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- PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
- DEPUTY PRINCIPAL
- ASSISTANT TO THE PRINCIPAL PRIMARY
- AWARDS NIGHT
- WELCOME TO RACHEL - OUR NEW GUIDANCE COUNSELLOR
- YEAR 10 SCIENCE
- PRIMARY SPOOKY DISCO
- WINEMAKING SUCCESS
- IMPROVING STUDY SKILLS
- BOOK FAIR IS ALMOST HERE !
- LOUD SHIRT DAY
- INSTRUMENTS FOR ST JOSEPH'S - CAN YOU HELP ?
- WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT BECOMING A CATHOLIC ?
- STUDENTS BUS PASSES FOR 2022
- 2022 NEXT STEP SURVEY
- UPCOMING EVENTS

At St Joseph’s School, we believe that all are made in the image and likeness of God.
Being created in the image and likeness of God accords everyone an equal and inherent dignity (human dignity); gives everyone unlimited potential; and opens to everyone the promise of fullness of life, a meaningful and fulfilling life.
Within this context, the wellbeing and safety of our students is a fundamental part of our Catholic Education. We are a learning community that promotes student wellbeing, safety and positive relationships so that students can reach their full potential.
The wellbeing of children and young people is enhanced and their learning outcomes optimised when they feel connected to others and experience safe and trusting relationships. Students who feel connected, safe and secure are more likely to be active participants in their learning and to achieve better physical, emotional, social, spiritual and educational outcomes. Educators who feel valued and supported are more likely to engage positively with students and build stronger connections within the school community. Enhancing the wellbeing of students and their educators also delivers overall long-term social, health and economic benefits to the Australian community.
The Australian Student Wellbeing Framework supports Australian schools to promote positive relationships and the wellbeing of students and educators within safe, inclusive and connected learning communities.
This framework provides five key elements to promote student wellbeing, safety and learning outcomes.
- LEADERSHIP - Visible leadership to inspire positive school communities
- INCLUSION - Inclusive and connected school culture
- STUDENT VOICE - Authentic student participation
- PARTNERSHIPS - Effective family and community partnerships
- SUPPORT - Wellbeing and support for positive behaviour
This framework, together with the key elements of our Catholic identity, forms the basis of our practices here at St Joseph’s School.
The enrolments at the school have grown significantly, and continue to grow, this year. Enrolments are also very strong for 2022. As the school grows, we are very conscious that both current and new students fully embrace our core values and practices so that we have a safe and positive culture that enables all students to be able to say, “I belong. I am valued. I will be successful here.”
God Bless
Term 4 historically moves very quickly, and this year has been no different. We have flown past the halfway mark for students and over the next few weeks, as the assessment window draws closer, it is important that all students work collaboratively with teachers to meet deadlines and implement the feedback given to continue to improve the quality of responses.
The Year 12 students have engaged in the External Assessment block and the feeling of apprehension, coupled with positive energy, has seen the students perform remarkably well in the exams so far. The journey in preparing for these external exams has been long and challenging, and we as a school community are proud of the effort and commitment that the Year 12’s have shown across the exam block. We wish them continued luck!
Our Year 11 students travelled to Toowoomba recently to join other Year 11 students from schools within our Toowoomba Catholic system for a study skills day. During this day, students engaged in various activities relating to developing study skills and coping with the upcoming demands of summative assessment in Unit 3, as well as hearing from current and former Year 12 students who shared their lived experience of senior schooling and preparation for the External assessment block.
Awards night for Primary and Secondary students was a wonderful celebration of the achievements of our students in all aspects of their schooling. It was pleasing to see so many of our students receive recognition not only for academic success, but for sporting, cultural, religious and leadership success also. As a school community, we congratulate all these students on their excellent efforts across the year. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the new student leaders for 2022, in particular the students who have received opportunities to represent the student body as captains, vice captains, prefects and house captains. It is certainly an honour for these students, and I am confident they, along with the senior cohort as a collective group, will lead the school positively in 2022.
