Dear Lord,

We ask you to bless St Joseph's School Community.

We pray that you guide us to be just and to see,
listen, speak and act like St Joseph.

May we be inspired by our Founders to be the best
that we can be.

May we always keep Jesus at the centre of all we do.

St Emilie          Pray for us

St Marcellin      Pray for us

St Joseph         Pray for us 

And may we always remember to pray for one another.

AMEN

Dear Members of St Joseph's Community

Presentation Night  
Presentation Night is over for another year, and we were blessed with much cooler weather - in fact there were many who were too cold, which makes for a nice change. Thank you to all who attended to celebrate our school. Special mention to the bands and the primary choir for their wonderful performances. Thank you also to those families who were able to donate a gift. They will be passed on this week to many organisations to distribute.

A full list of award winners can be found in the Class Information section of the school website - click here.  

One of the highlights of the night is always the announcing of the Student Leaders for both campuses. Congratulations to all who have been awarded a position for 2025, with special mention to our new School Captains – Zoe Martin and Swaka Yengkopiong and our Primary Campus Captains – Islah Mainard and Victor Kielbasa. 

Confirmation 
Many of our Year 6 students will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation next weekend. They have prepared well and lead into this special time with knowledge of what this sacrament means. They have chosen a saint whose values align with theirs and will take on their name as part of the ceremony, I look forward to hearing about who they have chosen and why. We wish these students all the best for their special day. 

Calendar 
We have officially entered the silly season and there is a lot happening for students of all ages. Please remember to keep up to date with the events of the week. Our school App and also our Facebook page have reminders every Sunday about what is coming up for the week and I know it has saved me a few times so I highly recommend checking these.

A copy of the calendar is on our website, both as a PDF and as an electronic calendar which can be linked to other calendars you may have.

A reminder to inform the school in writing if you are planning for your child to attend a new school in 2025. This can be done via an email to admin@sjsnortham.wa.edu.au or via the departure Form on our school website home page. 

With God’s blessings, 

Andrea Woodgate
Principal 

Primary Sporting Achievement

On Friday 25 October, Evleyn Adams and Thomas James from Year 5 Gold represented the school at the WA School Sport Athletics Carnival.

Both students were amazing, competing against the best athletes in the state. Thomas ran his best in the 800m, pushing himself to the limit and giving it everything he had from start to finish. Eveyln completed in Turbo Javelin and Shot Put. Evelyn threw well in Turbo Javelin where she finished 8th overall. However, it was Shot Put where she flexed her muscles to finish 1st overall in the state. Well done, Eveyln!

We’d like to congratulate both Evelyn and Thomas for representing the school against our state's best athletes.

Congratulations to...

• Owen Winsor in Year 11, who has been selected in the U16 State Hockey Team.

• Justin Sandrini in Year 7, who has been selected to play AFL for the Wanderers National U14 team and is heading overseas next year to play a four game international series.

• Cara Woodgate in Year 7, who has been selected in the U14 girls Country Team for the Southern Cross High Performance Basketball Carnival in January.

• Mantel Rossiter in Year 8, who has been selected as reserve in the U15 boys Country Team for the Southern Cross High Performance Basketball Carnival in January. 

If your child has achieved something special outside of school, not just in the sporting arena, please let us know so that we can celebrate with them.

Dear Families & Friends,  

Linley Waters
Head of Primary

Class in Focus: Year One Blue

Our Year 1 class has had an exciting start to the term, filled with learning, celebrations and special visitors! We are thrilled to share a few highlights from recent events and introduce a new member of our classroom.

Scitech Incursion
The week before last, our school was buzzing with excitement as we welcomed presenters from Scitech for a hands-on science incursion. This interactive experience brought the wonders of science right to our classroom, sparking curiosity, encouraging questions and engaging our young scientists in hands-on learning.

