Term Two - Week Three
Our Vision and Mission
Vision Statement
With Jesus Christ as their role model, all children can and will achieve.
Mission Statement
Inspired by Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop and in partnership with parents, our Parish and the wider community, we aim to impart a holistic education on all children in our school. We endeavour to live by the values of our school motto.
Learning, Understanding and Peace.
St Joseph’s is distinguished by a great sense of belonging, where each person is valued and where learning is enjoyable.
Prayer of the day
Acts 13:26-33. You are my Son; this day I have begotten you – Ps 2:6-11. John 14:1-6.
God loves our differences
Today’s Gospel is familiar. It is a favourite for funerals. One thing that struck me as I read it again was the idea of the ‘many rooms’ in God’s house. I have always thought of it as meaning there is plenty of room for everyone, but today, although I did think of that, I also thought of the way it encapsulates room for difference. With many rooms in God’s house, we can each find a place that is right for us.
I don’t know what heaven is like; it’s not something that I spend hours (or any time really) wondering about. The details are not important, but this Gospel passage
just firms me in the belief that our God loves our differences and knows that for each of his creations, what constitutes heaven will be different. Our room in heaven will be different, but Jesus is preparing and getting it right for each of us.
SCHOOL NEWS
Christian Living Camp – Faith, Friendship & Fun
Our Year 6 students recently returned from an enriching two-day Christian Living Camp at Ridgecrest, where they joined peers from Molong, Eugowra, Yeoval, Canowindra, and Manildra for a truly memorable experience. Led by the inspiring Mr Chris Doyle, an experienced retreat facilitator, the camp was a vibrant mix of storytelling, music, dance, laughter, and spiritual reflection.
With a message grounded in love, purpose, and positivity, Chris encouraged students to live out their Catholic values and embrace who God calls them to be. Through engaging activities, heartfelt conversations, and his signature humour and songs, students explored what it means to live with integrity, kindness, and courage—always remembering that “God is love” and “You can do it!”
Throughout the camp, students formed new friendships, strengthened old ones, and discovered more about themselves and their faith. It was a time of joy, growth, and connection, and we couldn’t be prouder of the way our students represented our school with maturity, enthusiasm, and open hearts.
Stamp out Bullying
On Thursday morning we had a visitor, Alistair who brought his friends Croc and Chris to share with us about how to stamp out bullying. He gave us some strategies on how to stop bullying and how to help people who are being bullied.
They said we should:
1. Stay Away
2. Tell Someone
3. Always Help
4. Make Friends
5. Play Nicely
We learnt that these strategies are not always easy to follow so we need to be careful not to get upset and frightened and try to be confident and in control.
What did you love about the performance?
"I loved the crocodiles" Lily McKenzie
"When Alistair cut the balloon and then blew it up again" Ned Hawke
"It was really funny!" Clara Ellis
Year 2
CWA Speeches
On Tuesday morning, 13 students from Years 3–6 took to the floor to present their public speaking pieces. The whole school audience watched on, captivated by their thoughtful and engaging presentations.
We were so impressed by the content each student chose to share, along with their use of gesture, expression, and audience engagement. One student from each year group was then selected to represent our school at the upcoming CWA Public Speaking Competition in Week 5.
Congratulations to:
Archie Sullivan – Year 3
Riley Elliott – Year 4
Gil Dowling – Year 5
Bryson Elliott – Year 6
We look forward to hearing how these students go in the next round. A note has been sent home with further details about the event.
Casual Teachers
We would like to introduce our fabulous casual teachers for 2025. Families please introduce yourselves when picking up children in an afternoon.
Pauline Dwyer
What is your favourite pizza topping? Vegetarian with jalapenos
How do you spend your free time? Audio books and renovations.
What do you love about working at St Josephs? A kind welcoming atmosphere.
Do you have any pets? Yes, camels, dogs, cats, horses, donkeys, chooks, ducks, peacocks, axolotl
What are your special gifts and talents? Music, story telling, chauffeur to my 6 children. (Actually the two eldest drive themselves)
Kate Collins
What is your favourite pizza topping? Seafood
How do you spend your free time? 3 boys!! Running them around is my free time.
