Term 1, Week 6 Newsletter - 7th March 2025

From the Principal

Dear Parents, Carers and Guardians,

It is hard to believe we are already in Week 6! We have had a fantastic start to the school year, and it has been wonderful to see our students settling into their learning spaces, following our school expectations, forming new friendships, and engaging enthusiastically in their learning. Over the past five weeks, our classrooms have focused on establishing strong routines and developing a shared understanding of class expectations. Our Prep students have adjusted beautifully to school life at St Joseph’s, and our Year 6 students are demonstrating great leadership in supporting their younger peers.

The religious life of our school has been vibrant and active, with significant events marking the start of the year. We recently celebrated our Beginning of the Year Mass and the induction of our Year 6 leaders, as well as the launch of our 2025 Project Compassion campaign through Pancakes for Shrove Tuesday and our Ash Wednesday Mass and liturgy. These moments of prayer and reflection have been truly inspiring, and I am proud of how engaged, reverent, and participative our students have been throughout these celebrations.

Meet and Greet BBQ

Last Wednesday afternoon, we warmly welcomed families to our first Family Barbeque of the year, providing a wonderful opportunity for families to connect, socialise, and get to know one another. It was great to see our community come together, and I sincerely appreciate those who took the time to speak with me. For those I didn’t have the chance to connect with personally, I look forward to catching up with you in the future. A special thank you to our staff, as well as parents, for their support in cooking on the evening—it was truly appreciated.

At St Joseph’s, we recognise the vital role that positive parent-teacher partnerships play in supporting student growth and success. These partnerships foster open communication, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to student well-being and academic achievement. When parents and teachers work together, students benefit from a strong support system that enhances their learning, emotional development, and overall school experience. We encourage and deeply value the active involvement of parents in their child’s education. If you have any concerns about your child’s progress, behaviour, or general well-being, we encourage you to reach out to their teacher as the first point of contact to discuss your concerns.

As we begin our Lenten journey towards Easter over the next 40 days, I leave you with a Lenten reflection to guide us through this sacred time.

Staffing Update

This time last year, St Joseph’s Catholic School, Mount Isa, extended its best wishes to Mrs Nikki Henderson as she embarked on maternity leave with her partner, Michael. Earlier this week, we shared correspondence with families advising that Nikki will be extending her leave, as she and Michael are expecting their second child in August this year—a truly wonderful blessing! We wish Nikki, Michael, and Noah all the best as they prepare for this next exciting chapter.

As a result, Mrs Tenielle Blanco will be continuing in her role with us, and we sincerely thank Tenielle and Lucas for their flexibility and ongoing support of our school community.

We also warmly welcome Miss Victoria Wamsley-Taylor to St Joseph’s as our new Year 4 Green Teacher. Miss Wamsley-Taylor will be spending today and tomorrow with the class as part of the handover process, after which Mrs Carrie Keirnan will step out of the role. Currently completing her final year of her degree with Australian Catholic University, Miss Wamsley-Taylor has relocated from Brisbane and is eager to begin her teaching journey with us. We look forward to welcoming her into our community, and if you see her around, please take a moment to introduce yourself as she settles into our wonderful school.

Book Fair

Last week, we celebrated our annual Book Fair, with our library beautifully transformed into a reading rainforest. It was wonderful to see so many students and families visiting, exploring, and purchasing the fantastic books on display.

A huge THANK YOU to Mrs Stretton for her incredible effort in organising, setting up, and packing down the fair, as well as coordinating the stunning decorations created by our classes. Your dedication and creativity made this event truly special!

We also extend our sincere thanks to the parents who generously volunteered their time to assist with set-up, sales, and pack-down—your support is greatly appreciated and contributed to the success of the fair.

Car Park Update

We have recently begun discussions on the redevelopment of the school car park, working closely with parents, carers, the school community, and the school board. The input from all stakeholders has been invaluable as we determine the best approach moving forward.

In the short term, we will begin patch repairs to the Penola Car Park to maintain its functionality. At the same time, we have engaged with various groups, including Mount Isa City Council, to explore a long-term redevelopment plan that prioritises the safety and well-being of our students, staff, and families.

This project will require careful planning and time to ensure it is completed thoroughly and effectively from the outset. I appreciate the community’s patience and support as we work towards a safe, efficient, and well-structured parking solution for our school.

Wishing you a blessed and reflective week ahead.

Scott Murray,
Principal

Education in Faith

Shrove Tuesday

A huge thank you to all the students, families, and staff who joined us before school for our Shrove Tuesday pancake breakfast! It was wonderful to see our school community come together to share in this long-standing tradition, marking the beginning of Lent with joy, generosity, and of course, delicious pancakes!

