We acknowledge the First Nations peoples of Australia, the traditional custodians of the land, seas, skies and waterways on which we reside, work, travel and meet. We pay our respect to the Alngith elders and all elders, past and present, and support the Uluru Statement From The Heart. We cherish the continued deep spiritual attachment and relationship between our people and commit ourselves to the ongoing journey of Reconciliation. 

As we move through the term and reach our halfway mark, we look back on what our students have achieved. From an outstanding Year 6 camp, including some character-building moments, with a few delays trying to get home, enjoying a well-rehearsed Dance Showcase together as a community and finally, we witnessed some of our students receive their First Holy Communion on Sunday. It is wonderful to celebrate special milestones in your children’s lives and witness these special moments with you as a school community.  

We continue to recruit for our vacant positions and welcome Miss Madison Woodley as our prep school officer. Madison has a passion for working with younger students and we are sure you will welcome her into our St Joseph’s family. The position of Indigenous Liaison Officer has been filled but unfortunately, we cannot announce the successful candidate just yet, as paperwork is still being finalised. We are continuing to advertise for a Tuckshop Supervisor and also more Teachers in preparation for next year and cross our fingers that we have some applicants in this round of advertising.

Learning and Teaching

I hope everyone enjoyed the Dance Showcase and were impressed by the students’ talents and hard work from The Arts curriculum last term. A big thank you to Mrs Barber who bopped her way through the performances and put in lots of time to bring the dance together for all to enjoy.

We are approaching the time in the year where Health curriculum will become a topic of conversation particularly in weeks 6 – 9. Students in years Prep – 4 will be participating in the Daniel Morcombe Relationships Education program. Students in years 5 – 6 will be participating in the ‘Real Talk’ Relationships Education program. These programs have been mandated by CES and have been quality assured to ensure that students participate in a safe environment where all feel supported. Please be assured teachers are aware of the sensitive curriculum and will deliver it as the professionals that they are. Teachers will communicate topics discussed via a SeeSaw postcard. These postcards give details of the lesson taught so parents can support students with further discussion if required. Parents would have also received an email with more information for P-2, 3-4 and 5-6. In the attachments, parents are provided with a brief overview of topics discussed in class and websites to access for more information.

In the coming weeks we will be preparing for our student led conferences on Wednesday 3^rd September from 3:15-4:15pm. This is a new initiative where we would like our students to take charge of their learning and show you their own progress over the year. It is not a parent – teacher opportunity but you are always welcome to make a mutually convenient time to meet with all our teachers to discuss your child’s progress or any concerns you may have. More details will be provided but please put the date in your calendars.

Each year we do our best to provide access to swimming. Our curriculum does not allow us to provide lessons to teach swimming, but it is an awareness of water safety and survival. This year we will condense our time at the pool to the last weeks of this term. We will have the swimming carnival on the last day of this term. More details will be sent home shortly.

News from the APRE

This term we have celebrated many special events already. We thank our St Joey’s Community for always having-a-go and participating in whatever opportunities come their way. Please spend some time reflecting on the events below and reading about some upcoming events this term...

Sacramental Program

This year we had 11 students from Year 3 to Year 6 participate in our Sacramental Program. The Sacramental Program is a series of parish-based activities designed to prepare children for receiving the sacraments of Reconciliation (Penance), Confirmation, and First Holy Communion. It's a partnership between the school, the family, and the parish community. Students had been attending Thursday after school sessions for 7 weeks in preparation for the sacraments and were able to celebrate receiving their sacraments last weekend. Sponsors, family and parishioners were joined by Fr. Dariusz and Bishop Joe to celebrate the students’ special weekend. I am very proud of the students, their preparation and dedication to their faith formation.

