Week 8, Term 1 2025

The Term is well underway as our school is a hive of activity. Our students have now familiarised themselves with their new classrooms, making connections with their peers and building relationship with their educators. A highlight was our St Joseph’s Day celebration Mass where we announced our Student Leaders for 2025. It was lovely to see so many parents and special friends join us for the uplifting celebration. Our students’ voices singing the beautiful hymns was a real highlight.

St Joseph’s Day

St Joseph’s Day was a joyous celebration of faith, leadership and togetherness for our school community. The day began with a beautiful whole-school Mass at Norwood Parish, led by Father Chris Jenkins, where we reflected on the values of St Joseph. A special moment was the presentation of Bibles to our Year 3 students, marking an important step in their faith journey. We also proudly announced our 2025 School Captains and Leaders, recognizing their commitment to guiding our school. Following this, students enjoyed engaging buddy activities that fostered connection across year levels before gathering for a delicious sausage sizzle lunch, generously provided by our Parents and Friends Committee. The celebrations ended with an afternoon of fun and friendship at the Norwood Pool, making it a memorable day for all!

2025 Year 6 Captains and Leaders

This week we announced our Year 6 2025 Shool Captains and Sports, Library, Environmental, Technology and Social Justice Leaders. As a community, we would like to congratulate each student on their appointment to leadership and look forward to the positive impact they will have on our school this year.

Year 5/6 Camp

This week, our Year 5/6 students embarked on an unforgettable outdoor education camp at Willow Creek, where they embraced challenges, developed key life skills, and strengthened friendships through a range of exciting activities. This camp was designed to enhance team building, collaboration, problem-solving and decision-making skills—all while having plenty of fun!

The adventure began with kayaking at Myponga where students paddled across the water, learning both technique and teamwork. Raft making put their creativity and problem-solving to the test as they worked together to construct floating vessels—some more successful than others, but all resulting in laughter and learning. Kart making and testing followed a similar theme, requiring collaboration and ingenuity to build and race their handmade vehicles.

Throughout the camp, students participated in group dynamics team challenges, fostering resilience, communication, and cooperation. A highlight for many was the surfing lessons, where students braved the waves, cheered each other on, and celebrated their successes (even if that meant simply standing up for a few seconds!). The camp concluded with a spirited Beach Olympics, where friendly competition and sportsmanship shone as students took on a variety of beach-based activities.

It was inspiring to see our students step outside their comfort zones, encourage one another, and develop valuable life skills. A huge thank you to our dedicated staff and volunteers who made this experience possible. The memories and lessons from Willow Creek will stay with our students for years to come!

NAPLAN

Over the past two weeks the students in Year 3 and 5 have completed the NAPLAN Literacy and Numeracy assessments. I would like to commend the teachers and students for their studious approach to these tasks to showcase their learning progress and development.

Reception Writing using Playberry Laser Literacy Approach

As part of the explicit instruction during the daily literacy blocks, the Reception students have enjoyed using mini-whiteboards and markers to practise their effective writing skills. Each student has been able to successfully develop their letter and work formations, blends and spacing.

New Preschool Playspace

The Preschool students have been enjoying the newly constructed outdoor playspace to undertake a range of fun activities to develop their balance, gross motor coordination and teamwork skills and abilities.

Ready for Reception Library Time

Our Ready For Reception students have been enjoying learning about our school Library to support their preparation for starting school. Our Librarian, Mrs Moore, has been reading the children a range of books to help spark their curiosity and love for reading.

Respect Our Student Road Monitors – Keeping Everyone Safe
Our student road monitors play an important role in keeping our school community safe. They have been trained by SAPOL and are committed to ensuring a smooth and secure crossing for everyone. We kindly ask for your patience and understanding when approaching and using the crossings.

Thanks,

Adam Slater

Principal

This week, we celebrated the Feast of St Joseph. St Joseph was the husband of Mary and the foster father of Jesus.  He was a carpenter, a man of faith and obedient to whatever God asked of him.  Although not the father of Jesus, he responded to God’s call to care for Jesus as his own when an Angel appeared to him in a dream. 

St Joseph was very important to St Mary ‘of the Cross’ MacKillop.  The name of the Religious Order that she founded with Fr. Julian Woods was the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart.  These women who followed God’s call and joined St. Mary MacKillop in her work and continue to do so today are known as the Josephite Sisters.   

St Joseph is the patron of the Universal Church, fathers, carpenters, and social justice. 

Saint Joseph, patron of the Universal Church,  

Watch over the Church as carefully as you watched over Jesus,  

Help protect it and guide it as you did with your adopted son. Amen 

St Joseph’s Day Thanks 

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the P&F Team, Parents and Caregivers who helped us celebrate St Joseph’s Day this year. Without your support, we would not have been able to provide these activities for the students.  

Lent 2025

In the second week of Lent, we may ask ourselves what we can do to make a difference in our lives and the lives of others. We know that Lent is a time of prayer, fasting and works of love. We are encouraged to refrain from something of an enjoyable nature.  

• In an article I read recently, they had the following suggestions for a Lenten fast. You may consider some of the ideas below as we continue our journey through Lent.  
• Focus on gratitude - give up complaining.  
• Become an optimist - give up pessimism.  
• Think kindly thoughts - give up harsh judgments. 
• Trust Divine Providence - give up worry.  
• Be full of hope - give up discouragement.  
• Turn to forgiveness - give up bitterness.  
• Return good for evil - give up hatred. 
• Be positive - give up negativism.  
• Be more patient - give up anger.  
• Become mature - give up pettiness.  
• Enjoy the beauty that is all around you - give up gloom.  
• Pray for Trust - give up jealousy.  
• Control your tongue - give up gossiping. 
• Turn to virtue - give up sin.  
• Hang in there! - give up giving up.  

Lenten Dates @ St Ignatius Parish

We would like to inform you of the dates for Pupil Free Days (PFD) for this year. Please note that OSHC will be available for families that require this service on these days.

All Assemblies will be held in the Performing Arts Studio at William St on Friday afternoons at 2pm.

Students from Bridge Street will walk across to William Street to participate in Assemblies, face to face.

St Joseph's Memorial School provides a safe environment for all while valuing the partnership between school and home.

As a Catholic community, we welcome and value volunteers. To be able to volunteer, and/or attend at other times throughout the school year, we ask that you hold the following:

1. A current Catholic Police Check (parents/caregivers attending excursions, reading in class, helping in class, attending community events);
2. A current Responding to Abuse and Neglect in Education and Care for Volunteers certificate (please click here to view how to complete this requirement);
3. Completed the volunteers application.

A Catholic Police Check for volunteers at SJMS are free for our current parents and caregivers. Application Forms are available to download here or at either school office.

We ask that you present your completed form with verification ID to the front office, and we will submit the application on your behalf. You will then receive an email link to complete the process online. Once all cleared you will receive a Catholic Police Check ID card in the post, please bring this in to the front office and we will take a copy of your clearance.

This process ensures we maintain a child safe environment. To avoid disappointment, we encourage you to apply for a Catholic Police Check through either school office as soon as possible.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at either office.

Thanking you
The SJMS Admin Team
info@sjms.catholic.edu.au

For more information on how Catholic Education SA provides a safe environment for all, please click here.

Summary of what is needed to volunteer at SJMS:
Valid Catholic Police Check
Responding to Abuse and Neglect Education and Care Volunteer Certificate
Completed application form

Come see our Preschool in action, contact us for a tour or enrolment information.