Dear Parents,  

Who would have thought 2021 would have been another extraordinary year just like last year? Let's hope that 2022 brings lots of extraordinariness to our lives but in a very different way to the previous two years. We are ready for a change! 

As our school year draws to a close I would like to take this opportunity to offer my sincere thanks to our staff, for definitely going above and beyond during this most challenging of years. There have been  many long hours this year, lots of learning done by them and new skill sets developed, all in order to best support each of the individuals in their care.  I also want to thank all our parents, as you hung in there, being co-teachers of your children all whilst juggling your own commitments as well. I thank our children for their resilience, persistence and creativity that was often displayed during lockdown and for their engagement with learning once back at school. Let’s pray that we have a full year of face-to-face teaching and learning next year.  What a gift that would be!

Thank you to those families who will be leaving our community this year.  Thank you for entrusting the care and education of your children to us.  It has been a great honour to care for and educate them and to share this role with you.  We wish you all the best in the future and hope you will hold fond memories of St Joseph’s throughout your lives.

I just want to finish off the year by saying what terrific learning experiences our children have had right up until the end of this term and how I have been blown away by what our children are capable of.  The Year 3 students have surprised us all with their amazing acting talents as were showcased in last Friday’s performance of “Santa’s Magic Boots”, Year 4 have created the most amazingly beautiful Christmas ornaments that I am sure will adorn your trees for many years to come and Year 5 have captured my attention with their BECOME projects where they held an expo sharing their action research into potential careers for them in the future.  I can’t wait to see, if in about 15 years down the track, we do have any vets, Egyptologists, doctors, criminal lawyers, dress designers, bakers and architects. Not to forget our younger students whose reading and writing just keep coming along in leaps and bounds.  I can't wait to see what learning at St Joseph’s in 2022 brings!

Year 6 Farewell Liturgy

We were so fortunate to have managed to secure Fr Andrew for the Year 6 Graduation Liturgy and awards ceremony last week and to be able to hold it in the Cathedral.  We hope that our Year 6 children will keep the memory of this special occasion with them for a long while to come and that they will keep even longer the message that they will always belong and be welcomed by God, and that they will never be alone.  Our children have many challenges and triumphs ahead of them and if we can help nurture in them the realisation that no matter what, Christ will always be there for them, this may give them the strength and support they need to get through those toughest moments as well as help them to give thanks to God for the good that comes their way.

There was a terrific atmosphere throughout this occasion, and we were so glad that families could share in this moment with their children.  My favourite moments were seeing the genuine shock and delight on award recipients faces, when they were taken by surprise, along with the moment when the outgoing captains handed over the leadership light to the incoming captains.  Thank you to Ivy and Jack for the great work you did as leaders this year and we look forward to Eleanor’s and Luca’s leadership next year. 

2022 Starting Dates

2022 Teaching Staff

Our teachers for next year are:

Kindergarten - Casey Sharman (KB),  Gabriele Hawthorne (KG)
Year 1 - Leanne Skinner & Anne Maree Mantach (1B),  Felicity Peart & Phoebe Parker (1G)
Year 2 - Alison Collins (2B), Joanne Standing & Carolyn Delore (2G)
Year 3 - Chloe Coe (3B), Nicole Charnock & Belinda Parkes (3G)
Year 4 - Donna McMillan & Sally Casey (4B), Fiona McCalden (4G)
Year 5 - Peter Watson (5G), Laura Slattery & Leah Temple (5B)
Year 6 - Zoe Parish & Leah Temple (6G), Emma Cook (6B)

Learning Support Teacher  -  Belinda Pearson 

EALD - Alice Noble

Teacher Librarian – Dee Milgate

Music, Dance & Drama: Olivia Moss

We welcome Alison, Casey, Emma, Alice & Phoebe to our staff for 2022.

P&F

This year has been an up and down year for our P&F – first we could have meetings, then we couldn’t, then we could…  Our hybrid meetings seem to be the way of the future and we will continue with this model for another year.  At our recent AGM we got to thank our outgoing president Tony Petersen for his terrific service and support over the last 4 years. Tony gets so much out of being a part of the community in this way and, equally we get so much in return.  It would be great to see many more parents join us in the future for meetings and events – don’t worry -  if you don’t want a role, that’s okay.  We just want your company, your ideas and your connection with us.  Thank you to Andrea Sellis who held the role of Canteen Coordinator this year. Andrea was a great help in getting conversations off the ground for future directions for the canteen.  It was just unfortunate then, just as we were about to launch some new ideas lockdown hit and we bunkered down. Look out for great things in 2022! 

2022 P&F executive roles are:

President – Nici Williams                                         

Vice President – Tony Petersen

Secretary – Karen Stathis                                       

Treasurer – Alyssa Jones

Event Coordinator – Katy Mooney                        

Communications Coordinator – Renee Mantle

Canteen Coordinator - Vacant

Thank you to all those who have contributed to our P&F meetings this year and especially to our P&F exec team who happily give of themselves and their time for the good of our community.

Calling all Rock n’ Rollers!!

St Joseph’s Primary School students will continue to have the opportunity to learn guitar in 2022. Open to Years K to 6, students will learn everything from Bon Jovi to Billy Eilish to The Weeknd, to Post Malone, to Imagine Dragons, to Guy Sebastian, to Tones and I, to AC/DC, all whilst learning acoustic and electric guitar skills, learning to perform as part of a group and enjoying the excitement and experience of being a real musician with skills that will last a lifetime. All lessons are conducted in small groups, based on age and skill level. If you are interested in your child being involved, please email Ricky at ricky@rickysmusictuition.com.au

Kevin A. Milne said that, "Christmas magic is silent. You don't hear it–you feel it. You know it. You believe it."  I hope that you all have much Christmas magic this year and that it is a special time for you and your families.   Stay safe, have fun and enjoy the company of those who are special to you. 

See you in 2022,

Karen