Catholic Education Week

We celebrated Catholic Education Week with many activities throughout the week, including our Just Dance night, class activities, liturgy and cake. We celebrate Catholic Education Week every year in Week 3 of Term 3. It is an opportunity for all 312 Catholic schools in Queensland to celebrate and promote their distinctive mission and ethos. Catholic education strives to make a difference in the lives of those in our schools and in the wider community by challenging young people to live out the message of Jesus and to reach their full potential as compassionate, contributing, life-giving members of society. We are Communities of Faith, Hope and Love... not only was this our theme for Catholic Education Week this year, but what we strive to be every day.

National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day

Celebrated on the 4^th August every year, National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day was chosen in 1988 to communally celebrate the birthdays of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people taken from their families at a young age – the Stolen Generations. This day is a chance for all Australians to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stories, language and the rich cultures of all First Nations Australians. At St Joseph’s School approximately a third of our students are Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander or both. We acknowledge the importance of sharing their stories, language and culture in our classrooms, not just on this day, but throughout the year.

NAIDOC Week

We commemorated NAIDOC Week with a whole school liturgy that was led by Year 2 students. This year the theme for NAIDOC week was ‘The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy’. Throughout the week, we celebrated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. As Australians, we are fortunate to share our home with the world’s oldest continuing culture who have upheld their rich and diverse cultural traditions for thousands of years. We are thankful for the deep and enduring legacy of these ancient peoples and their contributions to our continent. We recognise and appreciate the land on which our parish is situated and the people who have nurtured it over time, the Alngith People. Together, let us continue to cultivate a spirit of unity and respect for all cultures and traditions within our community. This is how we, as a community, support the next generation in strength, vision and legacy.

First Nations Leadership

Lala-Sue received her 'Nulung Kayn Kasi' First Nations Leadership Badge. This was presented to her on assembly last week by our Executive Director Mr O'Riordan. 'Nulung' for leader & 'Kayn Kasi' for young shoot. We are very proud of Lala & her leadership journey.

Transfiguration of the Lord

The Transfiguration of the Lord is celebrated on August 6th, and commemorates the event where Jesus's appearance was transformed, revealing his divine glory to three of his disciples, Peter, James, and John. This event, recorded in the Synoptic Gospels, saw Jesus's face and clothes become dazzlingly bright, with Moses and Elijah appearing alongside him. It's seen as a revelation of Jesus's divinity and a foreshadowing of his resurrection. The Transfiguration is recounted in Matthew 17:1-8, Mark 9:2-8, and Luke 9:28-36.

Feast Day of Mary MacKillop

We celebrate the Feast Day of Saint Mary MacKillop on the 8^th August every year. Thank you to Year 4 for leading us in prayer on this special day this year. Mary is this first Australian saint. This August, let’s walk in the footsteps of Australia’s most loved Saint. Just like Mary MacKillop, let’s be fierce in the face of adversity. Let’s be fair and act when we see injustice. Let’s give love to those we encounter each day.

“Let no obstacle deter us from proceeding with courage.” – St Mary MacKillop

When Mary saw families living on the margins without access to education, she set up a school to teach children herself — regardless of their situation. She and the Sisters of St Joseph went wherever the need was greatest. And despite facing enormous challenges, they continued to walk with people every step of the way. It was more than 150 years ago that Mary and the Sisters of St Joseph travelled through the heat of the outback to some of Australia’s most remote communities. They were willing to do whatever it took to set up schools, so overlooked children could pursue an education, reach their full potential, and flourish. They gave up everything to live amongst the people they served and teach with love and compassion. They saw injustice and were fierce to act, so children wouldn’t miss out on fair access to education.

“Never see a need without doing something about it.” – St Mary MacKillop

Information from marymackilloptoday

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

This week, on the 15^th August, we celebrate the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This significant day recalls the spiritual and physical departure of the mother of Jesus Christ from the earth, when both her soul and her body were taken into the presence of God.

20 Years of Service

It has been a pleasure working for Catholic Education Diocese of Cairns for the last 20 years. Thank you to Mr O’Riordan, our Executive Director, for presenting me with my certificate and gift at assembly last week. Here’s to 20 more years!!!

