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. 

Welcome to our mid-term newsletter!
This term has already been filled with a variety of exciting events—and there’s still plenty more to come as we approach the end of Term 2 and the halfway point of our school year.

A Warm Welcome to New Families
We’re delighted to welcome new families into our St Joey’s community. We hope you’re settling in well and encourage you to reach out if you have any questions. Our school continues to grow, and we’re excited to get to know all the new faces joining us.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Education
This week, I had the opportunity to attend the Senior Leaders Conference in Cairns, where we explored the future direction of education across our united Catholic schools. We asked ourselves:

• What will education look like in 10 years?
• How do we prepare our students today for a future that is constantly evolving?
• Are we courageous enough to embrace innovation and make some changes?

I believe we are courageous and must listen to the voices of our students to know what it is they need for their future.

Each generation faces unique challenges, and it’s our responsibility as educators to prepare students for a future we can’t fully predict. What practices still serve us well—and what needs to evolve? As a principal in Weipa, I value the autonomy we must have to shape our school’s direction, while also working within the broader system that supports and guides us.

Your Voice Matters
As parents, you are your child’s first educators, and we deeply value your views and input. We strive to capture your feedback to make meaningful improvements. One of the most effective ways you can help us is by completing the surveys we send out throughout the year.

We understand that survey fatigue is real—but your voice truly matters. The more feedback survey results we receive, the more accurately we can reflect the needs of our community and make genuine changes that benefit your child’s education.

On the 26^th May, parents, staff and students in Yrs 5 and 6, will receive an email with full details and instructions for the completion of the annual feedback survey, including a personal link to the survey. Students will complete the survey at school with their class teacher.

The Feedback Survey is an important tool in providing information and data which assists in determining and refining all aspects of our operations and offerings at both the school and system levels.

The survey results also inform our annual government reporting. Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts—we’re listening.

Have a great weekend,

Kath Porter

News from the APRE

Student Council

The Student Council has been meeting to discuss school issues. They have some great ideas for school improvements and fundraising, and they are very passionate about what they have to say. They have decided that this term the money we raise with fundraisers will be donated to the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS). And next term the money we raise will be donated to Cape Animal Protection Shelter (CAPS). The thinking behind this is that in Term 1 and Term 4 we raise money for global charities, Caritas and Project Compassion (Term 1) and Catholic Missions (Term 4). So in Terms 2 and 3 we can raise money for charities that support our local community.

Events to reflect on from the beginning of this term...

Pope News

With the passing of our wonderful Pope Francis at Easter came a somber time for the Church. We reflected on the many great things he did, not only for our Church but for the world, and the amazing human being he was. We were consoled by the fact that he was now with his God, that he had worked so tirelessly for. Then we had a time of waiting, waiting to learn who our new pope would be. It was interesting to discuss the process of how a new pope is elected and the many traditions that go along with this. We didn’t have to wait too long and were pleased to learn that our next pope would be Pope Leo XIV. We look forward to learning more about our new pope and how he will lead our Church.

On the 15^th-17^th May The Centesimus Annus Pro Pontifice Foundation commemorated its 2025 General Assembly and International Conference. At this conference, Pope Leo XIV challenged the Foundation members to help each other in the mission he spoke of the night he was elected: “Build bridges—through dialogue, through encounter—uniting all people to be one people, always in peace.” He reminded them that this is not something spontaneous or improvised. Rather, it requires a combination of both grace and freedom. Pope Leo XIV reminded the Foundation members that what matters more than the problems of this world is how people respond to them—“using ethical principles, sound criteria for evaluation, and openness to God’s grace.”

So on hearing these latest words from Pope Leo XIV, I think it is safe to say our Church is in safe hands once again with another great pope.

ANZAC Day

We commemorated this day of remembrance as a whole school with an ANZAC Day Liturgy on Thursday 24^th April. It was wonderful to have Lt. Steve Kennet, who has served in the RAF & RAAF, join us and share his memories and words of wisdom. Thank you also to the Year 4 students who read at the liturgy so beautifully. Then on Friday 25^th April, ANZAC Day, we had a large number of our students and their families wake up very early to represent our school in the March & Dawn Service. Thank you for your commitment to keeping this special day of remembrance an important tradition.

St Joseph the Worker Feast Day

We honored our Patron Saint, St. Joseph the Worker, with a liturgy in our Church on Monday 28^th April. Traditionally, the St Joseph the Worker Feast Day is celebrated on 1^st May each year, however we celebrated it a few days earlier while Fr. Dariusz was here to enjoy it with us. During this special morning, we awarded one student from each class with a Spirit of St. Joseph award. This award is given to a student who embodies our school values of Justice, Compassion and Humility consistently. Then, in true feast style, following the liturgy we shared some yummy cupcakes. We spent the afternoon playing lots of fun games outside with our friends and buddies, because what is a Feast Day without some fun!

