2025 Week 2 Term 4
- Principal Messages
- Assistant Principal - Mission
- Assistant Principal Teaching and Learning
- Photo Gallery
- All Saints' Day - Mass
- Parent Community Forum
- Dates - starting Monday 13 October 2025
- Year 7 - 2026 Transition to Secondary School
- Free Parent Webinar - Social Media Ban
- 2026 - School Student Travel
- Camp Australia
Assistant Principal Mission
It is with great pleasure that I announce the appointment of Sophie Anderson to the substantive role of Assistant Principal, Mission.
Following a rigorous recruitment process, Sophie was the successful candidate. We are thrilled to have Sophie continue in this leadership position, knowing she will continue to do a wonderful job in deepening our Mission and Values.
Please join me in offering Sophie a sincere congratulations on her well-deserved appointment!
Affirmations for Staff
I wish to express my deepest gratitude to our families for the affirmations and kind words shared with our Staff. Seeing our dedicated teachers read those messages, especially at the end of what was an exhausting Term for everyone, was truly a moving and rewarding moment.
We feel incredibly blessed as a school community to have such dedicated teachers and supportive parents. Thank you for creating the vibrant, caring atmosphere which allows our students and staff to truly shine!
Sonia Solares’ Fourth Year Assistant Principal Appraisal
Ms Solares undertook her appraisal late last Term. Sonia commands the trust and respect of the entire community, consistently modelling professionalism, integrity, and faith-based compassion. Sonia champions high expectations, drives collaborative growth through initiatives such as Peer Observations, and fosters a safe environment where Staff feel heard. Her appraisal affirms her exceptional competence and commitment to continuous development, making a profound and lasting impact on St Joseph's Primary.
Class Placements - 2026
As a Staff, we give significant time and consideration to your child’s class placement each year. We look at the academic, social and emotional needs of all the children within our school and work on creating the most positive class groupings. This will ensure that each child will transition well into their new class and flourish throughout the 2026 school year.
If you believe that teachers need to consider a specific factor for your child to be a successful learner, please submit a written response to the Principal by Monday 4 November 2025. You can email: nigel.toole@lism.catholic.edu.au
Please understand that requests from previous years will not be referred to, and only written responses received by Monday 4 November 2025 will be considered.
Prayers for the Redman Family
We extend our deepest sympathies to the Redman family, Nicholas (S3 Bago) and Luke (Y2 Lasiandra) following the loss of their grandfather, Allan Redman. We are holding the entire family in our hearts as they navigate this loss.
Socktober Success: We Kicked Goals for Charity!
What a terrific week! Our Socktober fundraiser has wrapped up, and we are thrilled to announce the results of our mission to help those in need.
Thank You!
Thanks to the incredible support of our families—especially on Crazy Sock Day—we raised a grand total of $246!
Every dollar raised is a practical act of Christian charity. Our students also connected this mission to their faith, learning about Catholic Mission in class, Socker shoot outs and making "sock balls" to symbolise solidarity with children around the world.
Thank you for helping us teach our children the true joy of service and compassion!
A Special Blessing for Our Future Leaders
This weekend's Mass & Children's Liturgy is dedicated to our Year 5 students, as we welcome and bless them in their role as emerging leaders for 2026.
All families are welcome to share in this celebration of faith and community.
Following Mass, please join us for pizza on the Church veranda and an opportunity to meet and chat with Father Anselm.
Term 4 - Diagnostic Assessments
This Term, our school is undertaking academic assessments to measure and track student progress. These assessments (or similar) are being undertaken by all schools across the Diocese.
Students from Year 2 to Year 6 will complete the full suite of Progressive Achievement Tests (PAT) in four key strands: Maths, Reading, Grammar & Punctuation, and Spelling. Students in Year 1 will focus on the foundational areas of PAT Reading and PAT Maths.
Additionally, every student from Kindergarten to Year 6 will complete the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) assessment for reading, as well as the 'Whole School Write' on a common topic, which is marked using the NAPLAN writing criteria.
The data gathered from these assessments is essential. It provides staff with objective evidence to measure student growth or highlight specific areas of need after a year of focussed learning. This information is vital for tracking student development across their entire primary schooling; directly informs our targeted teaching practice; and forms a key evidence base for the 2026 School Annual Improvement Plan.
As a school, we are committed to using this data to ensure every child has the best opportunity to excel in their learning.
Socktober - Soccer Game
Kindergarten - Religion lessons
What God created and what is man made
PSSA Athletics Carvial - Sydney
Congratulations - Owen came 2nd in both 100m and 200m heats.