On November 8, the Year 6 students transitioning into Year 7 in 2022, including students joining our community from other schools in the region, will enjoy as full day program on the secondary campus. Details for this day have been sent to parents and we look forward to a fun-filled and engaging day of activities. As a school, we are excited to see the continued growth of the Year 6 students as a collective group as they move into secondary together, building on the wonderful work done this year in developing their skills, capabilities and leadership qualities as part of the Year 6 hub.
Live Jesus in our hearts,
Matthew Brown
Deputy Principal
ASSISTANT TO THE PRINCIPAL PRIMARY
Changing circumstances in our lives can be accompanied by a range of emotions. It may depend on the change itself, who instigated it or the perceived or actual consequences which will result. At this time of the school year, our minds naturally turn to transition - pre-school into Prep, Primary into Secondary and even class to class. Next week we will welcome the Prep students for 2022 for the first of two 'Practice Mornings'. The relationship between a teacher and a student of any age is crucial to ensuring that the latter feels that they belong and are valued. Without this feeling of safety, a child’s ability to learn is compromised. Mrs McNichol has already started to build that bond with her students for next year and the practice mornings will consolidate this further.
Congratulations to all those students who received academic or sporting recognition at our recent Awards Night. These occasions are a great celebration of achievement and it was lovely to see so many Primary students involved. However, we should not forget the work that every student has put into their learning this year. The ongoing work to develop the independence within our learners and the focus on our learning dispositions is becoming more and more evident in each of our classrooms and I hope that parents are hearing this in conversations with their children about their learning.
We are now in the final weeks of the academic year and teachers are busy analysing collected data in order to complete each child’s report. Much thought goes into this and also into the comments written and I thank the teachers for their commitment to this process. During this time we will also be considering, from a campus and also school perspective, what has gone well this year and what we can make even better next year. It is important to reflect and make necessary changes if we are to heed Mr Kendall’s words during his speech at Awards Night to ‘do the ordinary things, extraordinarily well’.
Sarah Yates
Assistant to the Principal Primary
Congratulations and well done to those students who received an award at the Awards Night held on Thursday 21st October.
MCAULEY AWARDS - Primary | |
McAuley Award-Year 3C | Rowan Butson, Sean Lancaster |
McAuley Award-Year 4P | Grace Barker, Jaycob Hardy, Lucas Ho, Rhys Murdoch |
McAuley Award-Year 5F | Ruby Danzey, Lachlan Doyle, Oliver Lahey, Lyndon Morello, Cheyenne Toohey, Phoebe Wilson |
McAuley Award-Year 6T | Olivia Favaro, Natalie Gasparin, Faith Lancaster, Jackson Pillar, Ned Torrens |
COMMUNITY AWARDS - The St Vincent De Paul Recognition of Service | |
Mini Vinnies President | Emily Robinson |
