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- PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
- DEPUTY PRINCIPAL
- ASSISTANT TO THE PRINCIPAL PRIMARY & TEACHING & LEARNING
- ASSISTANT TO THE PRINCIPAL FORMATION & IDENTITY
- TOOWOOMBA CATHOLIC SCHOOLS EXCELLENCE AWARDS
- EISTEDDFOD SUCCESS
- WATCHING OUR PREP STUDENTS GROW
- BUSINESS & REAL WORLD EXPERIENCES
- SCHOOL PLAY REHEARSALS ARE UNDERWAY
- DEBATING
- REFLECTIONS - ARTS FESTIVAL
- ST VINCENT DE PAUL WINTER APPEAL
- WHO'S READY TO SING ?
- SPORT
- UPCOMING EVENTS
After a period of consultation last year with the staff, students, Parents & Friends Association and the School Advisory Council, and taking into account the recent School Renewal and Improvement Review, this year we have released our Strategic Plan 2024-2027.
The plan identifies five key priority areas for the school.
- Priority One: Living Mercy
- At St Joseph’s School, we are a distinctly Catholic community steeped in the tradition of the Sisters of Mercy.
- Priority Two: Inspiring and engaging learners
- High quality pedagogy supports all students to grow in their learning and achieve their academic best.
- Priority Three: Empowering people
- Empowerment fosters belonging, motivation, collaboration and ownership, positively impacting school culture, engagement and educational outcomes.
- Priority Four: Connecting communities
- Connecting those within our school and wider community fosters support, collaboration and a positive environment.
- Priority Five: Sustaining our future
- Stewardship of human, physical and financial resources is crucial for fostering an efficient, sustainable and conducive learning environment that maximises educational outcomes and supports the overall wellbeing of students and staff.
Within each priority area the strategies to maximise the success of the school over many years and build the school into the future are detailed.
The plan is downloadable here -
Please take the time to review the plan so that you are aware of the future direction of the school. This plan will form the basis of our decision making and operation of the school through to 2027.
My sincere thanks all who contributed to the development of the plan.
If you wish to discuss any aspect of the plan, please contact me. Similarly, if you have any queries or concerns about the education or wellbeing of your child, or feedback or queries about the communication and procedures at the school, please do not hesitate to contact me. We are very conscious about maximising the success of all students and ensuring that parents and carers are also supported in their journey through their child’s school life.
The end of term is nearly here. As I say every term to the students and staff, “Let’s all finish well.”
God Bless
As we near the final few weeks of term, it is important that students finish the term well and seek the support of their teachers and peers as assessment timelines approach. Being proactive in having conversations to seek help early is a great way to ensure that every student experiences their own academic success.
A reminder about the following cohort absences in Week 10:
- Year 9 camp 17-19 June
- Year 8 camp 19-21 June
- Year 10 Work experience 17-21 June
- Year 11 RSA 18 June
- Year 12 Driver safety course 19 June
A reminder that the Sentral for Parents portal will be used to access Semester 1 academic reports for all students P-12. These reports will be distributed electronically to the parent portal at the end of this semester. If you have not yet activated your parent portal and linked your access key, please do this so you are able to access your child’s academic report. If you need assistance with activating the portal, please contact the school.
Call to be… Christ-Like
Called to live… Mercy
Matthew Brown
Deputy Principal
Over the past few weeks, students across the campus have been putting their artistic skills and imagination to work, designing art works which reflect what they think the future will hold. These pieces of art have been delivered to the Civic Centre this week so that they can be displayed as part of the Crisps Youth Art Prize. Significantly this year, we have had a number of volunteers assist the students with the construction of these pieces. On behalf of the teaching staff, I would like to express my thanks to all those who have given of their time to assist the children and the teachers. We are very blessed to have so many people who were prepared to do this. The presentation evening will be held on 13 June, commencing at 5pm.
Next week, we welcome Life Education's Healthy Harold to the Primary classrooms as part of the Health and Physical Education curriculum. Parents should have already received an email regarding this, including the times and the content of the sessions. A member of staff will be present during the sessions and it is intended that there will be follow up lessons throughout the coming months to consolidate the learning.
Over the next couple of weeks, teachers will be finalising the report cards for Semester 1. This is a process to which a lot of time is devoted as we want the final documents to be as informative as possible. As well as providing a summary of the semester that has passed, the report will also indicate areas that should be a focus for the forthcoming semester. When these are published in Week 10 to the Parent Portal, I do encourage parents to take the time to read the report and discuss them with your children. As well as looking at grades, also considering the academic and social skills that have been displayed by each individual will provide an indication as to the learner qualities they have developed so far. It is these qualities which will sustain them as their learning journey progresses.
