News from the Principal
Communities such as ours at St Joseph’s thrive when there are events and activities that bring people together and strengthen the fabric of our community. As we enter the final few weeks of Term 3, we have had some exciting events and more activities ahead that will be weaved into our days.
The last two weeks have been particularly busy as we had School Photos, Prep Open Day, Pizza Party, Amazing Race, Book Week Dress Up parade and our traditional Fathers’ Day Liturgy and Colour Run. Parent/Teacher Conferences will take place this week on Tuesday and Wednesday and then in week 10 we end the term with our ‘Just Dance’ Thursday night and jump rope for heart ‘Jump Off” last thing on Friday afternoon.
HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!
We hope all fathers enjoyed Father’s Day. What a beautiful heartfelt liturgy the children presented to honour and celebrate those men in our lives who are our fathers or who are father figures to us. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the audience as the Year Ones sang about their father ‘Heros’ and as we viewed the slide show of our dads.
Acting Principal
In week 10 Lillian Miller, Consultant -First Nations from Cairns Catholic Education Services, will step in for me as Acting Principal. Lillian is a regular visitor to our school and knows both the staff and students well. Lillian will also join us in week 1 Term 4, as Acting Principal, while I am in and out attending compulsory Professional Development in Cairns and accompanying our Year 6 students on camp. I’m sure you will make Lillian welcome in my absence.
The reason for my absence is that I will be going on a Red Centre Pilgrimage to Uluru. Each year every Principal is given some time for Professional renewal leave. Over the last four years I have chosen to not take any of this leave as I felt it not appropriate to be leaving the school when face with the many challenges, we have experienced due to Covid. Although Covid continues to be a thorn in our side this year, I have been encouraged to take this time.
Pilgrimage is an opportunity to seek what our spirit longs for. It’s not just travel; it’s travel with purpose and faith that bears lasting fruit. I feel very privileged and grateful to have this opportunity to visit such a spiritual place, not just to visit Ularu to admire its nature, art and history, but to seek and immerse myself in the presence of God. Something deep and mystical calls all Australians to journey to the heart of our nation to honour its symbols, stories and beauty in a prayerful spirit of awe and thanksgiving. I look forward to sharing with our school community a deeper understanding of the ‘Uluru statement of the heart’ and the invitation it gives us to join into reconciliation within the context of our school community.
I encourage you to look at this utube clip of Dean Parkin (TEDXCanberra) as he shares his experience of co-constructing the Uluru Statement from the heart.
STUDENT LEARNING MEETINGS
Term Three Student Learning Meetings, previously known as Parent / Teacher Interviews will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday, 6th/7th September (3.00pm-6.00pm), to discuss the learning journey and academic progress of your child/ren. These meetings will take place in the classrooms and can be booked through PTO. If you have not yet booked a meeting time, please do so at your earliest convenience. These meetings are vital to maintain clear communication about your child’s learning progress. They provide a great opportunity for teachers and parents to clarify understandings around learning and assessment, as well as effort, attitude, and behaviour in class and around school. Teachers will be able to provide next learning steps and suggestions to support learning at home.
Next week is Queensland Child Protection Week. Most of us recognise that child protection is key to ensuring that children in our communities, families and schools are safe, nurtured and protected. Sometimes this means acknowledging that children are neglected or harmed in these same places. That is hard to acknowledge. As such, children continue to experience child abuse and neglect in our society.
In order to stop child abuse and neglect and ensure child protection in our society, we all need to play our part by assisting families who struggle and by speaking out about abuse when we see it or hear about it. Often children tell us what is happening to them through either very clear statements or in subtle ways. Our role as adults is to pay attention regardless of the way children tell us what is happening for them. Another role we can play is in hearing parents when they say they are finding their role of parenting difficult and offer assistance.
When children speak out or adults speak out on behalf of children they need those involved in the wider child protection system to be well trained and available to pay attention to what they are saying. This includes the Queensland Police Service, professionals such as Social Workers, Psychologists and Psychiatrists as well as Teachers who are often in the key position of being able to note difficulties for children and their families. Family members and friends also play a crucial role in such disclosures in terms of hearing what is stated and offering support and friendship. When unable to offer such support or when such support isn’t accepted, family members and friends can contact community organisations of the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services to seek further assistance for the child/ren and family. For more information, please visit the National Child Protection Week website at https://www.napcan.org.au/get-involved-2022/
School Irrigation System A huge thank you to Wayne Paxton and Hambell Plumbing who have worked together to get the oval section of our irrigation system back up and running. They will have the rest completed by next term.
SCHOOL FEE STATEMENTS School fee statements have been distributed for this current term. If you already have a direct debit plan in place and your account is in credit then the statement is for your information only. Please contact the office if you would like to discuss fee payments. Payment plans can be tailored to suit your family needs.