Shrove Tuesday reminds us of the importance of preparing our hearts for the Lenten season—a time of reflection, prayer, and giving. It was especially meaningful to begin this journey as a community, embracing our 2025 theme, Loving to Learn, Learning to Love, through shared fellowship and generosity.

A special thank you to our amazing volunteers who helped with cooking, serving, and cleaning up. Your kindness and willingness to serve made this event possible.

As we move into Lent, may we continue to find ways to put love into action through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Thank you again for being part of such a special morning!

Lent

This week, we begin the Church season of Lent—a special time of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving as we prepare to celebrate Jesus' Resurrection at Easter. Over the next 40 days, we are invited to reflect on our faith, make meaningful sacrifices, and find ways to show love and generosity to others.

As part of their Lenten journey, students have been writing their own Lenten promises in class, considering how they can grow in faith and kindness during this season. Whether it’s through acts of kindness, giving up a small luxury, or spending more time in prayer, these promises encourage us all to deepen our understanding of Loving to Learn, Learning to Love.

This week, we also launch Project Compassion, Caritas Australia’s annual fundraising campaign. Our Year 5 and 6 students are currently planning special fundraising events, with more details to be shared soon. Each student will also bring home a Project Compassion donation box, giving families the opportunity to support those in need.

Sacramental Program

This week, the Parish Sacramental Program begins, with the first Confirmation lessons taking place at St Joseph’s on Wednesday, 5th March. This is a special time for our candidates as they take the next step in their faith journey, deepening their relationship with God and the Church.

We wish all our Confirmation candidates the very best as they prepare for this important sacrament. May they be guided by the Holy Spirit and supported by the love and prayers of our school and parish community.

Tenielle Blanco,
APRE

Foundations in Education

NAPLAN – Year 3 and 5

Last week, our students completed two NAPLAN practice tests, providing them with a valuable opportunity to familiarise themselves with the testing environment and platform. Students will continue engaging with NAPLAN style activities in class to build their confidence and ensure they are well-prepared for the assessments.

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is an important tool used to assess the literacy and numeracy skills that students are learning in school. NAPLAN is designed to track learning progress and is not a pass-or-fail test. The best way to support your child is by encouraging them to do their best on the day without excessive preparation or coaching, as this is neither necessary nor recommended.

If you have any questions regarding NAPLAN, please contact your child’s teacher or the school office for further information.

The NAPLAN testing window begins in Week 7 of Term 1, and our school schedule is as follows:

• Wednesday, 12th March – Writing at 8:50 am

• Friday, 14th March – Reading at 8:50 am

• Monday, 17th March – Conventions of Language at 8:50 am

• Wednesday, 19th March – Numeracy at 8:50 am

If your child will be absent on these dates or if you do not wish for them to participate, please inform your child’s teacher as soon as possible.

Learning Conferences

All parents should have received an email regarding our upcoming Learning Conferences (Parent-Teacher Interviews) for Term 1. Below, you will find details on how to book a conference with your child’s teacher.

Online bookings for Semester 1 Learning Conferences (Parent-Teacher Interviews) are now open. These meetings will take place in your child’s classroom at the following times:

Term 1, Week 8: Prep to Year 6

·   Tuesday, 18th March | 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm

·   Wednesday, 19th March | 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Each conference is 15 minutes long, and bookings will close on Friday, 14th March at 3:00 pm.

To secure your preferred time, please book through the Conferences section in the COMPASS Parent Portal. You can access this via the COMPASS School Manager App or by visiting the website: https://sjmtsv-qld.compass.education

To log in and book a conference, you will need your Compass login details. If you do not have your login credentials, you can collect them from the office or call to request them. For privacy reasons, login details cannot be provided to anyone other than the registered parent or guardian.

For those using the Compass App on their phone, please ensure that you have the latest version installed. Additionally, we recommend closing and reopening the app before making or modifying a booking to ensure that all updates to the schedule are reflected correctly.

If you encounter any difficulties when booking, please contact the school office for assistance.

Learning Conferences are a fantastic opportunity to stay engaged in your child’s education, build strong relationships with their teacher, and further connect with our school community. We encourage all parents to take advantage of this valuable opportunity, and we look forward to seeing you there!

Karlia Ryan,
APPL

In the Library...

Last week we celebrated our annual Book Fair. This year our Library was transformed into a reading rainforest. Many students and families visited and purchased the beautiful books that were on display. A big THANK YOU to Mrs Stretton for all the hard work she put into setting up, packing up and coordinating the decorations to be made by the classes. Also a big thank you to all the parents who helped with the set up, selling and pack down of the fair.

(For full Book Fair video, please refer to our social media.)

Prev

Showing images 1 - 8 of 12

Next

School News

Community News