The feast of St. Joseph the Worker honors St. Joseph's role as a worker and a model of humility, labour, and dedication. This feast emphasises the dignity of labour and the importance of work in the Christian faith. It encourages reflection on the value of work, the rights of workers, and the need for fair and just labour practices. It is particularly significant for those who find meaning and purpose in their work, as it underscores the idea that all honest work, regardless of its nature, has dignity and worth.

 May – The Month of Mary

The month of May is the month which the faithful have dedicated to Our Blessed Lady, and it is the occasion for a moving tribute of faith and love which Catholics in every part of the world pay to the Queen of Heaven. During this month Christians, offer up to Mary from their hearts especially loving prayers. In this month, too, the benefits of God's mercy come down to us from her throne in greater abundance. Please spend some time with your families praying to Mary this month and saying the ‘Hail Mary’.

Mother’s Day

We celebrated our wonderful mothers and all mother figures, on Friday 9^th May, with a liturgy, picnic lunch and games at school. Unfortunately, this year our Mother’s Day stall gifts that we ordered didn’t arrive in time, but the students made special gifts for their mothers in class instead. And thanks to our amazing tuckshop lady, Miss Jess, our mothers were treated to some sweet & savory finger foods and a refreshing punch. The students loved having their mums and loved ones with them at play time and it was great to see them all eating, chatting and playing with each other.

 

Do it for Dolly Day

On Friday 9^th May we wore blue and brought in a gold coin donation for Do it for Dolly Day. As a school community we raised $194 for Dolly’s Dream Foundation! We also discussed the issue of bullying and ways to be kind to one another.

Quote of the month... In a world where you can be anything, be kind.

Reminder...

We love welcoming new additions and celebrating the success of our students. Please let us know of any accomplishments your child or your family have, as we would love to acknowledge these with our St Joey’s Community.

Enjoy the rest of Term 2!

Mrs  Julie  Dore

Assistant Principal Religious Education (APRE) - Acting

Prayer for Inclusion

Dear Parents and Guardians, 

Welcome to Week 5 and I cannot believe that we are halfway through the Term 2. There are many exciting events happenings in the next few weeks starting with Under 8’s tomorrow for Prep to Year 2, Reconciliation Week in Week 7, Athletics Carnival from Prep to Year 6 on Thursday the 6^th of June and the Weipa Fishing Classic.

NCCD - Nationally Consistent Collection of Data

The NCCD is an annual collection of information from all Australian schools on the numbers of students with disability and the adjustments they receive. All Teachers at St. Joseph’s School will be expected to understand their obligations to students with disability under the DDA and the Disability Standards for Education 2005 and consistently collect and provide evidence which is recorded on ENGAGE.

Last week we had Lorraine Carroll - CES Speech Therapist and Zinna Alyward - CES Occupational Therapist visiting Weipa providing their services to St. Joseph's School.

This week we have Ms Sandi Brown - our School Counsellor visiting St. Joseph's School Weipa and working with Staff, Parents, and Students.

P.E

Last week was a massive week of Footy with both codes visiting our school. Firstly, Prep to Year 3 got to meet Peri Creamer (Game Development Officer) and his Team from NRL Cairns. The NRL were visiting Weipa for the RISE Program which is run at the Local Club for the 13+age group. The Prep to Year 3 students completed Skills and Drills in Rugby League and had a great afternoon.

Secondly, Years 4 to Year 6 also got to meet Joe Cockshott - Cowboys Game Development Coach for the North Queensland Cowboys. The students completed Skills and Drills in Rugby League, and we had a great afternoon. We are looking forward to learning more techniques in the future when the Cowboys visit Weipa again.

Finally Prep to Year 6 completed 3 weeks of Skills and Drills in AFL with Matt Mellahn and Jake O'Halloran from AFL Cape York. The Program runs for 5 weeks in Term 2 and also had an after-school session with over 60 children participating as well. A great day had by all and we are looking forward to learning more techniques in AFL when they come back in a few weeks.

 

My email address is   mturner@cns.catholic.edu.au

Kind Regards,  

Melanie Turner.  

