As Semester 1 comes to a close, I wish to extend my sincere appreciation to parents/carers for your continued support and partnership in your child's education. There have been many opportunities already this year where we have seen record parent engagement:

• Tell Them From Me Survey - 192 families
• Year 10 Subject Selection Evening - 90 families
• Year 9 Elective Information Evening - 101 families
• Year 7-10 Parent Teacher Interviews - 1350+ bookings

I wrote in the last newsletter about parents in partnership and the positive impact this can have on your child's education. Parent engagement in the high school years can lead to positive outcomes such as more enjoyment of school, better academic outcomes and a higher percentage of students going on to tertiary education.

School Bell Times / Bus Changes

By way of an update, I can advise that a further round of consultation has been completed.

• Transport for NSW consultation in the rural and regional contract regions has been completed, nil major issues raised;
• St Paul’s and any other major service gaps have been reviewed and;
• Final schedules will be prepared by the Operators

Transport for NSW has advised that the change WILL NOT be in place for the start of Term 3. Once I have received the official start date from Transport for NSW and the new Bus Operator schedules, I will communicate this with the St Joseph’s community in writing.

Years 7 - 10 Semester 1 Reports

Years 7 - 10 students received their Semester 1 Reports this week via Compass. These reports provide a detailed overview of their learning gains. Every student has areas for improvement, which are highlighted in their reports. We encourage you to discuss these areas with your child during the break, helping them to reflect on their progress and prepare for the term ahead.

Year 12 Final Term Plan

Year 12 students will embark on their final term of school when they return in Term 3. I would like to take this opportunity to wish Year 12 students the best as they prepare for their Trial HSC Examinations and many students are in the process of completing Major Works for a number of courses. I wrote to Year 12 families this week and provided them with a comprehensive outline of the key events for Term 3. If you have not had a chance to view this letter on Compass, it can be found here.

Change to Senior School in 2025

As part of our ongoing efforts to enhance the educational experience at St Joseph’s Catholic High School, we surveyed students, parents and staff to explore transitioning Year 10 students into the Senior School and have them wear the senior uniform from 2025.

The results of the student, parent and staff survey were overwhelmingly in favour of making this change. This change will go ahead, meaning that the current Year 9 cohort will be wearing the senior uniform commencing Year 10 2025.  Moving forward our Junior School will be students in Years 7-9 and Senior School will be students in Years 10-12.

This transition to the Senior School for Year 10 students will provide them with a smoother and more gradual progression into their final years of schooling. We already align our Year 10 students with the senior curriculum through our HSC Pathways program. Additionally, wearing the senior uniform fosters a sense of belonging and pride among our students, encouraging them to take ownership of their academic journey and engage more actively in school life.

Some key benefits of this change are:

• Integration with HSC Pathways Course: Year 10 students have the option to study a HSC Pathways course, which places them in the same class as senior students. This integration means that some Year 10 students are in classes with Year 11 students but are wearing different uniforms but striving for the same goals.  This change will see all Pathways classes wearing the same uniform.
• Uniform Replacement Timing: Parents tell us that students typically require replacement uniform items late in Year 9. By transitioning to the senior uniform in Year 10, we can streamline uniform purchases and reduce costs for parents by extending the lifespan of uniform items.
• Preparation for Senior Leadership: By aligning Year 10 students with the Senior School environment, we aim to prepare them to take on leadership roles within the school community. This includes opportunities to develop leadership skills, participate in senior-level activities, and serve as role models for younger students.

This change will impact our current Year 9 students and their parents/carers. The Uniform Shop has been made aware of this change so that extra stock can be ordered.

Privacy Policy - Update

Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong’s (CEDoW) Standard Collection Notice for parents and students has been updated. This notice explains how CEDoW handles the personal information of students and parents, and replaces the notice previously provided to you in our enrolment package. You can access the updated notice by visiting our website.

Thank you to our Staff

I want to acknowledge the work of our dedicated teachers and support staff who have worked tirelessly to provide quality education and support, and we are grateful for their ongoing commitment to the St Joseph’s Community.

As we move into the holidays, this is an opportunity for students to relax, rejuvenate, and prepare for Term 3. Thank you once again for your partnership and trust in our school community.

Chris Shelton

Acting Principal