Finally, next Tuesday Issy, Bellarose, Imogen and Ned form Year 6 will travel to Toowoomba for the Darling Down's Readers' Cup competition. In recent months they have each read five books and met each Tuesday lunchtime to talk about the books and question each other on key aspects. This week, being the last week before the competition, Bellarose baked a cake that featured in one of the books! We wish the team well for the event next week and congratulate them on the work they have done in preparation.
With God's blessings
Sarah Yates
Assistant to the Principal Primary & Teaching & Learning
A Winter Blessing
Blessed are you, winter,
dark season of waiting,
you affirm the dark seasons of our lives
forecasting the weather of waiting in hope.
Blessed are you, winter,
you faithfully guard a life unseen,
calling those who listen deeply
to discover winter rest.
Blessed are you, winter,
frozen and cold on the outside,
within your silent, nurturing womb
you warmly welcome all that longs for renewal.
Blessed are you, winter,
your bleak, barren trees
preach wordless sermons
about emptiness and solitude.
Blessed are you, winter,
you teach us valuable lessons
about waiting in darkness
with hope and trust.
Blessed are you, winter,
season of blood red sunsets
and star-filled, long, dark nights,
faithfully you pour out your beauty.
Blessed are you, winter,
when your tiny snowflakes
flurry through the air,
you awaken our sleeping souls.
Blessed are you, winter,
with your wild and varied moods,
so intent on being yourself,
you refuse to be a people-pleaser.
Blessed are you, winter,
your inconsistent moods,
often challenge spring’s arrival,
yet how gracefully you step aside
when her time has come.
Circle of Life
Joyce Rupp & Macrina Wiederkerhr
May our winter beckon us to a season of rest as we wait in hope for the new life of spring.
With God's blessings,
Megan Mahoney
Assistant to the Principal Formation & Identity
Congratulations to Mrs Sarah Yates, our Assistant to the Principal Primary and Teaching and Learning, who has been chosen as a finalist in the Excellence in School Leadership category of the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Excellence Awards. Sarah’s leadership in teaching and learning at St Joseph’s School and across the Toowoomba Diocese has been outstanding over many years.
Congratulations also to Mrs Jodie Cosmo, one of our dedicated parents, who is a finalist in the Excellence in Volunteer Support category. Jodie has given exceptional service to our community as a member of the Parents & Friends Association over a long period. In recent years she has led the organisation and running of the P&F Trivia Night, a fantastic community event.
The winners of each category of the awards will be announced at the Excellence Awards presentation dinner during Catholic Education Week on 18 July. Well done to both Sarah and Jodie, and thankyou for your work.
It’s truly a wonderful event that provides an excellent opportunity for students to showcase their skills across various disciplines. From Strings and Instrumental performances to Solo acts, Poetry Drama, and Piano, the diversity of talents on display is remarkable.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the students who participated in the eisteddfod! Whether showcasing their talents through dance, drama, musical theatre, singing, scripture reading, or instrumental performances, each student’s dedication and passion deserve applause. Keep up the fantastic work!
In continuation of the results shared in last week’s newsletter, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to the following students for their outstanding performances:
| 1st Place | Poppy Wilshire |
| 2nd Place | Josiah Blaxland |
| Highly Commended | Georgia Brunckhorst |
| Blake Linstrom |
12 years and under String Solo
| Highly Commended | Archie Reimers |
Small Ensemble (3-12 players) Secondary
| 1st Place | St Joseph's String Trio (Rylee Vedelago, Grace Roberts & Claire Vanderwolf) |
Instrumental Group Championship Secondary
| Secondary Instrumental Group Championship Trophy | St Joseph's String Trio (Rylee Vedelago, Grace Roberts & Claire Vanderwolf) |
Piano
| 5 Years and Under | 1st Place | Hugh Vedelago |
| 2nd Place | Martin Brunckhorst | |
| 7 Years and Under | 1st Place | Mia Vedelago |
| 9 Years and Under | 2nd Place | Noah Adams |
Keyboard
| 1st Place | Noah Adams |
Year 3/4 Scripted Scene
| 1st Place | "The Twits" | Georgia Robinson Catherine Scudamore Rebecca Savio |
| 2nd Place | "Fantastic Mr Fox - The Hunt" | Rocky Hill Orion Bright-Mync Ty Bowes Elijah Mann |