Learning and Curriculum

Hi St Joey’s community,

Wow! We are halfway through Term 2 already! Just a reminder to parents that this term is reporting term. Teachers will prepare a mid-year report to inform you of how your child is going on their learning journey this year. Please remember that the achievement standard that this term’s report card is marked against is a reflection of what students should achieve by the END of the year.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT ACCESSING REPORT CARDS

St Joseph’s Weipa is excited to introduce our Parent Portal.

Access is restricted to parents and guardians of students at our school and a logon is required. An account has been created for you and the details on receiving a password are outlined below.

The Parent Portal will enable easy access to information about happenings in the school, forms that need to be returned, names and contact details for staff, policy information and much more.

There’s also a special section to allow you to check the details we have recorded in our enrolment system about your children, and if necessary, advise us of any changes.

You can also check on information about your child’s attendance, Academic reports, teachers, timetable, NAPLAN performance and report cards.

We will be making increasing use of the Parent Portal to provide a range of information to parents in the future.

The initial login requires you to verify your identity and create a password. This document will lead you through the process. Please follow the steps carefully.

School Website link - http://www.stjosephsweipa.qld.edu.au/

1. Start the process by going to the school’s public website and clicking the Parent Portal link. You will be met with a login

2. CLICK Diocese of Cairns and then CLICK Forgotten Password/First-Time Login button

3. CLICK the link under the Parents heading titled:                                       

“choose your own password online”

4. Enter the personal email address that you have provided to the school and click Next once.

5. Check that email account for a security code which will be sent within 1 minute (expires after 15 minutes), enter the corresponding security code in the Verify your Identity form and click

6. On the Password Reset form enter your desired password in both boxes before clicking

Troubleshooting

1. If you did not receive an email from the school advising you of Parent Portal access then it is likely that you have not given the school an email address. In this case a Parent Portal account will not have been created for you and you will not be able to create a password. Contact the school and provide an email address (if both parents require individual access to the Parent Portal, each parent will need to provide individual email addresses).
2. If you receive an “Error 3000” or an “Access Denied” error, we need to know at which point that error message came up during the password creation process to help us resolve it. Advise the school.
3. The first step in resolving any error message is to refresh your web browser – try closing it and reopening it and if the error still occurs clear the browser history and retry logging in to the Parent Portal
4. If you login successfully but don’t see your child’s details then contact the school

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

It has been a busy term already with lots of learning and fun had in Prep! We recently presented at our second assembly singing “Lord, I Need You” are reading so well! We were very proud of all the students. We have been practising our running and ball games in morning fitness in preparation for the sports carnival in the coming weeks.

In English we have been learning new initial sounds and some new tricky words. We are learning to blend and segment these sounds and form simple sentences. We are continuing to work well in our literacy “rotation stations” and have begun reading levelled books in this time. We are so proud of the amazing progress students have made already with their reading and writing!

In Maths we have continued to learn all about numbers and what they look like as a digit and using objects. Students have learnt “Friends of 10” and have begun to partition groups into 2 groups. The last couple of weeks have seen us measuring using informal units such as connecting cubes.  As always in Prep, students have continued to participate in lots of hand-on activities to assist in our “learning by doing” philosophy.  

In Religion students have been learning about how Jesus and his friends and family. In HASS we are learning about places and their features. In Science the focus has been on forces where students have build ramps and investigated objects that can roll and slide down. In Health and SEL students are learning about feelings and emotions. Students have been getting great at their AUSLAN signing with Mrs Barber (and have even been teaching me their signs!) They have also been lucky enough to be involved in Rugby and AFL lessons in PE with Mrs Turner.

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 Tapper and Miss Chelsie

Year 1 Term 2  Newsletter Update

What a busy and exciting start to the term it’s been in Year 1! In Mathematics, we’ve been exploring patterns—students have loved identifying, creating, and extending their own. In English, we’ve been diving into narratives and are now preparing to create our own adaptations of familiar stories.

Our Science lessons have taken us skyward as we investigated different cloud types and had fun designing our own constellations. In Religion, we’ve been learning about Baptism and Eucharist, exploring the symbols and meanings behind these important sacraments.

In Technology, our focus has been on the essentials we need to survive, with a special emphasis on shelter. We’re excited to put our learning into practice by building our own arks later this term! Meanwhile, in HASS, we’ve been learning to identify natural, managed, and constructed features around Weipa.

In Health, our focus has been on healthy eating and learning how to make good food choices to fuel our bodies.

A big thank you to all who joined us for the beautiful Mother’s Day liturgy and lunch—it was lovely to share the celebration with you.

A gentle reminder that homework is to be returned on Thursdays and given out of Fridays. Please ensure that all school library books are returned – our library day is also Thursday. If there are any other questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.  