What do you love about working at St Josephs? I love the fact that its a small school so i can get to know the students and how they learn. I also love the friendly and welcoming school environment.
Do you have any pets? 4 fish, 2 hermit crabs, 1 corgi dog (Who doesn't think he is a pet)
What are your gifts and talents? Music, speaking german.
Alex Magennis
What is your favourite pizza topping? Pepperoni.
How do you spend your free time? Meeting friends for coffee, exercising and taking the dog for a walk, gardening.
What do you love about working at St Josephs? Feeling welcomed, the children say hello and remember your name, the small community feeling. This is where i grew up. On a farm outside Molong.
Do you have any pets? One large 42 kg Ridgeback called Ruby and two cats (Storme and Luna) that are top dog.
What are your gifts and talents? Geez, how do you answer that!!! Ringing the lunch bell later than I should!!
Nicola Connors
What is your favourite pizza topping? Vegetarian with extra olives
How do you spend your free time? Hanging out with friends and family, watching movies or going to concerts.
What do you love about working at St Josephs?Everyone in the community is so welcoming.
Do you have any pets?No. Hope to have one very soon though……..
What are your gifts and talents? I love to play the violin
Jesse Fulwood
What is your favourite pizza topping?Margarita, or any wood fired pizza!
How do you spend your free time? With my family and friends, running and playing footy!
What do you love about working at St Josephs?The students are all such curious and involved learners, I also love that I have known a lot of them since they were little. They have transitioned from Miss Jess to Miss Fulwood so well. The staff are so welcoming and supportive. It is such a beautiful school community to be part of!
Do you have any pets? Three large dogs, Koda, Panda and Randal
What are your gifts and talents? I wouldn’t call it talent, but I do enjoy playing footy on the weekend.
We are so grateful for all these ladies we have at St Josephs and value their teaching and friendship. Please make them feel welcome at our school.
Anna Bowman
Assistant Principal
Craft Club
Craft club is still running at lunchtimes on Wednesdays (Infants) and Fridays (Primary) each week. I am looking for volunteers to come forward to help teach the students the skills involved in crafting: patience, problem solving, eye-hand coordination and building confidence in their creativity.
If you are interested in sharing your knowledge (or building your knowledge) in any of the following areas, please contact me on j.corben@bth.catholic.edu.au to let me know when you would be available to come along to help the children. If I know when I have helpers, then I can plan which activities to do more effectively. I require assistance between the times of 1:25 - 1:50pm on Wednesdays and Fridays.
All resources are provided at school - you just need to turn up!
Possible craft projects:
Scrapbooking
Knitting
Crochet
Sewing - hand sewing and machine
Screen printing
Jewellery making.
Any other suggestions are welcome!
With Thanks
Jennie Corben
School Fees & Attendance
School fee statements were sent home with the eldest child last week. If you have any concern or would like to discuss payment options, please contact the school Office.
Attendance notes were also sent home, please complete these and send back to school ASAP.
Healthy Harold
The Life Education Van will visit the school on the 27th & 28th May. If you wish to order something for your child, please see the flyer below for details.
Please note you can only order online and your must order before the 26th May. The school will not accept cash orders.
Student of the Week
ST JOEY'S COOKING CLUB
Cooking Club
This week our Cooking Club made Rock Cakes. Georgie B, Maisie, Bella B, Addie, Tilly, Mila. Liam, Olivia M, Max & Chevy all joined in to make the delicious biscuits that everyone enjoyed on Wednesday.
These are a great lunch box treat.
These weekly experiences not only teach valuable cooking skills but also highlight the importance of growing and using fresh, healthy produce along with helping make treats for their lunch box's and also we are finding a lot of the children are trying new things.
We’re proud of our budding chefs and look forward to more tasty creations each week!
Recipe is below.
Mrs Bowman and Mrs Reid
Cooking Club
SPORTS NEWS
Rugby Trials
Today Bryson Elliott, Peter Fletcher, and Guy Shannon attended Dio Rugby trials in Bathurst, all boys showed great sportsmanship.