| 3rd Place | "Fantastic Mr Fox - The Hunt" | Darcy Staley Ava Stanford Beau Ponzo SebastianTorrisi |
Year 3/4 Devised Scene
| 1st Place | "Lost" | Noah Adams Josiah Blaxland Atticus Heads Mason Garland |
| 2nd Place | "Save the Day" | Alexander Gordon Alexander Sunderland Alina Chen Thomas Maughan Jack Verri |
Year 3/4 Dialogue
| 1st Place | "Huckleberry Finn" | Hendrix Jack Alastair Holcombe |
Year 4 and under - Musical Theatre scene
| 1st Place | Annie Collett Mia Vedlego Poppy Wilshire Charlotte Gasparin Macey Pearce Charlee Barker Virginia Preston |
Year 5 Scripted Scene
| 2nd Place | Hannah Pearce Addyson Gasparin Halo Taylor Isabelle Pettiford Ivy Young Havana Torrisi |
Year 5 Devised Scene
| 1st Place | "The Shoplifter" | Patrick Moxham Patrick Preston Oliver Fraguaas Matthew Stefanon |
| 2nd Place | "Learning to Drive" | Greta Stibbard Alanna Fox Charlie Lemon Riley Pfeiffer Portia Vedelago |
| 3rd Place | "Shoplifting" | Myah Hawira Archie Reimers Emma Purcell-Johnson Eryn Gregory |
SECTION 120 Years 5 - 6 Poem in Pairs Duo
| Highly Commended | Zackary Kerridge & Tyson McLady |
Our Debating Teams from St Joseph's acoss all year levels recently participated in the Border District Eisteddfod debating. In some really close debates, our Year 8, 9, 10, 11, and Senior teams all emerged victorious against Stanthorpe State High School, whilst our Year 7s narrowly lost.
Well done to all our debaters! The skills you’re learning and the experiences you’re gaining will undoubtedly prove invaluable for the future. Keep up the excellent work!
Our Prep students are now halfway through their first year of learning here at St Joseph’s School.
It’s truly heartwarming to witness their young minds blossom, develop, and absorb knowledge as they engage in the educational process. 
Rehearsals have commenced this week for the eagerly anticipated school play, "The Snow White Variety Show." Scheduled to take place from August 15th to 17th. This enchanting production promises to captivate the audience.
With auditions now complete, the cast has been carefully selected. Our talented students are eagerly preparing to take the stage, and their performance is sure to leave a lasting impression.
Get ready for a show that will be remembered for years to come!
Following on from our previous newsletter, here is the next installment of 'Reflections’ from Secondary students centered around the theme of ‘Creativity,’ which was the focus of this year’s Arts Festival.”
Please enjoy reading these "Reflections" below :
Year 8 Students - Tayla Hurtz, Ella Wren and Georgia Petrie
The role of knowledge in creativity?
A: Hey have you ever thought about how knowledge influences creativity?
B: Not lately!
A: Well, let me tell you. I think it’s like knowledge acts as both a canvas and a colour system for our creative accomplishments.
B: Okay. You’ve got me interested. So maybe when we learn new things, our mental toolbox expands. We gather knowledge like facts, theories, and insights. It’s like collecting colourful paints for our imagination.
A: Ahh yes but if you blend too many of those colours and slap it all down onto a canvas and mix and mix and mix, it’ll all turn brown…I had heaps of brown pictures when I was in kindy…
B: That seems to be the twist with knowledge and creativity: too much knowledge can be stifling. When we’re bound by rules and conventions, our creativity might suffer.
A: So it’s like trying to paint within the lines of a photocopied stencil all the time – with the only colour BROWN.
B: It’s definitely a delicate balance to make sure you have enough knowledge in the creation.
A: It’s like of like you need to learn all the knowledge like a pro, so you can blend it like an artist.
B: Totally, I think that when we truly understand something, we can spot gaps and make improvements just like we’re creating a sculpture.
A: So it’s like, knowledge fuels curiosity and curiosity fuels creativity.
B: And if we’ve got the richness of knowledge as a base, our creativeness can shine.
Year 7 Students - Mack Brown & Archie Elliot-Roberts
The cultural context of creativity?
A: Have you ever thought about how culture shapes creativity?
B: Not lately. But you tell me.
A: Well I kind of wonder if culture is like invisible brushstrokes that colours our creative canvas. It’s like culture infuses every stroke, every hue.
B: Okay, now you’ve got me interested. Press on.
A: Well, you know what I mean, it’s like different cultures have distinct conceptions of creativity. What’s considered a tradition in one place might be not as valuable and important or ordinary elsewhere.
B: Okay, so like the East and the West of the world.
