Week 4 Term 3 2025

Dear Families, 

We've had a wonderful couple of weeks since the last Newlsetter that have included Parent Teacher Interviews, the celebration of the Feast of St Mary MacKillop and of course we are currently celebrating Book Week. 

Thank you to all the parents and carers who were able to attend the recent Parent-Teacher Interviews. These meetings are an important opportunity to connect with your child’s teacher, celebrate progress, identify any areas that may need support, and raise questions or concerns.

We appreciate the time and effort you take to be actively involved in your child’s education. 

I'd also like to pass on my thanks to our dedicated staff for the time, preparation, and effort they put into these interviews. Their commitment to student learning and wellbeing is greatly appreciated and plays a key role in building strong partnerships between home and school.

Last Friday our school community came together to celebrate the Feast of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop with a beautiful whole-school Mass led by the Stage 2 students.

St Mary MacKillop holds a special place in our hearts, not only as Australia’s first saint but also as the founder of the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart, who established our school. Her legacy of faith, compassion, and dedication to the education of all, especially the poor and disadvantaged, continues to inspire us today.

Mary MacKillop believed in the importance of action and compassion, famously saying, "Never see a need without doing something about it." She dedicated her life to serving others, particularly through education.  Her mission was to provide accessible and inclusive education for children in rural and remote areas, regardless of their background or circumstances.

As a Josephite school, we proudly carry on this tradition of inclusive education, nurturing every child to grow in faith, learning, and love—just as Mary MacKillop envisioned.

We thank our staff, students, families and parish community for joining us at Mass, and we pray that we may continue to follow Mary’s example of courage, kindness, and trust in God’s providence.

St Mary of the Cross MacKillop—Pray for Us.

A decision was made at the St Joseph's Community Forum meeting last Monday afternoon to officially postpone the School Community Fair until 2026. This was not an easy decision, but after carefully considering the ongoing wet weather, the forecast, and the condition of the school grounds, it was agreed that it would not be safe or practical to proceed with the event this year.

A few details are still being finalised, including arrangements for:

• The Raffle, and
  
  
• The Art Auction.
  
  

Once details have been confirmed for these, families will be informed.

Any families who have already purchased Fair tickets will have their money refunded.

In the meantime, we are exploring possibly holding a Mini Fair for the children, coordinated by the SRC, later this term. This event would include the tombola stall and some of the games originally planned for the Fair—providing a small but meaningful way to ease the disappointment for our students and keep the community spirit alive.

We will share further details as soon as plans are confirmed.

I want to extend a big thank you to everyone involved in the St Joseph’s Woodburn School Community Forum for their incredible efforts in preparing for the Community Fair.

From seeking sponsorships, coordinating with various agencies, managing logistics, organising and processing tickets, to planning the raffles and auction. Your hard work and dedication have not gone unnoticed. We truly appreciate all you have done.

A special thank you to the outstanding Forum Executive Team for their remarkable leadership and the generous time they’ve dedicated to supporting our school. Your commitment, energy, and passion for our community are truly appreciated.

Thank you for your continued support and understanding.

WE ASK THAT ALL RAFFLE TICKETS, SOLD OR UNSOLD, BE RETURNED TO THE SCHOOL BY FRIDAY, 22 AUGUST 2025

It’s been a fantastic week filled with all things books and reading as we celebrated Book Week across the school!

Our Book Fair in the Library has been a hive of activity, with three daily visits from excited students thoughtfully choosing their special purchases. A big thank you to everyone who supported the fair!

The Library has also featured some cosy reading nooks and displays, created especially for Book Week, and has hosted a variety of reading activities each day. This year, our Year 5 and Kindergarten students had the special opportunity to share their love of reading with the children at Woodburn Preschool during a delightful visit on Tuesday.

On Thursday, we enjoyed a highlight of the week, our Book Character Parade, followed by open classrooms and games. It was wonderful to see so many mums, dads, and family members join in the celebrations.

All in all, it’s been a truly adventurous Book Week, full of imagination, community spirit, and a love of reading!

• Our St Joseph's Woodburn School Community Forum- you are amazing!
• Book week and all that it held- what an adventure!
• The Book Fair- thank you for your support. 
• Our Stage 2 Camp- HAVE THE BEST TIME!
• Our amazing artists who completed the mini art holiday activity- WOW!
• Year 5 and Kindergarten for being terrific school ambassadors on your visit to Woodburn Preschool! We are so proud.

Have a wonderful weekend

Principal 

Today, 15 August, our school joined Catholic communities worldwide in celebrating the Feast of the Assumption of Mary, a holy day honouring Mary, the mother of Jesus, being taken body and soul into heaven.

This special day reminds us of Mary’s deep faith, her trust in God, and her important role in the story of Jesus. The Assumption is not just about Mary being taken to heaven; it’s also a celebration of hope, love, and the promise of eternal life for all of us.

Today, we prayed to Mary and reflected on Mary’s life and her example of saying "yes" to God. 

Mary’s life encourages us to be people of courage, kindness, and faith—even when things are challenging. As we teach our students to follow in her footsteps, we also pray that, like Mary, they grow in love, humility, and trust in God.

Mary, assumed into Heaven, pray for us. 

First Eucharist Preparation

Preparation is well underway for our students who will be receiving their First Eucharist (Holy Communion) on Saturday, 20 September 2025, at St John’s Church, Evans Head, at 5 pm.

The students will participate in three preparation sessions with Ms Wilkins, followed by a final meeting on Monday, 8 September at 3.45 pm, which parents are invited to attend.

This year, we are proud to support the following students as they prepare for this special Sacrament:
Abaigeal Ashton, Nancy Butler, Phoebe Jett, Jackson Marsden, Poppy Parkinson, and Eli Walsh.

We keep these students and their families in our prayers as they journey towards receiving Jesus in the Eucharist for the first time—an important and sacred step in their faith lives.

Richmond Zone Athletics 

The Richmond Zone Carnival has been cancelled for Monday 18th August. A letter was sent home today with all athletes explaining what will occur. 

Stage 2 and 3 students will be attending the Multisport Gala Day, which will be held in Lismore on Friday, 29 August at various venues. Permission notes will be issued next week.