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- PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
- DEPUTY PRINCIPAL (ACTING)
- ASSISTANT TO THE PRINCIPAL PRIMARY
- ASSISTANT TO THE PRINCIPAL FORMATION & IDENTITY
- SEMPER UNA YEAR 6 CELEBRATION
- PRIMARY REPORTS
- UNLEASHING THE POTENTIAL OF OUR FUTURE LEADERS
- LECTURETTE DISTRICT FINALS
- ROTARY CRAFTSMAN OF THE YEAR AWARDS
- YEAR 3/4C GO SECRET SANTA SHOPPING
- YEAR 5 & 6 VISIT CARRAMAR
- FAREWELL TO OUR FIJIAN VISITORS
- YOUNG WINEMAKER PROGRAM WRAPS UP
- YEAR 11 BIOLOGY EXCURSION
- THANK YOU FOR DONATIONS
- SCHOOL BANKING
- CLASS OF 2009 REUNION
- WHERE ARE THEY NOW? PAST STUDENTS OF ST JOSEPH'S SCHOOL
- SPORT
- 2020 BOOK LISTS
- UPCOMING EVENTS
As the year comes to an end, I would like to thank all students, their families and the staff for helping to make the year a successful one for the school.
I would like to specifically thank both the P&F Association and the Board for their guidance and contributions throughout the year. Their efforts are very important in helping to set the direction of the school and provide assistance to the students. A special thanks to Mr Chris Haynes who stepped down from the Board this year after many years as a Chairperson and member. Chris is a wonderful supporter of the school.
The staff as a whole deserve a special mention for their good work this year to take the school forward. They are a dedicated and hard-working group who have the interests of the students at heart. I thank Mr Jim Armstrong, Mrs Emma Rhymer, Ms Leigh-Ann Cusack, Mrs Courtney Law and Ms Julia Wedderburn who finish at the school this week. Special mention to Jim Armstrong for his 35 years of service to St Joseph’s. He has been a much-loved teacher by all his students and a valued colleague to the staff.
Next year we have a number of new and exciting teachers joining the staff. They will bring much enthusiasm and experience to the school which will greatly benefit the students. I look forward to introducing them in the new year.
Well done to all the students for working towards being the best they can be. I hope they all come back to school well rested and ready to continue their Joey’s journey. To the Year 6 students, congratulations on completing your Primary journey and best wishes for the next phase of your schooling life.
Finally, I would like to wish all a merry and safe Christmas period.
God Bless
The final weeks of Semester 2 have certainly gone quickly, with students working positively towards completing assessment requirements and finishing a hectic, eventful and satisfying year. I congratulate all students on an excellent Semester and the strong academic results that are evident in the semester reports. In relation to semester reports, these will be mailed out towards the end of Week 9. Please take the time to work through the feedback within these reports and as always, I encourage parents to contact the relevant staff or myself if you wish to discuss anything contained within these reports.
I wish to also take this opportunity to thank all members of our school community for your wonderful support throughout the year. The students have had an excellent year and have earnt a well-deserved break and I thank you, as parents, for the role you have played in supporting them through another school year. To the staff, your awesome efforts and genuine care for the students never goes unnoticed and thank you for a wonderful year.
To all, enjoy a safe, enjoyable and fun-filled break. May the love of Jesus encounter each and every member of our community through the festive season. See you in 2020!
Matthew Brown
Deputy Principal (Acting)
ASSISTANT TO THE PRINCIPAL PRIMARY
Well… we have made it. The end of the academic year of 2019!
Throughout the year in this newsletter and also the Primary Campus newsletter, I have tried to give parents a sense of what happens on a day to day basis on this campus. It’s not always easy because there is often so much to report! The year has passed very quickly with us all trying to make the most of every minute available to us. The next few weeks often tend to be busy as well, as families plan for the Christmas season. I do hope that all of our families are able to find some quiet time during the holidays and have the opportunity to spend some quality time with those who are nearest and dearest to you.
In our assembly last week, I spoke to the children about the season of Advent and also the idea that Christmas is not necessarily about expensive gifts. Over the last three weeks, each of the Year 3/4 classes have visited Blue Care and the Year 5/6 classes visited Carramar. They played some handmade games, gave some handmade cards and spent time talking to the people at each place. What a wonderful way to live out our Mercy values.