A: Yes, like that. In some cultures, novelty reigns supreme. But in other cultures, usefulness and harmony matter just as much.
B: Okay so I get it. Story telling traditions are different from country to country. Like some countries use oral narrative and others it’s all written word and visual arts.
A: You get it! Some of those stories share a perspective of adversity like political upheaval, migration or social change and other share joy like connection, love and hope.
B: I’ve never thought of creativity like that.
St Joseph’s will host the Chilly Sing on Saturday June 08.
Singers are coming from Toowoomba, Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Tenterfield to join with locals in a day of singing.
You don’t need to read music and it doesn’t matter if you haven’t done much singing.
However, if you like singing and people, come along! Morning tea provided but BYO lunch.
Any enquiries, please contact James Cuskelly james.cuskelly@catholic.twb.edu.au.
Come along to St Joseph's School in Stanthorpe at 8:30am to register and collect your music!
We'd love to see you at the Big 'Chilly' Sing! ❄️
QISSN
Congratulations to Year 6 student, Ned Robinson, who received the exciting news that he has been selected to join the Darling Downs Cross Country Team.
Ned will now go on to compete at the State Championships from 12-14 July 2024 at Bald Hills.
Football (Soccer)
Well done everyone !
On Friday, May 31st, students from St Joseph’s traveled to Toowoomba to participate in the annual Vicki Wilson Netball Tournament. This exciting event provides an opportunity for competitive netball play while embracing the spirit of the game, as school teams from across the Darling Downs and South West region come together.
St Joseph’s fielded both a Senior Vicki Wilson Team, which included the QISSN representatives, and a Junior Vicki Wilson team comprising players from Years 7-9.
In Division 1 of the competition, the Junior team achieved an admirable 5th place out of 10 teams. Not only did the girls demonstrate excellent sportsmanship, but they also showcased exceptional skills and unwavering determination.
The Senior team proudly represented St Joseph’s school, winning 7 out of their 9 games in the Cup Development Division.
Congratulations to all the girls for their outstanding efforts!
Broncos Cup Rugby League and Netball
St Joseph’s School proudly entered teams in the Regional Broncos Cup Rugby League & Netball competitions, which took place on Thursday, May 23rd in Stanthorpe and Wednesday, May 29th in Goondiwindi.
In the Netball category, we had three teams competing:
- The A team secured a convincing win against Stanthorpe State High School, ultimately finishing 3rd overall.
- The B team gave their all but faced an agonizing 15-14 loss against Assumption College, earning a commendable 2nd place.
- The C team, despite not placing, displayed remarkable effort under the expert guidance of coach Elly—and all this without substitutes!
Our Rugby League B-grade team faced a challenging start, losing their first game against Goondiwindi SHS. However, they rallied and secured a victory against Allora, Killarney, Clifton.
Combining these results with the previous week’s performance, we qualified for the 3rd/4th finals. In a closely contested match, our boys gave their all, scoring 3 tries to Goondi’s 4.
Despite the narrow loss (which felt like a win), they represented Joey’s admirably. Notably, big Tony, a 105kg mobile player, was a force on the field. Overall, the team showed significant improvement throughout the day.
Golf
Wednesday 5th June was a beautiful afternoon for the Joeys staff v students Golf challenge.
And YES, the teachers take the spoils!! ⛳️ ?
House Sports
Today, students enthusiastically participated in the House Games, filling the air with laughter and excitement.
Activities like Dodgeball, Rob the Nest, Bridge Building, Bull Rush, and Pool Noodle Throw kept everyone engaged.
These events play a vital role in fostering our school’s culture.
| 8 June | Senior Formal |
| 10 - 12 June | Life Education Van |
| 10 - 14 June | Meals on Wheels |
| 11 June | Readers Cup |
| 12 June | Crisps Youth Art Prize Exhibition commences |
| 13 June | Crisps Youth Art Prize Awards Night |
| Power Tynan Financial Literacy Information Session | |
| 14 June | Teen Vinnies Movie Night (Secondary) @6pm |
| 17 - 19 June | Year 9 Camp |
| 17 - 20 June | Athletic Field Events (9, 10 & 11 Yrs) |
| 17 - 21 June | Year 10 Work Experience |
| 18 June | Year 11 RSA |
| P & F Meeting | |
| 19 June | Year 12 Safe Drive Training |
| 19 - 21 June | Year 8 Camp |
| 20 June | Year 1 & 2 Excursion to Stanthorpe Historical Museum |
| 21 June | End of Term Mass |
| Term 2 Finishes | |
| 8 July | Student Free Day |
| 9 July | Term 3 Commences |
