From the Principal

Dear Parents, Carers and Students

The first half of the year has been filled with countless learning opportunities, growth, and achievements for so many of our young people and I would like to take this moment to express our sincere gratitude to all those who have contributed to the vibrant learning culture at our College. These activities have not only provided avenues for creativity and self-expression, but have also fostered teamwork, discipline, and a sense of camaraderie among our students. We applaud the dedication and commitment of all the students who participated and the hard work of our teachers, staff and volunteers who guided and supported them along the way.

While the holidays are a time for relaxation and rejuvenation, I would also like to remind parents that College reports for Years 7 – 10 will be issued at the end of this week. These reports serve as a valuable tool to assess the progress and development of your children.

In order to maximise the benefits of these reports and help facilitate growth in Semester 2, I encourage you to engage in meaningful conversations with your children about the contents.

Here are a few ideas to help you initiate these discussions:

Celebrate Achievements: Start by acknowledging the areas where your young person has excelled. Recognise their efforts and achievements, regardless of the grades they have received. Praise their determination, perseverance, and the skills they have acquired and recognise the positive learning behaviours rated by their class teachers.

Identify Areas for Improvement: Together with your young person, identify the subjects or skills where they may need additional support or guidance. Approach these areas with a positive mindset, emphasising growth opportunities rather than dwelling on shortcomings.

Set Goals: Work together to establish realistic and achievable goals for the next semester. Encourage your young person to think about their aspirations and discuss the steps they can take to reach them. Help them create a plan that includes specific actions and milestones.

Seek Assistance: If there are concerns or questions arising from the report, don't hesitate to reach out to the relevant teachers or Curriculum Leaders. They are here to support you and your young person and can provide valuable insights and guidance.

If you are doing this, remember that staff are also on holidays over the break, and in all likelihood will not get back to you until we return for Semester 2.

Finally, remember the goal of discussing the College reports is to create a supportive and nurturing environment that encourages growth and development. The best way to do this is through positive conversations which engage your young person and help them identify their areas for growth and improvement. By focusing on the positive aspects and providing constructive feedback, you can inspire your child to strive for personal excellence in Semester 2.

NAIDOC Week Celebrations

NAIDOC week celebrates the history, culture, 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 culture of indigenous communities.

NAIDOC stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee. Its origins can be traced back to the Aboriginal rights movement, when on Australia Day 1938, protestors marched through the streets of Sydney to highlight the status and treatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. Today, it is a week-long celebration held in July that consists of range of traditional and contemporary activities.

NAIDOC Week is an important event that helps build positive relationships between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people. It enables a deeper understanding of our differences and similarities. 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 fairer future. Families are encouraged to join in and support young people in learning the significance of NAIDOC Week.

This Special Report offers suggestions on how families can celebrate NAIDOC Week together. We hope you take a moment to reflect on the information offered, and as always, we welcome your feedback. If this raises any concerns for you, a loved one or the wellbeing of your child, please seek medical or professional help.

Here is the link to your special report https://sjc.qld.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-celebrating-naidoc-week

School Officer and Service Staff Day

St Joseph's College Toowoomba recognises and thanks our wonderful School Officers and Services Staff. Their constancy, professionalism and generosity enable the best possible functioning of the College and outcomes for the young people. Last Wednesday was School Officer Day and, on this day, we thanked our team for their work and the generosity and care they exhibit very day of the year.  

Staffing Term 3

At the end of Semester One we say farewell to Mr Shane Hair, Mrs Jenny Stead, Mrs Annette Yates. Mr Hair and Mrs Stead are retiring from fulltime teaching and Mrs Yates has decided to take an opportunity at another school. We thank Mr Hair and Mrs Yates for their efforts during their time at St Joseph's College. A special thank you to Mrs Stead who during her extensive time at St Joseph's College has undertaken a wide range of teaching and pastoral positions as well as involving herself in several extra-curricular activities with great enthusiasm, energy and wisdom. We wish Mrs Stead all the best for her future endeavours.

We also say farewell and best wishes to Mrs Angela Harris and Mrs Candice Brazier who are both going on paternity leave. We look forward to meeting the new additions to their families.

At the start of Term 3 we welcome Ms Chelsea Moon into the teaching profession. Ms Moon has been working as a School Officer at St Joseph's College and having now completed her teaching degree will be teaching Mathematics and Science. We also thank Mr Peter Keightley for his dedication and generosity in stepping into the Mathematics Curriculum Leader role whilst Mrs Brazier is on paternity leave.

Best of Luck QISSN and QISSRL Participants

Best of luck to our Open Netball and Rugby League teams who head off to participate in the annual QISSRL and QISSN carnivals in Brisbane. We will again have three teams participating, Open Netball, Open Girls Rugby League, and Open Boys Rugby League. We look forward to hearing of the successes and challenges that come with participating in a weeklong carnival. Please ensure you are always striving to demonstrate our Joey’s Way values of Respect, Compassion, Dignity and Endeavour and their associated imperatives.

Thank you to our very generous staff who have worked with the teams to prepare for this carnival and will accompany them to Brisbane. Thank you also to our generous sponsors for their support of the teams.

Best wishes to our community for the break. Please be safe and take appropriate breaks when travelling. We look forward to students returning on Tuesday 11 July refreshed and ready to participate fully and give their best in semester two.

Best wishes

Kort Goodman - Principal - KGoodman@sjc.qld.edu.au