From the Principal

Dear Parents and Friends of St Joseph’s College,

Last Friday, St Joseph’s College celebrated Wear It Purple Day. This day was founded almost fifteen years ago to highlight the suffering many people including teenagers experience because of their diversity. At our College, we are committed to the value of compassion and the imperatives of empathy and celebrating diversity. We believe that every person is created in the image of God and accordingly we are called to respect and love unconditionally. Many of our staff and students participated in activities which promoted inclusion which positions our school to be a place where every person should feel safe and respected.

Recently the school released information highlighting our strong literacy and numeracy progress compared against state and national results. St Joseph’s College employs a number of improvement strategies which develop these areas. One of these has been an encouragement of reading and last Thursday students and staff promoted their passions for reading by participating in Book Week. Each person was encouraged to bring their favourite character to life by wearing costumes. Reading has many benefits in developing literacy including enhancing vocabulary and reading comprehension and I encourage all families to promote a love of reading.

Leading through service is at the core of our school motto “Serve Him in Others.” Service enacts our college value of compassion and is a very tangible way of making Jesus known to others through our actions. Last week the college acknowledged the many students who have committed to serving others through one or more of our service groups: Just Joey’s, Liturgy Group, Rosies, Breakfast Club and Interact. Servant leadership is a key component of our Catholic Identity and provides authentic learning experiences which develop our young people socially and emotionally. Such learning dispositions engage our students to be active citizens able to make a difference locally and globally.

On Thursday evening our students and staff acknowledged our father figures and the contributions they make to our communities. Each father figure is central to the development of every young person. This Sunday I encourage your family to take the time to say thank you to the fathers in our lives and to remember those who we have loved but are no longer with us.

We pray:

Bless our fathers, that they may be strengthened as Christian fathers. Let the example of their faith and love shine forth. In moments of joy, rejoice with them. In times of struggle, give them your courage and perseverance.

God Bless
Jim Brennan

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