Newsletter - Term 2 - Week 10 - Issue 144

From the Principal

Dear Parents and Friends of St Joseph’s College,

As we draw towards the mid-year holiday break, I draw on the biblical concept of heart. The word “heart” is referenced over a thousand times in the bible. In the context of scripture, the meaning of heart is a metaphor of “inner self.” An open heart, compassion and passion for justice go together. An open heart feels the suffering of others and responds to it and draws out the fruit of the Holy Spirit. The purpose of the Christian life is to become more compassionate beings. I trust that the time we spend with family this break allows us time to reflect on the importance of expressing our hearts within our families and communities.

On Monday, we celebrated First Nations people and cultures at our assembly in anticipation of NAIDOC week (July 6-13). Our First Nations students led our college liturgy before Mr Kieren Gibbs from the South West Indigenous Network. He spoke to students regarding his proud story as a Cooma man from west of St George. Kieren then shared traditional Indigenous games with the students during the lunch break and physical education lessons, which was appreciated by all. This year marks 50 years of NAIDOC Week activities and St Joseph’s College is proud to celebrate not only this event and milestone but the recognition of the rich contributions our First Nation students and families bring to our community.

What a delight it was to witness the talent on show at Wednesday evening's Skits and Semiquavers Showcase at the Armitage Centre. From individual instrumental performances and monologues to group ensembles, bands, dance troupes and dramatic skits, there was a vast array of talent on display. Congratulations to all the student performers and their teachers for the wonderful evening of entertainment. 

This week we farewelled staff members Adam Watts and Keely McCullough who have taken up leadership and teaching positions within Toowoomba. Adam has been successful in securing his first Curriculum Leadership position at St Saviour's College, whilst Keely has successfully transitioned from the role of School Officer to teacher. We are proud of their respective journeys of development at St Joseph’s College, and we wish them well in the next stage of their professional careers.

We welcome Mr Nathaniel McGovern to our teaching team for Semester 2. Nathaniel will be filling in for several staff during the next six months and we are pleased to see him graduate through our Pathways to Teach program into the teaching ranks.

Last week we acknowledged the contributions our school officers and non-teaching staff make towards supporting student learning at St Joseph’s College. Whether it is the wonderful presentation of our school facilities, care for parents and students at reception or the support of students and teachers in classrooms, these staff embrace the Joey’s Way. It was a delight to share lunch with them, whilst our student leaders presented gratitude cards to each member acknowledging their valued contributions.

Parent-Student-Teacher conferences will be held on Wednesday 16 July. This day provides an opportunity for parents to discuss their child/ children’s progress with their respective teachers. These conferences provide a more detailed and personalised report of Semester 1 report cards which will be released (Year 7-10) to parents this Friday 27th June through the Sentral Parent Portal. Year 11 and 12 reports were issued earlier this term. Additionally, Year 12 academic care interviews are scheduled for the week beginning Monday 15 July.
I encourage all parents to take the opportunity to meet with staff especially if your child has not experienced educational success. Additionally, I encourage parents to bring their children to these meetings.

Interviews for Year 7 (2026) undertaken by members of the Senior Leadership Team have concluded this week. Applications have well exceeded the number of positions that we are able to offer, which is a wonderful endorsement of the collective work of the school community. Offers for enrolment will occur at the conclusion of the semester.

Finally, I wish our Open Boys and Girls Confraternity (Rugby League) teams and Girls QISSN (Netball) team the absolute best in their respective carnivals which will be held in Rockhampton and Bundaberg during the first week of the holidays. Many staff, parents and businesses have contributed to facilitating this wonderful opportunity which has developed a rich tradition within the St Joseph’s Community. I thank everyone involved for your efforts and look forward to witnessing the students in action next week. I make special of our staff who give willingly of their time during the holiday period including Tom Moore, Col Speed, Ashley Steel, Mitch Koina, Cam Love, Bridget Kenny, Jess Lawrence, Blake Cullen, and Deb Newton. 

Thank you to the sponsors of our CONFRO and QISSN teams: 
Gold Sponsor - Nolan's Interstate Transport
Silvers Sponsors - Bryant Building Contractors and Ranford Electrical

On behalf of all staff, I take this opportunity to wish all families and enjoyable time with your children over the mid-year break and look forward to seeing you for the commencement of school on Tuesday 15th July. 