Our Athletics Carnival is just around the corner! Keep an eye out for the schedule and event run sheets. If you're available to help with set-up on the day, your support would be greatly appreciated. 

Miss Peters

Hello family and friends of Year 2,

We have had a great start to term 2! Earlier in the term we celebrated the Feast of St Joseph. Congratulations to all our Spirit of St Joseph Award recipients. Under 8s day was held at WCC this year and thank you to all the families and friends who came along for a morning of fun!

Across our English learning area, the students have been building background knowledge on Australian Animals. We have explored the different text structures of informative texts, and we will be constructing our own information report as the term continues.

In maths we have been exploring the concept of money – representing, calculating and ordering various amounts. As the term continues the students will investigate directional language such as clockwise, left, right and representing categorical data in different ways.

Thank you for sharing your different toys with us! The students have been using them to demonstrate various forces such as push and pull. In science, the students are designing their own toy and as a part of technology, they will outline the appropriate materials to use in order for the toy to function properly.

Our Athletics Carnival is fast approaching – please keep an eye out for the schedules and run sheets. If you are available to help set up on the day please let me know, it would be greatly appreciated!

A gentle reminder that homework is given out and to be returned on Mondays. Please ensure that all school library books are returned – our library day is also Monday. If there are any other questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Kind Regards,

Emily

Dear year 3 Families,

I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to take a moment to update you on all the exciting things we've been doing in Year 3 this term.

In English, we've been delving into the world of narrative writing. The students have been honing their skills in crafting engaging stories, focusing particularly on elements like direct speech and building tension. We've explored how to use dialogue to bring characters to life and keep readers on the edge of their seats. The children have been very creative, coming up with imaginative plots and characters that keep us all eager to hear what happens next.

In Maths, we've been diving into the exciting world of financial mathematics. We have been working out money problems and calculating the change we should get. We have also been earning classroom dollars by completing in class work, doing homework, and following classroom rules. We are definitely looking forward to spending our classroom dollars in our classroom shop and showing what we know about money at the same time.

Our Religious Studies have centred around Jesus as the Messiah. We've delved into how Jesus is portrayed in the Bible and what significance his teachings hold. The children have engaged deeply with these stories, asking thoughtful questions and reflecting on their own beliefs.

In HASS (Humanities and Social Sciences), we've been exploring how communities change over time. Our focus has been on Weipa, tracing its history from the time of the First Nations people, through the arrival of the Dutch on the Duyfken, to the start of mining in the 1950s. It's been fascinating to see the children connect with the local history and understand how it has shaped the community we live in today.

In Science, we've been exploring the science of heat. The children have been learning about what creates heat and how the materials our playground is made up of affects how heat from the sun is transferred to the playground itself.

Health lessons have focused on understanding how health messages affect our decisions and what it truly means to be healthy. The students have been learning about making informed choices that promote their well-being, both physically and mentally.

In Physical Education, we've been getting active with AFL and athletics. The children have been practicing their skills in teamwork, coordination, and sportsmanship, all while having a blast on the field and track.

It's been a busy and fulfilling term, and we’re so proud of all the hard work and enthusiasm the children have shown. Thank you for your ongoing support, and we look forward to sharing more of our adventures with you in the coming weeks.

Warm regards,

Year 3 Teacher,

 Mrs Hamilton.

Welcome to Term 2!

We’ve had a fantastic start to the term, full of exciting learning, teamwork, and even a big win! Here’s what we’ve been up to and what’s coming next.

In English this term, Year 4 students are diving into the dramatic world of maritime catastrophes. From the Titanic to lesser-known shipwrecks, we’re exploring the causes, consequences, and human stories behind these events. Students are working hard to research and prepare for a Q&A panel, where they’ll take on the roles of maritime experts and stakeholders. This project is helping them develop their reading comprehension, note-taking, and public speaking skills, and we can’t wait to see them shine as they share their knowledge with confidence.

Our Maths lessons this term are all about strengthening core skills and building confidence. We’ve been focusing on times tables, which are essential for quick and accurate calculations. Students are also learning how to round numbers and make smart estimates, which helps them solve problems more efficiently. We’ve been practising addition strategies and have just begun exploring subtraction. These foundational skills are being reinforced through games, challenges, and real-world problem-solving activities that make learning both fun and meaningful.  Fractions and decimals are next up.

In Science, we’re investigating the fascinating world of forces, with a special focus on friction and gravity. Students have been conducting hands-on experiments to see how different surfaces affect movement and how gravity influences the way objects fall. These investigations are sparking curiosity and encouraging students to think like scientists—asking questions, making predictions, and testing their ideas. It’s been wonderful to see their enthusiasm and teamwork in action during our experiments.