The St Vincent de Paul Living Mercy:Yr5-6 | Vayda Heads |
Teen Vinnies President | Isobella Evans & Caitlyn Hennoste |
The SVDP Living Mercy Award Yrs 7-11 | Caitlyn Hennoste |
LEADERSHIP AWARDS | |
Donna Shannon Leadership Award-Year 6 | Cael Armstrong, Vayda Heads, Luca Pompetti, Emily Robinson, Chloe Searle, Thomas Telfer, Charlotte Zanatta |
Ampol All Rounder-Year 12 | Louise Day |
Mayor's Medal-Year 12 | Eric Richards |
2021 STUDENT LEADER PRESENTATION | |
Principal's Recognition: School Captains | Gianna Newman & Cooper Wren |
Principal's Recognition: Vice Captains | Taylah Whiticker & Brayden Spiller |
Principal's Recognition: Prefects | Karla Brien & Louise Day |
Principal's Recognition: Prefects | Teresa Pozzebon & Eric Richards |
ACADEMIC AWARDS | |
Fr Valente Award-Year 3C | Ivy Hill, David Kendall, Ned Robinson, Imogen Staley |
Fr Valente Award-Year 4/5PG | Liam O'Dea, Eloise Verri |
Fr Valente Award Year 5 | Isaak Brown, Patrick Scudamore |
Fr Valente Award-Year 6 | Cael Armstrong, James Bell, Patrick Roberts, William Roberts |
The David Littleproud Endeavour Award - Year 6 | Lily Simpson |
Academic Recognition Award-Year 7 | Sienna Berlese |
Year 7 Awards-Distinction | Zayd Buscher, Brooke Day, Stephen Ellis, Hunter Hennessy, Lillian Kendall, Jahnavi Miriyala, Erin O'Dea, Hamish Organ, Jessica Pradella, Stella Rabic |
Year 7 Awards-Excellence | Jack Brown, Aryanna Davie, Eden Shatte, Harry Wren |
David Littleproud Year 7 Dux | Aryanna Davie |
Academic Recognition Award-Year 8 | Isaac Kay |
Year 8 Awards-Distinction | Eliza Bonner, Blake Campbell, Sophie Brunckhorst, Darcy Daddow, Halley Duff, Heidi Favaro, Alessia Gasparin, Eva Humble, Katie-Lee Jansink, Liam Telfer |
Year 8 Awards-Excellence | Grace Roberts, Ashlin Searle |
David Littleproud Year 8 Dux | Grace Roberts |
Academic Recognition Award-Year 9 | Dustin Alldridge, Patrick Brown, Kiana Stone, Luke Webb |
Year 9 Awards-Distinction | Samuel Ellis, Mia Everson, Maggie Gallaway, Abby Kliendienst, Annaliese McCosker, Brigid O'Dea, Olivia Page, Rylee Vedelago |
Year 9 Awards-Excellence | Freya Creer, Claire Danzey, Laura Richards, Claire Williamson |
David Littleproud Year 9 Dux | Claire Williamson |
Academic Recognition Award-Year 10 | Chloe Britton, Elizabeth Nash, David Nemeth |
Year 10 Awards-Distinction | Hayley Danzey, Sophie Day, Chelsea Debnam, Bronte Duff, French Gallego, Taryn McCosker, Kiara Osborne, Joshua Petrie, Elizabeth Searle, Addison Swan, Coen Taylor |
Year 10 Awards-Excellence | Belinda McIntyre, Taylah Organ, Eliza Telfer, Hannah Widderick |
David Littleproud Year 10 Dux | Taylah Organ |
Academic Recognition Award-Year 11 | Nalannah Hollis, Ashley O'Brien, Lara Parnell |
Year 11 Awards-Distinction | Natasha Brierley, Cydney McErvale, Kira St John |
Year 11 Awards-Excellence | Kirra Daddow, Kaelie Doyle, Caitlin Ellis, Isabel Kay |
David Littleproud Year 11 Dux | Caitlin Ellis |
Year 12 Awards-Distinction | Louise Day, Gianna Newman, Eric Richards, Struan Trenning, Taylah Whiticker |
Year 12 Awards-Excellence | Cooper Wren |
EXIMIUS AWARDS | |
RSL True Spirit Award - Year 6 | Emily Doyle |
Archbishop John Bathersby Literature Award | Patrick Roberts |
Excellence in Catholic Awards: Year 6 | Charlotte Pompetti & Thomas Petrie |
