8 April 2025 (Week 10 Term 1 2025)

Dear St Joseph’s Community

As we come to the end of a wonderful Term 1, I’d like to sincerely thank all our families for your continued support throughout the term. 

A special thank you for your generous contributions to last week’s bake sale - we’re proud to share that we raised $570 for Caritas through this effort, led by our student Mission Leaders.

We are now making our way towards Easter - the most significant and sacred time in our Christian calendar. Holy Week invites us to walk closely with Christ through his Passion, death and resurrection, a journey of love, sacrifice and hope. We warmly encourage all families to join the liturgies at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish during this time. You will find our parishioners incredibly welcoming. These Holy Week services are among the most beautiful and moving of the entire year, offering a chance to reflect deeply and be renewed in faith. You can find the Mass times below - I hope to see you there. 

We wish you a restful and refreshing break, and we look forward to seeing you all again next term.

Come and march with us! ANZAC Day - 25 April 2025

We warmly invite all students to join us as we honour the service and sacrifice of the men and women who have served our country. The ANZAC Day March is a deeply valued tradition in our school community, and each year we are proud to see so many of our students walking together in respect and remembrance.

We will gather at 9:15 am (outside Wicket Delights Bakery) with the march beginning at 9:40 am and proceeding to Elizabeth Ann Brown Park for the Commemorative Service. Our student leaders will lay a wreath on behalf of our school during the ceremony.

We encourage students to wear their full school uniform, including hats, and to march with pride. Your presence is a meaningful way to show gratitude, learn from our history, and stand together as a school community.

We hope to see you there.

Woodlawn students build with heart - new Cubby House and Stage 

We were delighted to welcome a group of hardworking and generous students from St John's College, Woodlawn, led by their dedicated teacher, Mr Ritchie, who gifted our school a brand new cubby and stage.

This truly collaborative project has been months in the making, and we have been deeply impressed by the Woodlawn students’ skill, dedication and kindness throughout. Over the past six months, they have worked with care and commitment to bring this wonderful space to life—leaving a lasting legacy for our school community.

We are so grateful for their generosity, and we can’t wait to see our students making memories in the cubby and performing proudly on the new stage.

We’d especially like to acknowledge each of the Woodlawn students involved, their incredible teacher, Mr Ritchie, for his tireless efforts, and Woodlawn Principal, Mrs Reen, for her warm support of the project from the outset.  See the project come to life here or in the gallery below.

Pupil Free Days Reminder

A reminder that Friday 11 April is a Staff Development Day and unfortunately, Rainbow Region NOT Available on this day. 

We’re looking forward to welcoming all students back to school on Tuesday 29 April, after our Staff Development Day on Monday 28 April. Rainbow Region is available on Monday 28 April.  We can’t wait to see everyone again and begin an exciting Term 2 together.

Important Dates Terms 2-4

Please see below the key dates for Terms 2-4 for your fridge.

Keeping School Funding Fair – Supporting Families in Choosing the Best Education

Catholic Schools have long provided families with quality education, strong values and a sense of community. New research confirms that parents make thoughtful financial choices to ensure their children receive the education that best suits their needs.

With rising costs affecting many households, families continue to prioritise education, valuing the academic, spiritual and personal development that Catholic schools provide. Ensuring school funding remains fair helps families continue to access the right school for their child.

Read the Catholic Schools NSW media release below and visit keepfundingfair.org.au to learn more about how we support families.

Please see the media release from Catholic Schools NSW below. 

Scripture Reflection

As we move closer to Holy Week, we journey with Jesus through the events of his Passion, death, and resurrection. It is a week filled with contrasts—sorrow and joy, darkness and light, death and new life. At the heart of it all is love: a love so great that Christ gave everything for every single one of us.

For parents, Holy Week is a powerful invitation to reflect on the sacrifices we make each day for our families, and on the hope we hold for our children’s future. Just as Jesus walked the road to Calvary with courage and trust in God, we are called to walk with our children through their joys and struggles, their questions and growth.

As we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus this Easter, may we find renewed strength, peace, and joy in our own families. May we be signs of hope to our children, guiding them with love, and helping them see that even in difficult times, God is with us, and something beautiful is being made new.

Wishing all our families a blessed Holy Week and a joyful Easter.

ANZAC Day 2025: Primary Schools Essay Competition

Topic: Remembering Gallipoli: 110 Years

GENRE: Prose or Poetry

LENGTH: 200 words 

An RSL committee will judge the winning entries from each school and select the best of the winning entries for special recognition, the author will be invited to read their entry on at the ANZAC Day service.

The RSL would appreciate no references to gory details.

We want emphasis to be on remembrance, hardship and mateship.

Please email your entries to philip.crosby@lism.catholic.edu.au by Monday 14th April

Holy Week Remembrance Liturgy

We warmly invite you to join us for our Holy Week Remembrance Liturgy this Thursday at 10:15am in McCarthy Hall. Kindy and Year 6 students will each lead a song. Representatives from each class will narrate scenes from Holy Week, which will be brought to life through a special performance by Year 6.

On Friday Henry Buchanan, Orlando Speidel and Ava O’Bryan attend the Diocesan Sports Trials for Soccer in Grafton. Each student played really well on a scorching hot day in Grafton.
Henry Buchanan was successful in the trials, making the Polding Team to attend Bathurst early in Term 2. Congratulations Henry!
Enid Murgha is attending the Rugby League Trials in Grafton this Friday. Good Luck Enid.

Please remember to return books and readers to the Library by Thursday this week! Students are welcomed to borrow for holiday reading however must have all currently borrowed books returned first. Thank you.

TALENT TIME

During Term 1 Talent Time, students demonstrated a vibrant display of creativity and skills ranging from piano, gymnastics, dancing, singing and drama. Students are having fun while fostering confidence and self expression. 

Join us in welcoming Toby Wilfred Gash (newborn baby brother for Sophia Y3 and Lara Y6).  Congratulations Clare, Ben, Lara and Sophia! 

Lent and Easter Masses & Solemn Liturgies

• Stations of the Cross—Tuesday 15 April - 5:30pm
• Holy Thursday Mass—Thursday 17 April - 5:30pm
• Good Friday - Passion Of The Lord—Friday 18 April - 3:00pm
• Easter Vigil—Saturday 19 April - 6:00pm
• Easter Sunday Mass—Sunday 20 April - 8:30am

School Holiday Fun

The Ballina Coast & Hinterland is bursting with fun these school holidays – from wild adventures to creative workshops, there’s always something fresh and exciting to keep the kids busy.

Make sure to visit the Ballina Tourism Teams What’s On calendar for your go-to for daily inspiration – packed with kid-friendly events and updated regularly with new activities. Check back often so you don’t miss a thing!

 Download the School Holiday Activity Sheet for a fridge-friendly version. The condensed activity sheet is perfect for planning and pinning up at home for an overview but make sure to check the calendar regularly for updates and new additions, plus booking links.

Get out there and make the most of what the Northern Rivers has to offer these school holidays – happy adventuring!