God Bless,

Mr Jim Brennan - Principal – jbrennan@sjc.qld.edu.au

From the Deputy Principal

Celebrating NAIDOC Week

NAIDOC week celebrates the history, cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It is celebrated by all Australians and is a great opportunity to recognise and learn more about the history and cultures of Indigenous communities.

NAIDOC week is an opportunity for all Australians to eliminate bias and discrimination by reflecting and reconciling the wrongs of the past to facilitate hope and build a better future. Families are encouraged to join in and support young people in learning the significance of NAIDOC Week.

Partnership and One-Liners

At school, we often talk about the importance of consistency, connection, and clear expectations. We know that children who feel deeply connected to their parents are more likely to make thoughtful choices, not out of fear, but out of respect and understanding. When we teach principles, not just rules, we raise young people who think critically, act kindly, and grow into responsible adults.

💡 One-liners that could have impact
Here are some phrases you may use at home to reinforce values and build connection:

• "It's okay to be mad, it's not okay to be mean."
• "Every family is unique and different. In our family, this is our rule."
• "If someone says 'stop,' we stop."
• "We don't gossip about other people."
• "We can't control others, we can only control ourselves."
• "Would you like me to help you, or should I just listen right now?"

These simple statements could help children internalise values and feel safe, heard, and guided.

🎯 Tips for Parents:

1. Model what you want to see. Children learn more from what we do than what we say.
2. Stay connected. A strong relationship is the foundation for influence.
3. Use language that teaches, not just corrects. One-liners like those above are great tools.
4. Be consistent. Clear, calm boundaries help children feel secure.
5. Celebrate effort, not just outcomes. This builds resilience and a growth mindset.

Upcoming Events

Mr Brendon Willocks - Deputy Principal – bwillocks@sjc.qld.edu.au

From the Assistant Principal - Curriculum

Year 11, 2026 Curriculum Information Evening 

Date: Monday, 21 July 
Time: 6:30pm – 7:25pm 
Location: MacKillop Centre 

This session will cover: 

• The QCE system and ATAR pathways 

• Subject selection processes for senior years 

If you’re unable to attend, all information will be made available online. You’re also welcome to contact the College for further clarification. 

Subject Expo: 
Time: 7:30pm – 8:30pm 
Location: Mary Rice & Waterford buildings, and College Library 

• Speak with Curriculum Leaders and senior subject teachers 

• Attend five 12-minute rotations with 5-minute presentations and Q&A 

Students will also begin developing their Senior Education and Training (SET) Plan this term, exploring both tertiary and vocational pathways. 

Year 9 & 10, 2026 Curriculum Information Evening 

Date: Monday, 21 July 
Time: 5:45pm – 6:15pm 
Location: MacKillop Centre 

This session will provide: 

• An overview of the QCE system 

• Guidance on subject selection for Years 9 and 10 

Subject Expo: 
Time: 6:20pm – 7:20pm 
Location: Mary Rice & Waterford buildings, and College Library 

• Meet Curriculum Leaders and specialist teachers 

• Participate in five 12-minute rotations with short presentations and Q&A 

Students will receive access to the Year 9 & 10 Subject Handbooks online by Monday, 21 July. 

Kerrie-Anne Fellenberg - Assistant Principal - Curriculum - KFellenberg@sjc.qld.edu.au

From the Assistant Principal - Student Engagement

In preparation for Term Three, please note the following details around student expectations in the following areas:

1. Uniform
2. Mobile Phone and Devices
3. Keeping our Bathrooms Safe and Clean

Uniform:

At St Joseph’s College, we set unapologetically high uniform standards for our students. This is because we are an Edmund Rice school. For Blessed Edmund, having a consistent uniform was a vital expression of the dignity of all his students. Equally, we believe that attending St Joseph’s College is a privilege. The way our students wear their uniform is an outward sign of how well they are valuing that privilege.

Our uniform expectations are below, these are also available on the College website.

Specifically, can I draw your attention to the following:

Piercings- students can have only one set of sleepers or studs in each earlobe. No other piercings are permitted. Dangly earrings are also not permitted.