Yours in faith,

Mrs Julie Dore

Assistant Principal Religious Education (Acting)

Dear Parents and Guardians,  

Welcome to Week 5 and what a wonderful Term it has been so far celebrating Naidoc Week, Catholic Education Week and our annual School Dance. It was so wonderful to see all the students smiling and enjoying their dance productions that they have been working on and practising over the last term.   

Visitors 

This Term we welcomed back many visitors, Coach Matt from Australian Athletics and Iada Bowie from AFL Cape York.

This week Sue Lewis - Occupational Therapist and Lorraine Carroll – Speech and language Therapist from Cairns Catholic Education visiting for a few days and supporting teachers and students. 

In week 6 and 7 of this Term, we have the pleasure of Ms Sandi Brown - our School Counsellor visiting us again in Weipa providing her service to St. Joseph's School.     

Personalised Learning Plans (PLPs)   

Over the next few weeks the teachers will be in the process of writing Personalised Learning Plans (PLPs). Personalised learning is a process that supports a wide range of students with additional learning and support needs. This includes students who may require support in one or more of the following areas: learning (including high potential learners), behaviour, social/emotional, cultural/language (including international students, boarders and learners of English as an Additional Language or Dialect) and those who have educational support needs arising from disability.   

Teachers, with the support of the Leader of Diversity, and in consultation with parents, collaboratively decide which adjustments and/or goals are to be targeted and determine appropriate strategies and supports to be implemented. It is the teacher’s responsibility to implement these planned strategies in order to support students to meet their goals.   

Teachers will direct School Officer support and plan for adjustments on a weekly basis. Teachers communicate weekly with School Officers regarding student progress and make adjustments as needed.   

Evidence is collected regularly and uploaded to ENGAGE. PLP meetings are set 6 monthly and will determine if current goals have been achieved before setting further goals. The teachers will meet with Parents of PLP students in Week 9/10 of this Term.  

SEL Wellbeing Survey  

The children at St, Joesph’s Parish School Weipa have been invited to take part in a survey about student wellbeing and mental health from the between 04/08/2025 and Friday 22/08/2025. The survey will be completed online during school hours and contains between 25-57 questions (depending on the age of your child) and will take 10- 15 minutes to complete. 

This annual survey is being issued to all students in the Diocese of Cairns by the Student Wellbeing and Diversity directorate of Catholic Education Services. The survey aims to gather student opinions about aspects of the school that relate to supporting student wellbeing and mental health.  

What is the purpose of the survey? The survey will provide schools with student opinions on what the school is doing well and what they can improve to better promote and support student wellbeing and mental health. Long term this survey may be used to track student wellbeing and mental health over a period of time. 

Kind regards,

Melanie Turner.

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

We have made it to halfway through Term 3 and it has been a very busy term with lots of learning, growth and fun had in Prep! We have participated in many fun days including celebrating and dressing up for 100 days of school – which was a fantastic celebration with parent and grandparent helpers and some amazing costumes. We also celebrated NAIDOC Week with stories and fun craft activities. Sadly, we said goodbye to Miss Chelsie and Eladre as they are off on new adventures.

In English we have been learning new initial sounds, tricky words and even digraphs. We now know that a digraph is two letters making one sound. Our English unit this term also has us presenting news to the class. We are learning to maintain eye contact, a good voice level and posture. When listening to news we are working on being a good audience member and listening respectfully as well as asking appropriate questions. In English this term we are also learning about procedure texts and step-by-step instructions. We even wrote and made our own “Magic Stew”. I have been super impressed with the Prep’s growth in reading this term and it warms my heart listening to them read like little superstars!

In Maths we have been learning all about sequencing events and time. Students have been using the language of “first, next and last” to order events as well as positional language such as “on top of” “beside” and “between”. Our Maths unit this term has also seen us work with elapsed time and how long it takes to do something in a second, minute and hour.  

