The Gift of Mercy...

On Friday 31st January staff participated in a retreat day at the Queensland College of Wine and Tourism. The day was facilitated by Sr Margaret Madden, who formerly taught at St Joseph’s School in the early 80's.

Following a busy week of meetings and preparation, staff enjoyed an opportunity to reflect, discuss and consider the Mercy values and how these are acknowledged in our school, both by ourselves and our students. Our day concluded with group discussion and sharing around ways in which our Mercy values can continue to be the lived experience of our community. 

“Mercy is more than Charity – for it not only bestows benefits, but it receives and pardons again and again – even the ungrateful”. (Catherine McAuley)

Megan Mahoney
Assistant to the Principal Formation & Identity

The 2020 school year at St Joseph’s School started with a hive of activity, with some excited (and nervous) students starting their first day at a new school, and others starting their first day of Prep or Secondary school.  

We would like to warmly welcome our existing and new families to the school for 2020 and to welcome our new teachers. All of our new staff bring experience, enthusiasm and a passion for teaching to the school. Our community of teachers continues to grow, but our mission remains the same; we are here to serve, teach and help our students.

Our start to the year has been remarkably smooth here at Joey’s and much collaborative planning and hard work has gone into making it an easy and positive transition. We look forward to a busy, productive and fun year ahead!  

On Wednesday 29 January, St Joseph’s School Stanthorpe welcomed twenty-seven Prep students as they commenced their journey into their formal schooling in a Christian-based learning environment.

There were big smiles and a few nervous tears as the students farewelled their families and commenced their first day with play, songs and ‘get-to-know-you’ games. As the day progressed the classroom became a hive of activity, with students very curious to explore their new environment. A particular highlight of the day was when the students received their new yellow Prep hats at a special assembly.

It has been a busy two weeks since the Preps first started. Not only have the students been getting to know each other as well as their new learning environment, but they also had the opportunity to meet the school’s Adopt-a-Cop, Sergeant Dan O’Dea when he recently visited the Prep classroom.

Sergeant Dan O’Dea spoke to the students about protective behaviours and feeling safe, as well as road safety in and around the school. The students were very excited by their special visitor and it certainly was a highlight of their first week!

We have been very proud of our student’s progress and enthusiastic participation into Prep, with all students taking it in their stride!

Throughout Year 3 students learn to discuss topics and work in 'learning' teams. During the week in their Science task Year 3 students learnt to categorise things according to features, with each team then justifying their choices. Year 3 teacher, Mrs Johanna Campbell snapped these photos of the students in their Science lesson!

Year 9 Art students have started the Term with a unit on jewellery design with polymer clay on the theme of Australiana. Students started by revising colour theory such as the colour wheel, colour mixing, tints, shades and tones, before then learning how to handle and work with polymer clay. Next, the students will start to choose a focus from the Australiana theme and begin drawing their designs! 

We would like to share this touching poem about "The Last Supper" written by Mrs Jacquie Large, a former employee here at St Joseph's School. 

Above: Year 7 - 9 students sit around "The Last Supper"

"The Last Supper"

In the grounds of the Catholic School

The one that’s quite near to me;

Is the table of the Last Supper

And a model of Jesus sitting, waiting under the tree.

There are 12 seats around the table

Room enough for those who come;

The children bring their lunches

And Jesus joins them having fun.

The talk is never loud or angry,

And all who come return the next day;

A tranquil place to reconnect

You don’t feel like moving on, you’d rather stay.

The idea of this Last Supper

And putting it in the school grounds;

I believe it was down to the Headmaster

His imagination knows no bounds.

For visitors and school children alike

What a success it has been;

Sitting at the table with Jesus

Is something so rarely ever seen.

So, when you’re out shopping and in a big rush

Please detour round by the school

You’ll see him sitting there, and you’ll pause for a minute

Take it easy, slow down, play it cool.

Written by Jacquie Large 2019

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. 

CHRIS CATANZARO

What year did you graduate?

I graduated from Year 12 in 2002. I spent all of my schooling years at St Joseph’s School, having enrolled in Year 1 in 1991. 

What were your favourite subjects at St Joseph’s School?

I enjoyed all of my subjects, but Ancient History was probably my favourite in high school. I especially enjoyed learning about the ancient Greeks and Romans – what they were capable of thousands of years ago is just incredible and the stories from that time are just as dramatic as any action movie you might watch. Even today, I enjoy reading and learning about all forms of history – it is one of my favourite things to do in my spare time.

I also really liked Maths (unlike a lot of other people) – which probably explains how I ended up pursuing a career in finance! 

Can you tell us about your time at St Joseph’s School? Is there anything you especially remember?

I have a lot of great memories from my time at St Joseph’s School. Perhaps the best memories however are of the times spent talking and laughing with friends. At the time, I remember thinking how busy I was with all of the school work that needed to be completed – but looking back at it now, I realise just how fun and relatively care-free those days really were. 