We would like to congratulate Guy Shannon & Peter Fletcher on being selected to attend Polding Trials at a later date this term.
Athletics Carnival
On Monday we will hold our Annual Athletics Carnival.
Thank you to everyone who has offered to volunteer on the day, it is vital that all volunteers be at the carnival before 9:30am.
Please check your childs bag for the program. The volunteer roster is in it for those who may have forgot what event you are on.
The P&F are running a Meal Deal for lunch on the day.
Please make sure to place your child’s order—and any adult orders—by 9:00 AM Monday morning.
We need plenty of helpers on the day so if you have not yet volunteered and wish to please see a staff member on Monday morning.
We look forward to a great day.
FROM THE REC
Pope Leo XIV
We are excited to share the news that the Catholic Church has a new leader—Pope Leo XIV!
Pope Leo XIV, whose real name is Robert Francis Prevost, was born in Chicago, USA, and is the first American Pope in history. Before being elected as Pope, he served as a missionary and bishop in Peru, where he spent many years working closely with communities and sharing God’s love. More recently, he worked in the Vatican helping to guide the appointment of bishops across the world.
He was chosen by the College of Cardinals in a special meeting called a conclave, held in the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City. After prayerful consideration and secret voting, Pope Leo XIV was elected. As tradition goes, white smoke from the chapel's chimney signalled to the world that a new Pope had been chosen.
Pope Leo XIV has already called for peace in troubled parts of the world and has spoken with hope and warmth to young people, encouraging them to listen to God's call and share kindness wherever they go.
Let us keep Pope Leo XIV in our prayers as he begins this important role of leading the Catholic Church.
A Prayer for Pope Leo XIV
Loving God,
Thank you for our new Pope, Leo XIV.
Fill him with your wisdom, courage, and compassion.
Help him to lead with kindness and serve with joy.
May he guide us all closer to You.
Amen.
Catholic Schools Week
This week our school community has been celebrating Catholic SchoolsWeek. The theme for this year’s celebrations is: Guided by Faith. Inspired by Hope, Committed to Learning. Throughout the week students have had the opportunity to explore this theme by participating in activities in class and attending Mass. Catholic Schools Week is about strengthening relationships between all those who make our school the wonderful community that it is – students, staff, families, priests, parishioners, and members of the wider community. Families are warmly invited to embrace this week as an opportunity to also recognise and celebrate the Catholic faith in your own home. This can be done in small ways, by asking your child about their participation in the Catholic Schools Week activities at school, praying before meals or before bed throughout the week or attending Mass on Sunday as a family. Our school has a supportive community of teachers, parents, carers, P&F, clergy, parishioners and support staff who work together to focus on giving students the best education possible, encouraging success, promoting discipline, supporting creativity and instilling compassion. As an entire school community, we would like to take this opportunity to thank you for all your support of St Joseph’s Primary School, Molong.
Kindergarten and Year 1 students completed a craft activity featuring the Pope, adding words that reflect his values and the mission he aims to achieve.
In Year 2, students completed an All About Me activity.
In Year 3, students placed our school name at the centre of a brainstorm and explored words that describe what makes our school special and a wonderful place to belong. They added these ideas to a bright, colourful artwork to showcase the wonderful school that is St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School!
In Year 4, students coloured in a flower garden, adding sentences into the image to best describe their personal experience of the school community.
In Years 5 and 6, students created a poster to demonstrate five important things they would want (one day) to teach their own child.
Date to remember:
- Sunday 15th June, 10am - Sacrament of Confirmation
- Sunday 22nd June, 10am - Sacrament of First holy Communion
Upcoming Masses:
- Wednesday, 21st May (Week 4): Primary Mass & Year 4-6 Reconciliation – 9:30 AM
- Wednesday, 28th May (Week 5): Infants Mass – 9:30 AM
Miss Taylah Woodhouse
Religious Education Coordinator
STUDENT WELLBEING
Wellness
I thought these top 21 things Maggie Dent learnt in her first 70- years of life were too good not to share.
