Dear families and friends,

I am just over a term into my time at St Joseph’s and I am feeling blessed to be leading this community. The future is exciting with the many strengths to build on as we move forward. I thank all those who have taken the opportunity to provide input to our strategic direction via surveys and through the sessions with Tatu.

The staff provided further insight at the recent pupil free day – I certainly saw a passion for children and the community.

The strong sense of community has been an overwhelming factor that we want to hold onto. Last Sunday I was listening to the reading at mass and immediately it reminded me of the young children and the Catholic community we are working with you to build.

‘Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit,
but in humility regard others as better than yourselves.
Let each of you look not to your own interests,
but to the interest of others.
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.’ 
- Philippians 2:3-4

Paul wrote these words, a part of a letter to the Philippian community of a model of true friendship – to think these words were written around AD52-56! Some things haven’t changed at all!

Italian day

Belissimo!! What a celebration of the beautiful Italian culture. A culture that continues to give us so much every day to Australia! Music, dance, colour, games and of course food, glorious pizza and gelati!!

We were fortunate to have Cugini Calabresi who played music and taught the students about traditional Italian dances and instruments. Our multi-talented Mrs Insanally taught the Tarntella while the children learnt to play Bocce with Mr D. 

We were fortunate to have Radio Italiana broadcasting in the morning, interviewing children, staff and families! There was certainly a buzz in the air and lots of positive feedback from the wider Italian community!

Special thanks to Signora Prestwich for planning and preparing our day! I was most impressed with the ability of our year 5 and 6’s in speaking and reading Italian! The younger students sang with gusto! 

World Teacher’s Day Australia – Friday 29^th October

World Teachers’ Day is held internationally in early October. As it falls during the school holidays for many parts of Australia, we celebrate a little later. We will have a double celebration as a number of staff members on camp on Friday, so Monday will be our extended celebration.

Teachers – each year I extend the celebration to include our ESO’s in admin and curriculum. They are also teaching our children, in the classroom providing support and through setting expectations and support in the admin areas. I am greatly appreciative of the commitment to children at St Joseph’s school – ‘teaching’ is more than a job, having the role of nurturing and educating young people for our future is a great responsibility and something that I know can keep you awake at night! On behalf of our community, I thank you for:

• Love of children
• Love of learning
• Desire to make learning fun
• Support of families
• Being a carer
• Trusting
• Sleepless nights

Keep up the great work in developing the young children in our care so they can thrive and make our world great!

Enjoy the beautiful Spring days and I wish the year 5 and 6 students and staff an enjoyable and safe camp!

Kindest regards,

Jodie Higgins
Principal