In Health we are exploring stereotypes and how these can affect relationships.  Our Religion is looking at The Trinity, investigating lots of images and how this mystery is integral to our daily lives.

We’re thrilled to share that Year 4 won the Ride, Walk and Scoot Day against Western Cape! It was a fantastic day filled with energy, excitement, and community spirit. Thanks to everyone who participated and helped us take the top spot. As a reward, we received a bag, a water bottle, a delicious fruit platter, and—much to everyone’s delight—some tasty donuts! It was a great reminder of what we can achieve when we work together and have fun along the way.

We are looking forward to the students presenting their About Me slideshow in the coming weeks.

Miss Libby & Miss Bell 

Dear Parents and Carers of Year 5,

Can you believe how quickly this term is flying by? Year 5 is deep into their learning journey, and it's been an exciting and productive time in the classroom.

In English and Geography, we’ve been exploring the fascinating world of extreme weather events. The students have been captivated by Jackie French’s gripping stories, which vividly portray natural disasters across Australia. We’ve used these texts to strengthen our comprehension and summarising skills, while also building a strong vocabulary to support the writing of our own fake news articles centered around dramatic weather events.

Our Geography lessons have taken us into the heart of the Australian bush. We've been learning about traditional Indigenous fire management practices like backburning, which help maintain healthy ecosystems. We’ve also examined flood-prone areas around Australia and the different types of floods that can impact communities.

In Mathematics, we’ve been tackling a range of topics: converting between 12- and 24-hour time formats, interpreting and comparing line graphs, ordering and representing decimal numbers, and more recently, working with fractions—adding and subtracting those with the same or similar denominators.

Our Design and Technology focus has been on sustainable living. Students are learning about the design process in preparation for an exciting challenge—designing a sustainable hydroponics garden for our school. While we may not get to build it, the process of designing something so purposeful has sparked some enthusiasm.

In Science, we’ve blasted off into space! The students are learning about our Solar System—how planets orbit the sun and the vital role the sun plays in supporting life on Earth. Soon, we’ll be constructing models to demonstrate our understanding.

We've also had some energetic visits from NRL and AFL development programs, and the students have absolutely loved them. They return to the classroom full of energy and enthusiasm—who knows, we might be nurturing future sports stars!

A few reminders as we head into the second half of the term:

• Learning units are beginning to wrap up, and students will be demonstrating what they’ve learned. Please support your child by encouraging a positive mindset—they are capable of amazing things when they believe in themselves!
  
  
• Don’t forget to return homework folders and library books each Monday. I’ve noticed many are still outstanding.
  
  
• For our keen readers, Sora is available at home on personal devices. All students should know their login details and are encouraged to use it if they’ve finished their current books.
  
  

Thank you for your continued support. We’re looking forward to a strong finish to the term with lots more learning and growth to come!

Warm regards,
Lyndsey Fielding

Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome back to Term 2! It has been wonderful to see how smoothly students have transitioned from the freedoms and flexibility of the holidays back into a consistent school routine.

In Literacy, we have begun exploring non-fiction texts, with a particular focus on information reports. Students have been investigating the push and pull factors that influence the journeys of refugees and asylum seekers, and we’ve started to examine the different visa options and migration policies that Australia has adopted over time. As part of this, we have been looking closely at individuals and the reasons behind their decisions to migrate. This work will continue as we highlight personal stories to deepen students’ understanding.

In HASS, students are exploring the diverse environments, cultures, and people across the Asia region and the broader world. They are building their mental maps of the world while also learning about Australia’s connections with other countries, how these are evolving and what impacts these global interconnections have. The connections between HASS and Literacy are strong, and together they are helping students develop valuable background knowledge which we then build on as we progress through the unit.

In Mathematics, we have recently completed a unit on order of operations, and we are now turning our focus to fractions. Although we’re only a week into the unit, I’ve been incredibly impressed by the perseverance and effort students have shown. They are taking real pride in their progress, and it has been wonderful to see their confidence grow each day. Please also keep an eye out for homework; the Maths questions included are a great way for students to revise and reinforce the concepts we are covering in class.

 As mentioned earlier, it’s been a pleasure reconnecting with students and families this term. I’ve appreciated every interaction, whether in person, online, or through phone calls. Please keep an eye out for camp notifications this term. Important information will be sent home regarding upcoming sessions and logistics.

Thank you again for your ongoing support.

Mr. Bakes