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We respectfully acknowledge the past and present traditional owners of this land on which we are meeting – the Alngith people. We also acknowledge the contributions of First Nations peoples to the education of all children and people in our country Australia, in which we all live and share together.
As we bring the year to a close, on behalf of the staff, I would like to thank all our students and parents for their support this year. We have our final staffing now complete for 2025. We say farewell to Stacey Edmonds and Kate Backhouse and wish them all the best with their move back to Cairns. We also say farewell to all those families who are leaving us and hope that their move to wherever they may be going is a smooth one.
We will have an opportunity to meet and officially welcome our new staff in January. School resumes on Wednesday 22nd January.
May the spirit of Christmas fill your homes with hope and joy, have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Stay safe and enjoy family time.
Classroom Teachers
Prep - Tash Tapper
Year 1 - Amanda Peters
Year 2 - Emily Ridgley
Year 3 - Deb Hamilton
Year 4 - Rhiannon Bell / Libby Lange
Year 5 - Lyndsey Fielding
Year 6 - Matthew Bakes
Support Staff
MTSS-E Wellbeing & Engagement Teacher - Julie Dore
Front Office - Kathy Mitton
School Counsellor - Sandi Brown
Prep School Officer - Chelsie Buckley
Intervention School Officer - Rachael Steele
Intervention School Officer - Peta Hancock
Intervention School Officer - Nikki Carr
Intervention School Officer - Lynette Clark
Casual School Officer - Francess Abella
Tuckshop Supervisor - Julie Smith
Tuckshop Casual Assistant - Jacinta Eyre
Groundsman - Garry Stewart
Leadership Team
Principal - Kath Porter
Acting APRE - Julie Dore
Leader of Learning and Teaching - Tiffany Barber
Leader of Diversity - Melanie Turner
Staff On Leave
Michelle Gear
A note from the APRE
2025 Student Leaders
As announced this term, our School Leaders will be Lala-Sue Bowie, Rowan Christie and Aiza Naizi. The House Leaders will be Ella Mitton for Pine, Claire Dore for Mission and Kaylee Hofman for Embley. We congratulate our new student leaders for 2025 and all Year 5 students who nominated for a leadership position.
Remembrance Day Liturgy
On Monday 11th November we had a liturgy to remember all the men and women who have served and continue to serve in our Australian Armed Forces. We paid respect and acknowledged how their sacrifice over 100 years ago has meant that we are able to live in a country free of war today.
World Kindness Day
On the 13th November we acknowledged World Kindness Day. It was a good reminder that kindness is a universal language that transcends boundaries. By embracing and promoting kindness, we can create a more compassionate and connected community. We need to celebrate the good in humanity and spread kindness every day. A smile. A hug. A kind word. They are all free and take only seconds. But the difference they can make in someone’s life is unmeasurable. Try to do small acts of kindness each day and be the change you want to see in the world.
Puberty Teaching Guide Launch
St Joseph’s students delivered an Australia-first in health teaching this term! Our students played an important role in the launch of a teaching guide that was developed over years of work with local community and The University of Queensland. Western Cape College and St Joseph’s students participated in puberty and menstrual health education sessions. These have been run by local company, Embley, in collaboration with The University of Queensland’s School of Public Health.
Together, we have created the first menstrual health teaching guide developed on Country and involving majority Indigenous students. It was important for the relevance and usefulness of this guide that it covers questions, topics and information derived directly from discussion with our students. This ensures that the guide aligns and covers the information students from the Western Cape are wanting to know. Discussing health topics that have previously been taboos, such as menstrual health/periods, can be challenging for individuals. Engaging in open and honest conversations around menstrual health can help remove existing stigma and is essential to promoting the overall health and wellbeing of individuals and society.