In a similar vein, a Year 1 student approached me about the possibility of us sending Christmas cards to those who may not be looking forward to the Christmas period. As a result, over 100 cards have been written and will be distributed via the Vinnies’ shop in town as well as through St Joseph’s Church. Being able to give to others without expecting anything in return is a very special part of Christmas but also something that as Christians we should be looking to do throughout the year.
Finally, in this final newsletter for 2019, I wish to extend my thanks and appreciation to all the teachers and support staff who have worked tirelessly for the benefit of all the students. As Assistant Principal, I have valued the support they have given me also and I am looking forward to many exciting initiatives in 2020 as we look to build on our successes. Some teachers will not be with us next year; Ms Leigh-Ann Cusack has decided to move on and Mrs Lesley Grant will be taking long service leave in Semester 1. We will also say goodbye to Mr Dave Ross who is retiring from his role as a music teacher. I wish them all well. Some students will also be leaving us at the end of the year. Again, I wish them well for their future schooling.
With God’s blessings for a Christmas season filled with much peace, love and joy.
Sarah Yates
Assistant to the Principal Primary
ASSISTANT TO THE PRINCIPAL FORMATION & IDENTITY
The Waiting...
For many of us, both young and old, it is the waiting that can be the most difficult, particularly when we await a time of joy, excitement, gathering, giving and receiving. The season of Advent, which commenced on Sunday 1st December, allows us an opportunity to prepare for the coming of Christ’s birth. Over the next four Sundays of Advent, we watch and wait in joyful anticipation of the birth of Jesus. It is a time for personal growth and reflection, for renewal and rejuvenation, for listening and longing.
“Listen! Listen to the stirring of the heavens. The stars are gathering, the light shifts, and there is a steady beat, beat, beat across the universe. Listen! Listen to the rhythm of Advent. A readying, pulsing heartbeat, steady and real beats, beats, beats, across this season. Listen! Listen to the beat. God's Advent beat, transforming swords into plowshares, missiles to Communion plates, rifles to rocking chairs. Listen! Come with me, and pick up the beat of God. For God is beating out the rhythm of something new. Amen.”
I also take this opportunity to thank students and their families for the support of the religious life of St Joseph’s School and wish you all a holy and happy Christmas.
Megan Mahoney
Assistant to the Principal Formation & Identity
At the end of this term you will receive your child’s academic report for Semester 2, reflecting their performance against the Australian Curriculum Achievement Standard for each subject. The teachers have have given much consideration to the grades and comments and taken into account a wide variety of evidence. For your information, the grades awarded for each subject can be interpreted in the following way:
A |
The student is able to successfully and independently complete unfamiliar tasks where they have applied their knowledge and understanding. |
B |
The student is working beyond the expected level of knowledge and understanding for the cohort and is beginning to demonstrate this through exploring some unfamiliar tasks. |
C |
The student has achieved a level of knowledge and understanding at the expected level for their cohort. This is demonstrated through familiar tasks. |
D |
The student is working towards the standard of knowledge and understanding for the cohort, but requires additional support at this stage. |
E |
The students requires significant support at this stage to complete tasks that are appropriate to the cohort. |
The effort rating, learning habits and general comment offer information as to the skills and dispositions your child has demonstrated throughout Semester 2. These may provide a starting point for a discussion relating to ‘the more you put in, the more you get out’. As teachers, we encourage the students to become more active participants in their learning rather than passive recipients, and to understand that having a growth mindset can allow you to reach for and attain goals… if you are prepared to put in the effort. It is also important to see your child as an individual, rather than comparing them to siblings or others in the cohort. If your child is growing in their learning, this is cause for celebration regardless of the starting point or the level achieved.
