We are quickly coming to the end of the year. This time of the year can be busy with end of year celebrations. It is also the time of the year when we announce staffing for 2025.

We can now announce that we will be farewelling some staff and welcoming new staff to our school.  Mrs Kate Backhouse and Miss Stacey Edmonds will be returning to Cairns next year. It is never an easy decision to make, and both Kate and Stacey have made the decision based on what is best for their families.

The next few weeks will give us opportunities to take time to farewell both Kate and Stacey as they prepare to return to Cairns. They have been valued members of St Joseph’s and they will be missed. We wish them all the very best for their new journeys in life and look forward to celebrating with them before they leave.

Last week we welcomed Mr Matthew Bakes to Weipa. Matthew will be on staff in 2025 and is making the brave move with his young family from Victoria to take up a teaching position at our school. Matthew is in the process of finishing the school year, packing up his life and expecting a new baby. He is excited about the move and has thought out his decision carefully. We will welcome Matt in the new year.

This week we start the process of recruiting a class teacher to fill the other vacant teaching position. We will be able to let families know about class teachers for 2025 once we finalise the recruitment process. 

With only the last few weeks of term to go and the heat building, I ask that we take care and go gently into the end of year. I am looking forward to the get togethers in the next few weeks and catching up with families before the end of year.

Sincerely,

Kath Porter