2025-05 Newsletter - Term 1 Week 10

Principals Report

As we come to the end of another productive term, I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all members of our school community.

Thank you to our parents and carers for your ongoing support of our school activities and events—it is truly appreciated. I also commend our students for their hard work, enthusiasm, and positive attitude throughout the term. To our dedicated staff, thank you for your tireless efforts and commitment to providing a nurturing and engaging learning environment.

A special thank you to the students who contributed to the marketing filming last Friday. It was a wonderful experience for them to witness and be part of the making of a video to promote our small but vibrant school.

We are also very grateful to Fr Reynold for his spiritual guidance and the time he has spent with our staff and students this term. His presence and support continue to be a blessing to our school community.

As we look ahead to Term 2, I remind families of the importance of ANZAC Day and the opportunity for our school to march in remembrance as part of the local community. It is a meaningful occasion to honour the service and sacrifice of our ANZACs, and we encourage our students to take part proudly.

Early next term, families will also receive School Improvement Surveys. These surveys are an important tool that allows parents to have a voice in shaping the future direction of our school. Your feedback is greatly valued and appreciated.

As we enter Holy Week, I pray that it is a time of peace, reflection, and spiritual renewal for you and your families. May the joy of the Risen Christ fill your hearts this Easter.

Wishing you all a safe and restful break. We look forward to welcoming everyone back for Term 2.

In faith & truth,

Simone Taylor

Principal

Reflection - Holy Week

Holy Week is a very special and important time for Catholics. It is the week before Easter, when we remember the last days of Jesus’ life and all the love he showed us.

We begin with Palm Sunday, when Jesus rode into Jerusalem and people waved palm branches to welcome him like a king.

On Holy Thursday, we remember the Last Supper. This was the special meal Jesus shared with his friends, where he gave us the gift of the Eucharist and showed us how to serve others by washing their feet.

Good Friday is a quiet and serious day. We think about how Jesus died on the cross for us. Even though it is a sad day, we remember that Jesus did this because he loves us very much.

Then comes Easter Sunday—a joyful day when we celebrate that Jesus is alive! His Resurrection gives us hope, joy, and the promise of new life.

Holy Week helps us to stop and think about how we can follow Jesus by showing love, kindness, and forgiveness in our own lives.

We wish all our families a peaceful Holy Week and a joyful Easter.

Holy Week Prayer – Jubilee Year of Hope

Loving God,

As we walk with Jesus through this Holy Week,
help us to remember his love, his courage, and his sacrifice.
May we open our hearts to the message of the Cross
and find hope in the promise of the Resurrection.

In this Jubilee Year of Hope,
fill our school community with your peace and light.
Help us to be people of hope—
sharing kindness, forgiveness, and joy with everyone we meet.

May the story of Holy Week remind us
that even in sadness, your love leads to new life.
May we always trust in your goodness,
and carry the light of the Risen Jesus in our hearts.

We make this prayer through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Easter Mass/Event Times

St Joseph's Day Walkathon

Last Wednesday, our school community came together to enjoy the rescheduled St Joseph’s Day Walkathon—a joyful and meaningful celebration of our patron saint, bringing students, staff, families, and local supporters together in a wonderful spirit of community and faith.

Originally planned for March 21st, the Walkathon was postponed due to weather, but our students from Kindergarten to Year 6 embraced the day with energy and enthusiasm, proudly walking through our surrounding landscape. The event was a fantastic way to honour the values of St Joseph—perseverance, humility, and quiet service—while enjoying time together outdoors.

After the walk, it was a wonderful time playing on Saville Park and the children’s playground, followed by a tabloid sports afternoon orgainsed by Mrs Bettison and held in memory of our much-loved former parish priest and well-known Portland identity, Monsignor John ‘Grassy’ Grannall. The afternoon was filled with laughter, teamwork, and community spirit—a beautiful tribute to someone who gave so much to our parish and school.

A heartfelt thank you to all the parents and grandparents who generously helped with the damper morning tea and BBQ lunch. Your time, care, and delicious cooking made the day even more special for our students and staff.

We also gratefully acknowledge the support of:

• Brooke Whitelock
• The Portland Foundations
• Martin O’Connell
• Rich Evans
• Mr Gardiner
• Andrew from ANT Fitness
• Angela Green
• The Portland Touch Football Association
• Lithgow Council

Thank you for your generosity in assisting with facilities and access for 2025. It was wonderful to use our new BBQ area and once again have access to The Foundations site, which provided a beautiful and spacious setting for this much-loved event.

