St Joseph’s Way 

Throughout the first three weeks of school the students have focused on the concept of St Joseph’s Way and what it means to be a part of St Joseph’s School Community. Discussions have taken place about who we are and what we are all about at St Joseph’s with many classes connecting with the school vision “Bringing Faith and Learning to Life”, the 4’s (Being Respectful, Responsible, Resilient and Ready for learning) and St Joseph the Worker and the qualities that Joseph had a father and faithful man.  

Some classes have also explored our school emblem and the meaning it holds for us as Catholic community and the rich history of Weipa. You might like to spend some time learning about the different elements which make up the logo and their significance.   

St Joseph School Logo 

Fish   

The Greek word for fish is ichthys. As early as the first century, Christians made an acrostic from this word: Iesous Christos Theou Yios Soter, i.e., Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour. The fish has a theological context as well, for Christ fed the multitude with two fishes and five loaves and called his disciples “fishers of men.” The two colours of the fish, the upper line, in orange, is the colour of bauxite, but it is also the colour of the sunset. Weipa sunsets are one of the defining features of the community, one of a few Queensland communities that enjoys the sun setting over water. It is a potent symbol the working day is over; it is time for rest and for families. The bottom line, in blue, is the colour of the Gulf waters and represents water, the giver of life, the water of baptism. The fish symbol has additional resonance for Weipa as a coastal community. For these residents the waters of the Gulf are a place of escape and relaxation away from the pressures and demands of a hard-working mining town. Local symbolism in the fish can be seen when overlaying the shape on an aerial photo of Weipa. In this interpretation the broken blue line embracing the Cross symbolises the opening of Albatross Bay, the top line of the tail is the Mission River, the bottom line is the Embley River, the tail is the Weipa Peninsula which is the location of the school. In this interpretation, the fish is swimming from the school towards Jesus in the form of the Cross.   

Cross    

The cross unambiguously identifies St Joseph’s as a Catholic school, together with the school’s name. The incorporation of the word ‘Parish’ is acknowledgement and recognition of the hard-working Parish members who worked tirelessly towards the school’s establishment. The cross is slightly angled within the logo, suggestive of the Southern Cross constellation. Being at the ‘eye’ of the fish, it symbolises the focus on Christ in all that the school does.   

Colours   

Blue (two shades) – the colour of the sea and the dry season sky. The colour of water, the giver of life, the water of baptism.   

Sunset Orange – the colour of the glorious Weipa sunset, the colour of the mined bauxite which is integral to the life of the community.   

Green – the colour of the lush wet season landscapes. Although not represented in the logo, it is used in other design elements.