Class Representatives - Term 4
Have Your Say: Add an Item to the PCF Meeting Agenda
The St Joseph's Parent Community Forum (PCF) values the input and partnership of our entire parent community. Your ideas, questions, and feedback are essential for helping us support our students and school.
To ensure our meetings are productive, focused, and address the topics most important to you, we invite parents and carers to formally submit items for consideration on the meeting agenda.
Using the form below helps our PCF Executive and the School Leadership Team in several ways:
- It allows us to fully understand your idea or concern beforehand.
- It provides time for any necessary research or to gather information from staff.
- It helps us allocate the appropriate amount of time for a meaningful discussion.
Please complete the form with as much detail as possible. Submissions must be received at least one week prior to the scheduled meeting to be considered for the upcoming agenda.
This forum is for submitting ideas, suggestions, or inquiry questions for future agenda items. It is not a forum for airing complaints or grievances
We look forward to hearing your valuable contributions!
Add an Item to the PCF Meeting Agenda
Help Shape Our Learning Experiences!
At Joseph's Primary School Wauchope, we believe that learning happens everywhere, not just in the classroom. Excursions (off-site visits) and Incursions (on-site presenters) are fantastic ways to bring the curriculum to life.
We know our parent community is a rich source of ideas and connections. We invite you to share your suggestions for exciting and educational experiences for our students. Whether you know a great local place to visit, an expert who could visit us, or have a connection that could help, we'd love to hear from you!
Please use the form below to submit your ideas. Your input helps us create memorable and meaningful learning opportunities for every child.
Excursion & Incursion Suggestion Form
Share Your Skills, Shape Our Future
Here at St Joseph's Primary School Wauchope, we believe one of our greatest resources is you – our incredible community of parents, guardians, and neighbours. We know our community is bursting with diverse skills, hidden talents, and real-world experience, and we would love to bring that wisdom into our school.
Do you have a passion or a professional skill you'd be willing to share at our school? It could be anything!
- Creative Arts: Painting, graphic design, playing an instrument, and photography.
- Practical Skills: Gardening, cooking, sewing, woodworking, coding.
- Professional Life: Public speaking, budgeting, running a small business, and first aid.
- Cultural Knowledge: Speaking another language, sharing cultural traditions or stories.
Sharing your skills could be as simple as a 20-minute talk to a class, running a small group workshop, or helping with a specific school project. Your involvement, no matter how big or small, provides our students with invaluable real-world learning and strengthens the bond between our school and our community.
Ready to share?
Please take a moment to complete our short online form to let us know what skills you might be willing to share. This isn't a firm commitment, but rather a "skills bank" we can draw upon when opportunities arise.
To complete the form, click here
Year 6 Graduation Cake
Each year, our Parent Community Forum (PCF) kindly organises and donates the Year 6 Graduation cake.
This year, the PCF is looking to see if any parent or carer would like to volunteer to make the cake, helping to create a special centrepiece that our students will remember for years to come.
The PCF will assist with the cost of the ingredients.
If you have a passion for baking and are able to help, please contact the school Office on (02) 6585 1745.