- Life is precious.
- Laughter is the best medicine.
- Failure can be a great teacher.
- No-one is perfect – absolutely no-one.
- No-one can make me feel anything – I choose my feelings.
- What other people think about me is none of my business.
- Every choice you make has a consequence – some good, some not so good.
- Sunrise and sunset are moments to be savoured.
- My sister makes the best pavlova in the family.
- Cooking for those I love makes me happy.
- Nature is the best place to find truth and solace.
- Fairness and kindness starts within me.
- This too shall pass – hard things and beautiful things.
- Dreams do matter.
- You are never defined by your looks or your grades.
- Everyone matters – no matter what.
- Never delay moments of joy just in case your time on earth ends.
- Becoming a mother changed my life for the better.
- The answers to all my questions lie within me.
- Gratitude matters.
- Unconditional love is life’s greatest gift – to give and receive.
And with mothers day last weekend the beautiful letter Maggie wrote to her boys……
To my dear boys — my sons Michael, Ben, Alex and James.
Fate, destiny or the divine
blessed me with you
when your tiny bodies and bright souls
were placed into my care as your mother.
Such a responsibility I felt —
to nurture and care for you as you grew
from babyhood to boyhood
and finally to manhood.
I trembled so many times
as we came to a new door in your lives.
I held your hands and encouraged you
and then watched as you walked through alone.
A tiny piece of my heart would break
as you met each new change and challenge,
as you stepped further and further from me.
Every part of my being
wanted to keep you close so I could protect you
and keep you safe, and to shield you
from the world’s pains and heartaches.
But I know from deep in my heart
that you must walk your own journey in this life
to make your own choices
and to find your real self.
Always know that I love you
more than you can ever imagine.
I believe in each one of you and
I know that you will make our world a better place
because that is what you have been raised to know.
From the bottom of my heart
I thank you for choosing me to be your mother.
It is and always will be an incredible privilege and honour,
and the greatest gift I could ever receive.
All my love always and ever,
– Mum.
Enjoy your weekend
Anna Bowman
P & F / CANTEEN NEWS
Hello families and friends.
See below some information regarding upcoming Parents and Friends Events.
A reminder to all that you do not have to be a committee member to attend a P&F meeting. Everyone is welcome!
The meetings are a great chance to come together to hear about updates within the school community and work together to plan and achieve great things for the students and staff at the school.
- The P&F will be running a canteen at the Athletics Carnival. Ordering will be via Spriggy – don’t forget to order for your child / children AND yourself / any other attendees if you would like lunch on the day.
- If you are able to contribute a slice, cakes, treats for the athletics carnival this would be greatly appreciated. These are handed around to the volunteers at morning tea time with a tea or a coffee and are always greatly appreciated.
- Pie Drive orders are due on the 26th of May. If you need a copy of the form please contact the school office.
- Save the Date for our Street Stall on June 27th. We will be calling for volunteers to work on the day and for baking closer to the time.
- We are looking for used bikes in ‘ride-able’ condition for use at play time on the newly rolled bike track. Please contact the school office if you can help!
Lastly, the P&F would like to acknowledge the fabulous work of our teaching and support staff in what has been a very busy term already. There have been a lot of extra curricula activities this term (Cross Country, Athletics, CWA speeches, Camps, Spelling Bee, Mothers Day ….just to name a few) This takes a huge effort from the staff on top of their normal teaching and administrative workload. We are blessed with dedicated individuals who wish the best of for the students at school.
Thankyou to all our wonderful staff!
PIE DRIVE
The annual pie drive is here, get your orders in to stock up your freezer for winter. All money raised will supply extra resources for your children.
Orders are due back to school by Monday 26th May.
Delivery date for pies is Thursday 12th June.
COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD
NSW Parliamentary Education Parli-Flicks Short Film Award 2025. The Award is open to Year 5 to 12 students in NSW. Students create a one-minute short film on this year’s theme: What do I value about democracy?
Entries close 8 August 2025. Click the link below for more deatils.
