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- Principal Report
- Religious Education
- Year 5/6 Excursion
- Awards
- Pastoral Care
- Diocesan Public Speaking
- Rotation Activity
- Science Activities
- Shared Table
- Teddy Bear Hospital
- Message from the Gifted Education Mentor
- Upcoming Dates
- Spooky Disco 1st November 2025
- Gloucester Basketball school holidays
- Summer 6's Soccer
- Copeland Tops
- Gloucester Creatives
- Midcoast Council School community info.
Dear Parents and Carers
We have once again come to end of another busy term at St. Joseph's. Mrs Maslen is currently on Long Service Leave so I am writing this newsletter on her behalf. This term has be filled with range of activities which has made the term fly by. This term we have seen the students involved in formation experiences such as the Feast of Saint Mary MacKillop and weekly Masses. They have participated in Mini Vinnies Fundraising, Father's Day Breakfast, Script Writing for our new book 'Fire in the Tops', Bookweek, Year 5/6 Excursion, Public Speaking Competitions, Dio and Polding Athletics, Basketball for sport and Playgroup for the preschool and 2026 Kindy students. We also we welcomed new students and families to our school community.
We are extremely blessed to be in a school that all the students strive to reach their full potential. The students constantly follow our Vision Statement:
Last week also saw our school go through an Annual School Review. Around 20 CSO satff from all departments came to school to listen and witness how our school is delivering our Strategic Improvement Plan in the areas of Catholic Identity, Learning and Well Being. Mrs Maslen and myself spoke at length to the staff on where our school has come from, is at currently and what our future plans are for the school. The CSO staff were able to view the facilities of the school as well as see the incredible work that our teachers do in the class to give the students the best start as possible to their education. They also had the opprtunity to watch the students working in the classroom and to ask them what they liked about St. Joseph's and what changes they would like to see. It was a great opportunity to showcase the wonderful school that we have here in Gloucester.
I would like to share with you an article that was written by our Director of Catholic Schools Jaqueline Wilkinson about St. Joseph's Gloucester which was in a current newsletter sent to all staff in the Diocese.
Faith in Action: A School Community Living the Gospel
The annual school visit to St Joseph’s Gloucester this week showcased a vibrant and faith-filled Catholic community deeply committed to nurturing the whole child—spiritually, academically, and personally. At the core of the school’s mission is a Christ-centred education where Gospel values are not only taught but also actively demonstrated in classrooms, playgrounds, and staff interactions. This commitment is beautifully reflected in the development of the school’s new Vision and Mission Statement: 'To Learn, Grow, and Wonder,' which captures the essence of their educational and spiritual journey.
A strong emphasis on literacy and writing was evident throughout the visit. Students engaged in exciting opportunities to develop their creative and expressive skills, including a collaborative project with Anna Kerrigan, Education Officer from ASPIRE (Drama and Creative Arts), on a production based on their book Fire in the Tops, co-authored with Sami Bayly. This work is set to be released and shared with the community in Term 4. The school also welcomed author Therese Lloyd, who captivated students with stories from her books Arki and the Land of Light and Arki and the Cursed Caves, further enriching their love of literature. Teachers are using targeted rubrics and strategies to support students in becoming skilled and confident writers.
Strong partnerships with families and the parish were clearly evident, reflecting a genuine commitment to collaboration, mutual respect, and shared responsibility in the education of each child. It was a joy to witness a school that so clearly lives its Catholic identity and strives for excellence in all aspects of learning and community life. We take this opportunity to thank Amy Maslen, Adam McCann, and all the staff for welcoming us into their beautiful school.
On behalf of the staff I wish you all a safe and enjoyable holiday and look forward to the students returning back to school for Term 4 on Monday 13th October.
Yours sincerely,
Adam McCann
Catholic Identity
Throughout this term we have started to update our prayer spaces in the classrooms and around the school. Mrs Clare has been involved in a program run by the Religious Education and Spirituality Team called SEEDS. Mrs Clare has been given time to complete a project in the school to improve the Catholic Identity of the school. Her project has been involved in updating Religious icons and prayer spaces in the school. The following are some the updated prayer spaces that Mrs Clare has been working on throughout this term.