However, it is also important to remember that an academic report is only one way to measure the ‘success’ of a semester and in some respects it may be seen as limited. To name just a few things, each and every child on the Primary Campus this Semester has experienced highs and lows, learned about how to negotiate and renegotiate friendships, has grown in their spiritual understanding of what it means to be a student at a Catholic school, has felt compassion in regards to the plight of others and acted to do something about it, has felt frustration when aspects of a subject seemed too complex to understand and demonstrated resilience in order to overcome those problems. Many of them are able to explain what it means to be ‘in the learning pit’ and describe strategies for getting themselves out. Educating students for life in the 21st Century is more than imparting knowledge; it is about developing a creative thinker, a problem solver, an effective communicator, having a sense of resilience, establishing respectful relationships and building a strength of character to stand up for what they believe to name but a few things.
UNLEASHING THE POTENTIAL OF OUR FUTURE LEADERS
Year 11 students at St Joseph’s School have been developing their leadership skills that will have them stepping up to the challenge to become positive leaders and role models in 2020.
Recently, the students were invited to a Mayoral Leadership Luncheon on Wednesday 20th November with passionate Queenslander and rugby league hero, Billy Moore. Mr Moore shared stories from his impressive football career, his transition from rugby league legend to small business entrepreneur, and the story behind his famous ‘Queenslander’ chant. He also spoke about endurance and adversity, and inspired attendees to embrace the notion and actions required to become leaders themselves.
The luncheon was a great opportunity for our Year 11 students to meet and be inspired by local leaders, as well as equip our Year 11 cohort with the mindset, skills and culture to lead the school community in 2020.
The students also participated in a Leadership Day on Monday 25th November where they worked specifically on collaborative leadership, leadership theory, change theory and WOOP (Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, Plan) goals for next year. Some of the student's feedback of the day includes;
- "Today was really fun, I really enjoyed the formula for change. Personally I find taking the first steps the hardest, but after that the rest can be easier to achieve."
- "The seminar today pin-pointed exactly what we need to do to be better leaders especially how to fulfil our goals."
Thank you to our Year 11 students who engaged with maturity and positivity during these activities. We look forward to your leadership in 2020!
The annual Lecturette competition for Year 6 students has come around again, with six St Joseph’s School students standing tall to present their speeches with eight students from other local schools at the Lecturette District Final held on Monday 2nd December.
Angus Crome, Liam Telfer, Sonny Fraguas, Imogen Rossow, Jacob Hennoste and Noah Taylor were selected to represent St Joseph’s School in the finals, after reciting their lectures to students, staff and families in the Town Final competition held on Monday 25th November.
While public speaking can be very daunting, all students were confident and assertive in the delivery of their speeches which were the result of weeks of planning, drafting, editing and polishing.
Although St Joseph's School did not take home the trophy this year, the students enjoyed the opportunity to develop their research skills and present a point of view. Well done to all the students who competed and to Grace Roberts from Severnlea State School who won the competition.
ROTARY CRAFTSMAN OF THE YEAR AWARDS
Thomas A. Edison said, "To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk."
While students who entered the annual Rotary Craftsman of the Year Award used timber and other materials rather than junk, they certainly showed imagination and quality workmanship in their entries.
Well done to the Year 10 St Joseph's School boys who presented their work for the Craftsman Awards held on Monday 25th November. Congratulations to winner Brayden Spiller and runner-up Joshua Rowan, and thank you to Rotary for continuing this great competition and providing a wonderful evening for guests.
YEAR 3/4C GO SECRET SANTA SHOPPING
The end of the year means Secret Santa shopping for the Year 3/4C class! The students walked down to the main street on Tuesday 3rd December and visited the Reject Shop and Price Busters. There were plenty of tough decisions and astute purchases made, with students buying their Secret Santa a range of gifts from slime to stickers! To finish off, the students wrapped their gifts using the paper they'd designed in class.
Our Year 5 and 6 students recently visited the Carramar Aged Care Facility as part of our Faith in Action programme, which provides students the opportunity to serve others in the community and give them the lifelong understanding and empathy to be caring citizens.
During the visit students presented Christmas cards to the residents which they made themselves, shared memories from photo albums and listened to stories, with some even receiving marriage advice!
Thank you to the staff and clients of the Carramar Aged Care Facility for welcoming our students. There were some lovely interactions which we’re sure will be cherished by both residents and students alike.
