Week 10 Term 4

The holidays have finally arrived and as a school, we bid farewell to 2020- the year like no other.

We have so much, particularly this year to be thankful for, to celebrate, to congratulate, to farewell and to remember with love, joy and fondness the many people and events that have left an impression on St Joseph's in 2020. Best of all we gratefully acknowledge that we made it through 2020 together!

Best Wishes

I would like to thank those families moving on from St Joseph's this year, for being there to support and work with us throughout your time at St Joseph's. 

• The Felsch family
• The Roxburgh family
• The Soward family
• The White family
• The Woolley family
• The Barratt Family
• The Davis Family

On behalf of our school community, I wish you all the best for the future and thank you for the ongoing contribution to St Joseph's. 

Congratulations to our 2021 School Leaders

Goodbye Year 6

Having named and congratulated our new student leadership team for 2021, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank our 2020 leaders for their leadership this year. It's been an incredibly different year for you as leaders and you have successfully carved a new model of leadership specific purely to this year. We couldn't have got through the year without your efforts. This week we acknowledged, thanked and farewelled Year 6- 2020. We started with a wonderful graduation dinner Tuesday night and then followed up with the official and moving School farewell, yesterday with their very personal and moving Graduation Liturgy and the obligatory last day pool visit (despite the weather).   A tearful whole-school guard of honour completed their day.
In the words of their final graduation Liturgy hymn, we sing to them:

'Go well. Go well. On your passionate journey go well.
We'll miss you and we wish you every blessing
As you go upon your way, God will walk with you today.

(The Parting of the Ways- Peter Kearney)

We thank you, parents, for trusting us with your child over the years and for the opportunity to encourage and teach them to become successful learners, confident and creative individuals and active and informed children of faith. 

A special thanks to Marina Carpenter for your organisation and preparation for the graduation dinner and your creation of the beautiful Year 6 cushion gift to the school.  Thanks to Helen Felsch and Shelley Cleverly for your assistance and to Shelley for organising the Year 6 gift of the tree to the school. 

Farewell Mrs Felicity Wilde, Mrs LornaStormon and Ms Chaya Wilson

Yesterday we took time to farewell our teaching staff who are leaving us this year,  Mrs Felicity Wilde, Mrs Lorna Stormon and Ms Chaya Wilson. Unfortunately, Ms Wilson was unable to be with us. 

We thank Mrs Felicity Wilde who leaves us after 5 years as Assistant Principal.  Felicity has been an outstanding leader, teacher, mentor, colleague and friend to the staff, students and families at St Joseph's. She has left her mark on every aspect of our school. 

Mrs Lorna Stormon leaves St Joesph's after 15 years. She is retiring following an amazing 44 year teaching career.  We thank her for her years teaching and supporting at St Joseph's. In particular, we acknowledge her work in recent years with small group and individual reading intervention(LLI). She has strongly influenced the students learning, confidence and love of reading. 

We thank Ms Chaya Wilson for the 6 years of sharing her gifts and knowledge of learning and teaching at St Joseph's and for her role as Additional Needs Teacher.  Chaya has been a strong advocate and mentor to our staff, students and family.  Her support and care, in particular of our students with additional needs and their families have been outstanding. 

Thank you, Mrs Wilde, Mrs Stormon and Ms Wilson, we acknowledge the difference that you have all made to our school.  We are all the better for each of you being here and you will be missed. We wish you all the best for the future. 

Student Maths Assessment Interviews (MAI's) 2021

The students in Years 1-6 will be required to attend the school for a Maths Assessment Interview on one of the first two days of school: Thursday 28 January and Friday 29 January 2021. Each student assessment takes approximately 30 minutes. The Best Start Testing for 2021 Kindergarten students will occur during the
same time,  the MAI is included in that testing.
All student s Kinder-Year 6 will commence normal classes on Monday 1 February.

All parents have been sent an email with instructions on how to book the MAI assessment online. 

Once students are mapped on the Mathematical Assessment Interview, the staff
will have a better understanding of their ability, their individual needs and how to
make change through the Intervention process. This is a Diocesan initiative, for
which we are extremely grateful to be involved. Thank you for your co-operation and support of your child's Mathematical understanding and progress.