The teaching guide is free for download from this website: https://public-health.uq.edu.au/mind-your-body. We anticipate that teachers across the country will learn from ideas, thoughts and feedback contributed by our students. The guide was launched in a special assembly this term for our Year 5 and 6 students. The guide’s authors- Minnie King (Embley Contracting and Women on Country), Associate Professor Nina Lansbury and Olivia Milsom (UQ)- presented printed versions of the guide to Ms Kath Porter on behalf of St Joseph’s. Two of the student artists whose work was selected to illustrate the guide were former students of St Joseph’s: Chelsea Steele and Sharli Wallace. Well done, students!
Farewell Mass
On the 18th November Fr. Dariusz helped us to say farewell to our Year 6 students, families and staff leaving our St Joey’s Community at the end of the year. We understand that we are a very transient community in Weipa but it is always sad when we have to say goodbye to our friends. We ask God to keep them all in the palm of his hand, protecting them and always guiding them in the right direction. We hope they always live their lives by our St Joey’s values of Humility, Justice and Compassion.
Advent
Advent is the season that precedes Christmas. It varies in length from 22-28 days. This year it begins on the 1st December. During this season, Catholics, and other Christians, enter a time of hopeful anticipation and joyful preparation for the celebration of Christmas. Advent and Christmas offer us the opportunity to prayerfully commemorate the birth of Jesus, to become more aware of God’s presence in our everyday lives and to reflect on the second coming of Jesus at the end of time.
2025 Sacramental Program
At St Joseph’s Parish School we hold a Sacramental Program for our students every two years. We had one last year, which means our next one will be in 2025. An expression of interest form will be sent to families asking if you are interested in your child participating in the Sacramental Program.
The Sacramental Program includes receiving the sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation, First Eucharist (Holy Communion) and Confirmation.
The Sacramental Program involves students participating in a 10-week program, one afternoon session a week, followed by receiving Reconciliation at a Saturday liturgy and receiving First Eucharist and Confirmation at a Sunday Mass the following day. Mrs Dore will help the students to prepare for the receiving of their sacramentals through the Sacramental Program. This will likely run from June to August.
Baptism is available to all students under 16 years, one parent must be baptised Catholic. (Students can receive this sacrament and participate in the sacramental program to receive Reconciliation, Holy Communion and Confirmation later in the year). Any adults or children over 16 years wanting to be baptised will need to go through the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) process. Baptisms will likely take place when Fr. Dariusz visits each month from April to July next year.
Reconciliation, First Eucharist and Confirmation are all available to students who have been baptised as Catholics or are going to be baptised in 2025 (as above) and are in Years 3-6.
Farewell to Miss Edmonds & Miss Backhouse
This week we say farewell to two of our amazing teachers, Miss Edmonds and Miss Backhouse. From all the students and families whose lives you’ve touched over the years, we wish them all the best with their new teaching adventures in Cairns. The schools that they are going to are very lucky to have them, and we will miss them very much. We thank them for their years of service to the Weipa Community and we hope they know that St Joey’s will always hold fond memories of them both. Until we meet again...
Thank you all for a wonderful year and I wish you a safe and joyful holiday break. I look forward to all the new adventures we will have in 2025.
Mrs Julie Dore
Assistant Principal Religious Education (Acting)
Learning and Teaching – Term 4 Week 9
Thank you to all the community for coming together for St Joseph’s Starry Starry Night performance. The students and staff worked very hard to create and practice performance and make the night a success. As we coming to the close of this term, just a reminder that parents would have receive report cards on Wednesday. Families would have received a paper copy that was sent home via your child and there is also a copy on the parent portal.
What are reporting requirements?
The Australian Government requires all schools to provide parents with feedback on their child’s academic progress and achievement twice per year using a five-point scale.
What is current practice?
St Joseph’s Parish School provides end of semester reports, using a five-point scale, subject comments and a general comment.
We are committed to enhancing the overall reporting experience and providing you with clear and meaningful insights into your child’s academic journey. We appreciate working with you in partnership in your child’s education and will continue to keep you updated on these important developments. Please direct any questions to Tiffany Barber – Acting Leader of Learning and Teaching on tbarber1@cns.catholic.edu.au.
