Everyone is encouraged to come, view and support the amazing art from across all the schools in the Stanthorpe district either on opening night, or during its display until Sunday 2 October.
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- PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
- DEPUTY PRINCIPAL
- ASSISTANT TO THE PRINCIPAL PRIMARY
- ASSISTANT TO THE PRINCIPAL FORMATION & IDENTITY
- STUDYING THE PHYSICS OF FORCES
- RUBBISH TALKS
- TEEN VINNIES
- AUASTRALIAN CATHOLICS YOUNG VOICES AWARD
- YEAR 6 NEWS
- YOUNG WINEMAKERS
- ART NEWS
- YEAR 5 & 6 STUDENTS ENJOY THEIR TIME AWAY AT CAMP
- DESSERTS DOWN-UNDER
- CRISPS YOUTH ART PRIZE
- NEW SBA STUDENT - MIKA HALLIDAY
- PRIMARY DISCO
- CHILD SAFETY WEEK
- R U OK DAY?
- MEXICAN AFTER MASS
- SCHOOL UNIFORMS FOR 2023
- IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER
- SPORT
- UPCOMING EVENTS

Over recent weeks the Parents and Friends Association has been very active supporting our school community. The work they do is not only important to help raise funds for different projects and programmes within the school, but is essential to promoting St Joseph’s School in the wider community.
The P & F Trivia Night was a great success. All who attended had a lot of fun and look forward to the next one. We thank Jodie Cosmo for coordinating the event, Dan O’Dea for his exceptional work as the trivia master, Chris Wren for his MCing and DJing, and all others who assisted on the evening. It was wonderful to see so many members of the Stanthorpe community enjoying themselves and we are exceptionally grateful for all the local businesses and individuals who sponsored the evening.
I would also like to thank Michelle Mason and her team of parents for their catering at the Palgrove Bull Sale last week. The Bull Sale and the Trivia Night are key events on the P & F calendar.
Thanks to all family members and friends of the school who have volunteered their time to help out throughout the year. Your contributions are vital to the ongoing success of the school and our ability to provide quality resources, services and programs to our students.
Staffing Changes
Best wishes to Secondary teacher, Lisa McPherson, who has finished her time at St Joseph’s School this week. Lisa’s husband is starting a new job in Brisbane, so the family is moving there. Lisa has done exceptional work at the school and we thank her for making St Joseph’s School a better place.
Secondary teacher, Claire Bugden is expecting her first child shortly. We wish her well during her maternity leave over the next nine months.
John Mahoney has also finished up as our Campus Minister. John did a wonderful job in that role and we are grateful for his time with us.
I look forward to Nathan Hurtz and Phoebe Johannesen joining the staff next term as Secondary teachers. Nathan is a very experienced and successful teacher who is coming to us from Stanthorpe State High School. Phoebe is a passionate Maths and Science teacher who is currently teaching in Canada, having grown up there. She has family in Toowoomba and is returning to Australia in a few weeks. Please make both Nathan and Phoebe welcome in our community.
I wish all students, families and staff a restful, safe and blessed break over the next two weeks. It is well deserved after another busy term.
God Bless
Over the last two months, I have spoken to many parents, families and students at school information nights, Open afternoons and generally around the community. During these conversations, I have focused on the two major themes of what we provide in our educational journey at St Joseph’s.
Firstly, we have a continued focus on how we can deliver quality teaching in learning in our classrooms, through refining practice as part of a collaborative learning community, using our Teaching and Learning Framework, conceptualised through our journey with Visible Learning, to improve the quality of differentiated learning for students in our classrooms, as well as improving the diversity and resourcing of the curriculum across Years 7-12. Secondly, we focus on our support of students in becoming the best they can be in their academic and school journey. In Catholic Education, what sets us apart from other institutions is the focus on wellbeing and the growth of the whole person.
Last week our Year 12 students were involved in a Mock External Assessment block as they prepare for the state-wide External Assessment block that commences 22 October. The purpose of the mock assessments is to rehearse the structure of the assessment block and familiarise them with the types of assessment they will experience in October and November. Feedback received as part of these mock assessments is critical in informing the direction of the remaining weeks of the mastery period and will allow for students and staff to work collaboratively to prepare the students for the challenges of the external assessment.
The Year 11 have also been very busy preparing for their leadership of the school in 2023. Recently they completed their Year 11 Leadership Camp ay Emu Gully Adventure Education and over the last two weeks have been involved in a rigorous selection process for the 2023 student leadership positions. The 2023 student leaders will be announced in early Term 4.
Finally, a big thank you to all our students, families and staff for a successful Term 3. I hope all enjoy the break.
Call to be… Christ-like
Called to live… Mercy
Matthew Brown
Deputy Principal
ASSISTANT TO THE PRINCIPAL PRIMARY
It seems almost impossible that we have come to the end of another term. Where has the time gone? Whilst we cannot increase the time we have each day, we can ensure that we use it purposefully and the end of a term provides an ideal opportunity for all of us to reflect on our actions and to set future goals.
Our focus is always to provide a safe and supportive environment for our young people to thrive as individuals whilst also recognising that they play an important role as part of a collective. This term, they have had the opportunity to develop and refine learner practices which will hold them in good stead for the future as well as negotiate social interactions through laughter and some tears. They have empathised with others outside their community and lived the Gospel Values in their daily lives.
It would be remiss of me in this final newsletter of the term not to mention a number of recent events. Last week both Year 5 and Year 6 students attended Camp Cooby for their outdoor education experience. Elsewhere in this newsletter you will be able to see some photos but here I would like to thank the teachers who supervised the students - Amanda Thompson, Johanna Campbell, Sarah Day and Kim Badcock. I would also like to recognise the work of Mary McLucas in submitting the 155 student entries to the Crisps Art Show. Congratulations to every student who participated.
My thanks to the staff on the Primary Campus for their commitment this Term and to all families for their ongoing support. I wish everyone a restful holiday.
With God's blessings
Sarah Yates
Assistant to the Principal Primary
ASSISTANT TO THE PRINCIPAL FORMATION & IDENTITY
The Season of Creation
The Season of Creation commenced on September 1, World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, and will end on October 4, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology. It is a time where believers are encouraged to renew their relationship with all creation and commit themselves to prayer and action for our common home.
When we listen to the voice of creation, we are called to hear the voices of those who suffer the impacts of climate change; of people who possess ancestral wisdom about how to live with gratitude within the limits of Earth; of a diminishing diversity of species rather than humans and ultimately to listen to the voice of the Earth (paraphrased from Laudato Si Movement).
Our final prayer liturgy for the term will focus on creation and call us to consider what we can all do to respond to the voice of creation in caring for our common home.
With God's blessings,
Megan Mahoney
Assistant to the Principal Formation & Identity
STUDYING THE PHYSICS OF FORCES
Students in Year 7 Science have been studying the physics of forces, and this prac was about buoyancy.
Students had to make a boat from aluminium foil that will hold the most mass without sinking.








