In Catherine's day, the new rich were resented, resisted, and thought to be English sympathisers.

“Catherine saw potential for doing good.”  
(Joanna Regan rsm. 1978. Tender Courage)

Megan Mahoney
Assistant to the Principal Formation & Identity

School Fees for Term 4 have now been emailed and payments are due by the 10th November 2023, unless you have made an alternative agreement with the Bursar.

If you haven’t received an invoice / statement or require a statement to date, please feel free to contact the Bursar on 4681 5903 or email Megan.Hines@twb.catholic.edu.au

Payments can be made by Direct Deposit or at the office by paying by cash or card.

Bank details are as follows:

Account Name :                  St Joseph’s School

Bank & Branch :                  064-431 (CBA-Stanthorpe)

Account No :                       1018-4376

Reference :                         Surname STA___             (eg HINES STA999)

A friendly reminder to parents or guardians of Year 12 students: 

1. Payment of School Fees: Parents are reminded to ensure that all school fees for Year 12 students are paid in full before the completion of the school year. This is a common policy to ensure that financial obligations to the school are met before students graduate.

2. Returning School Equipment: Parents are instructed to make sure their child has returned certain school-related items. These items include:

   • Laptops: The students are expected to return their school-issued laptops, including the charger.
   • Textbooks: Textbooks provided by the school should be returned.
   • Library Books: Any library books that students have borrowed from the school library should also be returned.

If your payment plan or account canot be paid in full by the end of the school year, please contact the School Bursar, Mrs Hines to discuss this further.

The current issue of Horizons is out now and is available online here www.twb.catholic.org.au/horizons/.

A great read as there are 3 different articles in this edition that feature current students and staff and a successful past student.

Congratulations to all the students who received awards at the Awards Night on Thursday, October 19th.

It's a well-deserved recognition of their hard work and achievements. Keep up the excellent work and continue to shine in your academic and extracurricular pursuits.
Your dedication and effort are truly commendable!

Secondary student, Hollie Daniels has recently commenced a traineeship here at St Joseph's following her work experience placement last term.  Hollie has commenced a Certificate III in School Based Education Support school-based traineeship.  This is an excellent opportunity for someone interested in supporting student learning in a primary school setting. Working on Fridays in a school-based traineeship allows Hollie to gain valuable hands-on experience while also earning a qualification.

This program will likely involve tasks such as assisting teachers in the classroom, providing support to students, and contributing to the overall educational environment. It's a wonderful way to learn about the education system and make a positive impact on young learners.

Students in Year 5 have been busy working on team building and social skills activities throughout the year.

One of the activities in which they have recently undertaken is the "human knot".

The results are in !

Congratulations and well done on our 2022 St Joseph's Riesling winning first place at the Ekka this year in the White Wines section. This wine was produced by our students here at St Joseph's.

The 2022 Reisling AND the 2023 Montepulciano each won a bronze medal at the Small Winemakers Show held last week here in Stanthorpe.

Students from Year 11 and 12 recently travelled to the Snowy Mountains for the annual ski trip.  The school ski trip offers lifelong memories and fun for school students and teaches them valuable life lessons. We are talking real world experience that will inspire and help school students become more worldly individuals and critical thinkers.

Travelling with their peers and pushing students out of their comfort zone helps to strengthen friendships and build confidence.

Lots of laughs and many memories were made - that's for sure !

On Monday 9th October, we had a special visit from Author and Illustrator Dr Cameron Stelzer. Dr Cameron visited St Joseph’s School to run workshops with our P-6 students.

Prep and Year 1 students enjoyed an interactive Big Screen Book Reading and follow-along drawing activity with Cameron. Cameron then engaged with the Year 2-3 students in a workshop exploring exciting and descriptive writing. Year 4-6 students then took a behind-the-scenes look at creating a book, and applying their own creative components. Students and teachers had a great day!

In conjunction with the Author Visit, St Joseph’s School families had a special opportunity to purchase a signed and personalised copy of Cameron’s books.

