Principal's Message -Jeanette Wilkins

Dear Families, 

Welcome to Term 3. We have hit the ground running. What a terrific couple of weeks we have had. Firstly I want to say a big thank you to Mrs Felicity Wilde, who did an absolutely amazing job leading the school while I was away. Thanks you to you our community for your support. 

Over the recent break, I was blessed with the opportunity to embark on a meaningful and enriching journey through Europe. What began as a cultural and spiritual exploration quickly became a transformative pilgrimage filled with prayer, personal challenge, and deep reflection.

I began my trip in Rome, Italy, during the 2025 Jubilee Year, a special occasion for the Catholic Church marked by reflection, forgiveness, and renewal. I spent a week visiting the Jubilee Churches and immersing myself in the historical and spiritual heart of Catholicism. A particularly moving part of my stay was the time I spent just across the road from the tomb of Pope Francis, where a steady stream of people came each day to pay their respects to this much-loved pontiff. It was humbling to witness such a quiet yet powerful outpouring of devotion.

Remarkably, I was also in Rome during the beginning of the Conclave, the sacred process of selecting the next Pope. The atmosphere in the city was one of reverence, anticipation, and unity, as people from around the world gathered to pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Being present during such a significant moment in Church history added a deep and lasting layer to my pilgrimage experience.

From Rome, I flew to Spain, where I had the opportunity to visit the awe-inspiring Sagrada Família in Barcelona—a breathtaking masterpiece of architecture and devotion that continues to rise toward completion over 140 years after it began by architect Antoni Gaudi.

The highlight of my journey was walking the last 106km of the Camino de Santiago, specifically parts of the Camino Primitivo and the French Way.  Each day brought a mix of physical challenge, natural beauty, prayerful silence, and unexpected moments of joy and community with fellow pilgrims from around the world. I was greeted every day multiple times by 'Buen Camino' from passing pilgrims wishing our group a good and safe walk or way. Reaching the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela, where the remains of St. James are said to rest, was a profound and emotional moment of completion and gratitude.

I then spent some reflective time in Santiago itself before heading to Madrid, where I briefly took in the cultural sights and vibrant life of the Spanish capital. My final days were spent back in Italy, returning to Rome and the serene town of Assisi—the home of St. Francis—for a final period of quiet reflection and prayer before flying home to Australia.

This journey reminded me not only of the incredible diversity and richness of our world but also of the universal need for faith, connection, and inner renewal. I have returned to our school community refreshed, inspired, and incredibly grateful.

I carried a little piece of St Joseph’s close to my heart—Joey was always tucked safely in my bag, and Glossy journeyed with me every step of the Camino, a constant reminder of the children, staff, and families back home.

Just 22 sleeps to go until our fantastic Cracker Night and Community Fair! Get ready for rides, entertainment, stalls, games, delicious food, and a spectacular fireworks display you won’t want to miss.

BUT WE CAN’T MAKE IT HAPPEN WITHOUT YOU.

Our amazing St Joseph’s Community Forum has been working hard to create the best Fair ever — and now we need your help! Check out the flyer below to see how you can volunteer and contribute to making this night fun and successful for everyone.

A huge thank you to all our sponsors for their generous prize donations and financial support. I’ll also include the link to the Cracker Night and Community Fair Facebook page, where you can see and learn more about our wonderful sponsors.

Hopefully,you have had time to sit with your child and discuss their Semester 1 report. Acknowledging the terrific learning and effort that has gone into Semester 1, and perhaps together, thought about some areas to work on this Semester.

Our Parent Teacher Interviews will be held next Wednesday, 6 August 2025, from 3.30 pm. These have been arranged using our online booking system. Thank you to the parents who booked.

Parent-Teacher interviews are valued and supported by both parents and teachers. At these interviews, parents and teachers have the opportunity to celebrate successes and also to work through any recommendations and goals to improve learning outcomes for the remainder of the year.

As each interview will last only the dedicated time, it is a good idea to write down any questions, queries or concerns so that they are not forgotten. Interviews must run on time so that families are not left waiting unnecessarily.

We thank you for your interest in assisting your child/children by attending these very important interviews with your child's teacher.

The students were thrilled to start music lessons again this week. We were excited to welcome Mr. Tyson Burrell from Musicorp, who brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to our program. Already, the students are showing great interest and joy as they begin their musical journey with him.

Music Corp enrolments are open for our students for Term 3 to learn to play guitar, drums, keyboard, violin, brass and woodwind.

Children receive an instrument to use whilst enrolled.

Please visit the link to enrol or contact Music Corp on 1300 858 911 for more information. https://rent.musicorp.com.au/tuition_online_eoi/

School Photos – Wednesday, 6 August 2025

Photo envelopes were sent home earlier this week. If your child didn’t receive one, or if you’d like to request a family/sibling photo, please contact the office to collect an envelope or have one sent home.

All envelopes must be returned to the office by Tuesday, 5 August 2025.

We’re thrilled to see so many students enjoying Lego Club each Monday afternoon! It’s a fantastic opportunity for creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving, and the enthusiasm from the children has been wonderful to witness.

Just a reminder that Lego Club finishes promptly at 4:30pm, so we kindly ask parents and carers to ensure they arrive on time for pickup.

Thank you for your continued support in making this club such a success!

This year, we will celebrate Book Week in Week 4 (11-15 August) with a few events. Further details will be provided in the coming week's newsletter.  As always, we will be having a dress-up book character parade.

The theme for Bookweek for 2025 is Book an Adventure. Our Book Week parade and open morning for parents will be Thursday, 14 August 2025. 

Our Scholastic Book Fair will be held from 11- 22 August. 

Have a wonderful weekend

Principal