FAREWELL TO OUR FIJIAN VISITORS
Our Fijian visitors will be returning home today after spending almost two weeks at St Joseph's School and with their host families. During their visit the staff and students from Fiji not only participated in classes and activities at Joey's, but were also able to visit the Gold Coast, as well as a number of local attractions such as Girraween National Park, Washpool Farm Soaperie, Suttons Juice Factory and Symphony Hills Winery.
The students have been quick to get involved in school and community activities, and all say they would like to return to Australia in the future to study. We would like to thank the host families for generously opening their homes and we wish our visitors a safe journey home.
YOUNG WINEMAKER PROGRAM WRAPS UP
Thursday 28th November was the final day of the Young Winemaker Program for 2019. It began with a few hours of spring training at Ballandean Estate and was followed by a tour of the cellar door and discussion about sales and marketing. Students then visited Golden Grove and Bungawarra Wines to look at how different wineries in the district promote their products locally and further afield. The final stop of the day was lunch and ice-cream at Jamworks, while hearing about how the successful business uses local wines in their cooking and on their menu.
It was definitely an enjoyable way to celebrate the success of this year’s program!
The Year 11 Biology students travelled to Girraween National Park on Wednesday 20th November to investigate the biodiversity of plant life. Students collected data on species richness, abundance and distribution. These factors of an ecosystem can assist us to understand the health of the area, especially after bush fires and drought.
We would like to express our gratitude to the many schools near and far who have provided aid and donations to St Joseph's School, following the recent weather events, including the on-going drought and bushfires, that have affected our community this year.
- Mary MacKillop College – Highfields
- Assumption College – Warwick
- Guardian Angels Catholic Primary School – Ashmore
- St Joseph’s School – Corinda
- St Thomas More’s – Toowoomba
- Our Lady Help – Hendra
- Holy Spirit School – Aitkenvale
- Sacred Heart Catholic School Geeveston – Tasmania
- Good Samaritan Catholic College – Bli Bli
- The Rotary Satellite Club of Tenterfield - The Granite Belt
Despite all schools requiring funds for their own deserving initiatives, these shools selflessly raised funds and generously donated to help our students and community during these tough times. We greatly appreciate your support and donations.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Mrs Daniela Scalia for her long running support to school banking. Daniela has been a banking co-ordinator for the past 4 years. Each week Daniela volunteers her time to ensure students’ banking is processed. We thank Daniela for her time and effort, it has been very appreciated.
Would you like to be a Banking Co-ordinator? What does a Banking Co-ordinator do each week?
- Process student banking
- Counting monies and deposit at the bank
- Distribute any prizes
- Takes approximately 20 minutes of your time each week
If you would like to assist in school banking please contact the office. School Banking will recommence in the second week of Term 1 2020.
A decade on, the class of 2009 enjoyed their 10 year anniversary of completing school on Saturday 23rd November. The past students of St Joey's enjoyed a walk through the Secondary campus and were thrilled to have their photo taken with the new “The Last Supper” outdoor reflective space. These celebrations serve as a way for us to stay connected to our past through the lives and stories of the many hundreds of students who have walked the hallways of Joey's.
Photo: Year 12 Graduating Class of 2009
Back row: Michael Catanzaro, Kaitlyn Contarino, Luke Staples, Raymond Arcidiacono, Tim Doro
Front Row: Brooke Dowie (Shatte), Georgia Densley (Costanzo), Katelyn McMeniman, Luke Cosmo
WHERE ARE THEY NOW? PAST STUDENTS OF ST JOSEPH'S SCHOOL
Hundreds of past students of St Joseph’s School are scattered throughout Australia and around the world, working across every industry. We’re proud of our past students and their achievements – big and small. In future newsletters, we will be highlighting a past student and sharing what they have been up to since leaving the Joey's gates.
HEATHER DEZUANNI
1990 - When the high school finished at Year 10 and I had to go to Stanthorpe State High School.
What were your favourite subjects at St Joseph’s School?
Art and Science. I loved our little art department and my teacher at the time (Mrs Pollard) would let me spend extra time before and after class. It was a really nurturing space for me.
Can you tell us about your time at St Joseph’s School? Is there anything you especially remember?