I also remember the warmth and generosity of the teaching staff – I feel they created a really supportive and caring environment that helped to facilitate my learning experience. 

What has been your journey since finishing school? Have you always wanted to pursue the kind of career you have embarked on?

It actually took me a little while to work out what I wanted to do once I left Secondary. Initially, I enrolled in a Bachelor of Engineering degree at the Univeristy of Queensland (UQ) in Brisbane. After the first year however, it became clear to me that it wasn’t what I wanted to do for the rest of my career. 

After some reflection, I made the decision to enrol in a dual Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Commerce degree at UQ. As part of this degree, I had the opportunity to study some finance courses, which I found really interesting. Once I took the ‘corporate finance’ course, I knew exactly what I wanted to do after university. I had a great lecturer (Dr Jason Hall) who really opened my eyes to the possibilities of a career in corporate finance – and I haven’t looked back ever since.

After completing the Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) program and receiving a University Medal for my academic achievements at UQ, I managed to secure a graduate position at BDO. BDO is one of the world’s leading accounting, tax and advisory firms. We have about 600 employees in our Brisbane office and about 80,000 employees in more than 160 countries globally. 

I am now a Corporate Finance Partner at BDO in Brisbane. In my role as a Corporate Finance Partner, I specialise in providing valuation, merger and acquisition, IPO advisory, due diligence and financial modelling services to a broad range of public and private sector entities. It is a high pressure role and can be quite stressful at times – but I really enjoy helping the companies I work with to achieve their objectives.

What do you believe St Joseph’s School has shown you/given you as a person?

I think St Joseph’s School (together with my parents) helped me develop a core set of values that have stayed with me since finishing school. Values such as determination, resilience, respect and empathy for others, self-sacrifice, integrity – my understanding and appreciation of all of these values was enhanced by the time I spent at St Joseph’s School.      

I also think St Joseph’s School helped instil in me a lifelong love of learning.  In my view, this is one of the best gifts a school can provide to a student. St Joseph’s School didn’t just teach me English or Maths – it helped me to understand and appreciate the joy of learning itself, for which I am very grateful.

What piece of advice would you have for current students at St Joseph’s School?

Try and learn as much as you can from each experience that you have while you are at school – be that in the classroom, on the sporting field, or when interacting with others. Participate in as many things as you can and do your best to take advantage of the opportunities that are given to you. Unfortunately, not every child in the world has the privilege of attending a great school like St Joseph’s School, so try and make the most of it.

Also, make sure you enjoy your time there as much as possible. It may feel like you are there for a relatively long time, but it is ever so fleeting. I understand study can be stressful at times – but remember to try and have fun! 

Police from Stanthorpe Road Policing Unit are working in conjunction with St Joseph’s School and the wider community to promote safer and appropriate parking habits at school drop-off and collection times. Please read the attached notice from the Stanthorpe Road Policing Unit regarding parking instructions in and around St Joseph's School. 

As we begin the new year we would like to remind parents and families of some general administrative requirements; 

Early departure & late arrival slips

If your child is late they must report to the Primary office to collect a late slip so their attendance can be marked accordingly. If your child is required to leave school early, they must also report to the Primary office to collect an early departure slip which they are to then give to their teacher. Students must have permission from parents to leave early by providing a note, calling the office or emailing stanthorpe@twb.catholic.edu.au. We are not able to give a student an early departure slip if we have not received permission from the parent.

Absent student 

If your child is absent from school, please advise the office by calling on 07 4681 5900 or emailing stanthorpe@twb.catholic.edu.au. When leaving a message please clearly state your child's name and their class. Please do not ask your other children to advise the office as often these messages are not passed on. 

Change of details

If you have recently changed address, phone number or any other details have changed please advise the office so we can ensure our records are up to date and we can update any systems that may be impacted. 

Primary carpark 

Parents are reminded that the carpark at the Primary office is strictly for teachers and staff only during school hours. Please do not use the car park to collect your children.

Volunteers

We always welcome volunteers in our library, tuckshop or at out-of-class activities. If you would like to become a volunteer please undertake the Student Protection and Code of Conduct for 2020 here. Once completed, you will be required to print and return the Volunteer Declaration form to the Primary office at stanthorpe@twb.catholic.edu.au. Please note that Parents/Caregivers cannot volunteer in any capacity without completing the Declaration. We ask that you complete the declaration and return by 28th February. 

Uniform

We believe a clean, neat, uniformed appearance reflects a pride in the individual as well as reflecting well upon his/her family and school. Please click here for the updated Uniform & Grooming Policy. The expectation is that all students are wearing the correct uniform and groomed as per the policy every day.

Please also ensure you print your child’s name on their school uniforms with a permanent marker. There is a lost property box located in in the Multipurpose room at Primary and in the staffroom at Secondary – lost or unnamed articles are placed here to await collection. We encourage parents to check these boxes regularly for lost clothing. 