Skirt length- all items of the uniform must be worn correctly. Girls skirts must be touching their knees.

Boys’ socks- boys must wear navy socks with both shorts and long trousers. Colourful socks are not permitted with long trousers.

Shoes- shoes must have a separate heel. Skate shoes are not permitted.

Hair and grooming- hair must be of the same length back and sides. Boys must be clean shaven.

Mobile Devices

St Joseph’s College, therefore, has the following expectations of its students and their use of technology:

• Students are expected to live out The Joey’s Way at all times, including in their online behaviour.
• Students may discreetly carry their device with them while at school, but they are not permitted to use it from 8:30am until 3pm on all school days (this includes carnivals, festival days etc).
• Students may use their device to pay for items at the tuckshop.
• Students may use their devices with the expressed permission of staff member.
• Students must present all devices (including mobile phones and smart watches) to the supervisor when completing any type of examination in which the integrity of that assessment may be compromised by the presence of any mobile technology.

If a student fails to meet these expectations, they will be asked to take their device to student entrance where it will be held for the remainder of the day.

• Parents will be contacted after the second indiscretion in a term.
• Parents will be required to meet with the relevant House Leader after the third indiscretion in a term.

Keeping Bathrooms Safe and Clean

All students have a responsibility to work together to keep the bathrooms safe and clean. This collective action creates a culture where all our students have access to appropriate facilities.

A list of expectations of our students is below.

Joseph Cryle - Assistant Principal - Student Engagement -  JCryle@sjc.qld.edu.au 

From the Acting Assistant Principal - Mission & Identity

NAIDOC Week at SJC

On Monday, we celebrated the commencement of NAIDOC Week, with our NAIDOC Ceremony. This launch was put together by Mr Speed and the First Nations Voice Group.

We were blessed with wisdom and sharing from our guest speaker Mr Kieren Gibbs. Kieren is the Manager of SWIN (South West Indigenous Network) and in line with our 2025 theme 'One Story, Many Voices', he shared part of his story as a local Toowoomba man attending Our Lady of Lourdes Primary school and St Mary’s College along with his connection to culture through land, kinship and sport.

Keiren also shared his knowledge with several classes throughout the day and students during lunch running multiple Indigenous games. As you can see by the photos below, our students were engaged and enjoyed the experience. My thanks once again to Keiren and SWIN for their presence and look forward to continuing this partnership to support our First Nations students.

We also welcomed the parents of our First Nations students at our Assembly. Thank you for your attendance, your presence is symbol of the important partnership we have to enable our young people to explore and develop their identity.

This year's NAIDOC theme is 'The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy'. During JW on Tuesday, students explored the winners of the NAIDOC Youth of the Year award. Students discussed those young people's impact and legacy not only to First Nations Australians but our broader community.

Our own First Nations Leaders led an art activity for students at lunch on Thursday. Completing some indigenous rock painting. This was an opportunity for our Yarning Circle Leaders to share their story and knowledge of how art is used within their culture to tell story, share songlines and show connection to country.

Confraternity and QISSN

Over the holidays I will have the opportunity to accompany our boys and girls 1^st XIII Rugby League team to Rockhampton. Starting in 1980 the Confraternity Rugby League carnival was an opportunity to celebrate Rugby League with spirited play and great sportsmanship. It was a gathering of faith-based schools with the presence of very gifted players who would go on to represent their country. 3 of the 6 founding schools, find their charism from Blessed Edmund, just as we do at SJC. Sharing in this ‘Confraternity’ with other schools is what sets this carnival apart from just another sporting event.

In 2025, St Joseph’s is celebrating our 30^th anniversary of our first team to attend the carnival in 1995. This connection with our Alumni is exciting and the students in both the girl’s and boy’s 1^st XIII will wear ‘heritage’ jerseys to acknowledge those who have gone before us.

Both the Confraternity and QISSN carnival will start with Mass on Sunday evening with 72 teams in Rockhampton and 78 in Bundaberg. We wish our 54 students and 12 staff all the very best at their respective carnivals, and trust that they will enliven our SJC values during the week.