Grandparents Day Assembly and Activities
We also celebrated Grandparents Day with a memorable assembly performance by our Year 1 students. Each child dressed up as their grandparent and performed in a “Grandparent Talent Show,” showcasing the unique talents and hobbies of their grandparents. From gardening and sewing to baking and storytelling, the students proudly acted out these special talents. After the performance, our grandparents visited our classroom where they painted rocks together for our nature play area. These beautifully painted rocks remind us daily of the love and support our grandparents bring to our lives. The students then made marshmallow kebabs to eat during morning tea, most of which ended up on their faces! It was a big day!

Welcome, Mrs Danielle Reindl!
We are also excited to welcome Mrs Danielle Reindl, our student teacher from ECU, who will be joining us for the next few weeks. Mrs Reindl is super keen to get to know each of our students and will be a wonderful addition to our class. She will be working alongside us, bringing fresh ideas and enthusiasm to our lessons, and we’re sure she will learn a lot from our amazing students, too!

We thank you for your continued support and involvement in our class activities. We can’t wait to share more exciting updates with you soon!

Warm regards,

Shell Read
Year 1 Blue Teacher 

Class in Focus: Year Six Gold

Preparing for the Next Chapter

Our classroom has been a busy place this term as we focus on preparing for high school and making meaningful progress in our learning. Students had their first tour of the Secondary campus, and with transition days just around the corner, excitement is building as they look forward to what their futures may hold.

In Religion, students have been exploring saints in preparation for their Sacrament of Confirmation. Researching these figures has deepened their understanding of faith and provided inspiration as they prepare to make this important commitment.

In Maths, our focus has been on area and perimeter. Students have channelled their creativity into designing their own zoos and sustainable living communities, applying their skills in measurement to bring their visions to life. It has been wonderful to see their enthusiasm and practical thinking shine through as they work on these engaging projects.

This term has been an exciting one so far, with each activity bringing our students closer to the end of this chapter, and the start of the next exciting instalment…

Mikala Thomas
Year 6 Gold Teacher

Sports News

CAPSS Interschool Athletics Carnival

On Tuesday 29 October, 41 students from Year 3 to 6 travelled to Perth to compete at the CAPSS (Catholic Associations Primary School Sport) Interschool Athletics Carnival.

Our students where incredible, both in their ability in each event but also their behaviour and sportsmanship. We had some fantastic individual achievements across the day with our students winning lots of ribbons across team, track and field events.

We’d like to congratulate Tia Bunce for winning Champion Girl in Year 3 and Chase Manners for winning Runner Up Boy in Year 3. These are fantastic individual achievements!

Overall, our school finished 2nd against 6 other Perth schools, which is a remarkable achievement. Well done to all the students and thank you to all the teachers and parents who supported us throughout the day. We can’t wait for next year!

Cameron Watson
Primary Physical Education Coordinator

Last week saw the Year 9 & 10 Art class attend the Western Australia Art Gallery in Perth and the Year 11 examinations begin with those non-ATAR Year 11s finished for the year. 

I hope families enjoyed the Pupil-free Catholic Day on Monday. It was beautiful weather for those who could get out and about. This week has also seen our Year 10s join with Year 5s to clean up the cemetery on Tuesday and next week we have the Year 7s off to Caversham Wildlife Park for a science excursion. 

Year 9s and 10s will begin their examination week on Friday 15 November. Not all subjects will have an exam but those not completing an exam will be completing assessments in class  from the 15 to 20 November. 

Our Year 10s finish on Friday 22 November. They will need to empty their lockers on Thursday 21 November so they can return their locks to their Homeroom teachers on Friday morning. Those students who have not lost their good standing more than once this year will be attending the Year 10 Rewards event at the Northam pool where they will have a sausage sizzle for lunch and then have time on the slides and in the pool. 

Year 7 – 9 students will have their pool Reward event on Thursday 5 December. Again, those students who have lost their good standing more than once will remain at school. 

A reminder to Year 8 parents who have not completed their online form for the Year 8 Retreat/Camp to please get these done so that we have a clear understanding of food allergies / intolerances to prepare for the meals. Thank you. 

God Bless.