Our Catholic Guide
The Catholic Council of Schools Parents NSW/ACT has developed a guide, ‘Our Catholic Faith.’
This guide is intended for parents and carers and is an introduction to Catholicism, with easy-to-understand explanations of Catholic beliefs and traditions.



































K1 Awards | |
Amelia Butchers | for taking care and demonstrating patience when creating your artwork about Jesus' Baptism. |
Hazel Macgregor | for showing the gift of kindness to your friends at all times. |
Nihal Singh | for striving to challenge yourself in Maths. You demonstrate fabulous reasoning. |
2/3 Awards | |
Ava Wiencke | for showing incredible creativity in your writing! You listened carefully to feedback and used it to bump up your ideas. |
Evie Abraham | for always sharing ideas and contributing with enthusiasm. You are a wonderful addition to our class. |
Mabel McInnes | for your tremendous growth in decoding skills. Mabel, you have far surpassed your goal. Your hard work and dedication are truly paying off. |
4/5/6 Awards | |
Hamish Macgregor
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for showing great improvement in spelling
|
Harrison Fisher |
for demonstrating resilience and a positive attitude while settling into a new school, becoming a valued class member.
|
Principal's Awards | |
Chloe Baker | for always demonstrating compassion and respect to everyone in our school. |
Ishaan Charley Puthur | for the amazing improvement you have made in all areas of your learning. |








As we come to the end of another term, it is a good opportunity for us all to celebrate the wonderful pastoral spirit within our school community. People here really do “look out” for each other and support each other through the ups and downs of school life. I see regular interactions which highlight the core value of caring for each other. (whether it is student with other student, student and staff or staff and staff) Naturally there are times when it doesn’t work as well as it could and skills are still developing. However, here is a genuine desire to care for others in this school community.
Thank You everyone for the part that you play… it certainly makes my role so much easier.
Enjoy your holiday break .. see you next term.
(Jenny Jensen: Pastoral Care )
Congratulations to Tommy and Josie for attending the Diocesan Public Speaking Competition at Lochinvar on Monday. Both Tommy and Josie gained selection to this competition through their successful efforts at the Regional Public Speaking earlier in this term. The is an enormous effort by both students to prepare and deliver a speech at such young age. Tommy and and Josie are both natural speakers and we are all very proud of their efforts at this level of competition. Tommy's topic was 'Sharing' whilst Josie's topic for the competition was 'Generosity'. Whilst they did not place in the competition, it was a valuable experience, and we are all very proud of them.
Last Wednesday, K-4 engaged in a wonderful experience of teaching, learning and the sharing of knowledge. With a focus on collaborative learning and reflection, the students were grouped in such a way as to ensure there was an even selection from across the classes. They then engaged in a variety of rotational activities that were based on activities and educational games that had been conducted across the different grades. This empowered the children as they were invited to share their knowledge of particular activities and therefore teach their peers how to effectively engage with each station. The K/1 students were so eager to share their experiences with the older students and I am so truly grateful for the leadership displayed by the older students when teaching and supporting their younger peers. What a wonderful experience it was and such a beautiful aspect of being a part of our small school!
The students have demonstrated a great love of Science throughout their library lessons this term. They have a natural curiousity of the world in which they live, and how Science plays an important part in their lives. Here are just some of the science activities that they have been involved in during this term.
Year 4/5/6 Toy Making