Grandparents Day

Each year we celebrate our annual Grandparents’ Day with a Mass and Concert. For many young people, grandparents provide guidance, wisdom and a place where they can be nurtured. We are excited to be able to invite our grandparents to celebrate World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, as declared by Pope Francis.

Our Hospitality Department will provide morning tea and our performing arts students will present a concert for our grandparents to enjoy.

We would be pleased to have grandparents from our community in attendance at the event. To RSVP for the Grandparents’ Day Celebrations please complete the Try Booking form - https://www.trybooking.com/DDAHI - by Friday 18 July.

Date: Friday 25 July

Venue: St Joseph’s College - MacKillop Centre

Commencement Time: 8:30 am

Mass: 8:30-10:00am

Concert: 10:00-10:50am (Morning Tea provided)

Finish Time: 11:00am           

RSVP: Friday 18 July via https://www.trybooking.com/DDAHI

If you have any questions, before the event, please feel free to contact me at tmoore@sjc.qld.edu.au.

Prayer

Father of all, You gave our Aboriginal People the Dreaming

You have spoken to them through their beliefs,

You then made your love clear to them in the person of Jesus.

We thank you for your care of these people.

You own them. You are their hope.

Make them strong as they face the problems of change

We ask you to help us, the people of Australia,

To listen to them and respect their culture.

Make the knowledge of you grow strong in all people

So that you can be at home in all of us,

And so that we can make a home for everyone in our land.

Amen.

Thomas Moore - Acting Assistant Principal - Mission & Identity - tmoore@sjc.qld.edu.au

Mission Captains

Hey SJC!

We’d like to start by thanking everyone for their eagerness to participate in service and mission events around the school such as Just Joeys, Interact, Breakfast Club, Rosies, and Liturgy Group. Your efforts have not gone unnoticed and have contributed to a hugely successful relation to fundraising and faith endeavours!

Our 2025 theme, “One story; Many Voices”, has been received well and embraced in a number of ways throughout the college.

We’re sure you’ve all noticed the chill in the air as the Winter months roll around. We’re lucky to have jumpers, blankets, scarves, etc, but there are many people who go without these things. The St Vinnies Winter Appeal was a huge success this year, and we ended up with many bags full of useful items this winter season. Thank you to anyone who donated, as well as Just Joeys for organising the event.

Shave for a Cure run by Interact has also officially wrapped up as of the last day of term. We’d like to give a huge thanks to everyone who participated in Shave for a Cure and helped us absolutely smash our goal of $15,000, with more than $20,000 raised! We admire anyone who shaved, cut, or donated to fundraise for blood cancer research.

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Earlier this term we held Mother’s Day celebrations in the hall, and guardians were encouraged to come along and participate in making bath salts and brownie jars to celebrate their contributions to the community. The business stalls of this term were also a hit, with Mrs Digweed and Miss Kenny’s classes raising $868 and donating the funds to Protea Place and Toowoomba Hospital Foundation.

Our goals going into Term 3 are to engage with the wider community and encourage others to contribute towards a more enthusiastic and ambitious community in terms of faith and service. We would also like to work towards developing engaging mission activities for students to participate in.

Once again, we would like to thank everyone for a hugely successful term. We could not be prouder of the community for their participation so far.

Have good holidays and we can’t wait to see everyone next term!

2025 Mission Captains - Lillian Hoffman and Eva Madden

McAuley House

As Term 2 comes to an end, there is much to reflect on. It has been a time of growth, connection, and shared achievement. Inspired by the legacy of Catherine McAuley and guided by the values of the Edmund Rice tradition, students have continued to build a culture of compassion, service, and excellence.

Throughout the term, there were many opportunities to be challenged academically and personally. Whether through classroom learning, leadership, or everyday kindness, students demonstrated the values that shape our College.

This term offered a range of extra-curricular activities, including debating, musical performances, and various sporting opportunities. Today, Friday 27th June, the Cross Country and Colour Run added energy and colour to the final day of term. It was a great way to come together, promote wellbeing, and celebrate community.

A key part of student engagement this year has been the House points system, which recognises contributions across four key areas: sporting, cultural, mission, and academic. Students have been actively involved in all these areas, earning points that contribute to the overall success of McAuley. I would like to extend a congratulations to all students who have received a Bronze Award so far this year, which recognises 10 points earned in any one category. This is a fantastic achievement and a reflection of the commitment shown throughout the term. We look forward to seeing even more students reach this milestone in Term 3.

