Dear Parents and Carers

As we approach the end of Term 2, I would like to reflect on what has been a longer than normal, but incredibly productive term. Despite the challenges of an extended 11 week term, I have been so impressed by how well our students have adapted and how hard they have continued to work. There are still lots of smiles and positivity. I’d like to also thank all of our incredible staff who have sustained a heavy workload this term with reporting. We are blessed as a school community to have so much dedication.

Beyond the classroom, our staff have been diligently working on renewing our school's Vision and Mission statement which we continued doing on our Pupil Free Day on Tuesday 9th June. This has been a deeply collaborative process, and we are grateful for the valuable contributions provided by our parents and students. We look forward to officially sharing our renewed Vision and Mission with our entire school community in Week 10 of Term 3 during Mercy Week.

Pope Leo XIV Encyclical

Each generation inherits the task of shaping its own era, of guiding history to become a place where the dignity of every person is safeguarded, justice is promoted and fraternity is made possible. Yet every era also runs the risk of creating an inhumane and more unjust world. His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV

Without doubt, our current students world will be filled with and shaped by AI to a much greater extent than is the case in 2026. Keeping in mind that the role of schools is to educate children for their future, we must be prepared to wrestle with the opportunities and challenges associated with the growth of AI in our world. As we have experienced with ICT more broadly, our society has taken steps to wind back the impact of ICT and the online world in the lives of our children. I suspect we will be engaging in similar debates and initiatives to limit the negative effects of too much AI in the lives of our children in the years to come.

An important component of education is to help prepare young people for an adult life as active and informed citizens; to equip them with the knowledge and skills to debate the issues and to make wise choices as individuals and as members of a democracy. In the emerging global conversation about the extent to which we use technology, His Holiness, Pope Leo has recently made a timely contribution in the form of a Papal Encyclical - MAGNIFICA HUMANITUS. Knowing that Encyclicals are not necessarily on everyone’s book club list, I thought you might find the introductory paragraph insightful. I especially like the sentences highlighted above as they capture much of the reason why we offer a distinctly catholic education in schools like St Joseph's.

Humanity, created by God in all its grandeur, is today facing a pivotal choice: either to construct a new Tower of Babel or to build the city in which God and humanity dwell together. Each generation inherits the task of shaping its own era, of guiding history to become a place where the dignity of every person is safeguarded, justice is promoted and fraternity is made possible. Yet every era also runs the risk of creating an inhumane and more unjust world. Whenever humanity is in danger of marring its true identity, we Christians lift our eyes to the Incarnate God, knowing that it is “only in the mystery of the Word made flesh that the mystery of humanity truly becomes clear.” [1] In Jesus Christ, this humanity in its grandeur becomes the Way, the Truth and the Life, opening the path for each of us to grow toward fullness.

Reports/Parent Teacher Interviews

Student Semester 1 Reports will go out to families next Friday 26th June, 2026. I encourage parents who have not yet booked a parent/teacher interview for week 11 to please do so as the bookings have gone live on Compass. Parent/teacher interviews are an important opportunity to discuss your child’s progress and growth, ensuring that home and school continue to work in partnership to support their education.

Deanery Athletics Carnival

A huge congratulations to all the students who participated in the Deanery Carnival on Tuesday. A great day was had by all and we had 20 students make it to the Diocesan Athletics which will be held in Albury next term. Congratulations to all the students for their participation and successes.

Thank you to all the parents who came along to the Deanery Carnival and to Mrs Salmon and Ms Gardiner for their supervision of the students.

Seasons for Growth

At St Joseph's we are very committed to the wellbeing of our students. As part of our ongoing commitment we are very pleased to be able to offer students to be part of the ‘Seasons for Growth’ program we will be offering starting in Term 3 and it will be offered for 1 hour fortnightly.

‘Seasons for Growth’ supports children and young people who have experienced change and loss, including, although not limited to friendship changes; family separation; loss or death of someone they care about; relocation and forced migration; living away in out of home care; physical or mental illness. We suggest that children and young people impacted by bereavement wait 6-12 months before participating in a Seasons for Growth program.

If you feel your child could benefit from this program please contact the school by 26th June and put your child’s name forward for consideration. A staff member will be in contact with you to discuss your requests further. The program will be supervised by a teacher and facilitated by a trained ‘Seasons for Growth’ practitioner.

Our final newsletter for Term 2, 2026 will be published on Thursday 2nd July, Week 11.

Please know if at any stage you wish to come and talk to me about any concerns or anything at all you wish to say, you can email me on: scotta3@ww.catholic.edu.au or call and make an appointment to see me at school.

Take care and enjoy the rest of the week.

God Bless

Angela Scott

Around Our School

We have some keen little gardeners amongst us that initiated their own Gardening Club, and our chooks are enjoying the birds eye view of their fun.

Utilising unused garden beds near our chook house, our gardeners planned what they wanted to do with the space. From there, with Mr Pratt's assistance and guidance, they have planted some pansy seedlings, flower seeds, carrots, broccoli and even made their own signs.

Equipped with their gloves, tools, smiles and excitement, they have been tending to their garden beds evrey chance they get and we can't wait to see it all progress!

ICAS

2026 ICAS Assessments