As part of the Primary Leadership Program, the Year 6 leaders with the responsibility for the environment of the school have become disheartened by the amount of rubbish that is generated each day from food waste and packaging.
Year 6 students hope that students will gain an understanding of the damage that excess rubbish can cause therefore Year 6 students took the time to talk to students in the Year 2 classroom to share their knowledge and expertise about recycling and reducing rubbish.
They also visited the Year 1 and Year 3 classrooms.
Congratulations to Addison Swan and Kira St John, the winners of the recent Teen Vinnies raffle.
All money raised will go towards St Vincent de Paul to assist those in our community who are needing a hand up.
Thank you to all those who supported this raffle.
AUASTRALIAN CATHOLICS YOUNG VOICES AWARD
Congratulations to Year 12 student Isobella Evans who was recently awarded a Highly Commended in the Australian Catholics Young Voices Award.
Bella chose to compose a podcast based around the topic of bullying including a range of voices from students to adults. Bella has since produced several other podcasts exploring the stories of those included in her promo podcast. We are hoping to continue to produce more podcasts around topics which are important to our youth.
Well done Bella!
It was a tough start to the final Wednesday of Term in Year 6. Students were, somewhat routinely, practicing their fractions, order of operations and a number of other items during their morning board facts session. After being told that they weren’t moving on until the learners asked three questions relating to their work.
Sasha Kendall posed the question of ‘Can we solve this task using a number line?’
Students decided the only way to find out was to try.
This also allowed students to continue to work on their teamwork and leadership skills.
That was a huge pile of learnings and improving before students even, technically, began their day of learning.
Well done Year 6 !

































Yr 8 Art – A different sort of class photo!
After looking at Thai-Australian ceramic artist, Vipoo Srivilasa’s Little People series he created during lockdown in 2020, students designed and created their own ‘little people’ based on their inner self, using imagery, symbols, patterns and details to reflect their personality, likes, hobbies and interests.
Students used Vipoo’s construction process to make their figurine and did well to problem solve working with clay. They have made quirky and individual figurines. These will dry and be taken to the Pottery Club next term to be fired in the kiln, before they complete them by painting or glazing.
YEAR 5 & 6 STUDENTS ENJOY THEIR TIME AWAY AT CAMP
Year 5 and Year 6 students recently took part in their annual School Camp at Camp Cooby.
These camps provide students with an opportunity to be involved in outdoor activities whilst developing personal skills such as persistence and problem solving as well as the ability to communicate and collaborate effectively as part of a group.
Students accepted and handled the many challenges with persistence, courage, kindness and resilience.
Well done to all students and teachers involved.













Year 5 Camp
Year 6 Camp
Year 9 Home Economic students were inspired by Aussie snacks this Term to invent their own desserts.
Students finished their assessment cooking week with a class taste test of all the different desserts created. Flavour inspiration included Anzac biscuits, Caramello Koala, Cherry Ripe, Violet Crumble, Tims Tams and Wagon Wheels.
It was great to see the creativity and problem solving of the students to perfect their ideas!






