Looking ahead, the Athletics Carnival in Term 3 will be another exciting opportunity to come together, demonstrate determination, and celebrate House pride. Events like this strengthen our connections and highlight the value of participation and encouragement.

I wish everyone a relaxing and enjoyable break. Make sure to stay warm and take care.

Melissa Zenke - Student Engagement Middle Leader - McAuley House - MZenke@sjc.qld.edu.au

Sport

Cross Country Carnival

The annual Cross Country Carnival run on the final day of term was a huge success. More details and the results will be published in the next newsletter, however we can congratulate Brennan House on winning the Cross Country Cup! 

The full results of the Cup are: 

1. Brennan
2. Murphy
3. McAuley
4.  Rice

Best Wishes for Our Athletes in Rockhampton

As our girls and boys Rugby League teams prepare to travel to Rockhampton this weekend for the annual Confraternity Carnival, we extend our heartfelt best wishes for their success and sportsmanship during this prestigious event.

Reflecting on our history, the QISSRL/Confraternity was first held in Toowoomba in 1995, marking a significant milestone as St Joseph’s College fielded its inaugural boys’ team. This year, we proudly celebrate the 30th anniversary of this carnival. To honour our legacy, both the boys' and girls' First XIII teams will don specially designed jerseys inspired by that original team as they compete.

We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to our sponsors for their generous contributions to all three teams participating in the competitions next week. Their invaluable support allows us to provide these exceptional opportunities, enabling our athletes to showcase their talents and commitment to the sport. Thank you for being an integral part of our journey.

GOLD – Nolans Transport

SILVER – Bryant Building Contractors and Ranford Electrical

Best Wishes for Our Athletes in Bundaberg.

We extend our heartfelt best wishes to the girls' QISSN netball team as they prepare to depart this weekend for their upcoming competition in Bundaberg. This year brings a significant change, as the teams will be competing separately. While this arrangement presents challenges, particularly in terms of supporting one another during matches, we remain optimistic about the experience ahead.

As the team embarks on its 26th year in this esteemed competition, we celebrate their dedication and commitment. We look forward to many more years of enjoying this remarkable event and supporting our athletes on their journey. Best of luck to the team as they represent us with pride!

State Carnival Highlights: AFL Team Representation

We are thrilled to showcase the impressive performances of our students at the recent State Carnivals. Once again, Jess Lawrence has provided us with remarkable photographs capturing the spirit and dedication of our athletes.

This year, our 16-18 years boys' and girls' AFL teams represented our school with outstanding enthusiasm and skill.

On the boys' team, we proudly had Lael Lawrence and Aiden Diprose, who demonstrated exceptional teamwork and sportsmanship throughout the competition.

The girls' team featured a talented lineup, including Charlee Bucknell, Lilly Wiemers, Paityn Wilson, Emmersyn Ranford, Sienna Wilson, and Sienna Ebling. Each player showcased their commitment and skill, contributing to the team's overall success.

In exciting news, we recently learned that Sienna Wilson has been named to the Queensland Merit Team. This prestigious recognition is a testament to her hard work and dedication. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Sienna for this remarkable achievement!

We look forward to more accomplishments from our talented athletes in the future.

Player Selection – AFL Queensland Community Championships 2025

We would like to congratulate Sienna Grice who been selected to represent this region at the AFL Queensland Community Championships to be held from 27th to 29th June 2025.

This is an exciting opportunity for the students to participate at a high level of competition, alongside players from across central Queensland. The Championships play a key role in the development and recognition of talented footballers within the AFL Queensland community pathway.

Acknowledgements in Touch Referring

In our previous newsletter, I had the pleasure of congratulating Mikayla Zirbel for her outstanding performance as a referee at the QRSS U13 – U18 Touch Championships held in Brisbane. I would like to extend my acknowledgment to Kiara Milligan, who also played a significant role in this remarkable event.

Kiara's dedication and skill were recognized as she was awarded the opportunity to officiate the grand final during the weekend. This achievement is a testament to her hard work and commitment to the sport. Congratulations to both Mikayla and Kiara for their exceptional contributions to this championship!