In Religion students have been continuing to learn about Jesus and the stories he told about the Good Samaritan and the 10 Lepers as well as different ways to pray. We are still enjoying praying through song each morning in our morning routine. In Science students are learning about the weather and how to dress appropriately for different kinds of weather. It hasn’t changed much and seems to be consistently “sunny and hot! Our handy helper of the day checks the weather and reports back to the class. In Health students are learning how to stay safe and in HASS we are learning all about celebrations and events of the past.

Some gentle reminders:

• PE day – Thursday with Mrs Turner (Your child will need to wear their sports uniform and shoes).
• Library day – every Wednesday (Students now borrow 2 picture books. Please return books in library bags).
• Homework folders to be brought in on Wednesday’s.

As always, please feel free to contact me via e-mail ttapper@cns.catholic.edu.au or on SeeSaw. Thank-you for your continued support in your child’s learning in Prep this year so far!

Kind Regards,

Mrs Tash Tapper.

Dear Parents and Carers,

It’s been such a joy to join Year 1 this term! It’s been wonderful getting to know each child and seeing their personalities and talents shine.

In English, we’ve been diving into persuasive writing and having lots of fun with the Don’t Let the Pigeon… books by Mo Willems. The children have loved coming up with clever reasons for their arguments – some have been very convincing! We are beginning to work on our Oral language persuasive skills for our up and coming presentations.

In Maths, we’ve been working with one- and two-digit numbers, partitioning them and exploring place value using lots of hands-on materials. The students have been busy, and I’ve been sharing plenty of photos of their work on Seesaw for you to enjoy. Moving forward we will begin exploring addition and subtraction to 20.

In Science, we’re learning about how materials can change states of matter (and back again), making predictions and watching those changes happen.

In History, we’re talking about families – how they change over time, the ways they can be similar or different, and the special events we celebrate. I am sure the children will be very grateful for any stories you can share with them about your own family history. Your stories might include information about the similarities and differences from the past way of living to the present day way of living.

In Health, we’re exploring Respect – Emotional Responses and Empathy. We’re also completing our Daniel Morcombe safety lessons, learning about body clues, private body parts, body ownership, and safety options.

In Religion, we’re beginning to explore Jesus’ mission and ministry, and we’ve refreshed our understanding of prayer and its importance in our lives.

In Technology, learning about hardware and software, soon we will begin following simple algorithms to make Beebots move.

Some special events that we have enjoyed and are still looking forward to include:

• Our class assembly prayer coming up in Week
• Bishop Joe visiting this week (we had some great questions ready for him!)
• NAIDOC Week and crafts last week
• The Dance Night Spectacular – Year 1’s performance was a hit!

It’s been a busy, happy start to the term and I’m looking forward to all the learning and fun still to come. Thank you for your ongoing support – it’s a privilege to be teaching this wonderful group of students.

Warm regards,
Lyndsey Fielding
Year 1 Teacher

Hello families and friends on Year 2,

We have had a great start to Term 3! Everyone has settled back into our routines and learning, and it has been fantastic to see so much growth from each and every single student! Thank you to everyone who was able to come and make our whole school dance night one to remember! I am sorry I missed it this year, but from the photos and what I have heard, Year 2 was funky fresh dancing to Dr Jones! Year 2 also did an amazing job presenting at assembly this week, our information on Creation and Forgiveness is so important as it is covered across many year levels at the school.

Last week the school celebrated NAIDOC Week. The year 2 class did some fantastic craft activities thanks to Mrs Dore! We got to design boomerangs, scratch art on native Australian animals, do some fuzzy artwork and painting.

As we move through the term the students will continue to work on their persuasive writing and presentation skills in English. We are keen to build up our confidence to speak and present our ideas in from of others and we have some really strong opinions to go with it! Stay tuned for some work samples on seesaw – we are a really persuasive bunch!

In Maths, we have been learning some life-long skills in telling time and calculating the days/week/months/hours between different events. We are learning some of these concepts using an analogue clock – so if there is one at home please join in and ask questions about the time to keep it real and familiar to the students.

