Filter Content
- PRINCIPAL (ACTING)
- DEPUTY PRINCIPAL (ACTING)
- ASSISTANT TO THE PRINCIPAL PRIMARY & TEACHING & LEARNING
- ASSISTANT TO THE PRINCIPAL FORMATION & IDENTITY
- IMPORTANT REMINDERS !
- REMINDER DATES FOR FEES DUE
- NO PRIMARY TUCKSHOP - FRIDAY 18TH AUGUST
- CARING FOR NATURE EXPO
- BREAKFAST CLUB
- NEWS FROM OUR LIBRARY
- STEM SKILLS
- NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION AGAINST BULLYING & BULLYING – BULLYING NO WAY! DAY
- THRIVING KIDS AND PARENTS SCHOOL PROJECT
- UPCOMING EVENTS
Last week I attended the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Principal’s forum held in Millmerran. The leadership forum opened with a keynote from our Executive Director Dr Pat Coughlan and one key takeaway that aligns with the work we do here at St Joseph’s School was about having a noble purpose. I immediately connected this to the way we work every day to try to create an environment for our students where they feel valued, can be successful and have a sense of belonging within our community. As a Catholic school, this noble purpose is integral to shaping our community and it is not only the safe and nurturing learning environments that help build this. All the little extras, such as the upcoming book week celebrations, P-12 House activities and games, Ekka excursion and many more events like these that help foster those positive relationships in our school community.
Congratulations to Mary Roberts who has been shortlisted for the Queensland College of Teachers TEACHX Awards 2023.
“The TEACHX Awards celebrate the outstanding contributions of teachers in Queensland. Every year, teachers from across Queensland's schooling sectors and early childhood education and care services are nominated to share their stories and inspire colleagues. These awards exemplify the significant contribution to schools and early childhood communities across Queensland, attracting thousands of nominations for registered teachers who have achieved exceptional outcomes. To be nominated for a TEACHX Award is an achievement in itself. Winning a TEACHX category signifies teaching quality and dedication, and is a mark of distinction.”
This year more than 290 nominations were received detailing the inspirational work of Queensland registered teachers. Mary is one of 87 teachers shortlisted.
Thirty TEACHX Award recipients will be announced on Thursday the 5th of October, ahead of the award presentation ceremony in Brisbane on the 27th of October, the eve of World Teachers Day celebrations in Queensland.
Well done and good luck Mary, and thanks to all staff for the wonderful work you do at the school.
A huge thank you to Brooke Butson and Hayley Pfeiffer who have coordinated the Year 10 SET planning meetings. It has been wonderful to hear the diversity of career aspirations that many of our Year 10 students have. The SET planning process is such an integral part of what we do here at St Joseph’s to ensure that each student is supported in their individual learning journey so they can transition to the chosen post-school pathway.
Live Jesus in our hearts
Matthew Brown
Acting Principal
We hope this newsletter finds you well! As we continue through a very busy and eventful Term 3, let's take a moment to reflect on the exciting events and achievements that have taken place over the past few weeks.
Science Week Extravaganza!
Thank you to our Science Club Leaders who are celebrating Science Week by providing younger students with the opportunity to explore the relationship between heat and density. Our students burned tea bags and watched as they lifted into the air creating a fascination for the differences between the density of hot and cold air. Thank you to the students who came and participated.
Bears, Books and Blankets
Our families are invited to join us for a lovely day of picnicking with our favourite fluffy friends and a good book. This event is such a joyous occasion where we can all come together to celebrate how books can transport us to another place. We hope you enjoy your time at the Bears, Books and Blankets event.
Vietnam Veterans Day
A very heartfelt thank you to our students who will represent the school at the local memorial service for our Vietnam Veterans tomorow Friday 18th August. This is a very important day for our community and our nation to honour those who have served.
Bully No Way Day
Friday 18th August will see our students embrace the messages for the day and to show their support by wearing their orange accessories. This day highlights our need to come together as a community and celebrate the uniqueness of people and the importance of kindness.
Year 7 Ekka Trip
Thank you to the staff who are attending the Ekka excursion with our Year 7’s tomorrow. It is a very big day for all, but the students love the opportunity of attending such a large event.
It is so pleasing to see the wonderful events that our school arranges and participates in. Most pleasing is seeing how well our students present themselves and engage in our community.