Do you want the best new children’s books? They’re coming to our school soon!

Book Fair will open Monday 30th October and will be open every day between
8am-8.30am and 3pm-3.30pm, until Friday 3rd November.

So visit us in the Library on the Primary Campus to find your next favourite read.

Year 7 Humanities students are currently studying the democratic process, how our government works, the Australian Constitution and how citizens participate in government through voting and referendums.

On 12^th October, Year 7 students had the opportunity to visit the Voting Centre in the Anglican Church Hall. The Officer in Charge gave students a tour of the facility, demonstrating the voting process from an organisational and voting perspective.

Students thoroughly enjoyed this enriching learning opportunity and would like to thank Debbie Wilmot and her staff for providing this opportunity. The AEC have kindly donated the empty polling booths so students can hold their own ‘referendum’ in the near future.

Year 12 students are getting ready to graduate, with only a number of weeks to go before they complete their Secondary education. For five St Joseph’s School students, they are also about to complete their school-based apprenticeship or traineeship!

To acknowledge and thank the host employers for providing our students with the opportunity to participate in a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship, an Employer Thank You Luncheon was held on Thursday 12th October at the Queensland College of Wine Tourism.

The host employers not only provided students with the opportunity to work as a paid employee and obtain a recognised qualification, but also supported the students through navigating ‘the world of work’.

The luncheon also recognised the Year 12 students who have worked diligently to complete their work hours and units of competency in order to obtain their qualification.

Congratulations to all our students and thank you to the employers.

In Week 2, students delved into the captivating world of Bonsai during a visit by expert Ms Kim Rochelle- Brown from Lilliannah Bonsai.

They explored various Bonsai styles, discovering the meticulous artistry required to nurture these miniature living treasures. It was an eye-opener that Bonsai trees, like cherished pets, require outdoor living, regular feeding, watering, and careful grooming.

The historical journey from China to Japan, with "Bonsai" translating to "potted tree" in English, offered a rich context for appreciation. Students also acquired Bonsai-related vocabulary, such as "hachi" (pot) and "nebari" (surface roots).

Beyond the technical aspects, our students explored the profound connection between Bonsai and Japanese culture and society. This unique experience expanded horizons, fostering curiosity and deepening appreciation for this ancient art form.

A big thankyou to Lilliannah Bonsai for this enlightening visit!

Yearbooks showcase St Joseph’s School student’s achievements, awards, activities, and adventures, as well as being a collection of memories. Included in the Yearbook are class photos from Prep to Year 12 and the highlights throughout the year, including reports from the Principal Andrew Kendall, the Leadership Team and the Student Leaders.

The 2023 Yearbooks are $35 per copy with only 100 Yearbooks being printed this year so you will need to act quickly to secure a copy.  To confirm your Yearbook order, all payments are to be made through the Qkr! app. It can be found under "School Payments, School Magazine".  The Yearbook will then need to be ordered under your child's name. 

Yearbooks will be available for collection in Term 1 of 2024.  A broadcast will be sent advising when the Yearbooks have arrived.

The Chief Health Officer (CHO) has written to inform Catholic school authorities of an important change regarding meningococcal vaccination free of charge to all eligible infants, children and adolescents in Queensland.

Commencing in the 2024 school year, the Queensland School Immunisation Program (SIP) will provide Year 10 students vaccination against meningococcal B (menB). The menB vaccine will be delivered in two does with a minimum of eight weeks between doses to ensure effective protection.

This change is in response to the emergence of menB as the most common cause of illness and death from meningococcal disease in Queensland. Previously funded menB vaccine was only available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and individuals with specific medical risk factors.

Questions about this change can be directed to your School Immunisation Program provider or the Queensland Health Immunisation Program at immunisation@health.qld.gov.au.

More information can be found at  https://www.health.qld.gov.au/clinical-practice/guidelines-procedures/diseases-infection/immunisation/meningococcal-b