transfer to occur and all school operations will continue as usual. If you require further information about these changes, please contact governance@cg.catholic.edu.au 

* Please clearly label all of your child’s items and remember some of the listed items may need to be replenished during the year.

Kindergarten

Class Equipment Requirements

12 x coloured  pencils  

12 x coloured  textas or  wind-up crayons

1 x glue stick (per term)

small pencil case

4 x black whiteboard  markers

library bag

box of tissues

a change of underwear  and socks to stay in the child’s school bag.

over ear headphones labelled in a large Ziploc bag

Year 1

Class Equipment Requirements  

3 x HB lead pencils

12 coloured pencils

12 coloured textas or   wind-up crayons

eraser

4 x whiteboard markers

2 x black whiteboard markers

pencil sharpener

1 x glue stick

scissors

pencil case

library bag

2 x boxes of tissues

headphones

plastic home reader folder

Year 2

Class Equipment Requirements 

3 x HB lead pencils

12 coloured pencils

12 coloured textas or wind-up crayons

eraser

pencil sharpener

1 x glue stick

scissors

pencil case

4 x black whiteboard   markers

library bag

2 x boxes of tissues

headphones

plastic home reader folder

Year 3

Class Equipment Requirements 

4 x HB lead pencils

12 x coloured pencils

12 x coloured  textas

1 x red pen

2 x highlighters

2 x glue stick

ruler

pencil-sharpener

scissors

1 x eraser

pencil case

2 x headphones in labelled  container or Ziploc bag

4 x Black whiteboard markers

library bag

box of tissues

Year 4

Class Equipment Requirements

3 x HB lead pencils

12 x coloured pencils

12 x coloured  textas

1 x red pen

2 x blue pen

2 x highlighters

ruler (not flexible)

1 x glue stick

pencil sharpener

scissors

1 x eraser

Small/medium  pencil case

2 x ear bud headphones
(1 for the classroom, 1 for use in the library)

4 x black whiteboard  markers

library bag

box of tissues

Year 5

Class Equipment Requirements  

5 x HB lead pencils

12 x coloured pencils

12 x coloured textas

2 x blue pens

2 x ear bud  headphones

USB memory stick

geometry set

library bag

5 x black whiteboard  markers

Whiteboard eraser

2 x boxes of tissues

1 x red pen

2 x highlighters

  ruler (not flexible)

1 x glue stick

pencil sharpener

scissors

1 x eraser

Pencil case

Year 6

Class Equipment Requirements  

3 x HB lead pencils

12 x coloured pencils

12 x coloured textas

2 x blue pens

1 x red pen

2 x highlighters

ruler (not flexible)

1 x glue stick

pencil sharpener

scissors

1 x eraser

pencil case

5 x black whiteboard  markers

2 x ear bud headphones (1 kept in classroom, 1 kept in Library)

geometry set

USB memory stick

box of tissues

Canteen Roster

Term Dates for 2025

TERM 1

Year 1 to 6 students

Tuesday, 4 February 2025 - Thursday 10 April 2025

Good Friday, 18th April 2025

Easter Sunday, 20th April 2025

TERM 2

Tuesday, 29 April 2025 - Thursday 3 July 2025

TERM 3

Tuesday, 22 July 2025 - Thursday 25 September 2025

Term 4

Tuesday, 14 October 2025 - Thursday 18 December 2025

Claim the dates Term 1

Badge presention for SRC, Mini Vinnies, Library Monitors and swimming awards Friday, 14th February 

Cross Country- Friday 21st March- School Grounds

(back up Tuesday 25th March).

Athletics Carnival- Friday 4th April- Hudson Park

(back up Wednesday 9th April).

Kinder Rest Days

Wednesday, 5th Feb

Wednesday, 12th Feb

Wednesday, 19th Feb

Wednesday, 26th Feb

Week 1, 2025

Tuesday, 4th February 2025

Year 1 to 6 return to school

Wednesday, 5th February 

Year 3 to 6 swimming Carnival, volunteers most welcome.

Kinder Rest Day

Thursday, 6th February

Kindergarten's First Day of School

Friday, 7th February

Our next Community Council Meeting

Our next meeting will be in week 4 of term 1, 2025.

Tuesday 25th February at 7 pm in the Library. All are welcome.

From the School Counsellor

 Anger: what it is and how to deal with it in healthy ways

What Is Anger?

Anger is a normal, healthy emotion that arises in response to a perceived threat, provocation, or injustice. However, how you manage and express your anger may be unhealthy or harmful to yourself or others.

What Causes Anger?

Anger is related to the body’s acute stress response. In response to a threat, the body will direct its energy toward preparing to fight or flee. Anger is part of this fight response and is often accompanied by a rush of adrenaline, rapid heart rate, and increased lung capacity.