Is there anything you especially remember? From primary school I remember playing during lunch time and rolling down the hill between the top and bottom oval and getting dirty. From high school I remember all of the teachers being kind and encouraging. Being a teenager was hard but I always felt like the teachers were lovely to me. I also loved my sports and the school and local community were incredibly supportive with me running a little local Karate club. I’ll always be grateful for that.
What has been your journey since finishing school? Briefly outline your career path and what you are doing now. Have you always wanted to pursue the kind of career you have embarked on?
I really had no idea what I wanted to do when I left school. I knew I wanted a career and to see the world and go on adventures. I knew I wanted to contribute to my community but had no idea how to do that. After I finished Year 12 I started a Bachelor of Science at the University of Queensland, but didn't finish my degree and ended up joining the Queensland Police in 1995. I became a qualified detective working in Child Protection and then transferred to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) in 2008. I worked overseas in capacity development and peace keeping. I also worked for the United Nations for a year. It was pretty exciting at times. I think I probably gave my parents more than one heart attack. While I was working overseas I started looking for my next challenge in life and met some doctors and nurses with incredible backgrounds. They encouraged me to apply for medicine so after some more study and getting myself ready to sit the entrance exam I applied and was accepted to start in 2014. I graduated from Griffith University, Doctor of Medicine in 2017. I’ve been working in a small hospital in Brisbane and I start my General Practitioner training next year.
What do you believe St Joseph’s School has shown you/given you as a person?
St Joseph’s School had given more to both my family and I can express. My parents just wanted us to have more opportunities in life than they had as poor farmers and an Italian immigrant. They probably couldn’t afford the small fees all of the time, but it wasn’t a problem. We were always welcome in the St Joseph’s community. Those small acts of kindness have had a phenomenal flow on effect. My brother had the opportunity through St Joseph’s School to attend Marist Brothers in the 80’s through a bursary. Because of my brother’s influences and encouragement and kindness from my teachers I also wanted an education and a career. I would never be where I am without St Joseph’s School.
What piece of advice would you have for current students at St Joseph’s School?
If you can dream it, you can do it. Truly, you can. I could never have imagined being where I am now.
Primary Swimming Carnival
The annual Primary School Swimming Carnival was held on Wednesday 20th November. As always, it was wonderful to see students giving it their all in the pool.
Overall, Davadi were House Champions with McAuley taking out the House Spirit Award. Below are the individual results of the carnival;
8 Year old Boy Champion | Lyndon Morello |
8 Year old Boy Runner Up | Aiden McCosker |
8 Year old Girl Champion | Claire Stanford |
8 Year old Girl Runner Up | Cheyenne Toohey |
9 Year old Boy Champion (tie) | Liam Green & Thomas Telfer |
9 Year old Girl Champion | Lily Tuvukica |
9 Year old Girl Runner Up | Natalie Gasparin |
10 Year old Boy Champion | Darius Jansink |
10 Year old Boy Runner Up | Billy Gallaway |
10 Year old Girl Champion | Jessica Pradella |
10 Year old Girl Runner Up | Lillian Kendall |
11 Year old Boy Champion (tie) | Jaiden Morello & Jayden Green |
11 Year old Girl Champion | Eliza Bonner |
11 Year old Girl Runner Up | Jessica Ellis |
12 Year old Boy Champion | William Kay |
12 Year old Boy Runner Up | Isaac Kay |
12 Year old Girl Champion | Katie-Lee Jansink |
12 Year old Girl Runner Up | Dakota Burton |
Records
Name | Event | Time | Previous Record |
Jessica Pradella | 10 Year Girls Freestyle | 35.16 | Nicola Cobon (2002) |
Jessica Pradella | 10 Year Girls Backstroke | 43.15 | Nicola Cobon (2002) |
The 2020 Book lists are now available for parents to start preparing for 2020 at St Joseph's School! These book lists have also been sent through Parent Paperwork via email.
5 December | Carols Under the Stars |
6 December | Last Day of Term 4 - 12pm finish |
28 January | First Day of Term 1 2020 Years 1-7 & 10-12 |
29 January | First Day of Term 1 2020 Prep and Years 8-9 |