Bubble In Bubble Blowing








Fireworks In A Jar
Engineering and Construction










Robotic Hands
It was lovely to see Shared Table back up and running on Monday. Thanks to Deb Sheely for volunteering to make some delicious pizzas for many of the students and staff. If any parent has the time on a Monday to run Shared Table next term we would love to hear from you. Shared Table is unique experience to our school and it would be great to see is up and running again on a more regular basis. If you are able to help out or want to know more about volunteering for it, please contact the office.
We were thrilled to welcome a wonderful team of medical professionals to our school for the much-loved Teddy Bear Hospital experience! Our students were absolutely captivated as they brought their cherished teddies and dolls to be cared for by real-life doctors and nurses.
Through playful, hands-on activities, our students explored the world of healthcare where they listened to heartbeats, examined X-rays, administered pretend medicines and vaccinations, and learned all about how injuries are properly dressed and treated. This fabulous, fun-filled session not only sparked curiosity but also helped educate students about medical procedures in a safe and comforting way.
It was a truly magical afternoon of learning through PLAY — our students’ most powerful learning tool—and we are incredibly grateful to the Teddy Bear Hospital team for making it such a memorable experience!
Message from the Gifted Education Mentor
From the Gifted Education Mentor’s Desk
It’s hard to believe I’ve already been part of our wonderful St Joseph’s Gloucester School community for nine months! This term has been full of exciting developments across our gifted education programs.
I’ve had the pleasure of observing and working with students in classrooms across the school, gaining valuable insights into their learning styles and strengths. I’ve also helped in the year 2/3 classroom with maths differentiation and in year 4/5/6 with creative writing and poetry.
A major highlight has been supporting students in the public speaking competition, where their confidence and expression continue to grow.
Looking ahead to next term, we’ll be unpacking and triangulating data and learning more about our students’ potential and achievement.
The High Potential and Gifted Education team have released 2 new blogs for families of High Potential and Gifted Children:
Seeing the World Like Leonardo, Einstein, and Aristotle – Three Ways to Nurture Genius Thinking in Your Child
Children can view the world in many ways, connecting ideas like Leonardo, imagining possibilities like Einstein, and seeking patterns and purpose like Aristotle – this blog offers practical tips for families to support these strengths.
https://www.mn.catholic.edu.au/news/seeing-the-world-like-leonardo-einstein-and-aristotle/
Our Best Kept Secret for High Potential and Gifted Learners
Highlighting the innovative strategies and support in place for High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE) in the Maitland -Newcastle and showcasing the work being done to support our high potential learners across our community.
Our Best-Kept Secret for High Potential and Gifted Learners | Catholic Schools Maitland-Newcastle
Thank you for your continued support as we nurture the talents of our gifted learners!
Warm regards,
Terri Cornish-Allen
Gifted Education Mentor Project Officer
Term 4 | |
Week 1 | |
Monday 13th October | School Resumes |
Week 3 | |
Tuesday 28th | Early Birds Parent Information 9.15-10.15 |
Early Birds 9-12pm | |
Healthy Harold Visit | |
Wednesday 29th | Swimming Commences 12.30 - 2.30 |
Friday 31st | Whizzy Water Drop Visit |
Week 4 | |
Tuesday 4th November | Early Birds 9-12pm |
Wednesday 5th November | Sport (Swimming) 12.30 - 2.30 |
Thursday 6th | Environmentors Workshop 2-3pm |
Week 5 | |
Tuesday 11th November | Early Birds 9-12pm |
Wednesday 12th November | Dolly's Dream Workshop |
Sport (Swimming) 12.30 - 2.30 | |
Week 6 | |
Wednesday 19th November | Sport (swimming) 12.30 - 2.30 |
Week 7 | |
Wednesday 26th November | Sport (Swimming) 12.30 - 2.30 |
Week 8 | |
Wednesday 3rd December | Sport (Swimming) 12.30 - 2.30 |
Week 9 | |
Wednesday 10th December | Sport (Swimming) 12.30 - 2.30 |
Week 10 | |
Tuesday 16th December | Final Day for Students |
Wednesday 17th December | Pupil Free Day |
Thursday 18th December | Pupil Free Day |
Friday 19th December | Pupil Free Day |