Secondary students work from Term 2 Visual Art units (Yr 7 and 8) and completed work from Yr 6 elective rotations have also been entered into the Crisps Youth Art Prize.
The show opens this today, Thursday 15th September, with the official opening night and presentation of award winners starting at 5pm in the gallery's new interim location at the Civic Centre. The exhibition is currently being installed and then judged, and following this, any recipients of awards will be informed at school and parents contacted.
NEW SBA STUDENT - MIKA HALLIDAY
Congratulations to Year 10 student, Mika Halliday who was recently signed up for a School Based Traineeship with Milestones Early Learning Stanthorpe.
Mika will be undertaking a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care.
We thank Milestones for providing Mika with this traineeship opportunity.
Thursday 1st September saw students on the Primary campus enjoy their Primary School Disco.
The theme for the evening was “Heroes and Villains” and many students and staff alike, dressed for the occasion.
Students enjoyed a feast of sausage on bread, chips, lollies and poppers and then danced the night away.
We thank all students and families who attended this fundraising event as all funds raised go towards our students attending Primary Schools Netball Cup during the September school holidays in Bundaberg.















Participating in eSafety lesson with 120 schools across Australia for Child Safety Week
Students in the Year 3 recently participated in an eSafety lesson with 120 other school across Australia.
This was a live Virtual Classroom webinar which explores how to stay safe online and how to support others.
By the end of the lesson, students were able to:
• describe what it means to be safe online
• identify personal online safety boundaries
• recognise strategies to support others
• recall protective behaviours, reporting skills and help-seeking strategies
Art Competition
Each year Child Protection Week (CPW) provides an opportunity to promote the value of students in our schools, and focus attention on the issues of child abuse and neglect. National Child Protection week ran from 4th - 10th September.
National Child Protection Week continues to embrace the overarching message that ‘Every child, in every community, needs a fair go’.
TOOWOOMBA CATHOLIC SCHOOLS OFFICE (TCSO) ART COMPETITION invited both Primary and Secondary students to participate in the annual TCSO child protection week art competition. The purpose of the competition was to promote the 2022 CPW theme in our schools. This year the theme was "Every child, in every community, needs a fair go."
Year 3 student Maia Hourigan was recently awarded Runners Up in the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Child Safety Week art competition.
Congratulations and well done Maia !
Thursday 8th September saw students at St Joseph's dress in all things yellow in aid of raising awareness for mental health through R U OK? Day.
R U OK? Day is a day dedicated to inspiring and empowering everyone to meaningfully connect with people around them by asking the simple question “Are you OK?”.
Students and staff participated in challenges and activities throughout the day.














On Saturday the 10th of September, St Joseph’s School in conjunction with St Joseph’s Parish celebrated a family mass in church.
This was followed by a Mexican dinner in the Bathersby Centre, to which parishioners, family and friends were all invited.
Everyone who attended enjoyed a feast of beef and chicken tacos and a complimentary snack on arrival.
A lovely evening enjoyed by many whilst enjoying authentic food and good music.










School Uniforms for 2023 can now be purchased and ordered at Gleesons Mercury Stanthorpe.
Visit by Chris McLeod
On Thursday 1st September, Chris McLeod, SWQ Director of Futsal, came to run some futsal (indoor soccer sessions).
He had the opportunity to work with some of our Preps, Year 1 and 2 students and then also some Year 9 and 10 students.
It was a wonderful experience in which the students enjoyed.











10-17 September | Ski Trip |
15 September | Crisps Art Expo Awards Night |
16 September | Term 3 Finishes |
24-25 September | Netball Primary Schools Cup |
3 October | Crisps Art Expo Finishes |
QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY PUBLIC HOLIDAY | |
4 October | Term 4 Commences |
10-14 October | Wellbeing Week |
10 October | DD Futsal (13-14yrs) |
12-14 October | Indigenous Days |
14 October | Yr 7 HPV & Yr 10 Men A CWY Immunisation Clinic |
Under 8's Day - Messy Play | |
17 October | SBA Employer Thank You Luncheon |
20 October | Awards Night |
24 January 2023 | Years 1-12 Commence |
25 January 2023 | Prep Commence |
A GREAT SPRING AND SUMMER OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME OFF-SEASON FOOTBALL!
Stanthorpe United Football Club are hosting a Summer 6 Social Comp starting Tuesday 4th October at the Inter Club Fields. This will run for 2 x 5 week blocks.
Cost to play is $50 for those who registered and played in 2022 and $75 for those who didn't. The extra cost is to cover insurance.
The age groups are as follows:
8 & Under
11 & Under
13 & Under
14 - 17 Girls
14 - 17 Boys
18+ Ladies
18+ Men's
18+ Mixed
This is OPEN to EVERYONE regardless of the Club you are affiliated with.
To register please follow this link - https://registration.playfootball.com.au/.../WelcomeRegPl...