Author: Mooney, Ken

St. Joseph’s
Catholic Primary School
St. Mary’s Parish, Finley
School Brochure
Our Mission is to provide a quality education in an environment that supports the welfare of all.
Our community promotes strong Christian values, faith development and family involvement in
each aspect of our school.

St Joseph’s School Profile
St Joseph’s is a small school of around 55 students. This
population is made up of boys and girls from Finley as well as surrounding rural areas. The school was founded in 1915 by the Sisters of Mercy and nurtures a strong tradition of parent and community involvement. We now have a modern and well equipped facility that currently houses 3 classes ranging from Kinder to Year 6. Our teachers are very experienced with many years of development in the latest approaches to student
learning. This includes training in reading recovery, First Steps in Writing and Number programs, utilising technology projects including interactive whiteboards, use of iPads and cloud based drives through Google Docs. The staff are dedicated, skilled and work to serve the needs of our children. They are the greatest asset that St. Joseph’s School has.
Our School Environment

Our School Environment provides for a quality living and learning situation. We are all able to enjoy the pleasant and
conducive conditions that our fully
refurbished classrooms and beautifully kept playground provide.
Our modern Library is the central resource for the learning
environment. Each classroom features a bank of modern
computers which are networked and allow for easy internet
access as well as Interactive Whiteboards, Laptops and a set of iPads. The playground provides
excellent sporting facilities, treelined play spaces and a shaded adventure playground, amphitheatre and a large covered area over the
basketball court.

When the boys and girls at St. Joseph’s have completed their schooling with us, we the parents and staff, would like for them to :

have experienced God and Church and have developed a knowledge of our faith and the values that our religion stands for
be independent, flexible and cooperative workers who are capable problem solvers, risk takers and decision makers
be active participants in life who have experienced the
responsibility of leadership
be happy and proud of themselves and be confident to share their talents and skills with others
be respectful of others and their differences
be willing to have a go and do their best
be competent readers, writers and mathematicians
be competent users of technology and have an appreciation of the arts
have developed an understanding of the world around us
have knowledge and understanding of good personal health
be lovers of life and learning
appreciate the value of family and have experienced good role models here at school
be prepared for life beyond St. Joseph’s

Uniform Policy
The boys and girls at St Joseph’s wear the uniform endorsed by the
parents of our school. It is a practical and attractive uniform that we can be proud to wear. The cooperation of all groups within our community is required in maintaining a high standard of dress. Our uniform is not a fashion statement so variations defeat the purpose of actually having it.
We see it as the parents responsibility to ensure their children are
provided with and wear the uniforms as detailed below. The children are responsible for maintaining and caring for their uniform in keeping with the high standards expected. Staff are responsible for encouraging
correct wearing and due care of uniforms while children are in
attendance. Part of our summer uniform is the hat. A school issue hat is to be worn outdoors during terms one and four. Please be aware that due to safety issues students are only allowed to wear earring studs.
Our uniforms are as follows:
WINTER UNIFORM
BOYS
Blue long sleeved poly cotton shirt
Grey woollen school jumper
Navy tie
Long grey pants (non cargo style )
Grey socks
Black leather shoes or black elastic sided boots. (no logos )
Blue school jacket
GIRLS
Blue long sleeved poly cotton shirt
Grey box-pleat tunic
Grey woollen school jumper
Navy tie
Light blue socks / grey tights
Black shoes or black elastic sided boots (no logos )
Blue school jacket
SUMMER UNIFORM
BOYS
Blue short sleeved poly cotton shirt
Grey shorts ( non cargo style )
Brown or black sandals or black shoes ( no reef style thongs or shoes with logos )
Grey socks
Maroon school hat
GIRLS
Maroon check gingham dress
Brown or black sandals or black shoes (no reef style thongs or shoes with logos)
Pale blue socks
Maroon school hat
Hair ribbons and scrunchies - school colours (white, maroon, blue & grey)
SPORTS UNIFORM
BOYS
Maroon and white polo shirt with school logo
White socks (no logo)
Runners -predominantly white/grey with white/grey shoelaces ~ No fluro or bright colours
Maroon rugby shorts
Maroon and white tracksuit with school logo
GIRLS
Maroon and white polo shirt with school logo
White socks (no logo)
Runners -predominantly white/grey with white/grey shoelaces ~ No fluro or bright colours
Maroon and white tracksuit with school logo
Maroon rugby shorts
Please note that we are currently transitioning into a new sports uniform. Transition will conclude in 2016.
School uniforms are available for purchase through our P&F managed uniform shop. The shop is currently open at 3:30pm on Monday. However, if you are unable to make this time please contact the school to arrange assistance.
Sun Smart Policy - Sunscreen and Hat
Kinders and new students are provided with a complimentary hat issued on day 1. We
recommend that hats be labelled with a laundry
marker in large print on the inside of the brim. Only school hats are permitted as this is part of our uniform. If a student is without a hat, they are not permitted on the general playground. Instead, they are required to sit under the large tree or pergola in the playground. This applies through Term 1 and Term 4. We encourage parents to teach their children how to apply sunscreen and for them to have their own
personal supply.
School Office
Our school secretary, Mrs. Wendy Brooks, is available to assist you with office based
inquiries during the following times:
Monday to Thursday : 8.45 am to 3.15pm
Absences, Sickness,
Immunisations & Medications
We are required to follow Government
regulations regarding absences. All student
absences require a note or verbal advice with clear details of the nature of the illness, or other reasons for absence. The school adheres to prescribed practices regarding student
management where listed illnesses occur in the school.
Parents are required to provide proof of immunisation as part of the enrolment process. If your child has special medical
regimes, please advise Miss Veronica Braybon or Mrs Wendy Brooks and formalise this in writing. Students will have to be signed in and out if arriving or departing outside normal school hours.
Communication
Each year in early Term 1, parents are invited to attend a Parent Information Evening that
outlines expectations and programs for your child's class. Formal reports are sent home mid-year and end of year and formal interview opportunities are
provided then. Parents are encouraged to keep in touch with the class teacher and quickly sort out any problems or queries that may arise to save these
matters becoming major issues or worries. Please do not
hesitate to call Miss Veronica Braybon if you have a school based issue rather than a class based worry. We can only
respond if we know about it and early action can often ease the situation.
Bus Travel
We check each day whether there are changes to student
travel arrangements. For Infants, it is imperative that notes are sent if changes to normal routine are to occur. Young
children become disconcerted and confused very easily. We monitor and supervise children as they board buses.
Before/After School pick-up point:
Parents are requested to deliver and pick up their children from the DENISON STREET ENTRANCE near the Church as the COREE STREET ENTRANCE is used by the buses. Children walking home from school are held back and taken as one group when crossing from Coree Street and supervised at the
crossing on Denison Street.