That doesn’t mean that every time you’re angry, your body is telling you to punch someone. The body’s fight-or-flight response can dissipate without ever fighting or running away. However, your body’s excess energy needs to go somewhere. If it’s not expressed or released in a healthy way, it may result in physical and mental stress.

6 Types of Anger

1. Annoyance

On the spectrum of anger, annoyance typically resides on the lower side. Annoyance can be sharp, even painful, but it is often fleeting. Strong reactions to annoyance are usually viewed as inappropriate and may be indicative of anger management problems.

2. Moral Outrage

Moral outrage is a type of anger that often feels good, healthy, and even productive. After all, we typically feel it after witnessing or being the victim of an injustice.

While anger is often appropriate in response to injustice, it can sometimes become unhealthy, depending on how we use it. Some people use moral outrage as a way to make themselves feel superior to others. Moral outrage can lead the way to judgment and the desire for retaliation, even vengeance, which can quickly escalate to abuse or violence.

Moral outrage can be productive if we let it guide us toward justice and healing. However, it can quickly overwhelm us if we use it to harm others or elevate ourselves.

3. Assertive Anger

Assertive anger is a healthy, balanced expression of anger recommended by mental health experts. With assertive anger, you can express your point of view with confidence, and you can communicate how you’re feeling clearly without trying to intentionally hurt others.

Although you are assertive with your experience, you do not elevate yourself to a place of superiority. Rejecting superiority or outrage enables you to listen to others and potentially change your point of view. It also allows you to seek healing and justice instead of seeking being “right” or vindicated.

4. Passive Anger

Passive anger occurs when you refuse to admit or acknowledge your anger. Although this can sometimes be an intentional tactic to harm others (known as passive-aggression), it can also be an unintentional denial to yourself. Some people truly believe they’re not angry, even as they are sulking or snapping at others. Passive anger can be just as harmful to yourself and to others as more confrontational forms of anger.

5. Aggressive Anger

Aggressive anger intends to inflict physical or mental harm. The target of your aggression may be another person, or it may be yourself.

Outward signs of aggressive anger include:

• Shouting

• Swearing

• Bullying

• Critiquing

• Insulting

• Accusing

Aggressive anger that’s directed inward at yourself may look like:

• Isolation

• Shame

• Negative self-talk

• Denying yourself necessary care activities, such as eating, washing, or sleeping

• Self-harm

• Suicidal intention

6. Uncontrolled Anger (Rage)

Uncontrolled anger, also known as rage, is at the highest end of the anger spectrum. Rage results in a number of dangerous and harmful behaviors, including fighting, bullying, abuse, assault, and violence. Rage is never a healthy response to a perceived threat or provocation.

How to Deal with Anger in Healthy Ways

Practice self-care: Self-care is at the core of your physical, mental, and emotional health. Without basic care activities like eating regularly, getting enough sleep, and taking your prescribed medications, you are not well equipped to handle the stressors of life and are more prone to mishandle your anger. By practicing self-care, you give yourself a baseline of health from which to make good choices.

Learn to self-regulate: Self-regulation is the ability to observe, manage, and adapt your emotions and behaviors to suit the situation. A key component of self-regulation is stress management. If you can learn to self-regulate and manage your stress, you will be able to choose healthier responses to situations that trigger your anger.

Consider different perspectives: Empathy and compassion can help you view a frustrating situation from another point of view. By considering a different perspective, you may realize that anger is not the most helpful or appropriate response to the situation.

Take a break: Stepping away from a situation and taking deep breaths can help you make better choices. It can also help you physically manage your anger by lowering your heart rate and calming your body’s stress response.

Choose assertive anger: There are times where it’s healthy and appropriate to express your anger. Assertive anger can help you communicate your experience clearly while still being open to the experiences of others.

Goulburn Urgent Care Service and virtualKIDS service from Sydney Children’s Hospital Network

 As part of the NSW Government’s Single Front Door Program, we’re working to reduce the load on our emergency departments, and efficiently connect people with the care they need, close to home or virtually, safely diverting avoidable demand. You can find out more about the campaign at: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/anywhere

If your child is unwell and you’re not sure where to go, call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 for free anytime, day or night.

A registered nurse will ask some questions and connect you or your child with the right healthcare option for you, such as booking you an appointment at the Goulburn Urgent Care Service or connecting you with the virtualKIDS service by phone or video. They will call you an ambulance or direct you to the nearest emergency department if your situation is life-threatening.

Need support in your language? You can call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) on 131 450 and ask for healthdirect on 1800 022 222.

You can also use the online healthdirect Symptom Checker or healthdirect Service Finder at healthdirect.gov.au

If it is life-threatening, call Triple Zero (000) or go to an Emergency Department.

Learn more: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/anywhere