Moving forward this term, in science the students will continue looking at living things and the life cycle of animals, plants and humans. In HASS, the students will compare objects used for various things, such as communication and transportation, to what is used now for those same things. It will be interesting to see how much change has happened over the years and kind of scary to think of what they might be like in the future!

Some friendly reminders:

• Homework is Monday to Monday
• Library borrowing is Monday
• PE – sport uniform is Thursday

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me!

Kind Regards,

Emily

Week 5

Exploring, Learning, and Celebrating Together

Year 3 this term has been filled with hands-on discoveries, thoughtful reflections, and celebrations of culture and community spirit.

Science: The Wonders of Heating and Cooling

Our budding scientists have been busy exploring the fascinating science behind heating and cooling. Through a series of engaging experiments and demonstrations, students have learned how temperature changes can affect materials in everyday life.

• Practical Experiments: Students observed how different materials behave when we heat and cool them. Students observed how chocolate melts when heated and solidifies when cooled, how a metal spoon gets hotter than a plastic one when heated and colder when frozen, and how cordial freezes when cooled and melts when heated, sparking lively discussions about changing states of matter.

Humanities: Exploring Australia’s States and Territories

Our class has embarked on a virtual journey across Australia, learning about each state and territory’s unique features—both natural and man-made.

• Geographical Exploration: Students identified all six states and two territories on a map, learning their locations, and capitals. We examined the diverse climates and landscapes, from the lush rainforests of Queensland to the arid expanses of the Northern Territory.
• Natural Features: The class discussed iconic natural wonders such as Uluru, the Great Barrier Reef, the Twelve Apostles, and the Daintree Rainforest. Students shared facts and images, sparking appreciation for Australia’s breathtaking environment.
• Cultural features: We discussed the importance of Uluru to the Anangu people, and the Daintree Rainforest (Cape Tribulation) to the Eastern Kuku Yalanji people.
• Man-made Landmarks: We explored significant structures like the Sydney Opera House, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and Parliament House in Canberra. Through videos and discussions, students learned about the history and importance of these sites.

Religious Education: The Sermon on the Mount and the Beatitudes

In Religious Education, our focus was on the Sermon on the Mount, particularly the Beatitudes—a cornerstone of Catholic teaching.

• Storytelling and Reflection: we read the story of Jesus delivering the Sermon on the Mount and Moses receiving the 10 Commandments.
• The Beatitudes: Students have started to learn about each Beatitude, discussing what it means to be ‘blessed’ and how these teachings can be applied to their daily lives. Concepts such as kindness, humility, and peacemaking were explored through drawing and class discussions.
• Art and Expression: Children illustrated their favourite Beatitudes and wrote short reflections, connecting ancient wisdom to modern contexts.

NAIDOC Week: Celebrating First Nations Culture

NAIDOC Week activities filled our school with colour, music, and meaningful conversation. This special week honours the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

• Storytelling and History: Students listened to stories about NAIDOC celebrations.
• Art and Music: Classes engaged in art projects.
• Respect for Land: We participated in acknowledging the traditional custodians of our land and reflecting on the importance of Country.

English: Writing Procedural Recounts

In English, our focus has been on procedural recounts.

• Structure and Language: Students learned the structure of a procedural recount, identifying time connectives, action verbs, and the importance of clear, logical sequence.
• Hands-on Practice: After conducting various science experiments and art projects, students wrote recounts detailing the steps, materials, and outcomes. Sharing these with the class helped develop both writing and speaking skills.
• Peer Feedback: Pupils exchanged recounts and provided constructive feedback, learning to appreciate clarity, accuracy, and detail in their writing.

Mathematics: Multiplication, Division, Estimation, and Rounding

Maths lessons have centred on developing number sense and calculation strategies using multiplication, division, estimation, and rounding.

• Building the Basics: Students practised their multiplication tables and explored different methods for solving division problems, including sharing, grouping, and arrays.
• Estimation Skills: Children learned how estimation helps them check their answers and make quick, reasonable guesses in everyday situations, such as shopping or measuring ingredients in cooking.
• Rounding Numbers: Lessons covered when and how to round numbers to the nearest ten, hundred, or thousand.
• Collaborative Learning: Students worked together to solve word problems, sharing strategies and explaining their reasoning to peers.

