Enrolments are accepted all year round, but the best time to enrol your child is at the beginning of the year (Term 1) – the year before your child is due to commence school.

Enrolment interviews are held in May and June.  You will receive an email in April that will contain information regarding booking a time for you and your child to come in and meet with the principal.  Written offers of placement will follow in July.

St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School is a vibrant Catholic co-educational primary school committed to every student finding meaning and purpose through continual growth in faith and improvement in learning.

We ensure our students are provided with a high-quality learning program in a supportive and collaborative environment that challenges each student to reach their full potential.

At St Joseph's, you and your child can expect:

• An Affordable Quality Education
• The Catholic Experience
• Dedicated Staff Enhancing Learning Experiences
• Personalised Learning
• Modern School Facilities
• Presence and Effective Use of Technology
• Learning Beyond the Classroom
• Nurturing of Students' Development
• A Welcoming School Community
• Social Justice Initiatives and Other Social Awareness

Please see our What We Offer page or Contact Us for more information. 

You are most welcome! Please contact our office to make an appointment to meet with the principal and tour the school grounds.

Our office opening hours are Monday to Friday, between 8:30am and 3:45pm.
 

Our school bell times are as follows:

Morning: 
Supervision begins at 8:30am each morning.

Afternoon: 
The school day concludes at 2:55pm and parents are expected to collect their children as soon as possible after this time. Please note, students are supervised until 3:00pm when remaining students are bought to the school office.
 

Please see our Term Dates and Bell Times page for more information.

There are many co-curricular activities on offer at St Joseph's! 

They include:

• Mini Vinnies
• Veggie Gardens
• Environment Group
• STEM
• Maker Space activities
• Chess
• Choirs
• Sacramental Retreat Days
• Art competitions  – including the Christmas Story Art Competition
• Lions Club Peace Poster Competition
• University of Wollongong Science Competition (Stage 3)
• Year 6 visit to IRT
• Digital Citizenship 
• University of NSW Competitions
• Public Speaking
• Spelling Bee
• Keeping Children Safe Around Dogs - NSW Government Initiative
• A range of sporting opportunities
• Several leadership opportunities

Find out more about the co-curricular activities available for students at our Co-Curricular Opportunities page.

At St Joseph's, we believe that all members of the community have the right to a learning and working environment free from intimidation, humiliation and harm. We all share a responsibility to create a culture of caring which will not tolerate bullying.

We believe that bullying must be taken seriously and is not acceptable in any form. In witnessing Catholic values we reject ideas, beliefs and behaviours which marginalise or victimise people.

Please refer to the Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong's Student Pastoral Care and Wellbeing Policy.

You can also find further anti-bullying, wellbeing and online safety resources at our Resources page here.

Students are able to catch one of the Premier Charter school buses operating in the Northern Illawarra. See our school bus routes and times here (under 'St Josephs Primary School').

Please note: The School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS) gives eligible school students free or subsidised travel between home and school on NSW public transport, including buses and trains. For more information and to apply for a school travel pass for your child, click here.

Yes, we are proud to partner with CatholicCare to provide quality organised on-site before and after school care. The program is based on Australia's National Quality Framework, designed specifically for OOSH, which aims to extend and enrich children's wellbeing and development in school age settings.

CatholicCare's Out Of School Hours (OOSH) Care program at St Joseph's is staffed by a dedicated team of education professionals who are university trained early childhood teachers or TAFE trained Diploma educators who support and respect the uniqueness and individuality of children and their families.

Find out more information about our Out Of School Hours (OOSH) Care services here.

Our canteen supplier is Fresh Start Canteens. The canteen is available to students five days a week providing healthy lunch and snack options. Read more about our canteen here.

The school uniform is available for purchase from Lowes Wollongong or by ordering online with Lowes here.

School legionnaires hats ($15), boys long and short ties ($20) and girls ties ($5) and school bag ($40) are all available from the school office.

The clothing pool is open during school hours operating on an honesty system. All contributions of clean clothing to the clothing pool are gratefully accepted and donations may be left at the school office.

Please note: Change from Summer to Winter uniform occurs on the Monday after Mothers’ Day each year. The change from Winter to Summer uniform generally occurs from the Monday after Fathers’ Day, depending on the weather. Change of uniform will be advised through our school newsletter.

A school hat must be worn at all times when outdoors including to and from school.

For more information on the St Joseph's school uniform, visit our Uniform page.

Please see our Fees Information page for more information.

If you are experiencing financial hardship and are unable to pay fees, please make an appointment for a meeting with the principal. Your situation will be treated with care and confidentiality and an appropriate arrangement may be made for you.

No student will be refused enrolment because of a family's genuine inability to pay fees.

We'd love to have you! St Joseph's strives to be a connected and welcoming community and we value the engagement of parents and families in the school life in any way they can.

This could be as simple as being interested and informed about school events and activities, supporting and/or participating in community events, school assemblies and school liturgies.

If you are able, we also welcome and value your involvement in school activities. Parents (and grandparents!) can participate and contribute by:

• Assisting in the classroom, particularly in Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2. This could include helping with reading and literacy programs, mathematics groups, technology, craft, or by offering expertise in a particular area of interest
• Helping at special events such as sporting carnivals, fete, working bees
• Attending parent workshops about learning, parent teacher meet-and-greets, and other meetings

Please note: Given our commitment to safeguarding children, volunteers will first need to organise a Working With Children Check (WWCC) – information can be found on the CEDoW website. 

All parents and families are also invited to become involved with our Parents and Friends (P&F) Association, who work collaboratively with the school and parish about matters that affect your child at school, as well as general issues about school life including social events, fundraising and community building.

For more information, please visit our Parent Engagement page.

If you have a concern or would like to raise any issue regarding your child’s learning and wellbeing, our staff welcome the opportunity to speak with you about your child.

We ask that you contact your child’s classroom teacher in the first instance. The best way to do this is by:

• phoning the school office and asking that your child's teacher return your call; or
• contacting the teacher via email at info@sjbdow.catholic.edu.au to arrange a time to talk.

If the matter is urgent please contact the school office on (02) 4283 1111.

If you need to speak to your child’s teacher, we ask that you do this by:

• phoning the school office and asking that your child's teacher return your call; or
• contacting the teacher via email at info@sjbdow.catholic.edu.au to arrange a time to talk.

If the matter is urgent please contact the school office on (02) 4283 1111.

The Lighting the Way Together Parent-School Partnership Framework outlines for parents and the school, the principles and expectations of the partnership that is formed when a child is enrolled in a Catholic systemic school in the Diocese of Wollongong such as St Joseph's. It will be introduced and implemented in schools throughout the school year.

Download a copy of the Parent-School Partnership Framework and read more about this important partnership at www.dow.catholic.edu.au/partnershipframework

Parents and carers can access the St Joseph's Compass Parent Portal here and log in using their login details.

For more information on Compass, view our Parent Information document.
 
For further information or enquiries, please contact the school office.