Thank you for the for all your support with Learning and Teaching this year and I look forward to continuing on the journey next year. Please have a happy and safe festive season and we look forward to seeing all of our families when school started next year on Wednesday 29th of January.
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Welcome to Week 9. The term is certainly full steam ahead and there have been may events already - Assemblies, CES Visitors, Day for Daniel, Prep Transitions, Farewell Mass, Year 6 Graduation and many more exciting events to come over the term including Starry Starry Night and Awards Night.
Congratulations to the Year 6 students who celebrated last Monday night with their families graduating from Primary School. We look forward to continue to celebrate with you on Friday at the last School Assembly for 2024.
I would like to take this opportunity to say ‘Thank you’ for all your support over the year and congratulations to all the students on all their hard work and resilience that they have displayed throughout the year.
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and safe and happy holiday and I look forward to seeing you all again in 2025.
Kind regards,
Melanie Turner.
Email address is mturner@cns.catholic.edu.au
Welcome to Week 9 and our final week of the year. This year has flown by so fast and we are beyond proud of the growth each and every one of the students has made this year. Not just academically, but also in themselves and through their social and emotional wellbeing.
We’ve been consolidating our learning for the term through engaging games and hands-on activities across all subject areas and finishing off final assessments and we are proud of how far the students have come. We’ve also been excitedly preparing for our end of year performance practising our Nativity play that we will be presenting at Starry Starry Night.
In Mathematics, we explored numbers to 30 and beyond and practised recognising, writing, modelling and sequencing these. We also engaged in a range of activities and learning around capacity and measurement including water trough play, creating playdough objects to measure, and going out and measuring objects in our real world. Students also enjoyed furthering our learning around statistics through creating and analysing data using graphs.
In English, we strengthened our reading skills and practiced retell writing, focusing on stories shared in class. Our speaking and listening skills were also strengthened through oral presentations, where students confidently shared their ideas with classmates.
Our Science lessons were filled with fun as we investigated how things move through interactive experiments and challenges.
In Geography, we explored maps and directions to understand our place in the world, sparking curiosity about our global community. We also got to use compasses to investigate direction which was very fun.
In Religion, we reflected on special events in the Church calendar and delved into the Nativity story, uncovering its meaning and significance. We also looked at other special events in the church including Baptism and prayer.
Using digital tools, Technologies lessons focused on collecting and representing data using digital programs to share this data and our findings with others.
In AUSLAN, students practiced everyday words and phrases with a Christmas theme and prepared for our Christmas concert. We are very excited to present ‘We Wish you a Merry Christmas’ at Starry Night in AUSLAN.
In Health, we explored positive and respectful communication with others, emphasizing the importance of kindness and understanding in our relationships.
Our PE sessions were action-packed, combining games, PMP skill development, and lessons on safety while following rules and instructions.
In The Arts, we discovered different ways to make music and explored why people create music, unleashing creativity and self-expression. We also loved getting out the musical instruments and experimenting through the incorporation of ‘piano and forte’, pace, and body percussion.
As the year comes to a close, we would like to say thank you and we can’t wait to celebrate through the upcoming exciting events with you all. As always, we are forever grateful for the love and support you put into your child’s school journey while working in partnership with us.
We are so excited to watch them continue growing in Year One and wish you all a very merry and safe holiday break.
Many thanks,
Miss Backhouse & Miss Rachael
WOW! What a year we have had. It has gone by so fast but so much has happened. So much learning in and out of the classroom. I am so proud of how far each and every one of them has come and I know that they are all ready for Year 2 next year.
These past few weeks we have been super busy finishing off final assessments and consolidation activities. Each student tackled these with so much resilience and confidence.
We had our last visit from Coach Kate and she taught us some more skills and drills. PE has been a favourite this year so whenever Kate comes, it is a hit.
We have enjoyed practicing for Starry Starry Night and how adorable did they look. Thank you for helping them practice.
