The Lenten season is a time of preparation and repentance – a time to prepare ourselves through giving more, praying more and letting go of things which stop us from noticing more.  Lent is a time to shift our mindset, to consider what God is asking us to do as we prepare to celebrate the joy of Christ’s resurrection.  So as we prepare for the season of simple living, may we do more, be more and become more of the person God calls us to be. 

 

“A man at work in a harbor saw a little boy fall into the water. He instantly sprang in after him and got him out. He then went on with his work, wet through as he was, until the dinner hour, when he went home to change his clothes and take his midday meal. Both in the street and in his own house he was beset with questions as to how he got his clothes so wet, but he invariably gave an evasive answer. Several days later, on returning from his work, he found awaiting him at his home the boy whom he had rescued from a watery grave, together with his parents. As soon as he crossed the threshold the boy cried out: “That is the man who pulled me out of the water!” Thereupon his parents thanked him with tears for saving their child’s life. On being asked why he had kept his good deed secret, he answered in Our Lord’s words: “Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth.” That man is much to be commended for his modesty; for not giving way to pride or boastfulness is to walk humbly with God”.  

With God's blessings,

Megan Mahoney
Assistant to the Principal Formation & Identity

Because parenting doesn’t come with instructions, SchoolTV is a wellbeing resource implemented at our school to help support you in the challenges of modern-day parenting. Parenting is a learning journey and it’s easy to feel stressed and overwhelmed when faced with raising happy, well and resilient young people today.

Every family has experienced some sort of difficulty or adversity in recent times, some more than others. As mental health concerns continue to rise, there have been some alarming statistics reported in relation to the mental health and wellbeing of young people. Unfortunately, the blueprint for parenting is often based on our own experiences, but this is no longer fit for purpose in raising children as citizens of tomorrow. Parents and caregivers play a vital role in providing the guidance needed to support children and adolescents as they reframe their worries and focus more on the things they can control in their life.

In this Special Report, we are seeking parent participation through a short survey. The survey is designed to provide a barometer to help gauge the state of student wellbeing within our community. We encourage you to take a few moments to complete the survey as this will help our school know the nature and extent of your concerns and determine how best we can support families in the months ahead. Responses remain anonymous and will only be reported on an aggregated basis. You are asked to base your responses on observations made in the last 12 months.

By working together we can continue to build relationships, foster connections, enable understanding and break down barriers as we navigate a pathway towards better mental health and wellbeing for all students. Please reflect on the information offered in this Special Report, and as always, we welcome your feedback. If this raises any concerns for you or your child, please reach out to the school or seek professional medical advice.

Here is the link to your special report

Thursday 9th February saw the students of St Joseph's come together to celebrate St Joseph's School Foundation Day which incorporates the Beginning of Year Mass and the Student Leader Inductions. The celebration of the Eucharist is an integral component of the Catholic tradition and enables us to foster our sense of who we are as part of the Catholic Church.

It was wonderful to gather and celebrate with the students, especially the Year 12 students who received their Leadership badges upon completion of the Mass.

Congratulations and we wish them all the best for 2023.

Congratulations to our Year 12 students - Elizabeth Searle, Eliza Telfer and Taylah Organ who competed in the Lions Youth of the Year on Monday 13th February at the Stanthorpe International Club.

The Lions Youth of the Year  program has a proud history in encouraging and fostering leadership skills in Australian students approaching the end of their high school years.

By emphasising qualities like contribution to the community and school, public speaking, academic skills, sporting and cultural involvement, Youth of the Year aims to bring forth the next generation of outstanding young Australians.

Well done, Eliza, Taylah and Elizabeth.  You performed extremely well and did St Joseph's School very proud.

Our Year 7 students were up and ready bright and early Wednesday morning in anticipation of their Year 7 Camp.

As part of our pastoral program at St Joseph's School, it is important for students to experience other opportunities outside the classroom to develop skills and attributes that will develop them as young adults.

The camp will aim to build relationships, increase self esteem and work on teamwork as a cohort.

We look forward to hearing all about it when they return on Friday 17th February.

As part of St Joseph's School's "Faith in Action Program", students deliver meals to members of the Stanthorpe community through the Meals on Wheels Program.

This program provides an opportunity for students to offer service, dignity and compassion to people of the local community. 

Starting Monday 20th February, students from Year 8 will be participating in this service along with a number of staff.

Sometimes families may be faced with challenging or difficult situations due to illness, accidents or bereavement. Or sometimes face exciting yet stressful times, like the arrival of a new baby! During these times a meal is very welcome and this is where Mercy Meals can assist.  

If you know someone who is having a difficult time and would appreciate a meal, please contact the office.

The theme of our Scholastic Book Fair for 2023 is Bookaneer - Where books are the treasure ! It’s a fun reading event that brings the books kids want to read right into our school. It’s a wonderful selection of engaging and affordable books for every reading level. In fact, some titles will be under $5.00!

The Book fair also provides an opportunity to pick up some great affordable gifts – and the gift of reading for enjoyment and knowledge is a lifetime one!

Book Fair dates: Mon 13th March – Fri 17th March

Shopping hours: 8.00am – 8.30am and 3.00pm – 3.30pm

We look forward to seeing you and your family at our Book Fair!

Friday 10th February saw many families attend the annual Parents & Friends Welcome BBQ, held on the Primary Campus.

It was a wonderful opportunity for many families to celebrate the start of the school year and a great way to meet and welcome new families to the school.