Principals' Message
Dear Parents and Carers,
Welcome to Week 10 and the final newsletter for the term. It's been another busy and productive term with lots of learning, events and hard work by the students and our fabulous staff. We hope you all enjoy the school holiday break with family and friends - stay safe and stay warm.
Bishop Murphy Visit - Sacrament of Confirmation
Last week we were honored to welcome Bishop Murphy to our Parish for the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation. It was a joyful and spiritually uplifting occasion for our of thirty-five young parishioners who received the gifts of the Holy Spirit and were fully initiated into the Church.
On Friday, Bishop Murphy met with the candidates and spoke with them about the significance of the fourth Sacrament being bestowed upon them and how the Sacrament of Confirmation provides a firm foundation for their faith journey. Bishop Murphy also spoke about the Apostles Creed, the Trinity and provided valuable insights into each candidates chosen saint.
During the Mass, Bishop Murphy spoke warmly about the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives and encouraged the newly confirmed to live out their faith with courage, compassion, and commitment. His words were inspiring for all in attendance. After a thorough preparation it was wonderful to witness the candidates reverent and enthusiastic approach to the Sacrament. Surrounded by family, sponsors, and the Parish community, they renewed their Baptismal Promises, were Anointed with acred Chrism and the Laying on of Hands, a powerful reminder of the presence of God at work in their lives.
We are very grateful to Bishop Murphy for his visit and for his continued support of our Parish. We also extend our thanks to Mr Paterson, Mrs Wallace and Miss O'Shea for preparing our students and Mrs Mitchell for all her hardwork organising and preparing a wonderful celebration. Once again, thankyou to Fr Sabu, Sr Kathryn and Mrs Bowden for your on-going support. May the Holy Spirit continue to guide and strengthen our newly confirmed students as they grow in faith, hope, and love.
Semester 1 Reports and Three Way Learning Conferences
Last week, students, parents/carers and teachers commenced our three way learning conferences which will continue throughout this week. Student academic pastoral care is a high priority at St Joseph’s and we pride ourselves on a positive working partnership with parents to improve student well-being, faith development, academic outcomes and life opportunities.
NAIDOC Week
St Joseph's will be celebrating NAIDOC Week this week. This year's theme is 'The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy.' The students have been working alongside Miss Taggart to explore and understand what the theme means to them. Today our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students performed a dance at our special liturgy in the school hall. After the liturgy they took part in a yarning circle with members of our community. Thank you to those parents and carers who attended this event to commence our week. On Friday 4th July all our students will participate in cultural activities organised by Miss Taggart to conclude our week of celebrations.
Attendance Matters
We’re thrilled to share some exciting news regarding our student attendance this semester.
At our school, we track attendance in two key ways:
1. Attendance Rate:This measures the total number of days attended as a percentage of the total school days available. This year to date our attendance rate is 94%.
That’s a strong trend and a sign of our commitment from our students and families.
2. Attendance Level: This tracks the percentage of students with an attendance rate of 90%orhigher. This year to date our attendance level is 86%.
That is absolutely fantastic, showing that more of our young people are consistently attending and staying engaged with their learning.
This is a testament to the collective effort of our students, families and staff. Thank you for your continued support in making regular school attendance a priority.
Let’s keep up the momentum!
Have a wonderful week & a relaxing holiday break!
Maree Holland & Greg O'Toole
Co-Principals
St Joseph's School - a Faith Filled Community Where Learning Matters