School-tv for Parents

Parents are reminded that St Joseph's School provide families free access to School-tv for Parents, an online resource designed to empower parents with credible, sound information on issues and challenges their children may be facing. Topics and advice range from mental health and cyber security to school survival and positive parenting. To access School-tv for parents please click here. 

Tuition Fees are utilised to meet the operating costs of the school and we appreciate the commitment in making payment of school fees. Fees are essential for the school to provide quality education for all students. We ask families to make full payment of school fees within one month of fees being issued. Weekly, fortnightly or monthly repayments may be made to assist with budgeting for families. Please review current repayments made to assist in covering the full year’s fees. Our school Bursar, Mrs Megan Hines, is willing to assist in discussing appropriate repayments to avoid shortfalls at the end of the year. 

Payments can be paid at the office by cash, cheque or EFTPOS. Alternatively internet banking can be directly deposited into the following bank account;

Account Name — St Joseph’s School
Bank & Branch — Commonwealth, Stanthorpe (064-431)
Account No. — 1018-4376

Reference – Surname and Account Code (located on your invoice and statement)

Annual School Fees – if you choose to pay your fees annually, a 5% discount on Tuition Fees only will be applied (full payment of the annual fee must be paid within one month of invoice date to receive this discount). Please notify Mrs Megan Hines by email at Megan.Hines@twb.catholic.edu.au or phone 4681 5903 with a request for your fees to be billed as an annual fee by 12th February 2020. Please advise your decision even if this option was selected last year as families may not choose this option this year.

A Family Contribution Fund fee of $125 is added to Term 3 School Fees to families who choose not to assist with at least two school events/activities throughout the school year. Activities include assisting with the Primary and Secondary Tuckshops, working bees, Palgrove catering at auction, classroom helpers, The Apple & Grape float and other fundraising events. We encourage new and current families to contribute their time to the school.

Extra activities including camps, retreats, excursions, ski trips, sporting activities including QISSN & Confro, school jerseys/shirts, yearbooks and any other extra events/activities must be paid prior to student attendance or receival of goods.

For repayment options or if you haven’t received an invoice by the end February, or for any other issues regarding school fees and payments, please contact the Bursar, Mrs Megan Hines via email (Megan.Hines@twb.catholic.edu.au) or phone directly on 4681 5903.

It is a requirement that one (1) term’s notice be given to the school in advance of a child’s enrolment being withdrawn from the school. Where the notice period is not met, parents/carers will pay one (1) term’s fees in lieu of notice.

Parents having difficulty with payment of school fees can apply for a concession by contacting Mrs Angie Sims on 4681 5904 to arrange a meeting with the Principal. Parents who received a concession in 2019 will also need to re-apply for a concession unless stated in interview.

If you have been wanting to get rid of that magazine stash at home, now's your chance! Secondary art teacher, Mrs Courtenay Mason is looking for National Geography, Time and fashion magazines such as Marie Claire and Vogue for the school's collage resources. Please drop them off at the Primary Office or ask your children to give them directly to Mrs Mason at the Secondary staffroom.

For any students who may be interested, the Granit Belt Junior Choir will rehearse at the Little Theatre on Tuesday afternoons from 3:30 - 5:00pm. Children who are 6 to 10 year olds stay until 4.15pm, while older children stay until 5.00pm and learn some more challenging skills. Cost is $20 per year (discounts apply for families with 3 or more children). You will not need to sign up until the student has had attended a couple of lessons first. For more information check out their Facebook Page! 

The Living Away from Home Allowance (LAFHA) provides assistance to families who must board their children away from home to access Secondary education and who meet the criteria. 

We would like to bring to your attention the 2020 application form for eligible families. The form must be certified by the Principal before being submitted to the Rural & Distance Education Office. 

Should you have any questions please call the Rural & Distance Education office on 02 6334 8070.

The recent bushfire season in Australia has been catastrophic. It left in its wake a tragic loss of human life, native animals, livestock as well as many homes. Families have been either exposed or affected directly or indirectly, leaving many feeling overwhelmed and devastated. During such a traumatic event, children and teenagers are the most vulnerable. It is important to understand that they may not fully comprehend what they have seen either first-hand or in the media coverage. It can make them feel sad, anxious and even stressed.

Whilst most will recover and resume normal functioning, there will be some young people that will be deeply affected and require psychological support. The University of Melbourne’s ‘Beyond Bushfire Project’ found that mental health problems doubled in recovering communities up to 3 or 4 years after a bushfire.

In order to support our young people during this time, it is also important for adults to manage their own shock, grief, anxiety and anger before talking to kids about this tragedy.

In this Special Report, parents and caregivers will be given some key strategies that can be implemented to support kids who feel scared or worried as a result of this traumatic event. We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this Special Report, and as always, we welcome your feedback.

If you do have any concerns about the wellbeing of your child, please contact the school for further information or seek medical or professional help.