Principal's Report 

A Double Celebration then the Run Home

Celebration 1

Next week we see the Year 12 students attending their last formal classes of secondary schooling. On Wednesday 20 October we will farewell them from the formal part of their schooling at St Joseph’s College with a Celebration Day that will include virtual, streamed House assemblies and some COVID safe fun activities. 

As well as celebrating these students’ time at St Joseph’s College, we will be wishing them all the very best for their exams which begin the following week with the English exam.

Despite the challenges of the last two years, I believe the vast majority of Year 12 students have worked themselves into a position where they can approach the exams with confidence. Confidence that they have used their time over the last thirteen years of schooling as well as possible to give themselves every chance of success. No doubt there will be some last-minute nerves and doubt. To a certain extent this is good because over-confidence can be just as dangerous as under-confidence. 

We will be keeping all the Year 12 students in our prayers and thoughts; next week for a finish to their schooling days that is filled with Joy and Gratitude, Dignity and Respect; and in the coming weeks that they do as well in their exams as they possibly can.

Dear Lord

Be with me as I take these exams. 

Your peace can sustain me through the anxiety and stresses of exam nerves. 

Keep my mind alert and my memory sharp. 

Calm my nerves and help me concentrate. 

Lord, come and remind me of your unfailing love. 

Remind me that you hold me safe, you understand me, and you cherish me. 

I lay down my fears before you.

I leave them at the foot of the cross, for you have overcome the world. 

I choose to give you all my concerns, worries and fears of failure. 

I trust that your loving hand will hold me through these exams and lead into a bright future.

I know that you walk with me, guiding my path and inspiring my heart. 

I pray that I would feel you with me, and that your friendship would soften the pressure I feel. I pray that I would display my best in these exams and go on to new things with you. 

Thank you for your peace and your love in my life. 

Thank you for your kindness and care for me.

Amen

Celebration 2

It is great to see the school coming back to full strength as we welcome students back to on-site learning. Initially in a staggered manner and all year levels from the week after next.

Once again, our learning community needs to be congratulated for its flexibility, adaptability and resilience in coping with shifting in and out of remote and flexible learning. 

The 2020 and 2021 academic years have certainly been most challenging. We have risen to those challenges and done well. Together …..

“We are on this journey together, we will make mistakes together, we will have wonderful victories together, we will celebrate many successes together, we will carry each other through difficult times together and at the end of this journey we will celebrate all that is good with joy and gratitude together.”

Maintain our flexibility, adaptability, resilience and readiness and we will complete the 2021 academic year very well.

The run home

For our students in Years 7 – 11, Year 12 Celebration day should be a reminder that the end of the 2021 academic year will come very quickly and that it is important to make the most of every learning opportunity that is presented.

As the rest of the school settles into the last weeks of this academic year, students from the other year levels would do well to remind themselves of the necessity of working together to maximise the benefits of the learning opportunities offered to the group. When a group is working towards a common goal it will always do better than a group heading in different directions. I would urge all parents and students to have a discussion at home about the strategies that might be implemented during what is left of the school year to make sure that each student receives results that truly reflect his/her ability.

I can assure you that the teaching staff will be focussed on ensuring that all students are given every chance to produce their best work. 

Go gently. Stay safe. Look after one another.

God bless.

Michael Delaney

Principal