Excellence in Catholic Awards: Years 7-10 | Jessica Pradella (Yr 7), Blake Campbell & Grace Roberts (Yrs 8), Brigid O'Dea (Yr 9), Coen Taylor (Yr 10) |
RSL True Legends Award-Year 9 (3rd prize) | Laura Richards |
RSL True Legends Award-Year 9 (2nd prize) | Kiana Stone |
RSL True Legends Award-Year 9 (1st prize) | Claire Williamson |
University of the Third Age-Year 9 | Claire Danzey |
ADF Leadership Award-Year 10 | Eliza Telfer |
ADF Leadership Award-Year 12 | Taylah Whiticker |
Vocational Education & Training Award | Lara Parnell |
TCSO SBA | Teresa Pozzebon |
The Sister Ursula Frayne Award-Year 12 | Gianna Newman |
The Betty Yap Excellence Award-Year 12 | Teresa Pozzebon & Cooper Wren |
Proxime Accessit Award-Year 12 | Taylah Whiticker |
St Joseph's Dux-Year 12 | Cooper Wren |
SPORTS AWARDS | |
Prin Recog: Sports Captains-Davadi | Louise Day & Eric Richards |
Prin Recog: Sports Captains-McAuley | Teresa Pozzebon & Brayden Spiller |
Crisps Sport Star Award - Primary | Georgia Petrie |
Crisps Sports Star - Seciondary | Jessica Pradella |
Champion House - Primary | Davadi |
Champion House -Secondary | Davadi |
Champion House-Both | Davadi |
Young Winemakers' Award | Elizabeth Searle |
Australian Olympic Change-Maker Program Award | Isabel Kay |
Granite Belt Sport Representatives for 2021
ATHLETICS
Charlie Alldridge, Ted Bonner, Natalie Gasparin, Ivy Hill, Jaycob Hardy, Darius Jansink, Benjamin Kerridge, Addison McCosker, Aiden McCosker, Lyndon Morello, Margaret O’Dea, Georgia Petrie, Hannah Petrie, Thomas Petrie, Beau Rabic, Lily Tuvukica
BASKETBALL
Kael Einam, Liam Green, Darius Jansink, Thomas Petrie
CRICKET
Charlie Alldridge, Will Lawer
CROSS COUNTRY
Ted Bonner, Isaak Brown, Milla Fraguas, Lyndon Morello, Margaret O’Dea, Georgia Petrie, Hannah Petrie, Emily Robinson, Thomas Telfer, Lily Tuvukica
NETBALL
Emily Doyle, Lillian Kendall, Faith Lancaster, Addison McCosker, Margaret O’Dea, Georgia Petrie, Hannah Petrie, Luca Pompetti, Jessica Pradella, Chloe Searle, Lily Tuvukica, Charlotte Zanatta
ORIENTEERING
Oliver Lahey
RUGBY LEAGUE
Ted Bonner, Jason Haynes, Thomas Petrie, Jordan Sweet
SOCCER
Isaak Brown, Will Lawer, Jye Marino
SOFTBALL
Abigail McErvale, Chloe Searle
SWIMMING
Liam Green, Lillian Kendall, Jessica Pradella
Sport representatives for Border District for 2021
ATHLETICS
Eliza Telfer, Claire Williamson
CROSS COUNTRY
Brigid O’Dea, Erin O’Dea, Chelsea Debnam, Katie-Lee Jansink
DISCUS
Hannah Grogan
EQUESTRIAN
Lara Parnell
FOOTBALL
Mia Everson, Brayden Spiller, Addison Swan
NETBALL
Hannah Widderick
SHOT PUT
Katie-Lee Jansink
TOUCH FOOTBALL
Natasha Brierley
Sport Representatives for Darling Downs for 2021
BASKETBALL
Darius Jansink, Thomas Petrie
CROSS COUNTRY
Georgia Petrie
CRICKET
Will Lawer
ORIENTEERING
Ellis Lahey, Oliver Lahey
FOOTBALL
Brayden Spiller
FUTSAL
Luke Webb
SQUASH
Anika Rossington
SWIMMING
Jessica Pradella






























WELCOME TO RACHEL - OUR NEW GUIDANCE COUNSELLOR
Rachel has a Master of Education (Early Childhood) and Master of Education (Guidance & Counselling), and is currently completing a PHD at the University of Southern Queensland.
Rachel is currently a Course Examiner at the University of Southern Queensland for undergraduate and masters courses in Education. Prior to this, she has had extensive experience as a Learning Support and Learning Enrichment Teacher in a number of schools.
Welcome aboard Rachel !