Disc Golf

Joe Paull has recently returned from a successful outing in the sport of Disc Golf, having participated in the Cado Challenge held in Carindale, Brisbane, last weekend.

The event attracted a total of 54 entrants, showcasing a competitive field. Joe competed in the MA1 division and achieved an impressive victory, winning by two strokes. Notably, he finished ahead of all professional players except for one, highlighting his exceptional performance at just 15 years old.

A light-hearted moment from the event was captured in a photograph, where the trophy depicted a "bin chicken," bringing a smile to participants and spectators alike.

Looking ahead, Joe has two weeks to practice before he competes in the Queensland Championships in Strathpine, Brisbane. This upcoming championship will feature 164 players, with 21 participants in Joe’s division.

We wish Joe the best of luck in his preparations and at the championships!

State Championships Recognition

During Thursday's assembly, we had the pleasure of recognizing and celebrating the outstanding achievements of our student-athletes who were part of state championship teams earlier this year.

Xavier Macdonald received a bronze medal for his remarkable performance, contributing to the boys' softball team for ages 13 to 19, which secured third place in the state competition.

Additionally, we proudly awarded gold medals to Sienna Wilson and Evie King for their exceptional efforts in leading the girls' softball team, also for ages 13 to 19, to victory at the state championships. Their dedication and teamwork exemplified the spirit of our school and the commitment to excellence in athletics.

We also extend our congratulations to Miss Jannusch, who was honoured with a gold medal for her invaluable role as the assistant coach of the girls' team. Her leadership and guidance were instrumental in the team's success.

These achievements not only highlight the talent and hard work of our student-athletes but also reflect the supportive community that surrounds and encourages them. We look forward to more successes in the future!

Debbie Newtown - Program Leader - Sport - DNewton@sjc.qld.edu.au

Connecting with Careers

As we reflect on Term 2, the Careers team has worked with the Year 12 and Year 10 students during JW in their Career lessons.  Next term, we will be working with Year 8 and Year 11 students for their Career lessons.  Each Tuesday, we were delighted to welcome Guest Speakers to speak with students about the many opportunities and pathways that students can consider to pursue their passions and pathways.  The Guest Speakers included representatives from:

• The University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ)
• University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC)
• Australian Defence Force (ADF)
• Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC)
• American Summers

In Week 10, the Year 8 students participated and engaged in the Year 8 ‘Strengths’ Safari Day.  Students learned about Transferrable Skills, participating in rotational activities including, Puzzles, Paper Beam Bridge Challenge, STEM Challenge and Art activity.  In these activities, students, discovered how they were using their Transferrable Skills and reflecting on how they develop these skills across their subjects.

For the Health Hub students, they visited Infinite Care to demonstrate their skills that they have been developing in the Certificate II in Health Support Services. 

As we come to the end of term, we are excited to share that our Health Hub students have successfully covered the following units:

• Conduct Manual tasks safely
• Transport Individuals safely
• Responding to behaviours of concern
• Prepare and maintain beds
• Plan and apply time management
• Deliver a service to customers
• CPR
• Workplace health and safety
• Infection control
• Work with diverse people
• Communication
• High standard of service

Congratulations to the Health Hub students, who have successfully completed the qualification for the Certificate II in Health Support Services.  The students are living out the College core value of Endeavour through the imperatives of learning in community and aspiring for excellence.

Next term, they will be completing the Certificate III in Health Services Assistance.

Toowoomba ADF Careers Expo

Join the ADF at their upcoming ADF Careers Expo being held on 16 July from 9am to 5pm. You will be able to speak with current serving members to see which Australian Defence Force career is best suited to you. This is your opportunity to discover the range of jobs available in the Navy, Army and Air Force, ranging from (but not limited to) trades, transport, logistics, engineering and combat. Activities on the day will include:

• Augmented reality and flight Simulators
• Weapon and vehicle displays
• Military equipment displays
• ADF Careers Promotions team on hand to answer all your questions

Click here for more information.

For more information, please contact the Careers Team.