Upcoming Dates
Added * Wednesday 12 November 2025 - 9.45 am - 1.30 pm
Yr - 6 Parish Schools Transition Gathering & Mass
* Thursday 20 November 2025
Stage 2 - SPARK Arts Festival - Glasshouse
Term 4
Term 4 Week 3 |
|
| Monday, October 27, 2025 | Zone Summer Sports - Basketball.pdf |
| Monday, October 27, 2025 | Zone_Summer_Sports_Cricket.pdf |
| Monday, October 27, 2025 | Zone_Summer_Sports_Touch_Football.pdf |
| Wednesday, October 29, 2025 | 2026 Transition Information Pre Lit |
| Friday, October 31, 2025 | Mini Market |
Term 4 Week 4 |
|
| Wednesday, November 5, 2025 | 2026 Pre Lit |
| Friday, November 7, 2025 | Whole School Assembly - Stage 1 Hosting |
Term 4 Week 5 |
|
| Monday, November 10, 2025 | Year 5 Leadership Interviews begin |
| Tuesday, November 11, 2025 | Remembrance Day Service |
| Wednesday, November 12, 2025 | 2026 Pre Lit |
| Wednesday, November 12, 2025 | Yr - 6 Parish Schools Transition Gathering & Mass 9.45 am - 1.30 pm |
| Friday, November 14, 2025 | Lemonade Day |
Term 4 Week 6 |
|
| Monday, November 17, 2025 | Year 5 Leadership Interviews continue |
| Wednesday, November 19, 2025 | Pre Lit |
| Thursday, November 20, 2025 | Parent Community Forum Meeting 6 PM |
| Thursday, November 20, 2025 | Stage -2 SPARK Arts Festival - Glasshouse |
| Friday, November 21, 2025 | Year 6 Regional Orientation Day |
| Sunday, November 23, 2025 | Children's Liturgy - Christ the King |
Term 4 Week 7 |
|
| Monday, November 24, 2025 | School Captain 2026 Speeches |
| Tuesday, November 25, 2025 | Dio Summer Sports- Basketball/Tennis - Lismore (Back Up - 2/12) |
| Wednesday, November 26, 2025 | Ministry Leaders 2026 Speeches |
| Wednesday, November 26, 2025 | 2026 Pre Lit |
| Thursday, November 27, 2025 | Dio Summer Sports - Touch - Lismore (Back Up - 4/12) |
| Friday, November 28, 2025 | Dio Summer Sports - Cricket/Softball - Lismore (Back Up - 5/12) |
| Friday, November 28, 2025 | Whole School Assembly - Kinder Hosting |
Term 4 Week 8 |
|
| Wednesday, December 3, 2025 | House Captain 2026 Speeches |
| Wednesday, December 3, 2025 | 2026 Pre Lit |
| Wednesday, December 3, 2025 | Kindergarten Graduation Assembly |
Term 4 Week 9 |
|
| Tuesday, December 9, 2025 | Joey's Juniors Session 1 (Group A)& (Group B) |
| Tuesday, December 9, 2025 | Kinder 2026 Parent Session 1 (Group A) & (Group B) |
| Wednesday, December 10, 2025 | Swimming Carnival |
| Wednesday, December 10, 2025 | Joey's Juniors - All Students |
| Friday, December 12, 2025 | End of Year Mass Friday 12 |
| Friday, December 12, 2025 | Reports go home |
Term 4 Week 10 |
|
| Monday, December 15, 2025 | Year 6 Fun Day |
| Tuesday, December 16, 2025 | Graduation Mass Tuesday 16 December 2026 5:30 pm |
| Tuesday, December 16, 2025 | Step Up Day |
| Wednesday, December 17, 2025 | Whole School Reward Day |
| Wednesday, December 17, 2025 | Last Day of Term 4 |
| Thursday, December 18, 2025 | Staff Professional Development |
| Friday, December 19, 2025 | Staff Professional Development |
2026 Term Dates
Term 1
Year 1 - Year 6
Monday, 2 February to Thursday, 2 April
Kindergarten
Tuesday, 3 February to Thursday, 2 April
Term 2
Kindergarten - Year 6
Monday, 20 April to Friday, 3 July
Term 3
Kindergarten - Year 6
Monday, 20 July to Friday, 25 September
Term 4
Kindergarten - Year 6
Monday, 12 October to Thursday, 17 December
Please note these dates do not include Staff Development Days (Pupil Free Days). These will be communicated ASAP.
Free Parent Webinar: Logged Off - Navigating the Social Media Ban with Your Child
Join this free webinar by Jocelyn Brewer, psychologist and cyber educator, which will help You parents/guardians to:
- Understand why the Social Media ban has been introduced and what platforms are included/exempt.
- Explore privacy issues and age verification technology.
- Plan with teens how to back up digital memories, audit current use, and manage alternatives.
- Anticipate unintended consequences, such as circumvention, isolation, or reliance on riskier platforms.
- Build family technology agreements and digital resilience that extend beyond social media.
Getting to school by bus in 2026
Bus passes
- All students catching the bus in 2026 will need a school travel pass.
- Under the School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS), eligible students can apply for free or subsided travel between home and school.
- For more information about the School Student Transport Scheme and how to apply for a school travel pass, visit https://apps.transport.nsw.
gov.au/ssts/#/ from a desktop computer.
Bus timetables
- Go to busways.com.au/nsw
- Click on ‘school services’ in the navigation bar and then proceed to ‘school timetables’
- Enter the school’s name in the field that says ‘enter a school name’
- Select the school’s name and the timetable should open on your device. If you are unable to find or search for the school’s name, use the drop-down menus on the same web page to find the school.
- Once the timetable is opened, you will be able to identify which school bus services are available in your area for your child to use.