Dear Parents and Carers,

What an amazing couple of weeks we have had! Production, Staff Conference and a Long Weekend. Lots to look forward to next week as well with our Colour Explosion School Run 4 Fun and other activities. Hope you backed a winner on Cup Day.

Our Production of Shrek Jnr was an outstanding success, playing in front of hundreds of people. All credit to the children for their outstanding singing, dancing and acting over the three performances on Monday and Wednesday. Thanks to parents for their attendance, arranging costumes and doing makeup. Congratulations to our St Joseph's Staff for their huge contribution to the success of the show. Special thanks to Katie Vranken and Rebecca Beveridge for going above and beyond and most of all to Lisa Bourke. Her persistence and dedication, despite COVID setbacks since 2020, got the show over the line.

We received many kind letters and emails from families about the Production with comments like

"The performance was nothing short of Outstanding!"

"So great to see the children showing so much confidence and enthusiasm."

"Amazing what you were able to do with limited time and resources."

"You have found some true talent amongst those lead role takers......could have passed as a professionals."

Thanks to all the parents who shared their appreciation with us. This was greatly appreciated by the staff.

Parents wishing to purchase a video of the production can do so by going to https://www.trybooking.com/events/1117831/sessions/4251181

DVD $30.00 USB $35.00 Digital $25.00

Colour Explosion School Run 4 Fun

We are all really excited about the Colour Explosion School Run 4 Fun coming up this Thursday at 1:30pm. Click here to find out how you and your children can get involved.

2023 Staff Conference

Day One - Aboriginal Catholic Ministry

Spending the day together on Wednesday 2 November at the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry (ACM) was a moving and enlightening experience for our staff. Led by Sherry Balcombe (ACM Executive Manager), we explored the notion of Indigenous Spirituality and examined how Catholicism is practised in many Indigenous communities.

Sherry shared with us evidence that Aboriginal people have continuously lived in Australia for 60,000+ years, the longest continuous culture on Earth. She also shared with us the sad history of European colonisation, impact of disease and the well documented massacres that took place even as recently as the 1930s. She also spoke of the impact of inter-generational trauma, caused by forced labour (slavery) and children being removed from their families.

We participated in a Land, Fire and Water ceremony which resonated deeply with the message of Pope Francis in his encyclical Laudato Si'. This document, published in May 2015, focuses on kinship with the natural environment and all people, as well as broader questions of the relationship between God, humans, and the Earth. The encyclical’s subtitle, “Care for Our Common Home,” speaks beautifully to the relationship between Indigenous Australians and their Mother Earth. The environment is not something to be controlled or exploited for short term profit. It provides for our needs and cares for us like a mother and should be respected accordingly. For an accessible summary of this encyclical, visit Best Laudato Si' Summary. This is a little more approachable than the 184 page full encyclical. But if you are up for it, the full encyclical is available here. Knock yourself out! Another resource you may wish to view is the Youtube video Laudato Si' - An Urgent Appeal for Action

Day Two - Mary Mackillop Heritage Centre, ACU, St Patrick's Cathedral & St Francis Church

Please refer to Terry's Religious Education page for a report on Day Two of our Staff Conference.

Our school will be hosting a ThinkUKnow Cyber Safety presentation on Monday 13th November at 6pm. Please refer to Katie's Deputy Principal page for the details.

Enrolments 2024

Enrolments for 2024 are progressing well with 13 Foundation students enrolled at this stage. This is an increase of three on our 2023 enrolment and a testamony to the great things Rebecca Beveridge and Sue McConachy have been doing in Foundation this year.

We still have plenty of room for more Foundation students at St Joseph's next year, so if you hear of any other families who are looking for a great start to school life, please let them know about the great things happening here at St Joseph's School. Check out Bec's Page for a snapshot of what's going on in Foundation.

Meet Baby Grace

Congratulations to Makayla and Luke on the safe and timely arrival of their baby girl Grace. Mum and baby are both doing really well and Oscar (Foundation) is very excited to have a little sister.

Hope you are all enjoying a restful weekend.

Kind regards,

Nick.

Acknowledgement of Country