From the Principal

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.

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 that promoted inclusion, which positions our school to be a place where every person should feel safe and respected.

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. This week, the College acknowledged the service of our outgoing committee members of Interact and the installation of the new members. Servant leadership is a key component of our Catholic Identity and provides authentic learning experiences that 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.

This week, we welcomed a new staff member, Alex Stephens, who joins our Student Engagement Team. Alex will be working as the School Officer in our Ignatius Room. He comes with experience working as a teacher aide in Responsible Thinking and general classroom support. Alex replaces Mel Wilson who recently concluded her time at St Joseph’s College to spend more time with her family. As a College, we are most appreciative of the contributions Mel brought to our community, and we wish her the absolute best with her future plans.

Next week, many of the Year 12 students begin their preparation for external exams in Term 4 with the commencement of trial exams. This period marks the beginning of the final stages of the St Joseph’s College journey for these young people and their families. Please keep them in your thoughts as they enter this crucial time.

I also remind parents, carers, and students that there are two options for students during our Enrichment time on Wednesday afternoons from 1.50- 2.50. The first option is for students to remain on the College site to engage in organised activities, which are supervised by College staff, the second is to return to their respective homes under the supervision of parents/carers. This ensures that the College is meeting its duty of care. Unfortunately, as the time is during the gazetted school day, there is no option for students to be anywhere else unless they are with their respective legal guardian. Students who undertake activities at the College are required to remain in that selected activity for the duration of the term. Students with parental permission can make new selections/ go home each term.  

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