Principal's Message
Dear Parents,
Building Works Update
We would like to inform our families that the latest update from Catholic Schools is that all major building works planned for 2025 across the diocese are currently under review. At this stage, we are awaiting further communication from the Catholic Schools Office regarding the next steps for our school’s building project.
We understand that many in our community are eager for updates, and we sincerely thank you for your continued patience and understanding as we await more information. We remain committed to keeping you informed as soon as any updates become available.
Confirmation
On Tuesday 20 May at Sacred Heart Cathedral and this evening Friday 23 May at Christ the King Mayfield, a number of our students received the Sacrament of Confirmation. In the words of Bishop Michael these children are now seen as “full members” in our Catholic Church community.
Confirmation is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit strengthens us in our journeys as believers in Christ and helps us accept our mission in life. Bishop Michael encouraged the children to always keep the door open and to let the Holy Spirit in—to receive the gifts of wisdom, understanding, right judgement, courage, knowledge, reverence, and wonder and awe.
It was a privilege for staff in attendance to be part of such a significant and special moment in the faith journey of these students. A final Confirmation celebration will be held on Thursday 29 May at Sacred Heart Cathedral Hamilton at 6:30 pm. We continue to keep all students receiving the Sacrament in our prayers.
Aspire
On Thursday evening, a group of staff had the pleasure of attending the finals of the Aspire Songwriting Competition, held at Trinity’s Factory Theatre. Our very own Jack W. performed the original song, ‘Rough Days’ which he wrote for the competition. The theme for the primary category was ‘Revolutionary Rhythms’, and Jack shared a powerful and deeply personal song inspired by his recent life experiences and challenges.
We were blown away by his talent, creativity, and the confidence he showed on stage and so were the judges, who deemed Jack’s song as the best of the night!! We are incredibly proud of Jack—not just for his musical ability, but for the way he always embraces new opportunities and pushes himself beyond his comfort zone. What a fantastic achievement! Congratulations Jack!
Young Dobell Art Finalists
We are thrilled to share that Harrison and Ellie C have been selected as finalists in this year’s Young Dobell Art Competition! Their beautiful pet portraits—Trigger the dog and Bucky the cat—will be exhibited at the Museum of Art and Culture, yapang (MAC), from 31 May to 3 August.
This is an incredible achievement, and we are so proud of their creativity and talent.
If you have the opportunity, we encourage you to head along to the exhibition and see their artwork on display alongside other young artists from across the region. Entry is free, and it’s a wonderful way to celebrate the creative gifts of our students.
For more information about the exhibition, visit: Young Dobell Exhibition 2025 – MAC yapang
National Simultaneous Story Time
National Simultaneous Storytime is a colourful, vibrant, and fun event that promotes the value of reading and literacy by featuring an Australian children's book that explores age-appropriate themes and supports Key Learning Areas of the national curriculum.
On Wednesday, 21 May 2025, our whole school joined together to read and listen to this year’s featured book, The Truck Cat by Deborah Frenkel, illustrated by Danny Snell. The story follows Tinka, a cat who travels with Yacoub, a migrant truck driver adjusting to life in a new country. When they are separated, their journey to reunite highlights themes of belonging, identity, and kindness.
Following the story, students participated in a variety of creative activities inspired by the book, engaging with its themes and celebrating the joy of reading together.
ACSP 2025 Principals' Conference
From Wednesday, 21 May to Friday, 23 May, I have had the privilege of attending the Association of Catholic School Principals (ACSP) 2025 Conference at Rydges Resort in the Hunter Valley. The conference theme, Living Waters: Leading with Hope, Inspiring Faith Communities, provided a meaningful context for reflection and professional growth.
Principals from across the Diocese gathered to engage with a range of guest speakers and sessions focusing on effective leadership, student and staff wellbeing, system improvements, and driving positive change within our schools. These insights will undoubtedly inform and enhance our practices as we continue to strive for excellence in our school community.
A Special Thank You
As I come to the end of my time as Acting Principal, I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank our wonderful school community for your support, trust and encouragement over the past twelve weeks. It has been an absolute privilege to lead St Joseph’s during this time.
I have thoroughly enjoyed working in partnership with our dedicated staff, supportive families, and amazing students. Together, we have continued to seek the very best academic, physical, social and spiritual outcomes for all of our students, and I’m incredibly proud of all that we’ve achieved as a community.
Next Monday, we will warmly welcome back Ms Karen McGinlay from her professional renewal leave. We look forward to hearing all about her travels across Europe, including her visits to Catholic schools and communities, and her time in Rome where she had the profound experience of attending the funeral of Pope Francis. We are excited for the insights and inspiration she will bring back to our school community.
Thank you again for your ongoing support and partnership. It has been a joy to serve our school in this role.
Nicole Charnock
Acting Principal