God Bless
Brooke Butson
Acting Deputy Prinicpal
The annual camp experience for Year 5 and 6 students took place last week as both groups travelled to Camp Cooby for a two-night stay. Such an experience is a wonderful opportunity for the children to develop skills such as team work, confidence, leadership and collaboration as well as overcome the anxiety around things such as heights and being away from home. Camp Cooby offers all these things and the reports from the tired children on their return to school suggested that the reality met, if not exceeded, the expectation. As well as the activities, the food at camp was a significant talking point. Thank you to all the staff members who made it possible for the camp to go ahead - Tracey Cullinan, Kim Badcock, Johanna Campbell and Amy Veitch - and a special thank you to Sarah Day who stayed at camp for the whole week. We thank them all sincerely for their time and commitment.
Year 6 students reflect on their camp experience
Amity: At camp, I learned how to communicate with my group and camp instructors by helping people on the rock wall, so they could go higher.
Gracie: At camp, I learnt to step out of my comfort zone and climb the rock wall. I wasn't going to do it but I pushed through and did it.
Year 5 students reflect on their camp experience
Ned: All the challenges I overcame with the help of my class.
Sienna: We all learnt something new, and we all faced a fear.
Ella: The first activity we did was crate stack, you got attached to a harness and had to stack crates, it was a great experience. Some of us were scared at first but our encouraging teammates helped us to go and give it a go.
Sean: At Camp Cooby we did a load of fun activities including Crate Stacking, Raft Building, Leonardo’s Bridge Build, and Orienteering.
David: We had a night walk, that was also quite uneventful. Going to sleep, however was truly dreadful. I won’t point any fingers, but …..
Billy: It was Billy’s Birthday (ME), and we had chocolate and lollies. We had dinner and dessert which was my birthday cake!
Scarlett: "The second game was whale watching. We do not know why it was called that because we are not watching whales. We were on a giant see-saw that we all had to make balance for as long as we can."
Emma: "Last week grade 5 went on camp, the camp that we stayed at “Camp Cooby”, where we faced a lot of challenges and activities that taught us about teamwork."
Ella: "At Camp Cooby I had the funnest time ever! We ate delicious food that I absolutely loved."
Aleese: "Some of the activities were whale watching, crate stack, raft build, orienteering and much more fun activities. Camp is something I am definitely going to next year."
Issy: "We did the rock, stick and leaf ending. What we did was we had to say something that rocked for the rock. Then something that we wanted to stick with for the stick. And something we wanted to leave behind for the leaf."
Boyd: "When we woke up we had breakfast which was cereal and toast with yoghurt and juice, I like juice."
Clare: "Candice, Imogen, Sienna and I were on clean-up duty on the first night."
Lily: "The first night was amazing we went for a night walk, we even went out of CAMP PROPERTY, but we saw 2 owls 1 possum and a tourney frog mouth it was so cool."
Imogen: "Camp Cooby was just like another lesson at school. We learnt how to work together, build up our confidence and try our best."
Ben: "The first night recap: LOUD NEIGHBOORS + SCREAMING!! = NO SLEEP!! "
Jordan: "I saw my life flash before my eyes when we were doing the crate stack."
Rowan: "It was much fun with the “High adventure” activities like the following: Raft building, Leonardo’s bridge build, crate staking and introduction to orienteering. "
Last week also provided another off-campus learning experience with the students from Year 3 - 5 attending Caring for Nature: Granite Belt Biodiversity and Endengered Species Expo at the Civic Centre. They were excited to learn about the specific species of flora and fauna native to this area from experts in their field and to walk away with a boomerang bag and other goodies. The morning provided an opportunity for the students to undertake some research for their entry to the Crisps Art Show which will take place later this term. Thank you to Mary Findlay, the Stanthorpe Art Gallery Director, for facilitating this event.
This week sees the national annual reminder about the importance of being respectful towards others in our choice of actions, words and tone. August 18 is the National Day of Action Against Bullying and, across the school, we will be involved in activities to show our support and information has been sent home via email. Bullying has no place in our society and certainly no place in our school. As adults, we need to be very clear about the definition of bullying so that we can we support our children appropriately.
What is bullying? (Years 3-4) (bullyingnoway.gov.au)
This link Growing connections - Primary school students - YouTube explains the theme of this year's campaign.
Finally, in recent times we have seen a number of students arriving at school as early as 8am. Please bear in mind that there is no supervision by teachers until 8:20am.