A special thanks as well to our dedicated staff and volunteers who ensured the day was safe, well-organised, and full of joy. Congratulations to all students on their beautiful behaviour and efforts throughout the day.

As we walk in the footsteps of St Joseph, we continue to be inspired by the strength and unity of our school and local community.

2025 St Joseph's Walkathon

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Mudgee Netball Gala Day

Last Friday, our girls took part in the Mudgee Netball Gala Day and did an absolutely amazing job! They played a total of eight friendly games, showing incredible teamwork, strong defence, and great determination to move the ball down the court.

While no official scores were kept, the girls' effort, teamwork, and sportsmanship stood out all day. It was wonderful to see their confidence grow with each game and to watch them give it their all every time they stepped onto the court.

A huge thank you to the parents who provided transport and cheered us on, to Brooke for helping with training on Mondays, and to St Matthew’s, Mudgee, for hosting such a fantastic event. Our girls always look forward to this day – and they certainly did us proud!

We are also excited to participate in Lithgow’s Netball Gala Day in Week 1 of next term. Go Joey’s!

Mrs Bettison

Cross Country

Yesterday we had the perfect conditions for our 2025 Cross Country event. Everyone gave their best effort and supported each other with great spirit and enthusiasm.

A big thank you to Mrs Bettison for her excellent organisation of the day, and to all the parents who came along—not just to cheer on their own children, but to encourage every student. This sense of community is one of the truly special things about St Joseph’s.

There are lots of great photos on the St Joseph's Facebook page.

2025 Cross Country

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Catholic Schools Week 2025

As part of Catholic Schools Week 2025, we are excited to share our itinerary of events that celebrate our identity as a Catholic school. Throughout the week, students and the wider community will have the opportunity to come together celebrating everything that makes our school a special place to grow, connect, and belong.

Bathurst Diocese Winter Sports Trials

A huge congratulations to Lexie (soccer) and Blair (league) for their outstanding attitude and sportsmanship while representing St Joseph’s Primary Portland at the Bathurst Diocese Winter Sports Trials. Their dedication, perseverance, and positive spirit truly showcased the values of our school. Lexie and Blair demonstrated great teamwork and determination, making us all proud. Well done on being such fantastic ambassadors for our school community!

Student Wellbeing Program

ANZAC DAY 2025

We warmly invite our students and families to join St Joseph’s School in honouring the service and sacrifice of Australian men and women by participating in the Portland ANZAC Day Community March and Commemorative Service on Friday, 25 April 2025.

This is a meaningful opportunity for our students to represent our school and pay their respects as part of the Portland community.

Details for the day are as follows:

Assembly Time: 10:15am                     March Time : 10:30am ( please note earlier time)
Assembly Point: Corner of Villers and Wolgan Street Portland – PLEASE NOTE CHANGE in assembly point in 2025 - See Map
March Commences: 10:00am sharp
Uniform: Full school summer uniform, including school hats and black school shoes.

We encourage as many students as possible to attend and proudly represent St Joseph’s School. Staff will be present to walk with students and supervise them throughout the march.

Let us continue to honour the ANZAC spirit with pride, respect, and gratitude.

“Lest We Forget.”

Farewell Graeme Steer

Farewell and Thank You – Mr Graeme Steer

We would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank Mr Graeme Steer, our much-valued cleaner and groundsman, for his dedicated service and ongoing support of our school community.

Graeme has been a constant presence at St Joseph’s, always ensuring our grounds and facilities are well cared for, and we are truly grateful for his hard work, reliability, and the pride he has taken in his role.

As he finishes up his time with us on Friday, we extend our heartfelt thanks and wish Graeme all the very best for the future. He will be greatly missed by staff, students, and families alike.

Thank you, Graeme!

Easter Festival

Healthy Harold - Life Education Van

We have had our annual visit from the Life Education Van, bringing along the beloved Healthy Harold and our fantastic presenter, Maree. As always, the children had lots of fun in the van, but more importantly, they gained valuable knowledge about making healthy choices. Through engaging activities and discussions, they learned about nutrition, personal safety, friendship, and the importance of looking after their physical and mental well-being.

Catholic Education Benefits All Australia

Catholic schools are Australia’s largest non-government education provider, offering families choice, affordability, and high-quality education. As the federal election approaches, parents may be interested in learning more about how school funding works and the impact of government policies on Catholic education. The National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC) has provided a helpful short video that explains school funding in a clear and simple way. To watch the video and find more information, visit https://ncec.catholic.edu.au/2025-federal-election/.

Student Wellbeing

Community Information

Glen Museum - Charlie Pinch's 50th Anniversary Party