Prayer of Congratulations and Thanksgiving

Loving God,
We give you thanks for the gift of the Holy Spirit received by our Confirmation students last weekend. May they continue to grow in faith, courage, and love, always guided by your Spirit in their words and actions.

We are grateful for the many blessings of this term — for the learning, friendships, and opportunities to celebrate together as a school community. Thank you for our families, teachers, and friends who support us each day.

As we prepare for the holiday break, we ask your blessing of rest and safety upon all our students, staff, and families. May this time be filled with joy, renewal, and care for one another.

We make this prayer through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Thank You to Our School Community

As we come to the end of the term, I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our parent community for your ongoing involvement and support. The partnership between home and school is vital, and your contribution makes such a difference in the lives of our students.

This term has been filled with wonderful opportunities where parents have generously given their time and energy — from helping at the Father’s Day Stall, attending meetings, and supporting students, to joining in with school functions such as the Father’s Day Liturgy, the Book Fair Parade, and so much more.

A special thank you also goes to the children of St Joseph’s, who attend each day ready to learn, share a laugh, and bring joy to one another. Their kindness, warmth, and willingness to welcome and support each other make our school such a special place.

I would also like to sincerely thank our dedicated teachers and classroom support assistants who go above and beyond to ensure that every child receives the best education possible. In addition, I acknowledge the many staff who work tirelessly behind the scenes to make sure that school events, big and small, run smoothly for the benefit of our students and families.

While offering thanks, I would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge Mrs Margot McKenzie, who has worn many hats this year, stepping into both the Acting Assistant Principal role and the Classroom Support Teacher role — two new positions for her, which she has carried out with professionalism, energy, commitment and care.

We also warmly welcome back Mrs Sarah Gerrard, who has returned today from maternity leave after enjoying precious time with her new baby, Aksel, to continue her role as Assistant Principal.

On behalf of the staff, thank you to our parents, children, and staff for all that you do to make St Joseph’s a strong, supportive, and joyful community.

A reminder the final day for students is tomorrow- Thursday 25th.

Walkathon—thank you & final reminders

A huge thank you to our families and your children who have already supported the Walkathon, helping us raise funds for a new PA system and gazebos. We are well on the way to paying off both, with $7,000 already raised!  I have heard from passing comments that the children have been working tirelessly to gather as many funds as they can, and their enthusiasm and effort have been wonderful to see.

Tomorrow, we’ll be putting our new PA system and gazebos to good use at the Walkathon — something we are very excited about.

We sent out a Compass post yesterday with a few reminders for our Walk of Fun. Here are just a few last-minute points to keep in mind:

• Schedule

  • 9:30 am – Classes depart school

  • 10:00 am – Arrival at North Park (morning tea)

  • 11:00 am – Walk commences

  • Lunch – Staggered times, BBQ and drink provided

  • 1:30 pm – Infants depart Oval to return to school

  • 2:00 pm – Primary depart Oval to return to school

  Additional Information

  • Sausage sandwiches will be on sale for $2.00 once all classes have been fed.

  • Activities will take place at different points along the course.

  • Parents/carers may pick up children from the Oval.

    • Written permission is required if you are collecting another child.

    • Please inform the classroom teacher if you are taking your own child from the Oval.

  • For safety, children are not permitted to use the playground equipment on the day.

  • Thank you to the parents who have offered to assist — volunteer vests will be available.

  What to Bring / Wear

  • Sports uniform

  • Hat and sunscreen

  • Snacks and drinks (each child will receive a sausage sandwich and a drink.

Mobile Phone Reminders

We are currently updating St Joseph’s Communication Device Policy in line with the Catholic Education Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn guidelines.

We understand that some students need to bring a mobile phone to stay in touch with parents. However, most recently we have had to remind students of the following expectations:

• Students are not to use communication devices while waiting in bus lines or car lines. If a student needs to contact their parent during school hours, they must first speak with the teacher on duty.

• Devices must be handed in at the start of the day and collected at the end of the day.

We would appreciate your support in reminding your children of these expectations, which help ensure a safe and respectful environment for all.

A reminder you are welcome to join us for the Goulburn Catholic Schools Combined Meeting, details below.. 

On Air With Eagle FM

A great job by Archie and Ari, who most recently spoke on the radio. Archie shared about his triathlon training and competition, highlighting the importance of healthy food, while Ari gave a wonderful explanation of gymnastics.

Both read the news with such confidence that the presenters commented they might be worried about their jobs!

May God bless you and your families during these holidays.