Maree Harman - Career Development Practitioner - mharman@sjc.qld.edu.au

Amanda Ruhle - Careers Support Officer - ARuhle@sjc.qld.edu.au

Year 11 French Camp

Year 11 French students spent three days and two nights at Maison de Sainte Claire for French Immersion Camp last week. Situated near Murwillumbah in the NSW hinterland, students participated in French classes with a beautiful backdrop.

They also created some beautiful French culinary dishes, watched French movies and played a game of pétanque, thankfully before the rain came!  Due to the weather, we set off for home a little early and treated ourselves to a sweet treat for our hard work! 

Students and teacher were suitably exhausted after thinking in French for three days but have gained confidence and are now motivated for the rest of their course!”

- Mrs Emma Tolcher, Teacher

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Education Perfect International English Championships

In Week 8, it was time for our Junior English students to take part in an international online competition on Education Perfect.  As with the Languages competition earlier in the term, each correctly answered question earnt students points on the Leaderboard.  Our main battle happened to be between two 7J students who, in their quest to outdo each other, helped St. Joseph’s cause immensely! 

St. Joseph’s finished 3rd in Queensland out of 205 schools, 9th in Australia out of 892 schools and 14th globally out of 1,265 schools!  What a fantastic effort!

Congratulations go to the following students who earnt awards:

Tully Simpson – 4, 247 points – Emerald award

Mitchell Mulder – 4,018 points - Emerald award

Charlotte Sheward – 994 points – Bronze award

Sam Warwick – 371 points – Credit award

Mia Tolcher – 350 points – Credit award

Certificates will be with you early next term!

- Mrs Emma Tolcher, Teacher

A Q&A with the composer behind The Sea and Little Fishes – SJC’s very own Layla Kuehnemann!

Held from 26-27 June at the Empire Theatre’s Studio Room, The Sea and The Little Fishes was a great success from Pushing Up, a Queensland grassroots theatre company!

Year 12 student Layla Kuehnemann played a big role in bringing the story to life by composing and playing all the music. Enjoy this Q&A with the budding composer…

Can you tell us about the show, The Sea and Little Fishes?

The show is an original play inspired by Terry Pratchett's Discworld book series. Witches, magic, mind games, and light sprinkles of satire intertwine as the writer has attempted to bring the comic fantasy world to the stage. 

What was your involvement in the production?

I composed and played all the music for the play. My job was essentially to interpret each of the characters into simple piano themes that reflected each bold and endlessly unique personality.

Can you take us through your writing process for the play?

Before this experience I had never actually interacted with the series, the author and characters and world of the books was completely new to me, and so a large part of the process was gaining an understanding of each of the characters both in the books and how they were being represented in the play. I worked closely with the writer and director to try and bring their ideas to life and get to know the world and meeting the actors and watching them rehearse was also helpful. As someone who can’t read music and has only just started learning music theory, most of my creative process was experimental and I was learning a lot as I went, and I drew most of my inspiration from the people I worked with and how they understood the play and the characters. 

What has this experience meant to you?

This has been such an incredible opportunity for me to grow as a musician and push myself to share this wonderful part of my life with others. As someone who has been self-taught since 2020, I haven't always had confidence in my abilities, and I often keep it to myself, I suppose out of the common misconception that you have to be great to share it. Music and composing is very much a hobby for me—in saying that it’s a massive part of my life and I can’t go a day without it—but I think discovering it on my own and learning myself in my own unique and unconventional ways has made me feel constantly inexperienced no matter how much I do it. However, this experience showed me that the arts is really truly about one thing: passion. Because regardless of how much I have to learn, and all the things I don't understand quite yet, I love music, and I love writing music, and that enabled me to do something really cool that I never would have thought I'd be doing at 17. This opportunity has given me confidence as an artist, and reminded me that at the end of the day all you need to do is have fun and be creative.

How have you been able to juggle this over the past few months with your other commitments as a Year 12 student?

Balancing this project with school was definitely challenging. Balancing study with part-time jobs, sport, extracurricular and life on its own is a challenge anyways, especially in Year 12, and finding time in between all of that to make it to rehearsals, have meetings with the writer and director, and record music and re-record and tweak and refine was certainly difficult. But I think music being something I enjoy so much made it feel easy. I'm playing the piano all the time anyway, so it doesn't feel like another 'job' to do, it’s something I do because I love it, so it was easy to come home after work or school or whatever it was and just sit down and play. 