Pastoral Care
We recognise that each member of our school
community has Rights. The students, staff and parent groups have formulated statements which provide support for each other in maintaining an environment built on Respect, Responsibility and Gospel Values. We see it as the individual’s
responsibility to ensure that the rights of others are respected.
Curriculum
We offer current courses based on the NSW Syllabus in the
following areas :
Special Programs

Core Subjects
Religious Education; promoting Christian values and
participating in Sacramental Programs.
English; offering a modern approach to developing
listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills.
Mathematics; including basic numeracy skills, problem solving and investigative work.
Technology, Science, Health, History and Human Society programs that form the basis for our Unit Work.

Specialist Areas
Biannual Musical Productions
Physical Education
Library Skills
Technology ~ including programs about being Cybersmart
Member of Sporting Schools Australia
Healthy Lifestyle programs
Program

Support Areas
Yr 1 Reading Recovery
Maths Support
Student Counselling
Students With
Disabilities
Support Program
Kinder / Year 6 Buddy System
Enrichment Programs

School Fees
Parental contribution of fees covers
practically all the day to day costs in and around our school. Staff wages are
covered in part by the Government.
What you see is paid for via our fees and the efforts of our parent groups.
The School Fees for 2013 are as follows. (School Fees are evaluated at the end of each year)
Overview
ALL KINDERS - NO FEES
Total for One child : $1119.50 per annum ($22 per week)
Total for Two children : $1459.90 per annum ($29 per week)
Total for Three children : $1468 per annum ($30 per week)
Breakdown of Fees
Tuition Charges:
1 child - $882
2 children - $1154
Materials Fee:
$90 per student for the year, payable at the beginning of school.
This covers the cost of classroom stationery and materials such as books, paints, art supplies, photocopied materials etc.
Cleaning Fee:
$160 for the year per family and charged by the term.
Building and Maintenance Fee:
$65 for the year per family.
Direct credit facilities via eft are available.
Accounts are sent out at the beginning of each term.

Communication
The School actively encourages open and honest communication between parents, teachers and students. We see it as a basic right of all to have access to open channels of communication to express opinions, ask questions and receive feedback.
This occurs through
Parental Involvement
The success of our school relies on Parents being involved.
Participation is encouraged via the ….

informal discussions
newsletters
formal interviews
reports
information night
open days
student diaries

School Parent Committee / Class Programs / Uniform Coordinator / Canteen Volunteer or Manager	Fete volunteer / Grounds Roster / Excursions / Social Functions / Fundraising / Activities

St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School
Coree Street Finley N.S.W. 2713
Principal : Veronica Braybon
E.mail : braybonv@ww.catholic.edu.au
Telephone : 03 5883 1630
Find us on Facebook

A Parent’s Prayer
Lift me up with hands that hold me steady
I am not strong enough to stand alone
yet one day I will walk the way you lead me
I am the fruit of seeds you have sown.
Touch my hand with hands that can be gentle
I am yet weak but strength has weakness too
for I have noticed sometimes when you’re smiling
you hide your tears that choke the way mine do.
Love me much for I am ever growing
my soul can dry up just like flowers that die
feed me with the love of man and nature
give me strength, and set my standards high.
Give me Justice, Freedom, and the Future
let my mind and heart stay undefiled
be my friends and helper while I’m learning
and - give me
Time - for I am but a child….
Rhonda W. Rice