With God's blessings
Sarah Yates
Assistant to the Principal Primary & Teaching & Learning
It’s the Little Things…
In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it's all too easy to get caught up in the grand pursuits, the significant achievements, and the momentous milestones. Yet, when we pause and take a closer look, it becomes evident that it's the little things that often hold the most profound meaning and impact in our lives.
These "little things" can take on various forms—a warm smile from a child, the comforting embrace of a loved one, the colours woven in nature’s tapestry, or even a well-brewed cup of tea on a chilly morning. These seemingly insignificant moments have a remarkable power to bring us joy, solace, love and a sense of connection.
It's easy to overlook these moments, dismissing them as inconsequential in the grand scheme of things. Yet it is important that we acknowledge the quiet beauty of the ordinary and the remarkable power these moments hold.
As I reflect on the little things that count in life, I am reminded that no matter what our work, to touch the lives of another has a profound impact on those we encounter and ourselves. Just as Jesus touched and shaped the lives of others through his words and interactions, we too have the capacity to touch the lives of those we encounter.
Let us not underestimate the impact of a kind word, a genuine smile, or a moment of stillness. For in these unassuming instances, we discover the true essence of life and the little things that truly count.
With God's blessings,Megan Mahoney
Assistant to the Principal Formation & Identity
If your child is absent from school, please advise the School Office by :
- using the Sentral for Parents app
- calling the office on 07 4681 5900 and leaving a message. Please clearly state your child's name and their class.
- emailing stanthorpe@twb.catholic.edu.au
The school email address is monitored daily and regularly, ensuring that all messages are received and forwarded to the relevant person.
Also please do not ask your other children to advise the office as often these messages are not passed on. If no advice is received, an SMS will be sent seeking confirmation, followed by a phone call if required.
Early departure & late arrival slips
A friendly reminder regarding correct procedures for late arrivals, early departures and visitors as follows:
- All late students MUST report to the School Office prior to proceeding to class.
- For early departures, please advise the School Office of the day and time of which your child will be leaving at your earliest convenience.
- The usual parental permission is required, however, the students sign out at the School Office kiosk. Returning students MUST present this printed slip to the office before heading back to class. Should the student not return to the office with the slip prior to returning to class, they will be marked as absent for the remainder of the day. All students in Prep to Year 11 leaving early, must be collected by a parent / caregiver.
Parents are asked to wait at the School Office - we will have the child come to the Office. - Call ahead to the School Office if you wish to make an appointment with the Principal, Principal's Assistant or the Bursar.
Please note the following dates of when fees are due :
| Term 3 School Fees | 14 August 2023 |
| Ekka Excursion | 17 August 2023 |
| 2024 International Study Tour | 31 August 2023 |
All camps, excursions, extra activities are to be paid in full prior to attending unless prior agreements have been made.
Regular payments towards school fees can be made, either weekly/fortnightly or monthly to assist with keeping on track. If your currently making regular repayments, please review these to ensure that current repayments cover your fees.
If assistance is required to work out a repayment amount, please don’t hesitate to contact the School Bursar, Mrs Megan Hines by email Megan.Hines@twb.catholic.edu.au or phone 4681 5903.
Payments can be made either at the School Office or by bank transfer :
| Account Name | St Joseph’s School |
| BSB | 064-431 |
| Account No | 1018-4376 |
| Reference (e.g.) | STA123 Smith Ekka |
Please be advised that there will no tuckshop available on the primary campus this Friday 18th August. This is due to staffing and volunteer unavailability.
The secondary pizza fundraiser will operate as usual as it runs independently of the tuckshop.
The Caring for Nature Expo was recently held at the Civic Centre on Monday 7 and Tuesday 8 August which students from Years 3, 4 and 5 were fortunate to attend. This session supports the science curriculum units on biodiversity in our region which were written by our very own Lesley Grant and can be accessed from the Art Gallery website.
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, it sets us up with energy to fuel our minds ready to learn and be our best.
Breakfast Club is open every Wednesday on the Primary Campus and Thursday's on the Secondary Campus.
Everyone is welcome to come along along and enjoy a healthy breakfast.
Don't miss out on the annual Bears, Books & Blankets Picnic
Join us today, Thursday 17th August for the school's annual Bears, Books & Blankets Picnic on the Primary oval in honour of Children's Book Week! The event will commence at 12.40pm.
Remember to bring along your favourite book, picnic rug, lunch and of course your favourite teddy bear - they're more than welcome to join in the fun!
This event is open to all families of primary students and guarantees a memorable experience.