Congratulations to our award winners at our awards ceremony this week also. Each of us deserve recognition for how amazing they have been but well done to Georgia Jones and Florence Keeley on your awards this year.
Our last buddy session was a blast with students receiving a letter from their Year 6 buddies and a game of stuck in the mud. This is a favourite for us, and I love watching the Year 6 students frantically avoid being tagged by their outnumbered Year 1 buddies.
I hope you all have a wonderful break and maybe we might bump into each other while you are in Cairns. I will hold wonderful memories of St Joseph’s with me and your child in my class year, is definitely one of them. Merry Christmas and best wishes for next year.
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
WOW! We have made it to the end of year 2! What a fun filled year we have had together with both academic and emotional growth from each and every one of the students.
The final weeks of this term has seen us finalise our learning with our final assessments and some consolidation activities. Students completed their assessments with resilience, determination and confidence.
We loved when Coach Kate came to visit us to teach us P.E. skills, drills and games (see photos below).
Year 2 presented beautifully at our week 8 assembly singing “Glory” and reading about advent. I was very proud of how far their reading has come this year and their confidence when speaking and singing in front of the school.
We practised daily singing our Starry, Starry Night song “Aussie 12 Days of Christmas” and it was wonderful to see it in action on Tuesday night on the stage. Thank-you for the effort you all put into their costumes to make this a wonderful night for our school community.
Some of our favourite memories from this year have been:
-Playing soccer at second break
-Learning string addition in Maths
-Having a class party (not one, but two!)
-Doing KAHOOTS
-Making nice friends and having a nice teacher
-Playing with and building creations in Joey time (see photos below!)
-Reading groups
-Doing our class dance
Thank-you again for your support and a wonderful year of learning. I feel very lucky to have been involved in their learning and progress this year. You should be very proud of the children you all have. Wishing you all a very safe, happy and amazing Christmas break!
Kind Regards,
Tash Tapper.
Dear Parents and Guardians,
As we approach the end of the school year, it’s hard to believe how quickly the time has flown! These final weeks in Grade 3 have been wonderfully busy and filled with exciting activities and achievements.
Our classrooms have been buzzing with energy as we worked hard to finalise all assessments. Your children have shown incredible focus and determination, and we’re proud of the progress they’ve made. It’s been so rewarding to see their efforts pay off and their confidence grow.
One of the highlights of this term has been preparing for our Starry Starry Night performance. The students have put their hearts into rehearsals, and their enthusiasm is shining brighter than ever! We can’t wait for you to see their efforts shine on stage!
To finish the term we’ve been incorporating learning into our Christmas activities. The students have been creating beautiful Christmas poems, showcasing their writing skills and creativity, and solving Christmas-themed maths problems that bring a fun and festive twist to their numeracy practice. These activities have kept learning engaging and meaningful as we embrace the holiday spirit.
It has been an absolute privilege to teach your children this year. Watching them grow, learn, and overcome challenges has been a truly wonderful journey. Thank you for your unwavering support—it’s been invaluable in making this year such a success.
We wish you and your family a joyful, restful holiday season and a very Merry Christmas and look forward to seeing you again next year for another exciting chapter in your child’s learning journey!
Warm regards,
Miss Peters and Miss Hamilton
It is the end of the year! Congratulations on making it through Year 4 with much to celebrate!
In English, students read an information text about the Earth's Cycles focusing particularly on food cycles. Students answered comprehension questions about how food cycles are impacted by human behaviours and explained topic-specific vocabulary such as ‘high yields’ of food.
In Maths, we completed an investigation about Mass and calculating costs based on weight. We used the parcel prices from Australia Post to determine the cost of Christmas presents if we sent it together or in individual parcels! Living in Weipa this is an important skill!
In Science, we continued our investigation into different materials and their suitability for everyday objects. Students designed their own object and trialled various materials. Finally, they recorded their findings in graphs and tables.