Looking Ahead

As we move into Week 6, students will continue to build on these skills and delve deeper into new areas of learning. Thank you for your ongoing support and encouragement at home. Together, we are nurturing curious, creative, and caring young minds.

As always, if you have any questions please feel free to contact me on

dhamilton@cns.catholic.edu.au

Kind regards

Debra Hamilton

Year 3 teacher.

Year 4 – Term 3 2025

How is it halfway through the term already?!

We have had a fantastic term of learning so far in year 4. The students have been very interested in their Digi Tech Unit where they are experimenting with colour coding to code Ozobots. Students have been experimenting with different codes to make our Ozobots move direction, change speed and even do a little happy dance. They have acquired these skills to quickly and it will be exciting to see the interesting codes they use to demonstrate a tour of Weipa on a grid map.

This term we also celebrated Catholic Education Week and year 4 pulled out their best 90’s dance moves and boogied down to Party in the USA. It was a sea of American colours – Red, blue and white. We are so proud of their commitment to learning the dance and putting all their effort into it on the night. Also during Catholic Education week, the school celebrated with a liturgy and of course CUPCAKES – which the year 4’s enjoyed very much.

We are looking forward to everything that the rest of the term has to bring!

Miss Libby & Ms Barber

Year 5 Newsletter

What a great start to Term 3! The students have settled into routines and following all classroom expectations! They are working hard to develop and demonstrate leadership skills and working as a team in preparation for Year 5 camp in a few weeks.

In English, they have researched, planned for and written a persuasive feature article all about Sustainable Gardens. We have written five paragraphs, received feedback to edit and improve our writing! It is in the process of being published! Take a look!

In Maths, we have completed a fractions, decimals and percentages assessment. We found equivalence using different representations and explained how they were connected. In our new unit, we are investigating angles and coordinates!

In History, we have been learning about the Gold Rush, in particular, what life was like for those living on the gold fields. We are currently drafting a diary entry from the perspective of someone who experienced what life was like at that time!

In Science, we have been conducting experiments to understand how light travels. We have recreated a periscope to show how light reflects and used a cup with a straw to see how light refracts. In our next lesson, we will be looking at Isaac Newton’s ‘Theory of Colour’.

In Economics and Business, we have identified needs vs wants, and how that relates to the economic process. We have begun to develop our understanding of supply and demand, and producers and consumers and the choices we can make financially that reflect this process.

Miss Bell

Dear Parents and Carers,

As we reach the halfway point of Term 3, students are continuing to develop their persuasive reading and writing skills. We have just completed writing persuasive letters to Qantas describing the challenges we faced getting home; these letters will be emailed to Qantas later this week. Next, we will focus on presenting arguments and including rebuttals through class debates. If there is a call for you to come in on a Friday, there’s a good chance your child will be trying to convince you of something they need or should do!

In maths, we have moved from exploring the Cartesian plane to investigating positive and negative integers. This will include ordering integers and adding and subtracting them- please keep an eye out for maths questions on homework.

In Humanities, we have been learning about the role of government and what it means to live in a democracy. We will soon begin studying the law-making process with the aim of helping students develop a better understanding of democratic values and their role as active citizens. We are also excited to have an incursion from the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House (MoAD).

Looking ahead, students will participate in swimming lessons and the swimming carnival in Week 10. I will inform you of the scheduled session times prior to swimming, so students can pack and prepare accordingly.

Finally, I want to acknowledge how well the Year 6 students conducted themselves during camp and in the days following. They represented themselves and the school with pride during their time at Camp Patterson and St Augustine’s. They have transitioned smoothly back to school and continue to uphold the high expectations they have set for themselves throughout the year. Please keep an eye on the portal, as camp photos will be uploaded there soon.

Thanks,

Matt Bakes