From the Principal

Dear Parents, Carers and Students

Congratulations to all on a great 2021!

On Presentation Night I congratulated all students who received awards and I also made a point of highlighting those students who did not receive an award but who are aspiring for excellence and achieving to the best of their ability. At St Joseph’s we greatly value the efforts of our students who are demonstrating growth with both their learning behaviours and achievement and I again offer my congratulations to these students.

I also highlighted on Presentation Night, that as a community we are already making good progress towards achieving the intents outlined in our St Joseph’s College Towards 2024 Strategic Plan. This progress continues to allow us to capacity build to ensure that we will continue to be a vibrant learning community, providing outstanding opportunities for all our students and staff to reach their potential. The most pleasing aspect of the year for me is the progress that the students are making with their learning and this is evident in the great majority of the student reports. It is the efforts of the students in combination with the outstanding support offered by our staff that allows this growth to occur. For our community this is an important step in our journey of becoming a learning community where all students and staff are continually striving to improve and reach their potential, a fact worth celebrating.

Celebrating Advent

As we enter the Advent season and prepare for the birth of Jesus Christ may we give generously to those in need in our society? Our students and staff have been doing a great job in preparing their baskets for St Vincent’s de Paul Society to distribute to those families most in need which again highlights how willingly our community lives out our call to Serve Him in Others.

Staff Farewells

With the end of each school year comes the inevitable staff farewells and offering of thanks to others whose role may be changing at the school. These changes to staffing roles and farewells can be both quite sad, and exciting as it brings new opportunities and possible adventures for those departing or changing roles.

I would like to advise the community that the following staff members will be departing our community at the end of 2021 or taking leave for 2022. We thank these people greatly for their contributions over the time they have been at our College and for those taking leave we look forward to seeing them in 2023.

Departing – Therese Cronin, Tanya Draheim, Dean Garside, Rodney Spain, Angela Stafford, Andrea van den Berg, Michelle Dwyer
Leave 2022 –  Cathie Barton, Mark Holdsworth, Madeleine Minns, Janet Reid

In replacing the staff members who are departing or taking leave, the following people will be returning to St Joseph’s College or joining us in 2022.

Candice Brazier (Curriculum Leader Maths)

Emma Chalmers (Curriculum Leader English and Languages)

Adriane Markham (Acting Program Leader – Mission and Identity)

Roseanne Pietsch (Acting Program Leader – Cultural Leader)

Angela Harris (returning from leave to teach Mathematics)

Christel Davies (School Officer - Workplace, Health & Safety)

Julie Entwistle (Principal’s Personal Assistant)

Annette Yates (Science and Mathematics Teacher)

Chris Fitzpatrick (returning from leave to teach Religion)

We look forward to these people bringing and sharing their expertise, skills, and talents with our community in 2022.

Thank you to Peter Keightley and Jacqui Dignon who have undertaken curriculum leadership roles over the last year your support has been greatly appreciated. Congratulations also to Aleesha Degen who has been successful in attaining the Pastoral Leader for Murphy House role.

Best Wishes

I wish all members of our College community a Holy and safe Christmas and thank you for the support of the College throughout our 2021 academic year. I do hope that our community members will open their hearts to the true meaning of Christmas and take time to reflect and give thanks for what we are so privileged to be part of. Please take care of each other, travel safely, and take appropriate breaks. A reminder that school commences for Year 7, 11, 12 and new students on Tuesday 25 January and Year 8, 9 and 10 on Thursday, 27 January 2022.

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

ever faithful to your promises and ever close to your Church:

the earth rejoices in hope of the Saviour’s coming,

and looks forward with longing to his return at the end of time.

Prepare our hearts and remove the sadness that hinders us from feeling the joy,

and hope which his presence will bestow,

for he is Lord for ever and ever.

Amen.

Live Jesus in our Hearts. Forever

Kort Goodman - Principal