In HASS, we entered the Age of Discovery, where we compared the difference between the First Fleet and the Macassans in relation to how they interacted with the First Nations peoples. This led into discussions and research about colonisation vs exploration and the impact it had.
To wrap up the year, we have had time to enjoy some Christmas activities, rehearse for Starry Starry Night and celebrate what a brilliant year. Have a safe and happy holidays! Bring on Year 5!
Rhiannon Bell
Hello families and friends of Year 5,
They’ve done it! A massive congratulations to you all on a successful year. The students are ready to lead the school next year and we should all be very proud of their achievements. Thank you to those families who attended our Starry Starry Night event on Tuesday, it was a joyful evening filled with fun! Report cards were sent home on Wednesday this week, and I would like to say a general congratulations on a job well done to each and every student.
Throughout this term we had the opportunity to work with Coach Kate and the Athletics in the Outback. We got to play a relay with anything but a relay baton as well as guiding our partners with blindfolds to retrieve different objects. Over the past few days, we have been deep in learning about the true meaning of Christmas and how hope was born that night. Along with some traditions, we also got to do some fun Christmas crafts with our prep buddies and tire our voices out with singing. We tied up some loose ends regarding assessment and the students were excited to have a chance to sit in the classroom wherever their heart desired!
Next year will be full of amazing experiences for these Year 5 students and I truly wish them all the best. Our opening Mass next year will be an exciting time as our students, house and school leaders receive their leadership badges. The senior shirts should hopefully arrive in the New Year, and you will be notified when these are ready for collection.
I wish you all a safe and happy holiday period with those who mean the most to you. Thank you again for all the collaboration and support this year, it has been wonderful! A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.
Emily
Our Graduation last week was a wonderful celebration and we are very thankful for the parents who helped to design and decorate and the staff who put in so much hard work. It looked amazing and we all made memories on the night.
We have has a very busy few weeks and this week we are enjoying our “Yr 6 Week” where we get to do fun stuff everyday. Each one of us had to choose a lesson to teach the rest of the class, which was not as easy as it sounded! These are the lessons we chose.
I was teaching the xylophone when I was the teacher, it was a bit of a silly time because it was fun and we made lots of noises. It was hard and now I know why it is so hard for my teacher. Challenging moments are great moments. Sione
I taught touch rugby, it was hard because I haven’t played for ages and I forgot a lot of the rules. Daston
With “I’m the teacher” I had little fun because some of the class were being a pain. I taught about boats and how they work. Dave
In my class I taught a game of basketball. The kids were be very competitive and it was lots of fun but it was harder than I thought it would be. Marley
For my class lesson, I taught basketball and the kids were very competitive. Jackson
For the “I am the teacher” I will be doing an art lesson, to do a self portrait. Each person will have 20 minutes to draw themselves and the person with the most detail and most realistic portrait gets a prize. Paetyn
For my lesson I taught netball. We did warmups to start. My class ran around the basketball court. Then we played a game, it was a great game and the score was close. Kiahna
For my class I taught AFL, we did a kick to kick and handballed to each other in groups of four. Then we ended the lesson with a game. Jed
In my class I taught how to make an origami stingray. Lots of kids gave up but some finished and I liked the results, though it was too hard for many and I had to help. Tye
For my class I taught soccer and the students found it engaging and fun. The kids who won the zappos were excited and happy. I taught dribbling drills and we played a soccer game but the kids complained it was too hot. Toby
For my “I’m the teacher” lesson I will be doing a Christmas trivia. I’ll be separating the class into two teams and whichever team wins they get a lolly. Vanessa
For my lesson I taught gymnastics and taught some stretches such as butterfly, splits, cartwheels, handstands and backbends. As good as it went, it was quite challenging as well. Rachel
For the teacher lesson I taught a science experiment and it did not go as planned but it was good. Dean
When I got to be the teacher I was really happy with how it went. I was a bit worried because it was a much more complicated topic, aerodynamics and planes. But it went really well. Alex
We are very relieved to be finishing Primary school!
Miss Libby