Sharon Cusack
Head of Secondary

Curriculum News

Science in Term Four

Year 7
This term in Year 7, students have dived into the study of living organisms and the basics of classification. They have learnt how scientists group organisms based on shared characteristics, exploring the major kingdoms of life such as animals, plants and fungi. Through activities, they will understand the importance of classification in organising biodiversity and how it helps in identifying species. This foundational understanding of classification will set the stage for more detailed studies in Biology as they progress and to appreciate the experiences at the upcoming excursion to the Caversham Wildlife Park.

Year 8
The Year 8 students have been investigating all things Chemistry. The students looked at similarities and differences of elements and how they are classified on the Periodic Table, enabling better understanding of the natural world. The students looked at specific elements and the individual particles that make up atoms. In the remainder of the term, they will take this understanding a little further with experiments examining various chemical changes and reactions.

Year 9
This term, Year 9 students have explored key physics concepts, including energy, sound, light and electricity. They have investigated different forms of energy, learning how it is transferred and conserved in various systems. In studying sound, students conducted experiments to see how vibrations create waves, while exploring light helps them to grasp the scientific concepts of reflection, refraction and the electromagnetic spectrum. Moving into the second half of the term, the study of electricity will introduce them to circuits, voltage, current and resistance. Through practical experiments, they will deepen their understanding of how these physical phenomena shape the world around us.

Year 10
Both classes have been researching Earth and Space Science, with looking at the formation of the universe, our Sun and the solar system. The students have examined the processes behind different types of stars and the equipment used to observe them through many types of telescopes. In addition to developing a knowledge of where elements come from and how they are made in the cores of stars, the students gained an insight into radio astronomy and the development of the Square Kilometre Array project here in WA. The Course A students ventured to the Gravity Discovery Centre to develop an in-depth understanding of modern physics, conducting experiments at the Leaning Tower of Gingin where the students timed water balloon drops and identified that the mass of an object, does not change the time of the fall. The students then looked through cosmological history and considered aspects of Einstein’s Theory of Special Relativity, investigating spacetime and then thinking about time dilation and how your position around a gravitational source, alters your view of time compared to others, which as a surprise to many, is something that must be considered when placing satellites into orbit around the Earth.

Senior Secondary
This term, our Year 11 Human Biology students focussed on advanced topics in genetics, including inheritance, sex linkage and genetic variation. They explored how traits are passed from one generation to the next through the principles of Mendelian genetics and Punnett squares. The concept of sex linkage was introduced, explaining how certain traits are linked to sex chromosomes, leading to conditions like colour blindness and haemophilia. By studying these topics, students will gain a deeper understanding of the role of DNA, genes and chromosomes in shaping biological diversity and human health.

The Year 11 Chemistry students have been exploring key concepts through hands-on experiments. Recently, they focused on acids and bases, gases and the Kinetic Theory and rates of reaction. By linking theoretical content to practical work, students gain a richer understanding of these topics.

One of the highlights has been an experiment on rates of reaction. Students observed how a change in one factor, in this case concentration, impacts the speed of reactions, making abstract concepts more tangible. The accompanying photos show students engaged in this experiment.

This practical approach helps students apply their learning to understand important scientific skills, which will be expanded further in the Year 12 Chemistry course next year.

Our Year 11 Physics students have finished off their course looking into wave motion, which enabled the students to conduct investigations on light and sound, including measuring the speed of sound in an outdoor environment and calculating the speed of light using cheese and a microwave oven. In addition to this, students identified the relationship between different objects through measuring the amount of refraction, identifying an unknown material by its refractive index. The students then consolidated this learning and prepared for the upcoming examinations.

Mark Bundock, Steve Rigney, Cam Greenley, Jada Yengkopiong, Andrew Ellis, Gerhard Vogel, Amy Bennett, Nita Budas and Mark Gargano
Science Learning Area staff

Christmas Craft ISP

Carol Farson
Teacher

Cookie Central

As part of our giving back to the community, the students had a lot of fun this week shopping at K-Hub with some of our Cookie Central profits for the Christmas present donation appeal.

The students would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their support this year; they have enjoyed baking and serving up to 300 cookies and Milo balls each Thursday. Our last Cookie Central for the year will be Thursday 21 November (week 7).

Sally Clements
Education Assistant

Congratulations to Ella Branch on her successful completion of 55 hours of workplace learning at Verlindens Electrical Service. 