How has studying music at SJC helped open up this opportunity for you?  

I started studying senior music at SJC during this process. Learning music theory felt like learning a new language, and it has been challenging starting from scratch at a senior level, but has definitely helped me during this project. I believe I find composing quite natural for me, and so more than anything studying music at school has helped me understand what I'm doing when I'm writing, and that has in turn has helped me write better music. I still have a lot to learn, and in many ways I still consider myself a beginner, but it’s continuously exciting to find myself growing in this passion. 

Can you tell me about Pushing Up and what opportunities it gives young creative people?

Pushing Up is a community opportunity for local artists to get inspired and involved in the arts together. It gives both experienced lovers of performance, dance, music, acting etc, and newbies like me the chance to be creative and share our passions, while having fun doing what we love. 

Art Opportunities

2025 Australian Catholic Education Conference 

Student Art Submissions

Theme: ‘hope, anchored in faith’

Students are encouraged to reflection on the conference theme ‘hope, anchored in faith’ and can submit creative works that explore the conference theme and key areas of focus - Faith, Excellence and Access.

The types of artwork that you can submit are:

• Artwork: A3-A5 size, paper, canvas, artboard
• Photography: A3-A5 size
• Sculpture: up to 80cm high and 80cm wide
• Music: recorded on mp3, no longer than 5 minutes
• Film: edited and saved at either mp4 or mp5, no longer than 5 minutes
• PLUS students are asked to submit a 50-100-word response on what ‘hope, anchored in faith’ means to me.

RESOURCES

• For more information download the full criteria and entry form.
• You may find this helpful Download teacher preparation/student reflection powerpoint

Selected artworks will be displayed in the conference Chapel.

Students can work on their submission over the winter holidays.

Deadlines: Submit your entry to Mrs Dwyer by the end of Wk 1 T3, Friday 18 July to allow time to send the artwork to the conference.

Mashed Theatre Winter Holiday Acting Workship

Mashed Theatre is excited to invite any interested SJC students to join their Winter Holiday Acting Workshop, running from 9th–11th July at the Mashed Theatre & Films Acting Studio (126 Margaret Street, Toowoomba).

Over three high-energy days, participants will rehearse and perform a bold 30-minute adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, gaining hands-on experience in voice, movement, character development, and Shakespearean text. This is a fantastic opportunity for both emerging performers and those looking to grow in confidence.

Workshop Details:

Dates: Tuesday 9th – Thursday 11th July
Time: 9:00am – 3:00pm daily
Location: Mashed Theatre & Films Studio, Toowoomba
Cost: $385 total (includes performance showcase)

SJC - Community News

Uniform Shop

EFTPOS only - No Cash accepted until further notice.

Toowoomba’s weather is very unpredictable are you prepared?

All winter items are available in store and online including:

• Scarves
• All Purpose Jackets
• Woollen Jumpers
• Long Sleeve Shirts
• Long Sleeve Junior Blouses
• Formal trousers for males and females
• Tights and stockings
• Tracksuits for sport – pants and jacket

Orders can be made online, paid for over the phone and all orders can be delivered to student entrance for your child to collect from there.

Online orders can also be delivered to your home for a fee.

Online ordering is available at all times and will only be packed during shop trading hours.

Pass Phrase StJC1956

Second hand items and Football items not available to order online

Currently out of stock:

• Girls’ formal skirts – Girls Size 8 and 10.
• Boys Trousers Size 12

Please contact the uniform shop on the below details:

Phone:           07 4631 8514

Email:             sjct@midford.com.au

Ordering Online Process

www.midford.com.au     pass phrase StJC1956

Second hand uniforms are also available at the Uniform Shop.

If you have used uniform items that would like to donate, please drop off to the Uniform Shop during opening hours.  Donations are greatly appreciated.

If you have used uniform items that you would like us to sell for you, please call into the uniform shop and collect a “Used Clothing” form. Used uniforms items MUST be in good condition, hems intact, no holes, stains or missing buttons. They also need to washed, ironed and be the current uniform. 

If you have any questions, please call us on 4631 8514 during opening hours.