It was wonderful to welcome back all students across our school community and there was definitely a sense of energy and positivity across the campuses, with the influx of a large number of new students adding to the excitement.

I take this opportunity to welcome all new members of our St Joseph’s community and to our existing families, it is great to see you all back. I also thank our Year 12 student leaders for arriving early to welcome students and families to the 2024 school year.  

On Secondary, I addressed students in relation to the year ahead and the expectations we have as a school community. Firstly, I spoke of the importance of learning and creating a learning environment that will enable all students to achieve success in their own academic journey. It is important that all students maximise the opportunities to learn in every classroom and focus on positive and collaborative engagement with the teachers and their peers.  

Secondly, I spoke of the importance of positive and respectful relationships. The key message centred on ensuring that each student, as an individual, focuses on having a positive influence with every interaction they have, whether it is a staff member, another student or a member of our wider community. We have very high expectations around learning and relationships at Joey’s, and we will continue to reinforce these with all students across the year.  

Our Year 7 students took part in a two-day transition program at the start of the year. This was an interactive program that focused on building relationships and what it means to be a learner at St Joseph’s, as well as familiarising them with our online learning platforms and using technology to enhance their learning. For the next few weeks, Year 7 students will be in morning mentor classes with Anna Jones and myself to continue to support this transition into secondary, before moving to their mentor groups from Week 5.  

On Wednesday Week 2, Mary Roberts and I travelled to Toowoomba with the students involved in the Hybrid Learning subjects, where they worked collaboratively with students from OLSCC Dalby and St Saviour’s Toowoomba in commencing the academic year in Modern History, Aerospace, Legal Studies and Specialist Mathematics. I thank Mary Roberts for her leadership in delivering the Modern History Hybrid model, as well as Tyron Fraser (Dalby), Marty Hollis (St Mary’s College) and Joel Speranza (TCS) for their work in supporting the hybrid model for our students in Legal, Aerospace and Specialist Mathematics respectively.

Further to this, Joseph Shorter will also have OLSCC Dalby students continuing in his Year 12 Literature class, supporting their learning through a similar hybrid concept. This collective efficacy amongst our three schools highlights the focus we all have on providing quality learning experiences for all our students across a range of specialised subjects.  

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me. 

Call to be… Christ-Like 

Called to live… Mercy 

Matthew Brown
Deputy Principal