Ella enrolled at St Joseph’s already holding a Restricted electrical licence. This meant that she was able to complete domestic testing work while on work placement. Ella worked with a qualified electrician on new builds and existing homes in Northam with exemplary performance. 

Ella plans to continue to work in the electrical industry after she finishes Year 12 with a focus on Electrotechnology.

Caroline Marriott
VET Coordinator

School Calendar

The school calender is accessed via the School website or the Schoolzine app. Please ensure that you keep refering to this calendar throughout the year.

You are encouraged to check the calendar for upcoming events that may involve your family.

Andrea Woodgate
Principal

Parent Participation Scheme

Did you know that the School offers a reduction in your school fees?

Families have the ability to work off a portion of their fees through voluntary help at the School. This is a great way to get involved and set a wonderful example of vollunteering for your child.

Whilst assisting in the Canteen is an obvious way to help, other activities encouraged include:

• Classroom assistance
• Reading assistance
• Officiating at swimming & athletics carnivals
• Gardening
• Running or assisting with fundraising activities
• Covering books for the Library

Forms and pamphlets are available from the Primary Office or to download from the website at https://sjsnortham.schoolzineplus.com/_file/media/86/parent_participation_card.pdf

Once completed, please hand in to the Business Manager, Ms Quinn, by the end of Term 3 - the forms can be dropped into either the Primary or Secondary Admin Office and Ms Quinn will arrange for the deduction of the Levy from your School Fees Account.

Sharon Quinn
Business Manager

Term Time Opening Times:           Mondays - 3.15pm to 4.45pm       
                                                             Thursdays - 2.45pm to 4.15pm    

SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE! 

Please keep in mind when ordering that items will be sent home within 2-4 days of ordering.

Disclaimer:

All returns and or exchanges of uniforms to be made within the school term (3 months) of initial purchase.

Michelle James 
Primary - 9621 3524

The Primary Canteen is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. 

Please see the updated Primary Canteen Menu below. 

Recess or snack items ordered online are available for students to collect from the Canteen at their Recess break. Milo pops and icypoles can be collected from the Canteen following the second lunch bell.

Halloween Fun in the Canteen

Canteen Support - Volunteers Required

Due to high demand on our quality food and service we need helpers to ensure that our kids get their lunches on time. In order to function to our highest potential, we ideally need 2 or more volunteers a day. Volunteering is a great way to teach your kids about giving, modelling them for the future. Also, every shift you do at our school helps you towards qualifying for a Parent Participation discount on your annual fees.  

We would love to welcome you into our fun and busy environment and see the smiles on your children’s faces when they see you in their school. If you are able help, please send back your Canteen Assistance form or, for Primary, sign up online: here.

We look forward to working with you. If you have any queries, you are always welcome to contact the Canteen on the numbers below.

Angela Sandrini (Primary)    Desrae Smith (Secondary)
9621 3525                                   9621 8104

P&F AGM

The P&F AGM will be held on Wednesday 20 November at 2:00pm in the PAC.

All committee positions are declared vacant and are open for nominations. There are 5 positions available - if you would like to nominate for a position please email the school or contact myself. I encourage everyone to attend and see what events we have planned for next year.

The school board AGM will be held straight after.

Follow us on Facebook

To stay up to date with the P&F please follow our Facebook page for more updates. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1764507137145087

Casey Pearse
P&F Chair

Parish Priest - Fr Stephen Jean Paul Victor

Assistant Priest - Fr Rubenson Cardona

Mass Times ~ Saturday Vigil @ 5.30pm

                      ~ Sunday Mass @ 8.00am  

Presbytery Phone: 08 9622 5411
Email: northam@perthcatholic.org.au
Website: www.northamchurch.com

Parish News ~ Children's Liturgy 
Children’s Liturgy sessions are held during the 8.00am Sunday Mass.

Nativity Play
St Joseph's Parish will be holding a Christmas Nativity play at the children's Mass on Christmas Eve.
For more information, or for your children to take part, please contact Sr Glory (0415 545 529) or Alphy Thomas (0457 583 993).