Year 10 Science students consolidate their biogeochemical knowledge by playing a quiz board game in class. This is part of the Earth and Space unit.
Students also cover the topic of Global Warming in this unit, and have learned, by checking the national news each class, that global warming is a hot topic. Pun intended!








It was time to dust off the cobwebs and get ready to shake dem bones at the Primary Spooky Disco on Friday 29th October.
With a little ingenuity and DIY skills, the costumes which students came dressed in, were simply amazing and students had a FANGtastic time !
We had zombies, witches, skeletons, ghostly gouls and vampires just to name a few.
Well done to the Mrs Campbell and the Year 3 students for putting this event together.




























Students from Year 11 recently attended the Year 12 General Subjects Study Skills and Networking Day at St Mary’s College, Toowoomba which was held for Year 11 students from across the Diocese to work on improving study skills leading into Year 12 and to provide students with an opportunity to network with other Year 11 students.
The day highlights the importance of all teachers continually developing and reinforcing effective study skills with all their students.
It was a fun way to end our week and practice our Mercy value of 'service' and 'human dignity'.
















INSTRUMENTS FOR ST JOSEPH'S - CAN YOU HELP ?
Congratulations to all students who performed in either the Band or the Choir at the School's recent Awards Night – it was fantastic to have our students involved! And it was such a delight to see the students in the Prep-Yr 2 Choir performing as well!
The Music Program at St Joseph’s continues to develop and there is strong interest in instrumental learning. In 2022, the Band program will expand this program with a Primary and a Secondary Band rehearsing each week in the school. The problem is the shortage of instruments!! Of course, it takes a long time for a small school like ours to gather enough instruments to meet the needs of the Band program and, with the exception of flutes, all of our instruments are being used.
Do you have a Band instrument sitting in a cupboard at home that you would be happy to donate to us? Do you have an instrument that you would be prepared to give us on short-term loan? The students are thoroughly enjoying playing together in the Band and we want to encourage that enthusiasm. If you did have an instrument that you could make available to us, we would be most grateful.
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact James Cuskelly (james.cuskelly@catholic.edu.).








The Queensland Government will conduct its annual statewide survey of Year 12 completers in 2022. The Next Step survey is a brief, confidential survey that gains a comprehensive picture of the employment, study and life choices made by Queensland school completers in the year after they finish Year 12.
Between March and June next year, our current Year 12 students will receive a letter from the Minister for Education or an email or phone call from the Queensland Government Statistician’s Office inviting you to complete the survey. To enable them to reach you, please ensure your contact details are correct in your learning account by logging into the student portal at https://myqce.qcaa.qld.edu.au/
Further information on Next Step and results from previous surveys are available online at www.qld.gov.au/nextstep.
1 - 12 November | Year 12 External Exams |
5 November | Granite Belt Chess Competition |
8 - 12 November | BookFair |
8 November | Year 7 2022 Transition Day |
8 - 12 November | Cert II Rural Ops Camp |
9 November | Prep 2022 Prac Morning |
15 - 16 November | Year 12 Retreat |
15 November | Lecturette Town Final |
17 November | Primary Swimming Carnival |
17 November | Prep 2022 Prac Morning |
18 November | Year 12 Graduation Mass & Dinner |
19 November | Prep & Year 1 Fairytale Ball |
19 November | Year 12 Farewell Assembly |
Year 12 Students Finish | |
22 November | Lecturette District Final |
23 November | Year 11 - Toowoomba Senior Business Tour |
24 November | Year 11 Leadership Day |
26 November | Year 10 & 11 Students Finish |
1 December | Semper Una Year 6 Celebration |
2 December | Carols Under The Stars |
3 December | Term 4 Finishes |
Please note this is a ticketed event. Please click on the below link to obtain your FREE tickets:
Stanthorpe Tickets www.Bit.ly/GBBeatsBitesBounce
Get your tickets now for this FREE, fun, family event.