Principal's Report

Thank you 

Celebrate Semester 1 with Gratitude

Thank you to all members of our St. Joseph’s learning community for a wonderful Semester 1, especially under extremely difficult conditions in Term 2. There has been a fantastic sense of purpose, flexibility and resilience around the College with the vast majority of students working really hard to make the most of the talents with which God has blessed them. 

As the pages of this newsletter have testified, there have been many wonderful learning opportunities made available to the students entrusted to our care, both inside and outside the classroom, at home and away from home. It is fantastic to see so many students taking advantage of these opportunities and making the most of them. Such involvement really does demonstrate commitment.

I hope all students will finish the Semester with a sense of gratitude - gratitude for these learning opportunities and gratitude for the efforts made on their behalf by their parents and or guardians and the College staff.

Why bother to practise gratitude in your life? Because scientific studies indicate that gratitude plays a significant role in a person’s sense of wellbeing. 

“Acts of daily gratitude result in higher levels of alertness, enthusiasm, determination, optimism and energy. Additionally, people who perform acts of gratitude are more likely to help others, to exercise more regularly, make more progress towards personal goals and are more likely to feel loved. Gratitude encourages a positive cycle of kindness among people since one act of gratitude encourages another.” 

Source: McCollough and Emmons. Researchers.

It would seem that anyone can improve their sense of wellbeing and create positive social effects by being grateful with what they have and do in life. 

St. Augustine thought so too and had this to say: 

“People go abroad to wonder at the height of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of the rivers, at the vast compass of the oceans, at the circular motion of the stars, and they pass by themselves without wondering. Let us acknowledge the wonder that we are here, in these particular bodies, at this particular time, in these particular circumstances. May we never take for granted the gift of our individuality.”

What great advice! Look at ourselves in a positive manner and allow gratitude to unlock the fullness of life for us. Be grateful for the demands others make of us, for that means that we are considered to be positive contributors in their lives. Be grateful for the weariness at the end of the day/term, for that means that we have been productive for others and ourselves.

There is simply no end to the opportunity we have to be grateful people, provided we regard our “glass of life” as being “half-full”.

Enjoy a well-deserved holiday break. Thank you to every staff member, every student and every parent/carer for your commitment and support this semester.

God bless.

Michael Delaney

Principal