Are you ready for Book Week ?
SAVE THE DATE - 24th August : Book Week Dress Up Parade
The annual Book Parade will take place at the Bathersby Centre from from 9.00 - 10.00 am, Thursday 24th August. Students dress as their favourite book character and parade with their class in front of the whole school audience. We are sure that many of the students are already talking about their costumes at home! It is a big favourite on the school calendar! Parents and families are welcome to attend.
This year’s Book Week theme is “Read, Grow, Inspire.” We look forward to seeing many different characters! Please see us anytime in the library if you have any questions about Book Week.
House Activities
Primary and Secondary students will be participating in house activities as part of our Book Week celebrations, sharing stories and reflecting on Book Week.
All students P-12 will need to wear their Davadi and McAuley house shirts on Monday 21st August and Friday 25th August, when the students will be participating in these house activities.
Students in Year 6 and Year 8 are at it again practising their STEM skills with the microbits and learning across year levels which is both fun and challenging.
The aim was to add sounds to a game of hot potato across multiple devices.
Tomorrow, Friday, 18th August is the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence – Bullying NO WAY! Day.
To mark the occasion, the Student Council and Year 12's are encouraging all students to wear orange accessories such as a ribbon, wristband etc (students must still wear normal formal uniform or primary uniform to school) and we invite staff to wear orange on the day if you can.
The theme of this year’s NDA is ‘Growing Connections’. Growing connections helps everyone feel accepted, respected, included and supported. Being connected and having people to talk to, or to ask for help, can help to prevent bullying.
Students from P-12 as well as teachers and staff were given a strip of orange paper and were invited to use this paper to write/decorate their name on one side and add a positive message about looking after others/being kind to one another, on the other side.
STAY TUNED to see the results of these encouraging kindness words in the next edition of the school newsletter on 31st August.
As part of the Thriving Kids and Parents School Project, you are invited to attend three highly relevant Triple P – Positive Parenting seminars from one of the most effective evidence-based programs in the world, FREE of charge. These interactive seminars will be delivered to parents/carers of children aged 4 – 12 years from your school/via a videoconferencing platform.
The three interconnected seminars will provide you with a toolkit of practical strategies to help your child thrive. These strategies will help you guide your child’s behaviour, manage everyday worries, and build healthy peer relationships.
Attending all three seminars will provide you with the strategies you need to best support your child’s development.
- The Power of Positive Parenting (Triple P Seminar) helps you to understand why kids behave the way they do and introduces practical strategies to support your child’s social and emotional development.
- The Helping Your Child to Manage Anxiety (Fear-Less Triple P Seminar) is designed to equip you with the skills and strategies you need to support your child to manage their emotions and overcome challenges.
- The Keeping your Child Safe from Bullying (Resilience Triple P Seminar) helps you maintain good communication with your child, develop positive peer relationships, and address conflict and bullying.
How can I get involved?
- Register for the seminar series and complete a short (approximately 15 – 20 minutes) online questionnaire.
- Attend the three online seminars in the TKPSP series (90 – 120 minutes each seminar).
- Complete post-seminar series questionnaires 6 weeks and 12 weeks following the registration. Each questionnaire will take around 15 minutes to complete and will help us understand how helpful the strategies have been.
Yes, I want to be involved. What’s next?
Register through this link: https://able.adelaide.edu.au/education/thriving-kids-and-parents/for-parents#power-of-positive-parenting
If you have any questions, you can contact the project team at: thrivingkidsandparents@uq.edu.au
| 14 - 17 August | Science Week |
| 17 August | Darling Downs 13-19Yrs Track Events |
| Bears, Books & Blankets Picnic | |
| 18 August | Darling Downs 13-19Yrs Field Events |
| National Day of Action Against Bullying | |
| Year 7 Ekka Visit | |
| Vietnam Veteran's Day | |
| Primary School Disco | |
| 21 - 25 August | Book Week |
| 22 August | Darling Downs 1500m (10-12yrs) |
| 23 August | Darling Downs Track & Field (10-12yrs) |
| Year 9 2024 Information Night | |
| 24 August | Book Week Dress Up Parade |
| 25 August | Year 7, 8 and 9 Interschool Debating |
| 28 - 30 August | Year 11 Leadership Camp |
| 30 - 31 August | Year 12 Mock External Assessment Block |
| 31 August | Year 11 Leadership Day |
| 1 September | Student Free Day |
